The Daily Reveille - February 24, 2013

POLAR PLUNGE: LSUPD supports Louisiana Special Olympics, p. 3

OPINION: Read a columnist’s view on sword ownership rights, p. 12

Reveille The Daily

VOLUME 118, ISSUE 97

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Sit Down for What

Monday, February 24, 2014

STUDENT GOVERNMENT

SG forms student advocacy group Lyle Manion Contributing Writer

English secondary education senior Carly Peddie agreed that standing for more than 26 hours would be tough, but they were happy to do it for the kids.

The night began with morale captains performing an

Believing in a need for student representation in Louisiana affairs, three Student Government officials have joined together to lobby the legislature on behalf of students. The organization, known as Unite Louisiana, will aim to serve as the voice of students across the state, said SG President John Woodard.

Woodard, along with Accountability and Student Interest Committee member Brad Guin and State Capitol Adviser to the Executive Branch Aaron Brown, formed the organization to ensure the legislative session starting in March won’t yield a negative effect on students.

The trio will identify bills impacting students and meet with legislators to discuss the effects, Woodard said.

“We want to do what we can to make sure that whatever takes place doesn’t hurt students too badly,” Woodard said.

While Unite Louisiana will keep its eyes peeled for issues such as TOPS, tuition increases and student fees, Woodard said the group

DANCE, see page 15

STUDENT ADVOCACY, see page 15

LAUREN DUHON / The Daily Reveille

Students and event staff participate in a morale dance at the top of the hour Saturday at the Dance Marathon event in the Parker Coliseum.

Whitney Lynn

LSU breaks record at inaugural dance marathon

Contributing Writer

Over the weekend, students danced 26.2 hours and broke the all-time first year fundraising record during the University’s inaugural Dance Marathon in Parker Coliseum — held to raise money

for Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital, the local Children’s Miracle Network hospital.

Bill Mattera, assistant director of Staffing and Organizational Development for Residential Life and adviser for the event, brought Dance Marathon to campus after previously overseeing six of these

events at four other universities.

By 5:30 p.m. Friday evening, the teams were soaking up the last few minutes of sitting, and at precisely 5:48 p.m. the 169 students, directors, assistants and morale captains were up on their feet dancing. Elementary education senior Brittani Rideaux and

FOOD AND DRINK

Chicken and waffle drive-thru restaurant open

Rene Wren

Contributing Writer

Former Raising Cane’s executive Greg Williams has made the world a better place with chicken, and now he’s making a comeback.

Williams’ new fried chicken and waffle restaurant, Willy’s Chicken and Waffles, opened Friday on 3285 Nicholson Drive.

Willy’s menu consists of four combos with various options such as waffles, tater tots, white meat or dark chicken, and offers bulk ordering for catering events.

Williams said Willy’s would also implement the use of Tiger Cash within a month and would host monthly events on Wednesday

nights. Other events such as Xbox Night, where customers will be allowed to play new game demos, or Elvis Night, where the customer with the best Elvis costume wins a free meal, are still in the planning process and will be implemented later.

One of the restaurant’s signature meals is the the “Willy-wich,” a fried boneless chicken breast with Willy’s signature sauce placed on top, between two waffles with syrup on top.

The Willy-wich sandwich is served with tater tots.

“It’s so massive and is quite an experience,” Williams said about the Willy-wich. “In fact, I’m actually thinking about putting a poster up with instructions on how to eat it.”

Williams’ concept of the

restaurant began two years ago, when he initiated a “test run” with his friends and business associates in Dallas, Texas. Williams said, he asked them to observe local chicken and waffle restaurants’ websites, and tell him what they thought about the concept in Louisiana.

“I just started getting a very good response,” Williams said. “A lot of people I talked to knew my background, knew that I have been in the business for a while and knew that I’ve been successful in it. Once we had got a lot of commitments, I started raising money.”

Williams said after he raised enough money, he began to focus on WAFFLES, see page 15

CONNOR TARTER / The Daily Reveille

Willy’s Chicken and Waffles opened Friday at 3285 Nicholson Drive.

The Daily Reveille

page 2

TODAY’S FORECAST

Nation & World

Monday, February 24, 2014

NATIONAL

STATE/LOCAL

Drought threatens California’s cash crops Mardi Gras

becoming family oriented

The Associated Press

Thunder Storms

HIGH 69 LOW 55 sunrise: 6:36 a.m. sunset: 6:00 p.m.

Tuesday HIGH 66 LOW 45

Wednesday HIGH 53 LOW 31

FIREBAUGH, Calif. (AP) — With California’s agricultural heartland entrenched in drought, almond farmers are letting orchards dry up and in some cases making the tough call to have their trees torn out of the ground, leaving behind empty fields.

In California’s Central Valley, Barry Baker is one of many who hired a crew that brought in large rumbling equipment to perform the grim task in a cloud of dust.

A tractor operator drove heavy steel shanks into the ground to loosen the roots and knock the trees over.

Another operator, driving a brush loader equipped with a fork-like implement on the front, scooped up the trees and root balls and pushed them into a pile, where an excavator driver grabbed them up in clusters with a clawing grapple. The trees were fed into a grinder that spit wood chips into piles to be hauled away by the truckload and burned as fuel in a power plant.

Baker, 54, of Baker Farming Company, has decided to remove 20 percent of his trees before they have passed their prime. There’s simply not enough water to satisfy all 5,000 acres of almonds, he said. “Hope-

The Associated Press

SCOTT SMITH / The Associated Press

Alan Thompson of G&F Agri services LLC looks at an almond orchard that was removed because of the drought in California.

fully, I don’t have to pull out another 20 percent,” Baker said, adding that sooner or later neighboring farmers will come to the same conclusion.

“They’re hoping for the best. I don’t think it’s going to come.”

There are no figures yet available to show an exact number of orchards being removed, but the economic stakes and risks facing growers are clear. Almonds and other nuts

are among the most high-value crops in the Central Valley — the biggest producer of such crops in the country. In 2012, California’s almond crop had an annual value of $5 billion. This year farmers say the dry conditions are forcing them to make difficult decisions.

Gov. Jerry Brown last month declared a drought emergency after the state’s driest year in recorded history.

THIBODAUX (AP) — Mardi Gras brings out families to enjoy food, parades and colorful beads.

It’s also known for alcohol and loud music.

So in Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes, alcohol- and tobacco-free zones have been established along parade routes for people who want to enjoy the festivities and not drink, The Daily Comet reported.

In Houma, Main Street between Naquin and Barataria streets will be sectioned off as a no-smoking, noalcohol area, Houma Police Chief Todd Duplantis said.

In Thibodaux, people can watch the parades with no alcohol or smoking in designated Family Fun zones in front of Edwin H. Chiasson Sr. Memorial Park on Jackson Street and East Thibodaux Middle School on Seventh Street, police spokesman David Melancon said.

INTERNATIONAL

Holocaust survivor dies at 110 The Associated Press LONDON (AP) — Alice HerzSommer, believed to be the oldest Holocaust survivor, died at age 110 on Sunday, a family member said.

The accomplished pianist’s death came just a week before her extraordinary story of surviving two years in a Nazi prison camp through devotion to music and her son is up for an Oscar.

Herz-Sommer died in a hospital after being admitted Friday with health problems, daughter-in-law Genevieve Sommer said.

“We all came to believe that she

would just never die,” said Frederic Bohbot, a producer of the documentary “The Lady in Number 6: Music Saved My Life.” ‘’There was no question in my mind, ‘would she ever see the Oscars.’”

The film, directed by Oscarwinning filmmaker Malcolm Clarke, has been nominated for best short documentary at the Academy Awards next Sunday.

Another producer on the film, Nick Reed, said telling her story was a “life-changing experience.”

“Even as her energy slowly diminished, her bright spirit never faltered,” she said.

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.

courtesy of THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Alice Herz-Sommer, believed to be the oldest-known survivor of the Holocaust, died sunday in London at the age of 110.

The Daily Reveille B-16 Hodges Hall • Baton Rouge, La. 70803

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The Daily Reveille

Monday, February 24, 2014

EVENT

page 3

BATON ROUGE COMMUNITY

Activist talks race LSUPD polar plunges for charity at speech Friday Deanna Narveson Staff Writer

Michael Tarver Contributing Writer

With an air of camaraderie, community and collaboration, civil and women rights activist Kimberlé Crenshaw argued in her speech Friday that society may not be in a postracial state, as many Americans have come to believe.

Crenshaw is the executive director of the African American Policy Forum and professor of law at UCLA and Columbia Law School.

She also coedited a volume titled “Critical Race Theory: Key Documents That Shaped the Movement.”

“Critical Race Theory” examines the social aspects surrounding race and how these issues affect race, law and power.

Crenshaw presented her ideas concerning the current state of racial tension in the Royal Cotillion Ballroom of the LSU Student Union to University students and faculty as well as some predominant political figures, including former Gov. Edwin Edwards.

Almost the entire speech was presented as a hypothetical dialogue between Larry King’s son in the future and Martin Luther King Jr., imagining Luther King could return in the future somehow to evaluate

the U.S. and the progress it has made.

The main point of Crenshaw’s speech was establishing her idea of intersectionality and its effect on the American people. Crenshaw used this term to explain the concept of people being discriminated against for multiple reasons at the same time, such as being both female and African-American.

Crenshaw explained in her speech that ignoring racism as if it does not exist in the U.S. is not a solution to the problem.

“It’s like saying the way to get rid of asbestos-linked diseases is not looking for asbestos in our institutions,” Crenshaw said.

Krystie Nguyen, coordinator of Cross-Cultural Affairs in the Office of Multicultural Affairs, said the difference in Crenshaw’s talk is that she can attest to issues currently occurring in the realm of civil and women’s rights.

Some speakers focus more on the history of the movement and characters that played major roles in that movement, Nguyen said. Crenshaw can speak to the modern-day movement of human rights, she said.

Boatloads of law enforcement members, including two LSU Police Department officers, jumped into the chilly pond at the Cabela’s in Gonzales on Saturday morning to raise money for the Louisiana Special Olympics.

In front of a crowd of more than 100 people, LSUPD officer James Pittman and Capt. Cory Lalonde rode a pontoon boat from the dock to a platform in the middle of the pond and splashed — shoes and all — into the cold water. Pittman and Lalonde were on one of the last boats to make the trip out for the jump.

The event was the third in a series of polar plunges around the state to raise money for the Special Olympics, with two earlier events held in Shreveport and Lake Charles. Money raised and donated by the participants went to support the cost of training and competitions for Special Olympics athletes.

CHARLOTTE WILLCOX / The Daily Reveille

Louisiana State University Police Department officers participate in a polar plunge and jump into a lake Saturday for the Louisiana Special Olympics.

FEBRUARY

Contact Deanna Narveson at dnarveson@lsureveille.com

EVENT CALENDAR

Contact Michael Tarver at mtarver@lsureveille.com

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2014 9:00 AM 9:45 AM 7:00 PM 8:00 PM

CHARLES CHAMPAGNE / The Daily Reveille

Kimberlé Crenshaw speaks to students Friday about race and “intersectionality,” a concept she used to capture the multidimensional dynamics of discrimination.

24

CHARLOTTE WILLCOX / The Daily Reveille

LSUPD officer James Pittman jumps into a cold lake Saturday.

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For more information on LSU events or to place your own event you can visit www.lsureveille.com/calendar

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The Daily Reveille

page 4

mardi gras

Monday, February 24, 2014

photos by CHARLOTTE WILLCOX / The Daily Reveille

Members of the Krewe of Orion celebrate Mardi Gras on Saturday in downtown Baton Rouge during the Krewe of Orion Mardi Gras Parade.

health center

University Health Center offers self-defense classes for women Christine Aman Contributing Writer

Women took turns attacking padded police officers as they learned self-defense techniques over the weekend in the University Health Center’s Rape Aggression Defense Systems course.

The course enhances females’ natural instincts of fighting free by using their body to escape, said Sierra Fowler, health promotion coordinator.

R.A.D. arrived on campus about 18 years ago to help keep female faculty, staff and students as safe as possible, said Kathy Saichuk, health promotion coordinator. Rape is the most underreported crime and any woman is a target, Saichuk said.

R.A.D. is a 12-hour class that teaches basic techniques, such as fighting back and preventing attacks, over a three-day period.

The first one or two hours focuses on topics such as the importance of defense and the advantages and disadvantages of pepper spray.

The following 10 hours are hands-on defense techniques against R.A.D.-certified University police officers, who wear pads and act as the attackers. The

officers go through two days of additional training, on top of the mandatory 36-hour class to be an instructor, to learn how to protect themselves and safely attack, Fowler said.

Anthropology sophomore Belle Cost said the simulated attacks were terrifying.

“You don’t know what [the attackers] are going to do next,” Cost said. “It feels very good to beat up someone who is trying to hurt you.”

Cost said she joined the class so she wouldn’t feel afraid at night by herself and to feel more empowered as a female.

The simulated attacks consist of one, two or three padded attackers grabbing the student who is also partially padded. The student then uses what she has learned to attack back and retreat out of the area while officer Jeffrey Lemoine is on the side yelling advice like “Use your voice!”

The officer has a whistle and if used, everybody immediately stops until he gives permission to continue the simulated attack. In one simulation, the students were told to keep their eyes closed while they were being taunted until they are touched, then they are allowed to open their eyes

and counterattack.

The objective is to “develop and enhance the options of self-defense, so they may become viable considerations to the woman who is attacked,” according to R.A.D. founder Larry Nadeau.

Upon completion of the course, the women have the option of attending multiple advanced self-defense courses, including weapon defense or defense against multiple attackers.

Only a few situations have occurred where R.A.D. students needed to use their skills, Saichuk said. One man ended up with a broken nose and never got the purse he was trying to steal.

Another time, a group of women noticed they were being followed and were able to leave and get to a safe area before anything occurred.

Although there is no way to measure whether rape has decreased since the availability of the course, many students inform instructors later that they made different decisions since being educated on the dangers of being in certain situations, Saichuk said.

Contact Christine Aman at caman@lsureveille.com

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Sports

Monday, February 24, 2014

page 5

COLLAPSED

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Arkansas upsets Lady Tigers Lawrence Barreca Sports Writer

first two tiebreakers don’t separate a victor.

If the Tigers had won Saturday, Dobbertean said he would’ve put them in his last four to make the tournament, playing in the opening round games in Dayton, Ohio.

Unfortunately for LSU, it couldn’t pull off the upset against Kentucky for the second time this season, despite controlling the lead throughout the majority of overtime.

“I thought for 45 minutes, our guys gave an excellent job of giving a great effort,” said LSU coach Johnny Jones during his postgame radio show on Saturday. “We talk about

Seven minutes and 17 seconds.

With 15:30 remaining in the second half and LSU leading 3226 following a 9-0 run by visiting Arkansas, Lady Tigers’ coach Nikki Caldwell subbed out five starters for five reserves.

The Lady Tigers’ starters retook the PMAC court with 8:13 remaining in the second half — seven minutes and 17 seconds later.

By that point, Arkansas had developed momentum, cutting the LSU lead to 39-36. The Razorbacks would overtake the Lady Tigers two minutes later.

LSU (18-9, 7-7 Southeastern Conference) entered the PMAC riding a three-game losing streak, including losses in five of its last six contests, looking to recover against Arkansas (18-9, 5-9 SEC). But a late rally by the Razorbacks resulted in a 57-53 Lady Tiger loss.

Caldwell backed her decision to leave the starters out for so long.

“I felt as though our bench played hard, and we’d been talking about them sustaining, and they did,” Caldwell said. “They did a nice job of really trying to get the tempo in our favor.

Caldwell went with an unconventional starting lineup against the Razorbacks — both junior forward Sheila Boykin and junior guard DaShawn Harden got the nod ahead of senior forward Shanece McKinney and

BASKETBALL, see page 11

LADY TIGERS, see page 11

courtesy of THE KENTUCKY KERNEL

Kentucky guard Andrew Harrison (5) talks to LSU guard Anthony Hickey (1) on Saturday after the Kentucky victory against LSU at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Ky.

Loss could leave LSU at home in March Mike Gegenheimer Sports Writer

The LSU men’s basketball team’s overtime loss to Kentucky may have been the final nail in the proverbial coffin for the Tigers’ NCAA Tournament aspirations.

The Tigers fell 77-76 on Saturday against the No. 18 Wildcats, and according to SB Nation Bracketology expert Chris Dobbertean, the loss will most likely leave LSU with plenty of free time in March. “[LSU’s] RPI is now up to 69, which is kind of dodgy,” Dobbertean said. “The schedule doesn’t really break down all that

favorably because, well, it’s the SEC at this point, and the league has a seven-way tie for fourth place at 7-7, including the Tigers. ... I hope the people in Birmingham have a really good tie breaker for that.”

In the event of three or more teams finishing the season tied in conference standings, the SEC decides tournament seeding with the best winning percentage of games played among the tied teams. If no winner is found, the highest winning percentage of the tied teams against the No. 1 seed is used, subsequently progressing through all 12 tournament teams until the tie is broken. SEC commissioner Mike Slive will flip a coin if the

GYMNASTICS

LSU likely No. 1 in first RQS rankings despite losses David Gray Sports Contributor

The LSU gymnastics squad has fallen short in its past two meets after stringing together two consecutive victories. The first was a second-place finish to Oklahoma in the Metroplex Challenge two weeks ago followed by Friday night’s loss to defending national champion Florida.

Yet the Tigers (7-3, 3-2 Southeastern Conference) will

likely find themselves standing alone as the No. 1 team in the nation, vaulting past the two teams who have given them fits in recent weeks, as NCAA gymnastics makes its annual shift to the postseason rankings system today.

Each season, the ranking system of collegiate gymnastics transitions from season averages to regional qualifying scores, which determine postseason seeding.

A team’s RQS ranking is

determined by six of its scores.

It combines a squad’s three highest road scores with its next three highest scores, home or away.

After the six scores are collected, the team’s highest score is dropped from the equation, and the remaining five are averaged.

By taking out each team’s highest and lowest scores, the RQS system provides a clearer image of a team’s status during the season. In a subjective sport where judges determine a team’s

overall score, removing the outliers rewards a team’s consistency.

The RQS system also benefits teams with better road performances because there is no home-crowd advantage that may sway the judges’ final tally.

So even though the Tigers’ season average is below those of Florida and Oklahoma, the RQS system should rank them ahead of the two juggernauts because of the consistency they’ve displayed throughout the season, much to

the pleasure of LSU coach D-D Breaux.

“What the RQS will do is represent our body of work,” Breaux said after Friday’s loss to Florida. “Of all the teams, we have been the most consistent and the best road-performing team in the country.”

Of the top three teams in the inaugural RQS rankings, the Tigers have the highest road GYMNASTICS, see page 11

The Daily Reveille

page 6

BASEBALL

Monday, February 24, 2014

Fraley, Poche’ power Tigers past Texas Southern, 4-1 Unorthodox TSU pitcher pesters LSU Chandler Rome Sports Writer

Another Sunday, another freshman.

A week removed from freshman Kramer Robertson’s sterling performance behind classmate Jared Poche’, Jake Fraley did his best to replicate.

Fraley’s three-run home run in the fourth inning was more than enough to supplant Poche’ on the bump as the Tigers (7-0) defeated Texas Southern 4-1 in Alex Box Stadium.

Poche’ struck out seven Texas Southern hitters through seven innings, scattering only four hits in his second collegiate start.

“It feels great to go out there and get a W like that,” Poche’ said.

“My curveball wasn’t working as well as I would like it to, but later in the game, it started to get back to where it was.”

Fraley, who got the text message that he’d be the starting center fielder at 10:30 Sunday morning, could barely contain his excitement as he endured a two-hour postponement of the game due to an early morning deluge.

“I could have jumped off the walls,” Fraley said. “I’ve been waiting for this my whole life. Finally getting a text saying you’re going to be in center field for nine innings, it’s a great feeling.”

Texas Southern righty starter Devin Kanorik brought a funky style on the mound — a slow, side-arm delivery that kept LSU hitters off balance through his 4 2/3 innings of work.

But it was Fraley who solved Kanorik in the fourth, tattooing a 2-2 fastball to right field breaking open a tense 1-0 game.

“When a submarine [pitcher] leaves it up, the ball is flat,” Fraley said. “He left it up and kept it inside, and I was able to get the barrel on it.”

Fraley’s home run was the third of LSU’s four hits on an afternoon where Kanorik regularly kept his pitches below 70 miles per hour, a complete contrast from the likes of the Tiger arms LSU faces in regular practice.

LSU coach Paul Mainieri was unaware of Kanorik’s delivery until just before game time. Had he known of the delivery, Mainieri said he would have adjusted his lineup to have more left-handed hitters, because they see the submarine pitches better than righties.

“I knew this kid had thrown six no-hit innings in his first start,” Mainieri said. “It was so unorthodox and so slow and just with the kind of day it was, I was concerned. We just wanted to get it over with as quickly as possible.”

LSU started the game in style as junior left fielder Chris Sciambra — who was the other lefty in the lineup aside from Fraley — roped a double to the gap to lead it off.

Freshman second baseman Danny Zardon followed with an RBI

4-1

LSU

TSU

SCORE BY INNINGS 1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

TSU 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 LSU 1 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 X

HITS ERRORS RUNS

6 4

1 2

1 4

PITCHING: LSU - (W) Jared Poche’ 7 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, TSU - (L) Devin Kanorik 4.2 IP, 3 H, 4 ER

single in the next at-bat to quickly put LSU ahead 1-0.

From there, Kanorik and Poche’ settled into a pitchers’ duel until Fraley’s dinger in the fourth.

Junior righty Brady Domangue was the first out of the bullpen to relieve Poche’ in the eighth and promptly hit Texas Southern pinch hitter Leslie Parker with his first pitch and surrendered a single two pitches later to Jag Gordaya.

It was an unwelcome return for Domangue, who walked three consecutive UNO hitters in Metairie and spent the week refining his mechanics with LSU pitching coach Alan Dunn.

Mainieri yanked Domangue after the single in favor of lanky freshman Parker Bugg, who entered with the tying run at the plate with no outs.

After a sacrifice bunt moved the runners to second and third, Bugg slammed the door on the Texas Southern uprising with back-to-back swinging strikeouts.

“I was glad we were able to get out of there without giving up any runs,” Bugg said. “It’s great to come in in a close situation and try to get out of it. My first outing, I got myself into my own little situation, but I know [Domangue] will bounce back.”

With the freshmen class gelling and performing so well, Mainieri said he’s left with some difficult decisions regarding future playing time.

It’s a decision Fraley was happy to help create.

“After every single game and practice, [the freshmen] are always together hanging out,” Fraley said.

“We all just feed off each other and it clicks for all of us coming out here.”

Contact Chandler Rome at crome@lsureveille.com; Twitter: @Rome_TDR

TAYLOR BALKOM / The Daily Reveille

LSU freshman outfielder Jake Fraley (23) celebrates Sunday following his three-run homer during the Tigers’ 4-1 win against Texas Southern in Alex Box Stadium.

TAYLOR BALKOM / The Daily Reveille

LSU sophomore infielder Alex Bregman (8) chases after a ball Sunday during the Tigers’ 4-1 win against Texas Southern in Alex Box Stadium.

Monday, February 24, 2014

SOFTBALL

The Daily Reveille

page 7

Tigers earn first wins against top 25 teams Senior outfielder Simone Heyward opened the inning with a single and was followed by a pair of bunt singles from junior outfielder A.J. Andrews and senior outfielder Jacee Blades. CarTommy Romanach dinal pitcher Madi Schreyer gave Sports Contributor LSU the lead for good when she After an up-and-down start walked or hit three of the next to the season, LSU found the sig- four batters.

“It’s nice to know we have nature victories previously absent in its first two weekends, going the capability to not only do all 4-1 at the Mary Nutter Collegiate of the little things right, but fight and have some guts and come Classic in Palm Springs, Calif.

The Tigers went 2-1 against back on a team late in a game,” teams in the top 15 of the AP Torina said. “I think that is a key poll, including a 6-3 victory thing to our season and will carry against No. 3 Washington, and us a long way.”

The Tigers will come back a 5-3 win against No. 13 Stanford. Washington was the highest to Tiger Park this weekend for the Purple and ranked team LSU had beaten since ‘We’re still improving, Gold Challenge Feb. defeating No. 2 and that’s the best part beginning 28. Torina said Florida on April about this team.’ she looks forward 24, 2012. to watching her “This was a team improve like statement weekBeth Torina they have with end for us,” said LSU softball coach every tournament coach Beth Torina. “It’s going to give our team this season.

“We’re still improving, and a whole lot of confidence, and hopefully, it’s going to turn some that’s the best part about this heads with what we’re capable team,” Torina said. “…I think of doing. But in the long run, our we started a little bit slower than kids are going to benefit from the what we wanted, but we are truly getting better and if we can keep success they had out here.”

After opening wins against that up through the end of the Long Beach State and Washing- season then we will be in a good ton on Thursday night, the Tigers position going forward.” split their doubleheader Friday, losing to No. 6 Oregon 4-1 and blowing out Cal State Fullerton 8-1.

Contact Tommy Romanach The Tigers played from beat tromanach@lsureveille.com; hind the entire game against Oregon, after a two-run home run in Twitter: @tro_TDR the top of the first gave the Ducks an early lead. Six hits and three walks gave LSU its share of scoring opportunities, but the key hit never came with the Tigers leaving nine runners on base.

LSU’s best opportunity came in the final frame when the Tigers loaded the bases and brought the winning run to the plate. But sophomore shortstop Bianka Bell, who hit a home run in the fourth, went down swinging to hand the Tigers their fifth loss of the season.

Things became even worse for LSU in game two as it trailed Cal State Fullerton 1-0 heading into the bottom of the fifth. But an eight-run, eight-hit fifth inning turned a loss into a blowout victory.

Torina said her hitters did a great job of making adjustments and took off after getting some key hits to start the fifth.

Freshman pitcher Baylee Corbello notched her fifth win in the game, going the full seven innings while allowing just one earned run on six hits. Corbello has gone the distance in all eight starts in her first season in Baton Rouge.

The Tigers concluded their weekend with a dramatic victory against Stanford. LSU trailed 3-2 entering the final inning, but a string of hits turned into a three-run rally to give the Tigers a positive end to the tournament.

LSU makes up for rocky early season

TAYLOR BALKOM / The Daily Reveille

LSU freshman pitcher Baylee Corbello (18) winds up Saturday during the Tigers’ 1-2 loss to South Alabama in Tiger Park.

WEEKEND STARTING PITCHERS

BAYLEE CORBELLO LSU freshman pitcher

INNINGS PITCHED 17

INNINGS PITCHED 14

HITS ALLOWED 11

HITS ALLOWED 15

EARNED RUNS 3

EARNED RUNS 5

STRIKEOUTS 17 WALKS 8 PITCH COUNT 332

ASHLEY CZECHNER LSU senior pitcher

STRIKEOUTS 9 WALKS 11 PITCH COUNT 256

page 8

The Daily Reveille

Monday, February 24, 2014

The Daily Reveille

Monday, February 24, 2014

club sports

page 9

Volleyball club set to host first LSU sand volleyball season Mango’s has relaxed, beach atmosphere Tyler Nunez Sports Contributor

Amid the business-heavy Sherwood Forest Boulevard sits an oasis covered in palm trees where visitors are encouraged to grab a drink, take their shoes off and dip their feet in the sand.

It’s not some undiscovered Baton Rouge beach resort ­— it’s Mango’s Beach Volleyball Club, which will host the LSU sand volleyball team this spring in its inaugural season.

Mango’s has acted as Baton Rouge’s premier spot for sand volleyball since owner Tim Bourgois opened the complex in 1995, and it will now use its nearly 19 years of experience putting on leagues and tournaments to host competition at the college level.

RICHARD REDMANN / The Daily Reveille

Mango’s Beach Volleyball Club will play host to the LSU sand volleyball team in the 2014 season.

“I’m fired up about it,” Bourgois said. “It’s definitely good for the sport. Hosting LSU is something we’re excited about.”

The LSU indoor volleyball team has practiced at Mango’s for

several years, so when sand volleyball became an officially sanctioned sport, the 11-court complex was the natural choice to be the Tigers’ home until they get a court of their own.

Manager Josh Wells said he hopes being involved with the program will lead to students and fans, who might otherwise never hear of Mango’s, showing up and enjoying its relaxed environment.

“It’s a very unique atmosphere here right in the middle of Baton Rouge,” Wells said. “We’re kind of at the beach. We’ve got the beach atmosphere. We’re barefoot friendly. You come here and take off your shoes, and go out there and get you some games in.”

The idea of playing or watching sand volleyball acts as Mango’s primary draw, but it’s the combination of volleyball with its lax atmosphere that ultimately keeps people there.

Senior Kaitlin Hatcher can attest. She first began going to Mango’s when she was 15 years old after a suggestion from Wells — who was an assistant coach for her high school team — and she was instantly hooked.

“I started coming out here

and became absolutely addicted to beach volleyball,” Hatcher said.

“It’s almost like my second home.

It’s like a home away from home where you can get away from your everyday Baton Rouge life and come out here and kind of forget about everything.”

LSU will hold a purple versus gold scrimmage at Mango’s on March 12, less than a week prior to hosting its inaugural season opener against Louisiana-Monroe March 18.

Wells said he hopes this marks the beginning of Mango’s involvement in collegiate sand volleyball. Wells’s and Bourgois’s ultimate goal would be to impress enough people to one day be the home of a national championship, but for now, they’re perfectly content being the home of the Tigers.

Contact Tyler Nunez at tnunez@lsureveille.com

CLUB SPORTS

University rugby club beats Mississippi State Morgan Prewitt Sports Contributor

After winning its first game against Georgia (52-10) on Feb. 1, the LSU club rugby team beat Mississippi State 75-5 on Saturday.

“This semester, we have our one allotted time at the UREC, and it has been iced over and rained out,” said captain Alex Creede.

“We have been successful thus far dealing with it, but it is definitely a problem when you don’t have a field that you can always count on.”

LSU was supposed to play Florida State on the week of Jan. 27, but due to Winter Storm Leon the game was canceled.

During the following weeks, the team’s only field practice during the week was rained out

or canceled by the UREC due to electrical issues with the field lights that could not be fixed in time for practice.

The Tigers were led in scoring by ‘No. 8’ Will Middleton with four tries and Iain Mackenzie, John Michael Domingo and Jonathan Poole each contributed with two tries in route to the Tigers’ victory.

The No. 8 position in rugby typically is the most creative player on the field, creating opportunities for other players on the field, allowing them to exploit weaknesses in the opponent’s defense and requiring them to be solid defenders.

LSU used discipline and superior tactical knowledge to overcome a physical Mississippi State team, according to its club

vice president Daniel Dowd. “[The Bulldogs] have some athletes,” Dowd said. “We might not be as big as them, but we know how to play rugby a lot better than them. That’s why we run circles around them.”

Mississippi State’s coach Renaldo Arroyo said the attitude of LSU’s players makes playing in Baton Rouge a miserable experience.

Although the Bulldogs had an obviously taller team, LSU took advantage of its own speed to score easy tries through open holes in Mississippi State’s defense.

Working together, the Tigers’ wing backs used their speed to find holes in Mississippi State’s defense to score tries easily.

Wing backs are key speed guys on the team. Their job is to find holes on the outside and exploit them with their speed.

Although wingers score a lot of tries, it is important to have solid tacklers on the outside. These players can be on islands out

TAYLOR BALKOM / The Daily Reveille

LSU eight man Will Middleton (8) tries to break through Mississippi State defenders Saturday during the Tigers’ 75-5 win at Highland Road Community Park.

wide, and it is their responsibility to defend in one-on-one situations.

LSU will look to continue its unbeaten season on March 8, when it plays the

defending Southeastern Conference Rugby Champions Tennessee in Knoxville.

Contact Morgan Prewitt at mprewitt@lsureveille.com

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TAYLOR BALKOM / The Daily Reveille

LSU flanker Victor Wesley (7) runs through Mississippi State defenders Saturday, during the Tigers’ 75-5 win over the Bulldogs at Highland Road Community Park.

page 10

The Daily Reveille

Monday, February 24, 2014

What is the LSU Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP)?

Our QEP - LSU Discover - focuses on expanding opportunities for our undergraduate students to be involved in research.

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The Daily Reveille

Monday, February 24, 2014

SWIMMING AND DIVING

Record-setting not enough for LSU Jack Chascin Sports Contributor

School records were being set left and right by LSU swimmers, but the competition proved to be too much to handle, as the LSU swimming and diving squads wrapped up the Southeastern Conference Championships Saturday with the men finishing ninth overall and the women finishing seventh.

In the 200-yard medley relay on day one, the team of sophomore Caley Oquist, senior Torrey Bussey, junior Amber Carter and freshman Leah Troskot finished with a time of 1 minute, 37.34 seconds, an NCAA Championships qualifying time that only garnered them a sixth place finish in the event.

In the very next swimming event, the 800-yard freestyle relay, a school record was set when the team of sophomore Danielle Stirrat, sophomore Megan Cox, freshman Kara Kopcso and freshman Sophie Weber finished with a time of 7:11.39. The school record gave them a win in the first heat, but the team ended up finishing eighth overall.

The trend continued throughout the next four days. On day two, junior Frank Greeff put up a fast time in his respective event only to finish fifth.

Most LSU swimmers competed in either the B or C finals of their events, posting fast times and breaking school records.

Oquist set two school records in both the 100-yard and 200-yard backstroke events with times of 52.67 and 1:54.87, respectively.

Greeff was also able to break his

GYMNASTICS, from page 5

scores counted toward their ranking, with scores of 197.650 and 197.625 out of a possible 200.

Both are higher than any road scores that counted for either No. 2 Oklahoma or No. 3 Florida.

Though LSU cannot count its highest road score of the season, which was a school-record 197.875 in the Metroplex Challenge, for its current RQS ranking, the squad’s season-low road score against Georgia isn’t counted against them. Meanwhile, all three road scores for the Gators, including their lowest output of the season, were counted in the first RQS rankings.

“If you look at everything we’ve done [this season], we’re that team,” Breaux said. “We’re scoring as well as anyone in the country as far as regularity of performance. We have been very, very consistent, and consistency wins.”

The Tigers now have a chance to add to their impressive résumé when they return home this Friday against Missouri in the first of three consecutive

own school record in the 200yard butterfly, posting a time of 1:43.66.

“On the women’s side, finishing seventh doesn’t really give credit to the performances we had in the water and on the boards,” LSU swimming coach Dave Geyer said in a news release. “The women’s team really developed since last year, and now they have the confidence moving forward.”

“The men’s team fought hard.

We know it’s a very young team and a number of underclassmen stepped up and performed beyond expectation.” The one diver who stood out among the others was sophomore Cassie Weil.

Weil finished with two bronze medals, on the 3-meter and on the platform dive, with scores of 357.45 and 310.75, respectively.

Weil’s score of 310.75 on the platform dive is a school record.

Junior Alex Bettridge set a personal best on the platform dive but finished just short of Weil and the podium.

On the men’s side it was a disappointment for the Tigers.

Senior diver Sean McKinney, an SEC Diver of the Week and school record holder in the 3-meter, missed the mark posting scores unlike what he is capable of in the 3-meter, scoring a 305.35 and finishing in 16th place.

“Sean was in a position to make it to finals, but he wasn’t consistent,” Shaffer said. “The ability and talent is there, but it hasn’t come through yet.”

Contact Jack Chascin at jchascin@lsureveille.com meets in the PMAC. Meanwhile, Florida and Oklahoma will take to the road after enjoying their own home arenas for much of the season.

Between the two squads, six of their next nine meets will be on the road as both try to assemble road scores that can factor into their RQS rankings.

Fortunately for the Tigers, their major road test is comfortably behind them, and they can now focus on fine-tuning their performances inside of a familiar arena in front of a welcoming home crowd.

“We need to put this loss [to Florida] behind us,” Breaux said.

“We have three meets at home now, and let’s see if we can get better. We need to improve our performances to be a championship team. We’ve been on the floor with champions, and now it’s our turn.”

Contact David Gray at dgray@lsureveille.com

page 11

losing streak.

Dobbertean said conferences playing from tip to finish and we like the Big East that have sevdid that tonight.” eral programs lumped together in LSU juniors Johnny the middle of the standings could O’Bryant III and Anthony Hick- help LSU, but believes the SEC ey led the Tigers with a team- will max out at three tournament high 20 points. O’Bryant scored bids with Florida and Kentucky his seventh doualready claiming ‘I think three [SEC two of them. ble-double of the season, after “I think three tournament bids] is is going pulling down 12 to be the rebounds, while absolute limit,” going to be the Hickey grabbed Dobbertean said. absolute limit.’ another five “I don’t think boards. there’s going to Chris Dobbertean Dobbertean be a fourth, and SB Nation Bracketology expert described LSU’s it may even take chances of earning a bid this late someone stealing the auto-bid to in the season as “highly unlikely,” get the third at this point.” with the only quality win opporDobbertean said he has Mistunity left being No. 2 Florida in souri as his third SEC team, but Gainesville. The Gators haven’t after losing to Alabama over the lost at the O’Connel Center since weekend, Missouri could be fallMarch of 2012, while the Tigers ing into the bubble. are currently on a six-game road LSU showed signs of

improvement against Kentucky — No. 11 in RPI — on Saturday, after losing several games to sub-100 RPI teams throughout the season. The Tigers lost at No. 127 Alabama, at No. 132 Texas A&M and at home against No. 178 Rhode Island.

The Tigers now return to Baton Rouge for a rematch against Texas A&M on Wednesday in the PMAC. The Aggies are the first of LSU’s four remaining regular season contests.

rebounding ability was one of the biggest issues in the loss.

“We need a freaking box-out.

We need a rebound. That was the mentality,” Kenney said. “But when you give up 23 offensive rebounds, and in the scouting report, we knew they could rebound … that’s a ‘pep’ play.”

Caldwell’s squad will have to rebound to avoid dropping its fifth-straight conference game when LSU welcomes Tennessee to Baton Rouge on Thursday, a squad the Lady Tigers won against in Knoxville on Jan. 2.

It will be a must-win for the Lady Tigers.

“I think the one thing we talk about and stress to our team through athletics is that it makes leaders,” Caldwell said. “Leaders emerge in different forms and fashion, and they may emerge after this loss. But somebody’s got to emerge.”

BASKETBALL, from page 5

LADY TIGERS, from page 5

injured freshman guard Raigyne Moncrief.

For the first 10 minutes of the game, the lineup change appeared to be exactly what the Lady Tigers needed to rebound from a road loss at Georgia on Thursday.

The Lady Tigers led 16-3 with 10:09 remaining in the first half, holding Arkansas to 7 percent shooting from the field.

Senior forward Theresa Plaisance continued her string of dominant play on Sunday, scoring 12 points and grabbing six rebounds in the first half.

When the buzzer for halftime sounded, LSU held a commanding 27-17 lead against Arkansas.

Arkansas took advantage of LSU’s bench getting time in the second half, going on a 17-3 run and eventually drawing within one point of the Lady Tigers at 35-34.

LSU senior guard Jeanne Kenney said Arkansas’

TOP THREE RQS SCORES (all highest scores dropped)

No. 1 LSU RQS average: 197.470 1. 197.875 in Metroplex Challenge 2. 197.650 at Oklahama 4. 197.650 vs. Alabama 3. 197.625 at Florida 5. 197.225 at Arkansas 6. 197.200 vs. Centenary

No.RQS2 average: Oklahoma 197.405 1. 198.175 in Metroplex Challenge 2. 197.700 vs. Georgia 3. 197.575 at Arizona 4. 197.325 vs. LSU 5. 197.225 at Florida 6. 197.200 in Perfect 10 Challenge

No. 3 Florida RQS average: 197.365 1. 198.125 vs. LSU 2. 198.050 at Georgia 4. 197.875 vs. Oklahoma 3. 197.175 at Kentucky 5. 197.075 at Auburn 6. 196.650 at UCLA

Contact Mike Gegenheimer at mgegenheimer@lsureveille.com; Twitter: @Gegs_TDR

Contact Lawrence Barreca at lbarreca@lsureveille.com; Twitter: @LawBarreca_TDR

The Daily Reveille

Opinion

page 12

WEB COMMENTS In response to Jose Bastidas’s column, “Opinion: Venezuelan government’s actions are crimes against humanity,” readers had this to say:

Monday, February 24, 2014

Slicing for Rights

“So.... you know more about what’s going on in Venezuela than a person that was born there? Smh the nerve of some people I am a native from Venezuela and I would suggest you educate yourself more on the manner before saying such stupid things. The student protest was pacific, and the opposition had no weapons other than slogans and flags... the police and military forces attempted to end the protest in a forceful manner and three students were killed.

Three students of the opposition. Three Venezuelans that only went to protest the fact that Venezuela has become the most violent country in South America with the highest murder rates. The fact that there is NO food in the country. You can’t find toilet paper. The electricity can go down for DAYS. and those are FEW of the things those students rightfully were protesting for. Is that the opposition’s fault? The opposition is not the one that has been in power for 15 years. You cannot possibly blame the people of Venezuela to want an illegitimate president that is burning Venezuela to the ground to renounce. In the United States people don’t get killed for protesting. In the U.S. people don’t get killed by the military for protesting. In Venezuela, the military, a foreign military mind you, is killing our people, and we are fighting back. The goal of the opposition is to get rid of a government that is killing us.

And we have every right to!”

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The Daily Reveille Editorial Board

Kevin Thibodeaux Morgan Searles Wilborn Nobles III Gordon Brillon Megan Dunbar

RICHARD REDMANN / The Daily Reveille

Kinesiology senior Garrett Bailey presents his katana, which Bailey won after winning the Louisiana State Powerlifting Championship in 2013.

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

Politicians should focus on sword rights rather than gun rights NEUTRAL GROUND ELI HADDOW Columnist In the 21st century, it is becoming more and more difficult to ignore the political banter surrounding the place of firearms in modern society. Even recent debates concerning concealed weapons on our own campus have stoked tensions at the Capitol downtown.

However, a certain type of rights has been overlooked entirely and, in this century of progressive liberalism, they just may come back into view in the near future.

I am, of course, referring to sword rights.

Although our state’s politicians are frantically scrambling to put any law on the books making it easier to carry guns, Louisiana’s die-hard weapon lovers may want to cast their gaze in a new direction.

Thanks to the outstanding amount of legal ambiguity when it comes to knife laws in Louisiana, it appears as though anyone who brandishes a sword in public should be guilty of nothing more than embarrassing themselves.

This law, however, does not apply to concealment. If you try to hide your sword in any way, you will be put in jail — but for no more than six months.

Apart from historical re-enactors

and a few latent nerds, there is hardly any demographic that is keen to wield such a futile — or feudal — weapon in the open. However, where gaping legal loopholes exist, limits will be tested.

In 2009, John Pontolillo, a Johns Hopkins University student, defended himself with a samurai sword when a burglar entered his home in the early morning. Pontolillo proceeded to nearly sever the assailant’s hand and felled him with a second and final “spear laceration,” according to The Baltimore Sun. This case sticks out among other crimes that pervade college campuses these days not so much because of why a man was killed, but rather how he was killed.

Now, there is no legal argument to be made against the possession of a sword in the state of Louisiana. The law clearly states that, as long as it does not contain a switchblade mechanism, you’re good to go.

However, when I now think of some utopian society where guns exist only to kill foreigners, it only horrifies me at the prospect of Excalibur-laden criminals climbing in your windows and snatching your people up.

Perhaps the gun debate has not been entirely thought through. After all, history has shown us that some people are crazy, and they are bound to use the ingenuity and resources available in this country to carry out sadistic acts on the rest of us.

Editorial Policies & Procedures

When guns are gone, what does that leave us with?

I’m not sure of the answer to that question, but chances are people would continue to die.

I have nothing against ownership of any kind of weaponry. So, when we break it down to pure human instinct, arbitrary concerns like the number of shots in a gun’s clip tend to replace actual problems like mental health and gang membership.

People are bound to have the urge to inflict violence on each other, while the method of doing so may change, the end result will always be the same.

Just ask the burglar who broke into John Pontillilo’s home back in 2009 — if he were alive.

So while the debate rages on about AR-15’s and extended ammo clips, let this serve as a reminder to just how convoluted this — and other political debates — have become because of the unprecedented lack of logic that goes into our legislation.

And conservatives, you may want to snatch up the swords while you still can. I believe Obama is coming after them, too.

Eli Haddow is a 21-year-old English and history junior from New Orleans.

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 Eli Haddow at ehaddow@lsureveille.com; Twitter: @Haddow_TDR

Quote of the Day “We’re so trendy we can’t even escape ourselves.”

Kurt Cobain musician Feb. 20, 1967 — April 5, 1994

The Daily Reveille

Monday, February 24, 2014

Opinion

page 13

Ukraine: a victory for U.S. in a new Cold War In the past week, when brutal riots and bloodshed occurred, the pro-Western opposition leaders Joshua admitted they lost control of the Hajiakbarifini protests to the right-wing, neoColumnist Nazi extremists who now control several cities and government The United States is cur- buildings. rently backing extremist forces The American people need to in Ukraine as they did in Syria, be worried about what Washington Libya, Iran and Venezuela. While is doing in Ukraine. Failing to pass each of these conflicts have differ- a budget and having gridlock in ent stories that keep them separate Congress is one thing, but waging in our minds, there is a bigger pic- a new, more confrontational Cold ture the corporate media is ignor- War against Russia is a different ing thing.

The United States is waging This isn’t the first time the a new Cold War against Russia on United States has been in bed with many fronts across extremists and fasUnited States’ successful and the world and Rus- ongoing regime changes and/or cists. sia’s closest ally, proxy wars against Russia and its Since the big Ukraine, has been picture is the U.S. allies since 9/11: a battleground waging a new Venezuela: 2002 - present since the fall of the Cold War against Georgia: 2003 Soviet Union.

Russia across the Sudan: 2003 - present Over the world, the goal of Libya: 2003 - present weekend, Amerithe United States Iraq: 2003 - present ca’s $5 billion reis to isolate RusHaiti: 2004 gime change effort sia and grow the Ukraine: 2004 - present Lebanon: 2005 in Ukraine reached existing American Somalia: 2006 - present a climax when Empire even furIran: 2007 - present Ukraine’s Parther.

Honduras: 2009 liament stripped Russia’s Syria: 2011 - present President Viktor ally, Venezuela, *list complied by Joshua Hajiakbarifini Yanukovych of is a revolutionhis presidential ary force in Latin authority. He immediately fled to America for independence and eastern Ukraine where he still has democracy. Because it doesn’t fola base of support while the rest of low Washington’s orders, the U.S. Ukraine has fallen into chaos. is trying to overthrow the regime

Mr. Fini

for a third time in 12 years.

With Iran, the United States invested $400 million toward a regime change. This almost succeeded in 2009 but failed due to the loss of legitimacy, commitment and unity of the Green Movement.

In Libya, the U.S.-led NATO invasion caught Russia off guard.

Russia warned the West that the Arab Spring would lead to extremists and Jihadists taking power instead of moderates and democrats.

So far, it seems that the Russian narrative is accurate.

The United States has also been waging a proxy war in Syria by backing the opposition, which consists of pro-Western puppets and radical Islamic extremists who seek to turn Syria into a theocracy.

The U.S. has a history of picking Muslim extremists over friendly Russian regimes.

The American political elite have no problem with creating or allying with states that violate basic human rights and civil liberties they claim to cherish. Imperialism seems to be a bipartisan issue while the policy of peace and justice is a fringe issue.

John McCain was in Ukraine marching with the opposition Sunday and even met with leaders of many groups including far right, neo fascist factions.

In a NAFTA speech, President Barack Obama claimed that all they care about is democracy in

ALEXEI DRUZHININ / The Associated Press

Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers a speech Thursday pledging to modernize the Russian military.

Ukraine and their support for the opposition is not a strategic one but a moral one. Now why would we think that?

Obama, like Bush before him, is continuing a neoconservative foreign policy that seeks global domination instead of cooperation.

Back in November, Russia wanted a trifecta agreement between Ukraine, the European Union and Russia, but the United States and Europe rejected it and forced Ukraine to pick between Europe and Russia.

Since Ukraine picked Russia, the West punished them. Today,

Ukraine is the main battle zone between the American empire and Russia.

I hope we, Americans, refuse to let another administration start a World War. Joshua Hajiakbarifini is a 24-yearold political science and economics senior from Baton Rouge

Contact Joshua Hajiakbarifini at jhajiakbarifini@lsureveille.com; Twitter: @joshuafini

Americans should have better knowledge of Constitution ATLAS HAS SHRUGGED Andrew Stolzle Columnist As the nation focuses on the Olympics and the launching of Billy Ray Cyrus’ rap career, its foundation slowly erodes.

George Orwell’s “1984” is a warning against the effects of a strong, centralized state — his novel has become, to our detriment, somewhat of a how-to for government.

This trend is continuing throughout the world and is leading to revolts like those in Kiev and Venezuela.

We all agree that it would be ridiculous for the LSU Police Department to raid your apartment after sniffing beer as they walked down the sidewalk. However, the American people seldom apply this mentality to state and federal officers.

Their power, be it CIA agents or county sheriffs, has bloated well beyond its necessary size. Rather than serving as protector of the people, the police act like fifth graders during recess — overly aggressive while lacking any common sense.

A California widow recently filed a lawsuit against the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department for

unlawfully breaking into her home and killing her 80-year-old husband. Police acted on an anonymous tip claiming Eugene Mallory possessed methamphetamine; they raided the house and claim to have shot Mallory in self-defense.

But when investigators began questioning the officers, their stories failed to match up with the evidence, leading some to believe that police shot Mallory pre-emptively.

No evidence of methamphetamine was found on the property and blood was found on Mallory’s bed, indicating that he may have been defenseless.

More concerning than Mallory’s death is the complete absence of restraint by police — an anonymous tip in no way rationalizes barging through someone’s front gate. The Fourth Amendment to the Constitution denies the legality of search and seizures without probable cause — a random tip to authorities in no way suffices.

On Friday, two Brooklyn officers hit a civilian’s car, checked to make sure there were no witnesses around, then arrested the man to try and cover up their mistake. If not for the overlooked surveillance camera, the two officers may have gotten away with arresting an innocent civilian.

Part of the problem is the abundance of unnecessary laws that

demonize what should be innocent activities. Another, more insidious problem, is the ignorance Americans have to their freedoms and to the role of police.

A 2011 Newsweek poll found that 70 percent of citizens lack basic knowledge of the Constitution.

Questions asking “When was the Constitution written?” and “What is the Supreme Law of the Land?” proved to be too demanding for most Americans. Although the poll questioned just 1,000 respondents, I am confident that close to three out of four people today would fail a basic Constitution quiz.

Knowing the laws that govern us is paramount to our protection. Who is going to stand up and defend the people when no one is educated about our basic rights?

If a computer salesman knows that a certain customer lacks any knowledge about the technology market, that seller may utilize that ignorance to maximize profit. Whether we like it or not, that same logic applies to our government and its laws.

I am not arguing that all officers are trigger-happy brutes or that martial law is imminent. But if you look at the collapse of any great empire, from the Egyptians to the Soviet Union, one common denominator is the erosion of individual liberty.

Most media outlets aren’t

ANNE LIPSCOMB / The Daily Reveille

interested in informing us about these events because those stories draw little attention. We’re more interested in Lena Dunham’s wardrobe than the killing of innocent Americans.

Greater emphasis must be placed on the integrity of the Bill of Rights and media should highlight and denigrate any childish conduct from police or other public servants. It’s occasionally said that “a thinking population is any

politician’s worst nightmare.” Politicians and police alike have been sleeping well for far too long.

Andrew Stolzle is a 21-yearold mechanical engineering junior from Baton Rouge.

Contact Andrew Stolzle at astolzle@lsureveille.com; Twitter: @AndrewStolzle

The Daily Reveille

page 14

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Previous experience working with youth/ childcare is preferred. Microsoft Excel exp.

Part-time 22-28 hrs/wk. $8-$9.00/hr DOE. Current CRP/First Aid Cert or ability to be certified by the Y within first 30-days of employment. Must pass B/G check and drug screen. Contact Eddrick Martin @ (225) 344-6775 or apply in person to Baranco-Clark YMCA, 1735 Thomas Delpit Dr., Baton Rouge, LA. ________________________

We have an excellent opportunity available for a College Sales Representative to begin an exciting career in the dynamic world of educational publishing covering the surrounding areas of Baton Rouge, LA + New Orleans, LA. --------------------------------- At Pearson, sales representatives work on local college campuses developing relations with faculty members and bookstore personnel selling educational resources including print and online materials. In addition, our sales representatives also communicate closely with our marketing and editorial teams in developing new projects for publishing in national and local markets as well as driving sales of all existing products. --------------------------------------- We are looking for talented salespeople to engage our customers and help us to continue to grow the business, connecting professors in the territory with our products. Specifically, the disciplines that our sales reps focus on include humanities and social science (HSS).

--------------------------------------- What this opportunity offers: • $45-55K base salary plus an annual bonus target, based on sales performance • Extensive on the job training • Fully maintained company car and all travel expenses • Excellent benefits package including full medical/dental/ vision coverage. • Outstanding opportunities for advancement into sales management, technology management, marketing or editorial within the US as well as internationally. -------------------------------------- Most importantly, this job offers you the opportunity to MANAGE A TERRITORY LIKE IT’S YOUR OWN BUSINESS. You’ll learn aspects of marketing, retail, customer development and the business cycle and be directly compensated for your success. (Interested applicants who are Organized, Competitive and Ambitious should email their cover letter and resume!) --------------------------------------- Successful candidates for the position must demonstrate: • Academic excellence; including a BA/BS with a minimum 3.4 GPA preferred • Evidence of top achieve-

ment in several aspects of your educational, extracurricular or professional background • 1-4 yrs successful sales or other professional work experience helpful, but not mandatory • Motivation: the drive to achieve beyond what is expected daily • Technological proficiency in regards to being able to present and demonstrate software programs • Excellent time management, organizational skills, and interpersonal communication. • Valid driver’s license & good driving record ------------------------------------ To learn more about this amazing company and its products for the higher education market, please visit our websites at: www.pearson. com | www.pearsoned.com | www. pearsonhighered.com ------------------------------ IF INTERESTED, WE INVITE YOU TO EXPRESS YOUR INTEREST ONLINE THROUGH THIS LINK: http:// pearson.jobs/baton-rouge-la/sales-representative-hssl-baton-rougenew-orleansla/43433880/job/ ________________________ Childcare Center afternoon position 2:30 - 5:30, M - F. Experience with and love of children a must. . Great job for student: no nights or weekends! Send resume or an email stating your interest to : cdsofbr@hotmail.com ________________________ New Year, New Fun Job! Great Starting Pay! Flexible Schedules, Scholarships and Internships available. Customer sales/service.

Full training provided. All ages 17+ Apply Today! 225-803-8982 workforstudents.com ________________________ HIRING STUDENTS! *$16 STARTING PAY* Customer sales/ service. PT/FT available with very FLEXIBLE schedules. NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY, will train- gain VALUABLE experience for your resume! Apply ASAP for best chances!

225-921-9673 earnparttime.com ________________________ John`s Pro Window Cleaning is looking for 2 part-time window cleaners (20-30 hours per week). Must have reliable transportation and be prepared to work as early as 6 am. No experience necessary.

Must be completely honest, in good physical health and completely self-motivated (references required). Great working conditions, flexible hours and great pay.

Start at 10.00 an hour with significant monthly raises (17.00 an hour within first 7 months). Great opportunity for college students.

To apply call Judy at 225-927-6748 between the hours of 9-5 ONLY. DO NOT call cell number mentioned in message. ________________________

Cyclone Laundry Looking for a Mature/ Reliable person to work as a laundry attendant/assistant mgr. in our store located at 623 E. Boyd Drive. Must be customer service oriented, have reliable transportation

Monday, February 24, 2014

& Cell phone. Bi-lingual is a plus. Flexible hours (20+/wk). Apply “In Person” today!

No Phone Calls Please. Compensation based on experience $8-10+/hr. ________________________

tutoring experience available to help college level or lower. Flexible Schedule.

Email LSUtutor10@gmail.com for more information

Personal injury law firm is looking for an Intake Specialist. Must be customer service oriented with strong communication skills and able to work from 8-5. Please send resume to lajobpost@gmail.com. ________________________ TUTOR for 6th grade student - all subjects with emphasis on reading comprehension. 2-3 days per week.

3BR,2-5Bth,WD, 5268 Brightside view Dr.,No.4, lsu Area Call -766-7258, OR 268-1273 $900/mo ________________________ 348 W Parker, 2 and 3 bedroom duplex, washer and dryer,courtyard and pets OK some utilities included. Between Burbank and LSU south gate. $950-1200 call 225615-8521 or 225-892-8517 ________________________ One BR/BA for male student Spring and/or Summer 2014. $629/mo includes utilities.. call/text 337-501-3115 ________________________ 1200 SQFT. HOUSE FOR RENT. 2 BR W/ OFFICE, 2 FULL BATHS, W/D HOOK UPS, 2 CAR CARPORT, TREE SHADED GRASS COMMON AREA, QUIET, SAFE NEIGHBORHOOD CLOSE TO LSU. 950.00. DOUBLE OCCUPANCY ONLY. CALL: 931-4250 ________________________ ROOMMATE NEEDED! (female) Furnished kitchen, dining, and living room, 2 car garage with a covered back porch!

Barely 10 minutes away from LSU campus! Please call (318) 210-1444

We specialize in laptop repair. We also offer a variety of cell phone and tablet repairs at competitive prices. We can fix any problem and all brands. This includes Apple products, MacBook, MacBook Pro, iMac ________________________ Need a tutor? LSU senior and 7 years

For Sale: Camel color love seat. 3 years old $300.00 Matching chair $75.00 Like new.

225-448-2044

Looking for a girl who wants to watch Vampire Academy who weighs less than me, that would be 140 or so. Luckily, like vampires, you don’t exist, and I won’t have to watch a terrible movie. ferbliggle@ gmail.com

The Daily Reveille

Monday, February 24, 2014 STUDENT ADVOCACY, from page 1

is currently focusing its attention on two bills.

House Bill 73, sponsored by Rep. Jerome “Dee” Richard of District 55, could potentially cut $2.1 million from University funding, Woodard said. In its current state, the bill cuts 10 percent from state contracts across the board.

Unite Louisiana would support it only if higher education were exempt from these cuts, Woodard said.

If that were the case, state money would be saved without sacrificing University funds.

The other bill, a procurement measure for state bodies, would benefit the University in regards to purchasing supplies, Brown said.

Currently, the University must go through a state agency and abide by the contract already secured with suppliers in order to purchase supplies in bulk. The bill would allow for direct negotiation between the University and the suppliers, resulting in lower prices per unit.

Brown said the new process would be more economical for commodities such as light bulbs, on which the University currently spends millions a year.

Beyond communicating with legislators, Unite Louisiana hopes to “build a relationship” with students of the University and across Louisiana, Woodard said. To achieve this, the organization plans to build a website explaining bills to students and enabling them to contact legislators to support or oppose bills.

Brown emphasized the importance of getting students across the state involved, saying college students everywhere face many of the same issues with tuition and funding.

But construction management junior Philip LeBlanc said he is unsure of students’ willingness to be involved in such a movement.

“I feel like many students choose not to be involved in political issues and others just don’t have the time,” LeBlanc said. “Overall, it seems like a good idea though.”

Moreover, University administrators advocated for students through LSU Day, which consisted of traveling to Washington D.C. on Feb. 5 to ensure University funds are protected.

Though he acknowledged administrators make an effort to ensure the welfare of students, Woodard said he still believes student involvement in legislation is essential.

Contact Lyle Manion at lmanion@lsureveille.com

DANCE, from page 1

eight-minute dance to a medley of club favorites and classics. The morale dance, performed every hour to keep track of time while also keeping energy high, included iconic dance moves such as the “Carlton,” the “Hand Jive” and the “Cat Daddy” to songs like “Ice Ice Baby,” “Outta Your Mind” and “Single Ladies.”

Captain of the Horseshoe team and history and political science junior Caleb Covington said the morale dance was his favorite part because it helped him stay awake and got be fun after a while.

After the morale dance, the students heard stories from youths treated at Our Lady of the Lake.

Twenty Miracle Kids, patients at Our Lady of the Lake, and their families shared tales of illness, injury and care at the hospital, reminding participants the reason behind standing for more than 26 hours.

Our Lady of the Lake treats 92,000 children annually. No child is ever turned away at the hospital, no matter the circumstances, said Danny Fields, director of Children’s Miracle Network at Our Lady of the Lake. Fields

said the money collected will be used to purchase specialized pediatric equipment and educational resources for the patients.

After completing 24 hours of Dance Marathon, the Miracle Cup was presented to the teams that went above and beyond. Criteria for awards included number of dancers, participation in spirit challenges, participation in other fundraising events such as Beat A&M Week and amount of money collected. The Paul M. Hebert Law Center and Public Interest Law Society, the Blake, Acadian, and McVoy team, Phi Mu sorority, and members of the volleyball team took home a certificate made by a Miracle Child. Adam Grashoff and Michael Leonpacher of Sigma Phi Epsilon received the Most Energy and Morale award, and Kaitlyn King, who raised $900.72 won the Morale Captain award.

At 8 p.m. on Saturday as the last dance started, students grooved while the amount of money raised spun up on a screen.

Fundraising director and public relations junior Lauren Cadogan said the goal was to beat the first year record, which was $103,700.28 set by DePaul University in 2012.

The University’s first Dance

page 15 Marathon raised $105,557.88 for Our Lady of the Lake, earning the new record.

“It feels wonderful. I can’t explain it,” said Melanie Mckoin, executive director of the event and human resource education senior.

“We have something to truly be proud of.”

Contact Whitney Lynn at wlynn@lsureveille.com

WAFFLES, from page 1 the site. His goal was to buy a standalone site so there could be a drivethrough. Once he found the property on Nicholson, he said he “jumped on it,” and renovated it for about seven months.

“To me, the experience is just as important as the product they eat,” Williams said.

Contact Rene Wren at rwren@lsureveille.com

FOR RELEASE FEBRUARY 24, 2014

THE Daily Commuter Puzzle ACROSS 1 Animal with a hump or two 6 Grand __; homer with the bases loaded 10 Lion’s cry 14 Amphitheater 15 Lunch spot 16 In addition 17 Chairs & stools 18 Performs 19 Passport stamp 20 Germfree 22 Sifting devices 24 Salt Lake __ 25 Singer Tony __ 26 Concentrating hard 29 Oomph 30 Ring of flowers 31 San Francisco baseball player 33 Removes from office 37 Item on a nightstand 39 Clickety-__ 41 Ginger cookie 42 Water vapor 44 “A rose by any __ name...”

46 Montgomery’s state: abbr.

47 Inclines; slants 49 Spending plan 51 Pacify; placate 54 Summon with a beeper 55 Hovel 56 Popular dog breed 60 Sharpen 61 In __ of; as a substitute for 63 Proverb 64 Wraps up 65 Fancy vases 66 __ firma; land 67 Bodies of water 68 Created 69 Derisive smile DOWN 1 Late singer Mama __ 2 Vicinity

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 21 23 25 26 27 28 29 32 34 35 36

Cruel Lure; attract Permanent Frightening Like a frilly bridal veil Toward the rear of a ship Cluttered conditions Very hungry Pimientostuffed tidbit Valuable thing Rump __; cut of beef Garret 4 __ 16 is 4 “__ Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” Troubles __ as a pin Magazine title Small flies Without companions Obstacle Saga Quarrel

by Jacqueline E. Mathews

Saturday’s Puzzle Solved

(c) 2014 Tribune Content Agency, LLC All Rights Reserved.

38 Lack of color in the complexion 40 Shish __; BBQ favorite 43 Veal or pork 45 Nickelodeon toon 48 Place of refuge 50 Benumb 51 Sooty residue

52 Bell’s invention 53 Chinese bear 54 Halt temporarily 56 Give for a time 57 Challenge 58 Villain 59 Fanny 62 Lyricist __ Gershwin

The Daily Reveille

page 16

Monday, February 24, 2014

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