The Daily Reveille - February 8, 2012

Crime Briefs: Students arrested for burglary, assault of officer, p. 4

Women’s Basketball: Lady Tigers winning despite myriad of turnovers, p. 6

Reveille The Daily

Wednesday, February 8, 2012 • Volume 116, Issue 87

www.lsureveille.com

OH, WEATHER, WHY ART THOU?

dynamic

annoying fluctuating

erratic capricious

flip-flopping

wretched

bipolar

gloomy

nice

tragic

muggy

confusing

flux

random

stupid inconsistent

nuts

cray

unpredictable*

warm

La Niña, cool Pacific waters, to blame for recent scattered weather patterns

Emily Herrington Staff Writer

Fur-lined boots, galoshes or flip-flops?

The unpredictable weather of recent weeks has left students puzzled and unsure of climate-appropriate garb.

“It’s really hard to decide

what to wear,” said biological sciences freshman Kari Estep.

“One day there’s rain, then no rain the next. It’s hot, then cold again.”

Barry Keim, geography and anthropology professor, said the most significant cause of this winter’s eccentric weather is the fact that the

nation is currently experiencing the effects of La Niña.

In La Niña, sea surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean run colder than normal, disrupting the atmosphere’s general circulation, Keim said.

La Niña tends to make winters warmer and drier. The

* Students in the Quad used these words to describe the recent weather.

Gymnastics: Former LSU star rocks Las Vegas show, p. 5

country has been in a La Niña state since October of 2010, Keim said, and Louisiana was already suffering a drought before it began.

Keim said the cold air fronts of winter typically originate in Canada, but this WEATHER, see page 4 graphic by MELISSA RUSHING / The Daily Reveille

BR COMMUNITY

Reggie’s proposal couple identified

Rachel Warren Staff Writer

Mystery solved.

The Daily Reveille reported Monday that an unknown man proposed to his girlfriend with the help of a student band at Reggie’s Bar. The lucky girl, animal science and technology junior Kellsey Fenley, said the couple has been dating for about four years.

“I had no idea what was going on,” she said. “I saw him waving at the band, and then all of a sudden he was on stage, and I heard my name being called.”

Her fiancé, Baton Rouge native Tyler Varnado, recently joined the Army and wanted to propose before he left for basic training Tuesday.

Varnado said he hadn’t planned to pop the question at the bar but got the idea when he saw the band on stage.

“I knew I was going to do it anyway, so I thought, ‘Why not?’” he said.

The next morning, Varnado made sure Fenley knew he was serious by cooking her breakfast and hiding her engagement ring in a pancake.

Fenley said the couple will begin planning the wedding when Varnado returns from basic training in 16 weeks.

Contact Rachel Warren at rwarren@lsureveille.com

HEALTH

Komen reverses after backlash Students find cut to funds troubling Rachel Warren Staff Writer

The Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation and Planned Parenthood often make news for their contributions to women’s health, but the organizations have recently become known for making waves instead.

For years, the Komen

Foundation has funded several Planned Parenthood programs, including breast health education, cancer screenings and mammogram referrals, but an Associated Press story published Jan. 31 said the foundation decided to withdraw its support.

Following a public relations backlash, Komen then reversed that decision Feb. 3 and announced it would continue to support the organization.

Nearly a week after the initial decision, campus is still buzzing from the news, and the social

media aftershock is still happening. Komen attention abounded again Tuesday when the organization’s vice president, Karen Handel, resigned.

According to The Associated Press, Planned Parenthood said the grants it received from the Komen Foundation totaled about $680,000 last year and $580,000 the year before. In the time that Komen withdrew its support, Planned Parenthood received more than four times that amount KOMEN, see page 4

REX C. CURRY / The Associated Press

Women protest Tuesday outside Susan G. Komen for the Cure headquarters in Dallas.

The Daily Reveille

page 2

INTERNATIONAL

Nation & World

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

NATIONAL

STATE/LOCAL

Red Cross: Chinese workers held in Sudan released, flown to Kenya

California’s same-sex marriage ban, Prop. 8, ruled unconstitutional

State retirement system leaders call Jindal retirement plan unfair

BEIJING (AP) — Twenty-nine Chinese workers abducted by rebels in Sudan more than a week ago have been released and flown to Kenya by the Red Cross, the group said Tuesday.

The rebels attacked a road construction site Jan. 28 where the Chinese were working, taking 29 hostages, while 17 managed to escape.

Chinese state media reported earlier Tuesday that a body had been found of one missing worker.

Elder Pakistani woman saved after 31 hours under collapsed building

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A federal appeals court declared California’s same-sex marriage ban to be unconstitutional Tuesday, putting the bitterly contested, voter-approved law on track for likely consideration by the U.S. Supreme Court.

A three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 2-1 that a lower court judge correctly interpreted the U.S. Constitution and Supreme Court precedents when he declared in 2010 that Proposition 8 was a violation of the civil rights of gays and lesbians.

(AP) — Gov. Bobby Jindal’s proposed changes to benefits for state workers are unconstitutional, unnecessarily harsh and unfair to employees vested in the system, state employee retirement system leaders said Tuesday.

Cindy Rougeou, executive director of the Louisiana State Employees Retirement System, said Jindal is targeting workers who are barred from lobbying on their own behalf to speak up in opposition.

“It’s interesting that they’re picking on the ones who have no voice,” said Trey Boudreaux, LASERS assistant director, in a phone interview.

Bones found in historic Civil War cemetery may be reburied nearby

ISLAMABAD (AP) — Rescue workers on Tuesday pulled a 65-year-old woman out alive after she was trapped for 31 hours in the rubble of a collapsed factory in an eastern Pakistan city, as the death toll from the accident rose to 18.

The three-story factory manufactured medicine and collapsed Monday after several gas cylinders inside exploded. It had been set up illegally in a residential area of Lahore and continued operations even though the government tried to shut it down three times, officials said.

MARGRIET FABER / The Associated Press

Youths play ice hockey Tuesday in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Volunteers pour out to frozen rivers and lakes to shovel away snow, bettering chances for a skating race.

Dutch clean ice to raise chances of first speedskating race in 15 years THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Volunteers are pouring onto frozen rivers and lakes in the northern Netherlands to clean the ice of snow that is jeopardizing chances of a grueling speedskating race being held for the first time in 15 years.

Organizers say locals took to the ice with snow shovels after organizers of the Elfstedentocht, or 11 Cities tour, warned that the snow is hampering ice formation.

Prosecutors request Sandusky kept indoors as part of bail conditions HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Prosecutors asked Tuesday to have Jerry Sandusky kept indoors as part of his bail conditions, citing complaints that the former Penn State football assistant was seen outside and watching children in a schoolyard from the back porch of his home, where he remains under house arrest while awaiting trial on child molestation charges.

The state attorney general’s office argued that Sandusky’s bail conditions should be revised so that he is not allowed outside except to seek medical treatment.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Bones uncovered at a South Louisiana slave cemetery where black Union veterans were buried after the Civil War will likely be reburied nearby to ensure their reinterment doesn’t disturb other graves in the Kenner Cemetery, federal authorities have announced.

Four-foot-wide signs will give historical information about both cemeteries, each of which held 100 to 150 graves, and the adjacent sugar plantations where they were located.

Today on lsureveille.com Read the Tiger Feed sports blog for a reaction to Ricardo Gathers’ comments Tuesday.

Check out the online exclusive account of the Louisiana Court of Appeals hearings at LSU Law. Feeling like the semester is flying by? Read a comparison of spring semester’s pace by The Full Monty on the LMFAO entertainment blog.

Get the latest news by downloading the LSU Reveille app in the iTunes Store and Android Market

facebook.com/ thedailyreveille

@lsureveille, @TDR_news, @TDR_sports

Weather TODAY Partly Cloudy

66 43

PHOTO OF THE DAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

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SATURDAY

SUNDAY

65 44

63 50

XERXES A. WILSON / The Daily Reveille

A squirrel enjoys a snack while perched in a tree Tuesday by Hill Memorial Library.

CORRECTIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS The Daily Reveille holds accuracy and objectivity at the highest priority and wants to reassure the reporting and content of the paper meets these standards. This space is reserved to recognize and correct any mistakes which may have been printed in The Daily Reveille. If you would like something corrected or clarified please contact the editor at (225) 578-4811 or email editor@lsureveille.com.

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

The Daily Reveille (USPS 145-800) is written, edited and produced solely by students of Louisiana State University. The Daily Reveille is an independent entity within the Manship School of Mass Communication. A single issue of The Daily Reveille is free. To purchase additional copies for 25 cents, please contact the Office of Student Media in B-34 Hodges Hall. The Daily Reveille is published daily during the fall and spring semesters and semi-weekly during the summer semester, except during holidays and final exams. Second-class copies postage paid at Baton Rouge, La., 70803. Annual weekly mailed subscriptions are $125, semester weekly mailed subscriptions are $75. Non-mailed student rates are $4 each regular semester, $2 during the summer; one copy per person, additional copies 25 cents each. Postmaster: Send address changes to The Daily Reveille, B-39 Hodges Hall, LSU, Baton Rouge, La.,70803.

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Wednesday, February 8, 2012

TECHNOLOGY

CAMPUS EVENTS

The Daily Reveille

page 3

Entries ‘Tunnel of Oppression’ targets injustices open for Digital Media Fest ‘If we can change the cardboard signs that said “will work for food” and “lost: unwanted by family.”

More than 100 people from “We wanted to send out the University met the homeless, awareness that there are people watched human trafficking and struggling, and homeless stereoobserved cyber bullying in Kirby types aren’t necessarily what they Smith Hall on Tuesday evening. seem,” said Jeff Guillory, NSBE The Departmember and pement of Residentroleum engineertial Life hosted the ing sophomore.

“Tunnel of Op- behavior of one person After the pression,” where because of this, that is a groups visited small groups were all of the rooms, a success.’ immersed in actSchool of Huing experiences man Resource Vicky Katsioulouds that highlighted Education graduhuman resources education oppression and ate student Vicky graduate student social justice.

Katsioloudes was Spectators were guided available to answer questions, through rooms that depicted make connections and share ways themes of homelessness, human in which students can get intrafficking, body images, LGBTQ volved. and gender issues and cyber bully“If we can change the behaving in creative ways. ior of one person because of this, Various student organizations that is a success,” Katsioloudes on campus sponsored the rooms, said. decided the theme and chose the Rony Die, residence life comedium for which the social ordinator for Blake and McVoy awareness message was transmit- halls, said he hopes students will ted. “commit to trying to be a change The Social Work Student As- agent.” sociation depicted the negative isSociology sophomore Alexis sues of body image by performing LeBlanc said she attended the about insecurities. event because her sociology “SWSA thinks body image teacher mentioned it in class as an is an important issue to commu- extra-credit assignment. nicate because the media hypes it “This is done to open everyup so much,” said Hailey Verrett, one’s eyes,” LeBlanc said. “This social work graduate student. stuff goes on every day, all day.”

The National Society for Spectators were asked to Black Engineers portrayed make pledges to enforce and homelessness by transforming spread change. They wrote their a dorm room into a homeless pledge on note cards and stuck slum and having two actors hold them to the “Wall of Change” Jacy Baggett

Contributing Writer

Submissions due

by February 29 Gordon Brillon Contributing Writer

Student submissions open today for the sixth annual LSU Student Digital Media Fest.

The competition is run by Communication across the Curriculum to promote student interest in communication through digital media and is meant to garner professional attention to student work.

Rebecca Burdette, Assistant Director of CommunicaHow to apply tion across the for the Digital C u r r i c u l u m , said students Media Fest: may submit work in the What: The sixth categories of annual competition film and video, creative hosted by Commu- a n i m a t i o n , nication across the technical and scientific, inCurriculum formational Who: LSU students and promoDeadline: Wednes- tional, photography and day, Feb. 29 art, ideas and Where: online at business plans digitalmediafest. and the catchall “academic com and extra-curPrizes: Between ricular gum$250-500 bo.”

Students are limited to seven works, one per category.

They may use anything created within the last year, including school or professional work.

The deadline for submissions is Wednesday, Feb. 29. Submissions must be in a format that can be uploaded to a website accessible by the judges.

Submissions are first judged by a panel of faculty members, who will select the best 25 from each category. These are submitted to industry professionals and experts, who then narrow the field to five. The student finalists from each category must then deliver a five-minute presentation outlining the ideas behind their work.

Winners in each category will receive a prize valued between $250-500. In addition, the highest placing student from each college will receive a Dean’s scholarship award.

Sparks Fly

currently hanging in Kirby Smith Hall.

Die is also the chair of the Social Justice and Service Committee for Res Life and pitched this project last fall. He said he has seen the “Tunnel of Oppression”

at other universities and wanted LSU to create its own.

Contact Jacy Baggett at jbaggett@lsureveille.com

Career Services-Career Expo Business, Liberal Arts, and Grad School - Feb 9th Engineering, Science, & Technology - Feb 10th 10:30 am - 3:30 pm, LSU Union Ballroom network, explore, find a job! careercenter.lsu.edu/careerexpo Earn Unlimited Income.

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Black History Month: Blacks in Academia Lecture Series Wednesday, February 8th, 2012 Frech House Grand Salon, 12 noon DO YOU HAVE AN OCCURRENCE? Call Becky at the Student Media Office 578-6090, 9AM- 5PM or E-mail: oncampus@lsureveille.com

IT's FREE! Contact Gordon Brillon at gbrillon@lsureveille.com

MARIAH POSTLETHWAITE / The Daily Reveille

Actors re-enacted different versions of oppression Tuesday. Themes included homelessness and human trafficking as part of the “Tunnel of Oppression.”

The Daily Reveille

page 4

CAMPUS CRIME BRIEFS Three men arrested for series of fraternity house robberies An investigation about a series of robberies in November and December at the Kappa Alpha and Kappa Sigma fraternity houses led to the arrests of three men on Feb. 2, according to Capt.

Cory Lalonde, LSU Police Department spokesman.

LSUPD investigators received a tip that 19-year-old biological sciences student Jordan Alexander Lewis, of 18049 Forrest Hills in Prairieville, was involved with the burglary.

Two other men were later identified, including 20-yearold psychology student Anthony Randolph Ferguson II, of 110 Bellemeade Blvd. in Gretna, and 19-year-old Terris Michael Bierria Jr., of 338 Stafford Place in New Orleans.

When the three men were questioned, they acknowledged their involvement and assisted officers in recovering some of the stolen property. Lalonde said a TV, Xbox consoles, video game accessories and other

WEATHER, from page 1

winter, almost every front to touch Louisiana was born on the Pacific coast.

“The circulation this year is wildly different from what it typically is,” Keim said.

The groundhog Punxsutawney Phil may have seen his shadow this year, indicating six more weeks of winter, but Keim is skeptical of the groundhog’s prediction.

Even though Louisiana has a history of low temperatures during February, Keim said he doesn’t think southern Louisiana will see much more cold weather.

“I’m not saying winter’s over, but as long as we’re in the La Niña pattern, it seems more likely than not that we will remain in a warm and dry pattern,” he said.

Even though there has been moderate rainfall in the past two weeks, the state continues to experience drought.

John Saichuk, AgCenter professor and rice specialist, said Louisiana’s rice has been affected by this year’s heat and water shortage.

Saichuk said the water

personal items were stolen from the fraternity houses.

Lalonde said Bierria Jr. also admitted to stealing an iPad in the Quad during November.

While police were recovering the property, Lalonde said Ferguson was found with 27.5 grams of marijuana along with small bags that are typically used in the sale and distribution of marijuana.

The men were all arrested on two counts of burglary. Bierria Jr. was also arrested for theft.

All three were booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish prison.

Student resists, assaults officers, is transported to hospital A University student was arrested Feb. 1 after beating and resisting an officer, according to Lalonde.

The incident occurred when 18-year-old psychology freshman Brandon Lamar Addison, of 11140 Idlewood Court in New Orleans, punched and kicked officers. shortage is the chief concern for farmers because they usually pump from surface water, which has been in short supply because of the drought.

The shortage of fresh water also leads to a migration of salt water, which is unusable for planting, Saichuk said.

“We need at least another 10 to 12 inches of rain to get us back into good shape,” he said.

The heat affects plant reproduction, and there aren’t any heat-resistant rice varieties, Saichuk said. Some farmers were forced to abandon their fields over the summer because of the immense heat and dryness.

But there may be a silver lining.

Wednesday, February 8, 2012 KOMEN, from page 1

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

in private donations.

“The outpouring of support online for Planned Parenthood and women in need of breast cancer screenings has been nothing short of astonishing,” according to a statement by Planned Parenthood. “And because of it, the Planned Parenthood Breast Health Fund has received more than $3 million from thousands of people across the country in only three days.”

The story said the charity stopped funding Planned Parenthood because of newly adopted criteria that keeps it from funding organizations that are under investigation. Planned Parenthood is currently the focus of an inquiry launched by a Republican representative from Florida.

But Planned Parenthood officials said on its site that the Komen Foundation withdrew support because it was facing “pressure from anti-women’s health political organizations.”

English sophomore Megan Shay said she found the Komen Foundation’s initial decision disheartening.

Louisiana’s summer heat is particularly devastating to farmers, and the only option left is to plant earlier than normal, Saichuk said.

And this mild winter opens the possibility for an earlier plant.

Kenneth Gravois, AgCenter sugarcane specialist, said this warm, dry winter is beneficial to the crop.

“A dry winter never killed a sugarcane crop,” Gravois said.

He said the opposite — cold, wet conditions — would be

stressful to sugarcane.

Though sugarcane is resilient, Gravois said the drought is still harmful to the crop. He said the tropical storm during last Labor Day weekend was a blessing in disguise for sugarcane.

Keim said the outlook for February, March and April predicts warmer-than-normal temperatures and below-normal precipitation.

This year’s weather is similar to last year’s, which eventually led to the flooding of the

Officers traveled to LeJeune Hall at 7:36 p.m. on a marijuanarelated dispatch, Lalonde said.

He said while conducting an investigation, officers came into contact with Addison.

When officers tried to talk to him, Addison was non-responsive, leading officers to contact EMS to check on him.

While EMS officials attempted to attend to Addison, he became irate and belligerent.

When officers tried to calm him down, Addison became physical.

After a brief struggle, officers subdued Addison. He was transported to Baton Rouge General Mid City for medical attention.

Addison was issued a misdemeanor and released.

“It’s kind of sad that they’re getting caught up in politics,” she said.

Shay said the biggest consequence could be the way people view the foundation.

“Either way, no one’s going to be happy,” she said. “Prolife people are going to be mad they’re supporting Planned Parenthood, and pro-choice people are going to think they’re flipflopping. It was just a bad move.”

Alex Fields, anthropology sophomore, said she thought the foundation’s initial decision was upsetting because of the many services Planned Parenthood offers to people who may not be able to afford them otherwise.

“They have all this money, and they’re fighting breast cancer, which is a great cause,” she said. “But they’re also promoting awareness — that’s what Planned Parenthood does.”

Contact Rachel Warren at rwarren@lsureveille.com Mississippi River, Keim said.

The same pattern persists, but he said he finds the event unlikely to recur because the North experienced less snow this year.

“The potential is there,” Keim said. “It’s hard to imagine that it’ll be as bad as it was last year.”

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Contact Emily Herrington at eherrington@lsureveille.com

Sports

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

page 5

living a

DREAM Former LSU gymnast performs in Las Vegas show ‘Le Rêve’

Micah Bedard Sports Columnist

When competitive gymnasts find themselves at the end of their collegiate careers, it’s often the end of the road.

Seldom is there an outlet to continue to display the skills they spent their entire life refining, and continuing their passion becomes a fantasy.

Former LSU gymnast Kelly Phelan is living that dream.

Phelan currently performs as an acrobat and a dancer in the Wynn Las Vegas production “Le Rêve,” French for “The Dream,” utilizing the skills and mindset ‘When you see she developed while competing at the Kelly for the first University.

“A lot of the stuff is similar to time, you know gymnastics, but it has its own tech- immediately she’s nique,” Phelan said. “It’s a very unique right for this challenge.” kind of show.’

The show takes place in an intimate arena-style theater above a tank containing 1.1 million gallons of fil- Louanne Madorma tered water and features aerial acrobatLe Rêve casting director ics, choreographed dance routines and avant-garde special effects. It was created by Franco Dragone, the former creative director of Cirque du Soleil.

Phelan participates in several perilous segments, including one where she plunges into the tank from a 55-foot high-dive, and the Triton, a trapeze-style apparatus where the acrobat is kicked off 32 feet in the air by another performer.

Casting director Louanne Madorma said the Triton spot is highly sought after by the actors despite its dangerous nature.

It’s reserved only for acrobats who have been “exceptionally trained.”

Phelan also performs in dance numbers, highlighted by the “Red Men” solo, in which she has a minute and a half to perform alone while encircled by her male castmates.

GYMNAST, see page 11

BRYANT, see page 7

Sports Contributor

[Top] File photo [Bottom] photos courtesy of TOMASZ ROSSA

MIC’D UP Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant sank a jumper from the top of the key Monday night with 5:07 left in the second quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers.

It’s a shot Bryant has drained countless times in his stellar NBA career.

The only thing different about that jumper — it buoyed him past former Laker teammate Shaquille O’Neal for fifth place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list.

It’s a tremendous achievement for the 16-year veteran, who has spent all 16 of those seasons in a Laker uniform.

When you add that Bryant has won five NBA titles, been named an All-Star 14 times and was the league’s MVP in 2008, one begins to consider where Kobe ranks among the all-time greats to don the purple and gold of the Los Angeles Lakers.

The players that come to mind when I think of the Lakers include Magic Johnson, Jerry West and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

For Kobe to be mentioned with those NBA legends is an honor in its own right.

There’s still one thing Bryant needs in order to feel completely vindicated about his time spent in the NBA — a sixth title.

Alex Cassara

[Top] Kelly Phelan attended LSU from 2003 to 2007, earning All-American honors.

[Bottom] Phelan performs in the Las Vegas show “Le Rêve.”

Best Laker of all time: Bryant or Johnson?

SOFTBALL

Eight seniors to lead Tigers into daunting 2012 schedule Torina ready for first year as Tiger Scott Branson Sports Contributor

The LSU softball team and first-year Tiger coach Beth Torina will be searching for the “it” factor this season against some of the nation’s best teams.

Torina, who leads the Tigers into the 2012 season after four years at the helm Torina of Florida International, took the reins from former LSU coach Yvette Girouard after

the 2011 season.

Torina said she’s thankful for the team and facility Girouard left behind and will strive for success to honor the now retired Hall of Fame coach.

“This team was selected 100 percent by her, and I love them like they were my own,” Torina said.

“We thank her everyday for everything she has done for this program.”

Torina also jokingly thanked Girouard for the robust slate of opponents the Tigers will face in 2012, with tongue in cheek. “[Girouard] obviously thought very highly of this team because she has truly challenged us this year with the schedule we have,” Torina said.

LSU will play five of the eight College World Series teams from

last season, including out-of-conference contests against California, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, which loom in advance of a Southeastern Conference schedule that features meetings with Alabama and 2011 World Series runner-up Florida.

Along with the challenge, senior catcher Morgan Russell said it’s a privilege to face such talented teams.

“It’s a motivation, and I think our team is very capable of keeping up with these other teams and actually being on top,” Russell said. “I definitely think we have the talent to do all of that.”

The Tigers’ eight seniors have reached the NCAA Regional the past three seasons, where their run SOFTBALL, see page 11

XERXES A. WILSON / The Daily Reveille

LSU senior pitcher Brittany Mack discusses her expanding repertoire of pitches Tuesday at Softball Media Day at Tiger Park.

The Daily Reveille

page 6

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

MEN’S BASKETBALL

LSU winning despite turnovers Tigers to face mature Vandy squad in Tenn.

12 Games with 20 or more turnovers

Chris Abshire

vs. Kentucky

vs. Florida

Sports Writer

vs. Arkansas

vs. UCLA

vs. Alabama State

vs. Northwestern

vs. Ark Pin-Bluff

vs. Georgetown

vs. Wichita St.

With every travel or errant pass, LSU women’s basketball coach Nikki Caldwell gives a 20pained look from the sideline — it has happened 452 times this season.

The coach went so far as to make members of her team carry 15basketballs with them everywhere to try and reverse the effects, but the Lady Tigers are still racking up turnovers at an alarming rate.

The Lady Tigers beat No. 5 10Kentucky last weekend by double digits, surprising considering the team’s frequent miscues.

LSU had 26 turnovers in the game against Kentucky — just four season average. fewer than its 30 shot attempts for “When you turn it over, you the entire game — and needed to can’t allow them to score the next rely on a stellar defense to win the basket,” Caldwell said. “We’ve game. got to cancel out that turnover, and It’s been the same script LSU the way that you do that is through has followed all season. The ebb your defense.” and flow of prolonged winning or While Caldwell realizes that losing streaks has coincided with LSU’s defensive performance is the effectiveness of the defense, the key to victory, the team’s conbut the turnovers tinued inability to ‘We’ve got to cancel hang on to the ball have remained unchanged. what has out that turnover, and dampens In LSU’s eight been at times a losses, it’s actually the way you do that is prolific offense. averaging fewer through your defense.’ TigersThehave Lady turnovers (18.6 per had game) than it is double-digit turnNikki Caldwell overall for the seaover numbers in LSU women’s basketball coach son (19.7). each of their 23 Even during games played this their 10-game win streak, the Lady season, and posted 20 or more turnTigers averaged 19.2 turnovers per overs in 12 games. game.

Some of the inflated turnover The problems have come numbers could correlate with the when LSU doesn’t have the stifling fact that LSU has played this entire defense to match its propensity to season with just one point guard hand the ball back to the other team. on its roster, sophomore Jeanne LSU gave up 67 points per Kenney. game in its eight losses — 14 Kenney hasn’t been immune to points per game more than its the turnover bug — she sports the

vs. South Carolina

30-

vs. Alabama

Sports Writer

vs. McNeese State

Luke Johnson

graphic by KEVIN THIBODEAUX / The Daily Reveille

team’s highest single-game turnover number this season, with eight in both the Kentucky win and a loss to Florida on Feb. 2.

But after not being able to find a solution to the problem, Kenney talked to Caldwell about which turnovers were acceptable and which weren’t.

“We had this talk and it was very difficult for Coach Nikki to say this, but there’s a good turnover and there’s a bad turnover,” Kenney said. “The good turnovers are when it’s a dead ball situation and they have no hope of coming in transition.”

The bad turnovers are the opposite, presenting the opposing team a chance for a fast and easy basket.

Caldwell has said at times this season that the turnovers are something she’s going to have to live with as a coach — as long as the team wins in spite of them.

Contact Luke Johnson at ljohnson@lsureveille.com

Even though the LSU men’s basketball team’s NCAA Tournament hopes are on thin ice, the Tigers will get at least one shot on a big stage tonight against Vanderbilt.

The Commodores’ home court, Memorial Gym, is notorious for its unusual bench placement and an atmosphere LSU players described as “theatrical.”

“They got the lights down and the court raised, so you’re in the middle, with all eyes on you,” said junior forward Eddie Ludwig. “Then, the benches are behind the basket, so it just adds to the isolation a little.

Communication is different.”

The trip marks the end of a brutal stretch of Southeastern Conference away games for the Tigers (139, 3-5 SEC). LSU lost to Arkansas, No. 25 Alabama, No. 15 Florida and No. 16 Mississippi State in games away from the PMAC in January.

The task gets no simpler tonight, as Vanderbilt (16-7, 5-3 SEC) fields the league’s deepest and most experienced roster.

“There is nobody like Vanderbilt in this league,” said LSU coach Trent Johnson.

The Commodores regularly rotate 10 players into games and have trotted out 11 different starting lineups this season. Nine contributors play double-digit minutes, including six upperclassmen.

The ‘Dores depth means Vandy coach Kevin Stallings will likely run full-court pressure at LSU, a strategy that has given the Tigers fits in recent road outings.

“I don’t expect the press, but

we’ll be prepared if they [pressure] full court,” said LSU junior center Justin Hamilton. “The Arkansas [win] showed we can slow it down better.”

While Vanderbilt boasts an unusually deep lineup, it doesn’t sacrifice explosive individual scoring for that depth.

The SEC’s top two scorers are Commodores. Junior shooting guard John Jenkins averages 19.9 points per game, and senior combo guard Jeffrey Taylor adds 17.7 points per game.

“They have some guys that are efficient offensively, which obviously makes defending difficult. Jenkins and Taylor are dangerous from the perimeter,” Hamilton said.

But Johnson said he’s more concerned with Taylor’s impact when the senior doesn’t have the ball.

“He can guard a one, two or three, and really take guys out of the game,” Johnson noted. “Last year, he was very effective against us defensively.”

Vanderbilt has lost its last two games, dropping road tilts at Florida and Arkansas last week, but has won six straight against LSU dating back to 2006.

Ludwig was part of a stellar LSU bench performance during the Arkansas win, scoring 12 points, and said the Tigers will need to match Vanderbilt’s depth to ensure a hot start to the final half of league play.

“A lot of people probably aren’t giving us a fair chance to win this game,” Ludwig said. “We look at this like a must-win.

Contact Chris Abshire at cabshire@lsureveille.com

The Daily Reveille

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

SPORTS BRIEFS Eight Tigers invited to 2012 NFL Combine in Indianapolis

Forbes, Duncan named SEC Athletes of the Week, Courville earns award

LSU will look to add to its already hefty abundance of NFL talent, as eight Tigers received invitations to the 2012 NFL Combine, held Feb. 22 to 28 in Indianapolis.

The list includes linebacker Ryan Baker, defensive tackle Michael Brockers, cornerback Ron Brooks, quarterback Jordan Jefferson, cornerback Morris Claiborne, tight end Deangelo Peterson, wide receiver Rueben Randle and safety Brandon Taylor.

Quarterback Jarrett Lee did not receive an invitation.

ESPN.com Draft Analyst Mel Kiper ranks both Claiborne and Brockers as two of the top prospects in the 2012 class, with Claiborne sitting at No. 6 and Brockers at No. 12 on the Big Board.

The eight invitations tie the Tigers for second most invites in the Southeastern Conference along with University of Georgia.

The two fall behind only University of Alabama, who will send nine players.

Senior jumper Damar Forbes and junior sprinter Kimberlyn Duncan were named the Southeastern Conference’s Athletes of the Week on Tuesday, for their showing at the New Balance Collegiate Invitational in New York last weekend.

The award marks the third week in a row two LSU Track and Field members were recognized for the honor.

Forbes posted a season-best 51-10 1/2 feet in the triple jump to earn a fourth-place finish overall and a first-place finish among collegians in the field.

Duncan claimed the women’s 200-meter title with a nationalleading time of 23.22, becoming the fifth Lady Tiger in meet history to win the event.

The honors spilled over to the gymnastics team as well, as freshman Rheagan Courville earned SEC Freshman of the Week on Tuesday, following her efforts in No. 14 LSU’s 196.125-195.050 victory over Kentucky last weekend.

BRYANT, from page 5

Kobe told reporters after the game that he was more than humbled with the accomplishment of passing O’Neal on the all-time scoring list, but also said he wants to have six rings when it’s all said and done. If Kobe is able to deliver a sixth NBA Championship to the city of Los Angeles, he will be without a doubt the best player in Lakers history.

Some NBA experts before the season thought the 33-year-old was past his prime, saying fans would never see flashes of the old Kobe.

He’s silenced those doubters so far this year, leading the league in scoring with 29.4 points per game.

After Michael Jordan retired in 2003, Bryant has been the most dominant force in the NBA. The biggest argument against Kobe being the best Laker in the history of the franchise is that he never won a title by himself.

When the Lakers won the title

three years in a row from 1999 to 2002, Kobe played second fiddle to O’Neal in all three of the championship runs. No denying that.

But, in the last two titles that Bryant won with the Lakers, he put the team on his back. There were no legitimate superstars on the roster with him on those teams. Looking at you, Pau Gasol.

The only player I believe might stand in his way for supremacy as the best Laker is Magic Johnson.

Johnson revitalized the Los Angeles basketball scene in the ‘80s with his ability to play every position and fast-paced up-tempo style that got his teams dubbed the “Showtime” Lakers.

Kobe and Magic both have the same amount of NBA Championship rings and All-NBA First Team selections.

But Kobe has performed under some of the most daunting circumstances — his rape trial in 2003 and now he’s in a divorce with his wife.

When fans of the NBA of the

Courville won the all-around, vault and beam titles against the Wildcats, setting season highs on both the beam and the all-around.

Claiborne receives Thorpe Award All-American LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne received the Thorpe Award Tuesday night, given annually to the top defensive back in college football following in the footsteps of former Tiger star Patrick Peterson.

Claiborne racked up 46 tackles, six interceptions and six pass break-ups, leading the Southeastern Conference with 173 interception return yards en route to earning unanimous First-Team All-American honors.

Along with the shiny silver, Claiborne’s award comes with a cowboy hat and pair of boots, which he collected from Teener’s Western Outfitters in Oklahoma City on Tuesday before the ceremony.

Contact The Daily Reveille’s sports staff at sports@lsureveille.com last 20 years think about the Lakers, Kobe’s name is usually the first one that comes to mind.

This year’s Laker team might be the least talent Kobe has had around him since before the trade that brought Gasol to Los Angeles.

In a shortened lockout season this year, Kobe has the steep task of leading a team with so many new players and a new head coach to the promised land.

This is Kobe’s chance to show the basketball world he’s still the Black Mamba and to cement his legacy as the best Los Angeles Laker of all time.

Micah Bedard is a 21-year-old mass communication senior from Houma. Follow him on Twitter @DardDog.

Contact Micah Bedard at mbedard@lsureveille.com

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Account Assistant BA Mass Communication, Advertising LSU Class of 2010

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page 7

The Daily Reveille

Opinion

The

page 8

Peanut

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Social conservatives dumb, not representative Gallery

Following Thursday’s ruling that California’s Prop. 8 is unconstitutional, do you think it’s wrong to ban gay marriage?

Compiled by SHANNON ROBERTS

Michelle Landry chemical engineering sophomore

‘I don’t know if it’s unconstitutional, but I think people should do what they want to do.’

Michelle Kim

biological engineering sophomore

‘Yes, I think everyone has their own right in their social life. No one should be able to regulate that.’

‘I completely do. It’s not the government’s job to regulate people’s personal life.’

Ricardo Castrillo

international trade and finance sophomore

‘I’m for gay marriage.

I think it’s one’s personal choice to marry who they want to.’

THE C-SECTION

CHRIS GRILLOT Columnist Are conservatives stupid?

What about racists and homophobes?

I wouldn’t hesitate to say southern Louisiana and most of the South would probably say they aren’t.

But it turns out they’re wrong — conservatives, racists and homophobes may be a little dumb, a new study said.

The study, conducted by psychology professors at Brock University in Ontario, Canada, set out to find the relation between cognitive ability and explanations of prejudice in more than 15,000 people.

While some may call such a conclusion liberal bigotry, the findings have a lot to show us as a society.

The study assessed groups of people’s childhood intelligence at ages 10 and 11 and reassessed them for their political ideologies and racism in adulthood between the ages of 30 and 33.

Social conservatism was assessed in terms of respect and submission to authority and support for conventional sex roles.

Statements that tapped into conservative values were rated.

“Give law breakers stiffer sentences” and “Family life suffers if mum is working full-time” were some of the statements subjects rated.

Finally, racism was assessed by rating statements such as “I wouldn’t mind working with

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Luke Jones

mass communication junior

‘I’m a believer in the Bible, but I don’t think it’s up to humans to decide whether Stephanie or not Dickerson biological engineering something’s sophomore a sin.’

Bike commuter recounts troubling road experience In response to the recent tragic death of Baton Rouge cyclist Nathan Crowson, many stories and letters have been written that emphasize the lack of respect in Baton Rouge for bicycles as vehicles and the astonishing carelessness of motorists. While the non-cyclists may quickly tire of the numerous (but greatly needed) calls for new bike lanes or paths around town, perhaps they would spare a few

The Daily Reveille Editorial Board

Matthew Jacobs Chris Branch Ryan Buxton Bryan Stewart Andrea Gallo Clayton Crockett

Editor-in-Chief Associate Managing Editor Associate Managing Editor Managing Editor, External Media News Editor Opinion Editor

people from other races” and “I wouldn’t mind if a family of a different race moved next door.”

African-Americans are not out to shoot you or steal your car. Arabs are not out to blow up your plane. Homosexuals aren’t posing any threat to “traditional moral values.”

Actually believing those things makes you ignorant.

If we put it in terms of the 2012 elections, we’re talking Rick Santorum and Rick Perry dumb.

Carlos Hunter, finance and economics senior, said he thinks the study is not representative of conservatives as a whole.

“Look at CEOs of major companies,” Hunter said. “Those guys are mostly conservative.”

Here’s another reason why many typically conservative states are socially conservative: lack of adequate education.

States throughout the South are notorious for having the worst public education and for being conservative.

In fact, Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi were in the 10 dumbest states list, according to Morgan Quitno Press, a research company that specializes in state data.

I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again — we need better education in the South.

With better, more comprehensive education, people will learn to use critical thinking before making judgments purely based on emotion and fear — which are typical of most socially conservative ideologies.

We’re now at a point in time when everyone should realize

that racism and homophobia are both entirely unwarranted beliefs of hate against humans.

In the end, social conservatives may have stupid viewpoints, but that can change if they learn to think analytically.

We need to change the way we think of humans. And change is nothing to be afraid of.

Chris Grillot is a 20-year-old English and mass communication senior from New Orlreans. Follow him on Twitter @TDR_cgrillot.

moments to read about the consequences of seemingly “minor” careless driving practices.

Three months ago, I was hit by a car while commuting by bike to LSU. I was on the Dalrymple bike path in a crosswalk, and a motorist with whom I had made eye contact before crossing accelerated while, I imagine, looking over his shoulder for cars rather than in front of him for bicycles (and other cars).

I am currently fighting to have the city repaint that crosswalk and erect caution signs, but regardless, motorists should always be conscious of their surroundings while moving, and particularly while accelerating.

The second incident has

occurred several times in one location on my commute to LSU. Dalrymple Drive at State Street curves sharply so that the bike path at that spot is obscured to motorists traveling north on Dalrymple. But motorists still fly around that curve, and I have been grazed several times by cars that cross over the line onto the bike path. White lines are not physical barriers; they do not protect us cyclists from careless motorists. I have also almost been run over twice in that same spot by appallingly dense motorists who drove onto the bike path in an attempt to pass a car making an illegal left turn onto State Street.

During my short time so far living in Baton Rouge, I have come

to realize that it is, in fact, not common sense that bike paths are not for cars and that motorists should drive as if they are operating a high-speed, multi-ton mass of steel on streets shared with tiny human bodies and lightweight bicycles.

My daily commute, and that of fellow cyclists, would be made much less stressful if motorists would simply be careful. I promise to smile and nod at you if you go out of your way to not hit me.

TIM MORGAN and ROLAND PARKER / The Daily Reveille

Editorial Policies & Procedures

The Daily Reveille (USPS 145-800) is written, edited and produced solely by students of Louisiana State University.

The Daily Reveille is an independent entity within the Manship School of Mass Communication. Signed opinions are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the editor, paper or University. Letters submitted for publication should be sent via e-mail to opinion@lsureveille.com or delivered to B-26 Hodges Hall. They must be 400 words or less. Letters must have a contact phone number so the opinion editor can verify the author. The phone number won’t be printed. The Daily Reveille reserves the right to edit letters and guest columns for space consideration without changing the original intent. The Daily Reveille also reserves the right to reject any letter without notification of the author. Writers must include their full names and phone numbers. The Daily Reveille’s editor-in-chief, hired every semester by the Louisiana State University Media Board, has final authority on all editorial decisions.

Contact Chris Grillot at cgrillot@lsureveille.com

Cathy Newman Biology graduate student Contact The Daily Reveille’s opinion staff at opinion@lsureveille.com

Quote of the Day

“Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.”

Martin Luther King Jr. American civil rights activist Jan. 15, 1929 — April 4, 1968

The Daily Reveille

Opinion

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Clues you are an

fan

After publishing a list of jokes compiled by a feature writing course here at the University about fans of the University of Alabama following the BCS Championship game, the Reveille received plenty of feedback answering the obvious corollary: What makes an LSU fan? While mixed, the answers transcended state borders, with the vast majority of input hailing from Alabama. Here are some of the submissions we received.

• • • • • • • •

“Callin’ Baton Rouge” is your ringtone.

You hate Saban even if you did not attend LSU during his tenure.

You never truly decided if you wanted Jordan or Lee to play.

You learned to cook by tailgating.

If it is a home game, you do not evacuate town for a hurricane until the game is over.

Without a true SEC rivalry, you feverishly bait and flame UA fans in an attempt to create one.

You, plus voodoo dolls of the opponent’s kickers, plus shotgunning brew, equals pre-game festivities.

Popeye’s chicken is fine dining.

page 9

BRIANNA PACIORKA / The Daily Reveille

photo courtesy of THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Ever seen the shows “Swamp People” or “Bayou Billionaires”?

• • • • • • •

You can’t use proper spelling. Ex: twenty one to zeruex (sic).

You like to beat up opposing fans after you lose at your home stadium.

You think eating grass is an endearing quality.

You also tell people you’re not from Mississippi (we can at least all agree that place sucks).

You think Better Than Ezra is a band worthy of being in an LSU promo.

Crossing the 50-yard line is cause for celebration.

“Tiger bait” is not only a rallying cry,

You never truly decided if you wanted Jordan or Lee to play.

• • • • •

but what you use to catch dem der gatahs.

Ever seen the shows “Swamp People” or “Bayou Billionaires”? Enough said.

You celebrate the birthday of Troy Landry. “Choot ‘em ‘Lizabeth!!!”

You might be an LSU fan if at your wedding everyone toasted with Hand Grenades.

The greatest roller coaster you have ever been on is called “Les Miles’ tenure at LSU.” You’re still living in your FEMA trailer five years after Katrina.

Romney’s strategy to capture voters — be vague FOR THINKERS ONLY

MATTHEW WESTFALL Columnist es.

Fifty-nine points and 160 pag-

That’s the reality of Former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney’s dull economic plan to jump-start the economy.

When Romney published the so-called “59-Point Plan” in September, he neglected to take into account that the American people have no interest in reading 160 pages of essentially useless campaign rhetoric.

Five months later, Romney’s vision for America is just as blurred as it was then. The question many are asking is: Does Romney even have a real vision for America?

After back-to-back wins in the Florida primary and Nevada caucuses, Romney has left much to be desired. Sure, a win is a win, but the victories have more to do with Romney’s substantial advantage in resources than his stance on the issues that matter to voters. This fall, that’s not going to cut it.

Should Romney win the Republican nomination, he won’t have the luxury of advantage in resources against President Barack Obama, who raised $68 million in the fourth quarter alone.

Romney is going to have to campaign and win on substance and issues, something he has yet to prove capable of. Running as a management consultant or

businessman alone isn’t going to resonate with voters.

In a recent poll released Sunday by Washington Post-ABC News, Obama leads Romney in a hypothetical general election test, 51 to 45 percent.

By more than 2 to 1, Americans say the more they learn about Romney, the less they like him.

What is there to learn, you ask? Well, a lot.

Romney is the human weathervane of politics. He’s been notorious for wavering on populist stances, ranging from abortion, immigration, taxes and healthcare.

In his 1994 Senate run, Romney argued that he was more prochoice than Ted Kennedy.

During a debate with Kennedy in 1994, Romney said, “I believe that since Roe v. Wade has been the law for 20 years we should sustain and support it, and I sustain and support that law and the right of a woman to make that choice.”

It was revealed in 2011 that Romney used polling data from Richard Wirthlin, Ronald Reagan’s former pollster, to determine that he would run as a pro-choice candidate in Massachusetts for that race.

After losing to Kennedy in a landslide, Romney again campaigned as pro-choice in his successful 2002 gubernatorial campaign.

And then he started thinking about national office as a Republican.

In a 2005 Boston Globe op-ed, Romney came out as pro-life after

vetoing a bill to increase access to emergency contraception.

Talk about your all-time flipflops. It doesn’t end there.

In a GOP debate in October, Romney commented that he had never hired an illegal immigrant in his life. Less than three minutes later, he admitted to hiring a lawn service that employed illegal immigrants. Maybe it wasn’t knowingly, but Romney’s tendency to make misleading statements is laughable.

In 2002, Romney refused to make “a pledge in writing” on taxes. Four years later, he signed one and touted it as a selling point for his candidacy.

In a GOP debate in 2008, Romney stated, “I support the Bush tax cuts. The Bush tax cuts helped get our economy going again when we faced the last tough times.”

However, in 2003 Romney refused to endorse the tax cuts, and The Boston Globe cited him telling the state’s congressional delegation that he “won’t be a cheerleader” for tax cuts he didn’t agree with.

In 2009, when comparing his own Massachusetts healthcare reform to President Obama’s, Romney commented that “the president’s copying that idea. I’m glad to hear that.”

In 2011, he called the reform “bad news.”

Half of the time, I’m not even sure Romney actually knows what he’s talking about. Not to mention his bewildering tendency to muddle statements, adding to the uncertainty on his views.

WINSLOW TOWNSON / The Associated Press

Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney listens to a speaker at VFW Post 8641 in Merrimack, N.H., on a Dec. 30, 2011.

“Corporations are people.

I’m not concerned about the very poor,” Romney infamously stated.

With comments like this, it’s no wonder people are reluctant to rally behind the man.

In December, Time magazine published an issue showing a grimacing Romney on the cover with the headline asking “Why don’t they like me?”

Well Mr. Romney, a doubleminded man is unstable in all his ways, and you’ve cemented yourself as a man of vague ideology.

Outside of looking like a wax

figure, which Romney has pulled off flawlessly, the American people are going to need more.

By that I mean anything that bears resemblance to a coherent political stance — of which I’m not sure Romney is capable.

Matthew Westfall is a 23-year-old mass communication senior from Winchester, Va. Follow him on Twitter @TDR_mwestfall.

Contact Matthew Westfall at mwestfall@lsureveille.com

Wednesday, February 8, 2012 GYMNAST, from page 5 “The feel is aggressive,” Phelan said. “You’re supposed to be a man in woman form. It’s very fierce.”

The solo’s mood suits Phelan’s personality. LSU coach D-D Breaux, known for her own aggressive coaching style, said she enjoyed the intensity and enthusiasm Phelan brought to the gym, despite struggles early in her career.

“She was challenging, but she got better,” Breaux said. “She worked hard in our system and really thrived.”

Breaux said Phelan had a problem with focus when she first got to LSU. Phelan said she didn’t manage her time well and slept through classes, and her grades suffered.

On top of academic problems, a doctor told Phelan, an all-arounder, that she would only ever compete on the uneven bars again due to a back injury.

Her disagreement with the diagnosis, and an appeal from Breaux, transformed her attitude to the one her mentor now praises.

“D-D told me she was very disappointed [in my grades], so that kind of made me jump-start and get back into the swing of things,” Phelan said.

Two months of relentless physical therapy and copious hours of

SOFTBALL, from page 5 ended each year. They have also never won an SEC championship.

Senior outfielder Ashley Langoni said winning a championship is the team’s highest priority.

“It doesn’t matter what championship it is,” Langoni said. “It could be an SEC championship or national champias long ‘[Girouard] onship, as we get one.” obviously Torina said thought very the Tigers talked highly of this about creating “it” facteam because atorteam to hopefully she has truly remedy the Tichallenged us gers’ postseason this year with woes in 2012.

“It’s kind of the schedule that intangible we have.’ factor that you can’t put words Beth Torina on,” Torina said.

LSU softball coach “It’s determination, it’s chemistry, it’s work ethic. All of those things go into creating that ‘it’ factor.”

In addition to enforcing a team “it” factor, Torina also tasked the Tigers with completing a puzzle from puzzle pieces given to the players for exceptional performance on and off the field.

Puzzle pieces are given to the day’s “practice player of the day,” for classroom achievements and for individuals who exceed expectations.

The puzzle — 270 pieces in all — features tiny images of people who have the “it” factor, including the likes of Michael Jordan and former LSU athletes. The overall picture, which is a mystery to the players, will be revealed as more pieces are added to the puzzle throughout the season.

Langoni said the puzzle is a constant motivator for multiple reasons.

studying primed her for a career in which she earned two All-American and two Academic All-American titles.

“LSU created that competitive edge in me,” Phelan said.

She worked in marketing at Walk-On’s in Baton Rouge for a period after graduating in 2007 before moving back home to Florida. She worked at Disneyworld, impersonating Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty and performing in acrobatic parades.

“It was fun, but it wasn’t physically demanding,” Phelan said.

It wasn’t until Madorma contacted Breaux, whom she had met at gymnastics meets prior, about upcoming auditions for “Le Rêve” that Phelan got to satisfy her aggressive tendencies.

“When you see Kelly for the first time, you know immediately she’s right for this kind of show,” Madorma said. “She’s a really talented gymnast obviously, but she has a glowing personality, and she moves really well, so she has a great performance value.”

She would need both her gymnastics prowess and her indomitable will to get through the grueling ninehour audition and subsequent threeday work shop in Las Vegas.

Phelan recalled picking herself up repeatedly after falling when others were giving up. Madorma

The Daily Reveille

page 11

noticed that Phelan was battered and bruised but kept bouncing back.

“They told me, ‘We saw you falling and you kept getting up, and that’s why we picked you’,” Phelan said. “That was kind of cool, because I know that’s what you also need for gymnastics.”

Phelan debuted in “Le Rêve” in August 2010 and hasn’t forgotten who bred that mindset or where she developed the talents that allowed her to live a dream.

She calls Breaux a second mom. Her former coach said she got the “this is my momma” treatment when she recently went to see Phelan perform during a recruiting trip to Las Vegas.

“She’s gone from someone that we’ve recruited, to someone we’ve coached, to someone we feel like is a friend,” Breaux said.

Phelan still feels close to not only Breaux, but also to the LSU community as a whole, and said she becomes fast friends with anyone associated with the university.

“LSU is my life,” Phelan said.

“It’s more than the four years.”

Contact Alex Cassara at acassara@lsureveille.com

File photo

During her time as a gymnast at LSU, Kelly Phalen earned two All-American and two Academic All-American titles.

?

got get lifepages.

“We’re just so anticipating what the puzzle is going to be, so all of us want to work hard every day at practice, weights and conditioning to actually get a puzzle piece to see what picture comes out,” Langoni said.

Sophomore infielder Tammy Wray said she likes how Torina hands out the puzzle pieces because she tells the players why they deserved the recognition that day.

“It’s cool to be rewarded and to know that you were noticed if you do things great,” Wray said.

lifepages.com View the LSU yearbook online at lifepages.com

Contact Scott Branson at sbranson@lsureveille.com

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-Henry Ford