The Daily Reveille - March 26, 2013

MUSIC: Trailer Hounds to perform at The Library at Northgate, p. 9

BASEBALL: Katz’s grandfather inspired his talent, p. 5

Reveille The Daily

www.lsureveille.com

The Lowedown

Tuesday, March 26, 2013 • Volume 117, Issue 114

Sports information director reflects on 25 years with Tigers Chris Abshire Senior Investigative Reporter

ANGELA MAJOR / The Daily Reveille

LOWE, see page 4 Kent Lowe, senior associate sports information director at LSU, has worked in the Athletic Department for 25 years.

STATE

ADMINISTRATION

Tuition won’t fix Alexander energizes lost appropriations reorganization efforts Alyson Gaharan Staff Writer

Although the LA GRAD Act was originally intended to function as a benefit to universities that met certain graduation requirements, it’s more of a burden than a reward for improving performance, higher education leaders say.

Colleges and universities that meet the GRAD Act’s performance goals are granted authority to raise tuition by up to 10 percent, allowing schools to bring in more revenue, which leaders thought would be a reward of

Board to discuss requests Wed. Staff Reports

When LSU’s NBA stars like Shaquille O’Neal, Glen “Big Baby” Davis or Marcus Thornton return to campus, there is one man they seek out.

They find Kent Lowe on the fifth floor of the Athletic Administration Building, where the senior associate sports information director has worked for 25 years on the men’s basketball beat.

“Those guys may be famous, but they ain’t Kent-famous,” said sophomore point guard Anthony Hickey.

“He’s seen them from being kids to being stars.”

He’s been the fixture in a volatile quarter-century for LSU basketball, as four coaches, NCAA sanctions and dozens of NBA players have come and gone.

At the center of the now-calming

Students could pay 10 percent more

LAWSUIT

Alyson Gaharan

sorts for improving performance.

However, when the 2014 fiscal year budget was proposed, the same amount of money institutions could earn from the act had been removed from their respective general funds, which leaves the University further from where it started.

For LSU A&M, a 10 percent tuition increase would produce an expected $25,485,000. This price tag, however, is not the amount of money that would actually go toward students’ education because the University can only collect about 80 cents of every dollar it receives because of scholarships and among other programs that cause students to pay slightly different amounts to the school.

The recommendation of President Designate F. King Alexander has brought renewed energy and direction to the University reorganization process that ultimately hinges on the leadership of the LSU president, said SSA Consultant Christel Slaughter.

An external opinion by a visionary leader is what the Transition Advisory Team has been looking for, and knowing who that leader will probably be makes the reorganization concept more meaningful and real than ever before, Slaughter said. “[Alexander] is going to be able to bring his own thoughts to

TUITION, see page 3

REORGANIZATION, see page 3

Staff Writer

RICHARD REDMANN / The Daily Reveille

LSU System President Designate F. King Alexander answers questions March 21 in the Union Theater.

Under the threat of lawsuit, the LSU Board of Supervisors will respond to multiple public records requests seeking LSU presidential candidates’ identities at a special meeting Wednesday.

Daily Reveille Editor in Chief Andrea Gallo originally told the Board and other parties involved on March 18 they had a week to seek Attorney General Buddy Caldwell’s opinion on the matter or face legal action. The Board asked for a twoday reprieve Monday so it can discuss its response in an executive session at Wednesday’s meeting, said Scott Sternberg, Gallo’s attorney.

“They’ll probably meet to discuss if they should request an attorney general’s opinion, grant our original public records request and whether they think our threat of litigation is serious, which I assure them it is,” Sternberg said.

The Board will not disclose exactly what will be discussed Wednesday because its attorneys will be involved, according to Shelby McKenzie, LSU lead legal counsel.

“It will be an opportunity for the Board to discuss the situation with its attorneys,” McKenzie said.

A vote to approve LSU President Designate F. King Alexander’s appointment is also expected Wednesday.

Gallo’s public records request was originally denied because the search was funded by private dollars, following a similar denial handed to The Advocate in February.

“If they decide to release the names on Wednesday, then I would say this whole thing should blow over pretty quickly,” Gallo said.

The Society of Professional Journalists and the Student Press Law Center have also been paying attention to the potential legal action.

“We’re not the only ones in this game. There are other media organizations out there that are taking a very hard look at what they’re doing,” Sternberg said.

Contact The Daily Reveille’s news staff at news@lsureveille.com; Twitter: @TDR_news

The Daily Reveille

page 2

INTERNATIONAL Haiti splashes slum with psychedelic colors, inspired by well-known artist PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — One of Haiti’s biggest shantytowns, a vast expanse of grim cinderblock homes on a mountainside in the nation’s capital, is getting a psychedelic makeover that aims to be part art and part homage.

Workers this month began painting the concrete facades of buildings in Jalousie slum a rainbow of purple, peach, lime and cream, inspired by the dazzling “cities-in-the-skies” of wellknown Haitian painter Prefete Duffaut, who died last year.

Belgium’s chocolate stamps offer postage for people with a sweet tooth BRUSSELS (AP) — Feel like having chocolate at Easter in Belgium? Well, send a letter and really lick that chocolate-flavored postal stamp.

The Belgian post office released 538,000 stamps on Monday that have pictures of chocolate on the front but the essence of cacao oil in the glue at the back for taste and in the ink for smell.

Belgian stamp collector Marie-Claire Verstichel said while the taste was a bit disappointing, “they smell good.”

Nation & World

DIEU NALIO CHERY / The Associated Press

Homes painted in bright colors cover a hill March 21 in Jalousie, a cinder block shantytown in Petionville, Haiti.

Israelis get kosher cigarettes for Passover for first time in history JERUSALEM (AP) — Observant Jews in Israel craving a smoke during the weeklong Passover holiday that starts at sundown Monday can now enjoy a rabbiapproved puff.

It’s the first time cigarettes have joined the long list of goods stringently checked to ensure they comply with Passover rules on what items are allowed, or kosher for the holiday — meaning they have not come in contact with grains or other forbidden ingredients.

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

NATIONAL

STATE/LOCAL

Woman gets prison time in ‘total identity theft’ of Texas teacher

Weekly unemployment claims drops to lowest level since March 2008

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — For almost 12 years, a Houston elementary school teacher and an illegal immigrant living in Topeka have engaged in a tug of war to claim the identity of Candida L. Gutierrez.

On Monday, the real Candida L. Gutierrez saw her identity thief, Benita Cardona-Gonzalez, for the first time. Their encounter came inside a federal courtroom in Wichita, where Cardona-Gonzalez, a Mexican national, was sentenced to 18 months in prison for possessing fraudulent identification documents.

Girl, 9, braves cold and coyotes, walks to get help after crash kills dad

Man gets 18 years in Seattle terror plot to attack military complex

(AP) — First-time claims for unemployment insurance in Louisiana for the week ending March 16 decreased from the previous week’s total.

The state labor department figures released Monday show the initial claims dropped to 1,889 from the previous week’s total of 2,860. This is the lowest level since March 22, 2008, when initial claims were at 1,862. A decrease in the construction, health care and social assistance sectors contributed to the lower overall numbers.

Initial claims were below the comparable week a year earlier at 2,830.

SEATTLE (AP) — A man who plotted to attack a Seattle military complex with machine guns and grenades was sentenced on Monday to 18 years in prison.

Abu Khalid Abdul-Latif, 35, also was ordered by U.S. District Court Judge James L. Robart to be supervised for 10 years after his release.

Abdul-Latif, also known as Joseph Anthony Davis, pleaded guilty last December to conspiracy to murder U.S. officers and conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Lessons learned from Hurricane Sandy about how best to limit damage to buildings closely track those of Katrina, a federal engineer said Monday.

John Ingargiola, a structural engineer for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said the final report on Sandy is scheduled in the fall. But FEMA is releasing seven advisories for rebuilding and minimizing future flood damage for new construction.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Braving the cold and coyotes, 9-yearold Celia Renteria crawled out of a steep Southern California canyon and walked in the desert darkness to summon for help after crash.

With temperatures dipping into the 40s, she hiked through rugged terrain to a nearby home. No one answered. Then she hiked up the rocky embankment and along the road to a commuter rail station where she flagged down a passing motorist.

When officers responded, they found Celia’s father, Alejandro Renteria, 35, dead.

PAT SULLIVAN / The Associated Press

Texas school teacher Candida Gutierrez is seen in Houston on Oct. 4, 2012. Benita Cardona-Gonzalez is an illegal immigrant accused of assuming Gutierrez’s identity.

Hurricanes offer similar lessons for builders, according to FEMA engineer

Weather

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POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

on stands April 8

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The Daily Reveille

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Students wary of new election Many neglected to vote out of apathy, lack of trust What do you think about the STUDENTS recent election and controversy RESPOND: surrounding it?

Haley Riley psychology freshman

William Acosta history freshman

‘Everything that has happened in SG lately has tarnished its reputation.’

Kailan Age

‘Either way this goes, nothing I say is going to matter anyway.’

chemical engineering freshman

‘Once an election has happened and it has been seen that a party did something wrong, it changes the way the general public perceives that organization.’

sports administration sophomore

Kayler Varmall

‘This is a big deal for the students that are involved in SG, but I don’t think regular students really care.’

political science freshman

graduation rate data and is in the process of submitting a report that “The legislature just said, will determine if the University ‘Well, if they’re getting the in- will meet the GRAD Act stancrease in tuition, we’re going to dard.

“Our analysis is that we’re take out the same amount,’” said Council for a Better Louisiana going to meet the standard for the President Barry Erwin. “So it GRAD Act and earn our autonomy,” Reeve said. doesn’t look like ‘They’re using the Reeve said a cut. They’re using the tuition as a tuition as a way to keep earning this autonomy would alway to keep from having to cut the from having to cut the low the University budget further, budget further, but it’s to raise tuition in the fall, although but it’s still a cut.” still a cut.’ no decision has The 2014 been made yet. fiscal year exBarry Erwin “We have to ecutive budget President, Council for a Better be granted the auprotects funding Louisiana thority and then to campuses and features no change in total fund- have to make the decision to do ing for higher education schools, so,” Reeve said.

Although the University has Michael DiResto, assistant commissioner for policy and commu- not officially raised tuition by 10 nications within the Division of percent, the budget assumes the University will make that move Administration, said in an email.

Erwin said although the bud- to produce the funds. If the Uniget does not appear to have re- versity does not raise that money ceived a cut, the tuition swap is by increasing tuition, it would esstill a cut, regardless of what oth- sentially be even more of a cut, said Director of External Affairs ers might say.

“The reality is that despite Jason Droddy.

“Students should expect a 10 doing that, things are going on like increased mandated costs, in- percent increase in their tuition to creased retirement and healthcare offset these budget cuts,” Erwin costs,” Erwin said. “Even though said. “In most schools you’ll see it looks dollar-for-dollar when the 10 percent being added if they you’re taking a certain amount hit their GRAD Act target.”

Students should get used to and adding a certain amount, it doesn’t cover those increased the reality of taking on a greater costs the universities must under- role in paying for their education while the state assumes less write.”

Vice Provost for Academ- responsibility every year, Erwin ic Affairs Gil Reeve said the said.

“According to Board of University has analyzed the

TUITION, from page 1

Taylor Trepagnier

‘Everything going on lately has harmed SG’s reputation.’

Regents documents, in fiscal year 2006-2007, state support for higher education for four-year schools was 67 percent, and the student portion was 33 percent.

Now that’s totally flipped. Right now, the state pays 34 percent and students, technically self-generated funds, are at 66 percent,” Erwin said. “Basically you’ve gone from two-thirds one way to twothirds the other way. And this is a fast turn-around.”

LSU System CFO Wendy Simoneaux said this use of the GRAD Act is contrary to the act’s original purpose.

“The GRAD Act was not meant to supplant state support.

It was meant to give our institutions more funding,” Simoneaux said. “We thought the intention would be to help, but this funding method is really contrary to the intent. Why they did that and who did that, you’d have to ask them.”

Contact Alyson Gaharan at agaharan@lsureveille.com

page 3 REORGANIZATION, from page 1

the mix,” Slaughter said. “When he sees our skills and where we’re lacking, he can help figure out what our priorities should be and where to direct resources.”

Slaughter said this new perspective is essential to the process that officially began with the Transition Advisory Team kickoff meeting Jan. 8, which has grown since then to include five subcommittees, a Legal and Regulatory Advisory Group and six task forces that, together, total a team of about 100 who have been working to discern the best direction for the University.

“We’re excited to hear about what his vision is and what he wants to focus on,” said Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Stuart Bell. “I think he’s going to be listening to the students and different campuses about how they see our current situation.”

Alexander said he expects to assume the presidency the first week of July, amid the reorganization and a challenging budget situation that has spread the University’s resources thin.

Prioritizing students, research and public service are just a few of Alexander’s focuses when it comes to the reorganization, but he also said the University and state administration need to work together to increase the University’s status as a valuable state asset.

Alexander said higher education can be a force that creates opportunities and improves the state economy by producing graduates with degrees who will contribute

to the Louisiana workforce. This plan will help the state regain some ground it has lost in recent years, he said. “[The reorganization] has a lot of potential,” Alexander said.

“I think we should work together to address weaknesses.”

Alexander said thriving higher education can contribute to the Louisiana economy and vice versa.

“A rising tide lifts all boats,” Alexander said.

Although Alexander doesn’t have a specific vision yet, he said he is excited to learn as much as he can and be a part of the process.

Slaughter said Alexander’s ideas will provide a fresh perspective for the Transition Advisory Team.

“When you get hired as a new president like this, you have an advantage because you’re coming from the outside and aren’t locked into any framework about how things need to be,” Slaughter said. “It allows you to think big and broadly about what the University could be.”

Bell said he was excited to work with Alexander and usher the University into a new chapter of success, despite the challenges that lie ahead. “[Alexander’s] success will lend itself to the challenges and opportunity that we have,” Bell said. “There are a lot of moving parts right now, but we’re going to work together.”

Contact Alyson Gaharan at agaharan@lsureveille.com

DO YOU HAVE AN OCCURRENCE? Call Sam at the Student Media Office 578-6090, 9AM- 5PM or E-mail: admanager@tigers.lsu.edu

page 4 LOWE, from page 1

storm sits Lowe, a behind-thescenes liaison who has achieved a trace of inadvertent fame thanks to the Internet, the same medium that has overhauled his job in the last decade.

His face — squirrely but charismatic, once mustachioed but always spectacled — is printed on a T-shirt that made rounds among media outlets as far away as the California coastline.

It was plastered on a poster in the student section for LSU’s home finale against Ole Miss.

That mug is annually carved into a Halloween pumpkin that greets visitors to the Athletic Department’s fifth floor. A photo of it was shared on Twitter last October to throngs of giggles.

But the man Shaq labeled “the sexiest man in Baton Rouge” isn’t interested in glamour at the moment.

Two hours before LSU’s exhilarating 97-94 triple-overtime win against Alabama last month, Lowe was doing the grunt work.

He was preparing stat sheets, monitoring arena preparations and juggling demanding broadcasters while awaiting ESPN College Gameday’s profile on LSU center Andrew Del Piero’s brassy past.

Seventy-hour work weeks and head-on-a-swivel responsibilities are now intrinsic to Lowe.

“It’s the nature of the

The Daily Reveille

As an only child, unmarried so-called beast,” he said. “I’m big on saying, ‘The show was and with both parents deceased, good tonight.’ Much of what we Lowe has become more “mardo is basically lowering the cur- ried to the job” because of the tain and presenting the show that moment’s-notice social media style. is the game.”

It’s only fitting because withThe job’s arduous requirements have aided Lowe’s propen- in the Athletic Department, Kent sity for cursing, extra-large Diet is kin.

The family talk isn’t lip serCokes, frantic hand motions and vice. Lowe is godfather to Ashigh blood pressure.

The wear and tear is seen in sistant Athletic Director Michael weary lines around his eyes and Bonnette’s youngest son, Max, heard through his rhythmic, peri- and a familiar face at Bonnette holiday dinners. odic sighs.

“I can’t even describe what There are brief moments when he thinks it’s time to move he means to me,” Bonnette said, on, to clear the way for someone who was a student worker for who hasn’t cut down a net after Lowe two decades ago. “Everywhere you go LSU made a Final Four, for a young- ‘Every morning I wake around the SEC, ster who wouldn’t up, the job still excites I’m asked, ‘How’s Kent doing?’ He’s even rememand challenges me.’ cared for by so ber legendary many.”

LSU coach Dale Kent Lowe And Lowe Brown.

LSU senior associate sports really treats his “There’ll be acquaintances as a time to relax,” information director family. For playLowe said. “Every morning I wake up, the job ers, he’s a respected father figure.

For younger co-workers, he’s the still excites and challenges me.”

That challenge has involved older brother or quirky uncle.

LSU Associate Sports InTwitter, Facebook and the like, all far removed from the crawl formation Director Bill Martin of information when Lowe first worked under Lowe as a student for five years. He has more Facestarted the job.

He’s slowly adjusted — an book pictures with Kent than any iPad is constantly by Lowe’s other person and calls him “my side — but it’s still a long way dad at work.”

“When I graduated from from the TeleRam-style computer that Lowe plugged into LSU [in 2007] and worked at a phone line to send stories 30 Florida, Kent checked up on years ago when he wrote for The me every week,” Martin said.

“He’s the first one with a text Shreveport Times.

Tuesday, March 26, 2013 of congratulations or support.

I can’t imagine this athletic department functioning without him. It would be very dull.”

Lowe, also an avid bowler and the women’s golf SID, said Lady Tigers coach Karen Bahnsen is “practically a sister” and always looking out for him.

That care didn’t work out so well once.

At LSU women’s golf tournaments, Lowe usually consumed Diet Cokes and cookies.

One round, Bahnsen pushed a healthier option: peanut butter crackers. Soon after, Lowe discovered he was allergic to seafood, blue cheese and, of course, peanuts. Bahnsen was his first phone call with the news, Lowe laughingly recalled.

Lowe is used to punchlines, especially from the minor fame he now enjoys. Some of it is good-natured ribbing, some of it admiration. None of it bothers him.

“Better to be thought of than ignored,” Lowe said. “It’s flattering. I’m easy to make fun of. I’ve got the poor fat man’s face with the bad teeth.”

First-year LSU coach Johnny Jones considers Kent “not just an SID, but a friend.” Jones’ hiring last April was a full-circle experience for Lowe.

Lowe, then a graduate student, covered Jones during his playing days in the early 1980s.

When Lowe accepted the men’s

basketball job in 1988, Jones was in the middle of a 12-year stint as LSU’s assistant coach.

“He’s been a bedrock of this program back to when Dale was here,” Jones said. “Kent’s seen it all.”

That is, until the Feb. 23 game against Alabama, when LSU stormed back from 10 points down, winning the first triple-overtime game in PMAC history.

As Lowe passed out stat sheets before the final period, everyone’s faces — from the players’ to the media’s to the fans’ — wore exhaustion. Except Lowe’s, which remained conspicuously calm.

Perhaps 10 years ago, a meltdown may have been imminent with such a tense game still undecided. Now, though, Lowe’s face was beaming, part childish joy and part parental pride.

“My job is the toy department of the world,” Lowe said.

“There are times it’s disgusting or devastating to write about something, but then there’s moments where you get to meet John Wooden or Shaq wears your glasses. I wouldn’t trade anything for the last 25 years. LSU and I have made a damn good life together.”

Contact Chris Abshire at cabshire@lsureveille.com; Twitter: @AbshireTDR

Sports

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

THE HIPPO FACTOR

RICHARD REDMANN / The Daily Reveille

LSU senior first baseman Mason Katz holds his baseball cap inscribed with inspirational words and phrases, including his late grandfather’s nickname, “Hippo.”

page 5

First baseman reflects WOMEN’S BASKETBALL on memories with late grandfather, ‘Hippo’ Mike Gegenheimer Sports Contributor

The glaring lights hovering ominously above Alex Box Stadium have watched LSU baseball seasons come and go.

They are filled with memories of the magic with which the grounds have become so entangled.

After the past four years, those guardian lights could tell the story of LSU senior first baseman Mason Katz and his journey through life on Skip Bertman Drive.

Or, the bill of Katz’s baseball cap could tell the stories the lights cannot.

Four sentiments are scrawled above Katz’s face each time he steps from the dugout: a cross, to symbolize his faith and spirituality; “Omaha 2013” to always remind him of the ultimate goal; “One team, one goal,” a motto used by the LSU baseball team; and finally, the name “Hippo.”

Before Katz’s inaugural season in purple and gold, tragedy struck the Katz family when Mason’s grandfather Maurice suddenly passed away from a heart attack.

Everyone who knew Maurice referred to him as Hippo.

“Unfortunately he passed before he was able to get to see me play here,” Mason said. “He was so proud of me, and he’d go around telling everybody. He was never shy about it. He’d go around telling everybody that his grandson was coming here.”

Mason’s father, Billy, described his late father as Mason’s biggest fan. Maurice never missed a game while his KATZ, see page 7

LSU faces Penn State in NCAA rematch Lady Lions won in second round in 2012 Bria Turner Sports Contributor

The NCAA second-round rematch tonight between LSU and Penn State in the PMAC may cultivate a sense of déjà vu for spectators, but for teams involved, everything has changed.

“The area is familiar, but we are two different teams now from last year,” said Penn State senior guard Alex Bentley. “LSU has changed, we have changed, so it’s a whole different ballgame now.”

LSU (21-11, 10-6 Southeastern Conference) suffered a 10-point loss to Penn State in the PMAC a year ago, where five Lady Tigers finished with double-digit scoring.

LSU couldn’t overcome Maggie Lucas’ game-high 30 points and being out-rebounded 49 to 35.

Bentley is right; LSU is a different team from a year ago. Since the tournament loss, junior forward Theresa Plaisance has emerged as an All-SEC standout and the Lady Tigers’ roster dwindled from 13 players to eight.

LSU coach Nikki Caldwell LADY TIGERS, see page 8

How far do you think the Lady Tigers will make it in the NCAA Tournament?

Vote in our poll at lsureveille.com.

BASEBALL

Tigers to meet Tulane on the road Chandler Rome Sports Writer

LAUREN DUHON / The Daily Reveille

LSU freshman pitcher Russell Reynolds (45) pitches the ball Wednesday during the Tigers’ 2-1 victory against Northwestern State University at Alex Box Stadium.

While Louisiana’s unpredictable weather may be throwing a curveball, LSU coach Paul Mainieri has been through the meteorlogical gauntlet.

Coaching 18 years in extreme cold weather environments at Air Force and Notre Dame, Mainieri isn’t fazed by the current cold snap affecting the state as his No. 4 Tigers travel to Turchin Stadium in New Orleans to take on Tulane at 6:30 p.m. tonight.

“It’s not the most fun thing in

the world to do,” Mainieri said.

“We’ve had an unseasonably cold early season in Baton Rouge. …

I don’t think our kids even think about the weather or worry about the weather.”

With a weekend series in frigid Columbia, Mo., awaiting LSU (22-2, 5-1 Southeastern Conference), tonight’s hourlong trip down I-10 serves as a frosty precursor against a traditional instate rival.

Freshman righty Russell Reynolds will start for the Tigers, facing off against Tulane southpaw and fellow Parkview Baptist alumnus Brady Wilson.

Reynolds, who fired five shutout innings while surrendering only three hits in a 2-1 victory against Northwestern State last Wednesday, will open his thirdstraight midweek game.

“It’s his ballgame,” Mainieri said. “As long as he’s pitching effectively and his pitch count is within a reasonable amount, he’ll be the pitcher. However far he can go will be great.”

Mainieri said he has no specific pitchers needing work tonight, leading to a longer leash on Reynolds, but his focus TULANE, see page 8

The Daily Reveille

page 6

MEN’S GOLF

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Tigers lead Hootie at Bulls Bay tournament

Second round play postponed Monday James Moran Sports Contributor

The No. 14 LSU men’s golf team leads the Hootie at Bulls Bay Intercollegiate after play was postponed due to darkness during the second round on Monday.

All five participating Tigers finished their two rounds with a combined score of 13-over 598.

That left LSU with a one-shot lead over No. 9 Duke, but six of the 15 teams in the field have yet to complete their second rounds.

Junior Andrew Presley shot 1-under 143 through two rounds to finish the day in third place after shooting 1-under 71 in the first

round and even-par in the second round. He is one stroke behind North Carolina State junior Albin Choi and Duke freshman Mads Soegaard.

Sophomores Stewart Jolly and Curtis Thompson are tied for 16th after finishing the day at 5-over.

Freshman Zach Wright is one stroke behind them at 6-over, good for a tie for 20th overall.

Sophomore Myles Lewis posted rounds of 6-over and 3-over to finish the day in a tie for 35th.

The second round will resume at 7:30 a.m. today. with the final round scheduled to begin immediately afterward.

Contact James Moran at jmoran@lsureveille.com

TAYLOR BALKOM / The Daily Reveille

LSU junior Andrew Presley putts Oct. 7, 2012, at the David Toms Intercollegiate at the University Club Golf Course.

The No. 14 Tigers currently lead the Hootie at Bulls Bay Intercollegiate tournament after the second round was postponed Monday.

SOFTBALL

LSU hopes to rebound after loss Spencer Hutchinson

LSU

Sports Contributor

After ending its nine-game winning streak Sunday with a 4-1 loss to South Carolina, the LSU softball team will be back to work today attempting to start another streak.

The Tigers (27-6, 7-2 Southeastern Conference) will meet in-state opponent Southeastern Louisiana (18-10, 5-4 Southland Conference) in a midweek matchup at 6 p.m. in Tiger Park, as they attempt to rebound from their second SEC loss of the season.

The No. 13 Lady Tigers enter a two-week hiatus from their SEC schedule, with their next conference series not coming until a trip to Arkansas beginning April 5. But in the meantime, LSU will take on a gauntlet of non-conference opponents including newly ranked No. 25 South Alabama and Atlantic Coast Conference foe Florida State.

“These midweek games are going to give us the momentum for our next series,” said freshman catcher Kellsi Kloss. “We have Arkansas in two weeks, and we need to get ready for that. We just need to get some runs on the board for sure, and our pitching will be stellar.”

LSU took the first two games in its series with South Carolina last weekend, but the Tigers couldn’t complete the sweep, as the Gamecocks roughed up senior ace pitcher Rachele Fico with four runs. Fico received her fourth loss of the season and her first dropped decision in SEC play.

After Sunday’s loss, LSU coach Beth Torina said Fico is going to have poor outings

ORDER YOUR

MORGAN SEARLES / The Daily Reveille

LSU senior pitcher Rachele Fico pitches the ball Sunday during the 1-4 loss against South Carolina in Tiger Park.

sometimes, but when she does, the Tigers’ offense has to provide more run support for her.

LSU managed only one run in support of Fico, but the Tigers missed multiple opportunities to add more, stranding seven baserunners throughout the game.

Capitalizing on similar opportunities will be key for the Tigers going forward, Torina said.

“All of us needed to pick [Fico] up a little bit, and we didn’t give it to her,” Kloss said. “Maybe that reflected on her a little bit.

But she always does good, and I know next time she’ll be coming right out and sitting them down.”

Southeastern enters today’s game having lost two of three in a Southland Conference series against league leader McNeese State. The Lady Lions are 1-17 all-time against LSU, and

they have never bested the Tigers away from home. The Lady Lions’ only victory against the Tigers came in 2007 in a 1-0 win in Hammond.

Despite LSU’s history of success against Southeastern, Torina said the Tigers can never take an in-state opponent lightly because they will always have motivation to topple the state’s flagship program.

“Everybody brings their A game when they come to play us,” Torina said. “We have a big bull’s-eye on our back when we play any [in-state] teams.”

Contact Spencer Hutchinson at shutchinson@lsureveille.com

yearbook TODAY lsugumbo.com

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

page 7

of fighting for playing time on a team fresh off a 2009 grandson played for Jesuit High national championship win.

Mainieri described Mason School in New Orleans, where Mason competed in a Louisiana as a humble superstar, a hard High School State Champion- worker on the field who only wants the best for his school and ship.

According to Billy, if Mason team.

“That’s the most important hit two home runs, his grandfaleadership of all,” ther would tell Mainieri said. people he hit 10. ‘[My grandfather] “He’s somewhat His family dewas so proud of me, vocal, but he scribed this as the “Hippo factor,” and he’d go around doesn’t have to be vocal to be a an exaggerated account from a telling everybody. He leader. He’s just dedicated grand- was never shy about it. one of those kids everybody loves parent.

“After every He’d go around telling because he works hard and he’s game, if I hit a everybody that his dedicated to the home run, he’d be like, ‘I knew grandson was coming team.”

The first you were going here.’ baseman and his to do that,’” Macoach said they son joked. “[If he Mason Katz occasionally enwere still alive] LSU first baseman gage in what he would act like it’s no big deal, but he’d be su- Mainieri called “very frank conper proud and tell me how fun it versations” about the pulse of the is being out here watching every team.

Mason applauded Mainieri day and how it’s a dream come true not only for me, but for him for his honest style of coaching even if the things he has to say as well.”

Maurice never got to see his aren’t what the player wants to grandson don a collegiate uniform like he did for his son who played in the outfield at Tulane, but Mason knows his late grandfather is watching him play from wherever he is.

Mason said he thinks about his grandfather every time he takes the field.

Billy said he believes his father would have been screaming for LSU coach Paul Mainieri to play his grandson more in his younger seasons and would be saying “I told you so,” now that Mason’s talents have fully bloomed.

While the team engages in a group prayer before each day, Mason takes a moment to talk to his biggest fan.

“I tell him I love him and I wish he could be here in person,” Mason said. “But I know he’s been watching over me for my whole career. … I can’t thank him enough for everything he did while he was here and everything he’s done for me in heaven. The influence he had on me and the support he gave me when I was growing up has driven me every single day.”

According to his father, Mason showed he was athletically gifted from an early age and had the makings of a leader while at Jesuit.

He participated in everything from hockey to football to golf — a sport his father said could have gotten him to college if not for his dedication to baseball.

But the future Tiger standout’s first love — much like his father — would always be baseball.

“We were ecstatic [when he got the offer],” Billy said of his son’s signing process with LSU. “It was his dream school. … Knowing [his grandfather], he probably said he signed with the Yankees instead of the Tigers.”

Once in Baton Rouge, Mason had the uphill battle

KATZ, from page 5

hear, and Mason said he’s never short to return the favor to his coach.

Mason attributes his work ethic in part to his grandfather, who he said was so proud of him that it makes him want to work harder each time he steps to the plate.

Mason’s senior season will be filled with lasts, and in a few years he will become a distant memory replaced by the newest group of athletes with their own stories to tell the stadium.

“It’s going to be sad,” Mason said. “I wish I could play here forever, but all good things come to an end, and hopefully my career ends with a win. I’ve had a fantastic career here and I could’ve never imagined playing anywhere else.”

But until the day the walls are brought to ground, the watching lights of Alex Box will store the memories of Mason and his grandfather.

Contact Mike Gegenheimer at mgegenheimer@lsureveille.com

3-25 ANSWERS

page 8 TULANE, from page 5

solely remains on winning the game.

The batting order, however, does need work as Mainieri looks for both a consistent leadoff hitter and right-handed designated hitter to battle against lefthanded pitching.

LADY TIGERS, from page 5

said the key to success against Penn State is forgetting everything about last year.

“We cannot play the way we did last year. We can’t rest on the fact that we could’ve, would’ve, should’ve,” Caldwell said. “We’ve got to totally erase last year and focus in on who we are today and who we will be [today].”

Last year’s team had five seniors, a 10-game winning streak and a runner-up finish in the SEC Championship Tournament. This year’s team lost three of its first four SEC games, but ended its regular season on a six-game wining streak that ‘This team included three has learned to wins against teams. play through top-15 Caldwell adversity, but compared her also to smack it current team to the Bad News back.’

Bears, sayNikki Caldwell ing it started LSU head coach off rough then came together and built confidence.

“This team has learned to play through adversity, but also to smack it back,” Caldwell said.

“That’s something that last year’s team didn’t have to do.”

Plaisance has given LSU diversity on offense with her 3-point shooting and her post game. Caldwell said Plaisance has evolved into one of the best post players in the nation.

Penn State coach Coquese Washington said Plaisance will be a problem to guard because of her versatility.

“She’s a matchup nightmare,” Washington said. “Just what she can do with her size at 6-5, shooting it from the outside, putting it on the floor, creating her own shot, creating for her teammates and then being able to score down low.”

LSU has played with only eight players for the past seven games, and after an injury to junior guard Jeanne Kenney, the Lady Tigers may be down to seven. Kenney is questionable to play tonight, but her ability to play is a gameday decision.

Washington coached Notre Dame to a national championship with only eight players, so she said she isn’t feeling sorry for Caldwell.

She said with all the small breaks that come in games, the number of Lady Tigers available won’t hold LSU back.

“With TV timeouts and timeouts you can take, I think having seven, eight people is plenty,” Washington said. “I don’t think it’s something that hinders you from being successful.”

Contact Bria Turner at bturner@lsureveille.com

Junior second baseman JaCoby Jones, replacing sophomore outfielder Chris Sciambra at the top of the order, struggled to a 1-for-13 performance in three of the Tigers’ last four games and was dropped in the order Sunday in favor of Sciambra.

“We just need to get that

The Daily Reveille [leadoff] situation solidified,” Mainieri said. “I’m really not 100 percent sure what I’m going to do yet.”

Tulane (14-12, 2-1 Conference USA), fresh off a series win against Memphis, is no stranger to SEC foes as it took two of three from Alabama in Tuscaloosa earlier this month.

Tuesday, March 26, 2013 The in-state matchup marked LSU’s first intercollegiate athletic event in 1893, the Tigers lead the Green Wave 174-125-3 all-time and took a 5-0 victory against the Wave last season behind eight shutout innings from Aaron Nola.

“I have the greatest respect for Tulane and their baseball

program,” Mainieri said. “It’s not a good program, it’s a great program. [The rivalry] is important for baseball in this state.”

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

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Entertainment

GIRL WARRIOR

“‘Girl Warrior’ is a very abstract term.

I think the best way to describe it is the everyday journey for a girl in her pursuit to feel beautiful and define that for herself,” Brandabur said.

Brandabur offers free photo shoots WARRIOR, see page 15

‘GIRLS,’ see page 15

-Courtney Brandabur, founder of ‘Girl Warrior’

MORGAN SEARLES / The Daily Reveille

Courtney Brandabur, psychology sophomore and founder of Girl Warrior project, takes photos of women to promote positive body images.

Student starts movement that seeks to create body positivity

Entertainment Writer

In a culture where a woman’s worth often stems from her appearance, where the media tends to represent only a fraction of the population’s body type as beautiful and where entire businesses flourish from

pointing out women’s physical “flaws,” it shouldn’t be baffling that so many ladies are insecure about being in their own skin.

Courtney Brandabur, psychology sophomore, is working to change that. In February, Brandabur launched a project titled “Girl Warrior: A Body-Positive Approach To Loving Your Beautiful Self.”

Why are people in love with ‘Girls’?

Since James Franco’s infamous Huffington Post response to the first season of “Girls,” there’s been quite a bit of criticism surrounding Lena Dunham’s awardwinning HBO series. Accusations of racism and unrealistic situations have surrounded the show.

REBECCA But, the real DOCTER question is, why Entertainment are the masses Writer obsessed with the disparaging concept of a group of postgrad women wallowing in selfpity?

It seems as though every character on the show plays the victim — Hannah can’t finish her book because she’s having an emotional crisis, Shoshanna can’t be with Ray because his career aspirations aren’t enough for her, Jessa has intense daddy issues and so on.

The victim card wouldn’t be so bad if the women of “Girls” would actually do something about their respective situations. If Dunham’s protagonist really wanted experiences to write about, she wouldn’t be sleeping with random men, doing lines of coke at night clubs and

‘... It is the everyday journey for a girl in her pursuit to feel beautiful and define that for herself.’

Taylor Schoen

page 9

MUSIC

New Baton Rouge band puts focus on live shows Trailer Hounds perform porch jams

Trailer Hounds makes an additional effort to make its music heard — through what it calls “Sunday Porch Jams.”

On Sundays around 2 p.m., the echo of funk fusion can be Rebecca Docter heard on the corner of State and Entertainment Writer Tula streets in Baton Rouge.

Trailer Hounds is a band that According to members of lives for live performances.

Trailer Hounds, this is the most Though the Baton Rouge effective way to get their music funk quartet beout there. Trailer gan only five Hounds wants to months ago, Trailer make sure everyHounds members one realizes its Corey Desselle, unique sound. l a Robert Holden, “We play muc Lo band light Joseph Lyle and sic that you never t o p S Chris Guillot have hear around here,” made it their misDesselle said. sion to get their bluesy tunes into But to get to that sound, Traillisteners’ ears. er Hounds had to go through some Rather than limit itself to traditional live shows at venues, TRAILER HOUNDS, see page 15

photos by MARIEL GATES / The Daily Reveille

[Left] Chris Guillot, keyboard player in the band Trailer Hounds, and [right] Corey Desselle, the band’s bassist, jam Sunday during a band practice. Check out a video of Trailer Hounds at lsureveille.com.

The Daily Reveille

page 10

EVENTS

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

MUSIC

Hip-hop, spoken word converge at The Library Mumford & Sons to play in NOLA

Samantha Bares

Entertainment Writer

“Rhyme & Reason: A HipHop and Spoken Word Showcase” will bring together two distinctive poetry communities Wednesday night at The Library at Northgate.

Co-host Joseph Coleman, a Baton Rouge producer and organizer, has been operating under the name Creative C.A.M.P. — “Connecting Arts Music and Poetry” — for a year.

Coleman organizes a monthly event called Champion Sound out of Club Culture on Oklahoma Street, which he described as a mixture of instrumental battles between local producers and an open mic night for up-and-coming emcees. Champion Sound also features an artist from the Baton Rouge and New Orleans area every month.

“I’m just a facilitator for the events I host. ... The goal is to

give everyone an outlet to express he perfected his craft through themselves and put something participating in the local scene.

Among other spoken word together for the Baton Rouge hiphop community, which is grow- events, like writing workshops, open mic nights and poetry slams, ing every day,” Coleman said.

Coleman said he looks up to Rose hosts weekly spoken word local spoken word poet and orga- events called “Soul’d Out Sundays,” at Gathering nizer Donney Rose, Bohemia on Governwho took him under Rhyme&Reason: ment Street. his wing almost two What: A hip-hop and The connecting years ago. thread between the Rose, Coleman’s spoken word showcase co-host, has been go- When: 9 p.m. Wednesday hip-hop and spoken word communities, ing by the name Soul Rose said, allows

by Demand since Where: The Library at Coleman and him to 2005, a name he says Northgate merge old and young explains his motivaHow much: $7 audiences and better tion. serve the community “There’s a demand of events that encompass at large.

“It seems like a natural union, a lot of creativity and energy ... something that you feel good seeing as emcees and spoken word artists have many similariabout coming to,” he said.

Rose, who has been writ- ties when it comes to performancing for 14 years, said he started es. I love the idea, and I can’t wait while studying marketing at to see it go down,” performer TraSouthern University. Without vis Pickett said of the event.

Pickett is using the any formal education in poetry,

event as a comeback from a three-year hiatus from writing and performing. Pickett has been writing since 2008, and a burst of creativity at the beginning of the year proved he is ready to delve into the spoken word scene once more.

He said spoken word and hip-hop performers share wordplay techniques like alliteration and onomatopoeia. Pickett said he would call both emcees and spoken word artists poets.

“Rhyme & Reason: A HipHop and Spoken Word Showcase” is the first event of its kind, and it starts at 9 p.m. Wednesday.

Admission is $7.

Watch a video from Poetry Tuesdays at Boudreaux & Thibodeaux’s at lsureveille.com.

Contact Samantha Bares at sbares@lsureveille.com

‘BioShock Infinite’ vindicates gaming THE NEW FRONTIERSMAN CLAYTON CROCKETT News Editor Today is a day of vindication for video game nerds.

If you’re tired of defending the artistic legitimacy of video games; tired of saying, “Trust me, this is different;” and tired of speaking to brick walls while explaining that video games are capable of communicating emotional and intellectually stimulating plots, today’s release of Irrational Games’s new entry “BioShock Infinite” is the turning point we’ve been waiting for in the dialogue surrounding the modern video game industry.

Creative director and cofounder of Irrational Studios Ken Levine is right when he says the

gaming market is flooded with inexpensive mobile games and cookie-cutter war shooters, and to coax a painful $60 out of a modern gamer, studios need to start offering something different — something polished and substantial in more ways than available weapons or expansion packs.

The studio’s first entry, “BioShock,” was praised for accomplishing what many thought was impossible for the medium: Not only did it feature a deep and developed storyline that before had only been seen in novels, but it nurtured an emotional connection by allowing players to directly react with their environment.

Like its successor being released today, the world of “BioShock” was rife with in-depth commentary on political philosophy and multiple subplots, as well as one of the most clever twists in gaming history. And it managed to raise serious discussion on the

photo courtesy of THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

This video game image released by 2K Games shows a scene from “BioShock Infinite.”

political, social and economic dynamics of capitalism — hence the cries of “Trust me, this is different.”

Holding the record for the best-rated game in its genre, “BioShock” set the bar extremely high for the new edition, “BioShock Infinite.” The best part is that reviewers are praising it as another game of immense political relevance and highly nuanced story-telling.

“This is the game video games were made for,” wrote Steve Farrelly of AusGamers, an Australian gaming news website.

“It’s a watershed moment for our industry, and I’d be hard pressed to tell you that anything that came before is better.”

It’s a watershed moment because these games will change the public’s perception of what video games are and can be.

When it comes down to it, the “BioShock” series aren’t exactly the games to begin with, if we can argue semantics. They don’t have multiplayer, and the only competitive aspect of the experience is simply staying alive and doing well in order to advance the plot, around which every other aspect of the experience rotates.

Games like these prove this medium is entirely capable of producing unique, deep and emotional impacts previously reserved for books and the film industry.

With more 10-out-of-10s than any game developer could hope to achieve in a lifetime, “BioShock Infinite,” tackling the highly relevant topic of political conservatism, religious intolerance and racism, will follow in the footsteps of its predecessor by providing the defense of the genre gamers have sought for years.

Clayton Crockett is a 21-year-old international studies senior from Lafayette, La.

Contact Clayton Crockett at news@lsureveille.com; Twitter: @TDR_news

Taylor Schoen Entertainment Writer

Local fans of Mumford & Sons can sigh no more — the indie folk band is coming to New Orleans this June.

The band announced plans for a summer tour on Monday, according to a news release.

The Summer Stampede 2013 tour includes a heap of stops throughout North America, including a gig in New Orleans.

The New Orleans performance will be June 13 at Mardi Gras World.

Michael Kiwanuka and Mystery Jets will be the supporting acts for all of Mumford & Sons’ headlining shows.

Tickets will be available at invitation.mumfordandsons. com, where fans can register for an invitation to purchase early tickets on April 5 for up to five shows along the tour, excluding festivals, the news release said.

Contact Taylor Schoen at tschoen@lsureveille.com

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

The Daily Reveille

page 11

The Daily Reveille

Opinion

page 12

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Republicans need to agree on something to win THE GEG STAND MIKE GEGENHEIMER Sports Contributor It took 97 pages of research for Republicans to figure out the GOP needs a makeover equal to one that would make Dick Cheney look like Kate Upton.

In the wake of losing its fifth presidential popular vote in the past six election cycles, Republicans finally saw the need to change their image — if they ever hope to win back the federal government — and the recent Republican National Convention “autopsy” report calls for just that.

Republicans are still pushing policies like it’s the Reagan era and hasn’t changed since the former president was behind the Resolute Desk 24 years ago.

If you don’t believe me, believe the Republican focus group that created the report that said the same thing.

Even the word “conservative” suggests a resistance to change.

Elected republicans have long been stereotyped as “out of touch” and “stuffy, old men.” After nominating John McCain and Mitt Romney in the past two elections, it’s hard to deny that.

According to the report, public

CHARLES DHARAPAK / The Associated Press

Republicans have been trying to change the party’s face since losing the 2012 presidential election.

perception of the party is at record lows.

“The Republican Party needs to stop talking to itself. We have become expert in how to provide ideological reinforcement to like-minded people, but devastatingly we have lost the ability to be persuasive with, or welcoming to, those who do not agree with us on every issue,” the report said.

In the past six presidential elections, four have gone to the Democratic nominee, at an average margin of 327 electoral votes to 211. During

the preceding two decades, Republicans won five out of six elections, averaging 417 electoral votes to Democrats’ 113.

But how does this report suggest Republicans repair their broken image?

Reduce the number of caucuses and debates.

Excuse me, what?

So now the RNC doesn’t want a proper vetting for the possible leader of the free world? Is it so afraid that fighting within its own party will bring down candidates?

The report wants Republicans to water down their campaigns and policies under the guise of claiming the main problem with is a lack of cohesion among candidates.

Basically, don’t talk too much because you might put your foot in your mouth, or worse, you might harm the party’s only chance of actually winning the election.

The report also suggests a complete facelift on how to approach policies during campaigns — something that enraged many staunch conservatives and will undoubtedly create more divides.

The main goal of the new policy push is to create a more inclusive party — to reach out to minorities and the LGBT community to prove Republicans don’t hate them.

This I actually agree with.

According to the report, Americans under 30 have begun using social issues like same-sex marriage as a sort of litmus test for their votes.

What a shock – Americans who don’t have much stock in fiscal policy put the majority of their trust in social issues, and in another 20 years, those same people won’t switch loyalties.

If Republicans continue to appear to be attacking minorities, soon no one with a heavy tan will vote for them.

However, not all right-wingers stand in line with the harsh report.

On his radio show, conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh claimed the reason for his party’s recent failures has been a lack of conservatism — citing the Tea Party as a model for the big-party picture.

“They think they’ve gotta rebrand, and it’s all predictable,” Limbaugh said. “They gotta reach out to minorities. They gotta moderate their tone here and moderate their tone there. And that’s not at all what they’ve gotta do. The Republican Party lost because it’s not conservative.”

Of course, the man who just dismissed the need to reach out to minorities also admits to not having read the report.

Republicans need a facelift.

Hell, all of Washington needs one.

It’s bad enough that our twoparty system has begun to fail us and nothing can get done, but now the individual parties can’t even agree on something.

Maybe that’s what Republicans need to do if they ever want to win back the White House: actually agree on something.

Mike Gegenheimer is a 20-year-old mass communication sophomore from New Orleans.

Contact Mike Gegenheimer at mgegenheimer@lsureveille.com; Twitter: @gegs1313

Debate over Proposition 8 based on biased agendas RUN TO THE MILLS LANDON MILLS Columnist Today, oral arguments will be heard by the Supreme Court over California’s Proposition 8 and the Defense of Marriage Act. Determining the outcome of these two is like trying to figure out what head football coach Les Miles is going to do when the Tigers are in a pinch. But to be fair to Miles, the Supreme Court takes months to make decisions, not minutes.

Proposition 8 was passed by the majority of California citizens in 2008 to define marriage as a union between one man and one woman.

This was met with lawsuits galore, unsurprisingly, and has resulted in a long and arduous process of appeals and claims of unconstitutionality.

The question about Prop 8 is whether the states have the right to declare and define marriage how they want.

Regardless of what the court decides, the case is observably a clash between legal boundaries and social sciences. Both sides offered up oral arguments and briefs for review by the justices.

The issue presented by conservative professors Leon Kass and Harvey Mansfield and the Institute for Marriage and Public Policy is “whether the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment prohibits the state of California from defining marriage as the union of a man and a woman.”

The strongest argument made

by Kass and Mansfield is over the dangerous nature of unreliable expert opinions made by social science and their threat to the legal system.

Opposition to Proposition 8 will use ideology masked by science and

The Daily Reveille Editorial Board

Andrea Gallo Emily Herrington Bryan Stewart Kirsten Romaguera Clayton Crockett Chris Grillot

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

inconclusive studies as support for repealing the law.

“Because it is seldom, if ever, possible for all relevant data to be accounted for, and thus for all but one of the logically possible alternatives to be falsified, scientific theories are in principle always subject to revision on the basis of new data or better measurements,” the brief states.

We also know social sciences and their statistics are prone to political milking.

For example, while proponents of same-sex marriage claim there is no reason a homosexual couple’s influence on a child would be negative compared with a heterosexual couple, there is no empirical evidence and few “statistics” suggesting they would have any benefit to the child. This is mostly because same-sex marriage is a relatively new concept. Traditional marriage, however, has ample evidence to support its stake both economically and

psychologically on the child, making it a viable case for the state to consider. California’s voting citizens recognized this.

Short story: The social sciences are often riddled with biased political agendas.

Instead of using inconclusive studies, the court should base its decision off the jurisdiction of the law and the 14th Amendment’s powers.

For DOMA, there is a challenge to the federal definition of marriage between one man and one woman as well as questions about the jurisdiction of the case. Because the U.S. government agrees that DOMA is unconstitutional, the Obama administration has not defended the act.

Since the act’s passing in 1996, public perception of homosexual marriage has changed drastically.

Fox News Contributor and former George W. Bush Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove said Sunday he could see the next GOP presidential

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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.

candidate supporting same-sex marriage in 2016 on ABC’s “This Week” with George Stephanopoulos. Rove made that statement based on Ohio Republican Rob Portman declaring his support of same-sex marriage.

You can attribute this to the “GOP” trying to move away from the old platform and adopt a newer progressive platform.

I guess the Libertarians had it right last election. If the conservatives were split between voting for moderate Mitt Romney, they might be in shambles when the GOP picks a nominee supportive of same-sex marriage.

Landon Mills is a 21-year-old international studies senior from Sunshine, La. Contact Landon Mills at lmills@lsureveille.com; Twitter: @landondeanmills

Quote of the Day

“Republicans have nothing but bad ideas, and Democrats have no ideas.”

Lewis Black American comedian and author Aug. 30, 1948 – Present

The Daily Reveille

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Opinion

page 13

LSU needs a strong leader who will fight to fix budget BWALLY’S WORLD BEN WALLACE Columnist The University badly needs a central leader — an innovator, an educator and a future legend — and President Designate F. King Alexander might be just the person it’s yearning for.

Or he might not.

Either way, LSU needs a permanent chief like a diabetic needs insulin. Without one, the University’s sour budget situation will only get worse until one day, this toobig-to-fail institution turns into a sinking ship rather than a flagship.

Alexander has a good reputation. He seems cool, young and smart. He smiles as often as possible for a man about to accept a position that will likely result in his hair graying before he learns how to pronounce “Dalrymple.”

But in spite of the University’s covert presidential search methods, in which it may or may not have considered women, minorities or candidates much better suited for the job than Alexander, if he’s the guy, I’ve got his back. And you should, too.

Interim System President and Chancellor William “Bill” Jenkins has fulfilled his duty over the past year — keep the University afloat, attend countless meetings and melt crowds with his exotic South African accent.

RICHARD REDMANN / The Daily Reveille

LSU System President Designate F. King Alexander answers questions March 21 in the Union Theater. Alexander has served as the president of California State University Long Beach for seven years.

The trouble with the word “interim” is that it implies instability and uncertainty, creating an atmosphere unfit to produce forward decision-making and future prosperity.

Alexander, on the other hand, has held his current position as the president of California State University Long Beach for a mindboggling seven years.

Take a minute to let that sink in.

Jenkins hadn’t yet stepped down from his original stint as the University’s system president, and most undergraduate students were in middle school. Some hadn’t even had recess taken away yet.

Jenkins came back to LSU after it burned through two chancellors and fired a president. But he only did it as an emergency leader, per se.

Throughout LSU’s leadership turmoil, Alexander has held the

same job — at the same place.

We need a consistent commander to help lead the University to the promised land, or at least a time when budget cuts won’t dominate the news cycle.

Alexander’s relative youth is exciting. We haven’t had a chancellor without gray hair this millennium.

A former college basketball player, Alexander has been seen playing pickup ball with students

in California.

Can you imagine Jenkins, in his mid-’70s, competing in anything more physically exerting than a round of golf or a tussle with his grandkids?

Granted, being physically fit, or young for that matter, doesn’t really play into the decision of who will lead a University. And as I mentioned before, Jolly Jenkins has done everything he was asked to do since he accepted the mentally and somewhat physically demanding job of president-chancellor last fall.

Still, I can’t contain myself — how cool would it be to “school” the chancellor?

I haven’t hit a jump shot in years — the basket might as well be the size of a peppermint. But I could still enjoy a casual chat while shooting some hoops with the University’s boss-man.

Nobody can predict how he’ll fare if officially appointed to lead the University sometime in the near future.

But if students want the best education possible, they should support their leaders, just as leaders should embrace their students.

Mr. Alexander, welcome to Baton Rouge, unofficially.

Ben Wallace is a 21-year-old mass communication senior from Tyler, Texas.

Contact Ben Wallace at bwallace@lsureveille.com; Twitter: @_benwallace

Bayou Corne sinkhole is a long-term problem THE TRADITIONALIST CHRIS ORTTE Columnist In case anyone was still wondering, the sinkhole in Bayou Corne — now approximately 10 acres — continues to swallow surrounding lands. So far, there’s no end in sight.

What’s going on in Bayou Corne is somewhat similar to the 1980 Lake Peigneur incident when an oil rig drilled through the Jefferson Island salt mine, draining the lake, taking the rig and a few barges all in a couple of minutes. However, maybe today’s sinkhole did not have such an immediate wowing effect, but it has developed to be a more long-term and complicated catastrophe.

Of course, the major problem is the fact that the earth is caving in, but what may be more lethal is the apparent presence of hydrogen sulfide, an explosive gas.

Small earthquakes or tremors have occurred in the thousands since August because of the void in the salt dome.

photo courtesy of THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

This aerial photograph shows the 10-acre Bayou Corne sinkhole. The sinkhole is swallowing surrounding lands and poses the threat of explosive gas.

Consequently, the natural gas has begun to leak up through the formation making the surrounding atmosphere dangerous. Texas Brine LLC, the corporation at fault, has established vents to burn off the gas, but it is unclear how much gas is really left.

Texas Brine has been the only corporation held accountable, and as of today, its attempts have not done much to stop this widening earthly orifice.

What residents have come

to fear most is the establishment of the area as a “sacrifice zone,” which would result in their permanent removal — something that seems all too common in Cajun history.

Texas Brine has been paying affected residents $875 a week, but since no permanent fix of the hole seems to be in the making, it is apparent these residents need to be compensated enough to enable them to move on. Residents have been seeking more long-term

compensation for means to reestablish themselves elsewhere.

They should be getting it soon, as Gov. Bobby Jindal finally began putting pressure on Texas Brine.

This is where things always get interesting and draw more attention — corporate buyouts or lawsuits and settlements.

Texas Brine has been charged with resolving the problem and has been under strict scrutiny by Louisiana officials. Fines and penalties have been issued swiftly to Texas Brine on the occasions they have failed to obey directives.

The Office of Conservation has kept the most watchful eye, monitoring subsurface activity and keeping locals up to date on the levels of dangerous natural gases. The Assumption Parish Police Jury maintains a daily blog that posts the most recent updates including periodic flyovers of the sinkhole.

This has been a long and lingering issue in Louisiana.

I don’t mean to harp and complain that nothing has been or is being done or that the sinkhole does not get enough attention. Of course our public officials acknowledge the severity of the

situation, and experts are at work, but this situation is complicated.

Because of the lack of a precedent, it cannot be a quick fix.

It is a dismal situation as of now, mainly because of its uniqueness — as it has been noted that such a sinkhole has not occurred anywhere else in the world. Since there has not been a precedent to approach these circumstances, much of what is being done is all of calculated estimates, probing through different measures to a resolution.

Unfortunately, I would expect this issue to be drawn out for many years. Maybe the sinkhole will be maintained, but I do not see residents being allowed back into the zone for a long time, and I anticipate battles in court to last years, possibly decades.

Chris Ortte is 22-year-old political science senior from Lafayette.

Contact Chris Ortte at cortte@lsureveille.com; Twitter: @TDR_chrisortte

The Daily Reveille

page 14

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The Daily Reveille

Tuesday, March 26, 2013 WARRIOR, from page 9

to help women feel beautiful and improve their body positivity. Each woman is asked to prepare a “beauty declaration,” a statement of a time when they feel most beautiful, and then she captures that scenario.

Brandabur’s beauty declaration was, “I feel beautiful when I sweat,” so she did some pushups and photographed herself glistening with perspiration.

Laura Johnson, mathematics junior, shared her beauty declaration.

“My beauty declaration was, ‘I feel beautiful when I dress up for myself,’” Johnson said in a Facebook message to The Daily Reveille. “I personally don’t like to get fancy with makeup and hairdo’s every day, but when I do decide to go all out with my appearance, I feel like I’m treating myself because I’m someone special.”

Johnson confessed she almost canceled her photo shoot because of a pimple. However, she realized she would be limiting her beauty potential by arbitrary societal standards.

Instead, she decided to embrace her own beauty standards.

Brandabur was inspired to start the project after her own battle with

TRAILER HOUNDS, from page 9

major changes.

The band was just a threepiece until Lyle officially joined just a few weeks ago. Holden and Desselle had known each other for years, and with the addition of Guillot, Trailer Hounds was formed. But Lyle’s arrival brought

photo courtesy of COURTNEY BRANDABUR

Laura Johnson, mathematics junior, participated in “Girl Warrior” by declaring she feels beautiful when she dresses up for herself.

negative body image.

“I see a counselor here at the health center, and I started seeing her because I was having these selfesteem problems, and a lot of it was based around my appearance,” she said.

She said her counselor advised her to keep a journal that helped her to get a handle on her insecurities.

She said she could define her beauty

on her own terms, and it felt powerful. She realized the pain she had endured and knew other women were also suffering, so she wanted to do something to empower others.

Brandabur hosts weekly chat sessions at Highland Coffees with her army of girl warriors to learn about women’s body image experiences and stories.

She said she’s connected with

a new edge to the band’s sound — a more “poppy feeling,” Desselle called it.

Sticking to that poppy-funk vibe, Trailer Hounds is heavily influenced by music from Lettuce and Soulive — “Ziggowatt” and “One in Seven” are covers most commonly heard at Trailer Hounds’ shows. The band also

plays original material.

The band’s name is an ode to Desselle’s dog, Lucy. Lately, the members of Trailer Hounds have been incorporating her image into ideas for future band merchandise.

What’s next for Trailer Hounds?

“The sky is the limit,” Desselle said.

page 15 about 30 women so far, and her project isn’t even a month old yet.

Psychology senior Jodi Shipley said in a Facebook message to The Daily Reveille that she participated in the project “because self-love and empowerment are both crucial to promoting positive body image and ultimately loving ourselves.”

Brandabur said she’s delighted the project has taken off so quickly, but also disappointed that there is still such a great need to promote body positivity among women.

“It’s a beautiful sadness, you know? It’s beautiful that we’re coming together now and we’re able to tell each other our stories, but it’s definitely sad that we’re all in pain,” Brandabur said.

Brandabur plans to expand her project into a student organization in the future, but wants to expand slowly so her message doesn’t get altered or tainted due to the bureaucratic process.

More information about the project can be found at girlwarrior.org.

Contact Taylor Schoen at tschoen@lsureveille.com You can catch Trailer Hounds on Wednesday at The Library.

Its music can be accessed on ReverbNation.com and Facebook.

Contact Rebecca Docter at rdocter@lsureveille.com

‘GIRLS,’ from page 9

rupturing her eardrums with Q-tips — she would (gasp) get a real job.

That’s the thing that probably confuses and frustrates me the most about “Girls” — why do absolutely none of the characters have actual career aspirations? And why aren’t they doing anything about it?

In addition, nearly every character on “Girls” is indecently arrogant — so arrogant, in fact, that it becomes difficult to feel sorry when a character has a crisis (which is all too common on the show).

This brings me back to my main point — why are we so obsessed with “Girls”?

Maybe we watch “Girls” because we’re happy our lives aren’t as seemingly bad as Hannah and company’s. Maybe the surprising amount of cringe-worthy awkwardness the show brings just makes us rejoice that certain moments in our lives really aren’t all that embarrassing. Maybe we’re watching “Girls” because we get some sort of sick fulfillment from thinking our lives are better than those of the characters.

That being said, I don’t think “Girls” is necessarily bad. It’s an entertaining way to spend half an hour on a Sunday evening, but it isn’t something the world should think too hard about.

Rebecca Docter is a 19-year-old mass communication freshman from Brandon, Miss.

Contact Rebecca Docter at rdocter@lsureveille.com

page 16

The Daily Reveille

Tuesday, March 26, 2013