The Daily Reveille — January 13, 2008

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SNAPSHOT

lsureveille com Log on to see snapshots from gymnastics practice.

NEWS Four crosswalks were revamped over winter break, see page 3

A CLOSER LOOK

Tigers’ 12-3 record may not be good indicator of team’s progress, see page 5

THE DAILY REVEILLE WWW.LSUREVEILLE.COM

Volume 113, Issue 70

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

DINING

Meal plan prices rise about $37 this semester University owes $724K in back taxes By Leslie Presnall Staff Writer

Construction begins on class gift Students get chance to make impression By Adam Duvernay Staff Writer

In the short time between semesters, the portable toilets have been removed and the ground has been torn up in the courtyard behind Dodson Auditorium. The early stages of construc-

tion are in preparation for a major University landscaping endeavor that’s part of Student Government’s goal to give graduating seniors the chance to leave a permanent mark on campus. Less than three months after the spending bill was approved by the SG Senate, ground has been broken and the concrete slab has been poured over the site of the 2009 Class Gift project. On Monday, bricks were laid atop the concrete

slab to form a 6-foot-wide walkway around the courtyard. “This is a typical construction project, which means it will be ugly before it is pretty,” said Dennis Mitchell, campus landscape architect. SG and Mitchell have been vocal about their intentions to incorporate students into the landscaping and designing of the Dodson

PROJECT, see page 10

GRANT GUTIERREZ / The Daily Reveille

Construction workers lay bricks Monday afternoon behind Dodson Auditorium as part of Student Government’s class gift project.

lsureveille.com

Log on to see SG President Colorado Robertson explain the project.

CONSTRUCTION

UREC courts expected to open this fall Renovations currently in design process By Natalie Roy Contributing Writer

Opinion ................... 12 Classifieds ............... 14

and are looking at completion in the fall. The buckled gym floors expose the bare concrete below, and, although the progress is visible, ques7:20 a.m. 8:20 a.m. Noon 3:20 p.m. 4:20 p.m. 5:20 p.m.

tions have still risen about exactly when development will take place. “That process is in progress right now,” said Tricia MilfordHoyt, University Recreation assis-

Weather

Sports ...................... 5

graphic by STEPHANIE CLARK / The Daily Reveille

Broadcasts

Index

As students return to campus with weight gained from the holidays, the University Student Recreation Complex will likely be full of activity. But a popular exercise option remains unavailable this semester — basketball. Nearly five months after UREC basketball courts were closed because of damages from Hurricane Gustav, they have yet to be repaired

TODAY SUNNY

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tant director of marketing and membership. “We expect [the courts] to be reopened sometime in the fall of 2009.” COURTS, see page 10

On top of hard-hitting economic times and budget cuts, the University is suddenly liable for hundreds of thousands of dollars in back taxes owed to the Louisiana Department of Revenue. The University owes ‘It’s one three years in of those meal plan sales taxes adding up things that to $724,000, slipped stemming from through the payment confusion since cracks.’ August 1988. “It’s one Donna Torres of those things Accounting and that slipped Financial Services through the associate vice cracks,” said chancellor Donna Torres, associate vice chancellor for Accounting and Financial Services. For years, meal plans in education and medical facilities were exempt from state sales tax. But University officials were unaware when the Legislature suspended the exemption, Torres said. “One section provides the exemption, and then another section negates it,” she said. “But it was suspended from August 1988 through June 2009, so we should have charged the sales tax.” The Department of Revenue sent a ruling to the LSU System’s office advising the University to charge a 4 percent sales tax on meal plans through June 30. But only a 1 percent sales tax will exist starting July 1. “We received a letter that [the revenue department] will allow us TAXES, see page 10

WEDNESDAY SUNNY

THURSDAY CHANCE STORMS

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