UREC: New equipment, updated facilities introduced, p. 3
Crime: Student arrested for walking on cars, p. 4
Reveille The Daily
Gymnastics: Coach D-D Breaux holds high standard, p. 5
Wednesday, January 25, 2012 • Volume 116, Issue 77
www.lsureveille.com Obama stresses higher ed. during national address Kate Mabry Staff Writer
State of the Union photos by SAUL LOEB and EVAN VUCCI / The Associated Press
[Top] President Obama delivers his State of the Union address on Tuesday night before Congress. [Bottom left] Obama gestures during his speech. [Bottom middle] Obama hugs retiring Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., who was severely injured last year from a gunshot. [Bottom right] Congressmen listen to the president speak.
In President Barack Obama’s annual State of the Union address to Congress on Tuesday, the president tackled several issues, including the economy, unemployment and immigration, but his rhetoric Obama’s about higher education has remarks: brought on serious debates Higher education: about whether his tactics ap“Colleges and univer- ply to Louisiana. In an attempt to slow sities have to do their debt among college students, part by working to Obama proposed an increase keep costs down.” Taxes: “If you make in student aid and work-study opportunities. more than $1 million “At a time when Ameria year, you should cans owe more in tuition not pay less than 30 debt than credit-card debt, this Congress needs to stop percent in taxes.” National debt: “Take the interest rates on student the money we’re no loans from doubling in July,” Obama said. “Extend the longer spending at tuition tax credit we started war, use half of it to that saves middle-class famipay down our debt.” lies thousands of dollars and give more young people the chance to earn their way through college by doubling the number of work-study jobs in the next five years.” Obama also asked states to make higher education a priority within the state budgets and attempt to lower costs placed on students. Obama said many college presidents have made attempts at lowering costs and assisting students through school by use of improved technology and redesigned courses. “The point is, it’s possible,” he said. “So let me put colleges and universities on notice: If you OBAMA, see page 11
ENTERTAINMENT
MSN show f ilms downtown today
Emily Herrington Staff Writer
Baton Rouge residents can embrace their appetites for life downtown today. “Appetite for Life,” a Webbased MSN show hosted by Andrew Zimmern, is filming at North Boulevard Town Square in front of a live audience from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. “We’ll be at Town Square [today] rain or shine,” said Woody Thompson, the show’s creator. Thompson said the show’s theme for this season is Southern hospitality, and New Orleans, Gulfport, Miss., Jackson, Miss. and Vicksburg, Miss., are on the agenda after this stop. The crew is visiting five cities in five days.
Two award-winning chefs will face off in a jambalaya cook-off, and the public will judge the best dish, said Christina Zito, communications coordinator for Visit Baton Rouge. Zimmern will assist the competing chefs by helping cook and sharing a few tricks of the trade, Thompson said. Zito said the jambalaya will be sold to the public for $5, with proZIMMERN ceeds going toward Capital Area United Way. There will also be a food truck round-up where each truck will sell Cajun-themed dishes, Zito said. Ten percent of the food trucks’ profits will be donated to United Way.
“We want to attract a big crowd and get people downtown to check it out,” Zito said. After the jambalaya cook-off, Zimmern will meet a local accordion maker and learn how to fais-do-do at Boutin’s Restaurant. “If people show up, we’ll definitely get them integrated in the piece, whether it’s judging, dancing or cheering the chefs on,” Thompson said. The portion of St. Louis Street crossing Town Square will be blocked off from 10:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. because of the filming, according to a news release from the mayor’s office. Contact Emily Herrington at eherrington@lsureveille.com
MUSIC
Springsteen added to 2012 Jazz Fest lineup
Eddie Vedder, Mystikal also join Danielle Kelley Staff Writer
The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival announced Tuesday that Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band will join its lineup, and University students who know of Springsteen’s music are excited about the new addition. “My parents played a lot of Bruce Springsteen when I was little, so I guess I find it nostalgic,” said Michelle Limbaugh, biology and French sophomore. Limbaugh said she is more excited, however, for younger artists like Florence + the Machine and John Mayer. Most of Springsteen’s hits were released before some students were born, which explains why a number of students aren’t familiar with the rock legend. SPRINGSTEEN, see page 11
ON THE STRAIGHT AND NARROW
MARIAH POSTLETHWAITE / The Daily Reveille
Steven Armstrong (left) and Phuong Le, both architecture juniors, practice slacklining Tuesday morning in the Quad. Their efforts were stymied by the bad weather that lasted most of the day.