ULM Hawkeye - Issue 14

Skier wins medal at world meet

University, YMCA Congress postpones vote partner to reopen on bill after outcry over natatorium Internet censorship

P 14

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THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA AT MONROE

VOLUME 85 ISSUE 14

www.ulmhawkeyeonline.com

State slashes budget University absorbs hit of $1.8 million in mid-year cuts

by Cole Avery

illustration by Kelsey Hargrove

ULM sustained a $1.8 million cut to its budget in mid-year budget cuts levied by the state in December.

Based on a plan outlined by University President Nick Bruno, the cuts will be absorbed by reducing administration ex-

penses and positions.

“While no budget reduction results in a positive impact on an institution of higher education, [the University’s] plan minimizes the impact to all of our essential services,” Bruno said in an email to employees.

About $400,000 will be saved from vice president positions. The assistant vice president for academic affairs will remain vacant. The special assistant to the president position (formerly held by Don Skel-

Student hitchhikes across American West during break ULM grad

ton) will be discontinued. Three other vacant faculty will remain vacant.

The travel budget will be reduced by about $150,000, which is half of the total travel budget.

Operating expenses including utilities and supplies will be cut $810,000. Bruno

Anderson reflects on Las Vegas, Miss America experience

by Vladimir Jakovljevic

While most students spent their winter breaks with their families, working or taking classes, one Warhawk decided he wanted to see America - through the eyes of a hitchhiker.

Anton Dudko, an international physics major from Ukraine, spent his break hitchhiking to the Pacific Ocean. Dudko Dudko is returning to Europe at the end of the semester, and he said he wanted to make the most of his time in the U.S. While riding with strangers through deserts, forests, plains and mountains, Dudko met all different types of people and learned more about America.

“I had the chance to meet people of different ages, families, couples, singles, different ethnic groups, religions and basically everything different than I am, which was also a goal of the adventure,”

January 23, 2012

P 8 photo by Anton Dudko

Anton Dudko, an international student from Ukraine, spent his winter break hitchhiking across the American West.

Dudko said.

Most people he talked to thought he was crazy for attempting his trip because of the dangers so often linked to hitchhiking. His own mother had warned him as a child that hitchhikers were murder victims in waiting, but Dudko said he believes he has the wits to keep himself safe.

“I think that I have good judgment skills, so I can make a quick

judgment on whether a person is bad or good,” he said.

Dudko’s experience hitchhiking through Germany and solid planning also added to the success of his trip. He read several books about hitchhiking and coordinated his trip through a couch surfing website - a site similar to Facebook that helps travelers find people

See HIKER, p.8

photo by Terrance Armstard

See CUTS, p.3

THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA AT MONROE

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January 23, 2012

NEWS WORLD Stubbs 131 700 University Avenue Monroe, LA 71209 Editor in chief - Cole Avery Co-managing editor news - Lauren Creekmore Co-managing editor design - Srdjan Marjanovic Sports editor - DeRon Talley Freestyle editor - Eddie Ray Fountain Photo editor - Robert Brown Copy editor - Stormy Knight Multimedia editor - Srdjan Marjanovic Advertising director - Thomas Seth Pryor 318 342 5453 ulmhawkeyead@gmail.com Faculty Advisor - Christopher Mapp 318 342 5454 mapp@ulm.edu Feedback 318 342 5453 newsroom 318 342 5452 fax ulmhawkeye@gmail.com The opinions expressed in personal columns are the opinions of the author and not necessarily the opinions of the editors, staff, advisor or the University.

Unsigned editorials represent the collective opinion of The Hawkeye’s editorial board, but not necessarily the opinions of the advisor or the University.

The Hawkeye (USPS #440-700) is published weekly except vacation, exam & holiday periods by The University of Louisiana at Monroe, 700 University Avenue, Monroe, LA 71209. Annual subscription price is $30.00. Periodicals Postage Paid at Monroe, LA 71203. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Hawkeye, 700 University Ave., Stubbs 131, Monroe, LA 71209-8832.

CRIME

Cocaine, pain killers found during routine campus traffic stop

NATION

STATE

3 convicted of anti-gay crime in UK

Dangerous flu Cops search for strain created 4 mistakenly in lab studies freed inmates

LONDON (AP) — Three men were convicted Friday of distributing antigay leaflets, and prosecutors called it a landmark case regarding the prosecution of hate crimes regarding sexual orientation.

A jury found the men to have distributed leaflets calling for homosexuals to face the death penalty.

Ihjaz Ali, 42, Kabir Ahmed, 28, and Razwan Javed, 27, were found guilty in Derby Crown Court. Sentencing is set for Feb. 10.

The men were prosecuted under a relatively new law that took effect in 2010. It makes it a crime to promote hatred based on sexual orientation.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Scientists who created easier-to-spread versions of the deadly H1N1 bird flu said Friday they’re halting more research, as international specialists debate what should happen next.

The U.S. government funded the work but last month urged the teams not to publicly reveal the exact formula so that would-be bioterrorists couldn’t copy it.

Today, H5N1 bird flu rarely infects people. But when it does, it’s highly lethal. The flu strains showed it was easier than previously thought for the virus to mutate in a way that lets it spread between at least some mammals — in this case, ferrets.

SHREVEPORT (AP) — Five inmates were mistakenly released from the Caddo Parish jail after federal prosecutors took over the drug case against them, and four of them remained on the loose Thursday night.

They’re among 13 people arrested Nov. 15 and booked on state drug charges.

Caddo Parish Sheriff Steve Prator and U.S. Marshal Henry Whitehorn say five Shreveport residents were rearraigned last week in federal court, so a state judge dismissed the Louisiana charges against them on Wednesday. After jail staff got that word, they released the five defendants Wednesday evening.

QUOTE

“Censorship reflects society’s lack of confidence in itself. It is a hallmark of an authoritarian regime.”

Potter Stewart, former Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court

The Replacements

by Lauren Creekmore ULMPD arrested a man early Saturday morning after a routine traffic stop became a drug bust.

Daniel J. Greene, 23, of GB Cooley Road, West Monroe, was arrested early Saturday on charges of DWI second offense and possession of cocaine, Lortab, Suboxone, synthetic cannabinoids and drug paraphernalia.

ULMPD said in a report Greene was traveling east on Desiard Street when officers initially stopped him for having a missing headlight. When an officer spoke with Greene, he dectected the faint odor of alcohol on Greene’s breath.

The officer then questioned Greene about the contents of an open styrofoam container that was in the console of his car. Just before Greene surrendered the cup, the officer noticed Greene remove a small plastic bag from the cup.

The officer asked Greene for the bag. In response, Greene attempted to dump the bag’s contents into a glass of water. Green was restrained, and the plastic bag and its contents were recovered. A preliminary field test indicated the plastic bag contained cocaine.

The ULMPD report said that a search of Greene’s vehicle revealed a large amount of Lortabs, Suboxone, two synthetic cannabinoid bags, one empty pill capsule, digital scale, and marijuana pipe and holder. Greene confessed to having a beer and snorting cocaine prior to being stopped.

Greene agreed to a chemical breath test, and a sample of his urine was sent to the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab for analysis. contact Lauren Creekmore at guerrile@warhawks.ulm.edu

photo by Robert Brown

The Mu Lambda Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. showcase their new members with a presentation in the quad Wednesday.

January 23, 2012

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THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA AT MONROE

NEWS

CUTS continued from p.1 said “all essential supply needs, labs, clinics, etc. will be met.”

Finally, $500,000 will be cut from capital outlay.

The cuts to ULM are just a fraction of the $50 million total cut to colleges throughout the state. Higher education in Louisiana has been cut $360 million in the past three years.

Cuts to colleges within the University of Louisiana System totaled $17.2 million.

The LSU system suffered a $21 million cut, with $8.1 million being cut from the main campus in Baton Rouge, which was the most of any single university or university system.

Though the Univeristy faired better than most in the recent round of cuts, continual dips in operating money have been seen over the years.

ULM has lost a total of eight percent of its operating budget since 2008. It has also seen a 13 percent reduction in total employees and an eight percent drop in total students during the same time frame.

University officials note they cannot control major factors in the process such as the state budget, the Board of Regents master plan or the shrinking state population. Officials hope to off-set some of the losses with a marketing campaign aimed at increasing enrollment and donations. contact Cole Avery at averyrc@warhawks.ulm.edu

graphics by Kelsey Hargrove

University, YMCA partner to reopen natatorium

by Cole Avery

After facing indefinite closure in December, the Lake C. Oxford Natatorium is scheduled to reopen today thanks to a partnership formed between the University and the YMCA. ULM and the YMCA have agreed to an 18-month deal that gives operational control of the facility to the YMCA and its staff. The University maintains ownership of the building, and student fees will still be used to pay for things such as preventative maintenance, insurance and utility costs.

“The YMCA is thrilled at this opportunity to offer aquatics programs to the campus and the community,” Chris Pealer, YMCA executive director, said in a press release.

The fate of the natatorium had been in question since last summer and took an even more dire turn after a student straw poll vote last semester. Forty-six percent of voters favored closing the building and instead building an outdoor pool in Bayou Park.

Student Government Vice President Hunter Vanderberg said SGA intends to move forward with a referendum this semester that would raise fees in order to pay for and maintain the proposed outdoor facility.

Students were given an estimated

“The YMCA is thrilled at this opportunity to offer aquatics programs to the campus and the community.”

How do you feel about the nat being reopened?

“It’s right across from my dorm.

It’s awesome to just be able to go walk and jump into the pool.”

Brandy Bourque

“I kind of wish they had kept it closed longer...no one really uses it as it is now.”

Kasey Wright

Chris Pealer, YMCA executive director

27% of students voted to renovate the natatorium cost of an $80 increase per semester for the Bayou Park pool, but that number is likely still not final. Vanderberg said the original plans could be adjusted in an effort to keep fees as low as possible.

Minor renovations to the building have taken place during the winter break. Power washers were used to

remove flaking paint from the rafters.

A replacement part to the chiller was special ordered to get the air conditioning working again.

Pealer and University President Nick Bruno both confirmed that money raised through community fundraising, not student fees, was used to pay for the renovations.

The YMCA and the University are hosting a ribbon cutting at 11 a.m. today at the natatorium to launch the official reopening of the building.

City leaders including Monroe Mayor Jamie Mayo and community organizers are planning to speak at the event. contact Cole Avery at averyrc@warhawks.ulm.edu

“I am happy that they opened it just because most people don’t have anywhere else to swim.”

Joshua Madison

“It really does not affect me because I do not go swimming there.”

Ashlyn McClung

vote on this issue at www.ulmhawkeyeonline.com

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THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA AT MONROE

January 23, 2012

OPINION

1st Amendment applies to student journalists, too

COLE AVERY Free speech rights don’t begin with a college degree. Too often college administrations around the nation don’t seem to understand that. So they pressure students and advisers to compromise their beliefs or face the consequences.

The Paul Isom firing at ECU really brings this point to light. The ECU administration fired Isom after he refused to censor the nude photos of a streaker his students wanted to publish. After failing to pressure

Isom into violating his students’ First Amendment rights, ECU’s Pirate captains just decided to make him walk the plank.

As if that were not bad enough, the ECU head of marketing and communications sat down with the editors and told them how to make their newspaper, “The East Carolinian,” more PR friendly.

Those editors, like all mass communication students, get to hear from the first day of media classes how important the first amendment is. All will have media law, which deals heavily with the First Amendment.

So these editors get to spend hours of class time learning about their free speech because their school mandates it. But what are the real lessons places like ECU are teaching their journalists? It seems like a “do as I say, not as a do situation.”

The very notion of such a meeting

like that held between the ECU marketing department and the student editors is absurd. I hardly think ECU’s marketing department would sit down with the editors of Greenville’s newspaper, “The Daily Reflector,” and tell them how to run stories more suitable to ECU’s public image.

Student journalism is no different.

The role of student journalists is the same as the professionals. We just don’t have degrees yet. Too often that fact is forgotten by schools who are not used to being challenged in any way.

Students have the ability to make sound decisions. We are allowed to practice their First Amendment rights just like anyone else. Just give us a chance, and people can be amazed by what we can do.

Then again, maybe that’s what people are afraid of. contact Cole Avery at averyrc@warhawks.ulm.edu

Romney not only choice; Paul needs his chance

GARRETT BOYTE One would think that the Republicans would be in favor of upholding the law, being that a republic is a society based on law. But as the debates unfolded in South Carolina last week, most candidates showed this clearly was not the case.

The one candidate who has stood his ground concerning the law and the Constitution was blatantly ignored. When Ron Paul finally did get a little camera time, it was because he was being asked a condescending question on his controversial and often less-understood views. All other candidates have flipped and flopped depending on who the audience was.

Which brings to mind the so-called front-runner Mitt Romney, who has swapped his views on abortion and

other issues depending on which office he wanted and where he was running.

Romney claims he received new information and that explains why he has changed his views. But I know a politician when I see one. The mainstream media labels Romney the frontrunner and tells every other candidate to just go home. I believe the conversation off the air concerning Paul goes something like: “We think it’s great you’re trying to be president and that you’re adorable behind that podium, but we’ve made our decision.”

The media is taking a play straight from the father of lies himself, Joseph Goebbels, the head of the Nazi Germany’s Propaganda Ministry.

Goebbels said, “If you tell a lie long enough, people will begin to think it’s true.” The media is scaring Republicans into voting for Romney because Romney represents their interests.

They do this by telling us that no other candidate can beat Obama, which is a lie. Paul polls with Romney against Obama in a general election, according to a CNN/ORC poll. They say if Republicans want to get Obama out of the White House then they

should unite behind Romney, who has all of sudden become the golden boy of the party.

For me, though, the issue is I am a man of principle. I will never vote against anyone. The way I see it is the founders risked a lot more than their budgets for me to have the right to vote. I will not squander that right and vote for Romney just because I want Obama out. I will vote for whomever I feel is the best candidate to be in that office.

I base my reasoning on the Constitution because the Constitution is this country. It is the law, not a suggestion book. It’s time we started treating it as such. I am tired of seeing politicians, who we elect, rip apart the foundation of this nation because doing the right and legal thing might upset their entitlement constituency or their political donors.

Along with his extensive number of followers, Paul has helped shift this debate. This election is not a matter of who can do the most to fix what’s broken, but rather who can do best with the least amount possible. And I think it’s time to shift with him. contact Garrett Boyte at boytejg@warhawks.ulm.edu

HAWKEYE P.O.V.

ULM protects academics in latest budget crunch Budget cuts have become a way of life for colleges in Louisiana, as each year seems to bring with it new challenges and less money.

In this crucial time for higher education in the state, the administrations who are able to keep their faculty and students as top priorities are the ones who will best lead their schools through the crisis.

The ULM administration seems to have taken the same “students first” approach this newspaper advocates. Breaking down the cuts shows most of the $1.8 million ULM lost was absorbed by cuts to various administration accounts. University leadership should be commended for handling the cuts in this way.

Absorbing such a substantial amount of money in an alreadystrapped budget is certainly not easy. Sacrificing yourself rather than your followers shows good leadership. Looking around the state, not all of our peers were so lucky.

Louisiana Tech cut salaries and benefits for their faculty. It also cut scholarships for its students.

ULL cut $1 million from its library, research equipment and academic services. Another $1 million cut went to their athletics program, and still another $1 million was cut from their economic and workforce development.

Southeastern eliminated student worker positions and cut its library.

Considering what happened to other schools in the UL System, ULM came out really well. Of course, it just as easily could have been cut in the same way, but the administration decided to cut itself.

It’s a good thing they took that direction for the health of the University. In the past three years, ULM has lost 190 jobs. If that many jobs had been lost at somewhere like CenturyLink, there would be an outcry because of the economic loss to the community. For whatever reason, lost jobs in education have become acceptable in this state.

In order to reach the people the University is hoping to reach with its new marketing campaign, their target audience will need to understand that ULM puts its students first. No one will be willing to support a university that slights its students and teachers.

If the University hopes to be successful as an institution and as a fundraiser, it must always strive to keep intact the learning environment. Faculty need the resources to teach, and students need the opportunity to learn. As long as the administration continues to hold to those same beliefs, ULM will thrive.

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LIKE WAR ! comic designed by Lane Davis

January 23, 2012

THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA AT MONROE

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OPINION

‘Anti-piracy’ law just government censorship

MORGAN WITT If you haven’t been keeping up with the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) or the Protect Intellectual Property Act (PIPA), it’s time to get informed.

This issue of the Hawkeye has a pretty straightforward explanation of what these bills are intended to do versus what they actually will do.

I was thrilled to see the protests online Wednesday. What could possibly be more poetic than a major source of our information (Wikipedia… Admit it, you use it more than you should!) making information no longer accessible? This would be exactly what would happen if these bills passed.

However small the protest may seem on a global scale, it’s good to know that websites like Wikipedia, Reddit and even the LOL Cats are taking a stand in protecting our right to access information.

Personally, I can completely understand the desire to protect intellectual property. Just imagine how angry you would be if you wrote a book or composed a song and you didn’t receive a penny in compensation for it although everyone else was using it. As a mass communications student, both creativity and free speech are essential to everything I strive for in the realm of journalism. I can see the issue of wanting to protect others’ creativity, as well as the need to let freethinking and expression flourish. Despite my understanding of these two conflicting topics, I strongly feel as though censoring the Internet is wrong.

As a country that fights to protect our freedom of expression, I think that it would be extremely contradictory for the U.S. to quell information that is available to its citizens. There are already laws in place that protect copyrighted material. So why do lawmakers feel the need to take this issue up a notch?

Although these bills are trying to combat a loss of profit for Hollywood, I think that often exposure to copyrighted material via the Internet has actually helped album and film sales.

I rarely hear music that interests me played on the radio, so I am exposed

comic designed by Kelsey Hargrove

to a lot of music online. If I didn’t hear it there, I would never think to purchase the album. Thus, the Internet plays a direct role in influencing

HIV/AIDS diseases still affecting many in state

JACKIE JOHNSON Louisiana has many issues, which range from high unemployment to being one of the poorest states in the country. One of the biggest issues in the state of Louisiana is the growing epidemic of the HIV/AIDS viruses.

According to Louisiana.gov’s March 2011 fact sheet, Louisiana was ranked fifth in the country for HIV/ AIDS. It is important that this issue is brought up. No one in this country, let alone the world, should be living with either virus. The fact that Louisiana is in the top 10 is disappointing.

It makes me wonder if we, as peo-

ple of this state, are raising enough awareness about sexually transmitted diseases.

I am sure that a lot of these statistics can be looked at mainly from college campuses and sexual orientations. Baton Rouge is the city with the most cases in Louisiana.

New Orleans comes in second, and Shreveport comes in third.

With ULM being a university in Louisiana, Louisiana’s issues can and will affect the students of this campus. The HIV and AIDS viruses are no different. When it comes to college, most students probably become more sexually active in comparison to their high school years.

The university does its part to raise awareness about the epidemic; however, I do feel as though there is more that can be done.

I do not remember any talks about the HIV/AIDS during my first year at ULM. We did receive phone numbers for necessary centers such as

the health unit on campus and in the city. I feel that ULM could help raise awareness on campus by bringing up the issue of STD’s during PREP, along with other important campus issues.

They should take a moment for each team to sit the students down and have an honest talk about the issues that are affecting many people below or in their age group Yes, there are seminars on campus about such issues, but most students will not attend those seminars unless they are receiving extra points or a grade.

There are so many issues in Louisiana that can be discussed, but local news is already beating them into our skulls, as they should. HIV/AIDS is an issue that has simply not been emphasized enough. As a university, ULM can be the first stepping stone to educating incoming freshmen about the problem before their first semester begins. contact Jackie Johnson at johnsojr@warhawks.ulm.edu

some of my purchases.

I don’t have a definite answer for how to fight copyright infringement, but I do know that SOPA and PIPA are

far from being a solution to the problem. contact Morgan Witt at wittmf@warhawks.ulm.edu

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Dear Hawkeye readers, It has been my pleasure to serve as Editor-in-Chief for this newspaper the past semester. I have enjoyed reading all of the comments and critiques, and I know the paper will only continue to rise from here with the amazing staff we have on our team.

However, contrary to what is stated in my recent “My ULM” article, I am no longer the Editor-in-Chief of this paper. It is with fond regard that I step down from my position in hopes to finish my college degree to the best of my ability.

This has been an experience that has helped me grow and learn more about leadership and what it means to conduct something as involved as a weekly publication. However, we are all in college for our respective degrees, and it is time for me to work as hard as I can to finish mine successfully.

Although I am handing off the baton (to the very capable Cole Avery), I hope to still contribute to this paper with emphasis on my concentration of graphic design in the form of illus-

trations and overall design. I hope you will continue to look forward to seeing the Hawkeye online and around campus.

Welcome back to the Spring 2012 semester. I hope it is a great one, especially for others looking forward to graduating this May. It has been a sincere pleasure working with this staff, and I know this paper will only keep getting better and better.

Sincerely, Kelsey Hargrove

send your own letters ulmhawkeye@gmail.com

THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA AT MONROE

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January 23, 2012

NEWS

New programs, choices greet students for spring semester

by Sydney Bonner

The activity center, auxiliary services and student life have all been planning hard to give the students a productive spring semester. Events ranging from intramurals to concerts to nutritional plans have been encouraged to motivate students to get out there and stay motivated and in shape when not studying.

For physical fitness, students should look into taking a trip to the activity center. It is not only open to students, but to faculty and community Alford as well.

“This semester we are really focused on informing students about our complimentary programs which includes group exercise classes, body fat testing, and exercise prescription,” said Wellness Program Coordinator Dusty Mardis.

The activity center loves to concentrate on their intramurals where they offer sports such as basketball, dodgeball, arm wrestling and much more. Personal trainers are available for anyone who may be interested.

Daily classes are held such as Zumba, hip-hop, butts and guts, etc. The YMCA recently collaborated with ULM to keep the natatorium open and will be responsible for holding activities and special events there.

The biggest event the activity center holds for the spring semester is the Seventh Annual Spring Meltdown. This six-week program allows students to really crack down on eating habits and exercise habits.

“Spring is a more upbeat semester.

It includes spring break, Spring Fever week, and it means summer is right around the corner. People are definitely more motivated to get into shape.”

Haley Alford, freshman Anyone can register for $5 as an individual or as a team of three from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4-7 p.m. in the Activity Center Lounge on Monday, Feb. 7. The winners will receive the money donated to participate in the event.

Each semester, ARAMARK Food Services are working their hardest to expose ULM students to better nutri-

Pick up your FREE copy of the 2011 Chacahoula in Stubbs 131.

Get them while they are still here.

Print is limited.

tional values while eating on campus.

Sushic and Grill Works have included more vegetarian dishes to encourage low calorie meals. ARAMARK has also installed the new Coca-Cola Freestyle machine, which will offer 100+ branding beverages, including 60 diet and low-calorie beverages and more than 65 caffeine free beverages to suit a variety of students’ tastes. The statistics of ULM’s dining area has seen impressive improvements in the availability of healthy options this past year.

As for student life, Campus Activities Board and many other oncampus organizations have tons of events planned to make this semester a great one. Important speakers and performers have been invited to our campus to entertain and inform our students. Fun events like the Mardi Gras Ball, Casino Night, ULM’s Got Talent, Greek Week and many more have been planned throughout the semester.

“Spring is a more upbeat semester. It includes spring break, Spring Fever week, and it means summer is right around the corner. People are definitely more motivated to get into shape.” said Haley Alford, a freshman elementary education major from Bossier City. “I know myself and almost all of my friends have already started working out.” contact Sydney Bonner at bonners@warhawks.ulm.edu

Congress delays piracy bills after Internet outcry

by Garrett Boyte

America spoke, and Congress listened. The Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and the Protect IP Act (PIPA) were suspended Friday until Congress can reach a consensus on the bills.

The highly controversial bills sparked protests by web giants Google and Wikipedia, which led to an overwhelming outcry from the newly informed American public.

Wikipedia completely halted its service, greeting its users at the front door with a message to call their congressman. The blackout gave users a glimpse into what Wikipedia thinks could happen if SOPA/PIPA is passed.

“The story [here] is never underestimate the power democracy,” said Peggy Bowers, a mass communication professor at ULM. “We think we have no control. We think we have no power as a people, but when we talked they listened,” Bowers said.

In an interview, Bowers went on to talk about Lawrence Lessig, who is a professor at Harvard Law. Lessig argues people are sued for more money for infringing on copyrights than a doctor would liable for if he kills you.

Bowers thinks that there are two forces at work here: Free speech and the economy. She thinks that these two forces are continuously fighting each other. Free speech breeds new ideas, and new ideas are essential to democracy. The economy will naturally want to use what is guaranteed to make money. Ideas that are guaranteed are usually not creative, but rather have been tested in the market.

Google participated in protests last Wednesday by censoring their logo and linking it to information on the bill. Google received over

7 million signatures on its online petition against the bills, sending a message to Congress that America was watching. Many in Congress have either changed their positions completely,or have proposed delaying the vote until more information is available.

“Although I am committed to fighting online piracy, I support Leader Reid’s decision to delay a vote on the Protect IP Act,” U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu said in a press release.

Landrieu is just one of the many public officials who have delayed taking any hasty action.

SOPA and PIPA, in the House and Senate respectively, are designed to combat media piracy. However, opponents to the bill say that SOPA/ PIPA could prove detrimental to the Internet and the rights of the American people due to the fact that it is vaguely written. Opponents say that there are already enough laws on the books such as the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) and the Pro-IP Act that are in place to protect intellectual property.

Congressman Rodney Alexander, said, “...the government typically has two responses for how it deals with issues: Do nothing at all or overact.”

Alexander goes on to say, in his press release, that he favors protecting intellectual property, but not at the chance of giving “faceless bureaucrats” more power.

Proponents of the bills continuously cite the protection of property from foreign pirates on the high seas of the Internet as their reason for supporting the bills. They know that DMCA and Pro-IP Act exist, but they think that stronger laws are needed to stop foreign-hosted web sites. contact Garrett Boyte at boytejg@warhawks.ulm.edu

January 23, 2012

THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA AT MONROE

PAGE 7

NEWS

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THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA AT MONROE

January 23, 2012

NEWS

““I think every little girl dreams of being Miss America, and I was no exception.”

Hope Anderson

ULM grad Anderson reflects on Miss America pageant

by Lea Anna Cardwell

From small beginnings on the Brown Auditorium stage, Miss Louisiana Hope Anderson managed to climb her way to the top. Our former Miss ULM finished in the top 10 at the Miss America pageant on Jan. 14 in Las Vegas.

“My motto was ‘hope for everything, expect nothing,’ and it was everything I hoped and wished for times 10,” Anderson said.

Anderson competed in her first pageant here at ULM when she was 19 years old. Four years later, Anderson also holds the titles of Miss Crescent City New Orleans 2008 and Miss Louisiana 2011. Not to mention that she recently received the Children’s Miracle Network Miracle Maker Award for raising over $40,000 as a Miss America contestant.

When the pageant aired live on ABC, the host began by announcing the top 15 contestants who had made it through preliminary competitions.

Anderson, who was called 15th, said that moment was the longest of all 11 days she spent in Vegas.

“After they called contestants 13 and 14, everyone kind of looked around to take stock,” she said. “All the intensity made it that much more exciting when I heard my name.”

Anderson said she felt calm and confident for the majority of the competition, but that she did have a moment of doubt when rehearsing her talent. As a ballet dancer, she was worried about performing on the surface of the stage. “I knew the stage was going to be slippery, but when I got there, I saw that it was literally like glass. I slipped in rehearsals,” Ander-

son said.

Despite her worries, Anderson managed to nail her performance in both the preliminary and live competition.

About 150 of Anderson’s friends and family, including SGA President Brooke Dugas, watched from the audience as she competed.

Although her journey ended after the top five were announced, Anderson said she was not disappointed in the least.

“I believed that I could handle the job and the demands of being Miss America. Just going there and conquering the unknown gave me confidence. But I knew above all that God had a plan, and if that meant not being Miss America, then that’s what I wanted,” she said.

Anderson still has five months

HIKER continued from p.1

photo courtesy of Anton Dudko

Dudko and a stranger he met on the street hoist the Ukrainian flag in Portland, Oregon, the main destination of his trip.

along their route who are willing to give them food and a bed for the night.

Through his planning, Dudko was able to see places many Americans will never visit. He walked the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles and ventured through the redwood forest. He spent some time with Chinese immigrants in San Francisco and saw the Pacific Ocean in Oregon.

He saw the Space Needle in Seattle, stared down into the depths of the Grand Canyon, bathed in the hot springs of Yellowstone and smiled back at the presidents on Mount Rushmore.

For Dudko, the people he met

photos courtesy of the Miss America Organization

Above: (Left) Hope Anderson, Miss Louisiana, and other Miss America contestants show their excitment for the pageant (right) pose for a photo.

remaining in her reign as Miss Louisiana. She plans to keep working with Pilots for Patients and to continue raising money for Children’s Miracle Network.

In August, Anderson plans to put her $50,000 in scholarship money to

use at John Hopkins University where she will pursue her master’s degree in Health Communication and one day be an anchor on the “Today Show.”

along the way meant more than the sights he saw. Dudko said America is a very free country compared to post-Soviet Union countries. He said he was amazed at how different each state and its people were compared to one another. Most of the people he encountered, no matter how different they were from each other, Dudko said he liked.

“People who stop to pick you up also want to have fun,” he said, adding that an important part of the trip was being able to bond with the people who helped him travel.

After 36 days, more than 6,200 miles, 13 states and 62 rides hitched, Dudko made it back safe and sound to Monroe with just three days to spare before classes began. Shockingly, Dudko said he did not experience any major problems along the way,

with the exception of a longer-thanusual wait for a ride out of Phoenix.

Already Dudko is thinking about how he can take his hitchhiking to the next level. He said he would like to write a book about the experience. He also thinks he may be close to forming a scientific model for hitchhiking that could help future hitchers. After he returns to Europe, Dudko said he would like to see the other side of the Pacific Ocean, this time reaching its shores by traveling through Russia.

So with summer vacation just a few short months away, how will you spend your time off? Will you endure the Louisiana heat and humidity, or follow in the footsteps of Dudko, a trailblazer with a spirit called to live on the road?

contact Lea Anna Cardwell at cardwela@warhawks.ulm.edu

contact Vladimir Jakovljevic at jokovlv@warhawks.ulm.edu

THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA AT MONROE

January 23, 2012

PAGE 9

NEWS

Dean takes final bow as Warhawk Cass thinks back on time as dean, looks to his future

by Cole Avery

Arts and Sciences Dean Jeff Cass was often in the spotlight at ULM. Whether he was belting out lines in performances at Brown Auditorium or showing his support at most university functions, Cass installed himself as a key figure in ULM life.

But Cass took his final curtain call at ULM on Thursday at a reception held in his honor. Many gathered to say their goodbyes to the dean, who accepted the provost position at the University of Houston – Victoria.

“I’m feeling nostalgic sadness because I’ve enjoyed working here,” Cass said, “but I’m also very excited in anticipation of a new adventure, a new opportunity.”

Cass’ four years as dean were spent not only running the college, but also infusing himself into campus life, most notably acting roles in campus

productions. Cass was a lead in last year’s production of “Cabaret” and was cast as the lead in this year’s play “Chicago.”

“I think it’s important for a dean to be seen and be recognized,” Cass said. Involving himself so intimately with the campus activities, he said, allowed him to know the faculty and students in a more personal way, which he said made him a better dean.

Cass took a special interest in the arts, saying an Arts and Sciences dean should especially try and protect them, as they often are the first thing cut when money gets tight.

“Art is the one communal thing all of [society] shares,” Cass said. “It’s also the one area that seldom gets a real cheerleader when times get tough.”

Cass said he was also especially proud of the mass communications department and takes great pride in putting faculty in place to “change the culture” of the department. He said he hopes the next dean continues to grow the program, which has

!

E E N FR ATIO V R E S

RE

seen steady growth in recent years.

As for regrets, Cass said he has none, choosing not to second guess himself and look toward the future.

Cass said he had no real desire to leave ULM, but that his career path always included provost, and the opportunity was too much to pass up.

“It’s important universities not get stuck in their leadership positions,” he said. “Too often I’ve seen people outstay their time. Sometimes it’s good to try new things.”

As for the vacancy, Cass leaves at ULM, the position will likely not be filled until late fall. Michael Camille will serve as interim dean until a new hire is made.

So as Cass takes his final bow in Monroe before taking his show on the road, he leaves his colleagues with one piece of advice.

“Always keep a sense of humor,” he said. “Don’t allow problems to take over your whole life. You’ve got to keep a little humor about it because it gives you a bit of distance.” contact Cole Avery at averyrc@warhawks.ulm.edu

photo by Robert Brown

Former Arts and Sciences Dean Jeff Cass gives a goodbye hug to a collegue who stopped by a reception held in his honor last Thursday in Cass’ office.

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THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA AT MONROE

PAGE 10

January 23, 2012

NEWS

OPEN ARTS AUDITIONS The OPEN ARTS EVENT, in commemoration of Black History Month, will be held at 7 p.m. Feb. 29 in Brown Theatre. This event will involve singing, dance (ballet, modern, jazz, etc.), spoken word and theatre. An audition will be required. All areas of the arts should be pertinent to black history: performed in solos, duets, and photo by Garrett Boyte

In the pictures above and below are a few of the kids sponsored by the Special Olympics of Louisiana.

Special Olympics group comes to ULM campus Grade school kids eagerly help out the participants on ULM’s campus

by Garrett Boyte

Special Olympics of Louisiana, a group aiming to organize sporting events for children and adults with special needs, was at ULM Friday for a basketball game. ULM students who were in the Student Union Building were mobbed by grade school children eager to help out the event’s participants.

“I like helping people, and I like to play basketball,” said Dutches Stanley, who was one of the grade schoolers from Caldwell lending a helping hand. Stanley seemed more than happy to be at ULM to participate and help with the Special Olympics. “I just like helping people,” Stanley said.

“I like helping people, and I like to play basketball.”

Dutches Stanley Caldwell Parish special education teacher, Paul Shaw, is the man responsible for all of the student participation. Shaw, who is a new teacher at Caldwell, says that he tried to make this event a big deal. “We make it not only special for the participants, but for the helpers as well. And every participant has a helper,” Shaw said. According to Shaw, there are more Special Olympic events being held at ULM. Track and Field will be seen later in the spring. ULM students interested in volunteering can contact the Special Olympics of Louisiana at (985) 345-6644 for more information. contact Garrett Boyte at boytjg@warhawks.ulm.edu

small ensembles (no more than eight people). We would like this program to be of the highest caliber: no vulgar language nor acts will be permitted to perform.

Auditions will be from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Feb. 15, 2012 in the Brown Annex, Studio 122 Any questions, please contact Tina Mullone, mullone@ulm.edu or 342.3194.

THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA AT MONROE

OF THE

Ladies Love Cool James, and apparently so do the Grammys. Legendary rapper, LL Cool J will be the official host of the 54th Annual Grammy Awards, which is scheduled to air on CBS. This will be the first time in seven years that music’s biggest night has had a host. The two-time Grammy winner has hosted the Grammy Nominations Live concert since 2008, but this will be his first time hosting the actual awards ceremony. The most recent host in 2005 was another rap veteran and peer of LL Cool J, Queen Latifah.

The Grammys have had an array of hosts from TV personalities like Rosie O’Donnell to actor Billy Crystal. In an interview with mtv.com, LL Cool J, the rapper turned actor, shares his excitement saying, “I will always have fond memories of my first Grammy Awards and to now be hosting the Grammy show in the company of so many other incredible

On Sunday Jan. 15, television, film and music icons were honored at the Golden Globes ceremony, where awards meet fashion. Actors and actresses were honored for their success, but some may consider it to be the biggest fashion show of the year. Well, next to fashion week, that is. It’s become known that fashion is considered the highlight of the night.

Viewers sat anxiously awaiting to see what glamorous or outrageous outfits might walk the red carpet. Who were the top faves of the night?

According to UsMagazine.com, the first on the list was Glee star Lea Michele who rocked a dazzling antique embroidered illusion dress by Marchesa paired with a pair of Jimmy Choo shoes. Talk about sparkle! It’s just what you’d expect from this starlet.

How about the lovely Angelina Jolie who graced us with

by Alicia Cook

by Jarred Denzel

MUSIC

According to McCulloch and Hieronymus, the influence behind these songs is everything and everyone. “I had these songs before,” Stewart said, “but they take on a new character when everyone contributes.”

They deal with lyrics and tunes that

FASHION

Queen of the Galaxy is a band made up of ULM students. Band members include junior Will Hieronymus, the lead vocalist, senior Mason Coats on bass, senior Stewart McCulloch on guitar, and senior Aaron Willett on drums.

The band will perform their upcoming album release concert for “Within the Noise” at 10 p.m. on Jan. 28 at Tsunami.

The band itself has been together for a year and most of the members are music education majors, except for Willett whose major is music theory and composition.

Their songs are original, and although they do play a couple of cover songs, they are not a cover band.

Some of their original songs are titled “Rainy Day,” “Crawl Like a Snake,” and “A-bro-ham.”

GALAXY

take from every genre, and they’re available for listening on ReverbNation. com or on Facebook.

The band was asked how they felt about the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA), which Coats had this to say, “As a musician I understand where they’re coming from with ending piracy, but we’re not in this for the money.

If stuff gets pirated, that’s what they’re going to do.”

Willett responded with, “I’d imagine if I was at the point where I was relying on my album to make money, then I would be upset as well, but that’s not the point. We’re making music for the sake of making music.”

When it came to the question of whether it should be passed by the government they all replied with, “No!” contact Eddie Fountain at fountaer@warhawks.ulm.edu

artists is a dream come true.”

Just like this year’s host, the Grammys are known for its star presence and powerful performances. Many of this year’s nominees will also be doubling as performers for the show. Among those scheduled to perform are pop singer Kelly Clarkson, country artist Taylor Swift, rapper Nicki Minaj and several others. Bruno Mars, also to perform, was nominated for Song of the Year, Album of the Year, as well as Record of the Year for “Grenade.”

With such an extensive line up it is easy to see why this is the biggest night for music. Tune in on Feb. 12 to see the winners, performers and stars of the most anticipated night in music. contact Jarred Denzel at kellerjd@warhawks.ulm.edu

her beauty, strutting a sleek champagne satin one-shoulder Atelier Versace gown with a hint of red at the neckline.

Sofia Vergara showed off her curves with a dark blue mermaid style custom Vera Wang gown finished with 160 carats of Harry Winston jewels.

Studded belts might be a little played out, but actress Nicole Kidman wore a smoking silver studded Versace gown accenting all the right places.

One thing is for sure, these stars know how to keep viewers coming back for more, and the red carpet is sure to be the highlight of the night for years to come.

contact Alicia Cook at cookad@warhawks.ulm.edu

“Glee” returned from hiatus on Jan. 17. The show tells the stories of several high school students as they deal with everyday life, high school, the glee club, which many are against, and their drive to win nationals. The show uses music to convey some of the issues the students go through. ” Glee can be seen on FOX, Tuesdays at 7 p.m.

“Let’s Stay Together,” the popular scripted BET show, came back for its second season on Jan. 10. The TV show, chronicling the love lives of young professionals, aired to an audience of more than 3.5 million viewers, according to the Nielsen Company. The dramedy returns with old cast members and the addition of one new character, Crystal, the wisecracking cousin played by Kyla Pratt.

“The Game,” BET’s highest rated scripted show, returned for it’s fifth season on Jan. 10. According to the Los Angeles Times, the popular TV show premiered to an audience of over 5.3 million viewers. Derwin, Melanie, Malik, Jason and Tasha are all back with drama. Tune in Tuesdays on BET for the play-by-play on each new episode of “The Game.”

“The New Girl”returned on Jan. 17. The show tells of Jessica Day, played by Zooey Deschanel, who moves in with three single men after she breaks up with her boyfriend for cheating on her. The men try to help her out of the apartment and try to get her back into the dating world but end up seeing and caring for her as a friend. The New Girl can be seen on FOX, Tuesdays at 8 p.m.

UPCOMING EVENTS

QUEEN

by Eddie Fountain

PAGE 11

FREESTYLE

TELEVISION

January 23, 2012

• 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 31.

Implosion Percussion Group will perform in Emy-Lou Biedenharn Recital Hall • 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 2 Lyceum Series will host prolific author Nicholas Sparks in Brown Auditorium • 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 3 “African-Americans in the Arts” concert in the Emy-Lou Beidenharn Recital Hall

• 7:00 p.m Tuesday, Feb. 7.

The Annual Etiquette Dinner will be held in SUB Ballroom A •February 14-18 The Guitar Festival will be held in Brown Auditorium/ Emy-Lou Biedenharn Recital Hall

THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA AT MONROE

PAGE 12

January 23, 2012

NEWS

Textbooks now on iPad

by Andrew McDonld

For years, college students would make the trip to the bookstore every semester to buy textbooks and sell them back. However, in recent years, the Internet has started to play a part with websites such as Amazon joining in on the textbook business. Now, even Apple has jumped in and is offering textbooks for college students who own an iPad. Apple is building off of the successful iBooks application to include digital textbooks. At $14.99 per textbook, they are cost effective compared to print books, which range from $40-200 on average.

The digital textbooks can be updated instantly, unlike print textbooks.

The new iBooks app also includes a note card function that allows students to make study aids like digital note and flash cards.

carry around a book,” said Taylor Diaz, a junior Spanish major from Dry Prong.

The major disadvantage, though, is that students need an iPad, preferably the 32GB or 64GB models, to use the iBooks app. Also, some professors may be wary about students using iPads in class instead of a physical textbook.

The app can digitally mark pages, which could appeal to some students who are used to highlighting. “I’m old school. I like to mark my readings up, which is also highly encouraged in grad school,” said graduate student Rachel Williams.

“So, if the apps were sophisticated enough to do that, I’d be sold.”

The new iBooks app may be downloaded from the App Store for free.

Apple has even partnered with McGraw-Hill, Pearson Educational and E.O. Wilson to produce digital versions of textbooks. Currently, only eight titles are available, but more are expected before the fall semester.

Some students are excited about the announcement.

“I think that it is better for students if they have the option to buy a textbook in e-book format. It’s often cheaper and they don’t have to

contact Andrew McDonald at mcdonaat@warhawks.ulm.edu

ECU fires former Hawkeye advisor in censor dispute Coverage of streaker “Their concern is causes free speech not about teaching debate on campuses journalism... [it’s]

by Cole Avery

East Carolina University fired its student media advisor, a former Hawkeye adviser, earlier this month after students published uncensored photos of a streaker.

Paul Isom, who served as the Hawkeye (then the Pow Wow) adviser in the mid 90s, was released from ECU on Jan. 4 after four years with the school.

Though the ECU administration said in a press release Isom’s firing was no more than routine personnel changes, Isom maintains it was because he did not censor his students for what they wanted to publish.

“My thought is, and has always been, that student newspapers have a little more leeway to push the envelope in that kind of way,” Isom said, adding he supports his stu- Isom dents’ decisions, and even if he didn’t, he had no authority to tell them what to publish.

Isom said the administration told him to remove the photos because they made the university look bad. They also held a meeting with the editors behind Isom’s back to talk about how to make decisions from a public relations standpoint.

“That’s what they want to teach them,” Isom said. “Their concern is not about teaching journalism or teaching students how to be journalists. Their only concern is making the university look good.”

More concerning behavior from the

making the university look good.”

Paul Isom

ECU surfaced last week. Isom discovered ECU had collected a personnel file on him full of his emails, Facebook postings and correspondence with other advisers through the College Media Advisers list-serve.

Isom is weighing the option of suing the university, and Frank LoMonte, executive director of the Student Press Law Center, believes Isom has a case.

“It is neither legally supportable nor educationally sound to punish a college media adviser for the lawful editorial judgments of the students he advises,” LoMonte said in a letter to ECU. “If the removal of Mr. Isom was in any way motivated by disapproval of the discretionary content choices made by student editors, then the decision was unlawful and must be reversed.”

Isom has also received the support of the Society of Professional Journalists and other journalistic organizations.

Isom has not decided what media career path he will take next, but he has not ruled out another advising position.

Should he decide to continue advising, it is unlikely the ECU incident will cause a change in his journalistic philosophy.

“The job of [student journalists] is to hold people accountable,” Isom said. “I don’t consider myself a spy for the administration. If I did that, what would I be teaching my students?” contact Cole Avery at averyrc@warhawks.ulm.edu

NOT HIS FIRST RODEO

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Paul Isom said his experience at ULM prepared him for his current free speech battle. When Isom was the student publications advisor in the 90s, his students received a lot of heat from the administration over a story they ran in the Pow Wow. The students wrote a story about a fraternity that dressed in drag with antigay slurs written on their clothing. The administration, Isom said, pressured him to censor the journalists. He was asked to leave shortly after his refusal.

THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA AT MONROE

January 23, 2012

PAGE 13

GAMES crossword 60 Ripping results 63 Variety, and what’s literally hidden within 17-, 23-, 32-, 42- and 50-Across 64 Spring sign 65 Ancient Egyptian agents of capital punishment 66 Word with white or shell 67 Former CIA agent counterpart 68 Bar measure 69 “L.A. Law” actress Down 1 Held in check 2 Frisbee maker 3 Bruce in a 1974 film 4 Semi sections 5 Ventura County resort city 6 Quack’s wonder drug 7 Physics class unit 8 Biblical twin 9 Strung out 10 Biological family subdivisions 11 Clock std.

12 Links concern 13 Stirrup site 18 Dennis the Menace’s neighbor Wilson 21 Flowing garment 24 Robot play 25 Toiletry product

whose slogan once began “Don’t be half-safe” 26 Put away 27 Radiance 29 Arabic “son of” 30 Green who played a werewolf in “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” 32 Young chicken 33 “The Family Man” costar Téa 34 Squash variety named for its shape 35 Syncopated pieces 39 Erie Canal mule 40 Specialized undergrad track 43 Part of FEMA: Abbr.

44 Fam. tree entry 45 Somewhat spotty on top?

47 Lascivious lookers 48 Sidelined 51 Very low 53 Globular 54 Developmental period 55 Soaked 58 National, before moving 59 Gab attachment 60 Trader’s buy: Abbr.

61 Cauldron tender 62 Obstacle, to Hamlet 63 Some parents

forecast

Across 1 Punch with a point 4 Handle trouble 8 Shake 14 Article sometimes dropped 15 Cracked just a bit 16 Pallor cause 17 Cher title words before “my baby shot me down” 19 A cupcake’s may be creamy 20 “The Bourne Identity” malady 21 Bar closing?

22 Wrist exercise provider 23 Lawn invader 28 Revolt 31 We’re on it 32 Olympics opening ceremony VIP 36 Future school?

37 Fresh 38 Have ambitions 41 “__-hoo!”

42 Place to keep thyme 46 Become a member 49 Rubeola spot 50 Evoke something from the past 52 Low-growing greenery 56 Yarn source?

57 Respectfully give the final word

maze start

today in history Georgetown College is established as the first Catholic college in the U.S.

1957

Toy company Wham-O produces first Frisbees

1977

The TV mini-series “Roots” begins airing on ABC.

1989

James Brown is sentenced in Georgia to six years in jail in connection with a police chase

1995

Courtney Love appears in Australian court on charges of abusing a flight attendant

65o 41o

Tue 24

66o 51o

Wed 25

63o 50o

Thu 26

61o 42o

Fri 27

66o 49o

did you know know?

sudoku

1789

Mon 23

finish

• 11 percent of people are lefthanded • August has the highest percentage of births • Unless food is mixed with saliva, you can’t taste it • The average person falls asleep in 7 minutes • A bear has 42 teeth • An ostrich’s eye is bigger than its brain • Most lipsticks contain fish scales • No two corn flakes look the same • Ralph Lauren’s original name was Ralph Lifshitz • The Hawaiian alphabet has 12 letters • A lobster’s blood is colorless, but when exposed to oxygen, it turns blue • Armadillos have 4 babies at a time and are all the same sex • The longest recorded flight of a chicken was 13 seconds • If you try to say the alphabet without moving your lips or tongue, every letter will sound the same • When lightning strikes it can reach up to 30,000 degrees celsius (54,000 degrees fahrenheit) • Cats spend 66 percent of their lives asleep • Money is the number one thing that couples argue about

PAGE 14

THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA AT MONROE

January 23, 2012

SPORTS

No title, no glory in football Softball’s Salanoa earns All-Sun Belt honors

DeRON TALLEY With ULM not participating in postseason football games, I couldn’t help but be dragged into the hype of LSU football and, of course, the New Orleans Saints, especially being from south Louisiana.

LSU had its best season in program history with an undefeated record, earned the number one rank and a defense that looked good enough to be remembered as one of the “bestevers.”

The Saints finished the regular season undefeated at home and had only three road losses. Quarterback Drew Brees broke NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino’s singleseason passing record of 5,084 that stood for over 25 years. Brees finished the season with an all-time high of 5,476 passing yards.

But in a week, two teams whose seasons were filled with much hope ended. Badly.

LSU went scoreless in the BCS National Championship game against

conference-rival and second-ranked Alabama. The Crimson Tide defeated the Tigers 21-0 in New Orleans at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

The game was the worst offensive performance I have ever seen by any team. LSU failed to cross the 50-yard line until late in the fourth quarter.

Senior quarterback Jordan Jefferson couldn’t put the Tigers in field-goalrange against Alabama’s top-ranked defense.

Alabama’s offense didn’t show to be much better against LSU’s defense, but head coach Nick Saban was able to scheme mis-matches in the secondary that put points on the board for the Crimson Tide.

Alabama’s defense dominated the game, which kept momentum in their favor, and they shut LSU out to break the hearts of many.

Once LSU lost, I was sure the Saints were destined for the Super Bowl.

Karma has a strange way of working, so I figured we couldn’t have two championship teams in Louisiana.

So LSU went down.

Brees and the Saints came off a dominant win against the Detroit Lions in the Wild-Card game at home.

Next up, the 49ers in San Francisco.

New Orleans was supposed to show there is no breeze in Cali like a Drew Brees.

Brees literally carried the Saints on his back with his arm, throwing

the ball 63 times in the game for 463 yards and four touchdowns. Brees led the team on what was supposed to be a game-winning touchdown drive with less than two minutes left on the clock. He connected with tight end Jimmy Graham in the middle of the endzone over the heads of several defenders, sealing his legacy as a winning quarterback.

Brees did it. He won. I was wrong.

Saints defensive coordinator and play-caller Gregg Williams, the blitz guru, decided to go against setting the defense in a prevent scheme.

He called for a man defense that left Saints defensive backs at a disadvantage.

I had a flashback to the previous week in the playoffs when the other black and gold team, the Pittsburgh Steelers, loss on a big pass down the field from Tim Tebow and Demaryius Thomas.

Niners quarterback Alex Smith connected with his tight end Vernon Davis for a 47-yard completion that swung momentum to the hometeam. Smith would later connect with Davis again for a 14-yard touchdown pass to win the game.

Yet again, my heart was left splattered on the floor.

contact DeRon Talley at talleydl@warhawks.ulm.edu

by DeRon Talley

Softball junior Janel Salanoa was named to the College Sports Madness Sun Belt Preseason team.

The award is based on Salanoa’s numbers from last season when she led the Warhawks with a batting average of .321.

“She is very much an impact player on this team, and we will need the same type of production from her this year,” head coach Rosemary Holloway-Hill said.

It is the first time Salanoa received the honor, and Holloway-Hill said she expects it won’t be her last.

“Janel works hard at all phases of the game,” HollowayHill said. “There is not a slow thing about her, she gets it and goes. She has a real good work ethic.”

Last season Salanoa was in the top 10 in hardest batters for pitchers to strike out in a game.

Salanoa said, “It feels good. It means a lot and shows that we are working hard, and the team is getting recognition.”

“I’m excited about this season. I got here like a week early to practice with the team, and I’m feeling great.”

Salanoa was the only Warhawk honored with a preseason award.

The softball team opens its season on

Feb. 10, playing host to its annual Mardi Gras Tournament at the Softball Complex. contact DeRon Talley at talleydl@warhawks.ulm.edu

photo by Srdjan Marjanovic

Above: Junior Janel Salanoa grounds a ball at the ULM Softball Complex.

Water ski still winning; brings home medals in World Championships

by DeRon Talley

The water ski team continues to dominate, this time members competed in the World University Championships Jan. 12-15 in Santiago, Chile.

ULM had the most competitors and the greatest number of medal winners of any university in the world, according to Treina Landrum, ULM Water Ski Team coach.

Landrum said, “Overall, ULM skiers brought home 13 medals: four gold, five silver and four bronze.”

She said, “These competitors are deeply committed to their sport and have brought great honor to ULM.” Male skier Adam Pickos won a gold medal after a first place finish in the men’s tricks competition.

“It was huge for me.” Pickos said.

“It was hard to train for a January competition with it being our offseason, but I was able to get in with this team and get some good training.”

He competed for Team USA, and with his success, USA won the overall title.

Pickos also brought home a silver medal Pickos with a second place finish in the men’s slalom, an event he didn’t expect to do so well in.

Pickos skated well in the slalom preliminary rounds, and in the finals he tied with Chilean native Fe-

lipe Miranda.

By rule, Miranda and Pickos went into a tiebreaker, in which Pickos finished second.

He said, “That was huge for me too. It was my first run-off in a big competition like that and I am more than happy with my results.”

Pickos said, “It was good for me to get that experience and I was glad that I skated that well.”

Female skier Alex Lauretano brought home a gold medal in the tricks and she finished as the overall women’s champion.

Pickos said he expects to have a good season for the Warhawks in the upcoming fall season and he said, “Warhawks be ready.” contact DeRon Talley at talleydl@warhawks.ulm.edu

photo by Srdjan Marjanovic

Above: Tricks champion Adam Pickos shows off a flip in Bayou Desiard.

January 23, 2012

PAGE 15

THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA AT MONROE

SPORTS

Men’s basketball struggle offensively, defensively; Denver wins big 63-48

by DeRon Talley

photo by Srdjan Marjanovic

Above:Senior guard Eli Torres drive the ball at the Fant-Ewing Coliseum.

Women’s basketball fight back vs Denver, fall 46-43

by DeRon Talley

The women’s basketball team (515, 3-4 SBC) made a comeback attempt in its 46-43 loss to the Denver University Pioneers on Thursday at the Fant-Ewing Coliseum.

ULM shot under 14 percent on 5-36 shooting from the field in the first half and went into their locker room trailing by 12 points.

“We are depending on these guards who aren’t shooting the ball well, and it’s very frustrating,” head coach Mona Martin said. “We aren’t going to win ball games if they keep shooting like that.”

Sophomore guard Jasmine Shaw scored the first bucket for ULM on a tip-in layup in the opening minutes. Shaw’s two points were all the Warhawks had through the first ten minutes of the game until freshman guard Taylor Maricle knocked down a three-pointer.

Two possessions later Maricle came back with another threepointer to put the Warhawks down six, but DU’s (12-8, 4-2 SBC) Jordan Johnston replied with three’s of her own to keep ULM out of striking distance. DU led 17-8.

Maricle finished the game with a team-high and career-high 11 points on 3-5 shooting from the three-point line.

Maricle said, “I knew I had to shoot the ball and get myself open, but I’m just trying to get stronger and smarter on defense so I can contribute on both ends of the court.”

Senior forward Marion Zollicoffer worked hard for the Warhawks in the paint. She dribbled her way to the lane and was fouled on a made

shot that put her on the free throw line to add one more. She missed the shot and ULM continued to trail by nine.

“The other post players should get scores, because they are doubling Larrie (Williams) every time, and that’s what I tell them but they miss the easy shots.”

Zollicoffer finished the night with six points, eight rebounds and three blocked shots.

In the second half, ULM’s senior guard Eli Torres put the team within nine with a three-pointer after DU’s Morgan Van Riper-Rose scored from downtown on their previous possession.

Maricle scored another threepointer to cut ULM’s deficit to seven making the score 33-26.

Sophomore guard Elexar Tugler helped bring the Warhawks within five points with less than 12:30 to play in the second half with a layup.

Later senior forward Larrie Williams cut the lead to three with a mid-range jumper pushing the score to 37-34.

ULM got within two points after Zollicoffer was fouled and sent to the foul line for two shots. She made them both. DU led 46-44.

Torres knocked down a three with less than a minute to play in the game to keep ULM’s chances of winning alive.

With less than ten seconds remaining, Torres came back with another three to try and tie the game and force an overtime, but the shot rimmed out. contact DeRon Talley at talleydl@warhawks.ulm.edu

The men’s basketball team (2-18, 1-6 SBC) hosted and lost to the Denver University Pioneers 63-48 on Thursday at the Fant-Ewing Coliseum.

At the half, DU (15-4, 5-1 SBC) led 36-18, and held ULM to shoot 29 percent from the field on seven of 24 shooting from the field.

“Our guys were so dribble happy, so-to-speak,” head coach Keith Richard said. “Instead of ‘pass first and move without the ball’ type of guys.”

In the first half, Richard decided to bench senior guard Fred Brown and never subbed Brown back into the game.

Richard said, “I was sick of a lot of guys in the first half and the way they played offensively.”

Sophomore guard Charles Winborne sparked the Warhawks offensively to start the second

photo by Srdjan Marjanovic

Right: Men’s basketball head coach Keith Richard unhappy with his team’s play in the Fant-Ewing Coliseum.

“The other team, most of the time, is more talented than we are, and that is tough.”

Coach Keith Richard half with a three-pointer that cut the lead to 12. DU retaliated with a two, but on ULM’s next possession, freshman forward Trey Lindsey sank another three to cut the lead to 11. The closest ULM would cut into the lead.

“With this team, it’s a grind to get us to play right for 40 minutes,” Richard said.

Winborne finished the game as the only doubledigit scorer for ULM with 18

points and five rebounds.

Richard said there are two reasons the team struggles to play a complete 40-minute game.

He said, “The other team, most of the time, is more talented than we are, and that is tough.” Richard also said, “We are not a very good passing team and that causes problems, but it doesn’t mean we aren’t working to improve.”

Winborne seemed to be the only Warhawk who could get shots to fall as he tried to keep ULM in striking distance as the game clock ticked below eight minutes. His efforts weren’t enough.

Richard said, “One day we will be a normal program, it’s just not today.” contact DeRon Talley at talleydl@warhawks.ulm.edu

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THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA AT MONROE

January 23, 2012