Crime: State yet to decide whether to charge Camden Marcotte, p. 3
Film: Movies increasingly use Baton Rouge as scene location, p. 6
Reveille The Daily
www.lsureveille.com
T.N. “King” Contributing Writer
A collaboration of student organizations wrapped up the Tigers for the Tide relief effort one month after a devastating tornado touched down in Tuscaloosa, Ala. The University shipped more than 50 boxes of donated items Wednesday to the University of Alabama and surrounding communities. The Athletic Department supplied a truck to transport donations.
The collection period ended May 14, but students have been sorting and boxing donated items for the past several weeks in preparation for shipping them to Alabama. Josh Dean, Volunteer LSU adviser, said collecting items was easy — motivating students to box and
sort items during finals week was the true challenge. Most student volunteers — like De Andre’ Beadle, political science and sociology sophomore — described sorting and boxing as “a long, hard
Small sculptures on display at LSUMOA, p. 5 Thursday, June 9, 2011 • Volume 115, Issue 141
and difficult task to complete.” Volunteers picked through each donated item, sorting clothing by gender and size. After sorting, volunteers checked each item’s condition and usefulness. “Sorting was definitely an experience,” said Kathleen Bordelon, Student Government vice president. “It was like doing other people’s laundry.” From deodorant to diapers, students didn’t
hesitate to contribute a variety of clothing, toiletries and other items to the University of Alabama. Student volunteers found generous donations such as a Lacoste polo, a $145 new dress and new Dr. Martens boots. Volunteers also sorted through disgusting items, like dirty underwear and used body soap. “It was fun finding out what people gave,” said Alli Robison, human resource education junior. “I learned a lot about people by digging through their stuff.” TORNADO, see page 4
TRAVEL
High gas prices hinder vacations BR tourism officials remain optimistic
Laura Furr Staff Writer
KELLYE EISWORTH / The Daily Reveille
Andrew O’Brien, networking and computer science sophomore, pumps gas Saturday. Rising prices have forced many to rethink summer travel plans.
Andrew O’Brien and his family planned to travel to Florida this summer. But plans fell through because gas was too expensive. The trip would have cost the computer science freshman $90 in gas. Though gas prices have recently dipped, the Energy Information Administration predicts gas retail prices to average $3.75 per gallon during this summer’s driving season: April 1 through September 30. Gas prices averaged $3.81 nationwide during Memorial Day weekend. According to a CNN Opinion Research Poll, 53 percent of Americans
had to change their summer vacation plans because of this year’s recordbreaking gas prices. O’Brien drives a 2005 Toyota Corolla, which gets a generous 31 mpg. In most other cars, gas expenses would be much higher. Mass communication sophomore Jenna Wray and five of her family members piled into her Ford 500 sedan last week to travel to Texas. Though they still made the trip, gas prices set Wray back about $120. Bonnie Guerriero’s trip to Mobile, Ala., for this year’s Hangout Music Festival would have cost around the same in gas expenses — forcing her to cancel her plans. Guerriero, undeclared sophomore, said she had been looking forward to the festival, but “everything is so much more expensive because gas prices are so high.” She decided to stay in Monroe and work.
Around the country tourism hot spots are bracing for a slow summer. Theresa Overby, director of communications at the Baton Rouge Visitor’s Bureau, said tourism in Baton Rouge may not suffer as much as anticipated thanks to Bayou Country Superfest and the recent dip in gas prices. In addition, the city is beginning a new initiative to promote in-state travel with shorter drive times using the new app “SCVNGR.” According to Overby, two “treks” have been designed for vacationers to enjoy attractions in and around Baton Rouge over a several day trip. Overby said she and her staff remain “cautiously optimistic” about the summer ahead.
Contact Laura Furr at lfurr@lsureveille.com