MUSIC: Bassnectar discusses his current tour, fan appreciation, p. 13
FOOTBALL: Muncie making a name for himself, p. 9
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Stately Shock
photos by CATHERINE THRELKELD / The Daily Reveille
[Left] University arborist Blane Tullier installs copper wire Wednesday in live oak trees in the Quad to protect them from lightning strikes. [Below] Lightning struck a live oak tree in the Quad likely during Hurricane Isaac.
Copper put in trees to protect from lightning
FUNDING
Athletic, academic spending gap grows Chris Grillot Staff Writer
of fertilizers and nutrients took place as well. Ingram and students passing by craned their necks to watch as Tullier was lifted into the canopy of oaks in front of Himes Hall. The boom lift maneuvered him carefully through the branches until it was impossible to go further without breaking limbs. Then, Tullier got out of the crane’s box and climbed to the highest point of the oak. The branches teetered above the Quad while students observed his pair of work boots and gold hardhat with “LSU” emblazoned on the front. “The lift obviously can’t reach everything,” Tullier said. “I have to go up.” Ingram said the crew spiked thick copper wire from “the highest part of
While Southeastern Conference athletics spending soars above academic spending and states continue to slash budgets, the LSU Athletics Fund Transfer Policy should be seen as a positive step forward and not a bailout for the University, according to Amy Perko, executive director at the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics. Since 2008, $102.22 million, or 43.6 percent, has been cut from the University’s state-appropriated funding, causing the University to raise tuition among other initiatives to balance its budget. During the same time, the LSU Athletics budget has increased from $75.8 million in 2008 to $96.2 million in 2012 — a nearly 27 percent increase. Under the policy approved Sept. 7, LSU Athletics will donate
OAKS, see page 8
FUNDING, see page 8
Danielle Kelley Contributing Writer
The University is taking preventive measures to keep true to the Alma Mater’s line about “stately oaks.” After lightning recently struck a live oak planted in the Quad, likely during Hurricane Isaac, Facility Services sent Arborist Blane Tullier and Horticulture Attendant Bryce Ingram to install lightning rods in the oaks. The tree, endowed in honor of Charles E. Severance Sr. and Winifred Loudon Severance, is located in front of Coates Hall with a visibly deep vertical gash in its trunk. The lightning cut is about 10 feet in height and one foot wide. Brown, crunchy leaves hang by its branches, falling to the ground with the light breeze. In an effort to save the tree, a hose was placed around its roots, constantly supplying it with water. Ingram said a “deep root injection”
Thursday, September 27, 2012• Volume 117, Issue 24
TRAFFIC
Turning lane, signal to be added to Burbank Ben Wallace Senior Contributing Writer
Burbank Drive between Nicholson Drive and the median just past Jennifer Jean Drive will soon have a new traffic light and a left-hand turning lane, said Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development spokeswoman Lauren Lee. The city requested a new light at the intersection of West Parker Boulevard and Burbank for smoother traffic flow, Lee said. DOTD will remove the traffic signal at East Boyd Drive and Burbank, cycle on the West Parker light and begin re-striping Burbank during either the University’s 2012 winter break or 2013 spring break to avoid peak traffic times, Lee said. “It will be done during the weekend with minimal lane
closures,” she added. Local business owners said they hope the left-hand turning lane will cut down on the amount of traffic accidents on the regularly congested stretch of road. “There’s usually a good bit of accidents at the East Boyd light,” said Izzo’s Illegal Burrito general manager Patrick Foy. Foy said drivers wishing to turn left off Burbank will often speed into the intersection trying to beat the light since it doesn’t have a left-hand turning signal. “They’ve been sitting there for like 10 minutes, so they try to beat the light, and they get hit by someone,” he said. Robyn Kirkland, the assistant manager at the Circle K on Burbank, has seen the same issues at the East Boyd intersection.
“It takes 10 or 15 minutes just to get down [East Boyd],” Kirkland said about drivers attempting to turn left from East Boyd onto Burbank. Once DOTD removes the East Boyd traffic signal, stop signs will take its place along the two-lane road, Lee said. One option engineers have considered is prohibiting left-turns from East Boyd once the stop signs are up, and forcing drivers to turn right onto Burbank, Lee said. “It all has to be done at once in order to work,” she added. Although the state will fund the construction, the city of Baton Rouge will maintain the traffic signals once they’re up and running, Lee said. Contact Ben Wallace at bwallace@lsureveille.com
RICHARD REDMANN / The Daily Reveille
Street light poles were recently installed on the corner of Burbank Drive and West Parker Boulevard. The project also invovles adding a turn lane to Burbank.