The Daily Reveille — December 4, 2009

FURRY FRIENDS

SPORTS Volleyball team opens tourney at home, page 5.

Vet students hosting fundraiser to help shelter animals, page 3.

THE DAILY REVEILLE WWW.LSUREVEILLE.COM

Volume 114, Issue 70

Friday, December 4, 2009

FOOTBALL

Source: McCarthy paid Akiem Hicks to come to LSU

By Rachel Whittaker Chief Sports Writer

LSU junior defensive lineman Akiem Hicks allegedly received money from wide receivers coach D.J. McCarthy to transfer to LSU from Sacramento City Community College in California, The Daily Reveille learned on Thursday.

This transaction led to an NCAA violation that a source

familiar with the situation said became known to the team following the Arkansas game last Saturday.

“It was one of those things they try to avoid bringing up, but everybody knows who’s involved,” said the source, who is a former member of the LSU football team. “That right there is a big deal. Minor violations don’t even break the news.”

LSU would not stand to forfeit any wins as a result of the violations

because Hicks did not play in any games for the Tigers this season, but Hicks’ eligibility remains would remain unclear as a result of the investigation.

“Taking money turns you into a professional, and that affects your amateurism,” the source said. “If you’re not an amateur, you can’t play in the NCAA.” McCarthy is apparently planning to leave LSU with running

backs coach Larry Porter to be on the coaching staff at Porter’s alma mater, Memphis, the source said.

Tennessee wide receivers coach Frank Wilson has been offered a job on the LSU coaching staff, according to GoVolsXtra.com, the Tennessee sports Web site of the Knoxville News-Sentinel.

Wilson, who would reportedly fill Porter’s role, has worked with both wide receivers and running

On a High Note Director of bands retires after 30 years

By Xerxes A. Wilson Staff Writer

Frank Wickes walked off the Death Valley field Saturday with a final salute on his last game day under the lights of Tiger Stadium as LSU director of bands.

Wickes’ 30-year tenure as director of bands will officially end when he retires in June 2010.

“It was tough for me Saturday,” Wickes said. “You know you bite your lip a little bit, say ‘Thank you very much’ and go ... During ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ you realize this is your last National Anthem and Alma Mater on the ladder.”

Wickes grew up fostering a love for music and sports. The south New Jersey native said he had a successful stint as a basketball player, winning a state championship in high school and a earning a basketball scholarship to Delaware, where he received his first degree in music.

“Because I was involved in sports as

a kid and playing college basketball and being successful with it — if I had not been a band director, I would have been a coach,” Wickes said. “Those are my two great interests.”

Wickes can spout the result of every bowl game LSU played during his 30 years at the University along with the disappointment of less successful stretches.

“These two national championships we have had, for Tiger Band, nothing is better than that — especially with both of them in the Superdome,” Wickes said.

“You talk about great memories, with the Tiger Band, you can’t forget stuff like that.”

He also remembers what he called “peak experiences” with his concert band playing for prestigious music associations in front of other schools.

Wickes’ retirement ends his 51-year stint as a music teacher.

WICKES, see page 15

MAGGIE BOWLES / The Daily Reveille

MOVIES

State film industry continues to grow

By Xerxes A. Wilson Staff Writer

Gunfire and mushroom clouds visible just off Airline Highway have confused passing drivers for more than a month now.

Patrick Mulhearn said these choreographed explosions are a sign of economic growth for his studio and the film industry in the state.

Mulhearn is the director of studio operations for Raleigh Studios

Baton Rouge at the Celtic Media Center, which is hosting the filming of “Battle: Los Angeles.”

“Battle: Los Angeles” is a postapocalyptic war movie following a group of marines on their mission to extract civilians from Santa Monica, said Tommy Harper, Unit Production Manager in charge of the budget, staffing and managing the daily administration of the film.

The movie is one of about 21 projects currently filming in

Louisiana and one of three projects filming in Baton Rouge, said Chris Stelly, director of film and television for the Office of Entertainment Industry within Louisiana Economic Development.

Stelly said the total number of films for the state is going to be lower than last year, which saw about 80 productions.

“We were competing with the actors strike earlier this year, the downturn of the economy and

reaffirming the commitment to the tax credits because they were scheduled to scale back at the beginning of next year,” Stelly said.

Stelly explained this summer the legislature reaffirmed the state’s commitment to the film industry by increasing tax credits for film by 5 percent and making the incentives indefinite.

The tax credits now stand at 30 FILM, see page 15

backs during his coaching career.

“They don’t really talk about that either,” the source said. “We kind of knew who was going to leave with [former LSU defensive coordinator Bo] Pelini. McCarthy is probably leaving with [Porter]. If he does, he’s going to probably get a higher offensive position.”

While LSU coach Les Miles’ VIOLATION, see page 15

FOREVER LSU

LSU video contest finalists revealed

By Kyle Bove Senior Staff Writer

Forever LSU, the University’s fundraising campaign, revealed the three finalists in its Student Video Contest on Thursday.

The finalists, who created 2-3 minute videos about the importance of private funding at LSU, were determined after about 100 students voted on seven video entries Nov. 19.

Family, child and consumer sciences junior Caitlin Cleveland and English senior Mac Alsfeld are the contest’s finalists, along with studio art sophomore Elizabeth Scott and psychology senior Leah Stevens who teamed up to make their video.

The finalists will each receive a 32 GB iPod Touch and access to high-tech equipment to re-shoot and re-edit their videos in January. They will also receive mentoring from Emmy Award-winning producer, director and University alumnus Robert Zimmerman while they work on completing their final videos.

Students will then have the opportunity to vote on the top three videos online from Jan. 27 to Feb. 4.

The winner will be announced and featured on the score board during the LSU-Kentucky men’s basketball game Feb. 6.

The grand prize winner will receive a MacBook Pro and one Central “B” parking pass and Easy Streets wand for a year.

Contact Kyle Bove at kbove@lsureveille.com

THE DAILY REVEILLE

Nation & World

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2009

INTERNATIONAL

NATIONAL

Suicide bomber disguised as woman hits Somali graduation, 22 dead

Senate votes to keep Medicare cuts in health bill

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) — A suicide bomber disguised as a woman attacked a graduation ceremony in Somalia on Thursday, turning a rare reason to celebrate into carnage that killed at least 22 people — including medical students, doctors and three government ministers.

The blast was blamed on Islamic militants who have shown a rising ability to carry out sophisticated large-scale bombings against high-profile targets.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Casting its first votes on revamping the nation’s health care system, the Senate rejected a Republican bid Thursday to stave off Medicare cuts and approved safeguards for coverage of mammograms and other preventive tests for women. The first round of votes ended with a fragile Democratic coalition hanging together.

Senators voted 58-42 to reject an amendment by Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., that would have stripped more than $400 billion in Medicare cuts from the nearly $1 trillion measure. It would have sent the entire 2,074-page bill back to the Senate Finance Committee for a redo.

Guinea’s president wounded in renegade attack CONAKRY, Guinea (AP) — A renegade faction of Guinea’s presidential guard opened fire on the African country’s leader Thursday, slightly wounding him amid rumors of deep divisions within the army nearly three months after a military-led massacre of protesters at a peaceful rally.

daughters Malia and Sasha assisted with this annual tradition on Thursday. They helped the president press a button and light the 40-foot Colorado blue spruce growing on the Ellipse, just south of the White House.

The tree was planted in 1978.

Every president since Calvin Coolidge in 1923 has presided over the lighting ceremony.

Economy poised for steady but slow recovery WASHINGTON (AP) — Every step forward in this economic recovery seems to be followed by a step back.

Thursday’s good news was that new unemployment claims fell for a fifth straight week, boosting expectations that fewer jobs were lost in November. That raises the possibility that the nation’s unemployment rate to be announced Friday will hold steady at 10.2 percent — still a 26-year high, but the first time since July it hasn’t gone up.

Obama family lights National Christmas Tree WASHINGTON (AP) — President Obama got some help lighting the National Christmas Tree.

First lady Michelle Obama and

STATE/LOCAL

Republican questions Louisiana’s federal funding

The Louisiana Board of Ethics criticized by lawmaker

WASHINGTON (AP) — The top Republican on the House Oversight committee on Thursday challenged Louisiana officials about what the state is doing to financially help itself and asked whether the state is becoming a “permanent ward of the federal government” in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

Rep. Darrell Issa noted Louisiana’s top income tax rate is 6 percent compared with 10.5 percent in his home state of California. He said California taxpayers deserve to know what Louisiana is doing to generate other revenue.

“Are you going to be a permanent ward of the federal government?” he asked Louisiana health care leaders at a hearing on Capitol Hill. “What are you doing besides coming to us?”

Alan Levine, health secretary under Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal, said the state is facing unprecedented challenges.

(AP) — The Louisiana Board of Ethics is pursuing charges against people without the evidence required to find violations of law, said the chairman of a legislative ethics oversight committee.

The Ethics Board should be held accountable, because of its pursuit of “baseless charges,” House and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Rep. Rick Gallot said.

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One to 3 inches of snow are possible this evening, according to the National Weather Service — less than a year after 3 inches fell on Dec. 11, 2008 during the University’s final exams of the fall 2008 semester.

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ADVOCACY

Vet students to host supply drive for sheltered animals Donations to help improve life quality

By Sarah Eddington Contributing Writer

Students at the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine are helping improve conditions for sheltered dogs and cats this holiday season.

The Student Chapter of the Association of Shelter Veterinarians is collecting items and donations for south Louisiana animal shelters from Nov. 23 through Jan. 4.

This is the SCASV’s third holiday supply drive since the club’s founding in 2007. Co-presidents Kelli Urbina and Melissa Roth, third-year vet students, said the club combines students who share a common interest for aiding animal shelters and community involvement.

“We promote spay-and-neuter programs, adoption events, fundraisers and volunteering,” Roth said.

Donations include towels,

treats, dog and cat beds, chew toys, litter pans and food and water bowls.

Urbina said monetary donations are also encouraged and will go toward the Cat Cage Fund for Walker Animal Control, which will go toward purchasing new cat cages.

Donations can be dropped in the holiday-wrapped donation box located in the front entrance of the Vet School on Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Donated items will go to East Baton Rouge Parish Animal Control, West Baton Rouge Parish Animal Control, Ascension Parish Animal Control, Walker Animal Control, Livingston Parish Animal Control and Iberville Parish Animal Control.

Roth, who works in animal shelters, said the number of sheltered animals has increased in recent years.

“With the economy being what it is, there are a lot of animals that are being relinquished because people don’t have the money for them anymore,” Roth said.

Roth said because shelters are taking in record numbers of animals,

photo courtesy of WENDY WOLFSON

Amy Troendle and Rachel Carlson, fourth year veterinary students, examine a kitten at Walker Animal Control before it is able to be adopted.

any form of donation would help.

Wendy Wolfson, the club’s faculty adviser, said most shelters in the East Baton Rouge area can have anywhere between 60 to 100 animals.

Wolfson is an instructor for the vet school’s shelter medicine program, which takes fourth-year vet students to animal shelters in south Louisiana to administer health

exams and perform spays and neuters to make the pets more adoptable.

“We do whatever they need us to do,” she said. “The students enjoy it, and we really make a difference.”

Wolfson said local shelters often lack sufficient funding.

“The shelters that are run by parishes are very low on the totem pole

as far as getting funds and ordering what they need,” she said. “They are cut out of the picture financially.”

Shelters can only spend their money on the necessities and items like treats and toys are forgotten because of the lack of funding, Roth said.

“We want to help with all the extra stuff they can’t purchase themselves,” Roth said. “We are trying to supply better quality of life, which improves adoption rates.”

The more donations the club collects, the more money the shelters will have for other areas like buying more cages, creating more space and making renovations, Urbina said.

“These donations really boost the morale of the shelter workers,” she said. “I think it’s very rewarding, and it gets the vet students into the shelters to see what need there is for more involvement.”

Contact Sarah Eddington at seddington@lsureveille.com

ACADEMICS

Hispanic enrollment increasing School, organizations help recruit students

By Sarah Lawson Contributing Writer

The University has seen a 14 percent increase in Hispanic enrollment since its 2007 initiative to better recruit Hispanic students.

There are 898 Hispanic students enrolled at the University and 785 Hispanic undergraduates this fall— about a 9 percent total increase from fall 2008. There were 826 total Hispanic students and 741 undergraduates last fall, and 787 total Hispanic students and 698 undergraduates were enrolled in fall 2007.

According to the Census Bureau’s 2008 estimates, 3.4 percent of Louisiana’s population is Hispanic or Latin American, and more than 15 percent of the U.S. population belongs to that demographic.

Rafael Orozco, Spanish professor, said an increase in Hispanic influence around Baton Rouge is also evident, calling the group an “emerging population.”

“One of the signs is we have a Spanish-speaking radio in town,” Orozco said.

He said Home Depot and Walmart air Spanish-language advertisements over the intercoms in stores, and it’s hard to find a church in Baton Rouge that doesn’t offer a service in Spanish.

Lengthy wait-lists denote increased interest in Spanish classes at the University, he said.

Orozco said because the U.S. is the third-most Spanish-speaking country in the world, the marketability of a second language is huge.

“After all, English is the dominant language, but there is an increased number of Spanish [speakers]

... and Americans who are interested Sigma Lambda Gamma, is another effort to recruit all ethnicities to a in Spanish,” Orozco said.

Orozco is the program director predominantly Hispanic group, she for LSU in Mexico, a summer abroad said.

And a Latino fraternity is being program during which students live with Mexican families and fulfill ba- reintroduced to campus — Phi Iota Alpha, Inc., which disappeared from sic needs speaking Spanish.

He said he’s studied the Hispanic the University years ago, will soon population in Baton Rouge, and it’s be reinstated.

Edmonds said Hispanic infludifferent from Hispanic populations in any other American city. Instead ence on campus and in Baton Rouge is increasing, and of coming directly students of all ethfrom their home nicities who have country, Hispanics traveled south of who settle in Baton the border are espeRouge choose the cially interested in capital city after Hispanic and Latin they’ve settled in American culture. other states.

She said she is The Hispanic Daniel Toro half Mexican — a Student Cultural Society has nearly finance sophomore, HSCS treasurer native of Texas and a Spanish speaker. doubled in size Daniel Toro, finance sophomore since its inception last year — from 10 members to 18 — said Cerise Ed- and HSCS treasurer, was born and monds, Office of Multicultural Af- raised in New Orleans by Honduran fairs coordinator and adviser for the parents. He said he remains close with friends he met freshman year group.

“At first it was just a group of through the society.

“I’ve seen more freshman [Hisinterested students ... then they bepanic] students than last year,” he came a cohesive group,” she said.

HSCS is a resource for incoming said. “Now more Hispanics know Hispanic students and a support net- there’s an organization out there they work for existing students, Edmonds can join.”

He said HSCS is open to all stusaid. She said the group meets for various activities, like eating dinner dents, and he is organizing events for and watching soccer games between next semester to recruit non-Hispanic students. native countries.

Toro said in the future a majorShe said members are still busy recruiting, and the Hispanic show- ity of the people in the Baton Rouge case this year, which featured food area could be speaking Spanish, and and salsa dancers, was the society’s students will become interested in Latin American culture by taking biggest event of the semester.

“There was a guy screaming, Spanish courses.

“More Hispanic people will ‘This is America — speak English!’

I was like, ‘Here’s your bigot card,’” come to LSU,” he said. “I want them said Mimie Laurent, general studies to feel welcome.” senior of her experience at the showcase.

Contact Sarah Lawson at The new multicultural sorority in the works, Interested Ladies of slawson@lsureveille.com

‘‘

‘More Hispanic people will come to LSU. I want them to feel welcome.’

Mellow Mushroom Abita Night: $6 Abita Pitchers The Neighbors Live!

Plucker’s Wing Bar Monday: $14.99 All you can eat wings and $3 Plucker’s Lemonades Tuesday: $2.50 Mexican Beers and Margaritas Wednesday: Trivia at 8PM. $4 Mother Plucker Mugs Thursday: $15.99 All you can eat wings. $4 Mother Plucker Mugs. $3 Margaritas and Plucker’s Lemonades Bogie’s Friday: $4 double Jim Beam and Stoi and $1 shots after 12 Saturday: Free Drinks for Ladies till 10 Fred’s Bar 8-10 PM Fred’s Facebook Friday Saturday: $2 Shots all night, $2.50 Coors Light and Miller Lite Fred’s Annual Fall Graduation Party December 18th, Open Bar 7-9 Thanks for a great semester!

9-10:30 AM 12-1:30 PM 4:00-5:30 PM 8:00- 9:30 PM 1:00AM-2:30AM

Angels and Demons The Ugly Truth Year One The Orphan Angels and Demons

PAGE 4

THE DAILY REVEILLE

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2009

HOLIDAYS

Christmas trees’ quality improves from lack of hurricane AgCenter: Live trees safer for environment

By Mary Walker Baus Staff Writer

Louisiana doesn’t typically have snow or reindeer, but its residents keep up with holiday traditions through the Christmas tree industry.

Don Reed, LSU AgCenter forestry and wildlife specialist and owner of Leyland Christmas Tree Farm, said not having a major hurricane made this year’s Christmas tree crop better than crops previous years.

Reed said hurricanes Katrina and Rita knocked down many trees that would’ve been ready to sell last year, and this year’s trees have already recovered from Hurricane Gustav.

Buying live Christmas trees is more environmentally friendly than buying artificial trees, Reed said.

MEGAN J. WILLIAMS / The Daily Reveille

Benjamin Collier, communication studies junior, discusses the different types and prices of trees Wednesday at Toy Soldier Christmas Trees on Perkins Road.

“Artificial trees are made from a lot of oil-based materials that basically are not environmentally friendly,” he said. “Also, a lot are produced overseas. They’re made in China — you’re not buying from the U.S.” Reed said a lot of energy and resources go into making artificial trees that end up in a landfill.

“With a real tree, you’re getting something that’s fresh ... and has uses after it’s taken down,”

Reed said. “It’s a good idea for everyone to have a Christmas tree to get you into the Christmas spirit.

It’s part of the tradition.”

The Society of American Foresters student organization sold Leyland cypress Christmas trees outside the Renewable Natural Resources building last week for its annual fundraiser.

“Our school owns a 1,200-acre forest in Washington Parish,” said Cornelis De Hoop, renewable nat-

ural resources associate professor and Society of American Foresters adviser. “We raise them there. This year we had 60 [Leyland cypress] trees we’re selling.”

De Hoop said the organization uses the money to participate in the Society of American Foresters’ national meeting and in the Foresters Conclave competition where students compete in events like tree identification, log rolling, tree-diameter estimations and timber-volume estimations. He said they’ve raised about $700 so far.

De Hoop said the trees are 7 to 8 feet tall and $7 per foot. He said the trees have been 5 or 6 feet tall in the past, which is a more popular size, and in conjunction with the rain, has hindered tree sales.

“On Tuesday, it rained so hard that no one wanted to sell trees and no one wanted to buy trees,” he said.

Ben Collier, communication studies junior, runs Toy Soldier Christmas Trees on Perkins Road near Bluebonnet Boulevard as part of his father’s business. Collier

said he had around 800 leftover trees last year, which he blames on the recession.

“The more trees I have left over, the more I have to spend to keep them up,” he said. “I try to get what I can for them to make my money back. I don’t let anyone leave without a tree.”

Collier said a man from the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries picks up some of his leftover trees to spread them along the coast to fight coastal erosion.

Reed said leftover trees can also be used in ponds to attract fish and in yards to attract song birds.

Collier said the trees serve a purpose beyond being a tree.

“I’ve been doing this since I was 12,” Collier said. “It’s not the tree that people come out for but the feeling. It’s the whole tradition of having something there physically for a family to gather around.”

Contact Mary Walker Baus at mwbaus@lsureveille.com

ECONOMY

Recession likely cause for decreasing server tips Research: Gratuity drops 5 percent

By Emily Holden Contributing Writer

A restaurant server whisks by and discretely slides a bill onto the edge of a table. The fullbellied diners hesitantly examine the checks and begin to calculate a tip.

Brittany Jewell didn’t think this aspect of her job was nerveracking a few years ago. But restaurant servers have experienced a 10 percent decrease in take-home income in the last year, according to a study released Wednesday by Payscale.com, an online database of employee compensation.

Al Lee, Payscale.com’s director of quantitative analysis, said the income decrease could be because of slower shifts and less opportunities to earn tips or because of diners tipping less.

“I like to think that it’s simply that people are spending less money [rather] than that people are stiffing the waitress or waiter,” Lee said.

Jewell, philosophy and political science senior, has worked as a server at The Chimes on Highland Road for three years. Jewell said she attributes the decrease in income to a general decrease in business. She said most of her tips are around 20 percent of the bill, but her shifts are not nearly as busy as a few years ago.

“In previous years, I would always make a lot more than 20 percent tips,” Jewell said.

She said she used to pay her bills by working only three shifts per week but has been forced to pick up extra shifts to cover the

tip discrepancy.

80 jobs. He said declines in tipMichael Lynn, professor of ping cause a substantial decrease consumer behavin server incomes ior at the Cornell because tips acSchool of Hotel count for 70 perAdministratio n, cent of their pay. said there are no “Since inacademic or pubcomes generlic studies to his ally go down and knowledge about price sensitivity the effects of the generally goes up Michael Lynn economy on tips. during recesBut Lynn said re- Cornell consumer behavior professor sions,” Lynn said, search has shown “It is logical to tips increase with income, and conclude that tipping decreases price-sensitive consumers tip less during bad economic times.” than those who are not price-sensitive.

Contact Emily Holden at Lee said research showed a 5 percent decrease in tips across eholden@lsureveille.com

‘‘

‘It is logical to conclude that tipping decreases during bad economic times.’

MAGGIE BOWLES / The Daily Reveille

Louie’s Cafe employee Morgan Gray refills mass communication senior Zack Landry’s drink Wednesday. Restaurant servers have seen a decrease in tips, which experts blame on an unstable economy.

THE DAILY REVEILLE

Sports

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2009

PAGE 5

READY, SET, GO!

ATHLETICS

Baseball, basketball dominate spring

Saints one of the main teams to watch

By Rowan Kavner Sports Contributor

we just dominated them at home,” Dabbs said. “The second time, there was a lot of hype. They had a lot of fans at their place, it was their celebration of their conference title, so they had a lot to play for that night, and we didn’t show up.”

LSU senior middle blocker Brittnee Cooper agreed with Dabbs, noting the 1,648 fans on hand for their match on the road

LSU is all about football through good times and bad. But what will fans watch when Death Valley is empty?

Many LSU fans such as political science junior Michael Tymchak will tune their televisions to the undefeated New Orleans Saints during winter break.

“The Saints, man, they’re doing it big right now,” Tymchak said.

Saints fever is spreading throughout southern Louisiana, and sports management junior Logan Lea said it only gets better from here on out.

“After Thanksgiving, the NFL gets a little more amped up,” Lea said.

After a dreadful start and a coaching change, not too many fans seem anxious to watch the New Orleans Hornets. But Alex Baynham, psychology sophomore, said he’ll flip on a game despite being a more avid Cleveland Cavaliers fan.

“Even though Chris Paul’s out, they’ve been doing all right, I guess,” Baynham said. “I mainly watch come playoff time.”

Tymchak and mechanical engineering junior Jacob Koch said they’ll watch the LSU men’s basketball team but not the Hornets.

“I’m an LSU fan, but I like Duke,” Koch said. “If [LSU] is playing like a top-10 matchup, I might go.”

Louisiana lacks a professional hockey team, yet Tymchak, a member of the LSU ice hockey club team,

VOLLEYBALL, see page 11

SPRING, see page 11

GRANT GUTIERREZ / The Daily Reveille

LSU senior setter Sam Dabbs (8) sets up senior middle blocker Brittnee Cooper (25) for a kill during the Tigers’ 3-0 victory Nov. 20 against Mississippi State in the PMAC. Cooper was named Southeastern Conference Player of the Year, and Dabbs was awarded with a spot on the All-SEC First Team.

Tigers to face Tulane in first round of NCAA Tournament tonight in the PMAC Anytime in-state rival schools meet, there is some extra incentive involved — namely bragging rights.

There is no exception whenever LSU plays Tulane in any sport.

But when LSU’s No. 15-seeded volleyball team takes on Tulane (18-9) tonight in the first round of the NCAA tournament in the PMAC, a lot more is on the line than just a win. This time, it’s win or go home.

“We are both going to show up matches against the Green Wave, because it’s do or die,” said LSU including posting a 1-1 record senior setter Sam Dabbs. “It’s go- against them this season. ing to be a war out there. It’s going The first time the teams met to be fun, but it’s this season, LSU going to be a fight took home an easy

By Andy Schwehm to the end.” three-set sweep at Sports Writer Although home in the Tiger other sports on campus have had Classic, but a mere week later, the recent success against Tulane, the Tigers dropped a four-set match same cannot be said for the LSU on the road in Tulane’s Fogelman volleyball team.

Arena.

The Tigers (24-6) have “The first time we played dropped two of their last three them, they didn’t show up, and

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Graham living out legacy at LSU High school coach serves as mentor

By Rachel Whittaker Chief Sports Writer

Rob Mosely knows Katherine Graham as his “surrogate daughter.”

Mosely was Graham’s coach on the girls’ basketball team at Ramsay High School in

Birmingham, Ala., from 2003-07, and he watched the current LSU junior guard develop into the college basketball player she is today.

Mosely said Graham lacked great athletic ability when she first started playing basketball.

“Of everyone in the gym, she was probably the least athletic,” Mosely said. “She was slow and couldn’t jump.”

Mosely said Graham worked tirelessly to develop talent in the areas where she struggled, even

practicing when school was not in session.

“She is a self-made player, obviously putting in the work to get where she is,” Mosely said. “She’s not the kid that was blessed with outstanding jumping ability, speed, even height. She would come in on off days ... always worked hard on her conditioning and never allowed herself to get out of shape.”

Mosely said he first became GRAHAM, see page 11

BRIANNA PACIORKA / The Daily Reveille

Junior guard Katherine Graham looks to pass the ball during the Lady Tigers’ 9219 victory Nov. 15 against Centenary in the PMAC.

PAGE 6

THE DAILY REVEILLE

Friday, December 4, 2009

FOOTBALL

LSU fans torn between Florida, Bama for SEC title game Hatred for teams motivates support

By David Helman Sports Writer

This is it ... again.

For weeks, pundits and prognosticators have said No. 1 Florida (120) and No. 2 Alabama (12-0) were too good to be overcome — they were destined to clash in a second-straight Southeastern Conference title game, with the winner again bound for the national championship game.

Those pundits were right.

Despite the best efforts of Arkansas junior kicker Alex Tejada, LSU sophomore cornerback Patrick Peterson and Auburn senior quarterback Chris Todd, the dominant duo of the 2009 SEC season has survived with one more game to play.

For an LSU fan base that suffered through losses to both programs this season, there’s a bit of debate about whom to cheer for in what Yahoo! Sports blogger Matt Hinton has dubbed “Florabamageddon.”

On one side sit the Gators, LSU’s permanent opponent from the SEC East and owners of a 6-4 advantage in the series this decade.

“They’re just so cocky about how good they are in baseball, football — everything. I’d love to see

DAVE MARTIN / The Associated Press

Alabama sophomore wide receiver Julio Jones (8) is upended by Auburn senior defensive back Walter McFadden (6) Nov. 27 during Alabama’s 26-21 win.

them lose,” said Christen Vaughan, general studies junior.

On the other side is the Crimson Tide, which has surged back to national prominence under former LSU coach Nick Saban. Alabama boasts a two-game winning streak against the Tigers.

“I can’t stand Alabama, so I’ve got to go for the other team,” said Mark Moroney, history senior.

On top of that, any Tiger fan worth his salt will say the Tide pulled a fast one in the teams’ Nov. 7

meeting in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Alabama pulled out a 24-15 decision after LSU sophomore quarterback Jordan Jefferson and senior running back Charles Scott were knocked out of the game, and an apparent interception by Peterson was ruled an incomplete pass.

“Florida beat us, but the Alabama game was really close — and we should have won,” said Turner Gilreath, general business freshman.

LSU fans seem to have their own reasons for choosing sides in

the showdown.

“Ever since I was growing up, I’ve always hated Florida,” said Charlie Evans, French senior. “It’s like a true passion deep down in my heart — a true hatred for them.”

Evans, like many Tiger fans, holds a long-standing grudge with former Gator coach Steve Spurrier, who compiled an 11-1 record against LSU while outscoring the Tigers, 421-132, in those meetings.

“He was a terrible person,” Evans said of Spurrier.

Florida senior quarterback Tim Tebow has picked up Spurrier’s title as “Most Reviled Gator” in recent seasons. Tebow has two games remaining in his illustrious career, which has already seen him win two national titles, two SEC titles and a Heisman Trophy.

Last season, Tebow led two fourth-quarter touchdown drives against the Crimson Tide to win the title, 31-20.

“I don’t like Tebow, but you’ve got to admit he’s a really good player,” Moroney said. “You’ve got to give him credit where credit is due.”

Some fans simply have not recovered from the sting of seeing Saban in Alabama colors after guiding LSU back to national prominence.

“Saban is a great coach — I’m not too happy that he’s there at all, but my spite for Tebow is more than Saban,” said Adam Green, biology

junior.

A win Saturday night would further solidify Tebow’s status as one of the greatest, if not the greatest, college football player of all time, while an Alabama victory would give Saban his third SEC title this decade and Alabama its 22nd SEC championship.

“I like Tebow. I like his style and the way he handles himself,” said Warren Lyons, custodian supervisor. “I just like Florida.”

But the majority of non-Gator fans are probably more excited about Tebow finishing his college career than the three-year starter’s many accomplishments.

“I’m sick about hearing about Tebow. I’m so ready for him to be out of college football,” Evans said.

“I can’t wait for him to fail and fall flat on his face in the NFL.” It’s a game that’s been roughly eight weeks in the making. Tired SEC fanbases have stared up in the standings all year long at the seemingly unbeatable duo. One of them has to be beaten now.

“Alabama seems like more of the underdog,” Green said. “If they win, it means it will probably have been a great game. And if it’s a great game, that’d be good.”

Contact David Helman at dhelman@lsureveille.com

Friday, December 4, 2009

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THE DAILY REVEILLE

PAGE 8

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2009

CROSS COUNTRY

Entire LSU team makes transition to track and field Members take time to give back

By Jonathan Schexnayder Sports Contributor

LSU has had its share of well known two-sport athletes through the years.

But some of the less known athletes represent the majority of those who participate in multiple sports for the Tigers.

The entire LSU cross country team — 34 athletes in all — is also listed on the spring track and field roster.

While cross country and track require similar athletic ability, LSU cross country coach and assistant head track and field coach Mark Elliott said the two sports are like “night and day.”

“Track is a more

individualized sport,” he said. spent some of their off time giv“[Cross country] is more of a team ing back to the Baton Rouge comsport where everyone competes at munity. the same time.”

Sophomore Laura Carleton The cross country season was one of seven cross country ended Nov. 14 at runners who gave the NCAA South a few hours of Central Regional their time to read in Waco, Texas. to kids at DelElliott said offimont Elementary cial track workSchool. outs began Nov. “I thought it 30. That’s a twowould be a really week layoff for great opportunity the dual-sport athfor us to take adMark Elliott letes. vantage of this Running is asst. head track and field coach week between an activity that cross country and requires constant repetition to track seasons to go and give back ensure the athlete does not lose a to the community when we would step in their progression. normally have to be at practice,” “Obviously, they were get- Carleton said in a news release. ting their conditioning done from “The best part was how enthusirunning in [between those dates],” astic all the kids were to have us Elliott said. come to their classrooms. They all Several cross country runners wanted a chance to talk to us and

‘‘

‘You can’t quite expect Cullen Doody to come and run with Trindon Holliday in the 100.’

FOOTBALL

Democrats good luck for LSU Mann, reveling in the oppor- professor, also has some bad tunity to compliment his party, news for Democrats.

“These programs are much then suggested LSU consider changing its mascot from a tiger bigger than any one person,” Lombardi said. “You look at all the big to a donkey.

Future Democratic candi- [college football programs], and

By Nate Monroe dates shouldn’t get too excited, they all have a machine out there Contributing Writer supporting them.” though.

Governors are merely cogs in Republican detractors can Democrats might face a historically unfriendly environment point to several seemingly unfair that machine, able to provide the for future elections in Louisiana, Democratic advantages — first support necessary to see a team one of a handful of states to trend and foremost that Democrats succeed.

“What happens in big sports squatted in the more Republican governor’s man- programs is they will rise and fall in 2008, but the sion uninterrupt- on a complicated combination of beleaguered party ed from 1893 to events,” Lombardi said. “They can still claim at rise and fall in cycles.”

1980. least one advanFormer Tigers coach Paul D a v i d tage — football.

Treen’s ascension Dietzel — famous for heading The LSU to the governor’s the 1958 National Championfootball team has office in March ship team — recalled Earl Long, had a better winJohn Lombardi 1980 was the Re- three-time Democratic governor ning record under LSU System president, publican Party’s and brother of the even more fathe watch of Demsports history professor first gubernatorial mous Huey P. Long. ocratic governors “Uncle Earl was, shall we victory since the than Republican governors, counting all seasons Reconstruction era, breaking the say, a little unusual,” Dietzel said. “Earl was very active, but Democrats’ long-held grasp. dating back to 1893. he wasn’t parSecond, critIncluding Saturday’s win ticularly interagainst Arkansas, the team’s ics can point ested in football. overall record is 709 wins, 386 to former Gov. He wasn’t like losses and 47 ties — a winning Buddy Roemer, Huey.” who switched his record of .641.

UnfortunateSeparated by Democratic party affiliation ly for Democrats, governorships and Republican from Democratic Lombardi said governorships in the past, the Ti- to Republican in governors are not gers have a .646 winning record the middle of his determining facunder Democrats and a .612 win- term, robbing the John Lombardi tors — especially GOP of two cruning record under Republicans.

LSU System president, because it’s in Wins acquired in transition cial football seapoliticians’ best sports history professor years were awarded to gover- sons. interests in both Third, Demonors serving in office during that cratic detractors might just credit parties to support the state’s flagyear’s season.

“I believe it’s true that not bad luck for the losses — current ship football team.

“What would be remarkable only do the Tigers play better Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal under a Democratic governor, has two seasons falling shy of a is if you found a governor who but they also tend to gain more BCS bowl, including the current tried to do away with a [football] yardage when running to the left one, under his belt. The 2007 program,” Lombardi said. side of the field,” said Bob Mann, BCS National Championship was political communications profes- awarded to Blanco, because she sor and former communications was in office during that season.

Contact Nate Monroe at John Lombardi, LSU Sysdirector for former Democratic tem president and sports history Gov. Kathleen Blanco. nmonroe@lsureveille.com

Losing seasons fall under Rep. governors

‘‘

‘What happens in big sports programs is ... they rise and fall in cycles.’

‘‘

‘What would be remarkable is if you found a governor who tried to do away with a program.’

loved that we were from LSU.” Carleton led the Lady Tigers at the regional meet with a season-best 6K time of 23 minutes, 15.5 seconds.

The Lake Charles native competed in the 800-meter and 1,500-meter runs, in addition to serving as leadoff leg for the Lady Tigers’ 4x800-meter relay team in the 2009 outdoor season last year.

Elliott said most of the cross country runners are best suited for long-distance events such as the 10K, 5K, 1,500-meters and steeplechase in track.

“You can’t quite expect [sophomore] Cullen Doody to come and run with Trindon Holliday in the 100 [meters],” he said.

Doody stepped up for the Tigers in the 2009 cross country season with their top three runners out for the year. He led LSU individually in every meet this season, including a season-best 8K time

of 26 minutes, 52 seconds at the Crimson Classic on Sept. 18.

Elliott said not all of the cross country runners will get an opportunity to compete and travel with the track and field team. Doody is one of several runners whose primary sport is cross country, he said.

They are often the exception at LSU. Elliott said the NCAA does not mandate a cross countryspecific scholarship.

“Basically, we chose to field our cross country team with a majority of our track guys,” Elliott said.

The 2010 indoor track and field season will begin Jan. 22 with the Purple Tiger Invitational in the Carl Maddox Field House.

Contact Jonathan Schexnayder at jschexnayder@lsureveille.com

Friday, December 4, 2009

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PAGE 10

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Friday, December 4, 2009

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Friday, December 4, 2009 VOLLEYBALL, from page 5

against Tulane provided the Green Wave with a lot of momentum.

Cooper feels the Tigers have the upper hand this time with home-court advantage.

“There’s nothing like playing on your home court,” Cooper said.

“You feed off the crowd, and you get that energy to get pumped and ready to go.”

While home-court advantage will be big for the Tigers, there could always be downsides to playing at home in the postseason.

The most notable of those downsides is a possible lack of focus while staying at home with the pressure of school and finals looming next week.

But LSU coach Fran Flory doesn’t feel that will be a problem for this year’s team.

“In the past, yes I would say that [playing at home] would be a problem,” Flory said. “But this team has been equally as good at home as they have been on the road. They are a very mature group. They get together and have as many team meals at home as they do on the road.”

Flory jokingly noted the team will just be happy to be in the comfort of their own beds.

“The only problem we’ve run into is that if the hotel is not exactly what we want, then those are the matches we haven’t played well,” Flory said. “Comfort level for our team is pretty big.”

Should the Tigers defeat Tulane, they would have a secondround matchup with the victor of

GRAHAM, from page 5

close with Graham when she was a student in his wife’s biology class at Ramsay High School.

“Katherine had a C in her class, and her mom came to open house,” Mosely said. “Her mom and my wife exchanged numbers.

Katherine didn’t like it at first because my wife was very demanding in the classroom. Katherine had to adjust as a freshman, but she graduated with a 4.0 and handled it all with humility.”

Mosely said Graham was a model student in other ways in high school, particularly when she was selected to represent Alabama on a trip to Washington to meet former first lady Laura Bush.

Graham said she still leans on Mosely for support today.

The Birmingham native averaged 15 points, eight rebounds and four assists per game under Mosely’s direction, leading the team to four state titles and a 126-13 record in that span.

“It was great because there aren’t that many teams who have consecutively won four state titles in Alabama,” Graham said. “Playing against top teams every year was great. [Mosely] had my best interests at heart, and everything he did was to prepare me for the next level.”

Now that Graham has been out of high school, she said she feels privileged to be part of the Lady Tigers’ basketball program — an emotion she experienced as soon as she walked onto the court.

“I’ve loved the whole opportunity to come to Louisiana and play

the Texas A&M (18-10) versus Arizona (19-10) matchup, which takes place before LSU’s match tonight.

Flory said both of those teams will present problems for LSU. “A&M has really rallied lately because they had a middle that was out for a while and with her they are a completely different team,” Flory said. “Arizona is a physical team. They are big, fast kids that play a different style. That first match is going to be great on Friday.”

FLORY, PLAYERS WIN SEC AWARDS Earlier in the week, Flory was announced as the Southeastern Conference Coach of the Year, her first such honor.

Flory guided the Tigers to an 18-2 conference record this year — an improvement from their 13-7 mark last year — and an outright SEC championship for the first time since 1991.

In addition, Cooper was named SEC Player of the Year, the first Tiger to win the award in program history.

The Houston native paced the league with a .390 hitting percentage and 1.32 blocks per set while ranking No. 7 in kills per set with 3.44.

Dabbs and senior outside hitter Marina Skender also picked up first-team All-SEC accolades.

Contact Andy Schwehm at aschwehm@lsureveille.com for such great fans and be a part of a great tradition,” Graham said.

LSU advanced to the Final Four in Graham’s first season before losing to Tennessee, 47-46, on a last-second layup.

“I would love for her to help the program get back to where it was when she arrived her freshman year,” Mosely said. “I felt like I lived it with her — the Final Four run and the star status with [Sylvia] Fowles and [Quianna] Chaney and those kids around.”

Graham started 25 games as a sophomore, missing only five after suffering a second-degree MCL sprain and bone contusion against UNO on Jan. 14.

She finished second on the team in rebounds per game (5.0), steals (1.6), assists (2.7) and minutes played (28.0), and she ranked fourth in points per game (5.5).

“My game has gotten better because I had to have mental stability to bounce back,” Graham said.

After graduation next year, Graham said she wants to stay involved at LSU as a graduate assistant or coach and pursue a possible master’s degree in business.

Mosely said he and Graham talk about five days a week, even during basketball season.

“I’m not going to say I’m her biggest fan because her folks are, but I’m right around there,” Mosely said. “You really don’t get those types of kids like Katherine who are selfless in this day and age.”

Contact Rachel Whittaker at rwhittaker@lsureveille.com

the LSU men’s basketball team.

“I pull for the basketball team, plans to embrace the icy sport during but I don’t start watching them unthe winter break. til like March Madness,” Lea said.

But LSU fans need something “Baseball, on the other hand, is a big to watch when they return in Janu- deal to me. I love the baseball team. ary. To the typical fan, spring sports Last year, I had season tickets with are all about baseball and basketball. my dad, so we made most of the Only Tymchak could name an- games.” other spring sport that isn’t a club Baynham also said he’s most sport. looking forward to watching the “I went to a track meet last baseball team in the spring, but he’ll year,” Tymchak said. “That was all try to make it to some basketball right.” games.

Baynham ventured a guess at For others, baseball takes a back soccer being a spring sport, but that burner to basketball regardless of reended in November. cent success.

Wes Ramos, engineering junior, “I went to a couple baseball said he used to get e-mails about vol- games last year, and I just find them leyball priority point games. Volley- very boring,” Tymchak said. “I ball also ends before students return watched games on TV when they next semester. went to the [College] World Series, But there should be sufficient but I like basketball better.” support for the defending national Tymchak said he’ll watch champion LSU baseball team and the basketball team more once

SPRING, from page 5

PAGE 11 Southeastern Conference foes enter the PMAC. “Basketball season should be fun,” Tymchak said. “Hopefully, we’ll be better than we have been the past couple years.”

Ramos, who played high school basketball, said he’s looking forward to the men’s basketball season but is somewhat pessimistic about the team’s chances.

“I haven’t been yet,” Ramos said. “I heard they’re not very good this year.”

Despite the criticism, Ramos plans to attend games when he returns from the break.

Other spring sports fans can follow after the break include women’s basketball, golf, tennis, gymnastics, swimming and softball.

Contact Rowan Kavner at rkavner@lsureveille.com

THE DAILY REVEILLE

Opinion

PAGE 12

Friday, December 4, 2009

FREKE FRIDAY

McTeigue’s films have praised visuals, inventiveness A Japanese gangster is getting his skin pierced and dyed for a ritual tattoo. Around him are members of his gang flirting with several loose women, while he winces in pain as the needle pierces skin. He turns in anger to the artist, threatens him with decapitation, then surrenders his back again to the procedure. Following the arrival of a mysterious letter for the Yakuza, the tattoo artist recounts his first encounter with ninjas when he was stabbed in the heart and yet managed to survive.

“Ninjas,” scoffs the gang leader.

The lights go out. The ladies scream as they watch limbs cleanly sliced from their bodies. Tempered steel weapons glide through air before connecting with flesh. Torsos drop to the wood-decked floors with a thud. There is no shortage of blood — furiously flourishing fountains of red spewing from leaking human faucets.

WEB COMMENTS

As usual, readers on our Web site, lsureveille.com, had a lot to say about the columns appearing in the Opinion section this week.

Commentors had this to say about Opinion Editor Matthew Albright’s column, “War on Christmas displays intolerance, cowardice,”: “Matthew, You’ve bought into a lie, dude.

Ask yourself: Who have you seen complaining that anyone said “Merry Christmas?”

The answer is NO ONE. A handful of people every year decide to say “Happy Holidays,” and Fox News and talk radio are all over it like stink on s**t. It gets them ratings to convince the gullible that motherhood and apple pie are under attack.

As a journalist, you should practice some skepticism about urban legends like the war on Christmas.

BTW, I’m not a Christian, and Merry Christmas.”

-Skeptic “Ridiculous. The only people fighting the War on Christmas are the ones who are aghast that there might be Jews, Muslims or (gasp) pagans breathing the same air as them. Not since Ebenezer Scrooge has anyone seriously objected to being wished a “Merry Christmas.”

-Daecon

One wouldn’t expect less from a film with “ninja” in the title. After all, if one doesn’t visit a convent to get a lap dance, why expect this nasty film to go against its nature.

The film is about an intrepid Europol agent (Naomie Harris) investigating a money-transfer pattern connected with a string of highprofile political assassinations. Once she tells her boss (Ben Miles) about her suspicions these deaths were the work of Ninja clans, they both discover the revelation might be too hot to handle. Meanwhile, the ninja clan has dispatched its crack henchmen to take care of the agent permanently.

It’s up to her and the boss to stay alive and bring down these clan of killers.

“Ninja Assassin” is directed

by James McTeigue (“V for Vendetta”), produced by the Wachowski brothers (“The Matrix” Series), features South Korean pop singer Rain and ninja film veteran Sho Ko-

sugi (“Revenge of the Ninja”). “V for Vendetta,” was an ably made, beautifully shot film, severely maligned because it deviated substantially from the source material by Alan Moore.

McTeigue addressed the power of ideas, the purpose of revolutions, as well as the fuel derived from simmering revenge.

Freke Ette We also had Columnist a film panned by critics in “Speed Racer,” for which McTeigue was a second unit director.

Based on the popular manga about a car racing family, the film focused on corruption in sports, familial support and the drive involved in competition. “Speed Racer” was a bouquet of splashy colors zipping across the screen as sports cars zoomed along the race track.

If there is a trend from these films mentioned above, it’s McTeigue being the recipient of an audience that praises his films for their visuals, but forget there’s a perceptive mind behind them.

Actually, the Wachowski brothers and McTeigue work within genres, infusing their work with a cross of populist appeal and arcane literary genres. A part of the story in “Ninja Assassin” deals with one ninja’s betrayal of his clan’s ideals — it has echoes of Confucian filial piety and Plato’s “Republic.”

In the “Republic,” Socrates devised a noble lie in which children are indoctrinated into believing they all came from the same Mother Earth. The lie created a community by emphasizing the sense of family.

By going rogue, the ninja had betrayed them and deserved to die.

The fight scenes were computer-generated fakery, but so was “300.” McTeigue proves inventive

with several of them. We don’t get to see any ninjas fighting during the first attempt on the Europol agent’s life — it’s illuminated with flashlight, and they’re too fast. Another time, the bunch of ninjas swarm the streets searching for the renegade.

The image of blackmasked men with swords impeding traffic on the interstate was outrageously ingenious.

“Ninja Assassin” won’t be winning any awards. Still it’s a movie that can be enjoyed, if you block your ears from supercilious critics and the film’s inert dialogue.

“Happy Holidays Matt, there is more than one being celebrated at this time of year, and if you can’t handle that keep it to your own intolerant self.”

-Ross F.

subtype of ADHD, and the formal diagnosis is ADHD, either with hyperactivity or without. They’d rather justify their drug-seeking actions by saying they find it difficult to concentrate on the material before an exam.

It’s called college, you idiots. Learn some discipline while your parents pay for your Venue apartment.”

-students are getting worse

Commentors had this to say about Staff Writer Ryan Buxton’s article, “Marijuana proven to slow effects of HIV,”:

hine. I also have chronic back pain and I think medical marijuana is better for you.”

-James Matthew PattersonS

“My name is James Matthew Patterson and I have a ruptured disc and 2 bulging discs in my lower back. I smoke pot to kill the pain, and i think that medical marijuana is better for you then taking norco ,vicodin,percocet,oxcycontin,morp

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

Commentors had this to say about columnist Scott Burns’ column, “Blagojevich scandal sheds light on white-collar crime,”: “I work for the state of Illinois and have first hand experience with how he led the state. I am not sure what you are reading and know you have no direct knowledge, so you should do more research before claiming it was politics as usual. I worked under the former Governor (who is in prison) also and he didn’t hold a candle to Rod. Rod is a sociopath who is so disconnected from reality that he may think he’s a good person and did what was necessary.”

-Patty Thompson

JERIT ROSER MATTHEW ALBRIGHT

Editor Managing Editor, Content Managing Editor, Production Opinion Editor

ERIC FREEMAN JR.

Columnist

MARK MACMURDO

Columnist

BEST AND WITTEST

“It also proves that the students who claim to have it did not even research the clinical definition and symptoms of it. During even a minimal search session for self-diagnosis, they’d find out ADD is only a

Editorial Board ELLEN ZIELINSKI

Contact Freke Ette at fette@lsureveille.com

But isn’t just the opinion columns that are stirring controversy.

Commentors had this to say on Contributing Writer Natalie Roy’s article, “Students report ADD as main study impediment,”:

THE DAILY REVEILLE NICHOLAS PERSAC

Freke Ette is a political theory graduate student from Uyo, Nigeria. Follow him on Twitter@ TDR_fette.

cartoon courtesy of KING FEATURES SYNDICATE

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.

QUOTE OF THE DAY “Education is what remains after one has forgotten everything he learned in school”

Albert Einstein theoretical physicist March 14, 1879 - April 18,1955

THE DAILY REVEILLE

Opinion

Friday, December 4, 2009

EAT LESS LEARN MORE

PAGE 13

Cap-and-Trade legislation needs more thought If you’ve walked past Johnston Hall, you’ve seen steam rising and heard noise coming from the “Power House.”

I knew nothing more than its noise and presence until this semester. I took a tour of the facility during on of my engineering classes and learned how prominent it is at LSU. Not only does it supply roughly 17-18 megawatts on a summer day, but it heats the majority of buildings on campus with steam created by the exhaust from the turbine. The power is like 2,687 hits from Chad Jones in one second (watch the most recent Arkansas game for reference). It’s impressive, but it also releases CO2.

Carbon dioxide emissions have increased worldwide since the industrialization of societies.

Burning fuels emits carbon dioxide — no one can dispute that fact.

Carbon dioxide in the atmosphere catches the infrared

waves of heat released from the earth, but it lets through the light from the sun, which heats the earth. Read physics and chemistry books for better understanding.

The immensity of these effects is debatable because of factors such as the enormity of the earth’s atmosphere, our lack of ability to measure all of that gas accurately and insertions of political motives.

But, if increasing CO2 in the atmosphere is bad, we should reduce its production.

I doubt many would argue damaging the earth is a terrific idea, but no one wants to pay an arm and a leg for — well, anything.

Cap-and-Trade is a concept I knew little about until a presentation in my engineering class, but I’ll get to that.

There are two basic approaches to financially forcing down carbon emissions.

The first is our government can tax companies’ carbon emis-

sions and use those revenues to alleviate the increase of cost of energy for average consumers with tax cuts on income or payroll.

The second is to have companies bid on the rights to emit allocated amounts of CO2. The government would also use these revenues to decrease the trickled down cost to us the consumers.

Matthew Lousteau Both stratColumnist egies would reduce carbon emissions, but in the second, the credits could also be given to companies who can sell them at 100 percent profit.

Congress just passed the second strategy without restricting free credits — you have to love special interest groups, right?

How does that relate to the Power House?

LSU invested $20 million to build our facility, reducing the amount of energy we bought from Entergy. The next few numbers are approximated, but they still make a point.

If before the Power House, LSU produced 10,000 pounds of CO2 per hour by heating the campus and bought its power from Entergy, who produced 40,000 pounds of CO2 per hour generating that power, LSU was responsible for 50,000 pounds of CO2 per hour entering the atmosphere.

Let’s say after the Power House was installed, LSU produced 20,000 pounds per hour and bought less power from Entergy who produced only 10,000 pounds per hour. LSU is now only responsible for 20,000 pounds, right?

Entergy wouldn’t agree. It’s producing a fourth of previous CO2 production. LSU doubled its production, and Entergy’s losing business.

But LSU made the capital investment! Ambiguity is awesome.

Because there is lack of clarity in assigning credit for emissions reductions, it’s very difficult to reward or penalize either party.

As far as Cap-and-Trade goes, LSU won’t feel its effects unless we change something in the future.

The policy is not retroactive, but if LSU waited just five years to get the Power House rolling, it would have changed a lot of decisions.

Slowing the planet’s increase in temperature is a great idea that will help the future of humans, but the legislation enabling it needs to be more clearly thought out.

Matthew Lousteau is a 20-yearold mechanical engineering junior from LaPlace. Follow him on Twitter @ TDR_mlousteau.

Contact Matthew Lousteau at mlousteau@lsureveille.com

VIEW FROM ANOTHER SCHOOL

Obama on right track with education policy

By The Editorial Board The Tufts Daily

MEDFORD, Mass. — The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, passed in February, allocated over $100 billion in federal funds toward reforming public education. In addition, since the United States has continued to perform poorly on internationalcomparison examinations in math and science, President Obama has announced the Educate to Innovate plan, a campaign to push science and math education. The campaign will focus on furthering science and math education outside the classroom and will seek funds from private companies and non-profit groups.

Though Obama is spending far more on education that his predecessor, President Bush, some are still criticizing the math and science program for not confronting problems with classroom teaching methods. Mark Schneider, a vice president at the American Institute for Research, a non-profit research organization based in Washington, D.C., stated, “I think a lot of this is good, but it is missing more than half of what needs to be done. It has nothing to do with the day-to-day teaching.”

Indeed, there is much more work to be done. But let us not forget that Obama is spending a record amount of federal funds on education under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. In an overview of the act issued by the White House, it was stated that $77 billion would go specifically toward “reforms to strengthen elementary and secondary education,” as well as toward improving

teacher effectiveness and accountability, supporting and improving low-performing schools and compiling data to better student education and teacher performance. All of these components of the plan are directly aimed at improving classroom education methods.

Furthermore, the Educate to Innovate campaign is bringing education from the classroom into everyday life. Private companies and public groups are creating programs to encourage children to continue their education outside of the classroom. According to the New York Times, “Discovery Communications has promised

to use two hours of the afternoon schedule on its Science Channel cable network for commercialfree programming geared toward middle school students. In addition there will be “a two-year focus on science on Sesame Street,” according to the report. This campaign promotes the idea that education, specifically science and math education, is not and should not be restricted to school, but should be a part of children’s daily life.

Obama is coupling the Educate to Innovate campaign with a government-funded program called “Race to the Top,” which

also targets math and science education. Race to the Top is essentially a competition between states for a slice of the $4.65 billion allocated to the program.

States are to submit innovative education-reform ideas to the federal government, and the Department of Education will divide up the money between the states according to the quality of their plans. States that emphasize math and science education will receive extra points.

Obama has undeniably put a hefty emphasis on education, and he is pooling all of his resources to create complex,

broad-sweeping education reform. Obviously, Obama cannot fix America’s education system only with reform bills, but combining government funds with the support of the private sector is an effective start toward reshaping the United States’ education system, leveling the playing field for America’s underprivileged youth population and bringing the country to the level of its foreign competitors.

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

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Friday, December 4, 2009

THE DAILY REVEILLE WICKES, from page 1

“You start to think back to the thousands and thousands of kids in band over the decades.” Wickes said.

“They are middle-aged now, and they have kids in the band.”

The head band director has been a stable position for 30 years, but the band surrounding it has seen a litany of expansions and accomplishments under Wickes.

Often overshadowed by Tiger Band, the University’s concert bands have also evolved under Wickes’ direction.

Wickes said the concert band played only in the spring when he arrived. Since then, he expanded the program to include three bands during the fall and spring semesters.

The end of Wickes’ tenure presents questions for the future of Tiger Band.

A search committee will fill

FILM, from page 1

percent with an additional 5 percent for hiring Louisiana labor.

“We have seen a steady increase in activity since the end of the session, and quite honestly, it has been going strong ever since,” Stelly said.

“We are looking to end the year strong, but we are looking at a 2010 that is going to be record-breaking.”

Stelly said the interest in filming in the state points to a record-breaking 2010.

The Warner Brothers film “The Green Lantern” is the largest-budget film scheduled to shoot in Louisiana in 2010 so far.

Just off Airline Highway is the 23-acre Celtic Media Complex, which is currently the heart of film in Baton Rouge and the largest film studio in the state.

VIOLATION, from page 1

contract states he has “an obligation personally to comply with and to exercise due care that all personnel and students subject to his direct control or authority comply with governing athletic rules,” LSU

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Wickes’ position with an artistic director in charge of the top concert group with no authoritative connection to Tiger Band.

This leaves Associate Director of Bands Linda Moorhouse — who has been at the University for 25 years — the choice to either continue as associate band director and control Tiger Band or make herself a candidate for head band director with no control of Tiger Band.

Moorhouse did not return calls from The Daily Reveille by press time.

“She is maybe one of the best if not the best marching band clinician for the college level in the country,” Wickes said. “That’s why Tiger Band is as good as it. If she is the person to take the Tiger Band, the Tiger Band will be in great shape as long as she is in charge.”

But Wickes’ connection with the band will not end when his

retirement becomes official in June.

“I’ve pretty much given my whole life to the band program here,” Wickes said. “We are real band directors involved 100 percent of the time with LSU ... I probably have more information about the band than anyone, and before I lose [my mind], I want to get some of that down somehow.”

Wickes said he wants to begin compiling the history of the last 50 years of Tiger Band from scrapbooks he has assembled during the last 30 years along with attending LSU football games.

“I’m a sports fan,” Wickes said.

“I am going to stay here. Hopefully they will let me have a guest ticket where I can sit near the band and maybe come down the hill.”

The media center — originally meant to be Master P’s production studio — boasts five studio stages ranging up to 30,000-square feet that can provide a quiet, climatecontrolled set for films like “Battle: Los Angeles” to build massive filming sets to shoot on.

Harper said the combination of tax incentives, the state’s film commission and the quality of facilities in the state made Louisiana more attractive than Georgia and New Mexico when “Battle: Los Angeles” was scouting filming locations.

“The state has great prospects,” Harper said. “You have the tax incentives that are strong here, and each year the crews are becoming deeper and deeper. You can get equipment here, you can get grip and lighting, you can get trailers, you can get everything you need here. So you guys

are on the right path.”

Louisiana was boasting about $10 million in film production per year before the inception of the tax incentive program in 2002 for films, Mulhearn said.

Since then, the film industry has seen more than $2 billion in project investment with about $1.5 billion being left in the state, Stelly said.

“To be honest, had the legislature not upped it and made it permanent, there is a good chance this place would be sitting empty right now,” Mulhearn said. “But now there is a sense of permanency, and we are seeing more and more people uprooting themselves from California and moving here.”

Chancellor Michael Martin released a statement Tuesday saying Miles’ job will not be affected by the alleged violations.

“This situation has absolutely zero impact on the employment contract of coach Les Miles,” Martin said in the statement. “He has

been highly cooperative in this matter and from the earliest stages has actively participated in the process of resolving this situation.

Contact Xerxes A. Wilson at xwilson@lsureveille.com

Contact Xerxes A. Wilson at xwilson@lsureveille.com

Contact Rachel Whittaker at rwhittaker@lsureveille.com

Friday, December 4, 2009

THE DAILY REVEILLE

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