The Daily Reveille - Sept. 29, 2011

Radio: Tune in to KLSU at 5:20 p.m. to learn about the new beer brewing class

Football: Players reveal their favorite video games, p. 7

Reveille The Daily

Entertainment: Take a look at LSU’s Colorguard through the years, p. 11

Thursday, September 29, 2011 • Volume 116, Issue 27

www.lsureveille.com

REINSTATED

ADMINISTRATION

Provost search to cost about $100,000

Jefferson, Johns to return to practice today after grand jury reduces charges

Hunter Paniagua Sports Writer

LSU senior quarterback Jordan Jefferson was reinstated to the football team Wednesday after a grand jury reduced felony second-degree battery charges against him.

The grand jury reduced Jefferson’s charge to misdemeanor simple battery. The grand jury also cleared sophomore linebacker Josh Johns of all charges.

According to Louisiana code, simple battery is the intentional use of force or violence on another person. Those charged with simple battery cannot be fined more than $1,000 or imprisoned for more than six months.

LSU coach Les Miles said he will reinstate Jefferson and Johns immediately and both will begin practicing today. Jefferson and Johns were suspended Aug. 26 following their arrest after an altercation at Shady’s Bar on Aug. 19.

“There wasn’t any hesitation [to reinstate them],” Miles said. “It didn’t appear to me there was any ALTERCATION, see page 5

Price is one-third of provost’s salary

Andrea Gallo Staff Writer

photos by CHRISTOPHER LEH and BLAIR LOCKHART / The Daily Reveille

[Top] Senior safety Derrick Bryant and junior defensive end Lavar Edwards walk into City Hall on Wednesday to testify in front of a grand jury in the case of teammates Jordan Jefferson [right] and Josh Johns. [Bottom] Jefferson’s attorney, Lewis Unglesby, addresses the media outside City Hall.

Follow @TDR_sports on Twitter for updates.

The University has hired Greenwood/Asher & Associates, Inc. as the search firm to facilitate the hiring process for Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Jack Hamilton’s replacement.

The nearly finalized contract with the Florida-based company stipulates that the University will pay 33.3 percent of the amount of the new provost’s salary to Greenwood/ Asher.

That means if the University’s provost earns around $300,000, which is about $20,000 more than Hamilton earns, the University will pay the search firm around $100,000.

PROVOST, see page 5

ADMINISTRATION

Chancellor worries about losing nearly 40 percent of faculty to retirement Martin: Incoming faculty doesn’t match Andrea Gallo Staff Writer

Chancellor Michael Martin said one of his primary concerns for the University is that retirement is looming for nearly 40 percent of faculty, while the amount of incoming faculty members has faded.

The University encompasses 1,176 faculty members, 468 of which are age

55 and older, according to Jason Droddy, the University’s director of external affairs.

Not only does this group boast strength in numbers, but older faculty members are usually the most experienced professors with considerable amounts of strong research, and they will leave en masse, Martin said.

“You’ll lose not only a large number [of faculty], but our most distinguished, most productive faculty, all at once,” Martin said.

Of professors aged 55 and up, 27 percent are 65 and older.

Universities spanning the

country are seeing this problem, Martin said, while universities are also undergoing “salary compression,” when entry-level salaries begin nearing senior-level salaries because professors do not receive salary increases. In the past, the University could potentially fill two entry-level positions with the money from one vacant senior position, but that gap in salary levels has dwindled.

Solving this problem will mean collapsing more programs to create FACULTY, see page 6

FACULTY AGE BREAKDOWN 60-up:

25% Under 40:

50-59:

28%

21%

40-49:

26% Source: Jason Droddy, director of external affairs

Total: 1,176

graphic by BRITTANY GAY / The Daily Reveille

The Daily Reveille

page 2

INTERNATIONAL

Nation & World

Thursday, September 29, 2011

NATIONAL

STATE/LOCAL

Ophelia becomes tropical storm in Atlantic Ocean, causes flooding

Florida plans to hold an earlier presidential primary on Jan. 31

Former high school teacher given 27 years in federal sex case

ROSEAU, Dominica (AP) — Tropical Storm Ophelia caused flooding and cut off several communities on the eastern Caribbean island of Dominica as it regained strength, officials said Wednesday.

About 1,600 people were stranded and nearly a dozen cars washed away, said Nathaniel Isaac, the island’s disaster preparedness coordinator. Schools, businesses and government offices were closed Wednesday, and Isaac warned of increased flooding as the storm continued to swirl northward away from land.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida is poised to hold its presidential primary on Jan. 31, a move that likely would mean an earlier start to the GOP nominating contests than what the national Republican Party had planned.

House Speaker Dean Cannon on Wednesday said that was the likely date for the Florida primary as the state works to ensure that it votes right behind the four that are the first to traditionally hold presidential primaries or caucuses — Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina.

LAFAYETTE (AP) — A former Acadiana High School teacher who allowed teenage students to have sex in his apartment while he sometimes secretly filmed them has been sentenced to 27 years in prison.

The Advocate reports Tuesday’s sentencing followed a stern lecture from U.S. District Judge Richard T. Haik, who told Stephen McKay Hurst that he had abused his position and used it to manipulate children in an effort to produce child pornography.

“You weren’t their friend at all. You were using them and that’s why you’re here,” Haik said.

Swiss Parliament votes to outlaw veils in public situations BERN, Switzerland (AP) — Swiss lawmakers are considering a ban on wearing face-covering veils in some public situations.

Switzerland’s lower house of parliament voted 101-77 Wednesday to outlaw veils like the burqa worn by some Muslim women when using public transportation or dealing with authorities.

The measure goes next to the upper house and is being pushed by the nationalist Swiss People’s Party before federal elections begin next month.

HANI MOHAMMED / The Associated Press

Yemeni protestors chant slogans Sept.

27 during a demonstration to demand the resignation of president Ali Abdullah Saleh in Sanaa, Yemen.

Yemeni tribesmen shoot down government warplane near capital SANAA, Yemen (AP) — Tribesmen shot down a Yemeni government warplane that was bombing their positions north of the capital Wednesday, military officials said.

A Defense Ministry official confirmed the downing of the plane in the district of Arhab, north of Sanaa, but gave no further details. The official told the state news agency that anti-government groups were behind the shooting. Tribesmen overran a military base belonging to Yemen’s elite Republican Guards earlier this week in the area where the aircraft was shot down.

Seven students from prestigious school arrested in SAT cheating case GARDEN CITY, N.Y. (AP) — A prosecutor in New York is investigating whether students in other districts on Long Island took part in a cheating scam on college entrance exams that resulted in the arrest of seven current or former students at a prestigious high school.

The arrests were made Tuesday on allegations that one of the seven associated with Great Neck North High School — a 19-yearold college student — took the SAT exams for the others in exchange for payments of up to $2,500.

Baton Rouge receives federal grant to assist airport service needs (AP) — The federal Transportation Department has issued a $340,000 grant to Baton Rouge to improve its airline service.

The agency said Tuesday that the grant will be used to provide a revenue guarantee to add service between Baton Rouge and Washington, D.C. Baton Rouge is one of 29 cities receiving $15 million from a program designed to help smaller airports deal with air service needs.

PHOTO OF THE DAY

Today on lsureveille.com Read the LMFAO entertainment blog for Emily Herrington’s weekly Conquering the Kitchen entry.

Read the Out of Print news blog for an opinion on The 5 Dining Hall’s new additions.

Tune in to Reveille Radio 91.1 KLSU to hear about a new beer brewing class.

Get the latest news by downloading the LSU Reveille app in the iTunes Store and Android Market

facebook.com/ thedailyreveille

@lsureveille, @TDR_news, @TDR_sports

Weather TODAY Mostly sunny

90 65 FRIDAY

SATURDAY

89 57

82 54

SUNDAY

MONDAY

81 53

82 58

BRIANNA PACIORKA/ The Daily Reveille

Thunderstorm clouds float above downtown Baton Rouge Wednesday evening.

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) 578-4811 or email editor@lsureveille.com.

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

The Daily Reveille (USPS 145-800) is written, edited and produced solely by students of Louisiana State University. The Daily Reveille is an independent entity within the Manship School of Mass Communication. A single issue of The Daily Reveille is free. To purchase additional copies for 25 cents, please contact the Office of Student Media in B-34 Hodges Hall. The Daily Reveille is published daily during the fall and spring semesters and semi-weekly during the summer semester, except during holidays and final exams. Second-class copies postage paid at Baton Rouge, La., 70803. Annual weekly mailed subscriptions are $125, semester weekly mailed subscriptions are $75. Non-mailed student rates are $4 each regular semester, $2 during the summer; one copy per person, additional copies 25 cents each. Postmaster: Send address changes to The Daily Reveille, B-39 Hodges Hall, LSU, Baton Rouge, La.,70803.

The Daily Reveille B-16 Hodges Hall • Baton Rouge, La. 70803

Matthew Jacobs • Editor-in-Chief Chris Branch • Associate Managing Editor Ryan Buxton • Associate Managing Editor Marissa Barrow • Managing Editor, External Media Sydni Dunn • News Editor Rachel Warren • Deputy News Editor & Entertainment Editor Rowan Kavner • Sports Editor Katherine Terrell • Deputy Sports Editor Kirsten Romaguera • Production Editor Devin Graham • Opinion Editor Christopher Leh • Photo Editor Brianna Paciorka • Deputy Photo Editor Bryan Stewart • Multimedia Editor Steven Powell • Radio Director Scott Cornelius • Advertising Sales Manager

Newsroom (225)578-4810 • Advertising (225)578-6090

The Daily Reveille

Thursday, September 29, 2011

HEALTH

page 3

Dining hall offers nutritious options Menu undergoes changes at The 5 Paul Braun Contributing Writer

The menu at The 5 dining hall has been redesigned this semester to offer students healthier meal options than in years past.

Changes were made in an effort to offer students balance in their dining options, according to LSU Dining Director David Heidke.

Charlie Casrill, director of resident dining, added that changes were made in an attempt to offer students a greater variety of meal options and more complete meals within the various stations at the dining hall.

According to Briggitte Mosley, director of athletic dining and registered dietician, college students’ bodies are able to handle bad eating habits, but those habits will be problematic later in life.

The goal of the change is to help students develop good habits, she said.

Last semester, staff at The 5 noticed the majority of foods offered were fried or had similar unhealthy qualities, Casrill said.

Instead of offering students hamburgers, hot dogs, grilled cheese and fries daily, the grill area has been repurposed to serve students lighter entrées like grilled chicken, Casrill said.

Other upgrades include flavored-water dispensers, which

EMILY SLACK / The Daily Reveille

An array of healthier food choices is now available at The 5 dining hall.

offer students an alternative to sugary drinks, Mosley said.

“We have moved to more set meals. Our marketplace [station] is an actual three-course meal. It’s your protein, your starches and your vegetables,” Casrill said.

Menu changes are motivated by a combination of student and parent feedback and societal dining trends, Casrill said. Menus are revised after each semester, but the majority of changes are made during the summer, he said.

“Every semester we do a survey,” Casrill said. “We go through and look and see that they are asking for healthier choices, or they may suggest that we bring back a specific item. Those are the things we pay attention to.”

Erin Romaine, biological engineering sophomore, said she specifically likes the changes to the deli.

“I didn’t like how students could touch the food. Now there are fewer germs,” she said. “I miss

the hamburgers, though,” But not all students agree with the switch, including chemistry sophomore Drew Harding.

“They changed the taco bar and replaced it with sunflower seeds and fruits. I spoke with a lot of people that enjoyed [the tacos],” Harding said.

Casrill said students who enjoyed less healthy dining options such as the taco bar or grilled cheese will still be able to enjoy those options, just not as frequently.

“We shouldn’t have ice cream and cookies every day, or with every meal,” Heidke said. “Eating healthy is all about a balance. I think our menu is really out there and provides the students an opportunity to have that balance.”

Contact Paul Braun at pbraun@lsureveille.com

Plucker’s Wing Bar Mon: $14.99 All You Can Eat Wings and $3 Pluckers Specialty Drinks Tues: Kids Eat Free, $3 Mexican Beers and Margaritas Wed: Live Trivia at 8 pm, $4.50 34oz Mugs Thurs: $12.99 All You Can Eat Boneless Wings, $4.50 34oz Mugs, $5.50 Patron Margaritas Sun: $3 Pluckers Specialty Shots EVERYDAY BEER SPECIAL: $6.50 34oz Mugs--Blue Moon, Dos Equis, Abitas MLK Committee Meetings Mondays, 4:30 pm, Tchoupitoulas Room, 4th floor Student Union Come and help us plan our MLK events for next year LSU UREC at Fall Fest this Friday!

Visit the LSU UREC booth to scale the rock wall compete in other action-packed challenges!

Visit www.LSU.edu/UREC for details.

Gender on Film- “I Don’t Know How She Does It” 10/3/2001 $5 refundable deposit required to reserve tickets Contact Women’s Center @ 225-578-1714 for more info Gisclair Memorial Historical Miniatures Tournament and Convention October 1st 9:00am-9:00pm All Star Lanes 9829 Airline Hwy. $5 play all day FILM SHOWING OF “THE LIVES OF OTHERS” Today, 7-9 International Cultural Center, 3365 Dalrymple Drive Come see the Academy Award Winner for Best Foreign Film in 2006 Shown in original version with English subtitles DO YOU HAVE AN OCCURRENCE? Call Becky at the Student Media Office 578-6090, 9AM- 5PM or E-mail: oncampus@lsureveille.com

LIVE Newsbeat 3PM, (Campus Channel 75) The Ramen 4PM (Campus Channel 75) Sports Showtime 4:30 PM (Campus Channel 75) Thursday Newsbeat 5PM (Campus Channel 75) Sports Showtime 5PM, (Cox Cable Channel 4) Thursday Newsbeat RERUN 6:30 (Campus Channel 75) Newsbeat 7:30 PM, (WBTR Cable Channel 19) The Ramen 8PM (Campus Channel 75) Thursday Newsbeat 9:30 PM (Campus Channel 75) Sports Showtime 10PM (WBTR Cable Channel 19)

page 4

TRANSPORTATION

STUDENT GOVERNMENT

The Daily Reveille

Thursday, September 29, 2011

More bike Senate urges inquiry of ‘no technology’ policy Resolution passed pumps to weigh options planned for campus Brian Sibille Staff Writer

Students’ requests for more bicycle pumps on campus have been heard, and the Office of Parking, Traffic and Transportation plans to meet their needs.

Gary Graham, director of the Office of Parking, said students’ desire for bike pumps is the main reason the office has taken initiative to improve and increase bike areas.

“As more bike areas are done, pumps will be installed,” Graham said, adding there is no definite figure for how many pump locations will be on campus.

He said pumps will appear at “high-demand” locations as soon as possible, with many being installed this year.

Five bike pumps can be found on campus in areas like the Pentagon and Allen Hall.

These pumps are important for students like electrical engineering senior Alan Kaltenbaugh who rely primarily on bikes for transportation to campus.

Kaltenbaugh said his bike requires weekly maintenance and having more pumps on campus could help if he’s ever in a bind.

He said he noticed pumps have already been placed on campus but claimed none of them work.

“If they work, it’s a great thing,” Kaltenbaugh said. “I own a bike pump, but not everyone has one, especially students who live on campus.”

Jacob Ram, mechanical engineering freshman, said he has not noticed an immediate need for bike pumps on campus.

Ram said his bike is old, but he’s never had problems. He said he is not sure how truly dependent students are on bikes.

Graham said the installation of bike pumps is a project spanning five or more years in the future.

Student Government has been actively supporting the bike pump initiative since its start.

Funds from their annual bike auctions have gone to the installation of pumps, totaling approximately $4,000 donated solely to bike pumps in 2009.

SG President Cody Wells said initiatives for bike riders have been important for the Senate in past years.

Contact Brian Sibille at bsibille@lsureveille.com

Engineering senator, agreed, saying she uses her laptop to keep her notes organized.

“It’s important to have the choice with how we learn,” she said. “No teacher knows exactly Kate Mabry how each student learns.”

Staff Writer Emily Landry, E.J. Ourso Student Government Senate College of Business senator, passed a resolution Wednesday said she thinks her laptop can to urge the Office of Academic be a beneficial tool in class, but Affairs to examine the use of a she often finds herself distracted “no technology in the classroom” from lessons.

Landry said students can be policy enforced by some instrucjust as productive tors. without a laptop, The unofficial and many statispolicy prohibits tics reveal stuthe use of laptops, dents pay more cellphones and attention and reother electronic ceive high grades devices, and in without the use of a 88 percent falaptops. vorable passage, “There are SG approved the different strateresolution to be gies, without sent to Executive Karla Frias Vice Chancellor senator for College of Engineering a computer, to learn in different and Provost Jack ways,” she said.

Hamilton.

Ashley Hebert, Graduate “Teachers are willing to work School senator, said the issue of with students to get the informabanned laptops has personally af- tion they need, but either way, it fected her along with many stu- shouldn’t be regulated. It should be up the professor on how the dents on campus.

Although this is not a Uni- class should be run.”

Frias disagreed that laptops versity policy, some professors are strictly enforcing the ban on result in classroom distraction.

“It’s the students’ responsielectronic devices in their classes, and in a few cases, professors bility to pay attention in class rehave penalized students who use gardless,” Frias said.

During the debate, many electronic devices by deducting senators agreed the resolution participation points, she said.

Hebert said she believes this was in favor of the students and policy inhibits student learning, their performance above all other and the University’s main con- aspects.

“We’re in the student Sencern should be student productivate, and we’re representing the ity in the classroom.

“This policy is making stu- students,” said Roben West, Coldents work harder, not smarter,” lege of Humanities and Social she said. “I type faster than I Sciences senator. “This is for write. If a student chooses to not the students; it’s not about the pay attention, that’s their choice, teachers.” and it’ll show in their grades.

We’re all adults, and we pay to Contact Kate Mabry at be here.” kmabry@lsureveille.com Karla Frias, College of

‘‘

‘It’s the students’ responsibility to pay attention in class regardless.’

BLAIR LOCKHART / The Daily Reveille

Speaker Aaron Caffarel presides over Wednesday’s SG Senate meeting.

The Daily Reveille

Thursday, September 29, 2011

CAMPUS SAFETY

Emergency notification 98.3 percent successful

Joshua Bergeron Contributing Writer

The Emergency Operations Center conducted its latest test of its emergency notifications system Wednesday with an increased success rate of 98.3 percent.

The notification went out in three ways — text message, e-mail and desktop alert.

The desktop notifications were a new feature that sent notifications to screens in multimedia classrooms as well as computers in public access labs in the Student Union, Patrick F. Taylor Hall and Middleton Library.

The new features will allow students, faculty and staff to be notified in new ways, but they won’t be used until the EOC can iron out kinks from Wednesday’s test, like the look of the desktop notification.

“These changes will not be immediately implemented into future emergency notifications until we

PROVOST, from page 1

In addition, the University will reimburse Greenwood/Asher for travel and advertising expenses and travel expenses for finalists who are invited to the University.

Eric Monday, vice chancellor for finance and administrative services and CFO, said the provost’s salary will be contingent upon his or her position qualifications. He said he anticipates the University will spend between $75,000 and $150,000 on the search firm.

That money is outlined in the University’s $441 million operating budget in state funds, where the University budgeted $90,000 for both the last fiscal year and this fiscal year for search firms, Monday said.

He said when there is a dean search, the individual college pays for it, but when there is an executive vice chancellor or provost search, the money comes from the institution.

When money budgeted for search firms is not used, Monday said that money is rolled up with other accounts to fill their deficits.

If the University or the LSU System were to have additional job openings within the contract’s three-year timeframe, the search firm could extend its services to that search as well, Monday said. The maximum amount the University would pay Greenwood/Asher is $1.5 million, according to the contract.

Monday likened the process to hiring a law firm, saying choosing a search firm is a competitive process that the University does not want to repeat.

“This is an operating service,” he said. “We want executive search services.”

Monday said there is a possibility the University would spend that $1.5 million, but he stressed that could only happen if there are several University position openings for which the search firm is utilized, which Hamilton would not advocate.

“It has been my view and the

are sure that it can be an effective method of notification,” said John Borne, chief IT Security & Policy officer. “The last thing we want is to send out a notification and have people not receive it.”

Observers were placed in Patrick F. Taylor Hall, the Student Union and Middleton Library to watch the desktop notification tests.

Borne said ITS is also working on notifications via television monitors located around campus.

“You might not notice them, but they are all around campus,” Borne said. “We think they could have potential as a method of notification.”

ITS is also working on an application that people could download to their personal computers that would perform similarly to the desktop notifications.

Contact Joshua Bergeron at jbergeron@lsureveille.com chancellor’s view that we should limit the use of search firms,” Hamilton said.

Administrators justified the spending of this money on a search firm because many people who apply for the position are already administrators at other universities. If they publicly announce their application for LSU’s provost, they may lose their ability to fundraise at their respective universities, said Jane Cassidy, vice provost for human resources and facilities management, who sat on the search firm evaluation committee.

“We have to be respectful that if they apply and don’t get the job, their current job won’t be ruined,” Cassidy said.

While dean searches look within their respective disciplines, provosts can come from any discipline, which widens the pool of candidates, Cassidy said.

Cassidy said search firms are helpful because they keep lists of potential clients, databases of people they know who are either interested in the position or who know people who may be interested. She said Greenwood/Asher has a record for soliciting a diverse group of applicants for positions that are usually dominated by white males and Greenwood/Asher has a good track record of pinpointing people who fit at the University.

Greenwood/Asher will talk to around 500 people about the position, Cassidy said. Once finalists are chosen, Cassidy said Greenwood/ Asher’s only role will be to facilitate, and the decision will lie with the University’s search committee.

“We’re looking for a best fit for LSU. There’s something to be said for bringing somebody in from a top-10 school — everybody wants a Les Miles or Nick Saban as their football coach, but they don’t want to move,” Cassidy said.

Contact Andrea Gallo at agallo@lsureveille.com

ALTERCATION, from page 1

hesitation on the administration’s part either. There’s a point in time where society deems that the charge level is one that’s not so significant, and that was done [Wednesday] by way of a grand jury.”

Miles said senior quarterback Jarrett Lee remains the starter and Jefferson will return as the No. 2 quarterback. Miles did not rule out playing Jefferson against Kentucky on Saturday.

“If he continues to do the things he’s always done, then he will get onto the field,” Miles said.

Miles mentioned the possibility of using Lee and Jefferson in a similar manner to last season. He also referenced the national championship season of 2007 when Matt Flynn started and Ryan Perrilloux saw time in specific packages.

page 5 “In the time we did win the national championship, we needed two quality quarterbacks,” Miles said. “We’re better at quarterback than we’ve ever been.”

The grand jury began hearing testimonies from witnesses Sept.

21 and concluded its proceedings Wednesday. After a brief deliberation, the jury gave its verdict to Commissioner John Smart, who sat in for Judge Bonnie Jackson.

Both Jefferson and Johns testified in front of the grand jury Wednesday. The jury also heard testimonies of football players including Lavar Edwards, Derrick Bryant and Evan Washington. First Assistant District Attorney Prem Burns did not comment on the details of Jefferson’s testimony, except to say Jefferson’s counsel presented him to testify.

Jefferson’s attorney Lewis

Unglesby said he believes Jefferson’s celebrity clouded the investigation. Under normal circumstances, the case would have ended in a pretrial diversion class, he said.

Jefferson will receive a notice of arraignment within a couple of weeks. At that time, Jefferson’s counsel will select a date for his arraignment.

“When the police make an accusation that is fundamentally wrong, then it’s real hard to pull it all the way back,” Unglesby said.

Unglesby affirmed Jefferson’s innocence and said his client will not be convicted.

“There’s no evidence beyond a reasonable doubt to even think about it,” Unglesby said.

Contact Hunter Paniagua at hpaniagua@lsureveille.com

The Daily Reveille

page 6 FACULTY, from page 1 efficiencies, increasing the University’s endowment and spiking tuition and fees, Martin said.

Kevin Cope, president of the University’s Faculty Senate, said the first half of the baby boomer generation — those born between 1945 and 1955 — have bolstered universities as educators for generations, but the second half of baby boomers — those born from 1955 to 1972 — did not join the first half in their educational pursuits. Now, the retiring generation has not cultivated its succession, Cope said.

The University also has a backlog of 136 endowed professorships because the Louisiana Board of Regents lacks the money to fill professor endowments, Droddy said.

Martin said if University professors can gain those endowments, they would bring prestige to the academic field.

“There are fewer people going into the academic vocation,” Cope said. “Strictly speaking, the academic career ‘There is the best career are fewer that there is. But quality of people the academic life is going decaying.”

After sufinto the fering budget academic cuts, University vocation.’ professors have trudged through Kevin Cope four years withFaculty Senate out pay raises president while their workloads are increasing, Cope said.

To remedy this, Martin and Droddy said administrators are in the process of meeting with legislators to devise ways for the University to bring faculty pay raises

Biological sciences graduate next year.

Cope said the contradiction student Kelley Gwin said people of society is the constant talk generally have three avenues about plunging into the future as of pursuit in the sciences — inan educated society and increas- dustry work, government work and academics. ing educational Academics, she efforts, but socisaid, gives the ety “seems unmost freedom for willing to reward research and the those people” in ability to teach. academic profesGwin said the sions. main hiccup for “We see a people entering collective change advanced degree in America,” he programs in the said. “Education sciences is fundis less valued.” ing problems beGovernment Michael Martin cause researchers policies also play Chancellor must have funda role in the academic profession, Cope said, as ing from outside organizations, it is the University’s responsi- such as the National Science bility to educate its lawmakers Foundation, which are also facabout the importance of funds for ing budget shortfalls.

“If funding were easier, you education. He said the University spends its time treading water to would have more influx in acastay alive at the state funding lev- demics,” she said.

But Kristopher Mecholsky, el, but faculty members should be talking to legislators, and legisla- English graduate student, said tors should come to the Univer- graduate students in the humanisity and see the inner-workings of ties are seeing the opposite problem. academia.

“The job market is such that Cope said universities need to open more avenues for people if you’re graduating with a diswho work there, giving profes- sertation, you’ll spend years findsors the ability to shift between ing a job,” he said.

Mecholsky said there are too areas and departments.

Another way the University many students seeking advanced could stress educational impor- degrees in the humanities to fill tance is to return to its old mis- too few positions, but it does not sion of educating the public, detract him from pursuing a career as an English academic.

Cope said.

“I still believe in the life of He said the University of Arkansas’ chancellor has a weekly the mind. This is what I want to TV spot in which he discusses do,” he said. “I don’t care how education. Administrators could hard it is right now — I’d still be also underscore the importance here regardless of the job marof traditional University disci- ket.” plines because people may question their values if administrators Contact Andrea Gallo at do not hold degrees in those disagallo@lsureveille.com ciplines, he said.

‘‘

‘You’ll lose not only a large number [of faculty], but our most distinguished, most productive faculty, all at once.’

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Priority Points game: Volleyball vs. No. 23 Tennessee on Friday at 7 p.m. in the PMAC

Sports

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Football players stay competitive off the field with video games

page 7

FOOTBALL

Miles: Defensive tweaks needed

Albert Burford Sports Contributor

The 2011 LSU football team has more than a few trash talkers on the field. They stand over opponents after every play and jaw back and forth with rivals prior to each snap on Saturdays.

When the players step off the field, the talk doesn’t stop. It carries on in the form of video game competitions.

From “NCAA Football 12” to “Madden 12” to “Gears of War 3,” the LSU football team stays competitive from the field to the television screen.

“In the locker room, everybody talks about ‘NCAA,’ competing about it,” said sophomore running back Michael Ford. “That’s all they do.”

According to Ford and freshman punter Brad Wing, some of the players employ strategies when gaming and make sure they get the playing time they desire.

“I know [sophomore quarterback] Zach Mettenberger lives and dies by playing ‘NCAA 12’ where he’s the quarterback on the team,” Wing said.

Ford also ensures that he sees a lot of time in the game and said he starts himself instead of sophomore running back Spencer Ware.

For Ford, it’s a dream realized to see himself in the game.

“Seeing yourself on NCAA is breathtaking because in high school you used to always create yourself,” he said. “When you get on the game, it’s like, ‘Wow, I can’t believe I’m really on the game.’”

Wing said he makes sure to play as LSU so he can beat his high school teammates who play with different collegiate programs.

“I have a good friend up at Michigan, [sophomore

‘‘

Mark Clements Sports Writer

PLAY NOW ∙ NCAA Football 12 ∙ Madden 12 ∙ Gears of War 3 PLAYERS’ PICKS

∙ Senior offensive guard Will Blackwell “Gears of War 3”

∙ Sophomore running back Michael Ford “Madden 12”

∙ Redshirt freshman punter Brad Wing “Madden 12,” “NCAA 12”

GAMES, see page 10

‘Seeing yourself [in the NCAA video game] is breathtaking because in high school you used to always create yourself.’

Michael Ford

MILES EXPECTS LARGE CROWD DESPITE EARLY KICKOFF Instead of exiting the tunnel behind a setting sun, LSU will be greeted with an early morning illustration by BRITTANY GAY, graphic by STEPHANIE GIGLIO / The Daily Reveille

sophomore running back

After three weeks of stingy defensive performances, LSU’s showing Saturday against thenNo. 16 West Virginia had junior cornerback Morris Claiborne unsatisfied.

“We know we can do better,” Claiborne said.

The Tigers surrendered a season-high 533 total yards to the Mountaineers, 463 coming through the air.

So as the top-ranked Tigers return home Saturday, LSU coach Les Miles said there is a “great need” for the defense to improve moving forward.

“I don’t think anybody on the defensive side felt like they played so well that they’re standing pat,” Miles said. “Frankly I don’t think there’s a week where we’ve played … that we didn’t feel like there was much improvement needed.

That’s maybe been the best mark of this team. We need to improve.”

The Tigers will face a Kentucky offense averaging just 157.8 yards passing and 123 yards rushing per game.

KICKOFF, see page 10

SOCCER

Senior forward nets seven goals after position change Lee: Boudreau has ‘ability in the clutch’ Chris Abshire Sports Writer

As senior Taryne Boudreau goes, so goes the LSU offense.

At least that’s the way it seems for the Tiger soccer squad this season, as Boudreau’s seven goals in the last seven matches have led to a 6-0-1 stretch for LSU after a 1-3 start to 2011.

The Alberta, Canada, native was named the Southeastern Conference Co-Offensive Player of the Week on Monday and was named to the Soccer America Women’s National Team of the Week on Wednesday after leading LSU to

‘‘

‘[Boudreau has] progressed a lot with her scoring, and I think our team’s [success] has followed a lot from that.’

Brian Lee

LSU soccer coach wins against Oklahoma, Mississippi State and Ole Miss last week and tallying five goals.

Boudreau’s five scores accounted for half the team’s 10 goals in those three games — which was one more than it had totaled in the first eight games combined.

She also scored the game-winning goal, her second of the match,

in the 86th minute of a crucial conference showdown with the division rival Rebels on Sunday.

Boudreau began the season as a midfielder, but LSU coach Brian Lee gradually moved her toward the forward spot in recent weeks, and the senior’s offensive spurt has rewarded Lee’s formation change.

“We’re playing her higher up the field, trying to get her closer to the goal,” Lee said. “She’s progressed a lot with her scoring, and I think our team’s [success] has followed a lot from that.”

Boudreau has proven often this season that being near the goal isn’t a prerequisite for finding the net.

She roped a mesmerizing 30yard left-footed score from the SCORES, see page 10

CHRISTOPHER LEH / The Daily Reveille

LSU senior forward Taryne Boudreau and Oklahoma junior defender Katharine Nutman fight over the ball Sept. 19 during LSU’s 2-1 victory in the LSU Soccer Stadium.

The Daily Reveille

page 8

GOLF

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Former University golfers compete in PGA qualifying school

Duo takes advice from pro Toms Luke Johnson Sports Contributor

For former LSU golfers Andrew Loupe and John Peterson, the next step of their journey as professional golfers hinges on what they do next in Q-school.

Q-school is the PGA’s qualifying system where amateurs compete for a handful of spots for a PGA Tour LOUPE card. The card would allow them to compete in professional events without qualifying before the event.

It’s a time filled with either intense emotional highs or depressingly crushing lows for amateur golfers seeking PGA membership.

“Everybody wants the same thing, and not everybody can have it,” Loupe said. “It’s competitive and it’s what you play for. It’s fun

and everybody is trying to make it to the top.“ Peterson echoed Loupe’s sentiments.

“It’s cut throat,” Peterson said. “You put a lot of money into it and a lot of time into it. You only get one chance per year to make it to the tour. You better put your best foot forward.”

The Q-school process takes several months to complete. Anyone can apply, but there are four stages designed to separate the serious golfers from the players who don’t belong on tour.

“The first PETERSON stage is usually not too bad. The second stage is where all the good players are,” Peterson said. “If you get through the second stage you’ll have a job, even if you finish last in the final stage of Q-school.”

Only the top-25 players from the final stage earn a PGA Tour card, but the next 50 players earn spots in the nationwide tour, which is essentially a smaller version of

the PGA Tour.

Loupe completed the prequalifying stage last week by winning his pre-qualifying tournament with a cumulative 7-under par score at the Golf Club of Dallas.

By winning the pre-qualifying stage, Loupe will advance to the first stage at Kinderlou Forest Golf Club in Valdosta, Ga., on Oct. 24.

“It was a good start,” Loupe said. “Obviously each stage gets a little more difficult due to the level of competition and the number of spots, but so far, so good.”

Peterson begins his trek towards his professional status Oct. 18 at Deerwood Golf Course in Kingwood, Texas. Peterson was exempt from the pre-qualifying stage.

If Loupe and Peterson were able to achieve PGA status, they would considerably improve LSU’s profile in professional golf, which is lacking outside of tour stalwart David Toms.

The only other LSU golfers presently on a professional tour are Brian Bateman and Scott Sterling.

Toms is easily the most successful professional golfer to come from LSU, with 13 PGA Tour wins

CROSS COUNTRY

Team trains on high Tunica hills Tunica’s surface contributes to the difficulty of the course.

“The hard part for me is the Staring up a hill with a slope gravel, it’s stones,” Fisher said. somewhere between 45 and 90 “You can’t get a good grip on it like degrees, junior Brea Goodman as- out here [at Highland].” cends into Tunica Hills for the first LSU coach Mark Elliott said of many uphill battles. the workouts help the runners.

“Nothing is worse than Tuni“Running up hills offers that ca,” Goodman said. resistance instead of just sitting in This sentiment is shared by the the weight room all day lifting,” men as well.

Elliott said.

“It’s just straight pain,” said Cooke and Carleton said the junior James Thurn.

Tunica workouts are strenuous but The LSU cross country team beneficial. makes the hour-long trip to Tunica “For me personally, I think TuHills outside of St. nica practices are Francisville every very key,” Cooke Wednesday to run said.

“Running 400-meter repetiin a flat state like tions up what runthis, you’re going ners call “Big Berto need to find as tha.” many hills as you On Sundays can, especially not following a with the [SouthRoger Cooke race, the team goes eastern Conferon a long run, conence] Champidistance junior sisting of eight or onship being at more miles, on the rugged terrain.

Tennessee this year.”

“It’s unfortunate that it’s alEach Wednesday, the team most an hour away,” said senior drives an hour, completes an hourLaura Carleton. “You have to get long workout and drives back. This the hills in because the race courses can cause problems with keeping have hills in them. We’re probably up with school work but the runat a disadvantage against most of ners said they stay on top of their the other schools as far as being so business. flat.”

“It’s just another time manageThe Tigers also frequent the ment thing,” Carleton said. “You rolling hills of Highland Road can do some work in the van but Park. The five Highland hills are it’s not the easiest.” dwarfed by the elevation of the Elliott doesn’t think the travel dozens of hills in Tunica. time is an issue at all for the student “Tunica Hills are worse than athletes. any hill you’ll ever see on a cross “It only makes it hard for me,” country course,” said junior Roger he said. “They can study in the Cooke. van. Me and the trainers have to Junior Richard Fisher said drive. That’s what a student-athlete Andrew Chapple Sports Contributor

‘‘

‘Tunica Hills are worse than any hill you’ll ever see on a cross country course.’

is. There’s times that you have to separate for your training if you’re serious about your running.”

Elliott conceded that sometimes the workouts at Tunica make it difficult to focus on the ride back.

“Some days the work is so hard, they can’t study,” Elliott said.

Contact Andrew Chapple at achapple@lsureveille.com

photo courtesy of THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Former LSU golfer David Toms reacts to a swing from the 18th tee during the second round of The Players Championships in May in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.

to his name.

But Toms’ influence on Peterson and Loupe extends beyond just having the same alma mater.

“I’m constantly talking to [Toms], he’s been a great help,” Peterson said. “[Toms] said, ‘You know, treat it like any other tournament.’ Obviously I’ve got the

game to do it, if I just don’t beat myself up too much, he said I’ll have no problem going through.

I’ve just got to keep working on it.”

Contact Luke Johnson at ljohnson@lsureveille.com

The Daily Reveille

Thursday, September 29, 2011

TENNIS

page 9

Nine international students hit the courts for LSU home countries. In most other nations, players can’t get an education while simultaneously pursuing tenTennis is one of the most wide- nis careers, forcing them to choose ly-played sports between the two. around the world, “[The U.S.] and LSU’s tennis is the only counprograms have retry where it’s an cruited accordingly. option to continThe Tigers’ rosue [playing tenter includes seven nis] beyond high players hailing from school and also go nations other than the to school,” said United States, while LSU men’s coach the Lady Tigers have Jeff Brown. “We two players from foroffer them an opeign nations. portunity to get Tennis players an education and Jeff Brown are presented with then still have a LSU men’s tennis coach an opportunity in the chance to play U.S. that they may not have in their professionally afterward.”

Adrian Wintz

Sports Contributor

‘‘

‘[The U.S.] is the only country where it’s an option to continue [playing tennis] beyond high school and also go to school.’

Players from the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Australia and Hungary have committed to LSU’s tennis programs.

Sophomore Yvette Vlaar came to LSU to play tennis from Weert, Netherlands.

“If you go to college in my country, you can VLAAR only do college,” Vlaar said. “You have to go to school from 9 [a.m.] ’til 4:30 [p.m.], and after that you have to study. So it’s basically stop [going to school] and go professional. But I wasn’t good enough for that, so I came here.”

LSU succeeded in bringing Vlaar to Baton Rouge before other

schools could nab her.

“I got recruited by a few schools,” Vlaar said. “I liked [LSU’s] team a lot when I visited, so I decided I wanted to come here.”

Redshirt freshman Chris Simpson, a native of Derby, England , hit the court for SIMPSON the Tigers for the first time this weekend at the USTA Futures Qualifying Tournament in California.

“Chris Simpson came in last January, and we redshirted him to let him get used to everything here,” Brown said.

Brown discovered the 5-foot-

11-inch freshman in England at a Junior Wimbledon warm-up tournament.

“We saw him in a junior tournament in England, and he competed very well,” Brown said. “He fought very hard, and his game was at a good level.”

The Tigers won Southeastern Conference Championships in 1985, 1998 and 1999, and have several NCAA Tournament appearances, including their most recent Sweet 16 appearance in 2005. The Lady Tigers haven’t won an SEC Championship, but won an SEC Western Division Championship in 2004.

Contact Adrian Wintz at awintz@lsureveille.com

AROUND THE SEC

Texas A&M gets first taste of conference play this weekend Staff Reports

The Southeastern Conference’s newest member won’t play its first official SEC game until the 2012 season.

But it’ll get an early preview this weekend.

Texas A&M (2-1) and Arkansas (3-1) will match up Saturday at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, for the third-annual Southwest Classic.

“We always enjoy the experience of playing in Cowboys Stadium,” said Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino. “Our team is excited about the opportunity, and we know we are

playing a very, very good football team in Texas A&M.” Petrino said he thinks the addition of the Aggies will be good for his football team long term, but hasn’t been treating the game with a different mind set since the official announcement.

“It’s another game for us, a game that we’ll prepare the same way,” Petrino said. “We’re excited about A&M coming into our conference. We think that’s a great deal for our conference and for them and for us … because it will certainly help our exposure and our recruiting in the state of Texas.”

The Razorbacks lead the series 40-24-3.

SOUTH CAROLINA WORKING OUT KINKS IN PASSING GAME South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier said the Gamecocks still have a few things to work on if they want to extend their undefeated streak to five games.

No. 10 South Carolina (4-0, 2-0 SEC), has gotten off to its best start since a 5-0 debut in 2001. It will put its undefeated record on the line this weekend against Auburn (3-1, 1-0).

Spurrier expressed frustration with the Gamecocks’ No. 99 ranked passing offense and said the team has been working on a better balance between running and passing.

“We’re still trying to throw,”

Spurrier said. “A lot of good’s not happening when we attempt. After you attempt a little bit, and nothing good’s happening except interceptions, you say, ‘Man, we better try to win this game and stop throwing so much.’”

Auburn and South Carolina last met up in December in the SEC Championship Game. Auburn won that meeting, 56-17.

MUSCHAMP FACES OFF AGAINST FORMER MENTOR No. 3 Alabama (4-0, 1-0) and No. 12 Florida (4-0, 2-0) will face off in one of the biggest conference matchups of the season at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla.

The game will be first-year Florida coach Will Muschamp’s first test as a head coach against Alabama coach Nick Saban.

Muschamp worked under Saban at LSU from 2001 to 2004 as a linebackers coach and defensive coordinator. He followed him to the Miami Dolphins, working as an assistant head coach for the 2005 season.

“I think is the biggest challenge we’ve had all year, which also makes it the best opportunity,” Saban said.

“I think Florida has a very, very good team.”

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

page 10 KICKOFF, from page 7 sunshine Saturday with an unusual 11:21 a.m. kickoff time.

Miles said he expects Tiger fans to come out in full force for the team’s second home game of the season despite the early start.

“I don’t think there’s going to be any difference in our crowd,” Miles said. “Our crowd gets motivated irrespective of the time. I think that sometimes a change in schedule is not

necessarily negative.”

Miles said the early kickoff will also benefit the players, who will have a rare Saturday night off.

“I think our guys are going to be fired up,” Miles said. “I think our guys will enjoy an evening meal with our families and friends.

I think there’s some advantages in playing in the day time as well.”

Contact Mark Clements at mclements@lsureveille.com

we’re doing.”

According to Blackwell, Hebert wide receiver] Drew Dileo, that I is the best “Gears of War” player, used to play with in high school,” he but Blackwell said Hebert has an said. “I usually advantage because beat Michigan he has played since with LSU, and the first edition of the he’s not too hapgame came out. py with that.”

“No one was The commore excited to get petition carries that game than he over to nonwas,” Blackwell said. sports games as “But I have to say I’m well. a little better than he Will Blackwell Senior ofis at the first-person LSU senior offensive guard fensive guard shooters.”

Will Blackwell Those who don’t said he and fellow senior offen- spend their precious free time playsive guards T-Bob Hebert and Josh ing video games aren’t able to avoid Dworaczyk are “hardcore into” the criticism. third-person shooter “Gears of War “I don’t really play [video 3,” but will play first-person shooter games],” said junior center P.J. Lo“Battlefield 3” when it hits stores. nergan. “They make fun of me beBlackwell admitted it’s not easy cause I don’t play.” to find time to play video games.

“Of course there’s not much off-time for us with school and footContact Albert Burford at ball,” he said. “But when we do have some off-time, that’s usually what aburford@lsureveille.com

GAMES, from page 7

‘‘

‘When we do have some off-time, [playing video games] is usually what we’re doing.’

The Daily Reveille

Thursday, September 29, 2011

SCORES, from page 7

center of the field to win a tense, defensive slugfest against Oregon and coaxed a 25-yard arching shot into the net from the right sideline against Oklahoma to break a scoreless tie.

“My whole life, I’ve felt like I was capable of taking and making those kind of shots,” Boudreau said of her signature shot. “It’s something I practiced with my old coaches. The emphasis is knowing where you are on the field, because that’s how you know when the shot is there. The coaches encouraged it if you think you have the chance.”

Lee said the senior’s ability to score from long distances derives from her leg strength.

“It’s her technical ability as much as a mindset,” Lee said. “She can drive the ball with both feet.

It’s rare, male or female, for a player to be able to shoot the ball with pace on their left foot from 35, 40 yards. That’s why she’s always a threat to score.”

But Boudreau hasn’t always been a scoring juggernaut in her career at LSU. Prior to this month, she had just nine goals in her first three seasons. According to teammates, Boudreau’s skills were apparent in practice, but she was needed more as a facilitator in the midfield.

“Last year, [Taryne] played centerback and did a great job, but we couldn’t use her attacking ability as much,” said senior midfielder Natalie Martineau. “Putting her up top was just a matter of time. We

CHRISTOPHER LEH / The Daily Reveille

LSU senior forward Taryne Boudreau (16) points to Tiger fans Sunday after scoring her second goal during LSU’s 3-2 victory against Mississippi State.

always knew she had a great shot.”

Boudreau said the switch to forward has allowed her to practice more on finishing around the net and added stability to her role.

“I was always kind of moving around because the coaches were trying to figure out how I could help the team the most,” she said.

“Moving to forward has been a key because I have gotten the reps every day finishing at the goal. I like the chances to create.”

Lee said the senior’s biggest asset has been her ability to score in the clutch.

“The special attribute every coach is looking for is someone who scores goals when your team needs them the most,” he said.

“So her winner against Ole Miss, and that brilliant Oregon goal on the [renovated] stadium’s opening night, those moments show her character. It takes a totally different ability in the clutch. She’s got that ability.”

Contact Chris Abshire at cabshire@lsureveille.com

Entertainment

Thursday, September 29, 2011

RED STICK ROUNDUP

1971

1981

Free West Coast Swing Lessons Rick-N-Robins Nite Club will offer free swing dance lessons from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., followed by a night of karaoke. Free.

2000

Pride in Our Colors Colorguard celebrates 40 years as University staple Haylie Navarre

Friday:

Entertainment Writer

MIKE CARLSON / The Associated Press

Miranda Lambert in concert Country superstar Miranda Lambert will make a stop in Louisiana on her national tour. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Baton Rouge River Center. Prices vary.

The Scorseses and 6 Pack Deep Chelsea Cafe’s is calling this funfilled night a Gameday Weekend Rock Show. The Scorseses will take the stage at 10:30 p.m. and 6 Pack Deep will follow at midnight.

photos courtesy of MONYA KING

1996

Tonight:

Electric Takeover presents Dubstep Massive The show at The Varsity Theater, featuring Midnight Conspiracy, Swiss Chriss, Christoph Andersson, Deftjams and other guests, will offer a night of dubstep and dancing. The show starts at 9 p.m. and attendees must be 18 or older. $10 in advance; $15 VIP.

page 11

ZACH BREAUX / The Daily Reveille

A Colorguard member performs Sept. 3 during the pregame show before LSU’s game against the University of Oregon. The Colorguard will perform a special halftime show Saturday.

As this weekend’s annual Tiger Band reunion game nears, former Colorguard members are preparing to step back in time.

The group celebrates its 40th anniversary this year and will include football fans in the celebration with a halftime performance during Saturday’s game.

School of Music Assistant Dean Carol Larsen, captain of the original Colorguard, is preparing to take the field for the first time in 39 years, and found herself having to learn a few new tricks.

“I lock the door, close the blinds and I’m in here with that umbrella every lunch hour, twirling,” she said, pointing at her makeshift flag in the corner of the room.

Spinning the flags wasn’t part of the job for the original guard. Instead they simply marched while holding them

upright, fastened into belt pockets on the front of their uniforms.

“The flags added beauty and pageantry to the shows, but we didn’t do much with them,” Larsen said.

In 1970, the Golden Band from Tigerland was named the “All-American College TV Band” in the only collegiate marching-band competition of the time. The award caused a surge of students to audition for Tiger Band, but the band had limited money to purchase uniforms.

In 1971, Tiger Band Director William F. Swor decided to create a third auxiliary unit to free up space for additional members — the Colorguard.

Swor selected existing female members of the band to serve.

Larsen marched with a glockenspiel for two years in the band before being selected as captain of the first Colorguard.

40 YEARS, see page 15

THEATER

‘Performancer’ Violet Juno to perform on Friday Taylor Balkom Entertainment Writer

photo courtesy of THE SCORSESES

Saturday: Baton Rouge Arts Market More than 50 artists, potters, sculptors and crafters will gather downtown for a collective show. The market is at 5th and Main streets, and will run from 8 a.m. to noon.

Ladies and gentlemen, language has left the building.

Violet Juno, a performance artist from Oakland, Calif., will perform her show, “(I am still here) Language Has Left The Building,” which explores language and its connection to storytelling, at HopKins Black Box Theatre Friday.

Juno was originally studying fashion design at Washington University in St. Louis when she began feeling drawn to the sculpture department.

Juno’s professors were supportive, but they were interested

in more than her sculptures.

“They said they really liked me standing next to [the sculptures] and telling them crazy stories about how I made them and why,” Juno said. “It kind of snowballed from there.”

Juno calls herself a “performancer,” which she uses to describe her type of performance art.

“I try to create something from nothing on stage using ordinary objects in extraordinary ways,” she said. “Almost like a magician.”

The extraordinary uses could vary from wearing a book to PERFORMANCER, see page 15

photo courtesy of PATRICIA SUCHY

Performance artist Violet Juno will perform her show “(I am still here) Language Has Left The Building” on Friday at the HopKins Black Box Theatre.

The Daily Reveille

page 12

Reveille Ranks

Wilco, “The Whole Love”

MUSIC

dBpm

Wilco’s eighth album, “The Whole Love,” takes more than one listen to appreciate. The first song, “Art of Almost,” and the title track are the strongest on the album, but only by a narrow margin. “Dawned On Me” is a strong second, with lyrics like, “I can’t help it if I fall in love with you again/I’m calling just to let you know it dawned on me.” Place that on top of a rocking bass and upbeat tempo, and you get an incredible feel-good song. “Capitol City” feels a tad out of place on the album, but isn’t a bad song. The different tracks seem almost indistinguishable at first, but give it some time and this album goes from almost mediocre to one of the best of the year.

[A]

TAYLOR BALKOM

Tony Bennett, “Duets II”

Columbia Records

With many years of experience, Tony Bennett delivers soulful melodies with the who’s who of the music industry on his opus of covers, “Duets II.” Featuring chart-toppers like Andrea Bocelli, Josh Groban, Aretha Franklin, Lady GaGa, Norah Jones and Michael Bublé, Bennett assembles a dream team of collaborators for the second in his series of duet albums. Combining breathtaking vocals with strings and pianos, Bennett serenades listeners with timeless arrangements and classic revampings. A treat for any listener, the LP contains the last recorded material from the late Amy Winehouse. Winehouse and Bennett’s “Body and Soul” takes the classic and breathes new life into it, helping to propel this standard of musical excellence into new music connoisseurs’ ears. Overall, listeners will enjoy the jazz classics as retold by Bennett and his friends.

[A-]

Mates of State, “Moutaintops”

KITTU PANNU Barsuk Records

The caffine-packed sounds of Mates of State married couple Jason Hammel and Kori Gardner seem to have an extra shot of espresso on their latest album “Mountaintops.” With catchy opening tracks “Palomino” and “Maracas,” the electro-synth pop music the band is known for is reiterated. Despite the multiple electronic textures, their sound is warm and welcoming, similar to a good friend’s garage band. A few songs address trials and tribulations that no doubt occur between any couple, especially one that spends countless hours together creating music. Although the lyrics are sometimes a bit daft, songs like “Desire” and “Mistakes” deviate from the dance-and-shout vibe of the majority of their songs and delve into deeper emotions. But still, this organ and drum duo’s sad songs are happier than most bands’ happy songs.

[B+]

HAYLIE NAVARRE

“Moneyball”

Columbia Pictures

As Oscar season begins, “Moneyball” seems to be the first strong contender for an Academy Award. Screenwriters Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin let the film find its success in the same place as last year’s “The Social Network,” which Sorkin also wrote. “Moneyball” takes a niche subject — in this case, the assembly of a baseball team on a budget — and transforms it into a sharp, witty story. Stellar performances abound, from Brad Pitt and Philip Seymour Hoffman to Jonah Hill and Chris Pratt of NBC’s “Parks and Recreation.” It’s nice to see both Hill and Pratt maturing into actors that can be taken seriously. “Moneyball” presents a near-perfect mix of humor and sentimentality, keeping the audience entertained while providing great insights into business, baseball and human nature.

[A]

Blink-182, “Neighborhoods”

JOEY GRONER DGC Records, Interscope

It’s official — Blink-182 is back. “Neighborhoods,” the band’s first album in eight years, is classic Blink pop-punk perfection.

Even after a side-project-spawning “indefinite hiatus,” Tom DeLonge and the boys have picked up right where they left off.

They seem to have mated the sounds from their other bands, Angels and Airwaves and +44, to birth the newest Blink album.

“Neighborhoods” combines low-key emo tracks with fast-paced singles in just the right proportions. While some songs like bonus track “Fighting the Gravity” have a chill, kick-back vibe, tracks like “Heart’s All Gone” bring back feelings of teenage angst. Blink-182 has grown up — the tracks are deeper and mature, but there’s still some good old fashioned broken-heart crooning. “Neighborhoods” is just what Blink-182 fans have been waiting for.

[A]

EMILY HERRINGTON

EDITOR’S PICK: “Drive”

Film District

“Drive” has all the makings of a sophisticated crime thriller.

Plastered with moments of what should be adrenaline-pumping intensity and sensual violence, director Nicolas Winding Refn’s film is the story of a Hollywood stunt performer (Ryan Gosling) with a knack for high-speed stylings behind the wheel. The stuntman, who remains unnamed throughout the film, moonlights as a getaway driver for mobsters and burglars, which leads to an overly intricate plot arc as he becomes entrenched in a gritty heist. The film never quite reaches high gear, though, and its art-house quality drags the narrative through a laborious trajectory. As if the slowness weren’t enough, the film becomes inundated with gruesomeness after its first half hour, leaving audiences with nothing to savor but gratuitous blood and flat characters.

[C]

Thursday, September 29, 2011

MATTHEW JACOBS

Student juggles rapping, school Lil Moe making name for himself Kevin Thibodeaux Entertainment Writer

When he isn’t hitting the books, political science junior Maurice “Lil Moe” Williams is hitting the Internet to promote his budding rap career.

Lil Moe uses Twitter to promote his rapping and releases songs via YouTube. His Twitter account has seen a recent spike in popularity, with more than 4,000 followers.

In addition, LIL MOE the music video for his single “Trick’N”, which was posted last year, has more than 25,000 views on YouTube.

Lil Moe said he is in talks with mtvU to play his newest video, which he will shoot next month and release in November.

Students think the Internet gives talented musicians a chance to be heard.

Kinesiology sophomore Alana Lee said several big-name rappers probably started in the same position as people like Lil Moe. “I feel like they should all get a fair chance,” Lee said.

Pre-physician’s assistant freshman LaKeisha Fair said that although many musicians who use the Internet for publicity

aren’t talented, it is a smart way that I consider foolishness.” to get noticed.

Lil Moe said he balances Lil Moe said he also uses music with school by going to other, more traditional tactics to class and paying attention. promote his rapping, like going He said he doesn’t play too to other campuses across the state many shows, but he recently and posting fliers. played at Club He said he disStatic in Latributes T-shirts, fayette and has which people usuplayed in Atlanta ally recognize on and at the Dragcampus. on’s Den in New Lil Moe, Orleans. originally from Lil Moe said New Orleans, he has a show Maurice Williams said he started planned for New political science junior, rapping in high Year’s Eve in rapper school for fun.

New York City, Despite its large music scene, Lil and he is currently trying to set Moe said New Orleans is a chal- up a performance at Vibes 2.0 in lenging place for up-and-coming Port Allen. musicians.

He said that unlike other “It’s probably harder to get a rappers who talk about dealing show, like if you’re up and com- drugs, he raps about things he has ing, if you’re not friends with personally experienced like parpeople,” he said. “I don’t believe ties and having fun. in that, so I haven’t done a bunch He said he started his own reof shows down there. But there cord label, Royal Fam, a year and are other people who are bigger, a half ago. Lil Moe said he likes so it just depends on who you that proceeds from his songs like know I guess.”

“Trick’N,” which can be purLil Moe said his father is chased on iTunes, go directly to an entertainment lawyer, which him. taught him the business side of Lil Moe said he has worked music and made him realize he with rappers ranging from locould make money from rapping. cal musicians like Dee-1 and GHe became more serious Eazy to bigger-name rappers like about his career when he realized Fiend, who currently works with the influence music could have Curren$y, and Lil Twist from Lil on other people.

Wayne’s Young Money Enter“I feel like, at least with tainment record label. rap, people don’t really promote education necessarily,” he said.

“Some people do, but I think they Contact Kevin Thibodeaux at can do a better job. And then I try not to promote too much stuff kthibodeaux@lsureveille.com

‘‘

‘I try not to promote too much stuff that I consider foolishness’

The Daily Reveille

Thursday, September 29, 2011

TECHNOLOGY

page 13

Smartphone apps connect users with similar interests App features geosocial integration

Do you spend more time talking to friends online or in person?

Kittu Pannu

Entertainment Writer

In today’s world, more people are meeting online.

New social media services facilitate this trend and offer users the chance to connect with people who live around them based on interests. Smartphone app Blendr is another in the long line of platforms that make it easier to meet people online.

Alex Cook, IT Coordinator with Continuing Education at the University, calls Blendr and similar geo-social applications “a smart progression from how Facebook and Twitter works.”

“It lets you list 10 or so interests, it goes through your network and some geo-location things and enables it so you can chat immediately or even hook up with people,” Cook said. “It takes these networks and speeds up the connection process.”

Blendr and its sister app Grindr have made an impression on social interactions, Cook said.

“It will take that network and accelerate it,” Cook said. “It’s interesting because it uses Facebook and [other social networks].

I like apps like that because they’re basically taking things that were proprietary websites and use them as conduits of information.”

Evan Albarado, natural resource and ecology management senior, said he believes geosocial media platforms that are popular now will crash and burn in the future.

“I’m not interested in stalking down some random person who is generally near me who likes the same video game as me,” Albarado said. “I don’t want to meet people like that.”

Cook said even though many people use the service for meeting new people and hooking up, this may not be what the creators had in mind.

“The funny thing about social networking is that no matter what you intend people to use it for, they will use it for whatever they want,” Cook said. “I don’t think the way we use Facebook and Twitter now was not what the creators had in mind when they first made it. It’s a base impulse.”

Michael Read, microbiology senior, said he likes some aspects of the new apps but is uncomfortable with others.

“It’s a one-sided thing. I wouldn’t mind knowing where other people were, but I don’t want people knowing where I am,” Read said. “I don’t want to solicit any social interaction I didn’t want. If I wanted to talk to you, I’d probably talk to you.”

Read said using apps like Blendr to find hook-up buddies is launching society into a greater age of sexual promiscuity.

Blendr and similar apps are glorified chat rooms that utilize

Jordan Krebsbach

‘I am more online.

I like to sit on my couch and not do anything.’

psychology freshman

external networks, and people should be more conscious of their privacy when using these services, according to Cook.

“In chat rooms, there was a basis of anonymity, but it’s still pulling your interests and your profiles if connecting through Facebook or other social media sites,” Cook said.

Blendr shows a recent trend in app technology that has people getting away from particular websites and using apps that pull from different sites to create a unique interface and experience for each user, Cook said.

According to Cook, the target demographic for these geosocial apps are college students in their early 20s.

“I’m out of the target demographic and I found it a little invasive,” Cook said. “I think for younger people, this is that immediate connection where they don’t have to go out and find people, they’ll let the machines do it for them.”

Contact Kittu Pannu at kpannu@lsureveille.com

Evan Albarado natural resource senior

‘My main source of interaction is probably text message and phone to meet up.’

Using Blendr: -Download the app on your iPhone or Android device -Add your interests, ranging from hobbies to religion -Chat with people in your area

Michael Read microbiology senior

‘Real life definitely.

If I get on the computer, it’s out of necessity.’

‘I interact more online with friends.

With my schedule, it’s hard to hang out Jerica Daniel elementary education with people.’ sophomore

The Daily Reveille

page 14

Thursday, September 29, 2011

TRANSPORTATION

Students use motor scooters to bypass campus parking Kevin Thibodeaux

Entertainment Writer

On an average day, scores of students can be seen scooting around campus on their Vespas or other motorized vehicles.

Brandon Lacaze, manager of Moto Rouge on Airline Highway, said students make up about 40 percent of his business.

The demand for scooters has increased since gas prices passed the $2.50 mark, Lacaze said. The majority of people who own scooters are looking to cut down on expenses like fuel, and Lacaze said scooter riders can fill their tanks for about $6 and it will last for three weeks.

He said riders typically pay about $20 total each month for insurance and gas, and scooters typically don’t require

much maintenance.

Lacaze said workers who commute a short distance to their offices are another major percentage of scooter customers, and retirees make up the rest.

Phillip Lewis, service manager for Rad Cycles on Nicholson Drive, said scooters are a good form of transportation for students around campus, but Baton Rouge is not the most ideal city in which to drive one.

“Unless you don’t have very far to go, you can’t really get by on a scooter,” Lewis said.

He said scooters are a more practical form of transportation in New Orleans because of the shortage of parking.

Lewis said scooters can typically go 35 to 40 mph and can get 60 to 80 miles per gallon.

Lewis said name-brand

scooters are a wise investment because they are easy to maintain and their parts are readily available.

He said Chinese scooters usually come with a smaller price tag but are poorly made and replacement parts are difficult to find.

The vehicles are popular because they’re inexpensive and make it easier to find parking spaces in a crowded area like campus, he said.

Gary Graham, director of the Office of Parking, Traffic and Transportation said in an e-mail to The Daily Reveille that motorcycles and motor scooters are considered to be the same type of vehicle.

Currently 118 of these vehicles on campus have registered for parking permits for the fall 2011 semester, Graham said. That’s an increase from the 87 registered in 2007.

“Every time we get a scooter, it seems to sell pretty quick,” Lewis said.

General studies freshman Victoria Menard said she borrows her friend’s extra scooter to get around campus.

Menard said she works on a different side of campus from her classes and can quickly get across campus on her scooter.

“I just ride my scooter because it’s quicker and cooler,” she said.

Menard said she has taken the scooter as far as Bluebonnet Boulevard to save gas but had difficulty staying out of the way of passing cars.

Mechanical engineering freshman Jorden St. John rides his scooter to campus so he doesn’t have to deal with parking, which he called “insane.”

He said he only uses his

SOCIAL MEDIA

Google+ open to public, receives mixed reviews

Emily Herrington Entertainment Writer

Internet users no longer need to be VIPs to have a Google+ account — the social network is now entirely available to the public.

Google+ originally launched over the summer, but the network required users to receive an invitation in order to join the site. But as of Sept. 20, anyone can use the service.

Google+’s most unique features include circles, hangouts and +1s.

Circles are a way of sorting groups of friends, and they allow users to share information with only specific people.

“Circles are interesting because you can determine who you communicate with,” said Sheri Thompson, IT communications and planning officer. “You can keep close friends and family apart from acquaintances.”

Alex Cook, IT coordinator for continuing education and adjunct mass communication professor, said the circles were originally Google+’s main allure, but the new advent of Facebook’s lists diffuses that.

“The appeal used to be the circles and privacy management, but recent Facebook changes have totally co-opted that,” Cook said.

But Thompson said Google+ offers a “different kind of privacy than Facebook” because users can add others to their circles without first being confirmed.

Hangouts allow users to chat via instant messenger or live video, and +1s are methods of sharing links and other information, but Cook said the features may not be user-friendly.

“The problem is these things aren’t prominent,” Cook said. “The mechanisms are cool, but they’re not that easy to find.”

Cook said Google+’s success won’t be cemented until more people join, and the network becomes

more easily integrated with other applications like HootSuite and TweetDeck.

Cook said the new network simply doesn’t have enough going on, and Thompson agreed.

“It needs more integration, but it has the potential to be something really neat,” Thompson said.

Daniel Carter, anthropology sophomore, said he likes the organization Google+ offers and would start using the network if more people joined.

With Facebook’s recent interface changes receiving mixed reviews, some wonder if Google+ will replace the blue social giant.

Quan Pham, microbiology freshman, said he would consider switching to Google+ because of his dissatisfaction with Facebook’s changes.

“I don’t like [the changes]. It

used to be so simple, but now I’m not sure what’s going on,” he said.

“Google+ seems more streamlined.”

Pham said he “might ditch Facebook” and make the switch since he’s been using it less and less, especially since the addition of the network’s “creepy” news ticker.

But not everyone’s upset.

Cook said he’s a big fan of the new Facebook layout, especially the new timeline feature set to launch next week.

“It’s expanded, and it tracks and mirrors your life. I think it’s interesting, but scary,” Cook said.

“The amount of data on Facebook is daunting.”

He said he doesn’t think people will leave Facebook in a rage over the new changes because “Facebook couldn’t change a thing without people freaking out.”

Cook worries that people will start to see Google+ as “just another thing I have to do.” He said it needs to up its “cool factor” and navigability in order to succeed.

Contact Emily Herrington at eherrington@lsureveille.com

scooter to get around campus.

Contact Kevin Thibodeaux at kthibodeaux@lsureveille.com

The Daily Reveille

Thursday, September 29, 2011 40 YEARS, from page 11

Larsen said taking the field as a member of the original guard was a prideful feeling like no other, especially since the football team had recently won a national championship.

She said it was exciting to be part of a new group.

“We were no longer anonymous members of a group of hundreds,” said Larsen, “[We were] now much more visible.”

Larsen said the increased visibility gave Colorguard members a sense of personal responsibility to perform well.

She said guard members remained instrumentalists first and foremost. On the band’s traditional pre-game march down

PERFORMANCER, from page 11

using shipping foam in an interesting way.

Juno’s show is primarily about language and how it connects people to one another. Her interest in language comes from a “healthy skepticism” of English.

“English is the sixth language that me and my family have learned and lost,” Juno said.

The forgotten languages include Norwegian and Pima, which her great-grandparents knew; Spanish, which her parents knew; and a grammarless language created by Juno and her identical twin sister. The remaining languages in the family are German and English.

“I didn’t learn English until I was 4,” Juno said. “That was a long time to be pretty much preverbal.”

Victory Hill, they would carry a flag in one hand and an instrument in the other. The guard would play instruments in the stands and march with flags during the halftime performance.

The original 12-member guard carried flags representing each of the ten SEC schools in addition to two solid white flags.

Larsen said the flags were tall and metal with sturdy, heavy fabric and large standards on the top.

She said the flags were treated with respect similar to that of an American flag.

“We couldn’t be seen dragging the Ole Miss flag through the dirt,” Larsen said.

Tiger Band Director Roy King said the skill level of today’s guard is very different from

when it started.

“The intricate choreography goes with the music and creates a visual accompaniment, if you will, to the music being performed,” said King.

At 31 members, the current Colorguard is the largest in University history.

Larsen said she had some influence on the group’s uniforms during her time as captain. She described the uniforms as short, white skirts over a sleeveless top with a bolero jacket and short, white boots.

“It was a relief not to wear a full band uniform in September,” Larsen said.

Monya King, Colorguard member from 1981 to 1984, is coordinating events for the

Juno said learning English so late in life caused her to question the language as one that can tell the whole story.

“I’m always unsure if I have the right word,” Juno said.

“There probably is a better word, or should be.”

She uses a special contact microphone on random objects to help her during the show.

“I’m letting the objects speak for themselves during the performance,” Juno said.

Tracy Shaffer, associate professor of communication studies at the University, saw Juno at the National Communications Association conference in San Francisco last year.

“Several of us who were at LSU attended [her] performance and thought it was amazing,” Shaffer said.

She also thinks Juno fits in

perfectly in the theater.

“She’s got a visual arts and sculpture background and combines that knowledge with her performance, which we find very interesting,” Shaffer said.

Juno believes the audience is an integral part of any performance. She said each show is special to the night it’s performed and to the audience.

“The performance is never the same again,” Juno said.

“Something special is going to happen on Friday, and I’m looking forward to it.”

Admission to the HopKins Black Box performance of “(I am still here) Language Has Left The Building” is free. It will begin at 7:30 p.m.

Contact Taylor Balkom at tbalkom@lsureveille.com

page 15 former guard members during the alumni weekend. King said the alumnae have held two practices over the summer in preparation for their halftime performance, and both were well attended.

Current Colorguard captain and graduate student Emily Brinks said it’s a unique feeling to be a part of game day and march down the hill while students and fans cheer.

“It’s exciting to see and about one million times more exciting to be a part of it,” Brinks said.

Brinks said the guard perfects its performances and makes the skills look easy, but in reality the effort takes a lot of coordination. They practice for nearly

nine hours during the week, with the band and as an individual section, in preparation for games.

She said she thinks it’s wonderful to see how excited the alumni are to be able to perform.

“It’s exciting to have a chance to be on the field with the people who are kind of responsible for making our team what it is today,” Brinks said.

Contact Haylie Navarre at hnavarre@lsureveille.com

The Daily Reveille

Opinion

page 16

WEB COMMENTS

As usual, our website, lsureveille.com, has been absolutely buzzing with reader comments.

Check it out today, and let your voice be heard.

In reference to Gabie Bacques’ column, “Girls should stop settling for unfulfilling relationships,” readers had this to say:

‘bad boys’ have qualities beyond whatever you consider ‘bad’. Consider what those might be and that sometimes, she’s just not going to be into you. I’d put money down that if you’re seeing women as something to be ‘won’, that’s your problem right there. Learn who you are and learn who she is.”

-Anonymous

can bet enough women pass up nice guys for bad boys for plenty of legitimately nice guys to come to that conclusion. And let’s be fair on another point, too... it’s not like it’s easy for guys who don’t ‘get’ attraction to figure it out on their own, speaking from experience.”

-Anonymous

“Also, anyone that calls himself a ‘nice guy’ and thinks girls only choose ‘bad boys’, is not a nice guy. He’s a misogynistic jackass with a persecution complex. Stay away ladies. Guys, it’s an easy trap to fall into. It’s comforting to think you’re a ‘nice guy’ and that women aren’t choosing you because they like ‘bad boys’. That really isn’t it. Those

“‘Also, anyone that calls himself a ‘nice guy’ and thinks girls only choose ‘bad boys’, is not a nice guy. He’s a misogynistic jackass with a persecution complex.’

Wow, projection much? It’s not hard to imagine why guys would think this. Look at the article, for Christ’s sake. If there’s a newspaper article trying to urge women not to date ‘bad boys,’ you

“Thanks for that perspective, anon.

I think the focus of the article was more on finding a good college relationship. If someone had the unfulfilled mindset going into a marriage then I’d say they’re getting married for the wrong reason.

Marriage vows (at least churchbased ones) pledge yourself to a person for the rest of your life. It’s

a promise to fight against human nature to stay with them. I’m glad you realize this and continually make the effort. Of course SAYING ‘I’m with you for the long haul’ is MUCH easier than doing it. I can’t even begin to put myself in those shoes.

So what is there for us to fall back on? I’ve got my ideals and a handful of deal-breakers - otherwise I just have to date the person long enough to know if I want to keep fighting for them until I’m dead! Of course it’s folly to say ‘I’m going to settle for nothing less than perfect’, but that must also be balanced with ‘I’m doing all the giving and getting nothing in return’. I feel it’s situations like the latter that aren’t resolved before many college-aged people

Thursday, September 29, 2011 enter into marriage.”

-jb “Brilliant! It’s unfortunate how many girls have no respect for themselves when it comes to who they date. If you think you have to ‘change’ him, then you shouldn’t date him at all! You date a person for who they are, not what you expect to turn them into. And it’s sad how so many girls want a relationship so bad that they will settle for someone who treats them horribly.

Love your article and hope many girls read it and realize they deserve better!”

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

A BETTER PILL TO SWALLOW

TV stereotypes are unforgivable reminders of past generations Within the iconography of America, there are ghosts that will forever continue to haunt us.

But these are ghosts that we keep with us, as they are constant reminders of our grisly past — guides to keep us from repeating our history.

No other example is more notable than the dramatic and often violent past surrounding the struggle for equality pursued by black Americans.

We are ever cognizant of this past, as it is a valuable teaching tool that has become a cornerstone of the

modern American education.

Every child is eventually brought up to speed with the atrocities committed against African Americans during both slavery and the Civil Rights race riots.

These are harrowing episodes that show the depth of institutionalized hatred and violent depravity, but they do not always tell the entire story.

Perhaps the most seedy, perverse yet unrecognized form of racism was the “minstrel show,” a form of comedic theatre that emerged in 19th century America.

Through musical performances, minstrel shows caricatured blacks as unforgivably lazy, superstitious buffoons, often to the point that they lost their humanity.

What added insult to injury is that these minstrel shows were considered a national art, and often the only way African Americans were portrayed in the media.

Therefore, the line between entertainment and reality blended together, reinforcing a misconception of black culture that persisted for more than 100 years.

To my knowledge, minstrel

BEST AND WITTIEST

cartoon courtesy of KING FEATURES SYNDICATE

The Daily Reveille Editorial Board

Matthew Jacobs Chris Branch Ryan Buxton Marissa Barrow Sydni Dunn Devin Graham

Editor-in-Chief Associate Managing Editor Associate Managing Editor Managing Editor, External Media News Editor Opinion Editor

shows do not exist today and — save for the Internet — most production companies have successfully swept old footage under the rug.

But regrettably, the weakened spirit of such entertainment lives on through various forms in modern television.

Since its 2009 debut, MTV’s Jersey Shore has exploded in popularity, essentially becoming a household brand.

Dubbed as the “hottest, tannest, craziest guidos” in promotions, MTV makes every effort to remind you that the cast members are Chris Freyder of Italian descent, Columnist even sending them off to Italy in the latest season.

Lambasted by Italian American organizations, such as Unico National, many in the Italian American community have expressed their outrage towards the show, unhappy with the stereotypical portrayal of obnoxious, uneducated Italians.

Matters are only exacerbated by the fact that several of the cast members are not of Italian heritage.

Last month, the Discovery Channel premiered its new reality show, Carfellas, blasting audiences with images of Italian flags as cast members stated their love for “cannolis, Cadillacs and girls.”

Equally disconcerting, DIRECTV’s most current line of commercials are hosts to comedian Dat Phan’s over-the-top performance as an Asian man, and monotone Russians spouting zingers such as

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.

“Opulence, I has it.”

I understand that race is often theme for mainstream, successful comedy. But more often than not, these comedies contain satirical commentary, delivering insight into contemporary social issues.

Dave Chappelle’s self-titled comedy was criticized as a platform for racism, but his sketches were, at times, brilliant.

On the other hand, reality shows such as Carfellas and DIRECTV’s commercials offer little value to society, other than the thrill of a cheap laugh at the expense of minorities.

It should be restated that these shows are not minstrel shows and not as egregious. But should we risk characterizing people in a similarly stereotypical manner for such undeveloped, base comedy?

The generations preceding our own will forever be marred by their antagonistic association with racial strife, whether deserved or not on an individual basis.

We have a perspective our ancestors never had the chance to develop, and we can use it to avoid the repetition of embarrassing mistakes.

And as our generation comes into a position of influence, we should keep in mind how we want be remembered by future generations.

Chris Freyder is a 21-year-old biological sciences senior from New Orleans. Follow him on Twitter @TDR_Cfreyder.

Contact Chris Freyder at cfreyder@lsureveille.com

Quote of the Day “By all means let’s be open-minded, but not so open-minded that our brains drop out”

Richard Dawkins Ethologist March 26, 1941 - Present

The Daily Reveille

Thursday, September 29, 2011

SEEMAN SAYS

Opinion

page 17

Pastor Nelms’ humorous invocation has elements of blasphemy In the Gospel of John there is an instance when Jesus Christ visits a temple in preparation for Passover.

When he enters, much to his dismay, he finds that religious devotion has taken a back seat to commercialism. Livestock sales and money exchanges have taken the place of prayer and reflection in the temple, which frustrates the rebellious reformer.

Jesus, known for his eminently even temper, responds by flipping the money exchange tables and driving out the livestock with a hastily-fashioned whip — he was a trained carpenter, after all.

Whatever one’s interpretation of the biblical story, its message is unquestionably clear: inflate Christianity with commercialism, and you will drive the Redeemer himself to anger.

So how would Jesus have

responded to pastor Joe Nelms, who delivered a spirited invocation at a NASCAR race in July?

The video of Nelms’ lively prayer has made the rounds in cyberspace for a predictable reason: He drew from the popular NASCAR parody film “Talladega Nights” when thanking God for his “smoking hot wife.”

Nelms, however, went further than that. He also thanked God for Sunoco fuel, GM performance parts and Goodyear tires, which, in his words, “bring power and performance to the track.”

If there were ever a case of advertising copy incorporated more shamelessly and excitedly in a prayer, I’d like to see it.

I spent the first 13 years of my education in a parochial school of one kind or another. I don’t claim to be a biblical scholar in any sense of the word, but it is obvious to

me that mixing the sacred with a selling point is something Jesus himself not only preached against, but responded to with his own form of righteous anger.

Nelms’ decision to quote “Talladega Nights” is an ironic twist, considering that was an all-out satirical assault on NASCAR’s penchant for crass commercialism.

O b v i o u s l y, Nelms’ tone was humorous, which does not explicitly violate any bib- Chris Seeman lical directives.

Columnist The Almighty, in fact, was the original practical joker. The ol’ bind-andswitch he pulled with Abraham and Issac would have been a ratings-grabber had the cameras for “Punk’d” been waiting near the

base of Mount Moriah.

After all, what’s worse than a stodgy, self-serious Christian pastor asked to lead off a sporting event?

But if Nelms can truly claim to be a Christian leader, he has to have read that passage in John at some point. Consequently, he should understand what he did was not simply tawdry and disrespectful; rather, it was blasphemous.

If the biblical story in question doesn’t illustrate this idea clearly enough, a brief reflective thought about the purpose of a public prayer should. When Nelms named those companies in his prayer, he made them the object of importance and, in a sense, devotion.

Some of Nelms’ lines were obviously written to elicit laughter and perhaps lighten the mood, but those commercial messages were included for no other reason than to promote the products mentioned.

The agreement apparently made among Nelms, NASCAR and the companies in question is one of convenience because a pastor can speak to its wildly-religious constituency with an authority that few others can.

Nelms may have not alienated any parishioners — he is the pastor at Family Baptist Church in Gladeville, Tenn. — or NASCAR fans, but one can’t help but think that the Prince of Peace himself might have felt like flipping stock cars over if he had heard how Nelms chose to invoke his name.

Chris Seemann is a 21-yearold mass communication senior. Follow him on Twitter @TDR_CSeemann.

Contact Chris Seeman at cseeman@lsureveille.com

FAILURE OF DIPLOMACY

Mosque opens near Twin Towers site, NYC still intact The world will end soon — or so it seemed on Sept. 21 when, among the clamoring of protestors, New York debuted its Park51, a cultural center which features educational, recreational and religious facilities, including a mosque.

And to top it all off, it’s only a few blocks from the former location of the World Trade Center.

Given the amount of rancor this project received from rightwing pundits last year, one might expect a bigger fallout. But my views haven’t changed from just over a year ago. The construction and existence of a cultural center such as this is far more American than our denying it would have been.

In addition, Park51’s debut exhibit concerned itself almost entirely with depicting the multiculturalism of New York City by showing the works of Danny Goldfield, titled “NYChildren,” which depicts city children from 171 different countries.

Beyond the exhibition, Park51 will hold religious services and classes in a myriad of topics such as yoga or martial arts, as well as allowing use of their many educational and recreational facilities.

The aim is to become a place where people can come to learn, exercise or simply meet mingle with other New York City residents, despite their religious beliefs.

As anyone can see, this is

obviously going to destroy the country.

While I may be facetious when I say it, unfortunately it did not seem that way last year. If you were a big supporter of freedom of religion or freedom of speech, then the “debate” last year would have been infuZachary Davis riating.

I know I Columnist had to turn off the news several times because of how ridiculous the whole debacle was.

Let’s go back a year ago and

see just what some people had to say about its construction. While many tried to hide their attacks against the Mosque as a question of choice, there were some who weren’t quite so discreet.

Take Frank Gaffney, president of the American Center for Security Policy and columnist at the Washington Times, for example.

“Such a mosque on 9/11’s hallowed ground would not only constitute a durable, symbolic taunt by our enemies about their bloody victory. In accordance with Shariah, once ground has been taken for Islam, it can never revert to the non-Muslim Dar al-Harb, literally the House of War,” Gaffney said.

More importantly, take

BEST AND WITTIEST

Republican candidate Newt Gingrich, who took special offense at the project’s old name of “Cordoba House.”

“America is experiencing an Islamist cultural-political offensive designed to undermine and destroy our civilization. Sadly, too many of our elites are the willing apologists for those who would destroy them if they could. No mosque. No self deception. No surrender,” Gingrich said.

Both of these quotes show just how heated the debate was at the time, and just how angry many Americans were. The likes of Rudy Giuliani, Joe Lieberman and Sarah Palin were also against it.

Look, I understand the attacks on Sept. 11 had monstrous effects on the American psyche, effects which haven’t yet fully scarred over a decade later. However, if we continue to let the hate and fear many people demonstrated last year run our lives those scars will never heal.

As cliche as it is, if we can’t mend ourselves and continue our tradition of multiculturalism then the terrorists really do win.

It’s an example of what we stand for as a country and our rights to free speech and religion, that, a decade after the greatest terrorist attack in American history, we can have a cultural center only blocks away from Ground Zero, sponsored by the very religion of those who attacked us.

That, to me, is America.

Zachary Davis is a 20-yearold History Junior from Warsaw, Poland. Follow him on Twitter @TDR_zdavis.

cartoon courtesy of KING FEATURES SYNDICATE

Contact Zachary Davis at zdavis@lsureveille.com

The Daily Reveille

page 18

flexible hours, great for students Welsh’s Cleaners 17732 Highland Rd. @ I-10 apply in person

STUDENTPAYOUTS. COM Paid Survey Takers Needed In Baton Rogue. 100% Free To Join! Click On Surveys. *******BARTENDING******* $300/Day Potential NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY. Training Available.

AGE 18+ OK 1-800-965-6520 ext127 STUDENT MEDIA SALES!!!

Looking for a job where you can get real-world experience in sales while going to school on campus?? We’re looking for some outgoing students who want to enhance their resume and stand out from the crowd!

If you’d like to set up an interview please email us at national@tigers.lsu.edu BARTENDER/SERVER/ GEORGES 8905 highland/ starring lane apply today 11am3pm must have server licence

NOW HIRING OPENING SOON Experienced Bartenders, Waitresses, Barbacks apply in person 2pm-5pm M-F glen’s 5110 Corporate Blvd. next to Hooters EARN $1000-$3200 A month to drive our brand new cars with ads. www. FreeCarJobs. com SOCKIT STUDIO Hiring recording engineers. Must know Pro Tools & be available nights & weekends. More info @ 225.216.0167 STATE GOVT. IT shop seeks full time CompSci, ISDS, or engineering student for up to 20 hrs/wk desktop hardware/ software support. Email resume to: StudentJob@crt.la.gov, 225.342.3334 BEAUTY CONSULTANT @ Merle Norman Mall of La... nights and weekends a must maybe some days. No exp necessary. Please email resume to jamilee19@juno.com or fax to 225-771-858

CHIMES EAST is hiring exp. servers. Located at 10870 Coursey Blvd. 70816 225.296.4981 BREW-BACHER’S GRILL 8415 Bluebonnet Blvd.

Now hiring cooks and counter girls.

Full time and part time positions available.

Must apply in person 225-761-1700 CASA MARIA MEXICAN GRILL Hiring experienced waitstaff. Apply in person. 7955 BLUEBONNET @ Perkins.

COUNTER CLERK part time afternoon position

GATED CONDO ROOM IN TIGERLAND 3BR/2B. POOL;$450+ Util; W/ D;LSU BUS Line 504.451.0707 IVY CONDOMINIUM/WALK TO LSU Great Location/$850 2br/1b cable & W/D incl. New Tile. cats ok.

Call 225.572.9002 CAMELOT APTS. Large 1BR Water & sewer pd. Swimming pool $495 $300 Deposit 225766-3047

CHATEAU DU COUR Large Updated 2BR,1B in Tigerland in enclosed 32 unit complex. $475/$575. 767-3935.

225-772-2429.

WALK TO LSU/NEAR TENNIS COURTS 2br/2b house $750 3br/1b house $750 3br/1b house $775 2br/1b duplexes $550-$650 some have washer/ dryer incl. pets ok mcdaniel properties 225.388.9858

FAT GUY SEEKS CUTE NERDY GIRL Not for dating or “a fun time.”

Just for a buddy or a gaming teammate. Must like gaming, memes, and Mountain Dew. Email me at mcspanky101@ yahoo.com NERD NSA single and smart 24 yo looking for a fwb for the rest of the semester. please be white and able to host. e mail if interested: coxman54@yahoo. com WIZARDING FOLK WANTED Need a travel buddy to Pigfarts?

Tired of living in a cupboard under your uncle’s stairs?

Wish you were able to attend Hogwarts?

Then email me (be you a witch or wizard) at mudblood.princess@gmail.com, and we’ll eat Red Vines together!

P. S. Starship Rangers also accepted.

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Thursday, September 29, 2011

The Daily Reveille

page 19

page 20

The Daily Reveille

Thursday, September 29, 2011