The Daily Reveille
page 4
WEATHER
Friday, May 2, 2014
COMMENCEMENT
Special ceremonies honor diverse groups Participants hope to create a tradition
photo courtsey of THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
People shouldn’t get too comfortable with the calmer predictions, as it only takes one hurricane to cause massive devastation.
Upcoming hurricane season is predicted to be more tame Exercising caution is still important James Richards Staff Writer
Despite forecasts predicting a calmer hurricane season, Louisiana residents need to have a plan for potential storms, said state climatologist and professor Barry Keim. Predictions from Colorado State University’s Tropical Meteorological Project show a nearly one in five chance of at least a Category 3 hurricane hitting the Gulf Coast. The TMP predicts nine named storms, three hurricanes, of which one should be at least a Category 3. Historically, these numbers are below average. Since 1981, there has been an average of 12 named storms, 6.5 hurricanes and two major hurricanes per year. Keim said the reason this hurricane season is projected to be less potent is twofold. First, ocean surface temperatures in the past six months have been increasing, meaning the weather systems are likely moving into what is called an El Niño. The El Niño is a particularly warm area of the Pacific Ocean that creates upper atmosphere airflow in other areas of the world, disrupting storms. The other reason for the lesser storm season, Keim explained, is because the Atlantic multidecadal oscillation (AMO), an index of surface ocean temperatures, shows cooler ocean temperatures. Warmer temperature waters are the fuel of storms — more water evaporates, putting more energy into the storm. Hurricanes Katrina and Rita
formed during a period of exceptionally warm surface temperatures, Keim said, showing the potential warmer temperatures can cause. People shouldn’t get too comfortable, as it only takes one hurricane to cause massive devastation. Keim said Hurricane Andrew in 1992, the costliest hurricane for its time, formed under these two conditions. In addition, long term AMO patterns indicate warmer ocean temperatures for another 10 to 20 years, Keim said. That means a greater likelihood of more, stronger storms. In the longer term, global climate change models predict the same amount or fewer storms, Keim said. However, the storms that do form will likely be stronger.
Keim is optimistic about Louisiana’s preparedness for hurricane season, mostly owing to the persisting shock from Katrina. “It’s going to take a while to be desensitized from that, I hope it never happens,” he said. People should prepare for this season just like they would any other hurricane season. Keim suggests making a plan ahead of time for where to evacuate. If you’re going to ride out the storm, get some basic supplies ahead of time. “You don’t need a bomb shelter,” Keim said.
Hey Tigers!
Contact James Richards at jrichards@lsureveille.com
traditional African drumming as the pomp and circumstance for the entering graduates. “It is a great added program to commencement to have something else to highlight the graduMichael Tarver ates and also incorporate culContributing Writer ture,” Poole said. Like the robing ceremony The African-American and LGBT communities on campus represents graduation through a will walk to the beat of their own cultural lens, the Lavender Graddrums while graduating from the uation ceremony celebrates a University with the Robing Cer- diverse community, recognizing emony and Lavender Graduation graduating LGBT students at the Ceremony, coordinated by the University. Micah Caswell, graduate asOffice of Multicultural Affairs. Both ceremonies are an add- sistant in the Office of Multiculed attempt to celebrate the mile- tural Affairs and coordinator of stone achievement of receiving a the LGBTQ Project and the Safe Space Campaign, said it is impordegree from the University. LaKeitha Poole, coordinator tant to recognize students in this of African American Student Af- way because marginalized people tend to be more fairs, said the roblikely to drop out. ing ceremony is a ‘It is a great Caswell said way to bring an the students will additional sense added program to be presented with of culture to the commencement to this year’s pin graduation experience. The cel- have something else to during the ceremony. While it ebration will also highlight the is geared toward honor the 1964 LGBT graduates, students who ingraduates and also event is open tegrated the Uniincorporate culture.’ the to anyone who versity 50 years wants to partake ago, Poole said. LaKeitha Poole and is open to the Each student coordinator of African American public, he said. participant will Student Affairs The Lavender be presented with the traditional African adorn- ceremony is only in its second ment: a kente cloth, handmade year of existence but has become and shipped from Ghana. Un- an annual University tradition like the general commencement and should continue for years to ceremony, students are allowed come, Caswell said. “This type of ceremony has to choose who will present the cloth. Usually, students choose a been happening at colleges all family member or influential per- over the country for years, so son in their life to take part in the we’re not breaking new ground… we’re catching up,” Caswell said. ceremony, Poole said. Roland Mitchell, associate director of the College of Human Sciences and Education, will address the graduating students and will give the “graduation charge” to send off the students into the Contact Michael Tarver at world, Poole said. The event also features mtarver@lsureveille.com
Pennington Biomedical is looking for healthy volunteers for a short, 3 visit research study testing the blood levels and safety of an investigational drug.
P Metic Study Eligibility
study design
Age: 18-65 years
1 screening visit
Weight: BMI ≤ 30
3 clinic visits
Have had a stable weight for the last 3 months
Visit
www.pbrc.edu/pmetic
Call
225.763.3000
Earn up to $350 for participation.
clinicaltrials@pbrc.edu
PENNINGTON BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH CENTER