Dorms: Website rates Herget Hall 12th worst in nation, p. 3
Baseball: LSU scores late to outlast Sacred Heart, 6-1, p. 5
Reveille The Daily
www.lsureveille.com
Music: Alt. musicians gather in NOLA for festival, p. 9
Thursday, March 10, 2011 • Volume 115, Issue 103
Day at the Museum Foster Hall holds one of the nation’s largest natural history museums The LSU Museum of Natural with a high ceiling and was transScience appears to be an average formed into a two-story, multipurgallery of artifacts and diorama dis- pose building to accommodate its plays at first glance. new inhabitants. But it’s what lies beyond the The museum has since grown glass cases and plaques that has cap- to one of the nation’s largest natural tured the attention history museums, of University stuwith more than 2.5 Sydni Dunn dents and researchmillion specimens Staff Writer ers worldwide. on site. The museum was founded in While some animals are on dis1936, when former director George play in the museum area, the majorLowery assembled a few study ity of the items are behind closed specimens of birds in a classroom doors. in Audubon Hall, according to the “This is the bird collection museum website. In the 1950s, the room,” Sheldon said as he pushed museum was moved to its current open a pair of doors in the back of location in Murphy J. Foster Hall. the museum site. Frederick Sheldon, director Through the double doors, two of LSUMNS, said Foster Hall was FOSTER, see page 15 originally a single-story dining hall
BOARD OF REGENTS
Gov. adds minority Board member Sydni Dunn Staff Writer
photos by SHAINA HUNTSBERRY / The Daily Reveille
[Above] Biological sciences junior Lauren Oliver samples genetics Friday in the Foster Hall basement. [Left] Bird specimens from around the world are stored in Foster Hall under the care of LSU Museum of Natural Science director Frederick Sheldon.
Gov. Bobby Jindal announced Wednesday that Albert Sam II, a Baton Rouge surgeon, has been appointed to the Board of Regents. Sam will replace Board member Roland Toups, who stepped down Monday. Toups’ resignation followed a meeting last week with Jindal and his chief of staff, according to The Times-Picayune. Sam is a surgeon with the Baton Rouge Vascular Specialty Center and serves as chief of vascular surgery at Baton Rouge General Medical Center. He will be appointed to serve as a representative of the 6th Congressional District in accordance with the requirements of the state’s constitution, according to a news release. All appointments are subject to Senate confirmation, the release said. If approved, Sam, an AfricanAmerican, will be the only racial minority member on the all-white administrative board. The Board’s makeup has stirred controversy since Feb. 14, when a lawsuit was filed against the Board for being unconstitutional. Contact Sydni Dunn at sdunn@lsureveille.com
CRIME
LSUPD sees increased arrests with use of License Plate Reader Dept. began scans in last month Celeste Ansley Staff Writer
The LSU Police Department has seen an increase in arrests in the last 30 days since it began a partnership with the District Attorney’s Office and Baton Rouge Police Department to use its License Plate Reader unit to scan for local violations.
The LPR unit is an LSUPD car with four cameras that work in conjunction with software to capture car license plates and check for serious crimes and infractions, said Det. Kevin Scott, LSUPD spokesman. “Since we started comparing local violations, we’ve made quite a few arrests,” Scott said. Scott said the number of arrests couldn’t be given, but the department has seen a noticeable increase since it began comparing local violations. Scott said the cameras can be
used as four separate devices, but the department decided to make the LPR equipment a “package device.” Scott said the LPR can scan 180 to 200 plates per minute. The device takes pictures of cars and plates, records car locations and the time pictures were taken using GPS coordinates. When a plate picture is taken, the LPR software compares the plate to the National Crime Information Center, an FBI computerized index SCANS, see page 15
CHRISTOPHER LEH / The Daily Reveille
The LSU Police Department is testing new equipment that automatically scans and pulls up data on license plates. The unit consists of a car with four cameras.
The Daily Reveille
Nation & World
page 2
Thursday, March 10, 2011
INTERNATIONAL
NATIONAL
STATE/LOCAL
NATO forces seize 48 rockets from Iran, thwart possible Taliban aid
NY television executive gets 25 years to life for beheading wife
Baton Rouge man found dead in home, investigation ongoing
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — NATO forces in Afghanistan have seized 48 Iranian-made rockets intended to aid the Taliban’s spring battle campaign, the most powerful illicit weapons ever intercepted en route from the neighboring state, officials said Wednesday. The shipment is seen as a serious escalation in Iran’s state support of the Taliban insurgency, according to NATO officials and described in detail by an international intelligence official.
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — A judge on Wednesday gave a former television executive the harshest punishment he could for beheading his estranged wife: 25 years to life in prison. Muzzammil Hassan, who claimed his wife abused him, stood with his head bowed as the judge told him his own children had nothing but contempt for him. He scoffed at the idea that Hassan stabbed Aasiya Hassan more than 40 times and decapitated her because he was afraid of her.
Pope receives ashes atop head in Ash Wednesday penitence rite
NYC teenager arrested in death of younger sibling’s hamster
ROME (AP) — Pope Benedict XVI marked the solemn opening of the Catholic church’s Lenten period with an Ash Wednesday service in an ancient Roman basilica. The pope wore an erminetrimmed crimson cloak in the chilly evening air as he walked in a short procession to St. Sabina’s Basilica on the Aventine hill. Then, in purple vestments representing the 40-day period of spiritual renewal and penitence to prepare for Easter, Benedict received a sprinkling of ash on his white hair from a cardinal.
NEW YORK (AP) — A New York City teenager has been arrested on a felony charge in the death of a younger sibling’s hamster. Joseph Pentangelo of the ASPCA says the creature, which belonged to a 9-year-old, died during a domestic dispute in June. The 19-year-old is accused of choking and squeezing the 4-ounce hamster and throwing it on the floor. It was then thrown across the street, though a necropsy concluded the animal was probably already dead at the time.
Connecticut man accused of stabbing while receiving haircut
(AP) — The East Baton Rouge Violent Crime Unit is investigating the death of a Baton Rouge man found with a fractured skull from blunt-force trauma inside his Meadow Creek Avenue home late Monday, authorities said. East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s deputies visited James E. Porter’s residence at 10 p.m. after receiving a call from Porter’s brother, who told deputies he hadn’t heard from his sibling since Feb. 26, Sheriff’s Office spokesman Maj. Lawrence McLeary said. Once inside the residence, deputies discovered the body of Porter, 39, McLeary said.
STAMFORD, Conn. (AP) — Police say a man was getting a haircut at an apartment in Stamford, Conn., when he grabbed scissors and slashed another man in the back. David Davis was arrested soon afterward when officers with a police dog found him in a nearby apartment. A police mug shot shows Davis with thick hair sticking up from only one side of his head. Stamford police Sgt. Cory Caserta says Davis was arraigned Wednesday on an assault charge.
(AP) — Gov. Bobby Jindal is making a whirlwind fundraising trip through Texas to raise campaign cash for his fall re-election bid. Jindal’s spokesman says the Republican governor was traveling to Dallas and Houston on Wednesday to attend fundraisers and would return to Baton Rouge the same day. So far, Jindal has no announced challengers. The election is Oct. 22.
Photo courtesy of THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
David Davis was arrested Tuesday and charged with slashing another man in the back during a haircut. Davis has been charged with assault.
Jindal fundraises in Houston, Dallas for his re-election campaign
Today on lsureveille.com Read stories online only about coffee, Student Government and campus crime. Check out online updates on LSU gymnastics and men’s golf teams. Watch a video of the LSU Museum of Natural Science exhibits. Read the LMFAO entertainment blog about Lady Gaga song releases, and the New Spin Zone opinion blog about Planned Parenthood funding. Join us at flickr.com/groups/ thedailyreveillephotos
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Participate in the 2011 LSU Chalk Art Competition on Saturday , March 26!
8 am - 4 pm, LSU Parade Ground. Win one of four $100 cash awards! Visit teh Union Art Gallery or www.lsu.edu/union for applcations and guidelines
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ZACH BREAUX / The Daily Reveille
See photos of buildings at night in today’s Snapshot at lsureveille.com.
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POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
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The Daily Reveille
Thursday, March 10, 2011
page 3
HOUSING
Herget Hall ranked 12th worst dorm in the country by DormSplash
However, Huntley said she en- cations manager. High said he disagrees with joys the community promoted by Herget’s ranking on DormSplash, the social nature of the hall. explaining that Huntley said more than $1 milthe ranking Herlion was spent last get received is exBrian Sibille year for renovatreme and not enContributing Writer tions to Herget. tirely true. “We constantBobby GagA new website has ranked a ly strive for excelUniversity residence hall as one net, business adlence,” he said. of the worst college dorms in the ministration freshHigh said man, said he loves country. Jay High D o r m S p l a s h ’s DormSplash, a division of living in Herget. CampusSplashNetwork, is a web- The living condi- ResLife communications manager ranking was based on low sample site that allows college students to tions may not be anonymously review on-campus the best, Gagnet said, but he would rates — only five reviews thus far — and surveys done by ResLife housing at any United States uni- not choose to live anywhere else. Herget is show overall satisfaction with Herversity, said site weak in bathroom get. Vacancy in the dorm is filled co-founder Allen conditions and quickly every year, he said, and a Gannett. room size, said waiting list has already been creThe first annu- Ranking of LSU dorms Ryan Frazier, civil ated. al Dormy Awards, Based on student reviews from ResLife staff addresses all engineering freshranking the best DormSplash.com. man, but the group complaints, High said, but proband worst resi- • Acadian Hall - 3.2 out of 5 of friends the lems can only be solved if they are dence halls, were • Annie Boyd Hall - 3.8 building fosters brought to the staff’s attention. announced when • Blake Hall - 4.3 “Sometimes the most disgrunmake the dorm exthe site launched tled students are the most vocal,” ceptionally social. March 1 with more • Broussard Hall - 3.6 A n s h a ’ L a he said. than 7,100 re- • East Campus Apartments - 4.9 • Evangeline Hall - 3.8 High said he noticed a numBraswell, child views. and family studies ber of mistakes on the DormSplash The Univer- • Herget Hall - 2.8 freshman, said she site, but he said the bad reviews are sity’s own Herget • Highland Hall - 2.9 likes living in Her- still strongly considered. He said Hall was ranked • LeJeune Hall - 4.0 get because she he is proud of what ResLife has the 12th worst • Miller Hall - 2.7 can always find done at Herget Hall. dorm with a cur- • South Hall - 4.3 fellow classmates rent score of 2.8 • West Laville Hall - 4.0 Read about one student’s to help her with out of 5 based dorm experience on the Out school work. solely on student She said peoreviews. of Print news blog on Reviewers gave high marks ple consider Herget dirty and poorlsureveille.com to Herget in social categories, but ly constructed because it is old. Since the awards were rerooms received the poorest reContact Brian Sibille at leased, Miller Hall has been ranked views. One reviewer cited thin walls, lower than Herget with 2.7 out of bsibille@lsureveille.com small rooms and a loud environ- 5, and Highland Hall also ranks ment as reasons for a low ranking. low at 2.9. East Campus Apart7:20 a.m., “Would I live there again? No, ments, rated 4.9, and Blake Hall 8:20 a.m. but I totally didn’t hate it!” another and South Hall, rated 4.3, currently have the highest rankings of Unireviewer wrote. Noon, Katherine Finn, Herget resi- versity dorms. 3:20 p.m. Residential Life staff read dent and studio art freshman, said she agrees with DormSplash’s reviews and thoroughly address 4:20 p.m., ranking. She said the dorm is al- complaints about residence halls, 5:20 p.m. ways noisy and she usually leaves said Jay High, ResLife communithe building to study. Finn said much of the hall should be renovated because of how dirty Herget can get. “There’s always throw-up in the elevators,” she said. Alaina Huntley, psychology freshman, also lives in Herget and said the dorm can get loud.
ResLife disagrees with ranking
‘‘
‘Sometimes the most disgruntled students are the most vocal.’
Thursday March 10 SHADY’S
Baton Rouge’s Best Ladies Night Free Drinks & Cover for Ladies til 10 Free Wine and Martinis til 10 $3 calls For guys until 10 Come have a drink, Don’t be a DiCK
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
Newsbeat 3:00pm Newsbeat repeat 5:00pm Newsbeat repeat 6:30pm Newsbeat repeat 9:30pm All remaining times MtvU
page 4
The Daily Reveille
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Tiger Feed: Read blogger Ryan Ginn’s take on the officiating of the St. John’s-Rutgers contest
Sports
Thursday, March 10, 2011
page 5
FOOTBALL
Tigers triumph in late win, send Sacred Heart packing
Final LSU coaching vacancy filled Rachel Whittaker Sports Writer
CHRISTOPHER LEH / The Daily Reveille
Junior outfielder Mikie Mahtook slides into second base Wednesday in the sixth inning of the Tigers’ 6-1 victory against Sacred Heart in Alex Box Stadium.
Rowan Kavner Sports Writer
It seemed a high-scoring battle was inevitable with the Sacred Heart baseball team’s ERA at 6.53 and batting average at .309 entering Wednesday night. Instead, it took until the sixth inning for the No. 16 LSU team to break a 1-1 tie and separate from the Pioneers (4-4)
with a 6-1 victory in the first ever matchup between the schools. Sacred Heart freshman pitcher Nick Leiningen threw a masterful six innings of two-hit ball in his first career collegiate start. Leiningen, a left-hander who had a 10.80 ERA in two previous relief appearances this season, fooled the Tigers
(12-1) with a multitude of off-speed pitches. “He was throwing so slow that it was very effective against us,” said LSU coach Paul Mainieri. “It was slower than good hitting speed, and it just created a lot of problems for our kids.” PIONEERS, see page 8
The LSU football team will have no more coaching vacancies when it kicks off spring practice Friday. Giants assistant special teams coach Thomas McGaughey has accepted the position as LSU special teams coordinator. The hire fills the void left when Joe Robinson departed in February to be the North Carolina defensive line coach. McGaughey, THOMAS 37, will also be MCGAUGHEY an LSU defensive new special teams line coach. He coordinator has special teams coaching experience spanning the college and professional levels. McGaughey was special teams coordinator at the University of Houston, his alma mater, from 2003 to 2004. He was also a special teams assistant coach with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2002 and the Denver Broncos from 2005 to 2006 before taking a Giants position in 2007. McGaughey was a Houston safety from 1991 to 1995, and a member of the Philadelphia Eagles (1996) and NFL Europe’s Barcelona Dragons (1997) before starting his coaching career. Follow Rachel Whittaker on Twitter @TDR_RWhittaker. Contact Rachel Whittaker at rwhittaker@lsureveille.com
RECRUITING
In-state linebacker recruits rare Three La. commits on Rivals Top 250 Mark Clements Sports Contributor
Despite Louisiana’s reputation as a hotbed for football talent, recruiting top-tier in-state linebackers hasn’t been an easy task for LSU. Derek Ponamsky, recruiting analyst and publisher of BayouBengalsInsider.com, said the 2012 class may change that. “In the last couple years, there really hasn’t been those big time guys at linebacker,” Ponamsky said.
“What you have had are guys that are good players, but maybe not the superstar type, whereas the 2012 class has a couple elite level guys.” Three of the five LSU 2012 commitments — Shreveport native Torshiro Davis, Edgard native Ronnie Feist and Thibodaux native Trey Granier — are local linebackers, and all are listed on the Rivals.com Top 250 watch list for next year. LSU has reached far to reel in big-time linebackers in the past. Former Tigers Kelvin Sheppard and Perry Riley hail from small Georgia towns, while senior Ryan Baker and former Tiger and AllAmerican linebacker Ali Highsmith are both Florida natives.
“Picking up linebackers in Louisiana is finally a reality this year,” said Shea Dixon, managing editor of TigerSportsDigest.com. “They’ve already picked up a couple guys. ... They’re going after a few more.” Ponamsky said the lack of legitimate linebackers can be chalked up to the style of play and strategies of most Louisiana high schools. “At the high school level, if you’ve got a guy who can run and cover, you put him at safety. And if you’ve got a guy who’s physical and can get up the field, you put him at defensive end,” Ponamsky said. Dixon said many prototypical LINEBACKERS, see page 8
KERRY MALONEY / The Times-Picayune
White Castle quarterback Ronald Martin (left) tries to power through West St. John linebacker Ronnie Feist (right) on Nov. 12 during White Castle’s 12-0 victory.
The Daily Reveille
page 6
Thursday, March 10, 2011
TENNIS
LSU no match for No. 1 Virginia, loses 5-2 at home doubles matches to go up 1-0, including a rare defeat of the No. 17 duo of senior Sebastian Carlsson and junior Neal Skupski. Carlsson and Skupski had previously won Katherine Terrell eight of nine doubles matches this Sports Contributor spring. Carlsson said he thought No. 1 Virginia (15-0) came off a three-week layoff to extend the Tigers didn’t play as well as its perfect record on Wednesday, they could have, and had trouble in particular with the Cavaliers’ defeating LSU 5-2. LSU (4-7) returned to W.T. serving. “I think they were very “Dub” Robinson Stadium for the good,” Carlsson first time since said. “They were Feb. 8. But home serving very well. court advantage It was tough to get didn’t help the any of their serves Tigers against a down, at all.” Cavaliers team Carlsson who boasted five and senior Julien ranked players. Gauthier recorded “That’s a Sebastian Carlsson the Tigers only pretty stout group LSU tennis player wins of the day they’ve got there,” in singles play. said LSU men’s coach Jeff Brown. “I think we Carlsson defeated No. 30 Jarmere knew what was going on when we Jenkins in three sets 1-6, 6-5, 1-0, came in. [We knew] we were go- while Gauthier defeated No. 85 ing to have to play better than we Julen Uriguen 6-4, 6-4. The two points by LSU were have to this point.” Virginia won all three the most scored on Virginia this
Carlsson, Gauthier record singles wins
‘‘
‘It was probably my best match so far of the year.’
season. The Cavaliers had either swept or given up only one point in their previous 14 matches. “It was a tough start but then I got things going in the second set,” Carlsson said. “I got some good rallies and felt pretty good. It was probably my best match so far of the year.” Gauthier extended his win streak to three matches with his victory. “He’s getting better and that’s good to see,” Brown said. “Sometimes as a senior you can plateau, but for him and Sebastian those are great wins.” LSU is now 0-2 against Virginia, with the other loss coming during a 7-0 blowout last year. The competition doesn’t get any easier for LSU though as it hosts No. 22 Ole Miss at 3 p.m. on Friday at Robinson Stadium and Southeastern Conference Western Division rival Mississippi State on Sunday. BRIANNA PACIORKA / The Daily Reveille
Contact Katherine Terrell at kterrell@lsureveille.com
LSU senior Sebastian Carlsson smashes a forehand during a match Wednesday against Virginia at W.T. ‘Dub’ Robinson Stadium. Carlsson won 1-6, 6-5, 1-0.
SOFTBALL
No. 2 Florida defeats No. 21 LSU in SEC doubleheader sweep Tigers allow 22 hits, five home runs Hunter Paniagua Sports Contributor
No. 2 Florida spoiled LSU’s “Cochon de Gator” Wednesday night as the Gators roasted the LSU softball team in both games of a doubleheader at Tiger Park. The No. 21 Tigers (15-7, 0-2) opened the Southeastern Conference schedule by dropping the first game, 8-1, as Florida (21-0, 2-0) completed the sweep with a 5-0 defeat in the second game. “It was a disappointing outing for us all the way around,” said LSU coach Yvette Girouard. “Obviously, there was not enough good pitching, and not any kind of hitting to speak of. We don’t have a short game, and we don’t get on base very often.” The LSU offense failed to find a spark as the Tigers combined for only four hits in the two contests. Freshman outfielder Simone Heyward opened the second game with a leadoff single, but Florida senior pitcher Stephanie Brombacher shut down LSU en route to a one-hitter. “We’re not making very good adjustments from at-bat to at-bat,” Girouard said. “Whereas they really do.” The Tigers suffered their 11th straight regular season defeat at the hands of the Gators. Florida handed LSU its first conference loss in 2010 as well. Junior pitcher Brittany Mack said the difference between the teams starts at the plate. “I believe we can beat them
without a doubt,” Mack said. hitting team,” Mack said. “Out “We just didn’t focus so much of all those hits, only two I might on our at-bats the have missed my last few years. spots. I was hitWe come up and ting my corners, make the same and they’re just mistakes. They doing what hitters go through the do and hitting the lineup once and ball.” fix it.” Senior desigFlorida hitnated player Tiffaters teed off on ny Shaw recorded Yvette Girouard LSU pitchers, the only RBI for LSU softball coach combining for LSU with a run22 hits and five scoring single in home runs. Four of those homers the fifth inning of the first game. came in the seventh inning of the The hit brought the Tigers within first game as sophomore Rachele one run of Florida before an onFico and freshman Meghan Pat- slaught of six runs in the final two terson each surrendered a pair of frames made Florida’s lead insurlong balls. mountable. Fico’s six earned runs in that LSU fell behind in game two game matched a career-high set when Mack surrendered four runs last season against Florida. in the fourth. The Tigers’ offense “They’re just a good continued to sputter as no LSU
‘‘
‘It was a disappointing outing for us all the way around.’
player recorded an extra-base hit. “We just have to forget this game,” Mack said. “We just have to come back thinking we’re the better team and do our best and try to come together as a team.” LSU continues SEC action Friday with a weekend series at No. 1 Georgia. Georgia boasts a pair of pitchers in Alison Owen and
Morgan Montemayor. The duo has a combined 13 wins on the season and has allowed only 11 earned runs in 73 1/3 innings of work.
Contact Hunter Paniagua at hpaniagua@lsureveille.com
The Daily Reveille
Thursday, March 10, 2011
page 7
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Tigers start SEC tourney with rematch against Vanderbilt Michael Lambert Sports Writer
Today will be a long day for the LSU men’s basketball team. The Tigers were bumped to the final game in the first round of the Southeastern Conference tournament in Atlanta after a second-half collapse against Auburn on Saturday in the PMAC. The Tigers (11-20, 3-13) won’t tip off until 10 p.m. EST — 9 p.m. CST — with No. 3-seeded Vanderbilt (21-9, 9-7) in the opening round of the conference tournament. “[Junior forward] Storm [Warren], who is the elder statesman of the team, put in a request to sleep
until like 6 p.m., get up and have a pregame meal and go play,” LSU coach Trent Johnson joked during a media session Wednesday in Atlanta. Tonight’s game could signal the end of another forgettable season for men’s hoops in Baton Rouge. Auburn’s 60-51 victory against LSU on Saturday signaled LSU’s 13th defeat in its last 14 games. The loss put LSU in the cellar of the SEC West for the second straight year and the third time in the past five seasons. But the No. 6-seeded Tigers’ postseason chances are technically alive until they are eliminated from the SEC tournament.
“It’s not like football or any other sports for that matter,” Johnson said. “At the end of the year, you can be 0-30, and if you have a chance to play and win, you can continue to play. So that’s how we look at it.” The Tigers’ hopes of pulling the upset could rest in the play of Warren, who has come on strong toward the end of the season. The Monroe native recorded at least 12 points and five rebounds in the past four games. “You come out with a win, or you’re going home,” Warren said. “[We can’t] hold anything back and just let it all go out on the floor.” Unlike LSU, Vanderbilt is
raring for another postseason run after being ousted in the first round of NCAA tournament last year by Murray State. “We would like to play well, and we would like to gather some momentum going into next week,” Vanderbilt coach Kevin Stallings said Wednesday in Atlanta. “It will be good for these guys to feel the pressure of, if you get beat, you go home.” ESPN’s Joe Lunardi projects the Commodores as a No. 6 seed in the NCAA tournament. “We want to play well on Thursday night, and that’s all our focus is about and all it will continue to be about,” Stallings said.
LSU and Vanderbilt faced each other 12 days ago in Baton Rouge when the Commodores won, 90-69, after scoring 49 points in the second half. “I remember at halftime in that game, Coach Johnson came in and said defense was what was going to win it for us, and that’s what lost it for us,” said freshman guard Ralston Turner. Follow Michael Lambert on Twitter @TDR_Lambert.
Contact Michael Lambert at mlambert@lsureveille.com
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
LSU awaits NCAA fate after SEC quarterfinal tournament loss LSU beats Bama, loses to Kentucky Rachel Whittaker Sports Writer
The LSU women’s basketball team’s NCAA tournament fate is now in the hands of the NCAA selection committee with Selection Monday on the horizon in four days. LSU’s defense was dominant
in a 60-36 victory against No. 10seed Alabama in the first round of the Southeastern Conference tournament, but a narrow defeat in the quarterfinals to No. 2-seed Kentucky, 60-58, sent the No. 7-seed Lady Tigers packing. The nation’s No. 10 defense limited Alabama to just nine points in the first half, tied for the fewest total in any half in LSU history, and the Crimson Tide’s 36 total points tied for the fewest ever allowed in an SEC tournament game.
But limiting Kentucky to 60 points – 11 below its season scoring average – wasn’t enough. The same offensive struggles plagued the Lady Tigers, particularly woes from the free throw line. LSU shot just 6-of-15 from the charity stripe compared to Kentucky’s 15-of-19 total. Kentucky went on to advance to the finals of the SEC tournament, where it lost to No. 1-seed Tennessee, 90-65, on Sunday. The Kentucky loss was the
second of the season to the Wildcats by a two-point margin, as LSU dropped a 49-47 road contest Feb. 13. Now the Lady Tigers seek their 13th straight NCAA tournament appearance with a resume that includes a road victory Dec. 28 against then-No. 9 UCLA and a home win Jan. 30 against then-No. 20 Georgia. LSU hasn’t lost any games to opponents with an RPI of 90 or lower. “I’m not on the NCAA
committee,” said LSU coach Van Chancellor. “But if a UCLA win on the road, now won nine SEC games, played Tennessee twice and Connecticut [doesn’t make us] an NCAA team, I don’t know what it takes to be one.” Follow Rachel Whittaker on Twitter @TDR_RWhittaker. Contact Rachel Whittaker at rwhittaker@lsureveille.com
The Daily Reveille
page 8 PIONEERS, from page 5
Mainieri said the Tigers worked successfully on hitting the ball up the middle and to the opposite field before the game to adjust to the fierce wind. “Everybody sees this ball that looks like a beach ball coming into them, and they’re jumping out of their shoes trying to yank it,” he said. “They just totally forgot the whole plan.” LSU junior pitcher Tyler Jones surrendered three hits and one run in seven innings, shaking off a dreadful relief appearance in a loss against Princeton where he gave up three runs in two-thirds innings. Jones (3-0) threw four strikeouts and four walks and became the first Tiger pitcher this season to go more than 6 1/3 innings in an outing. “I’m not really giving up runs where they’re stringing together hits,” Jones said. “Any runs that you bring on yourself, like hit batters and walks, you definitely want to
LINEBACKERS, from page 5
linebacker-sized recruits often play running back in high school. He said the addition of defensive coordinator John Chavis to the staff three years ago changed the recruiting strategies for the position. “It’s Chavis’ style on defense getting the speed guys both at defensive end and at outside linebacker,” Dixon said. Chavis’ scheme has brought changes each year. Tiger fans watched defensive back Harry Coleman — recruited as a linebacker in 2004 — convert to his old position his senior year. In similar fashion, former defensive back Stefoin Francois was transformed to an outside linebacker last season, filling in for Coleman. Senior Karnell Hatcher is expected to do the same next season. “You just see so many guys that are not just linebackers but a lot of those outside linebacker types that are a fast hybrid,” Dixon said. “Some are big enough to play defensive end, and some can play safety.” To account for newly converted linebackers, many LSU linebacker recruits, including sophomore Barkevious Mingo, have made the switch to the defensive line. Ponamsky said Davis has the size and ability to follow in the footsteps of former linebackers. “If you watch his film, he’s explosive,” Ponamsky said. “He is a physical guy who plays with an aggressive streak. ... If you put him on the end, he’ll go get the quarterback for you.” Granier, who most think will
CHRISTOPHER LEH / The Daily Reveille
LSU sophomore designated hitter Raph Rhymes (4) attempts to steal second base during the Tigers’ 6-1 victory against Sacred Heart in Alex Box Stadium.
eliminate those, so I hope to do that next start.” Neither team had a hit until LSU sophomore designated hitter Raph Rhymes busted an RBI single to right field in the third inning, scoring junior left fielder Trey Watkins, who reached on an error. Sacred Heart threatened in
remain at linebacker throughout his college career, said he would trust his coaches if he was ever asked to make the move. “You’ve got to do what you’ve got to do,” Granier said. “Chavis will make the best moves for the best situations at the right time.” Contact Mark Clements at mclements@lsureveille.com
the top of the fourth inning with its first two hits of the game — the latter coming on a two-out hit and run which put men on the corners — but failed to score on Jones. The Pioneers were able to get their first run and tie the game, 1-1, the next inning after a sacrifice bunt and a bunt for a base hit led to an
Thursday, March 10, 2011 RBI sacrifice fly to sophomore right fielder Mason Katz. Watkins was busy on the base paths in the bottom of the sixth inning. He drew a walk, reached second base on a wild pitch, moved to third base on a groundout and made his way home on a sacrifice fly by junior third baseman Tyler Hanover to give the Tigers a 2-1 lead. “My role is to get on base any way possible,” Watkins said. “Walks, hits, bunts — anything.” LSU added two runs an inning to increase the lead, 4-1, with consecutive RBI singles up the middle by freshman second baseman JaCoby Jones and Watkins.
The Tigers repeated themselves in the bottom of the eighth inning with two more runs on an RBI triple by junior shortstop Austin Nola and a suicide squeeze bunt by Katz. “All of a sudden we looked like a pretty good offensive team the last couple innings,” Mainieri said. “I think it was a really good victory for us in the way that it all developed.” Follow Rowan Kavner on Twitter @TDR_Kavner.
Contact Rowan Kavner at rkavner@lsureveille.com
Entertainment
Thursday, March 10, 2011
page 9
Baseball Project to rock out in BR
Foburg headliners
Jeanne Lyons Entertainment Writer
RA RA RIOT
DAS RACIST
GIVERS
THE HOOD INTERNET
Alternative Energy Progressive music festival Foburg offers affordable experience in New Orleans Jeanne Lyons Entertainment Writer
Non-traditional music connoisseurs can caravan to New Orleans this weekend for a three-day music experience at the Foburg music festival. Located in the historical Frenchmen Street and Marigny area, the weekend festival features rock, indie rock and alternative genres of regional, as well as national, touring artists en route to the national music festival South By Southwest in Austin, Texas, the
Also featuring:
following weekend. “The overarching idea behind Foburg is that South By Southwest is the next week, so hundreds of bands are passing through New Orleans on their way to Austin,” said Nick Thomas, marketing promoter of New Orleans Indie Rock Collective. “We felt a need to create a platform in New Orleans for all these artists to perform, so we created Foburg.” With numerous advocacy groups promoting traditional New Orleans music like jazz, funk and blues, NOIR Collective, a group of local managers and promoters who publicize
Toro Y Moi T Bird & The Breaks
G-Eazy Janka Nabay
the local indie-rock scene and artists, created Foburg to promote alterative music in the city, Thomas said. A weekend pass costs $40 and gets music lovers a chance to see 40 different shows in one weekend. Translation: $1 a show, a price unheard of in the music industry, according to Thomas. More traditional music festivals have about six performances at a time, but Foburg has up to 12 different bands playing at any
Brass Bed Caddywhompus
FOBURG, see page 10
Glasgow Flow Tribe
Baseball meets rock ‘n’ roll Monday with musicians from R.E.M., The Dream Syndicate and Minus 5 collaborating with original music that embraces America’s favorite pastime at the Manship Theatre. The Baseball Project is a baseball-obsessed, critically acclaimed rock group that includes Steve Wynn, singer, musician and songwriter known from the band The Dream Syndicate with his music recorded by R.E.M. and The Black Crowes; R.E.M.’s Peter Buck; Minus 5’s and R.E.M.’s Scott McCaughey; and drummer Linda Pitmon. The show captures the past and present stories of baseball greats and the greatest moments of the sport. The Baseball Project has evolved into a critically acclaimed band with its debut album “Volume One: Frozen Ropes and Dying Quails” and second album “Volume Two: High and Inside,” according to a Manship Theatre news release. The show includes original songs by the group as well as songs from the original band’s catalogs, Wynn said. “It’s a lot of good members from popular bands from the past 25 years collaborating on one stage,” Wynn said. Audiences can enjoy the music even if they know nothing about baseball. Wynn said the songs are about historical incidents and human fables that BASEBALL, see page 10
FASHION
University alumna’s jewelry headed to NO Fashion Week Weiner designed pieces for musicians Kittu Pannu Entertainment Writer
Graduating with one major doesn’t mean a student can’t break out and do something different later in life — just ask Lauren Weiner, entrepreneur and University philosophy alumna. Weiner went from nanny to in-demand jewelry designer in just eight months. After experimenting with jewelry-making as a hobby, Weiner’s designs were discovered through her cousin. “I actually started just playing
around with jewelry about eight months ago. ... I gave a piece to my cousin,” Weiner said. “This stylist saw it, and it all kind of happened from there.” Through her recent success, Weiner will participate in New Orleans Fashion Week, which begins March 21. She said her pieces will pay homage to British aristocratic style. “I am planning on using a lot of color and geometric shapes and patterns for the show,” Weiner said. “I want to incorporate that with an Elizabethan Age style with pearls and stuff. It’ll be like ’80s meets Queen Elizabeth.” Weiner said she got her keen sense of style from her mother. “I grew up with a mom who had exquisite taste for jewelry,”
Weiner said. “It’s something sort of timeless. ... Jewelry is something that can gain worth.” In her first piece, Weiner recycled her old jewelry to create a new piece with meaning. “My grandfather’s old lieutenant’s badge was the first thing I ever used to make a bracelet,” Weiner said. “There’s a rich story behind pieces of jewelry. That’s why I like it.” Weiner said the history of jewelry is what attracts many people to invest in it. “I only use vintage pieces,” she said. “They’re really unique when you find them from different areas and time periods.” Weiner said she finds most
WEINER, see page 11
photo courtesy of LAUREN WEINER; by SARAH GUTIN BEATY
University alumna and entrepreneur Lauren Weiner’s jewelry is modeled. Weiner will take part in New Orleans Fashion Week starting March 21.
The Daily Reveille
page 10
Thursday, March 10, 2011
THE PRICE IS RIGHT
Indie music slowly dying as it blends into mainstream
Indie music is dying. I don’t mean there’s any shortage of new indie bands producing spectacular music. In fact, just the opposite is true. There are so many indie bands getting noticed by so many people that the genre itself has become misleading. Once upon a time — not too long ago, in fact — indie music was a new and unfamiliar genre with just a few bands that were generally considered to be far too strange and artsy ever to be popular with large audiences. It was the golden age of indie music, when Animal Collective and Minus the Bear were far too bizarre for any self-respecting cool kid to have ever heard of.
FOBURG, from page 9
one time at venues within walking distance of one another. A person can see 25 to 30 bands any given night for just $40, Thomas said. Foburg features not only straight rock, but also electronic, progressive hip-hop and comedy showcases. Headliners for the festival include New York indie-rock band Ra Ra Riot, rap art-world band Das Racist, Lafayette-based band GIVERS, electronic group The Hood Internet, the muti-cultural sounds of Toro Y Moi, the funky soul band T Bird & The Breaks, the father of Budu music Janka Nabay, New Orleans crunk band
But those days are over, and performances from Mumford and Sons and Arcade Fire on this year’s Grammy Award show validate my fears. Indie music is supposed to be independent. It’s supposed to be free from the constraints of what mainANDREW PRICE stream music Entertainment is supposed to sound like and Writer free to push musical and intellectual boundaries. In other words, true indie music is similar in principle
to what alternative and punk used to be. All three grew out of dissatisfaction with the state of mainstream music, but once punk and alternative became mainstream themselves, they experienced a significant drop in quality. Anyone who cringes at the memory of the emo fad should be seriously worried because something similar is about to happen to indie music — and sooner rather than later. In many ways it’s a natural part of the evolution of a genre — oversaturation within the genre discourages new and creative artists, and a high probability to achieve fame and fortune encourages bands to focus less on
creativity and more on producing music for quick cash. Mark my words: Soon the radio will be flooded with Band of Horses copycats — hundreds of bands desperate to sound like the latest and greatest modern folk band. Non-believers need only consider the lineup of every music festival this year to see the beginnings of the indie apocalypse. Every festival this summer is an homage to indie music — Arcade Fire, Mumford and Sons and Florence and The Machine are playing at almost all of them, and festivals are seeing record numbers in attendance. Every day in the Quad, students can be heard discussing
which festivals they hope to attend, and bands like The Decemberists and The Flaming Lips are often mentioned. Facebook and Twitter collectively exploded when the lineups for Bonnaroo and The Hangout were announced, with people who once wouldn’t have been caught dead sleeping in a tent at a hippie festival ecstatic to attend. What’s really disappointing is how little anyone can do to stop indie’s eventual death. It has been poisoned with popularity, and that’s a poison with no cure.
Jean-Eric and rapper G-Eazy. Louisiana that is so unique, and The members of GIVERS we are really excited to share that are excited about performing with the Ra Ra Riot posse.” back in their home state. The first Foburg festival was “Foburg will be the first show last year and featured 10 venues, we’ve played in a while,” the 100 bands and a crowd of about band said, according to manager 10,000 people, according to the Aaron Scruggs. Foburg website. “We’ve been Kate Grace cooped up in a Bauer, New Orstudio for weeks, leans resident, atworking 12-hour tended the festival days, napping last year and said on couches and it had a large turnordering fish taout, even at smallcos almost ever venues like The Nick Thomas ery day, which is Maison featuring great, but playing marketing promoter, NOIR Collective indie band Vox shows is someand the Hound. thing we all start to miss after a “Most of the bands were while. There is an openness in locally grown, sprinkled with
smaller national bands making their way to Austin for South by Southwest,” Bauer said. The Foburg music festival is also about community. “It’s on Frenchmen Street, where everyone’s hanging out and having a great time.” Thomas said. “The festival caters generally to younger people who
are a little bit alternative and progressive, but who are all interested in the same kind of music and are looking to have a great weekend.”
‘‘
‘The festival caters generally to younger people who are a little bit alternative.’
intimate setting,” Hanley said. The Baseball Project was anyone can appreciate. consummated after R.E.M. was Most people will recognize inducted into the Rock and Roll the popular musicians’ names Hall of Fame three years ago. and will want to “We all have check out their faknown each other vorite artists, said for a long time Rachel Hanley, and had a shared marketing direcmusical history tor assistant at the to begin with,” Manship Theatre. Wynn said. “Scott “There’s only McCaughey and I a few hundred were discussing Steve Wynn seats available, baseball at the afThe Baseball Project so people can ter party and had listen to major the idea to do a musicians in the theater’s small, record about baseball.”
BASEBALL, from page 9
‘‘
‘When we play together, it’s exciting, fun and spontaneous.’
Wynn said the show will be a good time even if fans of the bands do not share their passion for the sport. “When we play together, it’s exciting, fun and spontaneous. We never know where the night’s going to go,” Wynn said. “No two shows we do are ever the same, so audiences are going to see something that’s going to exist one time and one time only.”
Contact Jeanne Lyons at jlyons@lsureveille.com
Contact Andrew Price at aprice@lsureveille.com
Contact Jeanne Lyons at jlyons@lsureveille.com
The Daily Reveille
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Reveille Ranks
“Rango”
WEINER, from page 9
Paramount Pictures
“Rango” is a difficult movie to review. It looks like a kids’ movie and sounds like a kids’ movie, yet it isn’t. Beneath its computer-animated shell lies a pretty decent Western flick. There are gunfights, dynamite, betrayal, cigars, cactus juice (i.e. whiskey) and an assortment of other Western movie staples. Even “the man with no name” makes an appearance to guide Rango in the right direction. While this isn’t a movie to rush out and see while it’s still in theaters, it’s definitely rent-worthy for a movie night.
[B-]
TAYLOR BALKOM
Avril Lavigne, “Goodbye Lullaby”
RCA Records
Avril Lavigne hits back hard with her album “Goodbye Lullaby” after her divorce with Sum 41’s lead singer Deryck Whibley. Less mainstream than her last album, Lavigne writes from the heart about her experiences in the past four years, pulling material predominantly from her new single status and her divorce. Channelling P!nk’s “Funhouse,” Lavigne puts a slight punk-rock spin on it, making it her own. Standout tracks include “Push,” “Smile” and “I Love You.” The album is fun, an easy listen and a decent addition to her impressive discography.
[B+]
KITTU PANNU
“Beastly”
CBS Films
The latest teen romance takes a page out of Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” by focusing on the importance of inner beauty. After Kyle Kingson (Alex Pettyfer) rejects Goth classmate Kendra (Mary-Kate Olsen), she casts a spell on Kyle’s appearance, and he’s banished to Brooklyn where he meets a modern-day Belle named Lindy (Vanessa Hudgens). Featuring Neil Patrick Harris and directed by Daniel Barnz, “Beastly” makes an admirable effort to spin the classic tale, but the alternative plot doesn’t live up to the original tale.
[C-]
JEANNE LYONS
R.E.M., “Collapse Into Now”
Warner Bros.
There are two things to remember when listening to R.E.M.’s “Collapse Into Now.” One, a plethora of musical artists take a formulaic approach to making music — especially artists that have been around for years. Two, just because an album resembles many of its predecessors doesn’t mean it’s terrible. “Collapse Into Now,” the 15th studio album from R.E.M., firmly establishes itself from the first song as a pleasant blend of music the band has already created, and though few of the tracks are memorable, none of them are bad.
[B-]
“The Adjustment Bureau”
ANDREW PRICE Universal Pictures
Matt Damon and Emily Blunt fight destiny-setting forces on their quest to be together in their most recent flick “The Adjustment Bureau.” The cross-genre film includes everything from action to romance and science fiction. The movie is smart, sleek and keeps audiences on the edges of their seats during Damon’s Bourne trilogy-esque performance. The film gains major points for the impossibly perfect chemistry and baffling attractiveness of Damon and Blunt. Even if the name is less than appealing and there is a tinge of sickly sweet sentimentality, the film is worth watching.
[B]
CATHRYN CORE
Ellie Goulding, “Lights”
Polydor Records
Already proving to be a pop force to be reckoned with overseas, Ellie Goulding has finally stumbled stateside with her album “Lights,” dishing American audiences semi-airy positive pop music. With songs like “This Love” and the title track “Lights,” Goulding delivers perfectly flawed vocals with mature lyrics, but at other times the album feels too lengthy. The album hinges on electronic melodies and relationships. The album closes with a pleasant cover of Elton John’s “Your Song,” proving that not all covers are terrible. Overall, “Lights” proves a strong debut for Goulding.
[B-]
EDITOR’S PICK: Eisley, “The Valley”
KITTU PANNU Equal Vision Records
It seems love has not been kind to indie-pop quintet Eisley since its last album release. Nearly all 11 tracks on “The Valley” tell of instances of failed relationships and scorned love. Eisley still maintains its ethereal, melodic vibe, but “The Valley” is punctuated with dramatic, heavier sounds. “The Valley” is probably best appreciated when going through a breakup but is still a decent listen at any other time.
[B]
GRACE MONTGOMERY
materials at flea markets and antique stores. “I’m more drawn to gold, but I really like it finding different rhinestones to use,” Weiner said. Many of Weiner’s pieces cost about $100, but some have sold for as much as $800. Those pieces are more elaborate with more expensive materials and took more time to create, Weiner said. Baton Rouge boutiques Head over Heels and Stella’s Boutique sell Weiner’s jewelry. She said she was shocked and elated with the support from the Baton Rouge community. “The Baton Rouge community in general, they’ve just taken it and loved it,” Weiner said. “I did not expect my jewelry to be welcomed as much as it was. I’m just
page 11 still surprised it has turned into a career for me.” Weiner’s designs haven’t escaped the notice artists. ‘There’s a of other “ S t e e l rich story Magnolias are behind really big in , and pieces of Nashville they bought a jewelry. piece,” Weiner “And of That’s why I said. course Sixlike it.’ pence None the Richer, who Lauren Weiner sang that song University alumna ‘Kiss Me.’” We i n e r ’ s jewelry is versatile and can be worn with just about anything, said Meghann Green, fashion merchandising senior and a friend of Weiner’s. Weiner’s personality shines
through her jewelry, Green said. “She’s very creative, and I’ve never seen her dedicate so much time to one thing like this,” Green said. “Her pieces are random, but they are really cool.” Weiner said she learned that trying to make pieces she thought other people liked didn’t work. She then began to incorporate her own personality and style into each piece. “The hardest part about it is evolving with people and their style,” Weiner said. “You can’t get too invested in what other people want, but you have to keep it in mind. ... I have to put myself in every piece I make. It has to be something I know I like.” Contact Kittu Pannu at kpannu@lsureveille.com
The Daily Reveille
Opinion
page 12
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
NyQuil won’t make users high unless abused In response to Chris Freyder’s March 4 column titled “Everyone is getting high — they just don’t know it yet”: No one is getting high on NyQuil unless they are seriously and intentionally abusing it. In fact, using NyQuil as recommended causes nothing more than drowsiness — equivalent to the effects of Benadryl. First, the standard formulation
of NyQuil contains the following active ingredients per 1 tablespoon (15 milliliter) dosage: doxylamine succinate 6.25 milligrams (antihistamine), dextromethorphan hydrobromide 15 mg (cough suppressant) and acetaminophen 325 mg (pain reliever/fever reducer). Recommended adult dosage is two tablespoons — so double everything. NyQuil contains 10 percent alcohol by volume. However, you need to drink 5 ounces of NyQuil to consume the equivalent amount of alcohol in one beer. That’s half of a 10-ounce bottle of NyQuil — chug away. In a single ounce (30 ml) dosage of NyQuil you would get the equivalent of 2.4 ounces of beer. Not enough to intoxicate any normal adult.
Vick’s uses ethanol in NyQuil as a solvent because the three active ingredients are powders at room temperature. There is no alcohol in NyQuil liquicaps. Clearly, the alcohol’s intent is not to make you high. NyQuil does not contain “sedatives and hypnotics.” It in fact contains one — doxylamine. While doxylamine’s main use is as an antihistamine in this case, it is also listed as a hypnotic/sedative. Why? Doxylamine causes drowsiness like many antihistamines. And like diphenhydramine (Benadryl), it is used both as an over-the-counter sedative and as an over-the-counter antihistamine. What about dextromethorphan? While dextromethorphan (DXM)
can be abused (robo-tripping) and at high dosages does have psychoactive effects, at recommended medical dosages it has no psychoactive effects whatsoever. To achieve the lowest level of DXM intoxication you must consume 1.5 milligrams per kilogram of body weight. Just short of 5 ounces for Drew Brees at 95 kilograms. Perhaps the most directly dangerous ingredient is the acetaminophen (Tylenol). In 1 ounce of NyQuil you get a single dose of acetaminophen (650 mg) — not to exceed four doses in a single 24hour period. In attempting to reach the lowest level of DXM intoxication you risk acetaminophen overdose. A
Thursday, March 10, 2011 sufficient overdose can lead to liver failure and even death. Acetaminophen overdose is both the No. 1 cause of adult acute liver failure in the U.S. and the No. 1 reason people call Poison Control. Clearly, you must intentionally abuse NyQuil while risking hepatotoxicity and death to get high. Recommended use simply makes you drowsy. Solution: DayQuil — no doxylamine, no alcohol. Jeremiah Haremza Physics and astronomy graduate student Contact The Daily Reveille’s opinion staff at opinion@lsureveille.com
POP GOES THE CULTURE
Social, new media cannot save the journalism industry
Let’s play “Jeopardy!” Here’s the answer-question: “Forms of electronic communication (as websites for social networking and microblogging) through which users create online communities to share information, ideas, personal messages and other content (as videos).” You can mull it over now or skip to the next paragraph for the answer. The question-answer: What is Merriam-Webster’s definition of “social media”? Of course, most current opinion leaders prefer to recognize Facebook and Twitter by more heroic denotations: purveyor of
democracy, advocate of creativity, savior of journalism. Events from the ongoing Middle Eastern revolutions to the speakers and workshops within our own Manship School of Mass Kelly Hotard C o m m u n i c a tion evidence Columnist social media’s seemingly indispensable role in our lives. The news cycle transmits constant tidbits of information aimed at briefly getting our attention before the next burst of headlines. If
this resembles your favorite social networking feeds and this similarity concerns you, it should. News media shouldn’t imitate social media. Yet the Manship School has embraced these technologies. The Student Media Advertising department regularly sponsors social media workshops, and the Society of Professional Journalists recently hosted NBC newswriter and Web editor Barbara Raab’s “Real World Social Media” seminar. Raab presented an impressive YouTube video of social media statistics, but the deluge of facts rendered itself meaningless and left me disoriented, not enlightened.
BEST AND WITTIEST
cartoon courtesy of KING FEATURES SYNDICATE
The Daily Reveille
Unfortunately, our news culture often follows suit. She forecasted that the term “social media” will soon disappear — it’s simply the new news media. At the risk of sabotaging my future employment opportunities, I’ll join the social media cynics who beg to differ. In “Amusing Ourselves To Death,” Neil Postman’s dystopian prediction of the entertainment age, he argued the best — and only — thing TV can offer is junk. Likewise, the fast-paced, bite-sized world of social media promotes trivia and undermines genuine journalism. The incompatibilities between news and social media result from their intrinsic function. Theoretically, neutral media mold to users’ individual purpose, and many people view social networking sites as altruistic vehicles for self expression and democracy. But as we know, member content and information is often sold to advertisers and used for the site’s own gains. As the New York Times reported, the infamous privacy-killer Facebook has remained mum about its role in Middle East rebellions. Ostensibly, this is for the revolutionaries’ safety, but the company also knows it pays to be apolitical. Another Times article compared the blurring media genres to feudalism: “Social networks and traditional media may all seem like different animals, but as advertising, the mother’s milk of all media, flows toward social and amateur media, low-cost and no-cost content is becoming the norm.” We post on these sites under
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 CommuniEditorial Board cation. Signed opinions are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the editor, Sarah Lawson Editor-in-Chief 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 Robert Stewart Managing Editor, Content number so the opinion editor can verify the author. The phone number won’t be printed. The Daily ReveilStephanie Giglio Art Director le reserves the right to edit letters and guest columns for space consideration without changing the origiSteven Powell Managing Editor, External Media nal intent. The Daily Reveille also reserves the right to reject any letter without notification of the author. Writers must include their full names and phone numbers. The Daily Reveille’s editor-in-chief, hired evDevin Graham Opinion Editor ery semester by the Louisiana State University Media Board, has final authority on all editorial decisions.
the euphoria of creative freedom. In reality, these are unpaid contributions to serfdom. Social media cannot save the world — or the news industry — without altering the true meaning of journalism: thorough, thoughtprovoking coverage of newsworthy stories that aren’t always scintillating reads. If traditional news media reject social media, the industry just might die. But it is ailing enough already from the tabloid mentality, which social media only exacerbate. News outlets must resist the “if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em” approach and stick to truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Any tool driven by profit cannot be a friend to creativity, freedom or information. Ideals like privacy and objectivity are sacrificed for the sake of what sells. The use of buzz-generators might be an effective business strategy, but it isn’t a panacea or substitute for real news. The irony is I’ll be posting this anti-social media column on Facebook and Twitter. Modern journalism seeks to reach readers on their own turf. But what happened to the literate masses who actively sought out information and willingly paid those who gathered it? Kelly Hotard is a 19-year-old mass communication junior from Picayune, Miss. Follow her on Twitter @TDR_khotard. Contact Kelly Hotard at khotard@lsureveille.com
Quote of the Day
“You can’t just ask customers what they want and then try to give that to them. By the time you get it built, they’ll want something new.”
Steve Jobs American businessman Feb. 24, 1955 - Present
The Daily Reveille
Thursday, March 10, 2011
PRESS X TO NOT DIE
Opinion
page 13
Apple, Jobs proclaim 2011 as ‘Year of the Copycats’ To the delight of iLovers everywhere, Apple CEO and turtleneck aficionado Steve Jobs recently announced the iPad 2. The magical successor to last year’s “Jesus Tablet” was once again hyperbolized to death at Apple’s iPad event last Wednesday in San Francisco. The iPad 2 boasts some distinct improvements over last year’s model. The biggest (or should I say smallest) improvement is the device itself. The iPad 2 taps in at a mere 1.3 pounds and 8.8 millimeters thick — both lighter and 33 percent thinner than last year’s model. On the inside, the iPad 2 is rocking Apple’s new A5 dual-core processor capable of running two times faster than the original iPad as well as pushing nine times faster graphics, according to Jobs. The iPad 2 will also join the
iPhone 4, new iPod Touch and iMac with the ability to use FaceTime. Using the two new video cameras installed on the device, users may video chat over Wi-Fi with Adam Arinder other users who own the device. Columnist The iPad 2 also boasts the same 1024 by 768 screen resolution, 10-hour battery life and comes in black or white. The iPad 2 will be released Friday in 16-, 32- and 64-gigabyte flavors for $499, $599 and $699 (Wi-Fi only) or $629, $729 and $829 (Wi-Fi + 3G), respectively. While the iPad 2 is an impressive piece of technology and a big improvement over last year’s model, it isn’t the only tablet on the market anymore.
Many tablets, like the Samsung Galaxy Tab and Motorola Xoom, have been released recently with their eyes on taking down Apple — some with more success than others. Apple and Jobs acknowledged this at the keynote speech last week. Jobs proclaimed 2010 as the “Year of the iPad.” Jobs claims 15 million iPads were sold between April and December, making up more than 90 percent of the market share and raking in $9.5 billion in 2010. Impressive numbers, for sure. Jobs also poked fun at the competition — misquoting Samsung Vice President Lee Young-hee and bragging about how many more apps the iPad has over Android’s new tablet, OS Honeycomb, which launched a week before the speech. After verbally degrading the competition, Jobs rhetorically
asked, “2011: Year of the Copycats?” While it’s true more companies are starting to rush tablets onto the market to compete with Apple’s new pride and joy, it doesn’t necessarily mean they are copying Apple. I agree with Jobs and the rest of the iFanatics that the iPad revolutionized the tablet PC market, but tablet PCs were around before the iPad. Sure, the iPad has made tablets mainstream, fun and easy to use, but it’s not a new product by any means. While Jobs may be berating the competition in terms of market share, the fact of the matter is the iPad did its own share of copying. On Feb. 24, two weeks before the iPad 2 launch, Motorola released the Xoom. The Xoom is an Androidpowered tablet PC with a dual-core
processor and front and rear cameras for video conferencing — neither of which were on the original iPad. Other tablets like the Dell Streak 7 also had a dual-core chip before the iPad 2. In short, it doesn’t look like anyone is copying Apple or even vice-versa — but it doesn’t matter. Apple will continue to sell more iPads than I can count, Jobs will continue to stretch truths and exaggerate facts, and the competition will still continue to follow far behind Apple’s footsteps. Adam Arinder is a 21-year-old communication studies senior from Baton Rouge. Follow him on Twitter @TDR_aarinder.
Contact Adam Arinder at aarinder@lsureveille.com
SOUTHERN DISCOURSE
Gov. Jindal needs to hold himself to higher standards Gov. Bobby Jindal is a busy man. In one week alone, he has made major headlines twice. Both stories, though unrelated, show exactly how open Jindal is to allowing both individuals and corporations to buy control of Louisiana. First, The New York Times ran an article March 2 on the dubious ethicality of allowing big companies to donate to a charity fund closely associated with Jindal. The foundation in question — eponymously titled The Supriya Jindal Foundation for Louisiana’s Children after the founder, First Lady Supriya Jindal — took in donations from corporations that also contributed to Bobby Jindal’s campaign funds, according to the report. While Jindal himself had no apparent function in the organization except to show up at parties, the chief fundraiser for the governor’s campaign also works for the foundation, and several of the corporations involved received favorable decisions by the Jindal administration. Complete detachment between the charity and the administration is, therefore, unlikely. On one hand, the fund could be seen as mutually beneficial. Jindal received money, corporations received favors, and Louisiana schools got some fancy new electronic blackboards. But the whole production is inherently dishonest. Rather than eliminating corporate influence as he professed to do near the beginning of his term, Jindal found a loophole in his own ethical legislation and exploited it with no intention of anyone ever finding out.
That’s clear-cut corruption right there. Following the story in The New York Times was a damning exposé on Jindal’s appointments to the Board of Regents (which oversees Louisiana’s higher education system). As the Louisiana Constitution states, “The Board should be representative Macy Linton of the state’s population by Columnist race and gender to ensure diversity.” However, Jindal’s thought process when appointing the allwhite, mostly male members seems to have gone something like this: “Do I know you? Are you an older, white gentleman? How much money can you give me? That much? ... OK, you’re in.” Now, in an effort to save his image, Jindal has apparently pressured Roland Toups, the longest serving member of the Board, to resign. Jindal, unsurprisingly, appointed a minority member in Toups’ place. Even before these scandals surfaced, the group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington targeted Jindal as one of the nation’s 11 most corrupt governors. The group’s charges include hampering government transparency, weakening the authority of the state ethics board and using hypocritical standards when accepting funds for the state. Perhaps it’s somewhat impressive that in between talking about God (not government) in churches
across the state and attempting to sell off prisons, Louisiana’s governor has also found the time to operate a modern-day Jacksonian spoils system. It just goes to show that one shouldn’t judge a person based on age or disarmingly geeky smiles. So what does this mean for Jindal? In the future, the accusations may keep him from stepping away from state politics and becoming a truly national powerhouse, a transition many support and Jindal doubtlessly wants to make. More presently, the timing of
the news — mere months away from the October elections — will be doubly harmful to his upcoming gubernatorial campaign. More than anything, the scandals offer an opportunity for a political opponent to put up a challenge in a race currently set to be entirely one sided. Of course, Jindal is just one in a long line of corrupt Louisiana politicians. Maybe the state is somehow a natural magnet for malfeasance, but perhaps it is an absence of vigilance — or desensitization because of proximity — helping dishonesty to grow roots and flourish here in the marshes of Louisiana.
To stop that tradition from continuing, we as citizens need to hold Jindal to higher standards — though Jindal also needs to hold himself to higher standards. And if that’s not possible — get rid of him. Macy Linton is a 19-year-old international studies freshman from Memphis, Tenn. Follow her on Twitter @TDR_Mlinton.
Contact Macy Linton at mlinton@lsureveille.com
BEST AND WITTIEST
cartoon courtesy of KING FEATURES SYNDICATE
page 14
Classifieds
HTML a plus, but not required. Parttime or full-time. Great job if interested in pursuing a career in public affairs. $10-12 per hour. Resume to jobs@ votervoice.net.
EARN EXTRA MONEY Students needed ASAP. Earn up to $150 per day being a Mystery Shopper. No Experience Required. Call 1-888-615-5245 SWIMMING INTRUCTORS NEEDED GREAT OPPORTUNITY-Part time Afternoon April & May- Full Time SummerGreat Pay! CRAWFISH AQUATICS, Louisiana’s Total Swim Program-If you are highly motivated, hard working, we can teach you the rest. Please fax resume to 225-706-1636 or e-mail to swimcraw@crawfishaquatics.com HIRING IMMEDIATELY!! !! CASHIERS PART- FULL TIME, VERY FLEXIBLE HOURS, MONDAY THRU FRIDAY OR WEEKENDS, OUR HOURS ARE 6:30 AM TO 6:30 PM PLEASE APPLY IN PERSON AT SOUTHSIDE PRODUCE 8240 PERKINS ROAD P/T STUDENT WORKER for a Pharmacy - 15hrs/ wk min - M-F, Exc Cust Serv Skills, Multi-Tasking, Filing, Answering phones, etc. email resume and references to tech.patty@prescriptioncompounds.com THE UNIVERSITY CLUB Golf Course is now hiring energetic and friendly students for the following positions: servers, beverage cart, FOH supervisor, cart attendants, and golf shop staff. Call Clayton or Leslie at 819-0800. AQUATICS OPPORTUNITIES! NOW HIRING: YMCA Lifeguards, Swim Lesson & Water Fitness Instructors ìWork Here Everyone Benefitsî Must be Age 16+, flex schedules. Certifications and experience preferred. Certification classes also available. We will train you! Apply at any YMCA branch location: A. C. Lewis (ask for Abby) C. B. Pennington, Jr. (ask for Patti) Paula G. Manship (ask for Dina) Southside (ask for Jessica) ExxonMobil (ask for Toni) Dow Westside (ask for Kayne) SITTER WANTED. Second half of May through early August for two elementary school children. Approximately 25 to 40 hours a week. Own transportation, excellent driving record and references a must. 225.921.6688 RESEARCH ASST--PUBLIC AFFAIRS Local software company needs help maintaining nationwide database of public officials. Great work environment, flexible hours. Must be detailoriented and have a passion for high-quality work. Knowledge of basic
PART TIME RECEPTIONIST Busy multiservice salon seeking professional and dependable part time receptionist. Apply in person only at 5172 Corporate Blvd. 225.928.7155 P/T SALES ASSOC. Energetic, Happy, Outgoing salesperson needed. Great place to work w/ great hours. Mon-Fri 10-5:30, Sat 10-5. Some weekends req. Email resume 2222gift@gmail. com HAVE YOU SEEN the cool handles on board the Tiger shuttle buses? HIGH FIVE ADVERTISING seeks students with flexible schedules to sell ad space on the handles to local businesses. Please send your resume to Gregg Brogden at gregg@h5advertising.com MATH EXPERTS WANTED Mathnasium is looking for afterschool math tutors at $12/hour. Must be highly skilled at high school math, friendly, good with kids. Email batonrouge@mathnasium.com or call 753-6284 ►►BARTENDING UP TO NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY. TRAINING AVAILABLE. AGE 18+ OK 1-800965-6520 ext127 WAREHOUSE EMPLOYEE NEEDED for local gift and home interiors store/ PT/ apply in person at The Royal Standard 16016Perkins Road or email at ae.trs1@yahoo.com 225.751.0009 STUDENTPAYOUTS. COM Paid Survey Takers Needed In Baton Rogue. 100% Free To Join! Click On Surveys. NOW HIRING Fuzzy’s Taco Shop is seeking friendly faces for all positions at our newest location just off campus on Lee and Burbank. Please call or come to the job fair on March 12th from 8a-2p at the Staybridge Suites 4001 Nicholson Dr. 225.366.6839
or junior to fill this 20-hour position for the 2011-2012 school year. I’m looking to start training for this position IMMEDIATELY. I’m especially interested if you can show me what you’ve got on March 2nd by volunteering for a few hours at our largest event of the year. Please put in the body of an e-mail, a quick paragraph about why you think you would be a good fit for this position and what interests you about it, then paste your resume into the body of the e-mail too for quick & easy reading. SEND INFO IMMEDIATELY TO: klwilson@lsu.edu to be considered! FULL/PART TIME WAITERS WANTED Cafe Americain Experienced waiter or waitress. Come apply Mon-Fri 2-5 or Sat 11-2 225.924.9841 N FRONT DESK ASSOCIATE WANTED Massage Envy is looking for enthusiastic, experienced sales and customerfocused people for our busy front desk. Wages + commissions + bonuses. Come work in our fun, relaxing environment! Send resume to: Hiring@MassageEnvyBR.com ADMIN ASST NEEDED ASAP Organized, self-motivated, detail-oriented professional needed to work 20-25 hrs/week. Tasks include maintaining paperwork, running errands, answering phone. Please submit questions via email (lpcboard@eatel.net). OFFICE ASSISTANT NEEDED @ Small legal business for filing/ doc prep. MSOffice/ websites a plus. $8/hr. Email:admin@quickliens.com DENTAL OFFICE P/T assistant/receptionist needed. Great opportunity for those interested in the dental/medical field. Fax resume to 225-766-2122
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Thursday, March 10, 2011
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The Daily Reveille
Thursday, March 10, 2011 FOSTER, from page 1
rows of massive tan cabinets line the center of the room. Sheldon opened the cabinet before him, exposing rows of shelves on each side. He pulled out a drawer in the center, which revealed about 15 vibrantly colored specimens. The birds lay flat on their backs, delicately preserved for research. A single tag is tied around one ankle of each animal, detailing the specimen’s name and where and when it was located. “We have about 187,000 specimens in our collection, and it’s still growing,” Sheldon explained. “It’s the most active bird collection in the world.” Sheldon said the University’s collection is the fourth largest in the world, and LSU ornithologists have discovered more new species of birds than any other group to date. Since the collection began, graduate students and University faculty have routinely traveled to collect new samples. Sheldon said in previous years birds were shot and collected, but most researchers now capture the birds using a “mist net,” a fine web hidden in trees to catch birds in flight. “Every time we collect a bird, we record it for a song collection, treat it for lice and other parasites and take tissue samples,” Sheldon said. The birds are later skinned, stuffed with cotton and dried before being organized into the collection. This process takes place in the research facilities in the basement of the building. “The main purpose of the work is to answer the one major question: Why are there so many species of birds?” Sheldon said. Sheldon said as evolutionary biologists, the group works to conduct genetic comparisons by building evolutionary trees and analyzing relationships. Research is conducted in cellar laboratories by University faculty and students. Lauren Oliver, biological sciences junior, voluntarily dedicates her time to the museum. “I’ve always been interested in evolutionary biology,” she said. “I asked to work in the lab, and they said yes.” The laboratory holds a room for preparing and drying birds, where a large table displays carving tools, bags of cotton and bloody trays. Further back are 15 large freezers, hooked up to generators and carbon dioxide containers and packed with vials and cases of organ tissues. “We have the world’s largest collection of wild animal tissues,” Sheldon said, opening a freezer lid. “It started in the 1970s, and people from all over the world use the tissues for research.” Behind the freezers is the “bug closet,” where Dermestid beetles feed on the carcasses of the animals, leaving cleaned bones behind. Bones are then collected and stored. But the beetles aren’t the only creepy crawlers in the basement. Foster Hall is also home to the museum’s herpetology collection room, which has about 81,000 reptile specimens preserved in glass bottles. LSUMNS also has expansive mammalogy, vertebrate and invertebrate paleontology and
ichthyology (fish) collections. Sheldon said the collections serve a variety of visitors, including students in a number of campus departments. From biology and library science students to the average visitor, he said anyone can enjoy viewing the museum and the behind-thescenes work. “I would encourage students to come here just because it’s a landmark,” he said. Contact Sydni Dunn at sdunn@lsureveille.com
SCANS, from page 1
of criminal information. Scanners recently began checking for local criminal violations, Scott said. Scott said the device has the capability to scan for traffic violations and drivers without insurance, but the department uses the equipment for serious crimes and infractions. “It can check for insurance, but we aren’t comparing it to that at this time,” Scott said. Scott said the LPR-equipped unit is on the road 24 hours a day. The car is assigned to a different
page 15 officer for every shift throughout the day, and the device works both while the car is in motion and stationary. Scott said some of the information the NCIC database searches for is stolen vehicles, stolen license plates and fugitives. Scott said the device was purchased in 2009 and cost $32,000, which was paid for by a federal grant. The grant covered costs including the camera, software, server storage space and the mechanics involved in installing the device. Scott said the department does not have plans to purchase
another LPR. Trey Schwartzenburg, biology freshman, said locating criminals near the University is important. “It’s beneficial to keeping LSU students safe,” Schwartzenburg said. Folakunmi Folami, accounting sophomore, said the device is useful for helping recover stolen cars. “If someone’s car should be stolen, [LPR equipment] would be really helpful in finding it,” Folami said. Contact Celeste Ansley at cansley@lsureveille.com
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The Daily Reveille
Thursday, March 10, 2011