CONSTRUCTION: UREC expansion on track for completion by 2016, p. 3
BASEBALL: Freshman outfielder shares bond with brother, p. 7
Reveille The Daily
LAWSUIT
Judge says LSU must reveal names
www.lsureveille.com
Friday, April 26, 2013 • Volume 117, Issue 130
Greener Days
University trees are rich in history
Ferris McDaniel
Senior Investigative Reporter
Staff Reports State district Judge Janice Clark ruled that the University’s presidential search process was illegal in a short minute entry Thursday, ordering the names of more than 30 potential candidates to be released immediately. Court hearings for the suit filed by The Advocate and NOLA. com | The Times-Picayune ended Thursday, after which Clark submitted the ruling. The publications followed Daily Reveille Editor in Chief Andrea Gallo’s lead when she first threatened to file suit earlier this month. Gallo’s court hearing is scheduled for April 30. “I am happy to hear that Judge Janice Clark sided with transparency and holding our state officials accountable. Today was a huge victory for journalists, academics and members of the public who care about the future of LSU,” Gallo said. Once Clark’s judgment is filed, the University and its legal counsel will be given a timeframe during which they can file an appeal. Herb Vincent, associate vice chancellor for University Relations, said he could not comment on the University’s behalf as of Thursday afternoon, nor could he confirm whether the University intends to appeal. Jimmy Faircloth, the University’s attorney for the case, also said he would not comment until speaking with his clients.
Do you agree with Judge Clark’s ruling that LSU must release the name of its presidential finalists? Vote in today’s lsureveille.com poll. Contact The Daily Reveille’s news staff at news@lsureveille.com; Twitter: @TDR_news
CONNOR TARTER / The Daily Reveille
The Bicentennial Oak provides dappled sunlight Thursday outside the Journalism Building. The tree is among the five vacant endowments available and has stood at its current location for more than 200 years.
Steele Burden, the University’s landscaper from 1932 through 1970, began a legacy decades ago when he began planting many of the campus’ iconic live oak trees, which now tower over faculty, students and visitors at almost every step. Today, about 1,300 to 1,400 southern live oaks, scientifically named Quercus virginiana, stand limb-in-limb, making up nearly a fifth of the 6,000 trees and an even smaller percentage of the more than 40 plant species on campus, which have been appraised at $45 million in assets to the University. Fred Fellner, assistant director of Landscape Services, and many others work to continue Burden’s mission every day through tree maintenance and the Endow an Oak program, which was introduced in 1993 to better the condition of oaks that suffered during “budget limitations,” according to the LSU Foundation’s website. The University’s dedication to maintaining a green campus is also observed every Arbor Day with events like today’s fourth annual Spring Greening Day from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., which sees student and faculty volunteers spreading mulch, planting flowers and holding a sustainability expo at Free Speech Plaza, Fellner said. “I think the University has accomplished Burden’s and the people who GREEN, see page 6
FOOTBALL
Mingo, Reid selected in first round of Draft Tyler Nunez Sports Writer
For the second consecutive year, an LSU football player was selected as the sixth overall pick in the NFL Draft when defensive end Barkevious Mingo was selected earlier than expected by the Cleveland Browns. “It was just an exciting moment,” Mingo said in a news release. “It snuck up on me. I can’t wait to get to Cleveland. It is such a loyal fan base with hard-working people. They love their Browns – rain, sleet or snow.” The notoriously small defensive end established himself as an elite pass rusher in his time at LSU by tallying a career-total 29 tackles for
loss and 15 sacks in 40 games. He led the Tigers with 12 quarterback hurries in his junior season in 2012. In his final season as a Tiger, Mingo earned second team All-SEC honors after recording 38 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks. “I’ll never forget the crowd noise and everything about ‘Death Valley,’” Mingo said. “Going to LSU helped me reach my dreams of playing in the NFL.” Listed at 6-foot-4, 241 pounds, Mingo’s relatively small size combined with his impressive strength and speed had many scouts labeling him as a “boom or bust” prospect. Others have speculated that he DRAFT, see page 6
JASON DECROW / The Associated Press
Former LSU football player Barkevious Mingo stands with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on Thursday after being selected sixth overall by the Cleveland Browns in the first round of the NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall in New York. Check out more photos of the draft, p. 9.