Social Media: Facebook has yet another new look, p. 3
Altercation: Grand jury trial begins for Jefferson, Johns, p. 7
Reveille The Daily
Thursday, September 22, 2011 • Volume 116, Issue 22
www.lsureveille.com
Solidarity Solidarity
Brian Sibille
A small group gathered in silence on the steps of Memorial Tower on Wednesday evening to mourn for Troy Davis, a man executed in Georgia on Wednesday night for the 1989 murder of a police officer. Though the University’s support group was low in number, they were joined by thousands nationwide who also believe Davis was innocent. The group began praying at 6 p.m., the
moment when Davis was supposed to be executed. Minutes later, Davis’ death was temporarily delayed by the U.S. Supreme Court after Davis filed an emergency appeal. However, the appeal was denied after a three-and-a-halfhour debate, and Davis was executed Wednesday at 11:08 p.m. EST. DAVIS Matt Novak, coastal environmental science sophomore, first heard of
Read a columnist’s thoughts on the death penalty and the Davis case, p. 16.
NATION
Act creates increase in youth health care Parents’ insurance covers up to age 26 Morgan Searles
Students gather at Memorial Tower to pray for Georgia man executed Wednesday night despite questions of innocence
Staff Writer
Entertainment: Pole dancing is new fitness craze, p. 11
Staff Writer
SUPPORT, see page 6
At the first quarter of 2011, 1 million more young adults have health insurance coverage than a year ago, according to information released Wednesday by the National Health Interview Survey. This 3.5 percent increase in adults between the ages of 19 and 25 is attributed to the Affordable Care Act, which allows young adults to stay on their parents’ health insurance plans until age 26. President Barack Obama signed the Affordable Care Act in March 2010. Since then, the number of youths covered rose from
photo by MORGAN SEARLES / The Daily Reveille
INSURANCE, see page 6
Davis’ case in high school through Amnesty International, a human rights advocacy group. Novak said he and classmates wrote letters to Davis, who later wrote back. Novak continued his correspondence with Davis through high school. “The three hours the Supreme Court spent deciding gave me hope,” he said. “I was shocked when they denied him.” Novak was one of many University students who wore black Wednesday in memory of
STUDENT LIFE
Interior design students experience life in a wheelchair Project examines campus accessibility Juliann Allen Contributing Writer
Interior design senior Leslie Gambino recently saw campus through new eyes. Navigating hubs of campus activity like the third-floor stacks of Middleton Library is usually easy for her, but she had more difficulty when she was confined to a wheelchair. Gambino’s journey through campus from the perspective of a disabled student is part of “Interior Design at LSU: A Universal Design Experience,” a project created by the Interior Design Student Organization meant to enhance students’
awareness of handicapped accessibility when designing buildings. Through the program, able-bodied participants partner to complete various tasks in a wheelchair around campus while taking pictures at each location. Allison Canal, interior design senior and IDSO president said the organization thought the project would be an excellent way for interior design students to understand accessibility codes for those who are disabled and to address disadvantages those individuals experience on a daily basis. Rachel Birch, interior design junior, said traveling around Lockett Hall in a wheelchair was most challenging. She said it was difficult to open the door, and there was no handicapped stall in the bathroom. After discovering this, she tried to exit the bathroom, but the room was so narrow she could barely
turn around. Birch’s partner, interior design junior Gennifer Williams, said going down ramps was difficult because it hurt her hands as she tried to control the wheelchair. But physical strain was not the only challenge of the experience. “[It was difficult] emotionally. Everyone was staring at me,” Gambino said. “It almost makes you feel a little defeated.” She said some of the roughest aspects of her project were battling the changes in pavement in the Quad and struggling to fit her wheelchair through the stacks in the library. “Everywhere I went there was a chair in the way, a table in the way,” she said.
ZACH BREAUX / The Daily Reveille
Interior design senior Meg Chopin wheels up a handicap sidewalk ramp WHEELCHAIR, see page 6 Tuesday for the Universal Design Project in front of the Design Building.