Today in Print - October 19, 2010

TOMS founder accepting $26,500 to speak on campus, p. 3

Reveille Annual Carlotta Street block party to be held Friday, Oct. 29, p. 3

The Daily

Volume 115, Issue 41

CRIME

Sheppard leads Tigers in total tackles in 6 of 7 games, p. 7

www.lsureveille.com

Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2010

Man charged with attempted murder of student on campus Sarah Eddington Staff Writer

The LSU Police Department arrested a 19-year-old man unaffiliated with the University on Sunday night for attempted second-degree murder

and attempted simple robbery.

A female student was leaving Middleton Library and walking back to her vehicle around 11:45 p.m. when a male approached her from behind, according to Det. Kevin Scott, LSUPD spokesman.

Thomas Gauthier Jr., of 1832 W. Johnson St., attempted to take the victim’s phone as she was passing through the corridor alongside Allen Hall, Scott said. The victim refused to give up the phone, so Gauthier pushed her to the ground.

During the struggle, Gauthier, who was unarmed, attempted to initiate what Scott called “grave bodily harm” to the victim by trying to break her neck.

Scott said the victim’s screams alerted nearby students who rushed

State of the Art

to her aid. Two male students chased down Gauthier as he tried to flee the scene, and a third student called LSUPD. “The victim did a lot of things ATTACK, see page 11

BUDGET CUTS

Midyear cut grows from $2.2to $5.1M Catherine Threlkeld Staff Writer

LYNDSI LEWIS / The Daily Reveille

The painting studio in the old engineering shops of the Art Building is a dirty, neglected room. The more than 75-year-old building was supposed to be renovated multiple times, but funding will likely be cut by the state. The building was constructed under a 1934 safety code, which will be updated if funding is acquired and renovations proceed. Read more about the project on page 4.

The University’s midyear cut projection more than doubled from $2.2 million to $5.1 million Monday, according to Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor Jack Hamilton.

The original $2.2 million was required by the Division of Administration in the Governor’s Office.

The budget reduction helps fill a $108 million deficit in last year’s state budget, much of which will be covered by higher education.

Hamilton said the University’s budget has been cut $47 million in the last 22 months as of Monday.

If the cuts continue at this rate, Hamilton said the University has 67 CUT, see page 11

POLITICS

SG president criticizes Jindal for traveling during higher ed. crisis Hudson’s remarks get national attention Matthew Albright Staff Writer

Student Government President J Hudson made national headlines Monday after sending a letter to newspapers in the states where Gov. Bobby Jindal has been traveling for campaign purposes.

“Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal is spending more time in your state

than the one he was elected to represent,” Hudson wrote in the letter, titled “Attention Gov. Jindal” and sent to newspapers in New York, Florida, Wisconsin, Ohio and New Hampshire. “We want to know J HUDSON SG president why he’s not devoting all his time to the future of his state and its young people.”

After informing the papers’

residents of Louisiana’s higher education budget plight, Hudson addressed Jindal directly.

“On behalf of the students whose hopes for a brighter future will soon be crushed, I beg you to return to Louisiana and fix your state’s serious problems. You’ve neglected your constituents long enough,” Hudson wrote. “You’ll have a much better chance of becoming president if you save, instead of destroy, Louisiana’s universities.”

In addition to appearing in the LETTER, see page 11

XERXES A. WILSON / The Daily Reveille

Gov. Bobby Jindal speaks at a news conference in April as the University prepared for the last midyear budget cut. Jindal drew fire from SG President J Hudson this week.

The Daily Reveille

Nation & World

page 2

NATIONAL

INTERNATIONAL

Mob storms Kuwaiti TV station after show critical of rulers airs

Man sentenced to six months for hitting pregnant wife on plane

CAIRO (AP) — An armed mob stormed the offices of a privately owned Kuwaiti TV station and destroyed its equipment after the channel aired shows critical of the country’s ruling family, employees said Monday.

At least 100 people wielding guns and knives broke into Scope TV’s studios on Sunday, cameraman Fahad al-Rashed said.

“They forced us off the air and started smashing computers, sets, studio equipment and cameras,” he said.

Kuwait has some of the most vibrant political debate and press freedoms in the Gulf, but censorship is widespread across the Middle East, and journalists often face tight controls.

Scope TV, a small operation employing about 70 people, has come under fire for programs critical of religious leaders and the ruling Al Sabah family.

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — A man was sentenced to six months in federal prison for repeatedly hitting his pregnant wife in the stomach during a flight from Baltimore to Tampa last year.

A federal judge in Tampa sentenced 29-year-old David Henry Wysocki II of Palm Harbor on Monday. He plead guilty to committing an assault on an aircraft.

Authorities say that during the July 2009 AirTran flight, Wysocki threatened to kill his wife and unborn child and then hit her in the stomach.

Fall in border patrol arrests shows drop in illegal immigration SAN DIEGO (AP) — Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said Monday that a 17 percent drop in Border Patrol arrests this year shows that

DEMIAN CHAVEZ / The Associated Press

Rescue workers inspect the remains of a bus and trailer truck after they crashed in Queretaro, central Mexico, Monday. A Queretaro state police spokesman said at least 19 people were killed in the collision.

heightened enforcement is slowing illegal immigration.

The Border Patrol made about 463,000 arrests during the federal government’s fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, down from 556,032 the previous 12 months.

It marks the fifth straight year of declines.

Border Patrol arrests are down 72 percent from nearly 1.7 million in 2000. The agency typically makes about 97 percent of its arrests along the 1,952-mile border with Mexico, with nearly all the rest coming along the Canadian border.

Napolitano said the weak economy helps explain why fewer people are getting caught crossing the border illegally, and she also credited enforcement against employers. But she said a big reason is enforcement under President Barack Obama — including bringing the Border Patrol to an all-time high of 20,500 agents and dispatching 1,200 National Guard troops.

84 Low: 60

professionalism and “premature displaying” of a firearm.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A restaurant worker who claims a New Orleans police officer pointed a gun at his head as part of a prank has sued the city, its police department and his former employer.

The federal lawsuit filed Saturday by Renaldo Grimball, a dishwasher and cook at the U.S. Prime Steakhouse in New Orleans, accuses the officer, Sean West, of using excessive force and violating his constitutional rights.

Grimball claims he was working a dinner shift last October when a manager jokingly accused him of smoking marijuana and summoned West from the restaurant’s bar. That’s when West allegedly brandished a gun, pointed it at Grimball, pushed him across the kitchen and frisked him.

West, a two-year veteran of the force, was fired in June after an internal probe found he violated department regulations governing

BP waives $75 million cap for oil spill claims, denies negligence

20%

TODAY

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STATE/LOCAL

New Orleans Police Department sued over cop’s role in prank

WEDNESDAY

Weather Mostly Sunny

Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2010

TODAY ON

FRIDAY

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THURSDAY

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — BP PLC has informed a federal judge that the company is waiving a $75 million cap on its liability for certain economic damage claims spawned by the massive Gulf oil spill.

A court filing Monday by BP lawyers says the company is waiving the statutory limitation on liability under the 1990 Oil Pollution Act even though it denies engaging in any gross negligence in connection with the April 20 explosion on the Deepwater Horizon rig and resulting spill.

Last Friday, U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier gave a BP lawyer a week to state in writing whether the company will agree to waive the cap. Plaintiffs lawyers had expressed concern that the company was sending mixed signals on the cap.

lsureveille.com

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Where is Louisiana’s governor? New Hampshire?

Maybe Florida? Follow his nationwide moves on our online Jindal Tracker.

SATURDAY 85 63

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ON THE DOWN LOW @ lsureveille, @TDR_news, @TDR_sports

Follow breaking news at facebook.com/ thedailyreveille

Multicultural Student Leadership Conference FREE! SIGN UP NOW! www.lsu.edu/aacc Saturday, October 30th 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM NAACP presents Showtime at the Cotillion Auditions October 25-28 5:30-7:00 PM WCA Activity Center Questions contact Tanaya Yidin @ tyidin1@tigers.lsu.edu

Teach For America Info Session Come learn about Teach for America’s mission to solve educational inequity in our nation and how you can take part Food will be served Tuesday Oct. 19 from 6-7:30 PM in 155 Coates

DO YOU HAVE AN OCCURRENCE? Call Michael at the Student Media Office 578-6090, 9AM- 5PM or E-mail: officemanager@lsureveille.com

SARAH HUNT / The Daily Reveille

View campus from a squirrel’s point of view in Snapshot on lsureveille.com.

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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The Daily Reveille

Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2010

page 3

EVENTS

University paying TOMS shoes founder $26,500 for talk Student fees cover about $15,500 of total cost Frederick Holl Staff Writer

Blake Mycoskie, philanthropist and founder of TOMS shoes, is accepting $26,500 to speak at the University on Nov. 1, according to Associate Director of Campus Life Jacob Brumfield.

The total cost of the event will be around $31,000 and will be split evenly between the Student Activities Board and the College of Business’ Stephenson Entrepreneurship Institute, Brumfield said.

The SAB will pay its portion of the cost of the event, about

$15,500, with money from the Campus Life Support Fee, which is for activities and programs on campus, according to Brumfield.

The fee is $20 for full-time students and $1 per credit hour for part-time students and is included in the fee bill.

The Stephenson Entrepreneurship Institute will pay its half with part of a large donation given by Tom Bromley, a member of the institute’s Advisory Board. The money was given specifically to pay important speakers to come to the University, according to SEI Associate Director Jarett Rodriguez.

“This is our first time working with the Student Activities Board.

It seemed like a great opportunity. The fee to bring in Blake is pretty high, so we’re going to help

underwrite that,” Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez said the event will benefit the institute’s Fellows Program, which provides a real-world education and brings student entrepreneurs, some of whom already have their own businesses, in contact with successful entrepreneurs from around the country.

The Fellows Program brings in speakers every week. The vast majority speak for free through the institute’s business contacts, Rodriguez said.

But Mycoskie’s youth and activeness in the current business market, as opposed to many of the pre-established older entrepreneurs the institute regularly brings in, presented the institute with a unique situation worth paying for, Rodriguez said.

“We pay for one speaker a year, and this year that’s Blake,” Rodriguez said.

The event, titled “An Evening with Blake Mycoskie,” will be a 45- to 60-minute “interactive lecture” and will include a questionand-answer session. It will be held Nov. 1 in the Union Theater, Brumfield said.

Tickets are free and can be picked up in the Union Theater on Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

More than 800 student tickets have already been given out, and

tickets weren’t available to the public until Monday, Brumfield said.

“As a public institution, at what point do you charge [the general public] for something that’s of educational value?” Brumfield said.

Because the Union Theater’s capacity is only about 1,300, the event will be simulcast in the Cotillion Ballroom, which can hold 800 additional people, Brumfield said.

Contact Frederick Holl at fholl@lsureveille.com

HALLOWEEN

Carlotta party to be held Oct. 29 Permit too costly for Saturday event

Tuesday OCTober 19

Catherine Threlkeld Staff Writer

Money trumped tradition this year, and the annual Carlotta Street block party will be held the Friday before Halloween — Oct. 29.

Because the party has traditionally been held the Saturday before Halloween, two separate Facebook groups planned parties, one for Oct. 29 and one for Saturday, Oct. 30.

Both Facebook groups are now advocating the Friday party.

The Facebook group for Friday’s party has more than 740 members, and the group originally created for Saturday’s party has more than 1,680 members.

The Baton Rouge Police Department would have allowed a permit either night, but hiring enough officers to cover the Saturday party would have cost about $13,000, according to North Gate Merchants Association President Jared Loftus.

BRPD and advocates of both parties met Monday to discuss the issue.

“It comes down to Friday is much easier for it to work,” Loftus said. “Because everyone has to work on Friday, we have many more officers to choose from.”

While the party has almost always been on the Saturday before Halloween for the past 35 years, Loftus said the tradition may change because football games have conflicted with the Saturday party plans several times.

Jay Price, a spokesman for the original Saturday event and Carlotta

7:20 a.m., 8:20 a.m.

Noon, 3:20 p.m.

4:20 p.m., 5:20 p.m.

File photo

Carlotta Street partygoers show off their costumes in 2008 at the annual bash.

Street area resident, said BRPD was helpful in every way.

Price said he was originally under the impression BRPD wouldn’t be willing to help.

“It is significantly easier for the chief of police to organize and mobilize a group of officers to help out,” Price said. “It still kind of sucks, but we’re going to make deals where we can. The last thing we want is to not have a party.”

Price said having the party Friday also allows the party to host more bands than would have performed on Saturday, and North Gate Merchants

Association has a stage available for bands to perform Friday.

Price said there will still be a few hundred people who will show up Saturday regardless because they are used to the Saturday tradition.

Using various media, the Facebook group and word of mouth, Price said he hopes to notify as many people as possible in the next two weeks.

Contact Catherine Threlkeld at cthrelkeld@lsureveille.com

Pluckers Wing Bar Mon.: $14.99 All You Can Eat Wings and $3 Pluckers Lemonades Tues.: Kids Eat Free, $3 Mexican Beers and Margaritas Wed: Trivia at 8 pm, $4.50 Mother Plucker Mugs of Bud and Miller Thurs: $15.99 All You Can Eat Wings, $4.50 Mother Plucker Mugs of Bud Light and Miller Lite, $5.50 Patron Margaritas Sun: $3 Pluckers Specialty Shots

9-10:30 AM 12-1:30 PM 4:30:5:00 PM 5:00-5:30 PM 7:30-8:00 PM 8:00- 9:30 PM 10:00-10:30 PM 11:00-12:30

Paranormal Activity Drag Me to Hell The Ramen The Ramen The Ramen on Ch. 19 Beetlejucie The Ramen Iron Man 2

The Daily Reveille

page 4

Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2010

BUDGET CUTS

Construction, renovation projects lose funding statewide Matthew Albright Staff Writer

Art students will likely see an overhaul of their dilapidated old engineering shops postponed again after the Jindal administration announced plans to shuffle the project’s funding for economic development.

The administration announced plans Friday to scrap several capital outlay projects statewide. The move is designed to free up funding for a $30 million incentive plan to attract North Carolina-based steel company Nucor to St. James Parish.

The administration has been lobbying the company to build a $3.5 billion, 900- to 2,000-job steel and iron facility along the Mississippi River.

Emmett David, Director of Facility Development, said the old engineering shops, where art students work on their projects, are the most important program to lose funding. The building is more than 75 years old, and David said it is in need

of a serious overhaul.

David said projects funded by capital outlay usually take decades. The most recent funding hurdle isn’t the first the project has faced, and it will further postpone the date construction can start.

“If we don’t receive funding, we add a month, we add a year,” David said.

David said the current round of funding will pay for the design process.

“An architect has been assigned,” he said. “But now we don’t have the money to go through the process.”

Still, David said he knows many of the repairs the building needs. The project would replace windows, lights, mechanical systems and toilets. Kilns, hoods and other creative machinery would be updated.

David said the building would also be brought up to current life safety codes. The building was constructed under the 1934 code, which David said “really wasn’t much of a

code at all.”

Rick Ortner, a University art professor and former dean of the College of Art and Design, has been waiting for the renovations since 2002. He said he has given up being disappointed in the project’s future.

“I ignored the whole thing,” he said. “I’m just too cynical.”

Art students said on Monday the building badly needed renovations. They also complained that art was suffering more than other programs.

“I love the building. But it’s dirty, and it needs to be cleaned up,” said James Packard, sculpture junior.

“Art’s always been put last in Louisiana.”

Jonathan Wagner, ceramics junior, said the department is always playing second fiddle.

“We’re always second to athletics. We’re always second to business — they just got a new building,” he said.

The art building isn’t the only project affected by the shuffle.

The University’s affected projects include $1.1 million for the art building, $3 million for the Louisiana Animal Diagnostic Laboratory, $825,000 for the Homeland Security and Environmental Technical Center and $600,000 for the LSU Fire and Emergency Training Institute, according to Jason Droddy, director of External Affairs.

Droddy said the Art Building is the most important stalled project, and the adjustments are a result of legislative financial finagling.

Droddy said in previous years legislators would cram as many capital outlay projects into the budget as they could, even if the total sum was greater than what could be paid for.

The governor then selected which projects received funding.

Today, the Legislature must propose a capital outlay budget it can pay for.

However, Droddy said this year’s capital outlay budget, approved in the last legislative session, echoes the old one.

The Jindal administration, then uncertain of the Nucor project’s fate, told the Legislature to approve a capital outlay budget that did not include the plant. If the project did come through, Jindal said enough money would be bumped out of the budget to pay for the incentives package.

Now that the plant’s passage seems certain, Nucor is being inserted into the budget — and the four LSU-related projects are among those shoved out to make room.

All four LSU-related projects were bills proposed by Rep. Hunter Greene, R-Baton Rouge. Greene’s office did not return phone calls by press time.

Jindal’s proposed alterations must be approved by the state bond commission Oct. 21. Droddy said the commission is historically controlled by administration allies, so chances of the changes being halted are slim.

Contact Matthew Albright at malbright@lsureveille.com

MERCHANDISE

Company sues local businesses over use of ‘Who Dat’ Rachel Warren Contributing Writer

Who Dat? Inc., the company that sent cease-and-desist orders to several small businesses regarding their sales of “Who Dat” merchandise, is now formally suing the businesses.

The businesses first received cease-and-desist letters in June and again in September.

The letters came from Steve Monistere, who recorded a song using the phrase “Who Dat” in 1983 with his brother Sal and trademarked the phrase shortly after.

Monistere wasn’t available for comment.

Fleurty Girl, a popular New Orleans-based clothing shop, is one of the companies being sued.

Lauren Thom, Fleurty Girl owner, said her attorney visited her at the store Friday and told her about the suit.

Thom said Who Dat? Inc. is seeking to enter into a private licensing agreement with Fleurty Girl, which she’s not sure is necessary.

“As a small business owner, I don’t want to enter into a private licensing agreement if I don’t have to,” Thom said. “But if I have to, I will.”

Thom said she’s looking to learn once and for all if the phrase is in the public domain or not.

“That’s why we’re going this far,” she said.

Fleurty Girl won’t be alone in the battle.

Storyville, a clothing shop with locations in Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and Austin, Texas, is also being sued.

Storyville New Orleans posted on its Facebook page Oct. 15, “Storyville is now officially a

co-defendant along with Fleurty Girl, the New Orleans Saints and the NFL in the crazy Who Dat Inc lawsuit. See you in court, Monistere brothers!”

Erica Jacobson, an employee at Storyville’s New Orleans location, said the shop’s owners are standing their ground.

Jacobson said they haven’t stopped selling “Who Dat” merchandise and don’t plan to anytime soon.

“It’s pretty ridiculous that someone claims they own a phrase that is so widely used,” Jacobson said.

Neither shop is lacking support.

A status posted on the Fleurty Girl Facebook page Oct. 15

informing fans of the suit received more than 400 comments in less than 24 hours.

Courtney Pittman, an employee at Fleurty Girl’s Magazine Street location, said she has found customers supportive of the shop’s recent struggles.

“Business is booming,” Pittman said. “Everyone wants to come in and talk about it. Everyone wants to come in and buy our stuff.”

When his store received the letter in September, Josh Harvey, Storyville co-owner, said he was prepared to fight Who Dat? Inc. if the company pursued legal action.

“Someone’s got to fight this bully,” Harvey said.

Harvey said the Monisteres

didn’t enforce their trademark when the Saints weren’t as popular but began trying when the team started winning more games.

Some students don’t agree with the Monisteres’ actions.

“They weren’t using it before, and now they’re using it to get money when it’s really convenient,” said Laurel Keys, business management junior.

Keys said she doesn’t think the practice is ethical.

“I think if you don’t use it, you lose it,” Keys said.

Ernest Svenson, the attorney representing both stores, said the hearing date is set for Nov. 10.

Contact Rachel Warren at rwarren@lsureveille.com

Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2010

RENOVATION

The Daily Reveille

page 5

STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Safer, more accessible 20 disqualified from SG elections day set for sidewalks installed in Election Oct. 26; run-off Nov. 2 Enchanted Forest area Celeste Ansley Staff Writer

is complete, but Mitchell said the University plans to add mulch and an additional light pole to the center of the tree grove.

Mitchell said he believes the project will enhance the area’s atSydni Dunn mosphere.

Staff Writer “It will not just be a transiStudents may notice some tional place,” he said. “It will be new aspects to the Enchanted a destination.”

Forest area as they make their Mitchell said the next phase way to class each day — a proj- of work is not scheduled or fundect to create safe, accessible side- ed, but eventually the Enchanted walks is now near completion.

Forest will have a “park setting” The construction project was including another sidewalk pardivided into two allel to the current seperately fundstructure, landed phases, said scaping, decorative Dennis Mitchpaving and furniell, campus ture. landscape archiBut not everytect with the Ofone is pleased with fice of Facility the renovation.

Development. “[The sideDennis Mitchell The first walk] makes the campus landscape architect phase, which walk easier, but it cost $20,000, doesn’t really flow was initiated and funded by the with the environment,” said Alex Office of Risk Management sev- Leyton, mechanical engineering eral months ago, Mitchell said. sophomore. “We have trees and “The dirt path from the park- then this big cement sidewalk. I ing lot up to the dirt hill was a po- was cool with the gravel path. It tential hazard, so we designed a looked authentic.” new path system that avoided the The project also included steep incline,” Mitchell said. “We a modification to the aggregate also followed the historic path steps located near the Student pattern that parallels the alley of Health Center and hand railings. live oaks.”

The limestone path through the Enchanted Forest to the Hart commuter parking lot next to Contact Sydni Dunn at Kirby-Smith Hall was installed first to create a base, and funding sdunn@lsureveille.com from the phase-two project finished it with a concerte overlay.

Phase-two funding was provided by the Student Health Center and cost about $15,000.

“The new bisecting sidewalk re-establishes the historic order of Live Oak Alley, linkage to the Greek Amphitheater as well as provides a safe, pleasant passage from a sunny asphalt parking lot to the core of campus,” Mitchell said.

The majority of the project

Project built in two separate phases

‘‘

‘It will not just be a transitional place, it will be a destination.’

More than 20 students were disqualified from Student Government’s fall election, according to Billy Wright, commissioner of elections.

Wright said he didn’t recall the exact number, but more than 20 were disqualified because they failed to attend one of the two required senate candidate meetings.

Wright said three of the students who were unable to attend turned in valid excuses. One of them was disqualified after failing to attend the make-up meeting.

The other two students attended the make-up meeting and are continuing on with elections.

Speaker of the Senate Brooksie Bonvillain said this is a transition election with the new election code, passed by SG Senate earlier in the semester, going into effect for the spring election.

Bonvillain hopes disqualifications won’t be an issue for the spring election.

Bonvillain said the election is not as competitive as spring, but the candidates running are qualified to be senators.

“I know campaigning hasn’t been physical, but I feel that students running are qualified,” Bonvillain said.

Wright said there is one seat available and two students running in the E.J. Ourso College of Business, four available seats and five students running for the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, four students running for the two available seats in the College of

Basic Sciences and 11 students running for seven seats for the University Center for Freshman Year.

Wright said many disqualifications were UCFY candidates.

For the future, Wright said he plans to send a reminder e-mail about candidate meetings so there will be fewer disqualifications.

Wright said it’s a shame to see students disqualified, but there are still enough students running for UCFY seats.

“It’s good to see new people run and fresh faces trying to get in SG,” Wright said.

As of Monday, the School of Veterinary Medicine has no senators and no candidates running in the fall election.

Bonvillain said she has met

with representatives from the Vet School, and the time commitment required by SG senators makes it impossible to fill the seats.

For election day on Oct. 26, there will be voting stations at Middleton Library, the Student Union and the UREC Student Recreation Complex. If necessary, the run-off election will be held Nov. 2.

Students will also have the option to vote on PAWS. Wright said he plans to sit down with SG members after the election to discuss possible improvements to the election process before the spring elections.

Contact Celeste Ansley at cansley@lsureveille.com

page 6

The Daily Reveille

Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2010

Sports

Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2010

SPECIAL K

page 7

Senior linebacker Kelvin Sheppard takes production to next level in senior campaign Michael Lambert Sports Contributor

The last time Kelvin Sheppard smelled the end zone, he was suited up in Georgia for the blue and white of Stephenson High School in 2006.

The LSU senior linebacker was reminded of the feeling Saturday night against McNeese State in the third quarter — even if it didn’t add any points on the scoreboard.

Sheppard stripped the football from Cowboys junior running back Andre Anderson into his own hands, hit the ground and then headed 61 yards with his golden-tipped dreadlocks waving in the air en route to the north end zone.

“He was running the fastest I’ve ever seen him run,” said junior safety Brandon Taylor. “It was a funny sight to me, and I went to the end zone to congratulate him.”

The celebration was premature, as Sheppard’s score was called back after officials reviewed the play and ruled him down on LSU’s 39-yard line.

“It all happened so fast. The referee didn’t know I had the ball until I got up, and the ref was like, ‘C’mon,’ so I took off running, and they called it a touchdown,” Sheppard said. “They really didn’t know what happened. It all happened so fast.”

The 6-foot-3-inch, 240-pound linebacker didn’t notch his first college touchdown, but he did record a team-high 10 total tackles against the Cowboys.

Sheppard has led the Tigers in total tackles six out of seven games this season. He has also made his intimidating presence felt in opposing backfields with 2.5 sacks and 6.5 tackles for loss.

“Kelvin’s been here five years,” said junior cornerback Patrick Peterson. “He’s definitely the general of the defense.”

Sheppard has received national attention this season with 66 total tackles. He averages 9.4 per game, which ranks second in the Southeastern Conference and 33rd in the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision.

SHEPPARD, see page 10 BRIANNA PACIORKA / The Daily Reveille

LSU senior linebacker Kelvin Sheppard warms up Saturday, Sept. 11, before the Tigers’ 27-3 victory against Vanderbilt in Nashville. Sheppard has led LSU in total tackles six out of seven games this season.

Watch an interview with Sheppard at lsureveille.com

FOOTBALL

Tigers to face tough test in Newton Rachel Whittaker Chief Sports Writer

The LSU defense is No. 1 in the Southeastern Conference in total and passing defense, allowing 242.1 and 158.6 yards per game, respectively.

But the unit will face arguably its toughest test of the season in Auburn junior quarterback Cameron Newton during Saturday’s matchup between the two remaining undefeated teams in the SEC. LSU coach Les Miles showered praise on Newton at his weekly media luncheon Monday.

The 6-foot-6-inch, 250-pound quarterback is the SEC leader in rushing with 122.9 yards per game and total offense with 305.4 yards per game. Newton leads the nation with 25 combined touchdowns rushing and passing.

“You don’t really stop a guy like that. You try to contain him,” Miles said. “If we had a guy like Cam Newton, he might be our third quarterback. … He gives a blow like a fullback, he’s elusive like a tailback, and he has a great touch on the ball. … He’s a legitimate Heisman contender.”

Newton spearheads Auburn’s No. 1 rushing offense in the SEC, which averages 283.7 yards NEWTON, see page 10

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Tigers lack a scoring threat for first time in decade LSU picked to finish fifth in SEC West Rowan Kavner Sports Writer

The go-to guy on the LSU men’s basketball team will be a mystery entering this season for the first time in nearly a decade.

The Tigers had perennial scorers in guard Marcus Thornton and forwards Tasmin Mitchell, Glen Davis, Brandon Bass and Stromile Swift in years past to rely on offensively.

This year will be a change of pace, as LSU coach Trent Johnson says the Tigers don’t have an obvious big-time scoring threat.

“I don’t think we’re going to have a guy on this team that you can look out there and say is

an all-league performer or a guy that’s going to come up and hit you in the face with 30 and 25 points,” Johnson said.

Johnson said he expects an assortment of players to score between nine and 12 points each game until one separates himself.

Mitchell averaged 16.8 points per game last season.

Thornton contributed more than 19 points per game from 2007 to 2009. Davis averaged 17.7 points per game in the 2006-07 season and averaged 18.6 the year before.

LSU has had a player average at least 15 points per game every season since the 1999-2000 season when Swift led the Tigers with 16.2 points per game.

Sophomore forward Eddie Ludwig said he’s not sure if the trend will continue this year, and the lack of a veteran scorer

is the biggest change in this season’s team.

“It seems like we’re going to have 10-plus guys scoring,” Ludwig said. “We’re going to have a scoring leader for every single game, and I think it could vary each game.”

The Tigers lost Mitchell and guard Bo Spencer, their top-two scorers from last season.

The third-leading scorer was then-sophomore forward Storm Warren, who averaged 11.8 points per game. Following Warren was a medley of LSU players who averaged fewer than five points per game.

Ludwig said spreading the rock could be beneficial for the Tigers this year until they find a primary scorer. He said Warren is the team’s “best player coming SCORING, see page 10

File photo

LSU sophomore forward Eddie Ludwig prepares his next move Saturday, March 6, during the Tigers’ 50-48 win against Georgia in the PMAC.

The Daily Reveille

page 8

FOOTBALL

Freshman players make an impact

12 have seen the field this season Sean Isabella Sports Writer

LSU fans who were still at Saturday’s game to witness redshirt freshman running back Michael Ford’s 36-yard touchdown run may have done a little head scratching.

Not that Ford’s second touchdown wasn’t music to everyone’s ears, but more of a reference to the gigantic figure wearing the No. 44 that paved the way for Ford’s second touchdown of the night — freshman J.C. Copeland.

Copeland, a mammoth 275-pound defensive tackle who also plays fullback, saw the field for the first time this season.

He is the latest LSU true freshman to see the field as LSU coach Les Miles has now played 12 freshmen, the highest ever under Miles and the most since 2006 when he played 10.

“Our veterans in the beginning of the year told them they expect young guys to play like veterans, and they have,” Miles said.

“This freshman class will win a lot of football games in their time.”

The freshman class, rated by Rivals.com as the No. 6 class in the country, has wasted little time acclimating itself to Tiger Stadium.

Freshman cornerback Tyrann Mathieu has already established his name as one of the premier playmakers in the Southeastern Conference.

He leads the team in forced fumbles (3) and fumbles recovered (2).

He ranks fifth on the team in tackles (25), third in sacks (2.5) and second in pass break ups (4).

Miles said he doesn’t have a recipe as to when to burn a redshirt or when to sit a guy out for a year, but he said he doesn’t rush judgment.

“Imagine if we would have gone into the year with a premature decision on Tyrann Mathieu” Miles said. “That’s really the issue, if you get a guy that potentially could really help your team,

BRIANNA PACIORKA / The Daily Reveille

LSU freshman running back Spencer Ware breaks a tackle Saturday in LSU’s win against McNeese State. Ware is one of 12 freshmen who have played this season.

and you deny him.”

Even so, the 12 freshmen that have seen the field so far has come as somewhat of a surprise to many.

Historically, Miles has rarely put freshmen on the field, having only played 21 in the past three years.

But the Tigers lost a large chunk of their team to graduation, lost eligibility and the NFL draft, leaving Swiss cheese-like holes in the depth chart and thus creating early opportunities for playing time.

“It’s been a big difference in our team because it’s created this competition everywhere,” said junior running back Stevan Ridley.

“No one’s spot is guaranteed.”

Ridley has benefitted from Ford and freshmen Alfred Blue and Spencer Ware to take the load off him in certain situations.

Blue has 70 yards and a touchdown, while Ware has 39 rushing yards and six catches for 55 yards.

Miles didn’t have a choice whether or not to redshirt Ware or Blue with the departure of Charles Scott and Keiland Williams and burned the redshirt of defensive end Justin Maclin last weekend to provide depth after learning Sam Montgomery would be out for the year with a knee injury.

The secondary also needed a

shot in the arm after losing Chris Hawkins, Danny McCray and Chad Jones. Defensive coordinator John Chavis turned to Mathieu, along with safety Eric Reid and defensive backs Tharold Simon and Ronnie Vinson to help fill the void.

Reid has played in all seven games, registering eight tackles, while Simon and Vinson have recently seen the field in dime situations.

“You have to take baby steps.

You can’t just throw them in,” said sophomore wide receiver Russell Shepard, who played in all 12 games as a true freshman last season. “You need to work them on the field slowly.”

As for Copeland, this may be just the tip of the iceberg.

Miles said Monday walk-on junior James Stampley will remain the starter, but Copeland will get his chance to wreak havoc on opposing defenses.

“J.C. Copeland is a tremendous young player and a guy who will play significant football from this point forward,” Miles said.

“He’ll get some playing time in this game against Auburn.”

Contact Sean Isabella at sisabella@lsureveille.com

Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2010

The Daily Reveille

Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2010

SCHWEHMMING AROUND

Saints finally find offensive rhythm I’ll admit it. I’m a junkie for high scores and offensives.

Lots of people like defensive battles. I, on the other hand, prefer the high-scoring affairs.

Sure, a low-scoring game has its high points.

It’s like a soccer match. One team gets close, then there is a turnover that leads to the other team knocking on the door to score.

But nobody ever does, and the game ends with fewer than 20 combined points.

I need more points.

For over Andy Schwehm a month and a Sports Columnist half, I’ve been waiting for an offensive explosion from those New Orleans Saints.

I grew accustomed to their offense putting up 30-plus points a game last season on a regular basis.

This season, there was nothing. No cheap thrills.

All I got was a mediocre offensive that was killing my fantasy team’s dreams of becoming champions.

The bigger problem was, I couldn’t find other ways to get my fix.

With LSU’s offense down in a gutter, I started to roam the streets, looking for a way to handle my addiction. I needed a fix.

But even the kids playing street ball couldn’t provide that for me.

“We’ve lost our offense too,” one kid told me. “We used to watch the Saints and LSU and learn from their offense, but they don’t have one anymore.”

“I feel your pain, kid,” I told him. “I feel it.”

Sunday, I finally got what I had been looking for.

The Saints went to town, stomping all over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 31-6. It was magical.

Even the commentator on FOX said that the Saints had “put together the perfect game.”

I wouldn’t go that far (The defense did give up a late touchdown, though it was partially because they were just playing to contain a big play).

But it was pretty close to perfect, especially offensively.

The great thing about the offense was that it was an all-around effort.

The Saints finally opened their playbook a little bit to throw

photo courtesy of the Associated Press

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees throws a pass Sunday during the Saints’ win against Tampa Bay. The Saints won, 31-6.

the ball deep.

Saints quarterback Drew Brees hit wide receiver Lance Moore for a 41-yard touchdown strike to open the scoring, and not long after that he hit Robert Meachem for a 42-yard touchdown.

And the running game held its own as three Saints running backs combined to rush for 210 yards.

For a team that entered 31st (out of 32) in the NFL in rushing at a 75.6 yard-per-game clip, that’s a pretty impressive stat.

All three of those backs, you may note, are backups to injured running backs Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush.

The Saints’ offensive line created some holes against a Tampa Bay defense that is just as bad against the run as the Saints were so far this season running the ball.

The Bucs entered the game ranking 30th in the league against the run, giving up more than 140 yards per game entering the contest.

It showed.

Chris Ivory (who I decided for whatever reason to bench in my fantasy league) went for 158 yards on just 15 carries.

That was the first time since week three last year that a Saints back cracked the century mark (Pierre Thomas went for 126 in a 27-7 win against the Bills).

It was also the most by a Saint since Deuce McAllister ran for 165 yards against Washington in 2003.

It was the offensive explosion that I’ve been awaiting.

Now, I hope they can keep it up.

And maybe teach that team on campus a thing or two on how to effectively throw the ball down the field.

Andy Schwehm is a 21-year-old English and psychology senior from New Orleans. You can follow him on Twitter @TDR_ASchwehm.

Contact Andy Schwehm at aschwehm@lsureveille.com

page 9

The Daily Reveille

page 10 SCORING, from page 7

back from last year,” but outside of Warren, he doesn’t know who the leading scorer could be.

“If we had that one guy it’d be nice,” Ludwig said. “But we don’t, so we have to use what we’ve got.”

Warren has been battling every day in practice with junior forward Malcolm White, who averaged 7.2 points per game and shot 50 percent his sophomore season with Ole Miss before transferring to LSU. Johnson said White is the one guy he’s most comfortable putting on the floor this season because of his experience and physicality, and he has been working with White offensively in the ‘I don’t offseason.

“He has a think we’re very good ungoing to derstanding in low post, have a guy the and we’ve tried ... that’s to, during inworkgoing to dividual outs, expand come up his game to and hit medium-range shots,” you in the jump Johnson said. face with All four incoming LSU 30 and 25 freshmen averpoints.’ aged at least 16 points per Trent Johnson game in their LSU men’s senior years of basketball coach high school.

Guard Andre Stringer and forward Matt Derenbecker, freshmen, were two-time Gatorade Players of the Year.

Stringer, who scored 61 points in one high school game, was the all-time leading scorer at Forest Hill High School in Jackson, Miss.

Johnson said Stringer, who is competing with junior Chris Bass and sophomore Daron Populist at point guard, has a “chance to be special.”

“Andre is a guy that right now is going to have a lot of freedom like I always do with guys who have a skill set like him,” Johnson said. “We’d like to see what he can do offensively.”

But Johnson said he doesn’t want to speculate who will be the leading scorer before any games have been played.

“I’ll have a better idea after we go through these scrimmages against Southern Miss at their place on Oct. 23 and after we scrimmage Tulane at their place the following week,” Johnson said.

LSU was picked by the media Monday to finish fifth in the SEC West this season, one year after the Tigers finished last in the division at 2-14 in league games.

Florida and Mississippi State were picked to win the SEC East and West, respectively, while the Gators were tabbed as the preseason favorite to win the overall crown.

No LSU players were named to the all-conference preseason teams.

Contact Rowan Kavner at rkavner@lsureveille.com

SHEPPARD, from page 7

“[Senior defensive end] Drake Nevis and Kelvin Sheppard are having the kind of years that would lead to national awards,” said LSU coach Les Miles. “Both guys are team players, and both guys are very much about the play of our team.”

LSU defensive coordinator John Chavis also thinks highly of the experienced Mike linebacker.

“As long as I’ve coached this game, I don’t know that I’ve coached a young man smarter than Kelvin Sheppard,” Chavis said at LSU Media Day. “He absolutely knows the game inside and out.”

NEWTON, from page 7

per game.

LSU will counter the Auburn rushing attack with the No. 1 rushing defense in the conference, which allows just 83.6 yards on the ground per game.

Auburn racked up 65 points against Arkansas this past weekend, propelling it to No. 1 in the SEC in scoring offense with 40.7 points per game. LSU is near the bottom at No. 10 with 26.7 points per game and last in passing offense after tallying just 103 yards against McNeese State.

Miles again expressed

Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2010

But “The Chief” doesn’t let Sheppard’s success get to his head.

“Coach Chavis makes sure I stay humble,” Sheppard said. “He never lets me get ahead of myself.

He always tells me I’m doing a great job, but as a player, if I want to improve and get better, he tells me things I can do every week.”

This week Sheppard faces the biggest challenge of the season — containing Auburn junior quarterback Cameron Newton.

The dual-threat quarterback sits atop the SEC with a conference-leading 122.9 rushing yards per game and a 180.5 passing efficiency.

“He’s a great player,” Sheppard said. “He’s going to take off running and beat you all day with his legs, and if you show you’re coming up, he’ll give you a little play action like he’s running and throw it.”

Sheppard and Newton won’t be strangers Saturday when they face off for SEC supremacy at JordanHare Stadium.

“We grew up in Atlanta and went to high school in Atlanta,” Sheppard said.

Auburn, the SEC’s leader in total offense, has averaged 481.1 yards per game, but LSU’s stingy defense is No. 1 in the conference, only giving up 242.1 yards

per game.

Sheppard and Peterson, the two vocal veteran leaders of the defense, have already begun planning to teach the younger players about the LSU-Auburn tradition.

Peterson said Sheppard sent him a text message Monday saying, “We got to talk to the troops and get their minds right for the game.”

“He definitely knows all the importance of this rivalry,” Peterson said of Sheppard.

confidence Monday in the team’s dual-quarterback system. Miles said the team “needs both skill sets” of juniors Jordan Jefferson and Jarrett Lee, and he is hopeful the passing game will manifest itself with both quarterbacks against Auburn.

“I just watched a film where we scored 31 points against last year’s Auburn team when [Jefferson] was quarterback the whole game,” Miles said. “The year before, [Lee] was the quarterback, so I like what we’re doing. …

Would we like to have one guy?

Yeah. But honestly, I like the two we have.”

When asked if the LSU offensive game plan was more conservative against McNeese State, Miles said Saturday’s offensive look was not the exact range of calls the offense will employ against Auburn.

“There are some things we didn’t call in the McNeese game plan. It was something that we wanted to manage certain reps,” Miles said. “We probably were a little heavy in some personnel groups where we aren’t naturally that way.”

LSU senior left tackle Joseph Barksdale left the McNeese State game with an injury, but Miles

said Barksdale is “fine” and not in danger of missing time.

Junior T-Bob Hebert started at right guard Saturday, a move Miles said helps the offensive line.

“The veteran mindset T-Bob possesses has really helped the right side,” Miles said. “He and [sophomore right tackle] Alex Hurst have enjoyed the ability to communicate about the scheme, and he brings a very aggressive mindset to his position.”

Contact Michael Lambert at mlambert@lsureveille.com

Contact Rachel Whittaker at rwhittaker@lsureveille.com

The Daily Reveille

Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2010 LETTER, from page 1

newspapers, Hudson’s letter elicited attention from numerous national news outlets, including The Boston Globe, the Chicago Tribune, CNN and The Associated Press. It also appeared on Louisiana news websites like The Advocate, The Times-Picayune and WWL in New Orleans.

The letter was also linked on numerous blogs, including The Dead Pelican and Bayou Buzz.

Hudson told The Daily Reveille he was inspired to write the letter after a meeting with Jindal’s Executive Counsel Stephen Waguespack and Policy Director Camille Conaway.

“We were told Jindal didn’t have time to meet with us, which we understood,” he said. “Then I thought, ‘No wonder he doesn’t have time to meet with us: He’s not in the state.”

Kyle Plotkin, Jindal’s press secretary, released a statement Monday in response to the letter. He pointed out that Hudson had met with administration officials.

“It’s great he and other students are getting involved in the political process, and we hope they continue to be part of the conversation,” Plotkin said. “The reality, though, is that higher education officials are not delivering the value our students deserve.”

Plotkin’s release did not address Hudson’s concerns about Jindal’s travels.

Hudson took issue with parts of the response, especially the claims about high-value educations.

“LSU is a top-tier institution. We’re doing a fantastic job of

educating our students,” he said. “If you have a problem with other institutions, that’s fine, but an across-theboard cut isn’t fair.”

LSU was selected on Kiplinger’s Personal Finance’s list of the “100 Best Values in Public Colleges for 2009-10” last semester.

Hudson also questioned Plotkin’s claims that higher education officials could reduce administrative overhead instead of classes.

“That’s great in theory, but not in application,” he said. “The simple fact is that LSU is going to have to make cuts to the academic core.”

Hudson also said he did not feel the Jindal administration had communicated well enough with student representatives.

“The main thing I’m just looking for is a meeting,” he said. “Let’s sit down and talk about these issues.”

Jindal has been touring the country recently, campaigning for high-profile Republican candidates.

Two weeks ago, Jindal was in Missouri attending his brother’s wedding — as well as a fundraiser for his re-election and a stop at U.S. Senate candidate Roy Blunt’s campaign headquarters.

Last week, Jindal was in Florida to endorse U.S. Senate candidate Marco Rubio, in New York campaigning for himself and in New Hampshire for a fundraiser in support of gubernatorial candidate Tom Stephen.

Jindal was in Madison, Wis., on Monday raising money for gubernatorial candidate Scott Walker.

Contact Matthew Albright at malbright@lsureveille.com

ATTACK, from page 1

right in this situation. She was observant and became more alert once she knew something wasn’t right,” Scott said. “In this instance, she was truly a victim of a circumstantial encounter.”

Scott said all parties involved are lucky the situation ended safely, and the police do not advocate the type of response issued by both the victim, who fought to keep her phone, and the students who chased down the suspect.

Scott said the students who aided in the victim’s rescue were helpful in detaining the suspect, but the situation could have been much worse.

CUT, from page 1

months until it runs out of money.

An e-mail from LSU System President John Lombardi to System chancellors said the LSU System Office received “additional guidance” about the management of the midyear budget reduction.

“The midyear budget reduction allocation distribution to all postsecondary education is a result of the directive that only $12.5 million could come from the state-defined teaching institutions,” Lombardi said in the e-mail.

The teaching institutions were assigned a 1.6-percent cut, and nonteaching institutions were assigned a 13.3-percent cut, according to the e-mail.

The LSU System received a higher portion of the entire midyear cut to higher education than the other systems because more of the LSU

page 11 “What they did was a great service, but there could have been some dangerous consequences,” he said.

Scott said students should call the police in situations involving a violent assailant.

The victim was brought to the hospital for her injuries and was released while Gauthier was booked in East Baton Rouge Parish Prison, Scott said.

Nancy Colyar, assistant dean of libraries, said she was not aware of the incident and that LSUPD handles security for the library.

Scott said surveillance cameras are located inside the library, and officers believe Gauthier had been visiting a friend who attends the University.

Scott said the previous Student Government administration launched an initiative to use specified grant money for the University to purchase surveillance cameras to be placed in the Quad, but the cameras are not yet up and running.

“They are waiting for the necessary electrical infrastructure,” Scott said.

Scott said students can decrease their odds of being victimized by walking in pairs and staying in welllit areas.

“These things will decrease the odds, but they won’t take them away,” he said.

System entities do not qualify as teaching institutions.

“The LSU System was assigned $21.2 million as its share of the midyear reduction to all post-secondary education,” Lombardi said in the email. “This amounts to 4.9 percent of the LSU System’s state general funds. This allocation is the largest of any system of higher education as the other systems range from 1.7 percent to 2.3 percent.”

The LSU System has more non-teaching units than the other systems, and their cuts totaled $16.1 million, according to the e-mail. The system’s non-teaching units include the LSU AgCenter, Pennington Biomedical Research Center, E.A. Conway Hospital, Huey P. Long Hospital, Shreveport Hospital and the LSU System Office.

“It became clear that the consequences of this distribution to the non-teaching units would be a

significant reduction in the functions of all units in this group,” Lombardi said. “In the case of Ag and Pennington, it would require the dismissal of tenured and contract faculty and the reduction or elimination of many critical programs, as well as the loss of federal research grants.

To soften the blow to the LSU AgCenter and Pennington Biomedical Research Center, $7.3 million was taken from their cuts and divided among the other System units.

The additional $2.7 million cut brought the total to $5.1 million in midyear reductions to the LSU-Baton Rouge campus.

Lombardi said he has asked the chair of the Board of Supervisors to schedule a special meeting to approve the changes in the allocations of the midyear cuts.

Contact Sarah Eddington at seddington@lsureveille.com

Contact Catherine Threlkeld at cthrelkeld@lsureveille.com

The Daily Reveille

Opinion

page 12

OUR VIEW

Hudson’s letters causing stir, only the first step Image is everything in politics.

Gov. Bobby Jindal has been flying around the country lately, trying to cultivate that image. And there’s nothing wrong with that — except when it comes at the expense of his constituents.

Jindal has been traveling to Missouri, Florida, New York, New Hampshire and Wisconsin in the past two weeks to raise funds and campaign for Republican candidates and himself — all while he seems to be ignoring his state’s higher education crisis.

Jindal has been traveling so much that our Student Government President J Hudson wrote a letter and sent it to newspapers in the states Jindal is visiting, asking him

to return home and deal with the crises in his own state.

Hudson’s letter caught enough of Jindal’s attention to actually draw a response out of staff about higher education — something we haven’t seen for a long time (see our Jindal Count). But it was hardly a response at all.

Kyle Plotkin, Jindal’s press secretary, issued a response for Jindal to Hudson’s letter, saying his administration is regularly talking about the budget problems with higher education leaders.

As usual, the governor’s bland statement on higher education is vague at best — and it comes only because Hudson hurt his image in front of his rich Republican friends.

Deliverance for higher education rests mostly in state legislators’ hands, but part of it lies with Jindal — who’s done little to offer answers to students about the fate of Louisiana higher education.

All we want is for Jindal to answer our questions.

There’s no doubt Hudson’s efforts in sending the letter will bring much-needed attention to the dire straits of higher education in this state — if not Jindal’s attention, then that of national media outlets and political pundits.

But it’s only a starting point.

Students, be ready with your questions about the future of higher education just in case Jindal or his staff come knocking — not that

they will. Know what you want from him, and maybe Hudson’s remarks will spark real initiative for Jindal to answer students’ questions.

Use this national attention to your advantage: Write down your queries and concerns.

Send them to local legislators.

Send them to SG representatives.

Send them to The Daily Reveille.

Speak up and let your voice be heard before you graduate — and before Jindal makes his escape to Washington.

Contact The Daily Reveille’s editorial board at editor@lsureveille.com

Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2010

The Jindal Count Days Bobby Jindal has ignored our concerns:

7

Will higher education hold any priority with the administration in the coming budget crisis?

Would the governor support a constitutional amendment to protect higher education and allow for more “across the board” cuts?

What message would the Governor’s Office have for students, faculty and administrators faced with this crisis?

POP GOES THE CULTURE

In modern culture, persuasion is the ultimate art form

This week, I’m engaging in a “culture war” with fellow columnist Marcelo Vieira. Together we’re tackling a fundamental cultural question: What is an artist?

While forming my definition of the term “artist,” I must also defend pop culture’s artistic value.

Some might call this “defending the indefensible” — in any other column, I probably would too. But stay with me.

There’s really no contest here.

Mr. Vieira himself is a musician, while I can’t call myself an artist — this may prove problematic for

my argument.

But if one must have an artist’s “swagger” to ponder and appreciate art, doesn’t this disenfranchise the vast majority of an audience, upon whom a professional artist’s livelihood depends?

The masses also have validity, simply by being observers, listeners or readers — and customers.

Shouldn’t the fan base be given more credit?

Here’s where pop culture — whose full name is “popular culture” — comes to the rescue. Although the entertainment industry

BEST AND WITTIEST

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The Daily Reveille Editorial Board Sarah Lawson Robert Stewart Stephanie Giglio Steven Powell Andrew Robertson

Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor, Content Managing Editor, Production Managing Editor, External Media Opinion Editor

often uses popularity contests as business models, its consumer-driven quality makes it more democratic than traditional “high culture.”

Back to the initial question: What is an artist?

“One who makes art” doesn’t count. It’s a non-definition, only leading to the real question our society can’t answer: What is art itself?

My somewhat inconclusive theory: The concept of art and its creators is a social construction, constantly changing to stay relevant to the general public.

We rely on others to tell us what an artist is, but they just give examples of who they think are artists and not an explanatory definition.

We’ve reached a bit of a cultural identity crisis, where everything that is not absolute can be called art. Apparently, anything controversial, subjective and open to interpretation must be considered art. And if it comes down to opinion and personal taste, it’s automatically art.

By these criteria, art is merely the opposite of science.

(Note: This definition still doesn’t describe what art is but only says what it isn’t.)

If you can convince at least one other person to see your creation as artistically valuable (often resulting in acts of sale), it doesn’t matter if someone calls it junk — you’re an artist.

When this swaying system becomes our basis of judgment, we

tend to describe everything we like as art and everything we dislike as trash.

I’ve said the Roaring ’20s decade was almost culturally identical to our generation, but I also think 1960s artist Andy Warhol fathered pop culture.

Many art historians believe Kelly Hotard Columnist Warhol obliterated the concrete definition of art with his neon depictions of Marilyn Monroe and Campbell’s soup cans. It’s no coincidence these works are classified as “pop art” — they’re strikingly prophetic of the 21st century’s obsession with celebrity and addriven art.

Elitists sneered at Warhol’s work, but Americans flocked to it.

We still do, judging by the amount of merchandise from purses to posters reproducing these images.

Warhol believed artists made “things people don’t need to have but he — for some reason — thinks it would be a good idea to give them.”

He championed creating pieces simply for the sake of enjoyment and the love of art. Isn’t inexplicable pleasure an artistic value in itself, regardless of degree of difficulty, skill or usefulness?

The rich and famous shouldn’t have a monopoly on artistry but neither should classically trained artists. The best artists

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.

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of every medium need timeless staying power, which requires elements of persuasion.

If you can’t use your creations to help others understand the world as you see it, art is just self indulgence. This may be why some “artists” bear the stigma of snobbery. True artists must leave legacies by repeatedly communicating and connecting with their audiences.

But once again, I invoke Warhol’s wisdom: “In the future, everyone will be famous for 15 minutes.”

Even modern composers — artists in the traditional, education-based sense — hardly ever resonate with society unless their masterpieces are attached to pop culture elements like movies.

Artists and scientists use opposite work ethics. Where the latter prove their ideas credible by experiments, artists must convince others their contribution is worthy.

(Even now, I can’t tell you what I think artists are — only what they do).

For both mainstream and classical artists, it’s a constant struggle for the confidence vote. The battle rages on, but the pop culture defense rests.

Kelly Hotard is a 19-year-old mass communication sophomore from Picayune, Miss. Follow her on Twitter @TDR_khotard.

Contact Kelly Hotard at khotard@lsureveille.com

Quote of the Day “So vast is art, so narrow human wit.”

Alexander Pope British poet May 21, 1688 — May 30, 1744

The Daily Reveille

Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2010

Opinion

page 13

LETTER TO THE EDITOR CAMPUS-RESIDENT ALIEN

Gov. Bobby Jindal does not have total control over Louisiana budget cuts I recently read in the Baton Rouge Advocate about the SG President’s letter pleading for Gov. Bobby Jindal to return to Louisiana to deal with budgetary issues. I have a problem with our SG president writing such a letter for several reasons.

First and foremost, it was published in a New Hampshire newspaper. If he had an opinion about the Louisiana governor, he should have had the courage to publish it in a Louisiana newspaper’s editorial section. I’m sure the people of the great state of New Hampshire don’t care about the opinions of a college student 1,200 miles away.

They have their own unique issues.

The next problem I have with his ‘plea’ for the governor’s return to fix budget issues is that Gov. Jindal does not solely dictate the budget. He may draft it, and ultimately approve it, but our state’s budget issues are due to an out-ofcontrol Democratic state Legislature that appropriates for massive pork projects.

Finally, Jindal is very popular around the nation, and like many other highly visible Republicans, he is campaigning for his party.

Louisiana isn’t the only state with budget issues, yet New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, along with Gov. Jindal, are all fundraising for the Republican Party across the nation. This is important for the national reestablishment of bipartisanship that was lost under the Obama administration.

Additionally, it makes Gov. Jindal highly visible to the nation as a potential presidential candidate in 2012 or 2016. If the people of Louisiana elected him governor, along with his high approval rating, the people of Louisiana should like to see him run the nation.

The facts indicate that Louisiana was one of the least affected states by the economic recession.

Gov. Jindal and his policies kept Louisiana relatively prosperous in comparison to the rest of the nation. If he can do that on a national stage, Louisiana would experience further economic prosperity.

If Hudson wants the governor of Louisiana restrained to the state, maybe he should run for governor with his own agenda. As for Gov. Jindal’s travels, I wish him well.

In modern culture art is greatness, not fame What makes one an artist?

Trying to answer this question is the goal for my column this week. It could be fun to tread this uninhibited and mind-wandering path, but I have reasons to believe it’s bad news for me.

If you look at my colleague Kelly Hotard’s column on the opposing page, you’ll see that this is a head-tohead debate. Not only I am supMarcelo Vieira posed to write Columnist about personal challenges to me — I’m an artist-musician — but I have to do it with an opponent whose native language is English and has shown to be an outstanding critic of pop culture.

Although some of my fellow artists would always be willing to argue on possible definitions of what they are struggling to be, an artist is simply a communicator.

But do not misunderstand — simply communicating something doesn’t make you an artist. Even if your product is selling, you still may not be an artist (take notice, pop culture).

Opposed to what many people perceive, there’s much objective and concrete work behind

an artist’s will to communicate.

The work of art is the final result of everyday work that can take months or years to mature. Sometimes this final “product” comes faster, but it doesn’t mean there’s no structure, thought, exercise or consideration behind it.

So, I’d gently nod to Kelly and say: “Sure, pop art can very much be art — there is a lot of work involved in Lady Gaga’s latest video clip, and she’s definitely communicating something.” But I’d also urge Miss Hotard and the pop-ingesting audience to consider adopting the term “entertainment.”

Every artist wants success, even if he or she won’t admit it.

But I know pop artists are always dying to believe their work has more value than dollars in an account. After the thrill, they want to feel their work actually means something.

I’m advocating not for a specific genre of artist — like classical music — but for the fact that art is hard work. I live and work with people who are in an everyday journey to find how to communicate and express their beauty and concern with the world in their own ways.

Some of my peers are studying and working relentlessly, many times with scientific

precision to offer a performance, an oeuvre and a glance of infinity to an audience for just a second.

I’m sure many of them will reach commercial success in different ways in their futures. I know others will remain in the academic environment developing their artistic activities and spreading their “gospels.”

In the post-Andy Warhol society, the point now is not if academic art is more valuable than pop art. If an artist’s ultimate concern is either selling or academia, then he’s damned on both accounts.

I recently watched the documentary “Man on Wire” by director James Marsh. It’s about French artist Philippe Petit, a tightrope walker who walked on a wire between the two World Trade Center towers in the ’70s. His story shows us that his art fulfilled the purpose of stunning people, and the movie itself makes us wonder about the meaning of several common things in life.

But when confronted with the “why?” factor from journalists after the act, he said, “There is no why. I did something magnificent, and you are giving me back a practical ‘why?’”

Here’s where I’ll try to tune myself in the duet with Kelly: If art is not helping people to renew

their senses about life and the world around them, they might be uselessly egotistic.

But getting attention should be a consequence, not a purpose.

Real art should come from serious, hardworking imaginaries who invoke beauty and employ technique and structure.

To paraphrase a recent quote from a musician friend of mine: “I work my ass off, don’t sleep and feel like some sort of restless monk. I wouldn’t change my struggle to live as an artist, even for all the hours of sleep in the world. And if someday things get easier, I will still look back and be thankful for the life I have today.”

Aspiring artists in modern culture are surrounded by getknown-quick schemes and YouTube dreams.

I’ll keep my cello, Kelly — you keep your Kanye.

Marcelo Vieira is a 32-year-old jazz cello graduate student from Brazil. Follow him on Twitter @TDR_Mvieira.

Contact Marcelo Vieira at mvieira@lsureveille.com

THE PEN IS MIGHTIER

Erik Rhine political science senior

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

ZACH CHATELAIN / The Daily Reveille

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The Daily Reveille

Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2010