The Daily Reveille — January 20, 2009

Check Inside For:

details about a third reruit decommitting from the football team on page 9.

NEWS Middleton will soon undergo renovations, page 8.

ENTERTAINMENT Read an interview with the band England in 1819, page 6.

THE DAILY REVEILLE WWW.LSUREVEILLE.COM

Volume 114, Issue 73

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

A House Divided

Sesquicentennial kicks off amid budget cuts

By Ryan Buxton Senior Staff Writer

Since its inception, the University has weathered the Civil War, Reconstruction, two World Wars and numerous budgetary challenges, as well as produced countless distinguished alumni.

One hundred and fifty years later, in the shadow of a faculty memorial service mourning the loss of LSU, the University began looking back on its past and committing to its future.

University dignitaries, faculty, staff and students gathered at Memorial Tower Tuesday to kick off the University sesquicentennial, or 150th anniversary, and outline the celebration’s goals — to reflect, celebrate and commit.

“We’re here to celebrate not the past

Instructors hold memorial for loss of LSU

but celebrate the future and recognize the past got us here,” said Chancellor Michael Martin.

Martin and former U.S. Congressman W. Henson Moore III mentioned the importance of recommitting to the future of the University as it finds itself on a slippery financial slope.

“If we’re going to stay a flagship and top-tier university, we’re going to have to individually commit and create a community of giving back,” Moore said.

But Moore said he is confident the University’s future will be prosperous.

“As long as there is a Louisiana ... there will be an LSU,” he said.

The Sesquicentennial Committee is feeling the effects of budget cuts as well.

By Xerxes A. Wilson Senior Staff Writer

The University could not escape an undercurrent of uncertainty evident Tuesday when more than 100 University instructors clad in funeral garb mourned the loss of the University just yards away from the sesquicentennial kickoff celebration.

English instructor Tania Nyman rallied students and faculty for “Memorial for Louisiana State University” yesterday. Nyman refused to call the memorial service a protest, rather saying it was a gathering of people concerned about the University and the unnecessary budget cuts.

“This is about something more important than our jobs,” Nyman said. “Gov. [Bobby] Jindal would have you believe that these budget cuts are about belt tightening

150 YEARS, see page 19

in tough economic times. These budget cuts are the result of the disastrous path Gov. Jindal and the legislators have put us on.”

Nyman cited the repeal of the Stelly Plan taxes, which funded higher education until 2008, and legislators’ refusal to find ways to tap into emergency funds to aid Universities left reeling from budget cuts as irresponsible mistakes.

Chancellor Michael Martin made an appearance at the memorial and said he didn’t think the memorial clashed with the sesquicentennial celebration across the street. Martin said the celebration reminded everyone the University was founded during the Civil War, and it has persevered through three major depressions.

“This is exactly the day we needed to MEMORIAL, see page 19

J.J. ALCANTARA / The Daily Reveille

Chancellor Michael Martin thanks LSU Dining employees while presenting the birthday cake used to kick off the University’s sesquicentennial celebration.

JORDAN LAFRANCE / The Daily Reveille

Peter Sutherland, international studies professor, holds up a sign Tuesday during a memorial on the Parade Ground held by instructors who gathered to protest “the loss of the University.”

OUR VIEW

Budget cuts are here; ignore them at your own risk If you’ve read any news about the University recently, chances are it has scared you. The headlines are grim — the new year brings with it $12.6 million in cuts the University has to make, pushing

the grand total to a staggering $43 million in funding reductions during the past year.

These are going to cause indeterminate, but potentially catastrophic damage to the quality of our education. Indeed, em-

ployees of auxilliary campus units, such as campus services, are already being laid off. And the University is now threatening to fire instructors on an unprecedented scale.

The Daily Reveille has covered the budget cuts closely for several semesters.

We’ve used the phrase “impending budget DAMAGE, see page 16

TRAFFIC

Road construction causes congestion Estimated completion date for project in March

By Ashton Martin Contributing Writer

Continued construction on Burbank Drive near campus could lead to road closures and unexpected inconvenience for drivers for at least another month.

The Department of Transportation and Development green lit the road project in September, and construction has been active since January 11.

“The construction should be finished around the second week of March,” said Amber Hebert, a spokesperson for the Louisiana DOTD. To expedite the completion of this project, construction workers have been scheduled to work at only certain hours.

“The construction workers will only

work Monday through Saturday from 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.,” Hebert said.

But some students and workers said the scheduled work hours are an inconvenience to drivers trying to commute to campus on time.

“The traffic really put me behind when I was headed to campus this morning,” said Anthony Knatt Jr., biological engineer freshman. “I live not even five CONGESTION, see page 19

NICOLE KARAMICHAEL / The Daily Reveille

Road construction near the intersection of Burbank Drive and Lee Drive causes traffic backups Tuesday evening.

THE DAILY REVEILLE

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2010

Nation & World

INTERNATIONAL

NATIONAL

Thousands of Haitians fleeing capital in search of food, safety

Students in Mass. get insulin instead of swine flu vaccines

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Thousands of Haiti’s quake victims are struggling to board buses to flee hunger and violence in the shattered capital, hoping that food will be easier to find in the countryside.

But both gasoline and food are scarce in Port-au-Prince, and bus drivers have hiked fares, forcing some to pay more than three days’ wages for a seat.

WELLESLEY, Mass. (AP) — Wellesley school officials said several staff members at an elementary school had to be taken to the hospital after being injected with insulin rather than the swine flu vaccine.

Superintendent Bella Wong said no students were ever in danger at Friday’s vaccine clinic for staff at Schofield Elementary School and all the people who got the wrong shot have recovered.

Wong, in a letter to staff and parents Monday, said the insulin belonged to students with diabetes.

Nearly 50,000 former Sunni fighters now in Iraqi state jobs BAGHDAD (AP) — Nearly 50,000 Sunni fighters who sided with American forces against al-Qaida and other militants in Iraq are now in government jobs, a top official said Tuesday in an attempt to soothe fears they would be neglected by the country’s Shiite leaders. The announcement, made during a press conference, was a reminder that Iraq’s sectarian tensions remain raw.

GOP’s Brown wins Senate race in epic upset in liberal Mass.

BOSTON (AP) — In an epic upset in liberal Massachusetts, Republican Scott Brown rode a wave of voter anger to win the U.S. Senate seat held by the late Edward M. Kennedy for nearly half a century, leaving President Barack Obama’s health care

overhaul in doubt and marring the end of his first year in office. Addressing an exuberant victory celebration Tuesday night, Brown declared he was “ready to go to Washington without delay” as the crowd chanted, “Seat him now.” Democrats indicated they would, deflating controversy over whether they would try to block Brown long enough to complete passage of the health care plan he has promised to oppose.

Man accused of spraying protesters and police officer with fox urine PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A 36-year-old Maine man facing assault charges after allegedly spraying fox urine on protesters and a police officer outside a Portland restaurant.

Police said the man was arrested Sunday night after spraying a group outside The Front Room restaurant protesting what they call labor violations. Restaurant owner Harding Lee Smith was the target of a lawsuit claiming he’s been violating state and federal wage and hour rules.

PAGE 2

STATE/LOCAL

December casino revenue down 15.8 percent in Louisiana

This year’s sugar story: More cane, less sugar because of weather

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Louisiana’s state-licensed casinos continued to slump in December, as winnings from gamblers slid 15.8 percent from December 2008 — a product of the recession and increased competition for wagering dollars.

The 13 riverboats, Harrah’s New Orleans Casino and the four race track casinos took in $192.4 million in December, down from $222.8 million in December 2008, state police reported Tuesday.

Still, the casinos showed a bit of improvement last month from November 2009, boosting revenue by 7.5 percent from $179 million.

Last month, the riverboats won $131.3 million, down from $152.7 million in December 2008.

The New Orleans land casino took in a tad under $31 million, down from $34.9 million. The four race track casinos won $30.1 million, a drop from $35.2 million.

(AP) — A state agriculture expert says Louisiana’s sugar cane growers had a good crop this year, but wet weather means there was less sugar in the cane.

LSU AgCenter sugar cane specialist Kenneth Gravois said that even with Hurricane Gustav in 2008, growers had a very dry harvest.

There was less cane to harvest, but the sugar recoveries were higher, he said in a story in The Advocate.

Gov. Bobby Jindal heading to the Superdome this weekend (AP) — Gov. Bobby Jindal didn’t make it to the Superdome for a New Orleans Saints game during the regular season, but he’ll be cheering the Black and Gold in person now that the Super Bowl is on the line. The Saints play the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday in the NFC title game.

The winner heads to the Super Bowl in Miami.

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Weather 71 61

TODAY

ONGOING IN JANUARY

7:20 a.m.

8:20 a.m.

Noon 3:20 p.m.

4:20 p.m.

5:20 p.m.

BABY, YOU CAN DRIVE MY CAR

Scattered Storms

THURSDAY 71 48 SATURDAY 73 57

FRIDAY 69 55 SUNDAY 63 40

SARAH HUNT / The Daily Reveille

Log on to lsureveille.com to see various car logos on campus.

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

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Wednesday, January 20, 2010

THE DAILY REVEILLE

STUDENT GOVERNMENT

PAGE 3

TRANSPORTATION

Tax-free textbook BR Loop plans move forward location to be analysis completed Final chosen mid-summer

By Catherine Threlkeld Staff Writer

Tax-free textbooks will be an option on Student Government Senate’s ballot this semester.

Earlier this month, SG’s chief economic adviser, Greg Upton, completed a semester-long analysis calculating the approximate cost to the State of Louisiana if the sales tax on textbooks were eliminated.

The results of the study also showed how much students spend on textbooks and which textbook markets are the most expensive.

The tax includes the 4 percent Louisiana state sales tax and the 5 percent local jurisdictions’ sales tax.

Eliminating this combined 9 percent tax would cost the state approximately $6.5 million, according to the analysis.

In Upton’s sample, only 86 percent of students buy textbooks, and currently the revenue that goes to the state is approximately $5.5 million per year.

Of the statewide expenditures for the year, the estimated cost of $5.5 million is 0.0215 percent of the state’s budget, according to the analysis. This amount is only one-fifth of 1 percent of the entire budget.

At the beginning of the school year, SG surveyed students and asked where they purchased textbooks and how much they spent.

Upton said about 2,700 students responded.

The average cost for a semester to buy books is $372 in-state, $117

on the Internet and $55 on the black market, Upton said.

“These alternate markets can have negative externalities on education, as students may not have access to the most current textbook editions,” Upton’s analysis said.

“The high cost of textbooks is further compounded by the implementation of sales tax.”

Upton said the next step in the process is presenting the proposal to the Senate, where senators will then come up with a resolution and a senator will author a bill.

Members of SG will then present the analysis and bill to the State Legislature to be approved.

“The main thing I want to stress is it’s just an analysis,” Upton said.

“What Student Government decides to do with that is what we will see.”

The idea has appeared on the agenda of past SG staffs.

“It’s been through the State Legislature before,” Upton said.

“The difference is no one has ever done a quantifiable analysis.”

Upton’s analysis said the legislation will be passed in the summer of 2010 at the earliest and will therefore not affect this year’s budget.

The state might also consider passing the legislation with a “lag” year because of the harsh economic climate and the difficulty of the current budgetary process, according to Upton’s analysis.

Contact Catherine Threlkeld at cthrelkeld@lsureveille.com

By Grace Montgomery Staff Writer

The Baton Rouge Loop plan may soon bring relief to the city’s traffic congestion.

The proposed loop, developed by the Capital Area Expressway Authority, will stretch through Ascension, East Baton Rouge, Iberville, Livingston and West Baton Rouge parishes.

The 90-mile project would be a four-lane structure with the potential of two additional lanes in the future.

Engineers answered questions and displayed plans for the loops at open houses in each parish, which began Jan. 13 and will continue through Jan. 25.

“The public can come in and see recent changes from the plans announced last fall,” said Rannah Gray, Baton Rouge Loop spokeswoman.

Planning for the loop began in early 2007 said Mike Bruce, cofounder of ABMB Engineers.

“The public was a key input resource, even at the beginning,” Bruce said.

But officials are still unsure of the future location of the loop. One proposed feature is a bridge in either West Baton Rouge or Iberville parish.

The final location will be decided in mid-summer, Bruce said.

“I am excited to move to this stage in planning,” said Mayor-President Kip Holden. “Over the next two weeks we will evaluate tweaks

TRANSPORTATION

Tiger Trails adds nine buses

By Ashton Martin Contributing Writer

The University is working to improve the flow of students on and off campus this semester with a new line of buses.

Nine new smaller buses are included in the Tiger Trails bus program this semester, said Gary Graham, director of Parking, Traffic and Transportation. The smaller buses returned in October, but an additional 13 larger buses will be available

later in the spring.

All of the new-style buses cost about $4,000 per bus, said Graham.

The purple and gold design is an update from the buses’ previous predominantly white style.

“The buses look more LSU-like than the older buses,” said Michelle Rulet, computer science freshman.

“And I really like the bus because it’s eco-friendly and gets you right where you need to be.”

Graham said the older buses will no longer be used and will be

sent back to the rental company.

Graham said the budget cuts affecting the University should not have an impact on Tiger Trails because it is funded by a dedicated student fee.

“CATS and [the University] have a mutual agreement,” Graham said.

Students, staff and faculty can ride CATS free of charge, and in return, the Baton Rouge public can ride Tiger Trails, Graham said.

The decision on whether the Tiger Trails night B bus route may be canceled is currently under investigation by the University and Student Government, Graham said. It only serves about 12 to 15 people a night.

The Tiger Trails bus system was very successful last semester with few complaints, Graham said.

“We plan to keep evaluating the ridership of the buses this spring,” Graham said.

Graham said student feedback is important. Students can e-mail Student Government or the Office of Parking, Traffic and Transportation with comments and complaints.

ERIN ARLEDGE / The Daily Reveille

Night Bus A stops at the intersection of East Boyd Street and Burbank Drive at 7 p.m. on Jan. 19 to pick up and drop off students who live near campus.

Contact Ashton Martin at amartin@lsureveille.com

if there is a public outcry over the layout.”

A statement showing plans for federal projects to the public is required by the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, and the loop is currently in the first phase of the statement.

Bruce said the focus of development last year was the effect of construction on wetlands, farmlands and residential areas where the loop could be built, and conclusions will aid the location selection.

Gray estimates it could take three to five years for initial construction to begin.

After the location of the loop is finalized, an additional environmental study will take place before phased construction can begin.

To manage funds, the loop is planned to be a toll road — what Bruce called the only feasible option.

“The project is so attractive because private partners are able to

manage money over a long period of time,” Gray said.

The open house meetings also promote upcoming workshops in February for land use planning.

The creation of a major toll road will most likely attract land development around it.

“These workshops allow residents to plan and determine what kind of development will take place,” Gray said.

Holden attributes the heavy traffic that inspired the loop to economic success and a population increase from Hurricane Katrina.

Bruce said the loop is a necessary step for citizens of the capital city.

“We want to make it livable for Baton Rouge residents,” Bruce said.

Contact Grace Montgomery at gmontgomery@lsureveille.com

PAGE 4

THE DAILY REVEILLE

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Watkins, Scheuermann resolve to complete initiatives Communication, security top agenda

By Catherine Threlkeld Staff Writer

The new year brings resolutions of diets, better work habits and plans for exercise.

For Student Government, the new year is a time to keep pushing initiatives and working for student needs, and SG President Stuart Watkins and SG Vice President Martina Scheuermann said they each have personal goals for the semester.

“Improving communication is ... the biggest hurdle for SG administration,” Scheuermann said. “We have tried to get creative with how

we communicate with students.”

Watkins agreed SG has changed the way it communicates with students. Facebook, Twitter, weekly broadcast e-mails and straight talk on buses and on campus are some of the methods SG has implemented.

Scheuermann said SG will also start posting more information on the bulletin board in the Live Oak Lounge in the Union with updated SG happenings.

“There’s always room for improvement,” Watkins said. “It was one of the first times in years that we allowed students to have input on Groovin’ on the Grounds. We’ve got to continue to keep allowing students to have that same input.”

Watkins and Scheuermann have completed only 14 of 33 items on their election pushcard, but they said

many plans are in progress, including extending library hours the Saturday before midterms, providing more ATMs on campus and putting more recycling bins in residential halls and in Tiger Stadium.

“We don’t look at it as though we have 2 1/2 months left,” Watkins said. “We were elected to work from start to finish, so we definitely plan to continue that.”

SG has been working with the LSU Police Department and LSU Residential Life to complete plans for more security cameras around campus. Other upcoming plans for the semester include composting waste from 459 Commons, a sports club calendar and changing graduation fees for the 2010 Class Gift Project.

SG is also planning to host

every Southeastern Conference SG’s president, vice president and staff members for a weekend conference.

Watkins said each school will present ideas that have worked for their respective universities.

“It’s a great way for us to collaborate and bring back to LSU some ideas that have worked at other campuses,” Watkins said.

The Senate also has big plans for the spring semester. Speaker of the Senate Tyler Martin said the Senate completed plans set for last semester and will start this year with a clean slate.

“With budget cuts, we’re going to try to soften the blow for students,” Martin said.

Programs that normally get funding from University departments might experience funding losses,

Martin said. He said he would like to see more groups come forward for the Senate to fund, but funds can only be allocated to groups if they’re presented to the Senate.

Watkins said the University’s recent budget cuts will affect students more than in the past. The University slashed $12.7 million from its operating budget in response to mid-year budget cuts, according to a Jan. 8 budget update from Chancellor Michael Martin.

“As an everyday student, you weren’t going to see the effects on campus,” Watkins said. “Now things are becoming a little bit more tight, and you’re going to feel the crunch.”

Contact Catherine Threlkeld at cthrelkeld@lsureveille.com

ENVIRONMENT

Baton Rouge, University recycle Christmas trees Mulch needed for coastal projects

By Lauren Nyman Contributing Writer

Wrapping paper, gift boxes, Christmas trees — many facets of the holidays generate waste.

Thirty-three million live Christmas trees are sold and disposed of every year, according to the Environmental Protection Agency’s Web site.

The Recycling Office of East Baton Rouge Parish’s Christmas Tree Recycling Program reduces holiday waste each year by collecting and recycling Christmas trees.

Trees have been collected from donation bins since the mid-’80s and delivered to Natural Resources Recovery, Inc., the city’s woody waste recycling contractor.

“The trees are processed into mulch to be sold under Nature’s Best or donated to not-for-profits,” said Susan Hamilton, Director of Recycling for the Baton Rouge Department of Public Works.

In a Jan. 13 e-mail sent to Hamilton from Natural Resources Recovery, Inc., early numbers estimated

ADAM VACCARELLA / The Daily Reveille

A collection dumpster was placed on Skip Bertman Drive as part of the East Baton Rouge Recycling Office’s program to recycle Christmas trees.

13,343 trees had been collected this holiday season, with many more to be picked up from curbsides. These trees will provide approximately 52.04 tons of organic material for mulch or coastal restoration projects.

The University has a similar environmental agenda with its Christmas tree, which is mulched and spread beneath campus oaks each year.

Fred Fellner, assistant director of Facility Services, said the Christmas tree has always been chipped and mulched.

“We chip and mulch all of the wood that is pruned and removed

from campus,” he said. “Sometimes some of the trunk is saved with the hope that it is used for ornaments.”

“The goal is to reflect the values of the University, which is why we have chosen a local tree this year and are moving forward to plant a [Christmas] tree for the coming year,” said Nancy Little, Public Affairs Coordinator.

Plans to plant a live tree are in the initial stages.

“The idea is to plant a tree that would be suitable year to year as a live [Christmas] tree and for the tree to be viewable to the public,” Fellner said.

Mulching and chipping organic materials to place under campus oaks is one initiative of the LSU Green Campus Initiative.

“While [the Christmas tree] certainly fits into that category, it is also something that we have always done,” Fellner said.

Don Reed, forestry and wildlife professor, said mulching is an environmentally friendly and useful way to recycle Christmas trees.

“Most communities end up mulching,” he said. “Coastal communities use trees to build coastlines.”

Hamilton said Baton Rouge has a high rate of tree recycling because of local coastal restoration and marine fishery projects.

“The opportunity to recycle is high. The demand for the trees is higher than in other parts of the country,” Hamilton said.

Hamilton said the recycling program is vital to maintain consciousness of recycling year-round.

“Folks want to see a beneficial use of the [Christmas] tree,” she said.

Contact Lauren Nyman at lnyman@lsureveille.com

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

THE DAILY REVEILLE

PAGE 5

TRAVEL

Airport security affects international students Bombing attempt triggers increase

By Elizabeth Chamberlain Contributing Writer

Students experienced stricter airport security on flights during winter break after the recent failed bomb attempt on a Detroit-bound plane. A Nigerian passenger passed through two airports Dec. 25 with a bomb concealed in his underwear.

The Transport Security Administration plans to add 150 body scanners to American airports this year to heighten security in the wake of the Christmas “undiebomb” attempt.

Forty machines are in place at

19 airports across the country and allow security personnel to view plastics and powders that metal detectors can’t catch.

The scanners are proposed for use in large, international airports but are not currently planned for Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport.

“This didn’t change anything at Baton Rouge Metro,” said airport spokesman Jim Caldwell. “Everyone is still being very diligent in their jobs.”

The scanners have been criticized as unhealthy and invasive by the public, but a USA Today poll indicated that three out of four respondents support their use.

“It’s part of the ongoing struggle between privacy, personal rights and security,” Caldwell said.

International students reported changes in air travel into the U.S. during winter break, including more police and drug-dog presence, longer lines and increased questioning at Customs.

Pavel Mrazek, mass communication graduate student, was advised to arrive at the airport an hour earlier than normal for his January flight from Prague to New York City’s JFK. He said passengers were limited to one bag of carry-on luggage, and bags were opened and inspected by security officials, but he said the overall atmosphere of flying was not greatly changed.

Mrazek said flights to the U.S. from Europe have stricter security than flights within Europe.

“It’s to show you can secure

your country,” Mrazek said. “I know my Saudi Arabian friends always get checked.”

Rocia Barreda, economics sophomore, flew into Houston from Benito Juarez International Airport in Mexico City on Jan. 11 and said she was patted down and repeatedly questioned. “[Security] kept asking me, ‘Do you have food, tobacco, tequila?’”

Barreda said.

Heightened security measures have increased travel times and lines at large, international airports with less effect on domestic travel.

Paul Ivey, Associate Dean of University College, flew between New Orleans and Orlando during winter break. Ivey said lines were not longer, and travel was not slower

than usual.

Tiffany O’Neill, speech pathology sophomore, had a similar experience flying from Baton Rouge Metro to Bishop International Airport in Flint, Mich. She flew to Flint before Christmas and departed after the bomb attempt occurred.

“I was really surprised. I thought there would be some sort of change, but there wasn’t,” O’Neill said.

O’Neill, who received a patdown by security, agrees with the use of both scanners and traditional security methods.

“There’s no harm in doublechecking,” she said.

Contact Elizabeth Chamberlain at echamberlain@lsureveille.com

ECONOMY

Some colleges, universities offer textbook rentals Service unavailable on, around campus

By Leslie Presnall Contributing Writer

Many universities and colleges entered a new era of textbook renting this semester, which could save students almost 50 percent on book costs. But University students will continue to feel the pinch of textbook purchases as rentals will not be offered on or near campus.

Barnes & Noble College

Booksellers announced Jan. 11 a new textbook rental program for college students that could save them millions of dollars across the country.

Three of its 636 campus bookstores tested the program last fall.

The program has expanded to 25 bookstores since then — not including the LSU bookstore.

“We’ve had a tremendous response from students and faculty to our rental program and as a result have continued to expand it to other colleges and universities across the country,” said Max Roberts, President of Barnes & Noble College Booksellers, LLC, in a Jan. 11 news

release.

Barnes & Noble plans to expand its program to more colleges and universities in the coming months, according to the news release.

The University of South Carolina has more than 220 titles available for rent in a pilot program that began this semester. Students pay 42 percent of the price to rent a book and return it at the end of the semester, said South Carolina Bookstore textbook supervisor Josh Richardson.

Most students decide to still purchase textbooks for their courses within their majors but prefer to rent books for other classes and electives,

Richardson said.

Richardson said it’s slightly cheaper to purchase used textbooks and sell them back at half price, but there’s no guarantee a student will get money back for a book at the end of the semester.

“Renting is definitely the safer option,” he said. “But it’s required to bring the rental back, and there’s no money back.”

Bob Prescott, book manager at the Co-op Book Store on Burbank Drive, said he doesn’t expect textbook rentals to become an option for LSU students anytime soon.

“The only way you can make money off a rental system is using the book for two years, and there’s not a requirement to even be used more than one semester [at LSU],” he said. “The University would be the one who would initiate that, and every professor would have to adopt to use a book for two years.”

Renting textbooks has more negative than positive aspects,

Prescott said.

“The bad part about it is you may decide you want to buy the book to keep it, but you have to pay the full face value of the book even though you’ve rented it,” he said.

Students can’t highlight or write in rented textbooks and must return the book in the same shape they checked it out, he said.

“If you lose the book, you pay the rental, and then you buy it,” he said. “So, you’ve paid 150 percent of the book, and you don’t have the book.”

Rented textbooks don’t include additional materials like CDs or workbooks, Prescott said.

Anna Clark, animal science freshman, said she spent $420 on textbooks this semester.

“I would definitely rather rent,” she said. “They’re textbooks. I’m not going to keep them for 10 years.”

Contact Leslie Presnall at lpresnall@lsureveille.com

Mellow Mushroom

Team Trivia @ 8pm and Karaoke @ 10pm.

3-10pm $6 Bud and Bud Lt. Pitchers 3pm-Till $10 Buckets & $2 Shots

9:00-10:30 AM 12-1:30 PM 4:00- 5:30 PM 8:00-9:30 PM

Year One The Orphan Angels and Demons The Ugly Truth

THE DAILY REVEILLE

Entertainment

PAGE 6

WEDNESDAY’S Q &

A

with local band

England in 1819

WHERE DID YOU LIVE BEFORE COMING TO BATON ROUGE? “We spent a long time in England — we were there for 10 years almost. We grew up there, then we moved to Baltimore for another eight years and went to high school there. Then when [Dan and I] both graduated, we happened to go to school in Ohio.

We moved around a bunch just because my parents liked to move. I like Baton Rouge though — the food is awesome, the weather is pretty nice. I feel like, going to school in Ohio, I’m a little more liberal than your average person. There’s a lot of pickup trucks out here.”

— Andy Callaway

WHAT’S IT LIKE WORKING WITH A FAMILY OF MUSICIANS IN YOUR BAND? “It’s really great writing with them because everyone has really good communication. If something comes up, everybody really understands. If you ever have any trouble, nobody ever takes things too personally because it’s a family. It’s really great because they coordinate, and everybody’s really flexible.” — drummer Sebastian Jungschaffer

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2010

HOW DID YOU GUYS GET STARTED? “We started as a three-piece band three years ago with my dad on drums and Dan on bass. We were called Field Day as the three-piece band and did that for a year and released a six-song EP. We went back to Colorado for a summer and worked out there for fun, and my roommate [Sebastian Jungschaffer] from college who I hadn’t seen for four or five years came work with us for the summer, and he ended playing drums. My brother met Zuly through the grad school at LSU. He asked her to come sing stuff one day, and it was really good fit from the beginning. She’s really good about balancing the operatic and popular styles of singing. It’s great being the writer knowing I have these things to work with.”

— principal songwriter and lead vocalist Andy Callaway

HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH THE NAME OF YOUR BAND?

“We were called Field Day when we were a threepiece band, but when we changed the music, that didn’t make sense for our band. We wanted something that described our band a little better. It’s just [the title of a] poem. It’s a political poem, but we kind of want to downplay that side of it. We’re not trying to project those words as our band. We didn’t want to be a political band, and that isn’t really the message of our band.“ — bassist and trombone player Dan Callaway

HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE YOUR SOUND? “I’d call it slow, orchestral, chamber rock. I read a term used in the ’80s that didn’t make sense, so I’ve gone with chamber rock. It’s rock music with chamber elements — length of the pieces, instrumentation, songwriting approach.”

— Andy Callaway

DESCRIBE THE BAND’S SONGWRITING PROCESS.

WHAT’S SOMETHING YOU WOULD TELL PEOPLE TO GET THEM OUT AT YOUR SHOWS?

“I write most of my songs on the piano, so I have the chords on there. It all sort of fleshes out from that.”

“I think you’ll leave our show happy that you saw it. I genuinely think it’s good music.”

— Andy Callaway

“[Andy] usually brings in the foundation of a song, and we’ll arrange it together. The full band does the arranging. It takes a long time, but that’s our strength. Andy’s so sure of what he wants that I can’t really say ‘Oh, it can’t really go this way.’ We’ll get stuck on one chord change for 30 minutes. If someone were to look at it from the outside, it would drive them crazy.”

— guitarist William Callaway

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE MUSIC VENUE IN BR? “Spanish Moon — we really like playing there.”

— Dan Callaway

LOG ON TO LSUREVEILLE.COM TO SEE WHICH CLASS STUDENTS ARE MOST OR LEAST LOOKING FORWARD TO AND WHY.

— Dan Callaway

Wednesday, January 20, 2009

THE DAILY REVEILLE

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PAGE 8

THE DAILY REVEILLE

LIBRARY

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

STATE

Committee appropriates more than Dardenne won’t $300K for Middleton renovations challenge Vitter for Additions to improve Senate seat next fall group study areas

By The Associated Press

(AP) — U.S. Sen. David Vitter won’t face a Republican primary challenge from Secretary of State Jay Dardenne, who ended months of speculation Tuesday by announcing that he won’t enter the fall Senate race.

“After much consideration, I have decided not to seek the U.S. Senate seat this year,” Dardenne said in a short statement. “My family and I thank the many Louisianians who have encouraged me to run, but I believe my role is to serve the people here in Baton Rouge rather than in Washington.”

Dardenne’s announcement leaves Democratic U.S. Rep. Char-

By Jacob Most Contributing Writer

The Student Technology Fee Oversight Committee approved a plan in December to appropriate more than $300,000 for improvements to Middleton Library’s group study areas.

The plan calls for cutting edge collaborative learning environments to be installed throughout the library, said Nancy Colyar, assistant dean of libraries.

Improvements to the library will include additional tables for group study, comfortable chairs, plugs for laptops, ways to link multiple laptops together and recording devices to assist students in preparing presentations and speeches.

The additions will use wireless connections, Colyar said.

The plan also includes a renovated help desk in the back of the first floor where the current labassistance desk is located. The help desk will offer assistance to students using the new software and systems.

There is no formal name for the help desk yet, said Sheri Thompson, Information Technology communications and planning officer.

The library’s current group study areas are not adequate to the demand of today’s students because learning has become more dependent on collaboration, said Melissa Brocato, director of the Center for Academic Success.

The plan, known as “Middleton Library Information Commons: Collaborative Learning Commons,” was put before the committee by former Student Government President Colorado Robertson last February. Members of SG traveled to other SEC universities last year to research how LSU’s library could be improved.

“The library needs to increase networking and power,” Robertson said. “These installations will allow for all kinds of opportunities to incorporate collaboration into technology learning.”

The improvements will be set up by Information Technology Services and library personnel, Thompson said.

The plan was funded by the technology fee that appears on students’ fee bills.

The $75 fee affects students who take 15 hours or more a semester. Students who take less than 15 hours a semester pay $5 per credit hour.

The Committee uses the proceeds of the fee to “provide technology that supports learning,” Robertson said.

Robertson said the one-time expenditures used to fund the collaborative learning commons will not be affected by mid-year budget cuts. He added that the funds

JORDAN LAFRANCE / The Daily Reveille

André Williams, biochemistry senior, works on the computers in Middleton Library.

Renovations in Middleton will be happening throughout the spring semester.

for collaborative learning commons are made up entirely of surplus money accumulated over the years.

Middleton Library recently opened a tutorial center in the back of the first floor, which was originally included in the collaborative

learning commons plan.

Installation of the new group study areas could begin during the summer, Colyar said.

Contact Jacob Most at jmost@lsureveille.com

lie Melancon as Vitter’s main challenger for the seat. Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal also said he doesn’t intend to seek the Senate post.

The party primary for the Senate race is Aug. 28, and the general election is Nov. 2.

The 55-year-old Dardenne, a former state senator, had fueled chatter in recent months that he might provide a high-profile GOP fight for Vitter, saying that people were asking him to consider a run for the seat and that he hadn’t ruled it out.

Contact The Daily Reveille’s news staff at news@lsureveille.com

THE DAILY REVEILLE

Sports

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2010

Setting things

r i g h t

Tigers try to grab first SEC win against Auburn

PAGE 9

RECRUITING

Second wide receiver decommits

By Johanathan Brooks Sports Writer

J.J. ALCANTARA / The Daily Reveille

LSU freshman guard Aaron Dotson (12) goes over McNeese State senior center Elbryan Neal (21) for a dunk Jan. 4 during the Tigers’ 83-60 win against the Cowboys in the PMAC.

By Chris Branch Sports Writer

Fans tire of hearing clichés.

Athletes spew them constantly. They have to keep their heads down. They have to play for 40, 60 or however long the game lasts.

In LSU’s case, it’s dead on.

LSU (9-8, 0-3) has struggled to a winless start to Southeastern Conference play, but the Tigers will have a chance to right the ship when they face Auburn (9-9, 0-3) on Wednesday in the PMAC. For the second straight game, LSU will face a fellow winless team in SEC play.

“Auburn is coming off a tough

loss against probably one of the best teams in the country against Kentucky,” said LSU coach Trent Johnson. “Our concerns are on their overall team speed and their explosiveness.”

Johnson and players alike point BASKETBALL, see page 15

‘The kids are frustrated a little bit; they’re down a little bit, but they understand why.’

Trent Johnson

LSU men’s basketball coach

Four-star wide receiver Justin Hunter became the third player to decommit from LSU’s 2010 recruiting class when he reneged on his verbal commitment to the Tigers on Tuesday morning, according to multiple sources.

The 6-foot-4-inch Virginia Beach, Va., native is considered the No. 11-ranked receiver in the nation by Scout.com and the second blue chip receiver to leave the class.

“This does not cause the class to tank, but it puts pressure on the coaches to fill the void,” said Scout.com recruiting analyst Sonny Shipp. “Wide receiver was a great need before, but now it’s dire.”

Although Hunter has not eliminated LSU as a potential location, Scout.com now lists his two highest choices as Tennessee and Virginia.

Earlier in the recruiting period, the No. 3 ranked receiver in the country, Mike Davis, decommitted from LSU and later committed to Texas. Davis plays for Skyline High School in Dallas.

LSU is expecting visits from wide receiver Trovon Reed, an Auburn commit from Thibodaux; Markeith Ambles, an uncommitted receiver from McDonough, Ga., and James Wright, an uncommited receiver from Belle Chasse.

Four-star offensive lineman Jermarcus Hardrick, a Fort Scott, Kan., native, also decommitted from LSU and changed his verbal commitment to Nebraska in December.

Contact Johanathan Brooks at jbrooks@lsureveille.com

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Van Chancellor reaches 500 college coaching wins

By Rachel Whittaker Chief Sports Writer

Van Chancellor won his first game as a women’s college basketball coach in 1978.

The current LSU women’s basketball coach led the Ole Miss Lady Rebels to a victory against Mississippi College that day on his way to a school record 31-win season. Little did Chancellor know he would enter elite company 31 years later when he won his 500th game as a collegiate coach Dec. 30.

Chancellor is one of four

active Southeastern Conference coaches with 500 career coaching wins, joining Tennessee’s Pat Summitt, Georgia’s Andy Landers and Mississippi State’s Sharon FanningOtis. He is also the 39th Division-I coach all-time to reach the 500-win plateau.

The milestone victory came when LSU defeated Xavier (Ohio), 56-47, in Cincinnati. Chancellor said he was so focused on the Lady Tigers holding Xavier to a season-low in points scored that the achievement didn’t even occur to him that night.

“I’m going to be frank with you — the night we did it, I was so pumped up about beating Xavier that I didn’t think about it,” Chancellor said.

The 2007 Naismith Hall of Fame inductee is in his 22nd year as a college coach — his third at LSU — and his record now stands at 502174.

“On a personal note, maybe later in life it will seem to be pretty significant,” Chancellor said. “But right now I’m just trying to get my team WINS, see page 15

CATILYN CONDON / The Daily Reveille

PAGE 10

THE DAILY REVEILLE

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Tigers face difficult endeavor defending Auburn guards

LSU off to worst start since 2007-08

By Johanathan Brooks Sports Writer

The LSU men’s basketball team’s backcourt will have its hands full when LSU takes the floor Wednesday night against Auburn.

LSU (9-8, 0-3) is off to its worst start in conference play since the 2007-08 season, which saw the Tigers drop five straight games to start off Southeasten Conference play before securing a win.

In five of LSU’s eight losses this season, the Tigers have had opposing guards explode for at least 20 points.

Cue Auburn.

Auburn (9-9, 0-3) features a three-pronged attack at the guard positions — a dangerous tandem that explodes for an average of 41 combined points a game.

“Our guard play is the strength of our team,” said Auburn senior guard DeWayne Reed. “We really don’t have the inside presence that good, but it’s fun playing with our guards. We have shooters, and we have drivers and with me penetrating, I can kick the ball out to our shooters.”

Reed, fellow senior guard Tay Waller and sophomore guard Frankie Sullivan all average more than 11 points a game, and each logs at least 26 minutes on the floor a contest.

A member of the trio has eclipsed the 20-point plateau five times this season, with Reed having the team’s season high at 24 points against Niagara on Nov. 13 .

“They’re a hard guard, and we’ve got our hands full from the standpoint of [sophomore guard] Chris [Bass] and [junior guard] Bo [Spencer] and [freshman guard] Aaron [Dotson] because we’re gong to have to go small,” said LSU coach Trent Johnson.

“Auburn is a hard matchup for us. They were a hard matchup for us last year. Nobody handled us as well as they did last year.”

Reed runs the point and leads the team in both points and assists with 16 points and 4.6 assists per game, which are good enough for No. 9 and No. 5 in the conference, respectively.

“DeWayne and Waller — DeWayne is the head of the snake,” Johnson said. “He’s got quickness and explosiveness and he shoots. Him and Waller really stretch you, but DeWayne Reed is — and I talk about him and Waller — are very underrated guards in this conference. No

question.”

The contest marks the second time in three SEC games in which LSU will have to try to contain one of the best scorers in the league.

LSU faced a South Carolina squad last Wednesday led by senior guard Devan Downey.

Downey averages an SECleading 21 points a contest but exploded for 29 points in his team’s 67-58 win against LSU. LSU held an eight-point lead against South Carolina at halftime but was outscored, 41-23, in the second half behind Downey’s 17-point second-half performance.

“You just have to try to contain them, like I tried to do with Downey,” Bass said. “I tried to contain him, but he got kind of loose at the end.”

Johnson said he knows his team will have trouble defending Auburn, but he feels if LSU can play better defense, it could be successful.

“The most important thing to us is to limit their transition opportunities and close out out on the three — which is going to be tough because of their overall team speed and quickness and to try to keep this thing in the halfcourt,” he said. “It’s scary, their potential in terms of explosion.”

He said he feels his team

DAVE MARTIN / The Associated Press

Auburn’s DeWayne Reed (12) chases a loose ball with South Carolina’s Devin Downey (2) on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2010.

holds an advantage at the guard position, but Reed said beating LSU won’t be an easy task.

“It’s going to be a good matchup to see how they handle us,” he said. “Their inside play with [senior forward] Tasmin

Mitchell and [sophomore forward Storm] Warren in the paint is going to be key for them.”

Contact Johanathan Brooks at jbrooks@lsureveille.com

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

THE DAILY REVEILLE

PAGE 11

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Augustus to be first female with retired jersey There are three jerseys hanging from the rafters inside the PMAC, and after Sunday there will be four.

If this isn’t a big enough deal already, Seimone Augustus will become the first female athlete to have her jersey retired at LSU. She is quite possibly the most deserving athlete of the last few years to have her number retired except for Chris Jackson, but that is a whole different animal.

Augustus was one of the most highly touted women’s basketball recruits ever. She graced the cover of Sports Illustrated at 14 years old, and when she signed with LSU, a buzz began to float around the program.

Augustus changed the face of LSU women’s basketball. Being a Baton Rouge native, fans were able to see the program grow with a home-grown product.

She started all of the 140 games she played at LSU and put up some ridiculous numbers in those games.

She is No. 2 on LSU’s all-time scoring list with 2,702 points, trailing only Joyce Walker’s 2,906.

She is LSU’s career leader in freethrow percentage, sinking nearly 86 percent of her free throw attempts as a Lady Tiger.

Augustus was able to earn her degree in just three years while throwing up those great numbers, a testament to her hard work. Not to mention the Lady Tigers were 12119 during Augustus’ four years at LSU of eligibility on the team.

She also led the Lady Tigers deep into the NCAA tournament in all four of her college seasons. LSU made the Elite Eight while Augustus was a freshman then went on

to make three straight Final Fours during the remaining years of her college career.

Augustus also led LSU to its first ever Southeastern Conference regular season championships in 2004-05 and 2005-06. Both the Elite Eight appearance and the Final Four appearances were, at the times, the deepest LSU had gone in the NCAA tournament.

Her play garnered her more awards Amos Morale than any other Sports Columnist woman to put on a Lady Tiger jersey. She was a two-time SEC Player of the Year and won the Wade Trophy, Wooden Award and the Naismith Award all twice.

She was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2006 WNBA Draft and earned the Rookie of the Year award after scoring nearly 22 points per game and shooting nearly 90 percent from the free-throw line.

Augustus is easily the most recognizable former Lady Tiger in program history. Some may argue Sylvia Fowles is a bigger name, but that’s because she is more recent in the memories of some fans, and her Final Four appearances are fresher on the minds than the play of Augustus.

But Augustus ushered in a new tradition of dominance in LSU women’s basketball. What Augustus did and how well the Lady Tigers played when she was there catapulted LSU to the upper echelon of women’s basketball programs — a burden today’s Lady

FOOTBALL

Deuce McAllister to retire from football Active roster spot opens up for Saints

By Brett Martel The Associated Press

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Deuce McAllister has decided to retire from pro football, ending an injury-plagued eight-year career in which he rewrote the New Orleans Saints’ rushing records.

McAllister hasn’t played since 2008 but briefly rejoined the New Orleans Saints last week to serve as an honorary captain for the club’s playoff victory over Arizona on Saturday.

McAllister confirmed his plans to retire to The Associated Press on Tuesday afternoon and the Saints announced soon after in a one-sentence e-mail that McAllister had been placed on the team’s reserve-retired list.

The move opens up an active roster spot for the Saints, who host Minnesota in the NFC championship game on Sunday evening.

The Saints were off on Tuesday and the club did not announce any new roster additions.

The 31-year-old McAllister was drafted in the first round by New Orleans in 2001.

At 6-foot-1, 230 pounds, he was a punishing runner who could move piles. He also possessed the agility to make tacklers miss in the open field.

He grew up near Jackson, Miss., an area dominated by Saints fans, played at the University of Mississippi and became one of the most popular players in franchise history.

Contact The Daily Reveille’s sports staff at sports@lsureveille.com

Tigers have to carry and play with.

The Lady Tigers receive nearly every team they play’s best shot or are routinely the victim of every team’s “Pack the Arena” promotion. LSU is often the biggest game on each of its opponents’ schedules, and Augustus was an intricate part of that.

Augustus’ jersey retirement also brings attention to one of the

most dominant programs on campus. In addition to the Final Four appearances, the Lady Tigers haven’t had a losing season since 1995’s 7-20 campaign.

Now when fans look at the west end of the PMAC, they won’t just see the names of Bob Pettit, Pete Maravich and Shaquille O’Neal. They will see Augustus’ name and be reminded of a great

player who did great things at LSU. Amos Morale is a 22-year-old history major from Houston. Follow him on Twitter @TDR_AmosMorale3.

Contact Amos Morale at amorale@lsureveille.com

PAGE 12

THE DAILY REVEILLE

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

GYMNASTICS

Breaux looks to Franceschelli to be consistent threat

Senior shines early in the season

By Andy Schwehm Sports Contributor

Sabrina Franceshelli may have one of the most uncommon names on the LSU gymnastics team, but it still may not have stood out in fans’ minds the last few seasons.

The LSU senior has patiently awaited her turn behind fellow gymnasts such as Ashleigh Clare-Kearney and Nicki Butler, leaving her out of the spotlight for the majority of her career.

But Franceschelli has already begun to make a name for herself two meets into her senior season.

The Roslindale, Mass., native finished fourth in the all-around in the Lady Luck Invitational last weekend with a 39.100 coming off a second place 38.475 in the allaround in the Tigers’ first meet.

She finished tied for third with a career-high 9.90 on the vault in the Lady Luck Invitational and tied for third on the beam with a 9.775.

Those types of numbers don’t come as a surprise to LSU coach D-D Breaux, who hailed Franceschelli in the preseason as possibly the top allaround gymnast on the team.

That title says a lot about what is expected of Franceschelli,

J.J. ALCANTARA / The Daily Reveille

LSU senior Sabrina Franceschelli leaps on the beam Jan. 8 during the Tigers’ 194.375-190.625 win against Maryland. Franceschelli scored a 9.350 on the beam.

especially considering senior Susan Jackson, a former national champion and first-team All-American, still poses an enormous threat on the team.

“My expectations and my goals for her are the same as hers for herself,” Breaux said. “She’s got to step it up and make small improvements in each event, but she has solidified herself as an all-arounder. I expect her to make those improvements as we get to the middle of the season, then I want her to level out and be great each time she hits the floor.”

It would only be fitting, though, for Franceschelli to take over the role that last season was held by ClareKearney, who is one of Franceschelli’s best friends outside the gym.

Clare-Kearney said the two have known each other since middle school and grew closer at LSU. She said Franceschelli has what it takes to be the top all-arounder on the team, but it will depend on her mindset.

“It’s not her talent — it’s not anyone believing in her because everyone already does,” Clare-Kearney said. “She has to believe in herself

and have that confidence, and I’m trying to help her to understand that … She’s just very hard on herself.”

Despite the pressure being placed on Franceschelli, she doesn’t seem at all fazed when asked about her new role on the team.

In fact, Franceschelli said competing to be the top gymnast on the team is a role she will enjoy. She added it will require more than just being a top gymnast to help the team.

“I’ve been just trying to be with the team and be a positive influence on everybody,” Franceschelli said.

“I’m trying to be a leader on the team. In terms of my skills, I’m just going to keep everything that I have from last season and try to clean things up to contribute on all four events.”

The 2009 second-team AllAmerican has done her job in contributing on all apparatuses in her three seasons as a Tiger since coming out of Massachusetts Gymnastics Center. In her high school days, Franceschelli competed for many years as an elite gymnast before dropping down to a Level 10 gymnast her senior year, when she placed sixth in the nation on the uneven bars.

She then chose LSU over Utah, Auburn, Florida and North Carolina mostly due to the coaching staff at LSU. In her first season, she was a mainstay on the vault and beam lineups before contributing in all four

events her sophomore year.

Last season, Franceschelli was one of three consistent all-around gymnasts on the team, along with Clare-Kearney and Jackson. She averaged a 38.744 all-around and a 9.804 on the uneven bars, ranking her second on the team in the apparatus.

This season, both Franceschelli and her teammates know it will be important for her to once again post consistently high scores in order for the Tigers to make a third-straight trip to the Super Six, especially with a lack of depth in the Tigers’ lineups.

“To have Sabrina up there doing all-around and performing at a high level on each event helps us tremendously with our depth,” Jackson said.

Once this season is over, the senior has her goals set on becoming certified to teach preschool through fifth grade either back in the North or in the Baton Rouge area.

But she plans to keep gymnastics involved in her life.

“I don’t know if I will stay involved with it directly,” Franceschelli said. “But I want to try to incorporate it into my teaching. What I may do is try to open up an after school program that incorporates gymnastics.”

Contact Andy Schwehm at aschwehm@lsureveille.com

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2010

THE DAILY REVEILLE

PAGE 13

SOCCER

Two former Tigers taken in professional draft Rutledge was SEC’s highest-ever pick

By Johanathan Brooks Sports Writer

Following the success of their careers at LSU, two former soccer standouts will be given the opportunity to continue their playing days at the highest professional level in the country.

Former Tiger midfielders Malorie Rutledge and Melissa Clarke were selected in Friday’s Women’s Professional Soccer draft.

“We’re very proud of both Malorie and Melissa for the opportunity they have been given to continue their development at the professional level as part of the WPS,” said LSU coach Brian Lee in a news release.

“They are beginning to reap the rewards of all the hard work they’ve put into improving in our program over the last four or five years.”

During the draft, 65 players were selected throughout seven

Daily Reveille file photo

Former LSU senior midfielder Malorie Rutledge tries to steal the ball from Mississippi State’s Ashley Hood during the Tigers’ 4-0 win against the Bulldogs on Oct. 18.

rounds by the league’s nine teams.

Rutledge was selected No. 13 overall by the Philadelphia Independence. It was the organization’s first-ever draft pick, and made her the highest-drafted player from the Southeastern Conference in the WPS’ short history.

Rutledge, who is in California training with the Under-23 United

States Women’s National Team, said she was informed of her draft selection via Twitter.

“I was actually sitting in the lobby all by myself when I found out on Twitter that Philadelphia took me,” Rutledge said in a news release.

“After that, I got a call from [Independence] coach [Paul] Riley and the general manager congratulating

DANCE

Tiger Girls win competition Captain’s injury did not hinder team

By Luke Johnson Sports Contributor

Most students at LSU identify the Tiger Girls dance team with basketball games at the PMAC, but the team spent its winter break perfecting a routine that won a national championship.

The Tiger Girls won the Hip Hop National Championship on Jan. 17, at the Universal Cheerleading Association’s national championship at the Walt Disney Resort in Orlando, Fla. Sixteen teams from universities around the country were vying for the hip-hop title, but the Tiger Girls kept true to their motto, “Undeniable,” and finished at the head of the class even though the team was without its captain for the championship.

Kristen Davis, communication studies senior, injured her knee three weeks before the competition and had to watch her teammates perform without her.

Davis said she was disappointed she couldn’t participate in the competition but still played a vital role in keeping the dancers positive and making “14 people look as one.”

Denise Dicharry-Galjour, Tiger Girls coach and former captain of the squad, said it was a “huge motivation” for her young team to win the championship in part for their injured leader. The team of 19 dancers has 11 freshmen.

Dicharry-Galjour said the

best memory from the event was when second place was announced, and it wasn’t LSU. “Before every practice ends, we all get together and say a prayer,” said Dicharry-Galjour.

“Before the final, we had all the girls visualize another team being announced in second place. It ended up coming true — there’s no greater feeling than hearing second place announced, and it’s not you.”

Davis echoed Dicharry-Galjour. Last year, the Tiger Girls finished in second place after “one of the dancers fell out of the routine.” Davis said the feeling she had in second place last year served as motivation.

When the team heard the Memphis announced as the second-place team, Davis said the team had to hide its excitement out of respect for the Memphis team.

“But we were ecstatic,” Davis said. “We are the first team ever from LSU to get first place in [hip-hop].”

The Tiger Girls also finished in sixth place out of 14 teams in the jazz competition. DicharryGaljour said she was satisfied with the sixth place finish as well because the competition from around the country was stout.

The team spent an equal amount of time on both the jazz and hip-hop routines. Most of their performances focus more on energizing the crowd rather than the technical aspects of dancing.

That presented a welcome challenge to Dicharry-Galjour and assistant coach Alisha Andrepont.

The coaches choreographed both the hip-hop and jazz routines. They forged their working

relationship from their time together on the Tiger Girls dance team. “[Andrepont] and I share a lot of goals and ideas for the Tiger Girls,” Dicharry-Galjour said.

The Tiger Girls were created to support the athletic teams, and Dicharry-Galjour said that is still their first priority. But she said going to nationals was “definitely a perk.”

“It was fun to show off our talent instead of being on the sidelines and cheering on other teams,” she said.

Contact Luke Johnson at ljohnson@lsureveille.com

me. I was just in shock.”

During her four seasons at LSU, the Sharpsburg, Ga., native racked up a bevy of accolades including two SEC Offensive Player of the Year honors and was named to multiple All-American teams.

Rutledge finished her senior season leading the Tigers in both goals and assists with 13 and 12, respectively.

Clarke was selected as the No. 29 overall pick by defending WPS Champion Sky Blue F.C. — a team based in Piscataway Township, N.J. She was the team’s third selection in the draft.

“I followed the first couple of draft picks, and then I left to go do something, and by the time I was finished, I got a call saying I was drafted,” Clarke said. “I had high hopes for getting drafted, but I had no idea possibly when in the draft I’d be drafted or what time.”

Clarke was also praised for her accomplishments on the pitch while she was playing for LSU. In her senior season, she was a second-team All-SEC selection, she

was named to the SEC All-Tournament Team and was named to the NSCAA/adidas All-South Region First-Team.

She finished the season No. 2 at LSU in goals with 12 and dished out five assists.

Clarke says she is “stoked” about the opportunity to continue her soccer career because she recognizes how few people get to play professionally.

“Coming through club soccer when you start out, everyone plays,” she said. “Not everyone can go on to the next level, which is college, and then only a few girls get to move on to the next level. It’s definitely a great thing to know you’re being rewarded for your work.”

There is no guaranteed contract to those selected in the draft, and teams will be holding training camps in the coming months to evaluate talent before the season begins in April.

“I still have my work cut out for me, but I’m excited,” Clarke said.

Contact Johanathan Brooks at jbrooks@lsureveille.com

PAGE 14

THE DAILY REVEILLE

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

NFL

Ready or not, Vikings must go the distance to chase title Favre leads team to NFC championship

By Dave Campbell The Associated Press

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) — For all his playoff experience, 23 career contests to be precise, Brett Favre hasn’t participated in a postseason road game in six years.

It’s been 12 years since he’s won one.

Well, here comes his — and Minnesota’s — latest chance to go marching in to an unfriendly place and come away with a big victory.

Favre and the Vikings were nearly flawless this season in their raucous roofed stadium, sleek as ever on the artificial grass with the thermostat set near 70 degrees and the only breeze coming from the air conditioning ducts.

To reach the Super Bowl, though, they must prove the boundaries of their comfort zone can stretch this weekend beyond the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, all the way to the other end of the Mississippi River.

After dismantling the Dallas Cowboys in the divisional round, the Vikings drew a visit to New Orleans to play the Saints in the NFC championship game on Sunday evening.

PAUL SANCYA / The Associated Press

Minnesota Vikings’ Brett Favre (4) drops back to pass during the first half of an NFL divisional playoff football game Sunday, Jan. 17, 2010, in Minneapolis.

“I enjoyed every minute of that game,” Favre said after the 34-3 victory, “knowing that we would not be back in this dome.”

The Louisiana Superdome will provide the same controlled climate and fast surface, without the mass of pro-purple fans. Instead of using the noise to their advantage, the Vikings must fend it off and stay focused on the snap counts to avoid being rattled.

For a team whose stars are mostly veterans, including the venerable 40-year-old quarterback, poise should not be a problem. Last month, though, the Vikings lost all

three of their road games — all nationally televised at night with the spotlight on bright.

For the season, their 4-4 record away from Mall of America Field, as the Metrodome is now officially prefaced, was the worst of the six NFC playoff teams.

“I think that there are too many great stories to talk about struggles on the road, really quite frankly,” coach Brad Childress said, trying unsuccessfully to change the subject at his Monday afternoon news conference.

Favre’s last playoff road game is remembered well, and not so

fondly, by the Packers. Their defense melted down at Philadelphia, too, surrendering the infamous fourth-and-26 completion to set up the tying field goal, but the end of that late-blooming 2003 season was due in part to a late, crucial interception thrown by Favre.

He’s on a three-game playoff road losing streak, with the last win coming at San Francisco in the NFC championship game following the 1997 season. In those three defeats, Favre was picked off a total of nine times.

The Saints? They went 6-2 at home this season, not invincible.

The Cowboys were the first team to beat them there, so quarterback Tony Romo has a unique perspective on this contest. The Vikings harassed him with a fierce pass rush all game and got the crowd going with an early lead, making it more difficult for the Cowboys to come back.

“They’re really good playing in their home place,” Romo said.

“It allows them to do what they’re schematically made to do.”

Asked for his assessment of the Saints-Vikings matchup, he went with the safe pick.

“I think it will be a good football game,” Romo said. “I think each team is a little different in the style of football they play. One team is more of a pressure team while the other team likes to sit back and let

their front four do the work. I think it will be a great test. The home field will definitely favor the Saints.”

The Vikings lost all four Super Bowls they went to in the 1970s, and since their last appearance they’re 0-4 in NFC championship games.

Three of those were on the road, at Dallas (1977 season), Washington (1987) and New York (2000). Their all-time road record in the playoffs is 5-14, compared to 14-7 overall at home and 6-4 at the Metrodome.

Since Childress took over in 2006, the Vikings are 14-18 overall on the road, though 5-2 when under a roof other than their own.

The numbers aren’t great, no matter what the view is, but none of those previous experiences involved Favre.

He had his share of failures in important games while with Green Bay, sporting a 3-6 career playoff road record, but he also gained plenty of experience playing against a loud crowd all those years with the Packers when they visited Minnesota.

“He’s the guy. He’s the captain of the ship. He’s been there and done that,” tight end Visanthe Shiancoe said, adding: “He knows how to conduct this.”

Contact The Daily Reveille’s sports staff at sports@lsureveille.com

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2010 WINS, from page 9

there. That’s all I’m worried about.”

Landers said one reason Chancellor is such an icon in women’s college basketball is the personnel around him.

“Coaches who have been there a long time recognize the importance of having good players and good assistants because they are primary in a head coach’s success,” Landers said. “Since I’ve been a head coach, Van has been a great best friend to the other coaches in the league. Not only is he respected as a basketball coach, but people enjoy his friendship as well.”

Landers said coaching basketball in the SEC brings challenges among the rewards.

“It’s a very difficult job because every time you go out on the floor, you know your team winning

BASKETBALL, from page 9

to good halves — against Arizona State, Utah and South Carolina especially — among overall inconsistent play.

The same happened in the Tigers’ latest collapse, Saturday at Florida. LSU played a solid six minutes at the end of the first half to cut an early 15-point deficit to seven by halftime.

The Gators blitzed the Tigers again in the second half, but LSU rebounded somewhat. After going down by 24 points just nine minutes into the half, the Tigers erased 10 of those points to put the final separation at 14 points.

“Going back to us in terms of Florida, I thought there were a lot of positives for 20-25 minutes,” Johnson said. “There’s been constant improvement on our ability to handle and attack pressure.”

The Kentucky loss was quite the gut-buster for Auburn. Auburn had Kentucky within three points with eight seconds to go in the game, but couldn’t keep up. The undefeated Wildcats held on, 72-67.

Auburn, like LSU, also lost to South Carolina by nine points. Auburn’s other loss came after being handled by Tennessee in Knoxville, Tenn., 81-55.

Johnson is wary of the winless “other” Tigers. Senior guards Tay Waller and DeWayne Reed along with sophomore guard Frankie Sullivan pose a formidable challenge for Johnson’s squad. The trio combines for 41 points per game.

“Their guard play is impressive,” Johnson said. “The important thing for us is to limit their transition opportunities and close out on the three, which is hard because of their overall team speed and quickness. We need to keep it in the halfcourt.”

Reed and Waller won’t be the first talented guards LSU has faced this season. After facing South Carolina’s senior guard Devan Downey and Florida’s freshman guard Kenny Boynton, LSU sophomore guard Chris Bass has seen talent in the backcourt.

“We go up against Downey, and it’s Chris guarding him,” Johnson said. “It’s a learning process for him.”

Shooting has been an unpleasant prick in the Tigers’ side. LSU’s two primary shooters — junior guard Bo Spencer and senior forward Tasmin Mitchell — have been

THE DAILY REVEILLE

and losing is at risk,” Landers said.

“Even as a coach, when you know that, it isn’t easy to make young people believe that and embrace that every time they go on the floor ... Van’s teams are never easy to defend, and they are disciplined in what they do.”

Summitt agreed that Chancellor is a coach “who knows how to win.”

“When I look at Van … every place he’s been, he’s experienced success,” Summitt said. “That attests to the kind of coach he is and the kind of leader he is. Aside from [basketball] I consider him a great friend, and I have tremendous respect for him.”

Chancellor coached Ole Miss to a 439-154 record in 19 seasons, and he led his team to 14 NCAA tournament appearances. Chancellor said the Lady Rebels’ 1992 SEC championship season was a highlight in

his career; Ole Miss finished 11-0 in conference play that season.

“A friend of mine asked me the other day to list the biggest wins in my college basketball career,” Chancellor said. “Beating Vanderbilt at home on a layup by a kid named Jackie Martin that rolled over for us to win the SEC title in 1992 was one.”

At LSU, Chancellor said it is hard to top his first season when the Lady Tigers’ 2007 victory against North Carolina sent them to their fifth-straight Final Four.

Chancellor said his seniors that season, including Sylvia Fowles, Erica White, Quianna Chaney and Ashley Thomas rank high on his list of players he’ll never forget.

“They had had another coach [Pokey Chatman] who had been very successful, so they could have turned on me because I was

blanketed by opposing defenses.

Opponents have forced guys like freshman guard Aaron Dotson and Bass to take shots they might not normally pull the trigger on.

Bass is currently shooting 23.8 percent from 3-point range, while Dotson is at 16 percent.

Johnson, though troubled, isn’t surprised. And he has faith the shots will fall.

“Our shooting percentages,

whatever you want to talk about, we’ve all seen who’s being doubled on this basketball team,” Johnson said. “As long as those guys [not being doubled] take those shots within their comfort zone, within our philosophy, they’re not trying to miss them. They’re trying to make them, and it’s going to happen.”

Nevertheless, Johnson remains optimistic. Johnson maintains his players, however flustered, know

J.J. ALCANTARA / The Daily Reveille

LSU sophomore guard Chris Bass (4) takes a shot at the hoop Jan. 9 during the Tigers’ 66-49 loss to Alabama in the Southeastern Conference opener.

PAGE 15

J.J. ALCANTARA / The Daily Reveille

LSU women’s basketball coach Van Chancellor watches the Lady Tigers play Auburn on Jan. 10 in the PMAC. Auburn won, 64-62, in overtime.

different,” Chancellor said. “I even changed some of their roles, but I never had a problem. The day I quit coaching, I’ll reflect back on the how to persevere through a skid like the current three-game losing streak.

“Without question, I think the guys understand,” Johnson said.

“The kids are frustrated a little bit; they’re down a little bit, but they understand why. That’s the process — to try and fight through.”

Contact Chris Branch at cbranch@lsureveille.com

debt of gratitude I owe to them.”

Contact Rachel Whittaker at rwhittaker@lsureveille.com

THE DAILY REVEILLE

Opinion

PAGE 16

NIETZSCHE IS DEAD

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Conservative anger hurts University, state as a whole If you haven’t noticed, a lot of people are angry these days.

The reasons are as many as they are obvious. A shaky economy has caused colossal unemployment. The federal government is involving itself in private businesses, even taking the unprecedented step of directly propping up automotive and banking institutions — the latter of which have recently rewarded the favor by paying colossal bonuses to their executives. And the federal government is trying to exert itself in the health care system.

With so many perceived government excesses to get angry about, it’s little wonder the angriest conservatives nationwide are having a field day.

Tea Party movements have erupted in state capitals nationwide. Fiery conservative personalities like Glenn Beck are getting ever louder — and ever more rabid. And Sarah Palin’s cheeks are red even without a cartoonish amount of rouge.

DAMAGE, from page 1

cuts” in the past because the damage was in the future, a vague threat looming on the horizon.

That time has ended. The budget cuts are here — now — and students are going to feel the impact immediately.

If you haven’t been paying attention to this drama before, we strongly encourage you to take every effort to inform yourself. The repercussions of these cuts are huge — class sizes will almost certainly increase, course offerings will be greatly reduced and scheduling will transform from a mere headache into a nightmare that could easily interfere with your graduation date. The already long list of deferred repairs to the physical structures will likely grow even longer until students become acutely aware of practical problems throughout our otherwise stately campus. Even Chancellor Michael Martin said he believes entire majors and programs will “disappear” in the next 12 to 18 months.

But most importantly, the stock of all our degrees is at stake. A degree from a university strapped for cash to the point that it must make massive cuts to its faculty suddenly looks a whole lot less valuable to potential employers. And isn’t the prospect of finding a job scary enough?

In short, these budget cuts are going to affect you. They are going

To be fair, there is certainly room for doubt and protest given the sweeping scale and startling pace of these controversial government tactics. There’s even a place for taking it to the streets — a tea party isn’t necessarily a bad idea in theory.

But the problem with the conservative outrage over the current state of affairs isn’t the principles involved or the ideals that drive it. Instead, the problems lie in the gut-reactionary fervor in which it is festering.

Yes, the increase of government intervention in our national systems is troubling. Yes, government has a tendency to be inefficient — as an employee of the state for three years, I can personally vouch for that.

But that doesn’t mean liberals are stupid or evil. It doesn’t mean government is always an oppressing, wasteful monolith incapable of achieving public good.

If this all seems very abstract to the students reading this paper,

well, it’s going to get a whole lot more concrete if budget cuts wreak the havoc the University administration claims they will.

It’s true some amount of budget cuts are probably necessary given the deep impacts of the economic downturn. But higher education (and health Matthew care) are being Albright Opinion Editor gutted while other programs suffer only superficial wounds because the intricacies of the state constitution don’t protect them.

But the bigger underlying issue is that most Louisianans — and the officials we’ve elected — are unwilling to sacrifice any amount of money for the public good.

Anyone with a cursory knowledge of the Baton Rouge public works system knows

funding problems aren’t just affecting the University. Our sewers are crumbling, and our public schools are grossly underfunded (though this is hardly a new state of affairs). Anyone who’s driven on our pothole-ridden roads knows how insufficient and potentially dangerous they are. Yet our legislators, governor and citizens are still calling for smaller government and less taxes. It’s as if our entire state political culture is a tea party — angrily demanding “reform” based on broad, vague ideological concerns with little regard for their practical implications or plans for their execution.

Let me be clear — there’s nothing wrong with a conservative ideology. In general, free enterprise works better than government control. In general, a person should be entitled to the money they earn.

But there are some things that, at least in our current political climate, will only get done if the government does them — and

if we have the funds to support them.

You get the government you pay for. If Louisianans are tired of ranking near the bottom of every list of quality of life, they have to be willing to put in a little extra cash.

And if, as many conservatives claim, there is fat to be cut from the budget, it needs to be publicly found and excised.

Oh wait, LSU students, that’s already happening. Unfortunately, the fat being cut is from your education — and from the future of the state.

But at least we’ve still got our principles — right?

to affect you deeply. They are going to affect you immediately. And they are going to affect you whether you’ve cared enough to learn about them or not.

The Daily Reveille firmly believes students have a right and a responsibility to demand answers from our administration and elected officials. Why are these cuts necessary? Are they being administered fairly, effectively and with minimum loss to us, their customers and constituents? How are the cuts going to affect us and our future, and what can be done to mitigate the damage?

These are just some of the questions being addressed as this crisis reaches the boiling point. Our primary concern is you, the student body, and we will not let any administrator or government official prevent us from fulfilling our duty to you. We will hold those in power accountable, and if they abuse or misuse authority we will publicly decry such actions.

But we can’t do anything without you.

If you really care about the quality of your education, you will get involved in the process. Our Web site, lsureveille.com, has numerous forums for you to let your voice be heard. Our inbox at opinion@ lsureveille.com is waiting for letters, which we publish on these pages for the entire campus to see. And our door in the basement of Hodges Hall

is always open.

If you really care about your future — and the future of this state — you’ll watch these pages for news on how these cuts are being administered and protest by every means you have when they are administered poorly.

We will not take these cuts without protest. We certainly won’t let those in power steamroll us because we are college students, and our voices are usually not as loud as the adults that pay the most taxes.

In the very near future, things are going to get difficult. And it’s our

duty to ensure our interests and the interests of the public good are always held above political maneuvering and administrative interference.

THE DAILY REVEILLE Editorial Board NICHOLAS PERSAC JERIT ROSER GERRI SAX ELLEN ZIELINSKI MATTHEW ALBRIGHT

Editor Managing Editor, Content Managing Editor, External Media Managing Editor, Production Opinion Editor

Matthew Albright is a 21-yearold mass communication junior from Baton Rouge. Follow him on Twitter @TDR_malbright.

Contact Matthew Albright at malbright@lsureveille.com

Contact the Editorial Board at editor@lsureveille.com

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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.

QUOTE OF THE DAY “History will be kind to me, for I intend to write it.”

Winston Churchill British politician, statesman November 30, 1874 – January 24, 1965

THE DAILY REVEILLE

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

BURNS AFTER READING

Opinion

PAGE 17

Reality is overrated, fantasy is much, much better Last week’s headlines were dominated by two shocking revelations.

First, there were Harry Reid’s comments about President Barack Obama and his adorable “negro dialect,” which can evidently be turned on at KFC and off at the country club.

The statement appalled me.

My jaw dropped faster than Senator Reid’s approval ratings.

Never before had I even imagined rich white Democrats might think to use a black man as a political prop to benefit their own self-interest. My mind exploded. Politicians using people like Trojan condoms?

Absurd.

But then another bombshell was dropped.

Home run legend Mark McGwire admitted he used steroids.

My heart shriveled up like McGwire’s testicles. A Big Mac containing illicit, unhealthy substances?

Say it ain’t so.

Sure, these confessions might have seemed obvious. But people shouldn’t be able to pry us from our

own custom-designed fantasy bubbles.

Stating the obvious should be a crime. Obviously.

We shouldn’t have to live in a world tied down to that nasty whore called “reality.”

We shouldn’t have to listen to “financial experts” who say our economy is crashing faster than a John F. Kennedy Jr.-piloted private jet.

We shouldn’t have to watch Nick Saban raise another BCS trophy.

Instead we should be allowed to stay in our own personal Neverland — a world where up equals down and fiction trumps reality. We should live in a world where Michael Jackson never touched little boys, Megan Fox doesn’t have more than 3,000 lethal STDs and Haiti was just a fairy tale island 100 miles off the coast of Gilligan’s Island.

Imagine a fantasy world where the Jonas Brothers were diagnosed with HIV, Al Gore wasn’t blowing hot CO2 out of his ass and President Obama could flap his ears and

fly around the world faster than the speed of light and fix everything.

Life would be so much better in Imagination Land. College graduates would be able to pick any job they wanted. Nickelback fans would be tossed foot-first into a wood-chipper.

“The Hangover” would’ve been banned from theatres. Steve Irwin would’ve Scott Burns worn a protective chest-plate.

Columnist Billy Mays would’ve stopped snorting coke.

Dale Earnhardt would’ve used his blinker. Pat Robertson’s home would collapse in a sudden earthquake.

Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johansson and Mila Kunis would agree to do a lesbian three-way (we’re 2/3 there).

Political life would also be much different. Democrats would abscond utopian social programs and stop using poor minorities as political pawns. Republicans would stop

eating Islamic fetuses and abandon cheesy, patriotic clichés. Joe Biden would become a monk and take an indefinite vow of silence. The devil would apologize for selling his soul to Dick Cheney.

In Imagination Land, Ted Kennedy and John Edwards could’ve eliminated poverty by merely serving up hot plates of “good intentions.” Sarah Palin could’ve magically located East and West Korea on a map, making her fully qualified to become America’s second consecutive intellectually challenged president.

Who knows? IRS agents might even offer full refunds to unsatisfied citizens.

Foreign policy would be a walk in the park. Spotting enemies would be as simple as playing “Call of Duty.” Terrorists would sprout from the ground chanting “Derka Derka Muhammad Jihad,” fully programmed to hate freedom and blow their snakes off in a mother-f***ing plane. Finding Osama Bin Laden would be as easy as “Where’s Waldo?” The job could be given to any

patriotic 4-year-old with an IQ higher than George W. Bush’s. “Smart” bombs would turn into candy canes and sprinkle donuts whenever they landed near innocent women and children.

Imagine a world where nothing had to make sense. A world where 2 + 2 = John Stamos’ hair. A world where reckless spending could help pay off your massive student loans.

A world where planet Earth turns slowly and fireflies gave away complementary hugs by the thousands.

A world where the temperature in Hell dipped below 32 degrees because the Saints are on the verge of making the Super Bowl.

Open your eyes. It’s here.

Reality is so passé. Fantasy is the future.

Scott Burns is a 20-year-old economics junior from Baton Rouge. Follow him on Twitter @TDR_sburns.

Contact Scott Burns at sburns@lsureveille.com

THE DEVIL’S ADVOCATE

Death panels a necessary evil in current situation

Imagine that, toward the end of a long, fulfilling life, you are diagnosed with terminal cancer.

You can flip through a calendar and point to pages that will fall after the coldness of mortality has become your reality.

Treatment can give you another half of a year — for $5,000 a month. Would you spend the money?

There are some who would be willing to pay any price to forestall the inevitable. Others would rather take a final vacation or leave the money to their family members.

This decision is as personal as decisions can be, and it shouldn’t be up to me — or anybody else — to decide.

But we don’t live in a world where rights are respected. At present, only the uninsured have the undesirable responsibility of choosing between the difficult tradeoffs of health care.

When the majority of Americans face health care payments, they pay a small out-of-pocket fee, and their health insurance covers the treatment with little questions asked.

In 2008, consumers only directly paid for 11.9 percent of health care expenditures, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. In 1965, that number was 43 percent.

When prices fall to zero, demand increases. Many who would otherwise go without medical treatments find themselves in the waiting room. Health insurance premiums rise, take-home pay decreases and those on the margins are left

without coverage.

Our health care system is bloated by waste, and turning to the witch-hunt of preventative care won’t save us.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, an independent panel Daniel Morgan of experts apColumnist pointed by HHS, found insufficient evidence to recommend prostate cancer screening in men younger than 75.

The American Cancer Society does not recommend routine screening for prostate cancer.

The same group only recommends breast cancer screening for women ages 50 to 74 and recommended against teaching breast self-examinations.

In other words, millions of Americans have their insurance providers pay doctors to squeeze their breasts and finger their prostate for no medical reason.

Many studies show our medical system is plagued by waste. The most extensive is the RAND Health Insurance Experiment. Since 1971, 5,809 individuals were randomly assigned to insurance plans with varying levels of cost sharing.

As expected, participants who directly paid for their coverage spent less, but the lower use had “minimal to no effects on health status” when patients had financial incentives to ration their own health care, according to Joseph Newhouse, the health economist

who ran the experiment.

If we want to lower health care costs so more can afford treatment and all can avoid wasteful spending, we can attempt reform in one of two ways. From the bottom up, we encourage entrepreneurs to find solutions to fix the health insurance crisis by eliminating mandates on what insurance must cover, allowing health insurance companies to compete across state lines and eliminating tax incentives that encourage employees to purchase insurance collectively through their

employer.

Or, from the top down, we can set up system of “death panels” that determine which treatments are worth pursuing.

My soul chafes at the thought of a government body determining my level of care, but if the government is going to distort health decisions, it might as well force us to only use productive procedures.

We live in a universe of scarcity so medical rationing is necessary. The current system doesn’t allow people to process trade-offs,

and it has resulted in disaster.

It is irresponsible to support a health care policy that doesn’t feature massive free market reforms or the death panels tea baggers are screaming about.

Daniel Morgan is a 21-year-old economics senior from Baton Rouge. Follow him on Twitter @TDR_dmorgan.

Contact Daniel Morgan at dmorgan@lsureveille.com

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THE DAILY REVEILLE

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PAGE 18

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MEMORIAL, from page 1

remind everybody this is a great university,” Martin said.

The events’ differing moods were evident as instructors held signs reading “budget cuts = curriculum cuts” and “RIP LSU” while Martin cut birthday cake across the street.

Deans informed instructors last week their jobs may be lost by the end of the calendar year depending on pending budget cuts.

Multiple instructors also said they were made aware of possible job losses with notices sent by mail.

Many instructors legally require one-year notices before their employment can be terminated. Martin said it is highly likely such notices will be sent in the near future.

University spokesman Herb Vincent said the number or timing of letters has not been determined. Vincent also said it was likely all nontenure and non-tenure-track faculty will receive non-renewal notifications.

Martin said nothing had been decided about layoffs, and the

PAGE 19

letters are giving the University legal power to deal with whatever the next cut may be.

Many of the instructors at the memorial voiced their concern for both their jobs and the future of the University.

“It would be cruel to sack people who have been here for 30 years and are getting reasonably close to their retirement,” said Peter Sutherland, international studies instructor.

Sutherland said he has taught at the University for more than 20 years and was once the head of the International Studies department, but he was still told to expect a letter explaining his possible termination.

“Without teachers you don’t have the same university,” Sutherland said.

Nyman organized the memorial through Facebook and has created a Facebook group named “Save LSU” to organize letter-writing, phone campaign and protest marches.

Contact Xerxes A. Wilson at xwilson@lsureveille.com

We have the Key.

150 YEARS, from page 1

Co-chair Chuck Wilson told The Daily Reveille last August the committee was discussing funding opportunities to allow for events to commence as planned after budget cuts threatened them.

As a result, several private sponsors have come on board to underwrite sesquicentennial celebrations.

The sponsors were courted by the University Relations marketing staff, said Herb Vincent, associate vice chancellor of the department.

Vincent said the private funds made it possible to celebrate the sesquicentennial at the proper scale.

“It’s not a matter of whether we scale back [the plans] or not,” Vincent said. “It’s whether we can put on a proper scale celebration, and we can do that with the funds we secured.”

Some sesquicentennial subcommittees still had to rethink plans, said Iftekhar Rouf, chairman of the Sesquicentennial Student Subcommittee.

“The donors and sponsors’ money is going to bigger committees and LSU,” he said. “Those programs are geared to draw everyone to LSU.’” Some of the bigger projects include a documentary on the University’s history, a book titled “Treasures of LSU,” and LSU Day, a festival scheduled for April.

Rouf said his committee doesn’t mind scaling back celebrations in the University’s current financial climate.

“We don’t want to have lavish programs when we’re losing faculty,” Rouf said.

The student subcommittee is planning several events for the sesquicentennial, including a time capsule, creating America’s largest king cake and a sesquicentennial ball during Homecoming.

Contact Ryan Buxton at rbuxton@lsureveille.com

CONGESTION, from page 1

Apply in person in B39 Hodges Hall or contact Nathan Walker P: (318) 550-1138

email: nwalke7@tigers.lsu.edu

minutes away from LSU and it took me around 15 minutes to get here and find a parking spot.”

The construction on Burbank Drive has also led to bus drivers falling behind their normal schedule.

“Because there was only one lane open, a left turn on yield was close to impossible,” said Tom McNamee, Tiger Trails bus driver. “It was crazy.”

Alternate routes have been established on Nicholson Extension and Highland road to aid traffic congestion.

The construction consists of adding new right and left turn angle lanes for east- and west-bound traffic, as well as turning lanes from Bubank Drive onto West Lee Drive from both directions, Herbert said.

The project also includes taking out existing shoulders and pavements to create new lanes.

The contractors are required to keep a minimum of one lane going in both directions because of traffic in the area, Hebert said. In addition, one lane has to be closed at all times.

Lane closures run from the intersection of Burbank about 1500 feet in both directions.

Contact Ashton Martin at amartin@lsureveille.com

Wednesday, January 20, 2009

THE DAILY REVEILLE

PAGE 20