The Daily Reveille print edition

CHAMPIONS

To see a pullout of LSU’s run to a sixth title, see pages 7-10.

OPINION

Senior writer Kyle Bove thanks legislators for a memorable performance, page 13.

TO THE MARKET

Local Red Stick Farmers Market helps local producers to profit, page 3.

THE DAILY REVEILLE Summer Edition

WWW.LSUREVEILLE.COM

Volume 113, Issue 146

CRIME

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Collins arrested on theft charges Assoc. vice chancellor allegedly took $5,050

By Kyle Bove Senior Writer

MEGAN J. WILLIAMS / The Daily Reveille

Former associate vice chancellor Carolyn Collins gets into her car Monday.

A former associate vice chancellor who announced her retirement a few weeks ago has been arrested and accused of stealing more than $5,000 from the University.

Carolyn Collins, former dean of the University College, is accused of shifting money from the

LSU Summer Opportunity Program fund into her Tiger Card account for “personal purchases,” said LSU Police Department spokesman Capt. Russell Rogé.

Accounting Services notified LSUPD in May about the transfers. In its investigation, LSUPD discovered Collins had been illegally transferring money since 2003. Because the statute of limitations for some of the alleged thefts has expired, Collins is only being charged for the $5,050 transferred since 2005.

Collins was arrested and

issued a summons for theft on June 19. Her retirement is effective today, according to Kristine Calongne, University spokeswoman.

In 2005, Collins transferred $1,250 into her Tiger Card account, according to LSUPD. Collins transferred $1,200 in 2006, $1,400 in 2007 and $1,200 in 2008.

Collins’ base salary for the 2008-09 fiscal year was $153,989.

THEFT, see page 4

Getting smart lsureveille.com

University students, teachers find different uses, needs for smart phones on campus as technology evolves

Log on to see a video of students discussing how they use their smart phones.

Chloe Seydel incoming freshman, Samsung Behold

Emily Shields animal sciences freshman, LG View

‘I never thought I would need it. But now that I have it, I couldn’t live without it.’

‘It’s definitely a luxury, but I need it to keep in touch with my family.’

Dan Burgin mechanical engineering freshman, BlackBerry Curve

Malorie Homes marketing junior, iPhone

‘I mean, it’s nice to have, but I wouldn’t say I need a smart phone.’

‘I could live without it.

I’m not that dependent on it. It’s definitely just convenient.’

Danny Tran biological sciences junior, AT&T Tilt

‘It’s made my life easier because there’s Iwnternet on it.’

‘It really changed my life basically.’

Timothy Berry psychology and sociology senior, Samsung BlackJack II

photo illustration by ANDY SCHWEHM / The Daily Reveille

Timothy Berry said owning a smart phone has changed his life.

Berry, psychology and sociology senior, is one of many University students adapting to life with a smart phone on campus.

A smart phone is a cell phone with advanced features, such as Internet access and e-mail capabilities.

“What I like about it the most is being able “It’s basically one of the things that I use to set up my appointments in on a day-to-day basis that has

By Robert Stewart it and the alarm system and become a part of my life,” stuff like that,” said Berry, Berry said.

Contributing Writer who owns a Samsung BlackJames Honeycutt, comJack II. “It really changed my life basically.” munication studies professor, said he thinks Berry said his smart phone becomes more about three students in his summer class of 30 of a necessity the longer he owns it. own smart phones.

He said cell phones are a necessity, but smart phones are still a luxury to most consumers given the difficult economic times.

“It could be seen as maybe a necessity, only time will tell. Maybe in a couple of years,” Honeycutt said. “If the economy swings up, PHONES, see page 11

THE DAILY REVEILLE

PAGE 2

INTERNATIONAL

NATIONAL

Bernard Madoff World leaders blast gets maximum 150 Honduras coup years in prison TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras (AP) — Police and soldiers clashed with thousands of protesters outside Honduras’ national palace Monday, leaving at least 15 people injured, as world leaders from Barack Obama to Hugo Chavez demanded the return of a president ousted in a military coup.

President Manuel Zelaya said he would seek to return to his country Thursday and reclaim control of the government. He said he would accept an offer from the head of the Organization of American States to accompany him to Honduras. Across Latin America, leftist leaders pulled their ambassadors from Honduras and Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega said El Salvador, Nicaragua and Guatemala would cut trade with neighboring Honduras for at least 48 hours. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez called for Hondurans to rise up against those who toppled his ally.

NEW YORK (AP) — A federal judge rejected Bernard Madoff’s plea for leniency Monday, sentencing the 71-year-old swindler to spend the rest of his life in prison for an “extraordinarily evil” fraud that took a staggering toll on thousands of victims. U.S. District Judge Denny Chin cited the unprecedented nature of the multibillion-dollar fraud as he sentenced Madoff to the maximum of 150 years in prison, a term comparable only to those given in the past to terrorists, traitors and the most violent criminals. There is no parole in federal prison so Madoff will most likely die there. “Here, the message must be sent that Mr. Madoff’s crimes were extraordinarily evil and that this kind of irresponsible manipulation of the system is not merely a bloodless financial crime that takes place just on paper, but it is instead ... one that takes a staggering human toll,” Chin said.

STATE/LOCAL

NATIONAL

Jackson’s family moves quickly to take charge

Rain across state; but overall still dry

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Michael Jackson’s family moved quickly Monday to take control of his complicated personal and financial affairs, winning temporary custody of his three children and asking a judge to name the King of Pop’s mother as administrator of his estate. In documents filed in Superior Court, Jackson’s parents said they believe their 50-year-old son died without a valid will. They also made it clear they believe they should take charge of both his debt-ridden but potentially lucrative financial empire and act as permanent caretakers of his three children. Judge Mitchell Beckloff granted 79-year-old Katherine Jackson temporary guardianship of the children, who range in age from 7 to 12. He did not immediately rule on her requests to take charge of the children’s and Jackson’s estates.Beckloff scheduled a hearing for July 6 and another for Aug. 3 to consider those issues.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Louisiana got welcome rain Monday as farmers worried about vulnerable crops and some areas considered whether to shut down fireworks stands and order residents not to set off their own fireworks. But rainfall was still well below average, the National Weather Service forecasters said. Shreveport got about a half-inch of rain Monday, but across northwest Louisiana, rainfall probably ranged from about an inch to nearly nothing, said Gary Chatelain, a meteorologist in the weather service’s office in Shreveport. “So far, we’re 4½ inches behind for the year, and for the month, we’re almost every bit of that — 3½ inches,” he said. “We were doing pretty good through May. June’s been a real disappointment.” Price Bundy of Ida, who grows cotton and corn, said corn ears are just starting to fill out and may be stunted without more rain.

“For us, since it was a fairly decent

TODAY ON

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TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2009 rain, we were able to turn off some of our irrigation equipment” for a day or two, Bundy said.

“The bad thing is it was not areawide. It was pretty well isolated,” he said. This time of year is also crucial for soybeans, hay and pastures, said Bundy’s father, John Bundy Sr. of Bundy Farms near Benton. Meteorologist Tim Destri of the weather service office in Slidell said the New Orleans area is more than 10½ inches below normal — or about two-thirds the usual amount for the first half of the year. Much of the New Orleans area got a good soaking, he said, but he didn’t know whether Lafourche Parish, where Parish President Charlotte Randolph has said she might have to ban the sale and use of fireworks, would get enough to avert that possibility. Randolph had not made a decision Monday, an aide said. State Fire Marshall Butch Browning said West Baton Rouge Parish has ordered such a ban. Browning said about 40 percent of Louisiana’s municipalities and five parishes — St. Charles, St. Bernard, Orleans, East Baton Rouge and Terrebonne — allow only approved community fireworks displays, barring individual sales and use.

Weather

Read our blogs, including the “Eye on the Budget” budget cuts blog and “Dog Days” summer sports blog.

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NOW HIRING BROADCAST SALES EXECUTIVES LSU Student Media is now hiring students interested in working with advertising and underwriting with KLSU & Tiger TV. Contact Emanuel at BroadcastSales@KLSUradio.fm

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GRANT GUTIERREZ / The Daily Reveille

Log on to see more pictures of the Parade Ground and Middleton Library.

CORRECTIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS

The Daily Reveille holds accuracy and objectivity at the highest priority and wants to reassure the reporting and content of the paper meets these standards.This space is reserved to recognize and correct any mistakes which may have been printed in The Daily Reveille. If you would like something corrected or clarified please contact the editor at (225) 5784811 or e-mail editor@lsureveille.com.

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

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. A single issue of The Daily Reveille is free. To purchase additional copies for 25 cents, please contact the Office of Student Media in B-34 Hodges Hall. The Daily Reveille is published daily during the fall and spring semesters and semi-weekly during the summer semester, except during holidays and final exams. Secondclass copies postage paid at Baton Rouge, La., 70803. Annual weekly mailed subscriptions are $125, semester weekly mailed subscriptions are $75. Non-mailed student rates are $4 each regular semester, $2 during the summer; one copy per person, additional copies 25 cents each. Postmaster: Send address changes to The Daily Reveille, B-39 Hodges Hall, LSU, Baton Rouge, La.,70803.

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THE DAILY REVEILLE

Tuesday June 30, 2009

PAGE 3

BATON ROUGE COMMUNITY

Farmers Market expanding Business keeps money in local economy

By Mary Walker Baus Contributing Writer

The sweet smells of fresh flowers, warm cinnamon rolls and dessert wine fills the air of the Red Stick Farmers Market, and makes it is easy to understand why so many people are attracted to this early morning scene.

The Red Stick Farmers Market, organized by the Big River Economic and Agricultural Development Alliance brings small Louisiana family farms together to sell and educate the local community about the different crops and produce they grow on their farms every Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon on Fifth and Main streets.

“The main purpose is to provide direct field opportunities for farmers,” said Darlene Rowland, BREADA director of development.

“If they have to sell their produce wholesale, they’re going up against big distributors. The market provides a place for the community to gather and interact with farmers. [It brings] urban neighbors and rural farmers together.”

Rowland said BREADA’s mission is to support the small Louisiana family farms and to build a sense of community between the farmers and their customers. She said the farmers market also helps the local economy.

“If you’re buying local, then it’s directly supporting a farmer who’s invested in the local community,” Rowland said. “It puts the money right back into the local economy instead of supporting a huge distributor in California.”

BREADA was founded in June 1996, and the first farmers market was in November 1996. Since then, the Red Stick Farmers Market has expanded to a Tuesday market at the Unitarian Church, a Thursday market at 7248 Perkins Road and the six-day-a-week indoor Main Street Market at the Saturday location in downtown Baton Rouge.

Rowland said the Saturday market is the biggest with 45 to 50 vendors setting up each week in addition to the 20 to 25 vendors inside Main Street Market.

“It makes the city a lot more sophisticated because most big cities now have good farmers markets,” said Mary Ann Sternberg, BREADA board member and internship coordinator for the Manship School of Mass Communication.

The Red Stick Farmers Market is the biggest gathering of local farmers, and it is the only official farmers market in Baton Rouge.

“What [the farmers market] means to a small farmer is an opportunity to stay in the farming business,” said Copper Alvarez, executive director of BREADA. “They make a lot more money at the farmers market, and it provides them the opportunity, when they come from small areas, to reach a larger audience with their produce.

We have several farmers who were about to go under, and through be-

PLUCKERS WING BAR Monday: $14.99 All you can eat wings and $3 Pluckers Lemonades.

Tuesday: $2.50 Mexican Beers and Margaritas.

Wednesday: Trivia at 8. $4 Mother Plucker Mugs.

MAGGIE BOWLES / The Daily Reveille

Vendors sell fresh fruits and vegetables, seafood, fresh flowers and seedlings for your own garden at the Red Stick Farmers Market held every Saturday on 5th and Main streets in downtown Baton Rouge.

ing able to operate in the farmers market, they were able to expand their farm and save their business.”

Alvarez said most people become regulars at the Red Stick Farmers Market on Saturdays, Tuesdays and Thursdays because they become hooked on the fresh produce. She said there’s a big difference in taste between locally grown produce picked from the bush the day before the market and the produce in shipping for days at a time from other states.

“I try to do sustainable agriculture,” said Paul Davidson, owner of EquiTerra Farms in Clinton, La. “My primary thing is blueberries, but I raise lambs, goats, free range chickens for eggs [and grow] some vegetables.”

A sign at Davidson’s booth

said all of his produce is grown by organic standards, but that his farm is not certified organic because he did not want to do the bookkeeping or paperwork. Davidson said he has a full-time job in addition to his blueberry produce. “[The farmers market] is a fantastic mechanism for local farmers to sell their produce and get market price for it,” Davidson said. “It’s a social thing ... There’s a healthy food element ... There’s a ‘help your neighbor’ element. It’s the best thing to happen to local farmers and the local community.”

Contact Mary Walker Baus at mbaus@lsureveille.com

Thursday: $15.99 All you can eat wings. $4 Mother Plucker Mugs. $3 Margaritas and Pluckers Lemonades.

THE DAILY REVEILLE

PAGE 4

Campus Crime Briefs

MAN SHOT AT UNIVERSITY CRESCENT APARTMENTS A 22-year-old man was shot and seriously injured at the University Crescent Apartments at 4500 Burbank Drive on Sunday at about 2 a.m., according to Casey Rayborn Hicks, East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman.

When deputies arrived at the scene, EMS had already taken the 22-year-old victim to a local hospital.

Witnesses told the deputies two men in a brown truck followed the victim from Mike’s Daiquiris & Grill after an argument between the victim and two other people in the bar’s parking lot.

The victim eventually stopped at the University Crescent Apartment’s parking lot and got out of the car. Then one of the men in the truck shot him.

The brown or tan Ford truck with gold writing covering the entire rear window — possibly with the word “commercial” — was last seen headed east on Burbank.

MAN ARRESTED FOR DWI A man unaffiliated with the University was arrested on June 26 at about 2 a.m. for driving while intoxicated and careless operation of a motor vehicle.

Nicholas F. Phillips, 19, of 5324 Dickens Drive, Baton Rouge, caused a minor car accident on Highland Road near South Campus Drive, said LSUPD Spokesman Capt. Russell Rogé. There were no injuries, and Phillips failed a field sobriety test.

A breath alcohol test registered Phillips at .174, Rogé said.

Phillips was booked in East Baton Rouge Parish Prison.

TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2009

WEATHER

Hurricane Center gets alliance Collaboration to increase response time

By Natalie Roy Contributing Writer

The official start of hurricane season July 1 will bring hopes of better technology and emergency responses because of the LSU Hurricane Center’s announced collaboration with the New Orleans/Baton Rouge National Weather Service and the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness.

The partnership will allow the Hurricane Center to develop research tools for hurricane forecasts through this partnership with NWS and GOHSEP, as well as the Institute of Marine Science at the University of North Carolina and the Department of Civil Engineering and Geological Sciences at the University of Notre Dame.

“During [Hurricane] Gustav,

it became more evident that we needed more formal coordination among the universities and the NWS,” said Robert Twilley, associate vice chancellor of the Coastal Sustainability Agenda.

“We had a ‘grand challenge’ meeting here at LSU and … one of the outcomes was to coordinate how we would exchange information so that we would provide a better product to the public.”

Gustav also revealed a need for improvement in the LSU Firefighter Emergency Training Institute’s hurricane response, which implemented a new hurricane preparedness course this summer.

“There was never really an organized formal training method for hurricanes before,” said Jeff Pardue, course coordinator for FETI’s hurricane preparedness course. “After Gustav, the state fire marshal, Butch Browning, recognized that, and he commissioned us to develop this class.”

The course educates

firefighters about hurricane warnings and notifications, accommodations and food in the case of a hurricane, operational support and mutual aid agreements with other organizations, Pardue said.

Ken Graham, the meteorologist-in-charge at the NWS Weather Forecast Office in Slidell, La., hopes Louisiana will achieve a storm surge system similar to Northern Oklahoma’s tornado research.

“In Oklahoma, they can … take research and quickly infuse it into operations,” Graham said.

“It is quickly turned into warnings … that go out to the public and decision-makers to save lives. I think we can do the same thing here with surge — protect property and save lives.”

Twilley said the partnership allows the University to be a test laboratory and role model for other systems in addition to better guiding the public’s response PREP, see page 11

HEALTH

Swine flu vaccine developed, not ready for public LA hospitals await FDA approval

By Natalie Roy Contributing Writer

Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis AG announced the arrival of the first batch of the H1N1 virus vaccine on June 12, but it may take months to reach Louisiana, according to Jimmy Guidry, State Health Officer and Medical Director for the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals.

The H1N1 virus, also known as swine flu, is the first influenza pandemic since 1968, according to the World Health Organization,

THEFT, from page 1 The University College is made up of students who haven’t been admitted to a degree-granting senior college yet. It is the largest academic college on campus.

The LSU Summer Opportunity Program, run through the University College, is designed for incoming freshman and allows students to take classes and develop study skills before their first semester in college.

Collins was employed at the University for more than 25 years and was LSU’s first black dean of an academic college. She served as Chair of the Diversity Committee of the National Academic Advising Association from 2003 to 2005 and was also part of the 21-member chancellor search committee in 2008.

Contact Kyle Bove at kbove@lsureveille.com

and has affected 158 Louisiana residents, including 24 cases in East Baton Rouge Parish.

While swine flu has been generally mild, those anxious for answers about the vaccine may find themselves waiting at least until flu season.

“The process of producing the vaccine and making sure [it] is safe ... takes time,” Guidry said. “When they find out how many doses they’ll have, they’ll be deciding how they’re going to distribute it, and who’s going to be recommended to receive it.”

Because flu season in Louisiana normally starts around January or February and seasonal flu vaccines are usually given around October and November, the public

‘‘

‘The process of producing the vaccine and making sure [it] is safe ... takes time.’

Jimmy Guidry

medical director for Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals

probably won’t get any answers regarding the swine flu vaccine until this fall, Guidry said.

In the meantime, the DDH and the Office of Public Health are preparing.

“We do a lot of planning around what we would do as

medical professionals if large numbers of people start getting sick,” Guidry said. “We do tabletop drills with hospitals, we’ve provided some continued education at no charge to medical providers so that they can learn more about this virus, all getting ready for what could be a busy flu season.”

In the beginning of last school year, Guidry said the DDH and OPH also conducted mass vaccination drills, which will help them if the vaccine does become available.

But preparations for the Student Health Center are being put on hold until more information is provided, said Dr. Timothy Honigman, Health Center Chief

of Medical Staff.

“We’ve been doing the same flu vaccination program every year,” Honigman said. “And almost every year we give out the same number of flu shots ... so we haven’t done anything to prepare [for a busier flu season] just yet. We’ve been in preparation for a bird flu pandemic for several years and have a protocol, so that preparation has sort of helped us with [swine flu] coming around.”

Honigman said the Health Center is waiting for the FDA to approve the vaccine and make it available to the public before making any decisions.

“A swine flu strain will FLU, see page 11

4

THE DAILY REVEILLE

Sports

FANTASTIC

TUESDAY, June 30, 2009

Dean, Mitchell, Ochinko, Schimpf reflect on rollercoaster three years together at LSU from tough times to a national title

By Robert Stewart Contributing Writer

Four young players came to Baton Rouge more than two years ago when a new age of LSU baseball was just beginning.

They were members of Paul Mainieri’s first freshman class as the Tigers’ coach, and all four of them have seen significant playing time since their first season.

And after winning the College World Series on Wednesday, Blake Dean, Jared Mitchell, Sean Ochinko and Ryan Schimpf — four key juniors that helped put LSU back on the national map — have possibly played together in an LSU uniform for the last time.

Mainieri said while he’s unsure whether any of the four will return, they will always be part of LSU baseball — even if their stay is done.

“It’s kind of an end of a little bit of a mini era there with them leaving,” Mainieri said. “But their legacy is firmly established.”

The four juniors, all starters on LSU’s championship team, were selected in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft on June 9-11. They were all drafted within the first 11 rounds of the 50-round draft after building impressive resumes during their Tiger tenures.

They have combined for 122 home runs, 535 RBI and a .313 career batting average while starting 675 of 719 games in which they played.

Dean was a 2008 All-American and a 2009 First Team AllSoutheastern Conference member, and he and Ochinko made the 2007 SEC All-Freshmen team. Schimpf was a Second-Team All-SEC selection in 2009, and Mitchell was the JUNIORS, see page 6

TED KIRK / The Associated Press

DAVE WEAVER / The Associated Press

NATI HARNIK / The Associated Press

PATRICK SEMANSKY / The Associated Press

[Top left] Junior infielder and left fielder Ryan Schimpf, [middle left] junior designated hitter Blake Dean, [bottom left] junior first baseman and catcher Sean Ochinko and [right] junior outfielder Jared Mitchell were all key members of the Tigers’ 2009 national championship run. All four were drafted in this month’s Major League Baseball draft and could be leaving LSU.

Player Average Home runs RBI

LSU Juniors’ Career Statistics

Dean .344 44 190

Mitchell .295 20 100

Ochinko .299 20 110

Combined Totals: .313, 122 home runs, 535 RBI

Schimpf .317 38 135

PAGE 5

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Kentucky looms over SEC hoops once again Calipari,’Cats boast No. 1 recruiting class

By David Helman Contributing Writer

It’s a foreign concept for the Southeastern Conference to focus on anything but football during the dog days of summer.

But it’s an idea SEC fans may have to get used to with John Calipari taking the open job at Kentucky and bringing his No. 1 recruiting class with him.

The Bluegrass State is in a hoopsinduced furor with four months until the start of basketball season, as the Wildcats return first team All-SEC forward Patrick Patterson as well and add two of the nation’s top 10 recruits in point guard John Wall and center DeMarcus Cousins. Journalists and fans alike consider Kentucky a preseason top-5 team after missing the NCAA tournament for the first time in 18 years.

As a testament to the big, blue shadow that now looms over the conference, all 12 SEC coaches fielded questions about Kentucky during a coaches teleconference Monday.

“You’re asking me questions about [Kentucky] in June, so that says everything about what people expect,” said Mississippi State coach Rick Stansbury.

Log on to lsureveille.com to read about some of the other points the SEC coaches discussed Monday.

Contact David Helman at dhelman@lsureveille.com

NBA

Former Tiger could be Hornets’ hometown hero Thornton, Collison provide youth, depth

By David Helman Contributing Writer

Former LSU guard Marcus Thornton won’t have to travel far to fulfill his dream of playing professional basketball.

The 2008 Southeastern Conference Player of the Year was traded to the New Orleans Hornets in exchange for second-round draft picks in 2010 and 2012 during Thursday night’s NBA draft.

Thornton looked as though he would be playing pro ball in South Florida for about 15 minutes when the

Miami Heat drafted him 43rd overall, but the Hornets quickly made the deal that brought the former LSU star and Baton Rouge native to the Big Easy.

Thornton isn’t guaranteed a roster spot as a second-round pick, but he’s already well-adapted to his surroundings if he should happen to secure one.

“The great thing for him is he’s so close to family, so he’ll have that support,” said LSU men’s basketball coach Trent Johnson. “It’s also great for LSU because our fans will be able to see him and watch him progress.”

Thornton has played nearly his entire career in southeast Louisiana, with the exception of a two-year stint at Kilgore Community College in Kilgore, Texas, before enrolling at

LSU. “I watched him in the NCAA tournament, and he definitely turned it on,” said Tommy Schroepfer, communication studies sophomore. “He showed me he’s a better player than I thought he was.”

Adding Thornton to the roster could be a big boost for a team many fans said needs shooters, with veteran forward Peja Stojakovic missing 20 games last season because of a back injury.

“Peja’s getting kind of old, and Thornton won’t be afraid to shoot the ball like the rest of the team is,” said Trey Rodrigue, incoming freshman.

“The only problem is he’s so short, THORNTON, see page 6

BILL HABER / The Associated Press

The Hornets introduce former LSU guard Marcus Thornton (left) and guard Darren Collison (right) to media Friday after acquiring both during Thursday’s NBA draft.

PAGE 6 THORNTON, from page 5

and that could hurt his playing time.”

Adel Alizadeh, civil engineering senior, said Thornton and Darren Collison, the Hornets’ first-round selection from UCLA, could add some needed depth to the bench.

“The Hornets seem to only have one player playing well on any given night, and it’s usually Chris Paul,” Alizadeh said. “They need depth, so I think it’s great they signed Thornton.”

Thornton could be one of several LSU heroes to eventually play NBA basketball in New Orleans, along with names like Brandon Bass and Pete Maravich.

Many fans hope the addition of a

JUNIORS, from page 5

No. 23 overall pick in this year’s MLB draft — the first Tiger taken in the first round since Aaron Hill in 2003.

But team success was limited for LSU in the quartet’s freshman season.

The Tigers went 29-26-1 in 2007, missing both the SEC and NCAA tournaments. Dean was the leading hitter on that team with a .316 batting average, 46 RBI and seven home runs.

Mainieri gave the roster a face lift that offseason — 15 players who still had collegiate eligibility remaining didn’t return to the team.

The 2007 freshman class was whittled down from 12 players to seven. But Dean, Mitchell, Ochinko and Schimpf all made the cut.

“It’s been a roller coaster,” Mitchell said. “Coach Mainieri implemented this program, got the right guys to come in here, character guys that were going to work hard. It shows the kind of guys, the character we have here, from going

THE DAILY REVEILLE

local favorite could garner interest in the Hornets after what some consider a lackluster season.

“I just hope Baton Rouge people support the Hornets, and an LSU player could help that,” Rodrigue said.

Rodrigue and friends Trey Prejean and Michael Harang, Lafayette natives, said Thornton could “expand the fanbase” if he plays well.

“I love that about sports,” Schroepfer said. “It’s great to find a hometown guy to pull for, and I’d definitely go watch [the Hornets] more.”

Alizadeh said Thornton could help pull LSU fans to the Hornets’ bandwagon, just as 2006 SEC Player of the Year Glen Davis has won over

some locals to the Boston Celtics.

“With the Celtics, people just want to see ‘Big Baby,’” he said.

“And I think you’re going to see that happen for a lot of people here.”

For Thornton, Johnson said the focus is to stay grounded and be willing to work.

“He’s got to deal with a lot of expectations and try not to worry about everyone else, because Marcus loves to try and take care of everybody,” Johnson said. “He and Collison have a real chance to make an impact.”

where we were two years ago to where we are now.”

That infamous season ended May 19, 2007 — 772 days ago for those who are counting.

But Schimpf still remembers it.

“It’s fun to see how much we’ve progressed. It really seems like yesterday that we were freshmen playing at the old Box, going through a pretty rough season,” Schimpf said. “It was just good to see how we transformed into a great team.”

And what changed the Tigers’ fortunes? Mainieri redirecting the players’ attitudes, according to Schimpf.

“It was just the character of the team. He kind of had to change us attitude-wise and just had to make us a little more dedicated,” Schimpf said.

Mainieri said while his predecessor, Smoke Laval, recruited those four players to LSU, that doesn’t mean he doesn’t “love them to death.”

“I committed myself to them as freshmen. And I bit the bullet,

and I knew it was going to create some hard times,” Mainieri said.

“Because I showed such faith in them, they showed great loyalty to me. I knew we could fight through those tough times … I knew they were tough kids, and I knew I had a little bit of toughness too and that eventually this team was going to be going in the right way.”

The group got through the tough times, as Mainieri predicted. Their sophomore campaign brought much more success, with a 49-win season and LSU’s first trip to Omaha since 2004.

And then came the national championship junior season.

“He’s done everything and more for this team, from the coaching and the X’s and O’s part of it, to putting together a great core group of guys, to instilling the right frame of mind on and off the field,” Mitchell said of Mainieri.

Mainieri said he’s not positive what any four players will decide regarding their futures, but he has a hunch he’ll see Dean back in an LSU uniform next season. Dean was drafted in the 10th round by

Tuesday, june 30, 2009

BILL HABER / The Associated Press

Contact David Helman at dhelman@lsureveille.com

Former LSU guard Marcus Thornton (right) shakes hands with Hornets general manager Jeff Bower (left) on Friday in New Orleans.

the Minnesota Twins.

“Maybe Dean will be back.

You know, we’ll see,” Mainieri said. “It would be good for him to be honest with you. He would be to the 2010 team what Louis Coleman was to the 2009 team.”

But even if all four leave, will any of them stop talking to one another other once they start playing professionally?

Not a chance.

“All of them are in my phone.

All of them will always stay in my phone, and we’re always going to keep in contact,” Mitchell said.

“It’s just been a fun ride. They’re going to be some of my closest friends for life.”

Contact Robert Stewart at rstewart@lsureveille.com

THE DAILY REVEILLE

GLORY DAYS TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2009

PAGE 7

PATRICK SEMANSKY / The Associated Press

Sophomore outfielder Leon Landry autographs a T-shirt for 14-month-old Ethan Smith and his father, Blake, on Thursday during a celebration for the baseball team at Alex Box Stadium.

PATRICK SEMANSKY / The Associated Press

Senior pitcher Louis Coleman carries a national championship flag onto the field Thursday in front of fans.

PATRICK DENNIS / The Associated Press

Baseball coach Paul Mainieri celebrates Thursday in Alex Box Stadium the day the team returned home from Omaha, Neb. LSU won the College World Series for the sixth time in school history by defeating Texas.

1

THE DAILY REVEILLE

PAGE 8

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Game

ERIC FRANCIS / The Associated Press

2

Sophomore second baseman DJ LeMahieu reacts after hitting a game-tying two-run double in the ninth inning of game one of the College World Series.

Game

After an early Monday night struggle that included senior ace Louis Coleman giving up five solo home runs in the early going of game one, the Tigers battled back to tie the game with two outs in the ninth inning on an RBI single by sophomore second baseman DJ LeMahieu.

Freshman center fielder Mikie Mahtook, whose first four at bats included three strikeouts and grounding into a double play, drove in the game-winning run in the top of the 11th inning to give the Tigers a 7-6 victory.

“The older guys told me ... to be patient because I would still have a chance to come up and get a big hit,” Mahtook said of his early at bats.

“So I kept my head up, and I got the base hit.”

The courageous performance by the Tigers drew some compellingly positive reviews from the team’s skipper, Paul Mainieri.

“That was the most courageous, never-saydie resolve I have ever seen out of one of my teams in my 27 years of coaching,” the Southeastern Conference Coach of the Year said.

But the Tigers knew heading into game two their season was still far from over.

ERIC FRANCIS / The Associated Press

Texas pitcher Brandon Workman watches the Tigers celebrate their 11inning victory from the Longhorns’ dugout after closing the game.

TED KIRK / The Associated Press

LSU Coach Paul Mainieri approaches freshman outfielder Mikie Mahtook (8) and sophomore outfielder Leon Landry (6) after LSU beat Texas, 7-6.

Texas’ stellar freshman righthander Taylor Jungmann decided to take the game into his own hands, going the complete nine innings while striking out nine Tigers en route to a 5-1 victory Tuesday night.

The loss snapped a season-high 14-game winning streak for LSU. “It was a frustrating night for us,” Mainieri said.

The Tigers’ only run in the game came on an error by Texas shortstop Brandon Loy, allowing junior right fielder Jared Mitchell to score.

Texas had two solo home runs in the game.

Mainieri and his club were not ready to say die, as one more game remained in the college baseball season. photos by TED KIRK / The Associated Press “We have a chance to play for the national champion[Above] From left to right, Ryan Schimpf, Blake Dean, Derek Helenihi, Tyler ship with our Friday night starter on the mound,” Mainieri said of sophomore right-hander Anthony Ranaudo, who Hanover and Matty Ott watch the last out of ninth inning. [Right] Texas pitcher Taylor Jungmann threw a complete game, leading the Longhorms to a 5-1 win. would start game three.

Fueled by a first inning, three-run homer by Mitchell and a five-run sixth inning, the Tigers’ offense showed how potent it could be and as it had been all season, in an 11-4 victory against No. 1 seed Texas Wednesday night. The victory sent the Tigers to a dog pile in front of the pitcher’s mound at Rosenblatt Stadium and gave LSU it’s sixth national championship in 19 seasons.

“We’ve been so consistent all year,” said LSU sophomore catcher Micah Gibbs. “We knew that we would be able to come back [from the loss], and that’s exactly what we did today.”

Fittingly, Coleman showed the resolve he had his entire career as a Tiger in the win, closing out the final two innings of the game to send Texas back home in tears.

“It couldn’t have felt any better,” Coleman said.

3

NATI HARNIK / The Associated Press

Sophomore pitcher Anthony Ranaudo strikes out a Texas batter in the first inning of the final game.

Game

Ricardo B. Brazziell / The Associated Press TED KIRK / The Associated Press

Junior outfielder Jared Mitchell watches his three-run home run sail out of the park in the first inning.

Texas catcher Cameron Rupp, left, stares at the field after the Longhorns’ loss.

TUESDAY, June 30, 2009

THE DAILY REVEILLE

PAGE 9

ERIC FRANCIS / The Associated Press

Junior outfielder Jared Mitchell is greeted by Blake Dean and Mikie Mahtook after he scores on a three-run homer in the first inning of Wednesday’s game three.

Celebration seemed to be a theme this season for LSU. From the preseason No. 1 ranking to opening up a brand new stadium to the celebration in Alex Box Stadium just a day after the Tigers captured their sixth national championship, Baton Rouge and the Tiger faithful have been cheering since the start of LSU’s baseball season Feb. 20 against Villanova.

But it wasn’t just the fans cheering.

As shown by these pictures, the team enjoyed numerous joyous moments as a group, ending in the best way possible — on top of the college baseball world.

DAVE WEAVER / The Associated Press

LSU players thank fans Wednesday night after winning the deciding game of the College World Series in Omaha, Neb.

DAVE WEAVER / The Associated Press

Players dog pile after senior pitcher Louis Coleman struck out the final Texas batter.

ERIC FRANCIS / The Associated Press

Players rush out of the dugout to celebrate after the team defeated Texas, 11-4.

ERIC FRANCIS / The Associated Press

Baseball coach Paul Mainieri exchanges hugs with players after winning his first, and LSU’s sixth, national championship.

THE DAILY REVEILLE

PAGE 10

TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2009

GRANT GUTIERREZ / The Daily Reveille

An LSU fan holds up a sign asking for a new “Intimidator” for the new Alex Box Stadium. Coach Paul Mainieri asked Athletic Director Joe Alleva if a new sign was in order, and Alleva responded with resounding yes.

TED KIRK / The Associated Press

LSU fans, spelling out G-E-A-U-X T-I-G-E-R-S, cheer on the Tigers in the stands of Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, Neb. on Tuesday night during game two’s loss to the Longhorns. Many students stayed until the Tigers won.

GRANT GUTIERREZ / The Daily Reveille

Coach Paul Mainieri holds up the NCAA Championship trophy Thursday in Alex Box Stadium to the approval of fans.

THE DAILY REVEILLE

Tuesday June 30, 2009 PHONES, from page 1

FLU, from page 4

then it’ll go from being more of a luxury to a necessity.”

Honeycutt owns a new iPhone 3GS, which he has had for about a week. He said the features he likes about his iPhone are e-mails, reading the news and the ability to zoom in and out on screen.

One feature he also touted is the GPS, which he says is a less popular, but “critical,” application.

“Let’s say you’re in New Orleans and you get lost,” Honeycutt said. “That fear of crime can be alleviated because of the GPS. It could actually enhance maybe the idea of psychological security with that.”

Danny Tran, biological sciences junior, has owned the AT&T Tilt smart phone for about a year.

Tran said he has grown “pretty dependent” on his smart phone because he can use it in place of a computer for certain tasks.

“It’s made my life easier because there’s Internet on it, so whenever I want to look up show times or something to a movie, I can just pull out my phone,” Tran said.

Malorie Holmes, marketing junior, has an iPhone she got as a Christmas gift last December. She said she isn’t as attached to her phone as Berry or Tran, but she said it has made her life easier.

Holmes said the only thing she doesn’t like about her iPhone is she hasn’t been able to get multimedia messages.

“Apparently with the new software, you’re supposed to be able to, but I just haven’t figured that out,” she said. “I don’t think it’s a necessity. It’s definitely a luxury. I could live without it. I’m not that dependent on it. It’s definitely just convenient.”

Chloe Seydel, an incoming freshman and Samsung Behold owner, primarily uses her smart phone for entertainment.

“There’s so much I can do on it,” she said. “I love having music on my phone. I never thought I would need it. But now that I have it, I couldn’t live without it.”

But while Seydel enjoys her phone’s features, she said her life hasn’t been changed because of it.

“There’s definitely stuff I don’t use. I never use Bluetooth. I barely even know what that is,” Seydel said. “It’s just a phone. You make calls on it.”

Honeycutt said some people consider a smart phone more of a toy than a requirement.

He said stereotypes about media usage have led people to believe smart phone users can become addicted to their device.

Dan Burgin, mechanical engineering freshman, is a smart phone user who doesn’t find his BlackBerry Curve indispensable.

“Some of the features I don’t use,” Burgin said. “Just having a cell phone is more of a necessity ... I mean, it’s nice to have, but I wouldn’t say I need a smart phone.”

Honeycutt said many people today are intrigued by smart phones because of the technological generation in which we live.

“Human beings adapt,” he said.

“Throughout evolution, there’s been adaptability. And so now we’re adapting to technology.”

either be included in the regular flu vaccine in the fall or ... produced separately and given in conjunction with the regular flu vaccine,” Honigman said. “And when [the vaccine] does become available, we’ll have it.”

But the availability and future distributors of the vaccine are mainly dependent on how much of the vaccine is produced, Guidry said.

“If we had large numbers of the vaccine ... we can go through the health care process and ... several markets,” Guidry said.

“If there’s not a lot of the vaccine available, it will probably [be distributed] through the government [to] people who are most at risk of getting deathly ill. The CDC usually gives a protocol on who should get the vaccine should that happen.”

Another determinant of when the vaccine will become available is the swine flu itself.

“If you look in past history, one [pandemic] in 1918 came out in the spring then waned ... in the summer,” Guidry said. “But then

Contact Robert Stewart at rstewart@lsureveille.com

it came back with a vengeance in the winter. That’s ... why we’re watching this virus. Most experts feel that ... we’re more than likely [to] see resurgence in the winter.

The question is if it’s going to be just a mild flu like it is now or a virus that ... has mutated to where it causes more disease.”

If the swine flu mutates, the scientists who worked to create the current vaccine will be “back to square one,” Guidry said.

But both Guidry and Honigman wanted to remind people that the vaccine is not necessary for most people, so there is no reason to panic if the vaccine is not obtained by flu season.

“People don’t take common illnesses seriously until they see something new like [swine flu],” Guidry said. “There are things around that are probably more deadly that they don’t pay nearly as much attention to. So the main thing is that they keep themselves informed, don’t panic and ... follow [health officials’] advice.”

Contact Natalie Roy at nroy@lsureveille.com

PREP, from page 4 by utilizing and developing these research tools.

“Even though we have a system in place for this hurricane season, we already know what needs to be improved for next year,” Twilley said. “When you have that kind of dialogue with the clients and the users, it really helps you focus your research agenda. That’s a very important benefit from this partnership.”

FETI will also benefit from the partnership by being able to respond more quickly during a hurricane, Pardue said.

“The more accurate [the NWS] can be, the more prepared we can be,” Pardue said.

The FETI course is first targeting fire departments in the area below I-10 and I-12, and FETI has successfully delivered the course 18 times to 194 firefighters, Pardue said.

“There have been … nothing but positive statements [about the course],” Pardue said. “It revealed that [fire departments] are not … prepared. Now they know what to do and the steps they need

PAGE 11 to take.”

But while Pardue said FETI is content with the improvement in their hurricane response, Twilley and Graham said there is room for improvement within the storm surge forecasts, as well as other areas.

“We need to improve on distinguishing the single message or map and how … to deliver it,” Twilley said. “Also, Louisiana’s levees … and structures’ elevations are inaccurate. Next year, we want to improve … elevation so that we have better grids.”

Graham added precision to the list of improvements, which would hopefully lead to more accurate pinpointing of effected areas and less people evacuating.

“I think the partnership is a lot of hope,” Graham said.

And Twilley agreed.

“I think every year is better,” Twilley said. “I think we’ll see some improvement this year… and want storm surge to follow that improvement.”

Contact Natalie Roy at nroy@lsureveille.com

THE DAILY REVEILLE

Opinion

PAGE 12

TRAVEL

Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Similar but foreign routines exist cross-culturally

FRASCATI, ITALY — Regional Divide The North/South tensions prevalent in America can also be found more or less for similar reasons in Italy. Apparently, the lackadaisical lifestyle of Southern Italians is viewed less favorably by Northerners, who make no secret of their contempt for lazy Southerners.

Sound familiar?

In fact, Siesta — the equivalent of a daily “nap time,” in my understanding — is major part of Italian daily life.

Transportation More often than not, buses and trains were on time, but there was still frequent unreliability and dependence brought on by public transportation. This stark contrast with American culture was perhaps the largest downside of European culture. But with gas prices in Europe sometimes almost triple the cost of American gasoline, there is no alternative.

Food Of course, one can’t speak of Italy without mentioning the food.

While the Italians are famous for

their culinary talents — and rightfully so — it goes without saying that their restaurants lack American variety.

Further, air conditioning and ice were rare in many restaurants, and Daniel Lumetta because Italian servers rely on Columnist salaries rather than tips, dining out usually involved poorer service than that found in

American restaurants.

But not to belittle the amazing Italian cuisine and culture, one major aspect of Italian life that might never catch on in America is health and fitness.

Stereotypes “You can charge it. You’re American.”

This pervasive stereotype of the American consumer was a common marketing tool for Florentine market salesmen and the single most insulting thing I’d heard since I’d been in Italy.

But stereotypes wouldn’t be stereotypes if they weren’t true. I charged a brand new leather jacket — one that I might wear twice — to my credit card and was out the door.

He was a hell of a salesman.

Daniel Lumetta is a 22-year-old mass communication senior from Metairie.

Contact Daniel Lumetta at dlumetta@lsureveille.com

NIETZSCHE IS DEAD

Government considers penalties for unhealthy behaviors As President Obama begins to strongly push for health care reform, the nation is steeped in controversy.

Republicans — and many Americans in general — are fundamentally opposed to the most basic ideas at the root of his proposed solutions. Republicans fear the bill, which would fundamentally alter the health care landscape by introducing a national health-care plan, pushes the nation towards socialism.

One of their biggest issues with the plan is money — how, conservatives ask, can Obama possibly plan to pay for such sweeping “reforms?”

It’s an undeniably legitimate question.

By all accounts, the plan for health care reform will cost a huge amount of funding, as much as a trillion dollars. With the nation already under a colossal deficit, many believe the amount paid for reform may simply be too steep.

Obama and his supporters obviously believe it is needed, and they are proposing some innovative solutions in an attempt to come up with a way to fund the programs.

One of these solutions is an innovative take on an old strategy — create another sin tax.

“Sin taxes” are nothing new.

They are essentially taxes on items that are traditionally considered “sinful,” such as alcohol or cigarettes.

Such taxes provide government funding while simultaneously discouraging less than admirable behavior.

The novel part of the proposed tax is what it would affect — soft drinks.

Proponents of a soda sin tax argue that taxing soft drinks to pay for health care reform just makes sense.

First, the tremendous amount of soft drinks purchased daily would mean a huge revenue stream.

Secondly, taxing soft drinks — and thereby likely reducing their consumption, in the same way previous sin taxes have — is a kind of health care reform in and of itself.

Soft drinks have undeniably negative effects on consumers’ health and contribute to the obesity epidemic that is our nation’s ultimate health crisis.

But the soda tax is unlikely to succeed. Obviously, such a tax would be wildly unpopular and difficult or impossible to pass. In addition, the research indicates such a tax might do little or nothing to actually limit consumption and would pay

but a fraction of whatever mammoth health care overhaul eventually solidifies.

But even if the soda tax fails, it brings up an important point.

No matter how much money is thrown into reforming our health care system, those reforms will be meaningless if they do nothing Matthew Albright to correct the Columnist unhealthy behaviors that plague Americans.

The biggest issue is obesity. By any standard, obesity is an epidemic in this country, and the resulting health problems are largely responsible for the stresses we are seeing in the system.

Unfortunately, correcting the lifestyles that lead to obesity on any meaningful scale is a difficult task.

One solution is to discourage consumption of unhealthy foods — such as sodas — by taxes. If a national health care plan is created, then some propose that it would require obese people to pay more.

The arguments for forcing those

who practice unhealthy behaviors to pay more for health care are similar to those for the soda tax — it would simultaneously discourage unhealthy behaviors while providing additional revenue. Besides, it only seems fair that those with unhealthy lifestyles pay more, since they are more likely to require service.

However, these negative incentives do have some drawbacks.

First, obesity is more prevalent among lower-income families. As any college student knows, healthy eating often requires time, effort and money that many Americans simply cannot afford. Imposing further financial burdens may not just be ineffective, but actually counterproductive.

Second, although obesity is certainly influenced by unhealthy behavior, genetic factors do favor certain individuals. Is it fair to require people with a genetic disposition towards weight gain to pay more?

The most fair solution would obviously account for genetic factors, but such a system would be ripe for abuse and likely impossible to create in the first place.

But the complexities involved with penalties for unhealthy behav-

ior don’t end there. What constitutes unhealthy behavior? Should smokers pay more under a government health program? Should those who do not exercise?

Should college students who party on the weekends have to pay more for their government health insurance?

These are all questions that need to be answered. In addition, a standard for determining the degree of these penalties would be difficult to implement.

The problem with health care reform isn’t only whether to create government-sponsored health insurance. Even if the political capital can be mustered to create such a program, significant effort will need to be put into solving these questions.

And it’s important that everyone pay attention — because the solutions could have significant impacts on American lifestyles.

Matthew Albright is a 20-yearold mass communication sophomore from Baton Rouge.

Contact Matthew Albright at malbright@lsureveille.com

SNAPSHOT

If you aren’t out enjoying the heat, try the library The University is a magical place.

OK, maybe not in the stifling heat, but try hard to think back to the good ole’ days —spring or fall.

You may not recall your fondest memories during these time periods because of schoolwork, but I’m talking about the weather.

Try to remember the first day you walked outside and could breathe again, free from the oppressive heat.

Perhaps you decided to enjoy the good weather on the Parade Ground. It’s the perfect location for a game of ultimate frisbee or pick-up flag football.

It also provides a nice place to relax and eat or study as you remember why you loved LSU in the first place.

Some brave souls are still persevering in the heat, but if you are like me, anything is a better option than

THE DAILY REVEILLE Editorial Board JERIT ROSER ELLEN ZIELINSKI

Editor Managing Editor

MATTHEW ALBRIGHT

Columnist

TRAVIS ANDREWS

Columnist

SCOTT BURNS

Columnist

SKYLAR GREMILLION

Columnist

being outside during the day, including studying.

Brushing up on my studies has never been a strong point of mine, but being distracted in the attempt to do so is something I Ellen Zielinski mastered long Managing Editor ago.

And believe it or not, Middleton Library is the perfect place for procrastination.

It also holds some of the University’s most precious history. And I don’t mean the books — I mean the graffiti on the desks.

Next time you are “studying,” I encourage you to look under the desk you’re at, or on the walls of your cubicle. More than likely, messages from your forebearers surround you.

EDITORIAL POLICIES & PROCEDURES 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.

They may be profane or profound, but it’s probably much more entertaining than whatever is in your book.

Ellen Zielinski is a 21-year-old communication studies major from Baton Rouge.

Contact Ellen Zielinski at ezielinski@lsureveille.com

QUOTE OF THE DAY “Your greatest wealth is health”

Virgil Roman poet Oct. 15, 70 B.C. — Sept. 21, 19 B.C.

THE DAILY REVEILLE

tuesday, June 30, 2009

SOCIALLY SIGNIFICANT

Opinion

PAGE 13

TV multiples illustrate changes in U.S. fertility

Television audiences have been obsessed with multiple births for years now.

Early on it was just a wacky family with a set of quintuplets featured on the evening news.

When reality TV became hugely popular, viewers were treated to constant recordings families with up to 15 children.

While at this point it may seem like trash TV, these families are reflections of what US fertility used to be and are also perfect negatives of what it has become.

For those who haven’t had the urge to watch TLC or somehow avoided national TV news, Jon and Kate Gosselin, The Duggars and The Octomom are people that are all famous for having a mess of kids.

But stopping after two or three kids would have been uncommon a century and a half ago.

Families were significantly larger In those days, and it’s easy to think that people were just having more kids, but that’s an incredibly simplistic and incorrect view. Population fertility is a complicated and somewhat fragile affair that has deep implica-

tions for society.

Population fertility isn’t just how many babies people are having — it’s actually an indicator of a population’s growth and sustainability.

The most common measure of fertility is the general fertility rate. The rate is composed of the number of children born in a year divided by the female population aged 16 to 49 — which is the estimated number of viable mothers.

The general rate isn’t the most precise measure of population fertility, but it does give an idea of how a population is reproducing. Furthermore population reproduction is most effectively viewed in the context of death.

A population’s number of births must exceed the number of deaths to truly increase. The number of births and deaths have been close to even in the US since the Baby Boom, but that wasn’t always the case.

Like many popular urban myths the family, life history and fertility of our recent ancestors is a bit cloudy.

We’d all like to believe that large families lived together in

handmade cabins and had their meals around a fire. Within that mythic structure, people only seemed to die in wars.

But that’s just not true. Back in those days, people died pretty frequently.

Historic evidence from France and the U.S. shows par- Skylar Gremillion ents often Columnist died shortly after their children reached maturity and older generations rarely existed in the same time frame as younger ones. Most children never met their grandparents in this time period.

The idea of having large families wasn’t about lust, accidents and the heady musk of an unwashed lover — it was a war of attrition waged against nature.

But that was the olden days.

Those days are long gone and we no longer really worry about populating the country through sheer numbers and hoping that our kids make it to 30.

Infant mortality in the mod-

ern world is fairly stable, outside of developing nations. Children born in the US have an excellent chance of making it to old age.

Even though the world is a much safer place for kids than it was 150 years ago, replacement fertility is still a major issue, but the situation has changed a bit.

In fact, it’s flipped completely.

Developed countries don’t have to worry about kids dying anymore — they have to worry about children not being born at all.

For many years now the number of births in the U.S. has remained fairly constant and maintained replacement levels.

But the levels in Western Europe have dropped well below replacement.

The reasoning behind these drops are fairly complicated and, according to most demographers, involve later marriages, increased cohabitation among couples, a shift in family focus from children to adults, and the widespread and easy acquisition of contraceptives.

The point is people are having less kids than before, which

brings me back to the Duggars, Jon and Kate and the Octomom.

The media seems to treat these people as circus freaks. And they are “freaks” to some extent.

They all stand out because they have a larger number of children than what is considered normal today.

For me, the issue of whether they should be on TV is nearly irrelevant.

These families are great examples of the way ideas about something as fundamental as fertility can shift and change over time.

It’s important to be reflexive about our lives and social world.

Even the simplest things are not what they seem.

After all once the zombie apocalypse comes and mankind is forced to repopulate, our families may look just like Jon and Kate’s — hopefully without the snarky comments and fertility drugs.

Skylar Gremillion is a 26-year-old sociology graduate student from Plaucheville.

Contact Skylar Gremillion at sgremillion@lsureveille.com

EYE ON THE BUDGET

Thanks, Legislators, for making La. a laughing stock Kyle Bove Senior Writer

Dear Louisiana House of Representatives, I just wanted to say thank you. Not for helping find a way to reduce cuts to higher education and health care, but for something much more important — your resolution honoring rapper Hurricane Chris.

On Wednesday, the Shreveport native and Godson of Rep. Barbara Norton even performed his hit “Halle Berry (She’s Fine)” on your floor, a spot typically reserved for the democratic process.

The video of Chris’ rap is bouncing around the Internet like a beach ball at an LSU football game, and plenty of ridicule is being thrown your way. But don’t worry, it’s not like you had anything better to do during those 10 minutes. I mean, we’re only in the middle of a financial downturn, and critical funding decisions were in your hands.

And don’t listen to The Cajun Boy on New York’s wildly popular blog “Gawker,” who wrote, “unparalleled in the history of American political corruption is the backwards collection of scoundrels, scallywags, hooligans, rascals and charlatans collectively known as the Louisiana State Legislature,” after posting the video. He’s just jealous he

didn’t get to see Chris’ exclusive performance in person.

What you did was great for Louisiana’s image. Just when I thought the country looked at you as mere political laughing stocks, you decided to add being hip-hop connoisseurs to the mix, taking a few minutes to listen to rap music instead of those boring bills. There was only one day

left in the session, and the budget was still up in the air — but hey, so were your hands.

In all seriousness, while Hurricane Chris is enjoying success — he’s had the No. 5 single in the country and will be performing at the BET awards tonight — the Legislature is not the place — and the day before the tumultuous 2009 session ends is

certainly not the time — to honor him.

Thanks to Youtube — have you heard of this Web site? — thousands of people have seen your hip-hop blunder, making Louisiana the butt of jokes once again.

So thanks for the embarrassment. I can’t wait to cover the Legislature next spring. Can I

make a suggestion, though? I say we just postpone Voodoo Fest and have it at the Capitol next session. We’ll sell T-shirts. It’ll be great.

Sincerely, Kyle Contact Kyle Bove at kbove@lsureveille.com

BEST AND WITTIEST

Photo courtesy of KING FEATURES SYNDICATE

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Cost: 35 cents per word a day Personals Free for students

Employment and full-time work available.

Contact Kathryn Rountree, Operations Manager, krount1@lsu.edu to set up an interview SEEKING ENTHUSIASTIC STUDENTS who love working with children for local after school program. MWF or T Th 1:30-5:30 Now hiring for Fall semester. Call 975-0131 Please leave a message.

SMALL LAW OFFICE seeks part time runner/ courier; flexible hours, willing to work around school schedule, dependable transportation required. Call 225.298.0770 SURVEY TAKERS NEEDED: Make $5-$25 per survey. GetPaidToThink.com STUDENTS NEEDED TO work with children / adults with disabilities. Several positions, various hours. One position available on LSU campus. Apply: St. John the Baptist Human Services, 7732 Goodwood, Ste A-1 225.216.1199 ISDS MAJORS wanted for HelpDesk and Programming positions. Email resume to hr@ bankers-bank.com !BARTENDING! Up to $300/Day. No Experience Necessary. Training Provided. Age 18+ OK 1-800-965-6520 xt127

For Sale 754 FALL CREEK/LSU 3bdrm,2bth-3yrs old. Granite, wood and ceramic make this a great place to live. Fenced yard,2 patios. $215,000. Gertrude Cramer Remax R. E. Group 225.773.6025 TIGER MANOR CONDOMINIUMS. UNITS READY FALL 2009!! Brand new 1, 2, and 3 bedroom units for sale starting at $124,900. Ask about our Guaranteed Buy-Back Program!! 3000 July St. 225-346-5055 www.tigermanor.com Location. Location. Location... Start Living.

REDUCED 3/3 CONDO, LSU CAMPUS Gated: 3/3 1700SF Reduced to $195,000 Almost New. The Gates At Brightside. 1.5 from campus. Income producing while your student lives free. 407-353-0564 Susan

For Rent WALK TO LSU 1 and 2 BR FLATS and TH, pool, laundry center. University View Apartments on West Parker. Call Hannah 767-2678. NO PETS. WALK TO CAMPUS 1Br, 2Br, and Townhomes.

Starting as low as $400.00. www.lsuwestchimesplace.com 225.346.4789 VERY Nice new construction 1B/1BR condo near campus. Granite & ceramic tile through out. Working security gate. $800 per month.

Call or email - cjbrennan@deloitte.com

Housing

TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2009

Deadlines: 12 noon two school days prior to the print publication date

Merchandise

832.266.8935 TIGERLAND 1 & 2 BR flats and TH. wdfloors, pool w/s paid $525 -$725 225.615.8521 TIGER PARK LSU. 1 and 2 Br. TH. pool. $525 to $700 call 766-7224 225.892.8517 TIGER MANOR CONDOMINIUMS. UNITS READY FOR FALL 2009! Brand new 1, 2, & 3 bedrooms available. Reserve your unit today! Walk to class! 3000 July St. 225-346-5055. www. tigermanor.com Location. Location. Location... Start Living.

SUMMERWOOD VILLAS Preleasing for summer and fall. Spacious 3BR/2BA condo, gated community, w/d, encl. garages, lakefront units. From $1300/mo. Free rent! Call Christie at Latter & Blum Prop. Mgmt.

225.297.7857 SUBLETER NEEDED 1b/1b townhouse, close to LSU, $740. Call 225.717.0700

Transportation

2bed/2.5 bath - $1,300/monthly 3bed/3.5 bath - $1,650/monthly All appliances included.

Dean Flores Real Estate 225.767.2227 225.767.2227 3 BED/3 BATH ON BRIGHTSIDE $1650/ Month, Free Maid Service!

2405 Brightside on LSU Bus Route Arlington Trace Condos Parking for 3 & All Appliances Included hollisleech@yahoo.com 310.989.4453 2BR - 4119 BURBANK Available soon. www. lsubr.com for pictures and floor plan. 4450039. $650. No pets.

1BR UNF WALK TO LSU Les Petites Apts 3313 Iowa St w/stove, fridge, central A/C 9275495 225.766.0679 1BR STUDIO Walk to LSU $395-$475. Water/ Sewer/Gas included. 2BR wood floors $550.

Call McDaniel Properties 225.388.9858

NEW CONSTRU CONDO APARTMENTS Affordable, New, Nice 2&3BR Units on Range Ave in Denham Springs 276-3134

1 BR ON BURBANK -FROM $475 www.lsubr. com for pictures/ floorplan. 4065, 4243, 4118 Burbank. $300 deposit. No pets, not even visiting. Leave a message. 978-1649

LSU AREA, 2 bedroom 1 1/2 bath TownHome with W/ D, no pets, $650/ month. 225-8021961 or 225-612-8273

1 BR APT. WALK TO LS U ! ON SITE MGR 7697757 / 978-3123 / 767-4128

LARGE HOUSE 4 brm/2ba 2200. ft. $1600mo. dep.req.great location 318.573.5102 HOUSE FOR RENT 2 BR 2 BA off College Dr. $1000 deposit. $1000/mth for 12 mth lease 225.928.1035 HIGHLAND ROAD 3 br 2 ba $950-$1300 225.769.1079 GATED FAMILY COMPOUND: 12 MIN AVAILABLE AUGUST 1ST: 4 br/3.5b Country Home in a gated family compound on a working sugar cane plantation. Central H/A, ceiling fans through-out, satellite dish, W/D, stove, refrigerator, dishwasher and disposal included. Open front porch and back brick patio. Some furnishings provided at no extra cost, if needed. $2,000/month (225) 753-4304, 505-6161 225.753.4304 FOR RENT NEW TWO BEDROOM TWO BATH CONDO; RENT IS $1,100.00 PER MONTH; 9 FT. CEILINGS, CERAMIC TILE FLOORING, ALL APPLIANCES INCLUDING WASHER/ DRYER IN UNIT; CONVENIENT TO CAMPUS, INTERSTATE AND SHOPPING 225.413.9800 FOR RENT IN Brightside Estates 3BR/2B Condo Gated, Pool, Volleyball court, on bus route, 3 parking spaces call or email at Talbots@cox.net call 225.266.9063 CHATEAU DU COUR IN TIGERLAND Large 2 BR 1 B in gated complex..772-2429 mckproperties.com BRIGHTSIDE PARK TOWNHOMES. Pre-leasing for summer and fall. 2br 2.5 bath pool, w/ d. $900/ mth $500 dep. 955-6480 southlandpropertiesinc.com ARLINGTON TRACE Reserve yours now for Summer/Fall ’09.

*LAKE BEAU PRE’ TOWNHOMES* Reserve your place now for Summer/ Fall ’09.

2br/2.5b - $1300/ mo.

3br/3.5b - $1650/ mo.

Featuring Clubhouse with Pool, Tennis Court, Gym. All Appliances Included.

Dean Flores Real Estate 225.767.2227

Roommate Wanted ROOMMATE NEEDED FOR 3BR HOUSE Looking into getting awesome house on Harwich (near Brightside). Need third roommate for rent. $450/ month, $433 if by July 1st. Contact Igor: 225.773.0577 ROOMMATE NEEDED Male grad seeking roommate to share 2BR/2.5B Lake Beau Pre Condo Only $575 INCLUDING UTILITIES!!

Gated, Pool, Gym, Tennis Court 225.247.0567 ROOMMATE NEEDED Male grad seeking roommate to share 2BR/2.5B Lake Beau Pre Condo Only $575 ALL UTILITIES INCLUDED!!

Gated, Pool, Gym, Tennis Court 225.247.0567 ROOMMATE NEEDED Seeking roommate for 2BR/2.5B condo in Lake Beau Pre’.

Only $550 plus utilities!

Gated Community featuring luxury pool/ jacuzzi, game room, tennis courts, media room, gym, and only 2 miles from LSU. Email bbrow22@gmail.com for more detailS ROOMMATE NEEDED!!!

Female roommate needed. Partially furnished 2100 sq. ft. condo. 3 bedrooms and 2.5 baths.

Services

504.722.1372 HOUSE OFF HIGHLAND RD. Female needs two female roomates for 09-10 year. New house, built last year.

Fabulous 3BR house off Highland, less than 1 mile from campus. Your own BR and Full Bath! $450/ mo each.

Call Jim Talbot (225) 927-2114

Personals STILL SEEKING SUGRAMAMA Sexy 22yo s/w/m looking for an attractive, adventurous cougar 25-42 years old. Do not be shy! I will make your dreams come true. Tell me about yourself when you take me out for lunch! brokeinbr@gmail.com HEY! You always seem to be walking to your car as I am walking to class. Last week you actually waved at me (I think it was at me!).

This has been going on for quite a few weeks, but we both get “surprised” looks on our faces every time we see each other.

Say “Hey!” next time we pass.

LOOKING FOR MY MATCH to fill the little opening in the jumbeled sock drawer of my heart.

White female who is into snake charming, chainsaws & sealing envelopes with hot wax.

Seeking male companion with high ACT score, high cheekbones and high self esteem. No Weirdos PLEASE! allthegoodonesweretaken666@yahoo.com LSU GUY Looking for love in all the wrong places.

Finally decided to put this up here. I’m 22 going to graduate next May. I need a sweet girl who is content being herself. I like movies, going out to dinner, traveling, and of course LSU Football.

Tigerlovin22@gmail.com GIRL NEEDED FOR laundry and creation of tasty ice cream treats hungrymandirtylaundry@yahoo.com SEEKING CHARITABLE, outdoor loving individual. Must love animals and the occasional hiking or camping trip. Drop me a message at HighpointingForAmerica.org SEARCHING 4 SOULMATE 20yo Asian guy seeking masculine guy 18-23 to date. Races open. I’m a sweetheart! tigerboy1988@gmail. com

Miscellaneous PREGNANT?? We are a happily married couple waiting to adopt a precious baby! We want to help you in EVERY way throughout your pregnancy. Please contact us to view our profile! 225.235.4088

TUESDAY, June 30, 2009

THE DAILY REVEILLE

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THE DAILY REVEILLE

Tuesday, june 30, 2009