The Daily Reveille - Sept. 15, 2009

WALK IT OUT

NEWS Chelsea’s Cafe’s license taken away again, page 4.

Men’s basketball holds walk-on tryouts for students, page 7.

THE DAILY REVEILLE WWW.LSUREVEILLE.COM

Volume 114, Issue 17

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

FOOTBALL

Ain’t No Sunshine

Chant to remain as gameday staple

By Kyle Bove Senior Staff Writer

photo illustration by BENJAMIN OLIVER HICKS / The Daily Reveille

Indoor tanning poses risk to students; studies link ultraviolet rays to melanoma Contributing Writer

Chris LeBouef visited tanning beds four times a week for four years.

His mother sent him an article a month ago on melanoma risks for indoor tanners, and the

Megan Richard

advertising junior hasn’t tanned since.

In July, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, part of the World Health Organization, moved tanning beds to its highest skin cancer risk category — “carcinogenic to humans.” According to the study, substantial

‘I just look weird when I’m white.’

nutrition freshman

Alexis Monteleone biology freshman

‘I’m from Florida.

Tanning is my life.’

evidence links the ultraviolet rays used in indoor tanning to a high risk of cutaneous melanoma — a risk that increases by 75 percent when tanning beds are regularly used before the age of 30.

A 2005 National Health Interview Survey found more than 20 percent of 18- to 29-year-olds

Kathy Saichuk Wellness ed. coordinator

tan indoors.

According to the American Cancer Society, 1 million new cases of skin cancer are diagnosed each year in the U.S., and of those cases, more than 68,000 are melanoma. Melanoma is the deadliest TANNING, see page 15

‘The bottom line on the tanning bed industry is it’s a money making industry.’

lsureveille.com

By Sarah Lawson

Log on to see how students feel about the risks of tanning.

It seems students will continue chanting “Oh-Wee-Oh” after touchdowns in Tiger Stadium this season.

The Golden Band from Tiger Land played music for the nowcontroversial cheer at Saturday’s game against Vanderbilt, and it went well, according to drum major Rob Dowie.

The chant was discontinued during the 2007 season after the student section created its own rendition of the chant involving the words “you suck” and a shortened name of South Carolina’s mascot — the Gamecocks.

Student Government promoted a clean version of the chant on Saturday, distributing stickers reading “Oh-Wee-Oh Tigers” outside the stadium.

Dowie said he heard more fans screaming “Tigers” than “you suck.”

“There were definitely people saying both,” Dowie said. “But the majority were saying ‘Tigers.’”

Dowie said the chant will remain a part of the touchdown celebration sequence as long as students don’t go overboard with vulgarity. But he said the band doesn’t go out of its way to listen for people adding “you suck” to the traditional cheer.

“It’s an awesome chant,” Dowie said. “It keeps the motivation CHANT, see page 15

ENVIRONMENT

Project to help campus go ‘green’ Program to focus on fundraising, awareness

By Kyle Bove Senior Staff Writer

The LSU Foundation is preparing to launch the Green Tiger Project — an effort to beautify campus and promote environmental sustainability.

The program is spearheaded by Jeff McLain, LSU Foundation vice president for development, and Jan Martin, wife of

the University’s Chancellor, and focuses on fundraising and increasing student awareness about the University’s nearly 100-year-old campus.

“It’s a way for our students and community to take pride in our campus,” Martin said. “Even by just picking up a piece of litter now and again.”

Martin and McLain presented plans for the project Tuesday to representatives from the Bengal Belles, a local group that raises money and garners support for University academics and student athletes.

McLain said the Green Tiger

Project creates an “umbrella” over new and existing programs.

The existing programs include the Endow an Oak program, which has raised more than $725,000 since its inception 16 years ago, and the Enhancing the Core Program, which has raised money through a $1 environmental impact fee on football and basketball tickets to visually improve areas on and near campus like the Northgate area, Coates Hall parking lot and landscaping outside the Journalism Building.

GREEN, see page 15

BENJAMIN OLIVER HICKS / The Daily Reveille

Jeff McLain, LSU Foundation vice president for development, presents the plans for the Green Tiger Project on Tuesday.

THE DAILY REVEILLE

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2009

Nation & World

INTERNATIONAL

NATIONAL

U.S. targets cocaine smugglers at Puerto Rico airport

Critics slam Leno, viewers tune in by millions

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Nine employees of American Airlines have been charged with participating in a smuggling ring that shipped cocaine from Puerto Rico’s main airport aboard flights to the U.S. mainland, officials said Tuesday.

NEW YORK (AP) — The critics savaged Jay Leno’s prime-time experiment. Viewers gave it the biggest audience for an entertainment show since the “American Idol” finale in May. An estimated 18.4 million viewers sampled the first night of “The Jay Leno Show” Monday, Nielsen Media Research said. But the most hyped debut of the fall season had the added advantage of being piggybacked onto one of the country’s biggest stories. Leno interviewed Kanye West about why he had interrupted Taylor Swift the night before on the MTV Video Music Awards.

Tragedy overshadows Mexico’s independence holiday MORELIA, Michoacan (AP) –– Mexicans began their Independence Day celebrations under heavy police surveillance Tuesday and with a somber memorial for eight revelers killed last year in a shocking grenade attack on the public by drug traffickers. Nobel Peace Prize winner Rigoberta Menchu placed flowers in the plaza in the colonial city of Morelia, where 106 people also were wounded in the first deliberate attack on civilians by cartels.

Obama administration unveils fuel economy rules WASHINGTON (AP) — With global talks on climate change looming, the Obama administration sought to gain momentum Tuesday by unveiling its plan to require better gas mileage for cars and trucks and the first-

ever rules on vehicle greenhouse gas emissions. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson released the proposed regulations at the White House, the follow-up to President Obama’s announcement in May that the government regulations would link emissions and fuel economy standards.

Obama’s health prescription a problem for Democrats WASHINGTON (AP) — Caught off guard, congressional Democrats are grappling with President Barack Obama’s unexpected call for immediate access to insurance for those with pre-existing medical conditions, as well as richer Medicare drug benefits than envisioned in early versions of health care legislation. Additionally, Obama’s pledge in last week’s prime-time speech to hold the cost of legislation to about $900 billion over a decade has spread concern among House Democrats, who have long contemplated a costlier measure.

STATE/LOCAL

Pinnacle Entertainment Inc. gets third delay for BR casino

Louisiana gets $362M debt note from federal agency

(AP) — Pinnacle Entertainment Inc. won another delay Tuesday for groundbreaking on a $250 million casino project in south Baton Rouge. But the delay wasn’t exactly what the company requested from the Louisiana Gaming Control Board. The board gave the company an extension until Nov. 5 to enter into a construction contract for the new riverboat casino. The deadline had been Oct. 16. Pinnacle had asked for an extension until March 31. Instead, the gambling board voted unanimously to consider that extension request at its meeting next month — if Pinnacle submits a more detailed schedule of its pre-construction plans. Tuesday’s vote was the third extension of the casino construction contract deadline since February. Company officials said they are committed to building the new casino, which would be the third riverboat casino in Baton Rouge.

(AP) — Louisiana received a $362 million debt collection notice Tuesday from Washington health care officials, but state officials say they’re planning to appeal the move. The federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services formally notified Louisiana that its state-run charity hospitals were overpaid federal health care dollars in the mid-1990s for care provided to uninsured patients.

TODAY ON

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Louisiana universities, colleges see bump in enrollment NEW ORLEANS (AP) — For the first time since Hurricane Katrina struck in August 2005, 10 colleges and universities in the New Orleans area registered more students this semester than they did the previous fall. At Delgado Community College, prospective students were turned away for the first time in its 88-year history because it didn’t have room for them.

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Weather 84 71

TODAY

CAREER SERVICES Career Expo is TODAY! 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Maddox Field House 170 Companies and grad/professional schools www.lsu.edu/career/expo

PAGE 7

Log on to see a feature on Megan McChrystal, LSU All-American golfer.

SQUIRRELS, SQUIRRELS, SQUIRRELS

Evening T-Storms

THURSDAY 83 70 SATURDAY 84 69

FRIDAY 85 69 SUNDAY 85 70

JASON BORDELON / The Daily Reveille

Log on to lsureveille.com to see photos of furry friends around campus.

CORRECTIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS

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THE DAILY REVEILLE

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2009

PAGE 3

ALUMNI

Former art student goes from Tiger Stadium to Vatican Pres. Clinton among celebrity clientele

By Xerxes A. Wilson Staff Writer

Years ago, Michael Hunt sat at his house on Highland Road completing a simple assignment for his freshman art class. Little did he know, a simple school assignment would take him from selling posters before LSU football games for $5 a piece to making art for a president and a pope.

In 1985, Hunt was a freshman at the University with his sights set on medical school.

“My instinct was not really to become an artist,” Hunt said. “I actually felt that I would go to medical school and do my artwork on the weekends.”

Hunt’s interest in drawing led him to take an art course his freshman year at the University. Hunt had an assignment to create a piece of art that would make a nice poster, so he decided to make a poster of Mike the Tiger.

“I created my first piece to pay tribute to LSU,” Hunt said. “At the time, there was nothing like it out there.”

photo courtesy of MICHAEL HUNT

University alumnus Michael Hunt gives a portrait to then-Pope John Paul II at the Vatican. Hunt got his start selling posters for $5 each outside of Tiger Stadium.

Hunt said his poster was unique because all the posters of Mike in the ’80s were very macho with the football team involved, while his poster was more of a decorative piece featuring a serene Mike in a field of purple irises.

After some provocation by his professor, Hunt decided to spend his savings to print copies of the poster to sell.

“Like every kid at LSU, I had very little money to my name,” Hunt said. “I went to the printing company and printed as many as I could afford. They pretty much felt sorry for

Campus Crime Briefs

HOT BOX DORM ROOM BUSTED After receiving complaints from residents in McVoy Hall of a strange odor, LSUPD officers responded to the room of Michael Gravolet, 19year-old student of 1420 Beverly Garden Road, Metairie.

Around 7:30 p.m. Sept. 9, Gravolet and another male student

opened the door for the officers.

Rogé said the officers smelled marijuana smoke and informed the students of their rights.

He said Gravolet then emptied his pockets of approximately 2 grams of marijuana and a blue pipe.

Rogé said Gravolet admitted the drugs and paraphernalia were Log on to his and the other see the student wasn’t involved.

Campus Gravolet was Crime issued a summons Briefs map. for simple possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

lsureveille.com

DRUNK DRIVER HITS CURB Heather Adams, 21-year-old University student of 900 Dean Lee Dr., was booked in East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on Sept.

9 for driving while intoxicated, improper lane usage, disobeying a red light and violating the open container law.

Capt. Russel Rogé, LSU Police Department spokesman, said officers saw Adams hit a curb in a silver Toyota on Highland Road near Raphael Semmes Road around 2:15 a.m.

Rogé said she then ran a red light at Highland Road and South Stadium Drive and was stopped on Tower Drive.

Rogé said Adams admitted to drinking in a Tigerland bar earlier that night. Officers found an open bottle of Wild Turkey and an open bottle of Bacardi in her car.

Adams was transported back to the Public Safety building and registered 0.238 grams percent blood alcohol content on a chemical test, almost three times the legal limit, according to Rogé.

STUDENTS’ BOWL THWARTED Around 10 p.m. on Sept. 10, an LSUPD bike patrol observed two students passing items between each other outside Highland Dining Hall.

The officer approached the students and smelled marijuana smoke, according to Rogé. He said the officer noticed a pipe and a silver grinder between the students.

Rogé said the pipe was filled with 0.3 grams of marijuana, about “a bowl’s worth.”

University student Steffen Grove, 18, of 8943 Bent Spur Lane,

me, so they printed like 100 copies of this poster. I rolled them up in a rubber band and got a Schwegmann’s [shopping cart] ... and went around campus before and after games and sold posters for $5 a piece. It was about as much as a grassroots effort as you can have.”

Hunt said a man approached him and asked how his posters were selling and offered to let him sell his posters on the American Shopping Channel in New Orleans.

“This was a regional thing in the New Orleans area way before they had the Home Shopping Houston, was issued a misdemeanor summons for simple possession of marijuana.

Student Filmon Belay, 18, of 1202 Forest Trail Dr., Cedar Park, Texas, was issued a summons for simple possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Rogé said Belay admitted the grinder was his.

Rogé said Grove told the officer they hadn’t had a chance to smoke the pipe because they saw him approaching on his bike. Both students were released after the incident.

MAN CAUGHT WITH HUBCAPS On Sept 12., LSUPD responded to reports of a suspicious person in the Kirby Smith parking lot around 7 p.m.

Officers saw Charles Brown, a 55-year-old with no given address, on a bike inside the lot. Rogé said he had been peering into car windows.

Rogé said Brown had no identification and gave his name as Charles Jones. Rogé said he also told them he was born in 1953.

Officers discovered a screwdriver in his left pants pocket after a pat-down. They also discovered hubcaps taken from Ford trucks in his backpack, Rogé said.

Brown was taken to the Public Safety Building where officers ran his fingerprints and identified him as Charles Brown, born in 1952.

Brown was issued a summons for possession of stolen items, possession of burglary tools and misrepresentation during booking procedures. Rogé said he was also banned from campus.

Log on to read the full story at lsureveille.com Contact The Daily Reveille’s news staff at news@lsureveille.com

Network or anything like that,” Hunt said. “So, they put me on the show late one night, and here I am, a little pimple-faced kid with glasses and a little LSU poster.

But he sold thousands in one night, providing him with money to start his own studio.

“I guess the rest is history,” Hunt said. “[The start of my career] is very unusual. It was more being at the right place at the right time.”

Through his studio, Hunt has made a career of making lithographs and posters with several celebrities and dignitaries.

Hunt returned to the University this summer to present a lithograph commemorating the baseball national championship to benefit the Wally Pontiff Jr. Foundation.

“Doing work for LSU is a sheer joy,” Hunt said. “It’s very personal to me, and I always involve some form of charity and the coaches.”

Though Hunt has worked with former President Clinton and

numerous celebrities, he said the highlight of his career was doing a portrait for then-Pope John Paul II and presenting it at the Vatican.

Hunt said a group of Louisiana politicians asked him to draw a portrait of the pope as a gift from the state.

Hunt said the piece was so well received, it was later mass-produced with proceeds benefiting Catholic charities in New Orleans.

“To present something to the pope in front of 70,000 people in St. Peter’s Square in Rome as a gift from the state of Louisiana was the highlight from my life,” Hunt said. “I was not a child of privilege. I was just a kid who liked to draw, and I made it from a shopping basket to the Pope.

It really is something I have to step back and say, ‘It’s been a pretty wild ride.’”

Contact Xerxes A. Wilson at xwilson@lsureveille.com

THE DAILY REVEILLE

PAGE 4

BR COMMUNITY

STUDENT GOVERNMENT

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMbER 16, 2009

OTHER NEWS

Chelsea’s SG Web site banner Student with sword liquor infringes ownership kills burglary suspect license Geaux font used by athletics department revoked

By Xerxes A. Wilson

Restaurant’s future determined by ATC

By Lindsey Meaux Senior Staff Writer

Chelsea’s Cafe’s liquor license has again been revoked because of a recent appellate court ruling.

The local eatery and popular late-night locale was cited for operating as a bar without the proper licensing after a Jan. 22 raid and lost its license after an April court ruling to reinstate the license was overturned.

Gov. Bobby Jindal signed an act in August clarifying the legal definition of a restaurant as serving more food than alcohol on a monthly basis.

“The first circuit of appeals has said that the suspension of our liquor license is now reinstated,” said Dave Remmetter, owner of Chelsea’s Cafe. “The original suspension handed down by the [Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control commissioner] was for a year.”

Chelsea’s stopped serving alcohol in light of the ruling, Remmetter said.

After the license was revoked in January, a judge ruled Chelsea’s could continue serving alcohol, Remmetter said. The ATC filed an appeal which was overturned this week.

The original ruling from the ATC in January barred Chelsea’s from serving alcohol for a year, Remmetter said.

“The ATC has the majority of control in the matter,” Remmetter said. “If the suspension goes on for a year, it’s essentially putting us out of business. We can’t go a year without having alcohol and live music here.”

When their license was previously revoked, Remmetter said Chelsea’s did not suffer from a significant loss in business to support from loyal customers.

If the appeal remains in place, Remmetter does not anticipate losing business for lunch, but said he thinks the size of the dinner crowd will dwindle.

“You can’t chop two legs of a three-legged business and expect it to survive,” Remmetter said.

“We can’t live on lunch alone. We need nighttime business in order to stay in business.”

ATC Commissioner Murphy Painter was unavailable for comment.

Contact Lindsey Meaux at lmeaux@lsureveille.com

Staff Writer

Student Government could be forced to tweak its Web site because of a University-owned font infraction.

SG members were recently informed they did not have permission to use the Geaux font that spells “STUDENT GOVERNMENT” on the SG Web site banner.

SG Press Secretary Anna Broussard said SG approached the Office of Trademark Licensing to receive updated graphics for its Web site and was informed

that SG never had permission to use the Geaux font.

“I can’t put the blame on anyone,” Broussard said. “Somehow it fell into our hands along the way, and we have been using the same Web site banner for years now.”

Broussard said the font has been on the site for so long that she isn’t aware of who is responsible for the violation.

Director of Trademark Licensing Brian Hommel said the Geaux font is typically only used by the athletics department, not by student organizations.

“It’s a very highly guarded font,” Hommel said. “We haven’t approved it, we didn’t give it to them and I don’t know where they got it.”

BANNER, see page 16

By Ben Nuckols

The Associated Press

BALTIMORE (AP) — A Johns Hopkins University student armed with a samurai sword killed a suspected burglar in a garage behind his off-campus home early Tuesday, hours after someone broke in and stole electronics.

Some shocked neighbors said they heard bloodcurdling screams in an area just blocks from the university. Police held the student, a junior chemistry major who turns 21 on Sunday, for several hours, but he was not charged with any crimes Tuesday, police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said.

Around 1:20 a.m., the student heard noises behind the home and noticed a door to the garage was open, Guglielmi said. He grabbed

the sword and confronted the intruder — identified by police as Donald D. Rice, 49, a habitual offender who had just been released from jail.

Rice was crouching beneath a counter, police said. The student asked him what he was doing and threatened to call police.

“When he said that, the suspect lunged at him, kind of forced the kid against the wall, and he struck him with the sword,” Guglielmi said.

Rice’s left hand was nearly severed — Guglielmi described it as “hanging on by a thread” — and he suffered a severe cut to the upper body. He died at the scene.

On Monday, two laptops and a Sony PlayStation were stolen SAMURAI, see page 16

THE DAILY REVEILLE

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2009

PAGE 5

CAREER SERVICES

Expo provides job search, networking opportunities Economy limits company attendance

By Mary Walker Baus Staff Writer

College students aim to land jobs after graduation, and the fall Career Expo can give them a head start in the job-market race.

The fall Career Expo gives students the chance to take a glimpse at different company positions, meet potential employers and practice interviewing and networking.

The Career Expo will be held in the Maddox Field House today from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. More than 180 companies will attend the expo to recruit potential employees and meet with undergraduate and graduate students. “[The Career Expo] is our biggest recruiting event,” said Sara Crow, Career Services assistant director of communications. “Students have specific ideas about what they want to do career wise.

We want students to understand that expo isn’t just about finding dream job, but it’s about networking. Everybody in college is focused on majors, but the job world isn’t revolved around majors. It’s revolved around skill sets and knowledge.”

Jeff Crow, TEKsystems professional recruiter and Sara Crow’s husband, said the Career Expo in fall 2004 put him on track with his current profession.

“I had a career path in mind, but it was going to take some time to get there, so I was looking for a job in the meantime,” Jeff Crow said. “I had never heard of [the recruiter position]. The expo was my first introduction to that job.”

Jeff Crow said he received a callback from the company, went through the interview process and landed the job. He’s been a recruiter for six years.

Sara Crow said the fall Career Expo is bigger than the spring Career Expo. She said 1,407 students attended the spring 2009 expo, and 1,727 students attended the fall 2008 expo.

“There was a slight decline from our normal fall [student] participation, which we attributed to [Hurricane Gustav],” Sara Crow said.

Sara Crow said she hopes today’s attendance will be between 1,700 and 2,000 students, but said this fall’s Career Expo has less company attendance than previous years because some companies’ recruiting budgets were cut.

“The reduction in number of companies attending the Expo is entirely due to the state of the economy,” Sara Crow said. “Some companies are no longer able to pay for the travel and participation expenses for the expo.”

She said she’s noticed more freshmen attending during the past few expos. “[Freshman attendance] is great because we stress to students the importance of networking early on,” she said.

Jonathan Lilly, business and biological sciences freshman, said

he will attend the expo to network and meet professionals.

Sara Crow said the Student Services team at Career Services saw 179 walk-in students who wanted interviewing and resume tips during a one-week open-door program, while 129 students came to that program last fall, and 143 students came last spring.

Stephanie Howington, accounting sophomore, said she went to a smaller Career Expo for business majors last year and found it helpful. “[The companies] understood we were freshman, so they just talked to us,” Howington said. “It was good networking, but the companies expect you to know more about them when you get there.”

TREY PENTECOST / The Daily Reveille

Contact Mary Walker Baus at mwbaus@lsureveille.com

University students meet a company representative at a Career Expo. This semester’s Career Expo will be today from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the Maddox Field House and will feature more than 180 companies.

THE DAILY REVEILLE

PAGE 6

FOOTBALL

Mike the Tiger fifth in Mascot Challenge

By Xerxes A. Wilson Staff Writer

lsureveille.com

While the Tigers are going head-to-head with opponents in Death Valley, Mike the Tiger is going costume-to-costume with rival mascots online each week.

The Capital One Mascot Challenge puts 12 university mascots in a weekly contest for football fans to vote on a favorite. The most popular mascots will make it to the playoffs at the end of the 11-week regular Log on to season.

The contest CapitalOne started at the Bowl.com beginning of the to vote NCAA football for your favorite season. mascot.

On Tuesday, Mike the Tiger trailed his competitor for this week — the Bearcat of Cincinnati — by fewer than 100 votes.

Mike has a 1-1 record leading into the third week of the competition, according to Student Government director of athletics Melissa Hart.

Mike lost to Boomer of Oklahoma by 96 votes during the first week of competition.

During the second week, Mike bounced back, receiving nearly 30,000 votes in his victory against Superfrog of Texas Christian University.

Mike ranks fifth in total votes.

Last year was Mike’s first year in the competition, and he finished seventh, Hart said.

At the end of the 11-week competition, the eight most popular mascots will advance to the playoff rounds.

Each school’s mascot was awarded $5,000 to be used in funding scholarships in the school’s mascot program. The winner of the competition will receive an additional $15,000 for the school’s mascot program.

The winner will be announced at the Capital One Bowl on Jan. 1.

Contact Xerxes A. Wilson at xwilson@lsureveille.com

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2009

THE DAILY REVEILLE

Sports

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2009

THE BOYS NEXT DOOR

LSU football players and Lafayette natives Williams and Dworaczyk say not to underestimate Ragin’ Cajuns

PAGE 7

BABBLING BROOKS

Florida is the team to beat this season

Teams are finally beginning to show their true colors two weeks into the season.

We’ve seen pretenders fall, new contenders arise and other teams fade to the middle.

Here’s my ranking of the top 10 contenders during the first couple of weeks in the young season.

1. FLORIDA GATORS (2–0, 0–0) Urban Meyer’s group has looked incredibly impressive in their two wins so far this season.

The Gators have scored 118 points while only allowing 9 JOHANATHAN in their contests BROOKS against Charles- Sports Columnist ton Southern and Troy.

Heisman hopeful quarterback Tim Tebow has passed for 425 yards and five touchdowns while rushing for 72 yards and two scores. photos by KRISTEN M’LISSA ROWLETT / The Daily Reveille

“Their fans despise our fans; I guess we’re looked at as those snobby people ... I know they’re definitely going to come in here with their heads held high.”

Keiland Williams, LSU senior running back

[Left] Senior running back Keiland Williams celebrates after scoring a touchdown against Vanderbilt on Saturday. [Right] Sophomore offensive guard Josh Dworaczyk (68) gets ready before the snap Saturday.

By Rachel Whittaker Chief Sports Writer

LSU sophomore offensive guard Josh Dworaczyk and senior running back Keiland Williams were born and raised in Lafayette, and recruited by LSU’s upcoming opponent, Louisiana-Lafayette, during high school.

Both players still have strong ties to their hometown and know how much the game this weekend means to their friends, especially the Ragin’ Cajuns they played against during their high school football careers.

“I got recruited by the coaching staff [at ULL], and it was definitely one of the places I looked at the time just because I’d be able

to stay home,” Dworaczyk said. “I’ve got a lot of friends who go to ULL, so it’s definitely an exciting event to play them.”

Dworaczyk played football at CatholicNew Iberia High School with ULL junior fullback Matt Desormeaux, the younger brother of former Ragin’ Cajuns All-Sun Belt quarterback Michael Desormeaux, who was also a Catholic High School graduate.

“I go to Lafayette all the time, even now,” Dworaczyk said. “There are going to be a lot of family and friends who will be [at the game Saturday] who know me personally.”

Williams said ULL also recruited him LAFAYETTE, see page 10

2. SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA TROJANS (2–0, 0–0) Led by true freshman quarterback Matt Barkley, the men of Troy traveled to Ohio State University on Saturday night and handed the Buckeyes a hard-fought loss.

Barkley has completed 60 percent of his passes for 428 yards for one score, and junior running back Joe McKnight has totaled 205 yards on the ground this season with 2 scores.

3. TEXAS LONGHORNS (2–0, 0-0) The Longhorns brushed off a lackluster first half against Wyoming TOP TEN, see page 11

BASKETBALL

Johnson holds walk-on tryouts

By Chris Branch Sports Contributor

LSU men’s basketball coach Trent Johnson said he has made a practice of turning walk-ons into scholarship players.

Johnson, in his 10 years as a head coach at LSU, Stanford and Nevada, has held walk-on tryouts for nine of them.

He’s did the same this season. Johnson said he doesn’t undervalue walk-ons.

“I try to stay away from the walk-on tag,” Johnson said. They’ll be a part of this team.”

Johnson believes and being a good person the walk-on tryout to an and wanting to compete important ritual. One of every day.”

Johnson’s finds at StanMore than a dozen Log on to ford, Chris Bobel, is now students participated in an see photos the LSU director of basopen tryout Tuesday evefrom tryouts ketball operations. ning in the PMAC, and and hear what coach Johnson said he Johnson said he will likely Trent Johnson has to say. wants guys like Bobel to keep four to five of them. be a part of the program.

“We might keep five, “Obviously, you but right now we’re lookwant to have some guys come out for the ing at keeping four,” Johnson said. “We team that can help you,” Johnson said.

TRYOUTS, see page 11 “The prerequisite is being a good student

lsureveille.com

MAGGIE BOWLES / The Daily Reveille

Assistant coach Keith Richard watches returning guard Zach Kinsley run drills during basketball try outs Tuesday at the PMAC.

PAGE 8

THE DAILY REVEILLE

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMbER 16, 2009

SOCCER

Clarke leading in goal scores Midfielder works hard to battle injury

By Rowan Kavner Sports Contributor

Senior midfielder Melissa Clarke has battled injuries and odds to become the current leading goal scorer for the LSU soccer team this season.

The Norcross, Ga., native ended her junior season with six goals.

But through six games this season, she has already accumulated five.

“It just keeps getting better and better,” Clarke said. “I couldn’t ask for anything more.”

Clarke’s most recent attacking prowess was a two-goal game against Oklahoma on Friday. But perhaps more noteworthy was when she passed up on a hat trick opportunity at the end of the game to provide an assist to freshman midfielder Natalie Ieyoub.

“It was just me and two other players and Ieyoub,” Clarke said.

“The defender committed, so she was wide open. No matter who it is, I can count on them to put it away.”

Clarke’s recent hot streak hasn’t gone unnoticed by teammates.

“She’s more focused, more determined — not that she wasn’t before, but I think she’s stepped it up a lot,” said sophomore midfielder Taryne Boudreau. “You can see the leadership in her and her experience.”

This season is Clarke’s final chance to prove herself at the college level, and she’s feeling better than ever after tearing her lateral collateral ligament in her right knee her sophomore season.

Clarke said even though she was cleared to play last season, only now is she finally returning to 100 percent following the injury.

“It took me a good year and a half to fully come back,” Clarke said. “I was hitting the weight room pretty hard and trying to get back as soon as possible. This is my last year. Go big or go home.”

Clarke is certainly “going big” this season. Her five goals are a team best ahead of senior midfielder Malorie Rutledge, who has three goals on the season.

The Oklahoma game wasn’t Clarke’s only two-goal performance of the year. With her team trailing by a goal against South Florida, she buried two goals in the final 20 minutes to give LSU the 2-1 victory.

“Just watching her and seeing how she plays is helping me to see what I need to do better,” said fresh-

Mellow Mushroom

Team Trivia @ 8PM/ Karaoke @ 10PM. 3-10PM $5 Bud and Bud Light Pitchers MEGAN J. WILLIAMS / The Daily Reveille

Senior midfielder Melissa Clarke, left, competes for the ball with Oklahoma junior defenders Ashley Bolden and Tiana Dickson during LSU vs. Oklahoma on Friday.

man midfielder Carlie Banks. “She’s really smart. She sees the field, and that’s something I want to improve in my game.”

LSU coach Brian Lee said he is excited to see Clarke’s potential in what appears to be her breakout year.

“Melissa’s battled injuries off and on during her time here, and she’s finally healthy,” he said.

“She’s as fit as she’s ever been and has worked really hard over the last offseason to get ready for the season. She’s just a good player who’s off to a good start.”

Melissa Clarke’s mother, Bredget Clarke, said despite her daugher’s fast start, LSU fans still haven’t seen the best she has to offer.

“Before she was injured, before her knees started bugging her in high school, she was the best player ever,” she said. “Not because she was my daughter — she had such natural talent. Now she’s starting to display a little bit of it again, but you have not yet seen her talent.”

Melissa Clarke was immediately enveloped in soccer as her father, Rudy Clarke, was a former professional soccer player for Leeds United and the Los Angeles Aztecs of

the North American Soccer League.

Bredget Clarke said Melissa Clarke started playing soccer at 4 years old and never looked back.

“With him always playing soccer, they were kind of born on the soccer field,” Bredget Clarke said.

Rudy Clarke said he coached his daughter for several years.

“I coached her until she was about 14. We had quite a soccer team,” he said. “We were state champs and played at the national level. She’s got quite an experience with me. She knows how to play technically correct because she was taught that way.”

Rudy Clarke said teaching kids has been joyous for him and helped influence his daughter who, at a young age, would go and kick the ball around when he went to teach and coach.

“I wanted to pass my skills on to kids,” he said. “I started working with kids in the area. I started coaching in the associations here in Georgia. I think that was the influence.”

Contact Rowan Kavner at rkavner@lsureveille.com

Plucker’s Wing Bar

Monday: $14.99 All you can eat wings and $3 Plucker’s Lemonades Tuesday: $2.50 Mexican Beers and Margaritas Wednesday: Trivia at 8PM. $4 Mother Plucker Mugs Thursday: $15.99 All you can eat wings. $4 Mother Plucker Mugs. $3 Margaritas and Plucker’s Lemonades

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Obsessed Obsessed Duplicity 17 Again I Love You Man

THE DAILY REVEILLE

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMbER 16, 2009

PAGE 9

VOLLEYBALL

Tigers use outside hitters to advantage this season Skender returns to form after injury

By Andy Schwehm Sports Writer

It’s been a tale of two seasons for the LSU volleyball team’s outside hitters.

Last season, the Tigers had a depth problem at the position because of season-ending ACL injuries to then-junior Lauren DeGirolamo and senior Marina Skender. Those injuries forced then-freshman Michele Williams to move from the outside, where LSU coach Fran Flory wanted her to play, back to her natural middle blocker position.

It’s a completely different story this year, and the Tigers have a group of crafty upperclassmen at the outside to go along with a highly touted freshman.

“We have a lot of versatility in the kids we have this season,” Flory said. “It’s a nice luxury to have people on the bench that if someone has an off night, we can sub someone else in.”

The job of the outside hitter is to attack off the set from senior setter Sam Dabbs or junior setter Brittney Johnson, who also doubles as an outside hitter.

Though many times an outside hitter will hit the ball as hard as possible at the defense, sometimes a fi-

nesse shot is required, meaning the attacker will tap the ball over the block of the defender or hit the ball as a sidewinder along the net on the other side of the court.

She said the decision of what type of hit to make often happens in the split second the attacker jumps in the air for the kill, akin to in baseball when a batter has to decide whether or not to swing at a ball or a strike.

“It also has a lot to do with before the play where we see where the defense is and where the block is going to be,” said freshman outside hitter Madie Jones. “It’s very important to know where the defense is in terms of where you want to make the kill.”

The most impressive of LSU’s four outside hitters three weeks into the season has been Skender.

Skender has averaged 2.63 kills per set, which is second on the team behind senior middle blocker Brittnee Cooper. She also averages 2.57 digs per set, also No. 2 on the team, and is first on the team in service aces so far this season with 11.

Flory said Skender has played better so far this season than where she ended the 2007 season, which Flory said is a tribute to Skender’s hard work in practice.

“She’s more physical and faster than she’s ever been,” Flory said.

“She’s got every shot in the book, and she’s a master of creating offensive opportunities that nobody else on this team could.”

The Zagreb, Croatia native said she feels more confident this season than she has in the past.

“I kind of try to keep myself to high standards, so I think so far I’ve played OK,” Skender said. “But I’m sure I can play even better.”

While the senior has regained her form from two season ago, the play of Jones has also been a plesant welcome for Flory.

Jones, a PrepVolleyball.com top-50 recruit out of high school, has started seven matches this season for the Tigers, playing in 26 sets while averaging 1.50 kills per set.

“Madie is just a big, physical outside,” Flory said. “She hits the ball so much higher and has so much more range in terms of where she can hit the ball.”

U S L K E H T N I O J ! !

T N U H E R U TREAS

MAGGIE BOWLES / The Daily Reveille

Senior outside hitter Marina Skender (12) gets ready to jump to hit a set from senior setter Sam Dabbs (8) in the Tigers’ 3-2 loss to Nebraska on Sept. 4.

Contact Andy Schwehm at aschwehm@lsureveille.com

WIN AN LSU INNER CAMPUS PARKING PASS AND GATE WAND, OR $300 IN TIGER CASH, OR AN X-BOX 360, OR AN IPOD TOUCH Somewhere on the LSU campus, KLSU-fm has hidden a “treasure chest” consisting of a choice of prizes. You could become the only student on campus to have inner-campus parking privileges through the fall semester. Or choose instead to infuse your Tiger Card with $300 in Tiger Cash.

Or KLSU-fm will buy you a new X-Box 360 or iPod Tou Touch.

It’s your choice – if you are the first person to locate the treasure.* The “map” to this treasure is a series of 10 clues being provided by KLSU-fm, on a one-a-weekday basis. The clues are inner-related. Some early clues won’t make sense until combined with later clues.

A single clue Is broadcast each day, Monday through Friday. You can hear the day’s clue once during the morning drive show (6 a.m. to 9 a.m.), once at noon, and a third time during the afternoon drive (3 p.m. to 6 p.m.).

Past clues and contest information are posted daily on www.klsuradio.fm

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91.1 The music of your lives. *Contest limited to currently enrolled LSU students except for Student Media personnel.

PAGE 10

THE DAILY REVEILLE

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2009

CROSS COUNTRY

LSU runner walks on team 7,761 miles from home Senior considers team a melting pot

By Luke Johnson Sports Contributor

Many college students have to face their fears of living on their own for the first time while being separated from their families by several miles or state boundaries.

LSU cross country senior Amal Esmail knows a little bit about being a long way from home.

An almost unfathomable 7,761 miles separates Esmail from her native Dhahran, Saudi Arabia as she completes her bachelor’s degree in journalism at LSU. “I knew I was going to come to LSU for my whole college career, so I was prepared, but nothing can prepare you for such a thing because you have no idea

LAFAYETTE, from page 7

when he was at Northside High School. Like Dworaczyk, Williams knows a few ULL players, including junior linebacker Grant Fleming, a St. Thomas More alumnus whom Williams faced in high school.

Williams said the Ragin’ Cajuns fans will come into Baton Rouge hostile and confident. Louisiana-Lafayette is 2-0 for the first time since 1990 after knocking off Kansas State, 17-15, on Sept. 12.

“When I got here I realized how important this was to them at ULL,” Williams said. “Their fans despise our fans; I guess we’re looked at as these snobby people or something like that. I know they’re definitely going to come in here with their heads high.”

Williams said the atmosphere is usually welcoming when he visits his hometown, but this weekend it’s all about competition.

“When I go back home, it’s all

what I was going to encounter,” Esmail said. “It’s kind of hard being away from home, but a lot of my friends from back home are in the same place I am, so I always have people who understand.”

Being on the LSU cross country and track program provides a benefit to Esmail. The team has a large component of international students that LSU coach Mark Elliott said eases the transition to the American lifestyle for incoming foreign exchange runners. “[Esmail] joining the team wasn’t too unique because we have so many international students,” Elliott said. “I mean I’m from Jamaica. We have athletes from Africa. We’re a little bit like LSU’s United Nations.”

With the exception of her first year, Esmail said she didn’t feel the transition into American life was too hard. Esmail attended international schools for the majority of her life, where she learned how

to speak English and experienced a melting pot of other cultures.

“I guess my first year was the hardest just because homesickness struck, and there’s nothing you can do but suck it up,” Esmail said. “As the years go on, it gets easier to deal with.”

Esmail played soccer while growing up and never participated in cross country while in high school. But she decided to walk on to the LSU cross country team her sophomore year in Baton Rouge because of her affinity for the sport. Esmail said she would run on her own, but boredom would eventually creep in. Esmail says she is content with her decision.

“I couldn’t ask for better teammates; we all have the same addiction. Everyone just loves to run; we get along and push each other to do our best,” Esmail said.

“My coach is pretty cool, too.”

Esmail’s teammate, sophomore Laura Carleton, said she rel-

love and nobody has anything negative to say,” Williams said. “When it’s time to play them, they’re making T-shirts that say ‘LS-Who’ and sending messages like ‘Watch out for the Cajuns’ and stuff like that.

I’ll be up for it.”

LSU coach Les Miles said the Tigers get into higher spirits when an in-state opponent like ULL comes to town.

“There is a want to play well any time you line up against a team that is from here and has players who went to school with our players,” Miles said. “They really know each other back and forth and have a real respect for them. Our guys absolutely feel that.”

Although LSU is 21-0 in its all-time series against the Ragin’ Cajuns, including 16 shutouts, Miles said ULL is “a better offensive team” than Vanderbilt.

“Every time I line up against a team that doesn’t have a name that warrants a national viewing audience, I always find out they’re

pretty good, have talent and can play,” Miles said. “Their quarterback [sophomore Chris Masson] is a really good thrower, and they have ability to maybe do a few more things offensively than Vanderbilt did.”

The last team from the Sun Belt conference LSU faced was Troy on Nov. 15. LSU was in danger of blemishing its undefeated record against Sun Belt teams when they fell behind by 28 points before mounting the biggest comeback in school history to win, 4031.

“We don’t look at teams and say they’re in the Sun Belt conference so they’re not as good as the [Southeastern Conference],” Williams said. “ULL is coming in here feeling they have a lot to prove to this state. We have a lot to prove to this country.”

Contact Rachel Whittaker at rwhittaker@lsureveille.com

ishes the opportunity to immerse herself in other cultures through the international students on the cross country and track teams.

She said Esmail has adjusted well to America and LSU. “[Esmail] relates so well to everyone that you’d never realize she was from so far away unless she told you,” Carleton said.

Elliot said Esmail was a step ahead of other student athletes because of the year she spent in school before walking on to the team.

“She had a little more age and maturity than your average freshman,” Elliott said. “We didn’t have to do a whole lot to help her out.”

Esmail has an example to look at in Elliott. A native of Spanish

Town, Jamaica, Elliott had visions of America’s most iconic cities in his mind when he learned he was coming to America.

Elliott said he was unsure of what to expect when he got to America but settled in when he made a key realization.

“When I initially arrived [in Brenham, Texas], it wasn’t at all what I was expecting,” Elliott said. “Being from a small town in Jamaica, when you think of America, you think of New York, or Los Angeles or Dallas. When I came in, I was surprised that most of America was small towns like the one I grew up in.”

Contact Luke Johnson at ljohnson@lsureveille.com

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2009 TOP TEN, from page 7

and scored 35 unanswered points en route to a 41-10 win.

Senior quarterback Colt McCoy has been a machine for Texas thus far. The Heisman hopeful is No. 5 nationally in passing yards with 654 passing yards and is No. 9 in total yards with 695.

Texas also ranks No. 4 in scoring offense nationally and is scoring 50 points per game.

4. Alabama Crimson Tide (2–0, 0-0) Like most Nick Saban-led teams, the moneymaker this season for Alabama has been its defense.

The Crimson Tide is No. 10 nationally in total defense and only allows an average of 184 yards a game.

The defense hasn’t been the only good thing about the Tide, who is allegedly in a rebuilding season after losing running back Glen Coffee, quarterback John Parker Wilson and 2008 first team Associated Press All-American offensive linemen Andre Smith and Antoine Caldwell, as the offense is current No. 14 nationally with 507 yards a contest.

5. Penn State Nittany Lions (2-0, 0-0) In addition to having the coolest coach in all of college football, the Nittany Lions currently field the No. 12 defensive unit in the country.

Joe Pa’s boys have only allowed 193 yards a contest this season, and their opponents have only seen the end zone twice — both coming with the game out of reach.

On the offensive side of the ball, senior quarterback Daryll Clark is No. 9 in the nation with 593 passing yards and six scores.

6. Brigham Young Cougars (2-0, 0-0) After knocking off then-No. 3 Oklahoma in the first week and obliterating Tulane, 54-3, in week two, the Cougars have stormed up the rankings and have settled in at No. 6.

Senior quarterback Max Hall has played spectacularly thus far, completing more than 70 percent of his passes for 638 yards and four touchdowns.

The Cougar defense has also been efficient, ranking No. 17 in the nation in total defense, after allowing only 214 yards per contest this season.

7.

California Golden Bears (2–0, 0–0) The explosive Cal offense has scored 111 points in its two contests thus far this season, and the Bears have yet to trail in any contest this season.

Junior running back Jahvid Best leads the attack and ranks No. 6 in the nation with 281 rushing yards.

He also has caught four passes for 42 yards for a combined four scores.

The defense has been decent thus far, ranking No. 36 nationally after allowing 269 yards a contest.

The Bears, however, have only allowed two touchdowns.

8. LSU Tigers (2-0, 1-0) The Tigers haven’t won pretty or convincingly, but they’ve won both contests this season.

The new-look defense looked like much of the old-look defense of

THE DAILY REVEILLE 2008 in the season-opening contest against Washington — allowing 478 total yards — but the unit improved in the next game, limiting Vanderbilt to 210 total yards.

Sophomore quarterback Jordan Jefferson has been adequate, passing for 310 yards and three touchdowns, and senior running back Keiland Williams leads all rushers with 123 yards and two scores.

9. Mississippi Rebels (1-0, 0-0) Ole Miss didn’t look particularly impressive during three quarters of its season opener, but the Rebels scored 28 points in the final quarter against Memphis to win, 45-14.

Junior quarterback Jevan Snead didn’t live up to the offseason hype, as he only completed 55 percent of his passes for 175 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.

Ugly.

The defense allowed 284 yards in the contest but picked off two passes and recovered a fumble.

10. Boise State Broncos (2-0, 0 -0) The Broncos opened their season with a win against an Oregon team that has proved itself overrated in the preseason, and they shut out Miami (Ohio), who hasn’t scored a point all season, but they’ve still sneaked into the final place in my top 10.

The Bronco defense is No. 6 nationally after only allowing 173 yards a contest.

Sophomore quarterback Kellen Moore has amassed 504 yards through the air so far and tallied five touchdowns, while junior running back D.J. Harper leads the team with 177 yards on the ground.

Johanathan Brooks is a 21-year-old mass communication major from Powder Springs, Ga. Follow him on Twitter @TDR_jbrooks.

Contact Johanathan Brooks at jbrooks@lsureveille.com

TRYOUTS, from page 7

have nine scholarship players, so we need to add four guys on the team that will put us at 13 or 14 so we can have productive practice.”

The decision won’t take long.

Johnson said ‘I try to he has a “pretty idea” of stay away good who is going to from the make it.

“It could be walk-on tomorrow, could tag. They’ll be the next day,” be a part Johnson said. “It of this just depends.”

Sophomore team.’ Zach Kinsley, Trent Johnson who made the team as a walkbasketball coach on last season, had to try out again this season.

But there was not much drama.

Johnson let Kinsley leave the tryout about halfway through.

“He’s on the team,” Johnson said. “Obviously, he played for us

PAGE 11 last year and he’s proven himself this year. If you looked at how much he’s improved physically, he’s a guy that’s going to help us this year.”

Johnson brought in two of LSU’s famous walk-ons — Jack Warner and Brandon Landry — to talk to this year’s participants. Warner and Landry own the popular Baton Rouge restaurants Walk-On’s.

Warner played from 19962001, and Landry played from 1997-2000.

Johnson said he’s been impressed by the impact Warner and Landry have had on LSU and Baton Rouge.

“They’re something special here from that standpoint, unlike any other place I’ve been,” Johnson said. “If you look at what those guys have contributed to not necessarily LSU basketball, but LSU athletics, it’s pretty special.”

Contact Chris Branch at cbranch@lsureveille.com

THE DAILY REVEILLE

Opinion

PAGE 12

OUR VIEW

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2009

Tiger Trails gives students better bus service Since its introduction this semester, the campus community has been eager to see whether the new bus system would be any improvement from the beleaguered CATS system.

The change seems to be a hit to the public transit system in Baton Rouge — a showdown between public mass transit and privately contracted service.

From a customer standpoint,

the results are clear: Tiger Trails has been a marked improvement from its predecessor.

One of the main complaints with the old CATS system (besides the ugly paint jobs) was the system was unreliable. Reliability, of course, is central to a transportation system, especially when its riders must be somewhere at a specific time. CATS was never able to convince its

riders that its buses would be at the stop on time.

In a city with notorious congestion, this would seem like an unsurmountable obstacle.

But under Tiger Trails, riders feel as though they have a more reliable system. The new bus system accomplished this goal by using GPS trackers on their buses, relaying real-time information about the location of the buses to

riders. Not only is this information available (and fascinating to watch) through home computers, riders with portable devices can check bus statuses at the stop.

By contrast, the previous bus system was unable to provide heavily trafficked stops with a basic poster mapping the bus routes. In addition to being reliable, it’s important for a bus system to let riders know where they

are going.

While Tiger Trails should be recognized for its improvement, we hope that they realize that the bar was low to begin with. Much innovation will be necessary in order to give students a first-class transit system.

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

NIETZSCHE IS DEAD

Health care debate especially complex for religious people Steven Anderson made quite a stir a few weeks ago, even if few people remember his name.

What many people do remember, however, is his enraged sermon in which he railed angrily against President Obama.

“I hate Barack Obama. You say, ‘well no, you just mean you don’t like what he stands for.’

No, I hate him! ‘No, hey, you just don’t like his policies.’ No, I hate HIM,” said Anderson, pastor of Faithful Words Baptist Church in Phoenix, Ariz.

More famously, Anderson implored “Break his teeth, O God!” Anderson’s words are so vehemently antagonistic, unabashedly violent and obviously theologically unsound that it’s not worth mentioning in a column.

Anderson’s hate is certainly not representative of mainstream Christian beliefs. Most of us can agree, whatever our views on his policies, the president is still

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

“Underage drinking” laws useless, absurd September 12, 1988. September 13, 1988. They were seemingly innocuous consecutive dates in the late 1980s. Not much changed between them. Reagan was still president, “Sweet Child o’ Mine” was still the No. 1 single, and the Seoul Olympics were still next Saturday. All in all, it was one day pretty much like another. I guess one was a Monday

worthy of at least a little respect (and his teeth).

That said, the health care debate has polarized our nation to the very extremes. Tensions and tempers run high on both sides of the issue. To some, it’s a moral imperative that everyone in the country receive medical care.

For some, it’s the opposite – it’s a moral imperative that the government not use the money of some to pay for the health care of others.

Like most moral issues, the health care debate has slowly but surely found its way into religious context. People of faith are now finding themselves grappling with additional religious implications on top of the already complex and bewildering array of factors that make the debate so difficult. Unfortunately, there’s no passage in any scripture that says “Thou shalt have a public option.”

That’s not to say that reli-

gious texts can’t speak powerfully about this cause. Christians, for example, cannot ignore biblical commands to provide for the sick and the needy. These commands are a constant throughout the entirety of scripture and, indeed, of Christian exisMatthew tence. To some, Albright Opinion Editor this fact means God desires or even demands health care be provided for every American.

Yet it’s hardly fair to argue the Bible calls us to support Obama’s health care plan. Ignoring practical problems with any solution no matter its desired goal is hardly un-Christian or heretical.

Striking a balance between religious imperatives toward social justice and the harsh realities of money, bureaucracy and

skyrocketing deficits can be difficult.

The ideal solution for religious folk, of course, is a charitable organization funded and staffed by people of faith.

Such an operation could be from any number of the many faiths that practice public responsibility and charity. It could provide for universal health care without the “socialism” of a government plan. And, as piously-minded non-profit organizations, they wouldn’t be subject to the corruption and profiteering that has caused so much health care waste.

Such programs have existed for a long time on a smaller scale, with individual hospitals run by religious organizations.

But unfortunately, there simply isn’t enough financial drive from congregations to take on the huge burden everyone agrees is sapping resources – and is what causes the need for reform in the

first place.

Whatever we think of what our religion says — or doesn’t say — about the actual policies and procedures of health care reform, there are a few things with which any religious person should agree. We should pray for our leaders and our nation as a whole to make the right decision on this important issue. We should pray that, whatever decision is eventually made, we as a country will not destroy ourselves.

One thing I think we can all agree on — nobody should be asking God to break the president’s teeth.

and one was a Tuesday–that’s about it.

However, last Saturday, a major difference between these two dates became readily apparent. Were you born on either, you were generally considered to be a competent adult. The latter date, however, meant that you were still a child incapable of making rational decisions in one regard: alcohol.

According to Tuesday’s article, “Game day brings 13 MIPS,” thirteen individuals were cited on game day for this so-called crime of minor in possession. As quoted in the article, the LSU Police Department strictly enforces this

unconscionable statute “because of the risks associated with [underage drinking].” This argument is farcical.

Let us consider a hypothetical set of twins. The older twin is one minute older than the younger. Unfortunately for the second, this fateful minute is the one that transpires between 11:59 p.m. and 12:00 a.m. One got a driver’s license that says 9/12/1988, the other got one with the, for Saturday, sad date of 9/13/1988. They tailgate, and each quaffs a beer in celebration. One is apparently a danger to himself and others; a dangerous criminal who must be stopped at all costs. The other

is no big deal. Any one of those thirteen could have been this exact scenario. How, exactly, does this make sense?

The only risk present is that Louisiana will lose 10 percent of its federal highway funding if it does not dance to the tune called by overzealous legislators. So-called “underage drinking” is no more risky than just plain old drinking. I am offended on three fronts: one, that a group of anti-alcohol zealots parading as anti-drunk-driving crusaders persuaded Congress to pass the National Minimum Purchase Age Act of 1984 (23 USC § 158 for those keeping score at home);

two, that the Louisiana Legislature kowtowed to the unconstitutional demands enshrined therein; and three, that people actually believe these laws are efficacious and should be enforced. It’s time not to lower, but to abolish the minimum drinking age and end this farce.

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

Editor Managing Editor, Content Opinion Editor Production Editor

ERIC FREEMAN JR.

Columnist

MARK MACMURDO

Columnist

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.

Matthew Albright is a 20-yearold mass communication junior from Baton Rouge. Follow him on Twitter @TDR_malbright.

Contact Matthew Albright at malbright@lsureveille.com

Jon Frosch library and information science graduate student

QUOTE OF THE DAY “To give and not expect return, that is what lies at the heart of love.”

Oscar Wilde Irish author Oct. 16, 1854 - Nov. 30, 1900

THE DAILY REVEILLE

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2009

BURNS AFTER READING

Opinion

PAGE 13

Facebook displays true freedumb of speech

The more I watch the Discovery Channel, the more I feel like I’m watching the latest season of “The Real World.”

The similarities between man and beast are, in many ways, uncanny. And the more I see wild animals interact, the less I think we’ve really changed.

No matter where an animal lies on the evolutionary ladder, they’re always conscientious of impressing and attracting the attention of their fellow species and potential mates.

In the animal kingdom, they call it signaling.

We Homo sapiens call it Facebook.

Perhaps that’s why so many profile pictures contain blaring images of surgically enhanced cleavage.

So far, I’m not complaining.

But unlike many of its users, Facebook is growing up (or sagging down, if you will).

Facebook’s 35- to 54-year-old

demographic has had a 276.4 percent growth rate over the last six months, according to Facebook data. The 55-and-older demographic is not far behind with a 194.3 percent growth rate.

It might be hard to accept, but it’s true.

Facebook has evolved. We all felt it that fateful day when we Scott Burns Columnist received “friend requests” from our own parents and had to rush through all our photo albums deleting every inappropriate comment and footnote in sight.

And if you haven’t gotten a friend request from your grandparents yet, get ready.

It may be true Facebook has lost a bit of its original luster now that it has been marauded by middle-aged menopausers.

But that doesn’t mean the site will croak over any time soon.

Bob Dylan was right. The times, they are a-changing.

Today, almost everything anyone could want to know about a person is a mere click away. That’s why it’s important to remember our newer audience — the older audience — every time we update our account.

This is especially true of more serious social and political topics.

One of Facebook’s growing trends has been polling features, like “My Polls,” which enable users to share their views on many of today’s leading issues.

In one click, users can put their beliefs on display without one iota of intelligent thought or consideration.

The same idea is expressed by increasingly popular groups like “We Hate Barack Obama” or “F*** George Bush,” which allow people to express something without really

saying anything at all.

Of course, there’s nothing inherently wrong about acquiring these digital bumper stickers.

But they do send a glaring signal. And that signal is called “stupidity.”

That’s why it’s important we place more value in our ability to support our beliefs with reason and evidence rather than granting a false sense of legitimacy to people who hold uninformed opinions.

Anybody can hold an opinion.

Very few, however, can back it up.

Whether we realize it, the digital age has made our lives into one giant billboard. Our personal lives are now a public exhibit. And every click of a mouse is like a stroke of a brush, painting an elaborate selfportrait virtually anybody can see.

But this freedom of expression comes with a certain level of accountability.

Nowadays, it’s not only our friends who get to see what we think

about “NAZI OBAMA TRYIN TWO F****** BRAINE WASH ALL US!” or how we are “SO ExCiTeD aBoUt GeTtInG WaY-StEd tWoNiGhT!” It’s our parents. Our grandparents. Our potential employers.

Today we have the freedom to hold a figurative loudspeaker and say anything we want. But freedom of speech doesn’t free us from consequences of our speech.

Even animals realize the significance of their actions.

So the next time you post something, make sure you consider what kind of signal you’re really sending.

Scott Burns is a 20-year-old history and business junior from Baton Rouge. Follow him at Twitter @TDR_sburns.

Contact Scott Burns at sburns@lsureveille.com

THE DEVIL’S ADVOCATE

Unconditional love neither feasible nor desirable

The ideal of unconditional love calls to mind parents coursing with oxytocin and other feel-good hormones cooing over their newborn offspring, ready to sacrifice anything for their genetic extension to the next generation.

By definition, unconditional love is given without regard for another’s actions, feelings or beliefs.

It’s a sweet sentiment, but it might be a sentimental product of imagination.

Earlier this year, researchers at Harvard-affiliated McLean Hospital studied the reactions of men and women when they look at the faces of babies.

Men were harsher in their ratings of beauty, but women were much quicker to dismiss pictures of babies with cleft palates, skin disorders and Down syndrome.

The paper’s first author, Rinah Yamamoto, isn’t shy about his study’s implications.

“Women may be more sensitized to aesthetic defects and may be more prone to reject unattractive kids,” he said.

The idea of parental love being dependent on beauty might sound harsh, but this effect can be seen in the world.

Almost 70 percent of abandoned children carry a superficial flaw, according to an Israeli study quoted in the book “Conditional Love” by Meira Weiss.

In other words, many parents will feel unconditional love for their children — as long as they aren’t ugly.

Yamamoto concludes by speculating this “may reflect an evolutionary-derived need for diversion of limited resources to the nurturance of healthy offspring.”

But even if unconditional love is feasible, I have a hard time believing it’s desirable. Love guaranteed is love without standards, values or reason.

You may have a significant other you value highly. You may even believe you love him or her unconditionally.

But, ladies, if your man failed out of school, was fired from his job and let a growing beer belly fester on the couch in a listless, unambitious stupor, you would eventuDaniel Morgan ally stop loving Columnist him.

And men, if your woman grew fat, nagging and insecure, you would eventually leave her out of sheer self-respect.

Would you still love your significant other if he or she turned into a prawn?

I hope you and your partner didn’t start your relationship on chance and continue through a compulsive duty to love unconditionally.

I hope you chose to be with your lover because he or she practices virtues you admire, and he or she chooses to stay with you because you are worthy of love.

Real love is a celebration of lives well-lived — to call it “unconditional” cheapens it to a chore.

We should be saddened to hear of children abandoned and abused because they didn’t match their parents’ ideals, but these tragedies will exist no matter what you think of unconditional love, so you might as well be realistic.

Psychologically, we aren’t programmed to feel love without conditions. Logically, we must choose between loving unconditionally and having standards of behavior. You should reject the concept of “unconditional love” as an impossibly high, self-degrading burden.

In a world without unconditional love, you must earn the respect of others, but, thankfully, others must earn the respect you are not obligated to give. We can be grateful science has shattered the delusion.

And we can look with skepticism upon those who claim unconditional love is a virtue. Only a counterfeiter is nervous when the

validity of his currency is questioned. Only those with something to hide would fear if their alleged love is subjected to standards.

We never chose our country, our culture or our religion. We were born into tribes most never leave.

We shouldn’t be surprised citizens are encouraged to have unquestioning patriotism for their country, the devout are encouraged to have unquestioning faith in their beliefs, and parents and children are encouraged to have unconditional love for one another.

All of these relationships aren’t of choice — but of chance.

Perhaps part of growing up is

subjecting our country, culture and religion to rational questioning.

If unconditional love is a lie, perhaps we should next subject our parents to the same conditional standards we hold our friends.

Who knows? They might even be worth keeping.

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

BEST AND WITTIEST

cartoon courtesy of KING FEATURES SYNDICATE

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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2009 TANNING, from page 1

cancer and accounts for about 8,650 of the nearly 12,000 skin cancer deaths in the country each year.

A study released in March by San Diego State University surveying 116 of the largest U.S. cities showed Baton Rouge and Shreveport tied for the twelfth highest density of tanning beds among southern cities with densities of 14.5 facilities for every 100,000 residents.

Baton Rouge has 33 tanning salons in its surrounding area, and Shreveport has 29, according to the study.

Kim Coates, owner of Palm Beach Tan on Bluebonnet Boulevard, said about 30 percent of her clientele are college students, and tanning sessions total 8,375 so far in 2009 — a 67 percent increase from 2007.

She said aside from an interest in darker skin, more people are interested in non-UV airbrush tanning.

Kristi Cochran, Salon Tropics employee, said she has seen an upward trend in tanning memberships during recent years, and about a

THE DAILY REVEILLE

fourth of her clientele are University necessary for melanoma to be constudents. She said all the beds in the tracted. She said the DNA structure facility use UVA and UVB bulbs. of human skin cells mutates when Inder Seghal, biomedical sci- hit by UV rays. This mutation causes ence associate professor, said the growths, and some of the growths UVB and UVA rays used in tanning can be cancerous. beds are dangerous — UVB rays She said melanoma is the most damage the skin directly and cause serious type of skin cancer because it sunburn, but damdigs deeper into tisage from UVA rays sue and can get into is invisible and the bloodstream, more penetrating. spreading cancerHe said it takes ous cells. Tanning about six serious can also affect the damages to skin eyes, she said, and stem cells for perconjunctivitis or manent damage damage to the corDonna Boeta and susceptibility to nea or retina can Palm Beach Tan owner cancer to occur. occur.

Donna Boeta, “The people owner of Palm Beach Tan on Cor- who are coming out with theories on porate Boulevard, said indoor tan- cancer ... weren’t educated on safe ning is only dangerous at the point tanning,” Boeta said. of burning.

Boeta cited Tanningtruth.com, “There is a lot of conflicting a pro-tanning Web site dedicated to theories out there,” she said. “We’re dispelling alleged myths about the FDA-regulated.” dangers of indoor tanning.

But Kathy Saichuk, Wellness The site states: “Moderate tanEducation coordinator at the Student ning, for individuals who can deHealth Center, said burning isn’t velop a tan, is the smartest way to maximize the potential benefits of sun exposure while minimizing the potential risks associated with either too much or too little sunlight.”

But Saichuk warned students to be wary of such information.

“The bottom line on the tanning bed industry is it’s a money-making

‘‘

‘There is a lot of conflicting theories out there. We’re FDA-regulated.’

PAGE 15

industry ... They’re probably going to find someone who says they’re an authority on this,” Saichuk said.

Saichuk said fair-skinned and young people need the most protection from damaging rays. She said sunscreen should be worn every day to keep a healthy balance of vitamin intake and protection from damage.

She said students’ most critical areas during the day are faces, forearms and the backs of calves.

A dermatologist is available at the Health Center to perform screenings and removals of dangerous cells, she said.

Saichuk said the push to look bronze is mainly perpetuated among young adults.

“I just look weird when I’m white,” said Megan Richard, nutrition freshman.

She said she tans twice a month in salons and suffers from withdrawals when she stops tanning.

Jordan Labbe, education sophomore, was surprised to hear the high risks reported by the IARC. But she said she assumes cancer will never happen to her.

“It is really scary, but I don’t know anyone that’s been affected by [tanning]” she said.

Contact Sarah Lawson at slawson@lsureveille.com

GREEN, from page 1

Paw Pride is one of the new programs. McLain said each month a volunteer for the Green Tiger Project will search for students, staff and faculty members on campus picking up trash or helping with campus beautification. The volunteer will surprise the person with a gift card to the LSU Bookstore and a Green Tiger T-shirt.

“The idea is to recognize and reward student, faculty and staff efforts to keep our campus beautiful,” McLain said.

A Student Arbor Day celebration is also being planned, as well as the establishment of the Campus Beautification Fund.

“Until recently, there was no avenue for someone to make an unrestricted gift to simply help with campus beautification,” McLain said. “Now they can with the CBF.” McLain said the Chancellor’s Office will work with the Office of Facility Services to determine what projects the donations go toward, like landscaping, lake restorations and river-front development.

The LSU Foundation will begin selling a $20 LSU ornament at football games and areas around campus soon, with all proceeds going toward the CBF. The Green Tiger program will focus heavily on recycling and sustainability efforts across campus, McLain said. University Sustainability Manager Denise Scribner and the Campus Committee for Sustainability will have a large presence in the program.

“Sustainability has to do with value choices, and now LSU community, friends and alumni can take pride in helping to accelerate the ‘greening’ of our campus,” Scribner said in an e-mail to The Daily Reveille. “I’m excited about the Green Tiger Project, which will integrate campus beautification and sustainability.”

Keeping budgetary concerns in mind, McLain said the Green Tiger Program will not require new employees, but will rather consolidate efforts on campus and encourage private support.

Contact Kyle Bove at kbove@lsureveille.com

CHANT, from page 1

going.”

Some students heard “you suck,” while others heard “Tigers” more prominently.

“If you were near the band, it was more ‘Tigers,’” said Paul Gillespie, international studies senior. “But I did hear ‘you suck.’”

Gillespie said the “you suck” addition to the chant doesn’t bother him, especially when other student section cheers also involve vulgarity.

“I don’t think it matters,” Gillespie said. “‘You suck’ is not that big of a deal.”

The Tigers play in Death Valley at 6 p.m. Saturday against LouisianaLafayette. The game will be aired on ESPNU. Contact Kyle Bove at kbove@lsureveille.com

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMbER 16, 2009 BANNER, from page 4

Hommel said the font is highly guarded because his office wants to keep the font exclusive to the University.

Broussard said SG is appealing to Campus Life to begin resolving the issue.

“I recommended they talk to Campus Life and make a case as to why we should view SG differently than other student organizations that want to use the marks that we typically don’t allow,” Hommel said. “Nobody ever asked this office for approval, and if they did, we would have told them we don’t give the Geaux font to anybody, so you can’t type out ‘Student Government.’”

Hommel said his office will further discuss the possibility of making SG remove the font from its site.

“From a protection standpoint most of my day has been related to the enforcement of LSU marks [logos],” Hommel said. “This is use of an LSU font used by a student organization, so I think the focus right now is outside entities that are infringing with no relationship to the University, then once we have a chance to talk about this, we will go from there.”

Hommel said the one of the main problems with SG’s use of the font is keeping its policy consistent.

“If XYZ club came here and said, ‘this club is using [the Geaux font] why cant we?’ Then we need to have justification as to why, and that hasn’t been discussed yet,” Hommel said.

Contact Xerxes A. Wilson at xwilson@lsureveille.com

SAMURAI, from page 4

from the student’s home, which he shares with three other students, but police were not sure whether Rice was responsible, Guglielmi said.

There was a pool of blood Tuesday morning in the brick courtyard between the back porch of the home and the garage. The courtyard was strewn with debris, including what looked like broken glass.

Guglielmi did not know why the student kept a sword. He said he may have had some martial arts training, but was not an expert.

Rice’s criminal history includes more than two dozen arrests for burglary, breaking and entering and auto theft. According to court records, he was charged in 2007 after he pulled a gun on a police officer, though prosecutors placed those charges on hold because the officer was on military leave.

Rice was convicted in 2008 of unauthorized removal of property and sentenced to 18 months.

He was released Saturday from the Baltimore County Detention Center.

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

THE DAILY REVEILLE

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