Today in Print - February 1, 2012

Transportation: Parking officials discuss overcrowding on campus buses, p. 3

Men’s Basketball: O’Bryant back on the court after injury, p. 8

Reveille The Daily

The WRATH of Jed

www.lsureveille.com

Wednesday, February 1, 2012 • Volume 116, Issue 82

Brother Jed grabs student attention with controversial evangelism

BR COMMUNITY

Panache Plaza to be fully leased soon New businesses move to Perkins

Emily Herrington Staff Writer

Lauren Duhon Staff Writer

In-your-face evangelism met students strolling through Free Speech Plaza last week as a man with a cross looked up to the heavens while bellowing about the wrath of God. The man was George Edward Smock, better known as Brother Jed, and he’s been visiting the University annually for the past 40 years. As a person who is known for controversy, Brother Jed and his campusbased ministry are not always the most welcomed visitors at a university.

But while students haven’t welcomed him with open arms, Smock is no stranger to college campuses.

“Being a former professor, I knew students were not listening to the word of God in the classroom,” Smock said. “Most students are not actively participating in Christianity.”

On YouTube, videos have surfaced of Smock’s approach to evangelizing students. He was captured in a recent video saying “kissing is a sin” and “bikini underwear is ungodly,” outraging students at the University.

In a similar video from Smock’s visit to the University in 2006, he spoke of “rock ‘n’ roll demons” who take over young people, rattling a crowd of students in the process.

Smock also mocked homosexuality.

His comments are full of pointedness, from ridding the world of other religions to students burning in hell for their sins. Smock’s Evangelical beliefs have provoked backlash and student discussion.

Kinesiology senior Tina Davis said when Smock comes out to preach about religion, he misrepresents Christianity.

“It looks bad on the Christian BROTHER JED, see page 6

National Signing Day: 2012 lacks big-name pop of previous years, p. 7

XERXES A. WILSON / The Daily Reveille

George Edward Smock, better known as Brother Jed, preaches Friday in Free Speech Plaza as students protest around him.

Panache Plaza retail center on Perkins Road is full of new tenants and ready for business.

Chris Shaheen, developer and agent with Saurage Rotenberg Commercial Real Estate, said the center completed its exterior construction around October 2011, and he expects the building to be completely leased by the end of February.

Rotolo’s Pizzeria and Lavish Nails and Spa recently opened in the center, and several other tenants are joining soon.

Those include two women’s fashion boutiques as well as Rival Nutrition and Lagniappe Family Medical, Shaheen said.

Sola Salon, Le Bon Temps Roule Sports Bar and the outdoor home improvement store Cajun Wild Birds are set to move in soon as well.

This leaves two remaining spaces in the plaza, and Shaheen said he’s negotiating with four or five prospective tenants.

Shaheen said businesses are eager to move in because the area’s demographics are “the best in Baton Rouge,” while accessibility and visibility are also contributing factors.

The center is positioned next to Southside Produce, not far from hospitals, Perkins Rowe and the Mall of Louisiana.

“We have a lot of activity [in that area], not to mention rooftops — there are a lot of different factors, but being between Bluebonnet and Essen on Perkins is probably the most important,” he said.

Mitch Rotolo, Rotolo’s owner, said he was attracted to the Perkins location because that side of Baton Rouge doesn’t feature any other Rotolo’s.

“I thought it was a great location and great exposure for our PANACHE PLAZA, see page 6

The Daily Reveille

page 2

INTERNATIONAL

Nation & World

DANNY LAWSON / The Associated Press

‘Guizers’ with flaming torches are pictured Tuesday with a Viking Galley in Lerwick, off the northeast coast of Scotland, during the Up Helly Aa Viking festival on.

Russia postpones space launch because of capsule leaks

Mexico’s swine flu cases increases in January after low year

MOSCOW (AP) — The head of Russia’s space agency says a manned launch to the International Space Station is being postponed because of faults found in the Soyuz capsule.

Vladimir Popovkin of Roskosmos said Tuesday in televised remarks that the planned launch of three astronauts will be postponed “likely until the end of April.”

The state news agency RIA Novosti cited the director of Russia’s cosmonaut-training program as saying leaks had been found in the capsule’s seals.

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico’s federal health secretary says swine flu cases in January have surpassed the number for all of 2011, a year when the virus barely appeared worldwide.

Salomo Chertorivski Woldenberg says there have been 1,623 cases of all strains of flu in Mexico in January, 90 percent of them H1N1.

That’s the version that originally was called swine flu when it caused a pandemic that started in Mexico in 2009.

Chertorivski says 29 people have died from H1N1.

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

NATIONAL

STATE/LOCAL

College endowments show growth for the 2011 fiscal year

NFL, La. recording company settle legal dispute over Who Dat? chant

NEW YORK (AP) — College and university endowments made gains in the fiscal year that ended in June, but many are still struggling to make up ground they lost in 2008 and 2009, according to a report released Tuesday.

Data gathered from 823 United States colleges and universities show that the institutions’ endowments returned an average of 19.2 percent for the 2011 fiscal year, the National Association of College and University Business Officers and Commonfund said.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The NFL and a Louisiana recording company have resolved their legal dispute over merchandising rights to the “Who Dat?” chant.

A federal judge agreed Tuesday to dismiss claims that Who Dat? Inc. and the NFL filed against each other after the Saints’ Super Bowl victory in 2010.

The company, which recorded a song in 1983 that used the cheer, had accused the NFL of infringing on its trademark of the phrase.

Report proposes a $9.5 million project dividing Great Lakes TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) — Groups representing states and cities in the Great Lakes region on Tuesday proposed spending up to $9.5 billion on a massive engineering project to separate the lakes from the Mississippi River watershed in the Chicago area, describing it as the only sure way to protect both aquatic systems from invasions by destructive species.

The organizations issued a report suggesting three alternatives for severing an artificial link between the two drainage basins.

Fall shrimp season to close Thursday in most southeast La. waters (AP) — Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary Robert Barham says the fall shrimp season will close at sunset Thursday in most remaining southeast Louisiana waters. He says the open waters of Breton and Chandeleur sounds and some other outside waters will remain open to shrimpers.

The department extended the fall shrimp season in some areas in December.

Barham said Monday that biologists have found that white shrimp in waters to be closed this week average more than 100 per pound.

Today on lsureveille.com Read about Super Bowl Media Day on the Tiger Feed sports blog.

Check out the LMFAO entertainment blog for The Full Montey’s perspective on studying abroad.

Reveille Radio spotlights the first day of Black History Month. Tune in to 91.1 KLSU at 3:20 p.m.

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 Scattered T-storms

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PHOTO OF THE DAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

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SATURDAY

SUNDAY

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XERXES A. WILSON / The Daily Reveille

The sun nestles behind a blanket of clouds Tuesday over Memorial Tower.

CORRECTIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS In the Jan. 30 article “La. primary scheduled after Super Tuesday,” The Daily Reveille reported that the 2008 Louisiana primary occurred in January. The primary was actually held in February.

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

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The Daily Reveille

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

ART

page 3

‘8 Fluid Ounces’ ceramic cup exhibit returns to Glassell Gallery Ferris McDaniel Contributing Writer

One cup, two cup, tea cup, brew cup.

Ceramic cups of all sorts are occupying the LSU School of Art Glassell Gallery in the Shaw Center as part of “8 Fluid Ounces,” a national juried art show. The exhibit, which began on Jan. 25 and runs through Feb. 25, showcases ceramic talents from around the country.

Gallery director Malia Krolak said the biannual show began in 2002 to celebrate the University’s top-notch ceramics program.

“It’s a really fun show,” she said. “The idea is simple — a cup, right? But you get 125 different ideas from the same thing.”

This year’s exhibit features 79 artists and 125 cups, which is only about half of the submitted cups, Krolak said.

Andy Shaw, assistant professor of art and 2010 juror, said he looked through a multitude of applications from well-established artists and introductory ceramics students alike.

Entries for the exhibit are chosen from digital images of the submitted cups on the website slideroom.com, Krolak said. The pieces that make the show are then shipped to the Glassell Gallery, where University students help construct

the exhibit, she said.

Penguin cup? Check. Rabbit’s head mug? Check. Monster-like creature cup? Check. From sleek, porcelain cups flaunting pastel flower designs to bulky, earth-toned mugs of unidentifiable figures — the show has it all.

One of the most intricate pieces, “Recycled,” is a sculpture of clustered cups, mugs and even a dinosaur figurine by Craig Clifford, a University ceramics alumnus.

Like all pieces, Clifford’s “Recycled” is on sale. The price of a cup runs anywhere from $30 to $300.

Numerous other University artists like Shaw, graduate student Jenny Hager and alumna Adelaide Paul have cups on display.

The University’s graduate ceramics program has ranked in at least the top 10 for the past two decades and continuously attracts incredible new applicants, he said.

“Some of the rock-star artists of the ceramics world are from LSU,” Krolak said.

Kristen Kieffer has replaced Shaw as this year’s juror. Shaw said Kieffer is a nationally recognized potter and was invited as an artist to the 2010 show.

Kieffer is respected in the country’s tight-knit ceramics community, and her credentials provide legitimacy to the show, Krolak said.

photos courtesy of LSU School of ArT

Cups from the 2010 ‘8 Fluid Ounces’ exhibit showcase national ceramic talent. The 2012 event runs through Feb. 25 in the Shaw Center.

“We knew she had the background, education and talent to be a good juror,” she said.

Since the show’s first edition, “8 Fluid Ounces” has grown. Krolak said people didn’t know what to expect when the exhibit premiered, but it has become something that is

looked forward to.

She said the exhibit is about communication — not “fancystuffiness,” as some students might preconceive. Ceramics is an art of accessibility and approachability, she explained.

“Ninety-nine percent of the

reason we do this is because we want to bring art into students’ lives,” Krolak said.

Contact Ferris McDaniel at fmcdaniel@lsureveille.com

TRANSPORTATION

Overflow on campus buses addressed Kevin Thibodeaux Contributing Writer

As students wait to catch a ride on the University’s Tiger Trails buses, watching full buses pass them by can cause ire. Most don’t understand the reasoning behind the buses not stopping.

The bus drivers know not to stop if their buses are too crowded, said Gary Graham, director of Parking, Traffic and Transportation.

Graham said his office has received complaints from students who have been passed up by the buses, and he is trying to work out a way to signal to students that the buses are full.

Graham said the peak bus-riding times vary depending on the day and weather, but will usually occur near the times classes change.

He estimated the busiest times for students riding the buses are Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays between 9 and 11 a.m.

“We could always put more buses out there if we had the buses and if we had the money,” Graham said. “That’d be up to the students to say, ‘We want more’ and ‘We can pay for more.’”

Graham was unsure of the maximum occupancy of all of the buses, but he estimated big buses could seat 45 people and had standing room for another 25.

He said there haven’t been any safety issues because of overcrowding.

Students are taking notice of the crowded buses, however.

Thomas Miller, communication

Career Services Resume Walk-In Hours This Week 8:30 am - 3:30 pm in B-4 Coates Hall careercenter.lsu.edu CONNOR TARTER / The Daily Reveille

Students fill a campus bus and wait for its departure Monday at the bus stop outside of the Journalism Building. Students have been complaining about overcrowded buses.

disorders freshman, said he usually notices crowded buses around 1 to 3 p.m. He said he has been passed up by the buses before, but it hasn’t made him late for classes yet.

Miller said he hasn’t encountered any problems when he is riding in a packed bus, “other than standing for ... a half hour in a moving vehicle.”

Business management sophomore Steve Goins said the buses are usually crowded early in the mornings and in the afternoons around 4 p.m. He said he has been passed up by the buses before, making him late for class.

Goins said he would consider paying more fees to purchase additional buses, as long as the fees aren’t too expensive.

Chemical engineering sophomore Helena Ochoa said she adjusted her schedule around the buses.

“[The buses] made me late for the first day, and I just started catching the bus earlier,” Ochoa said.

Contact Kevin Thibodeaux at kthibodeaux@lsureveille.com

Black History Month: Blacks in Academia Lecture Series Wednesday, February 1, 2012 French House Grand Salon, 12 Noon DO YOU HAVE AN OCCURRENCE? Call Becky at the Student Media Office 578-6090, 9AM- 5PM or E-mail: oncampus@lsureveille.com

page 4

TELEVISION

ADMINISTRATION

The Daily Reveille

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Five questions with new Graduate School dean mtvU attempts to combat slavery Lea Ciskowski

Contributing Writer

Gary Byerly recently accepted his new position as dean of LSU’s Graduate School and has already identified changes he wants to see within the school.

Byerly spoke with The Daily Reveille about these improvements and addressed the biggest competition to graduate degrees today — work experience.

Rachel Warren Staff Writer

MTV’s 24-hour college network, mtvU, announced Tuesday that it launched several on-air and digital programs as part of its new “mtvU Against Our Will” campaign, according to a news release.

The programs were created to encourage students to fight modern-day slavery in the United States.

According to the campaign’s website, the name “reflects the simple fact that this violation of our most basic human rights is against the will of the college students mobilizing around the issue, against our will as a free society and against the will of those trapped in modern-day slavery.”

The campaign includes an initiative called the “Against Our Will Challenge,” which asks students to submit ideas for ending slavery, and will provide a winning team of students with $10,000 to bring their ideas to life.

The campaign partners with organizations “Free the Slaves,” “Girls Educational and Mentoring Services” and “Polaris Project” to call on students to end modern-day slavery.

Students interested in entering the challenge can do so by visiting the campaign’s website, AgainstOurWill.org.

The site also offers educational videos and facts about human trafficking and slavery in the U.S. Applications are due by April 2, and all applicants must be college students. Students should be prepared to describe their teams’ ideas for ending modernday slavery.

Contact Rachel Warren at rwarren@lsureveille.com

1

How will you attract prospective undergraduate students at LSU and other undergraduate universities to LSU’s Graduate School programs?

Byerly said the Graduate School’s website needs improvement for the school to be competitive with other institutions around the world.

“The current site is like a phone book — pure information,” Byerly said.

He said the Graduate School relies substantially on individual departments for recruiting because most of the department websites are easy to navigate, interactive and informative. “But many prospective students never make it to the departmental websites after taking one glance at the Graduate School’s website,” Byerly said.

One of his primary goals as dean is to hire an IT employee to revamp the site and a media relations coordinator who can provide relevant information to prospective students and to the public.

2

Some argue that gaining work experience following undergraduate education rivals obtaining a graduate degree. Excluding the careers that traditionally require a graduate degree, such as medicine and law, which do you think is more valuable in the workplace — work experience or a graduate degree?

“Many employers are not looking for people with specific knowledge they have acquired, but skill sets — specifically soft skills such as ethics, ability to work with others, ability to listen well to others and the ability to communicate,” Byerly said. “They want people with problem-solving skills.”

Byerly said it is possible to learn

FIND A NEW YARD TO BRING ALL THE BOYS TO

these skills in either venue, but the problem with not having a graduate degree in some careers is that there is a natural bias to those who do have advanced degrees.

The dean said some companies send their employees back to school to obtain a graduate degree. For example, his colleague’s student at Harvard University worked at Exxon but was asked to return to school so that she could develop new skills she would not have learned at Exxon.

“Employees who are trained in the workplace are just passing on the same solutions to problems,” Byerly said. “Many companies want employees with new solutions.”

3

How would you encourage people who have been out of school and in the workplace for a number of years to return to pursue a graduate degree?

Byerly said many people who work routine jobs slowly lose their intellectual abilities, making it harder for them to be admitted into a graduate program.

To combat this, the Graduate School is trying to balance its current admission standards so that more people are given a chance, Byerly said.

4

So you think lowering admission standards is a good idea?

“If the school is giving more people chances, yes,” Byerly said.

“We are not trying to be an elite school. We don’t want to simply take someone’s money and waste their time for a year in overcrowded classrooms.”

Byerly said he wants to offer more opportunities to deserving

AMY BROUSSARD / The Daily Reveille

Gary Byerly, the new dean of LSU’s Graduate School, converses Jan. 26 about methods of recruiting new students and diversifying the school. Byerly accepted the position Jan. 1.

applicants, when possible.

5

How do you plan to convince students who cannot afford a graduate education to take out more loans and pursue a graduate degree?

“Funding graduate school is a huge issue. It is certainly something that we all understand,” Byerly said.

“About 80 percent of all graduate students have financial aid and only need to make a modest personal investment. Most students do not know this.”

Byerly said he wants to determine ways to provide information to undergraduates about the financial

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benefits of obtaining a graduate degree.

In some careers, Byerly said, a new employee with both a bachelor’s degree and a graduate degree start earning 50 percent more than another employee who only has a bachelor’s degree.

“I want students to know this and to consider it when deciding whether or not graduate school is worth it,” Byerly said. “I think it is.”

Contact Lea Ciskowski at lciskowski@lsureveille.com

The Daily Reveille

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

WACKY NEWS Researchers find prostate cancer in ancient Egyptian mummy CAIRO (AP) — A professor from American University in Cairo says discovery of prostate cancer in a 2,200-year-old mummy indicates the disease was caused by genetics, not environment.

The genetics-environment question is key to understanding cancer.

AUC professor Salima Ikram, a member of the team that studied the mummy in Portugal for two years, said Sunday the mummy was of a man who died in his forties.

She said this was the second oldest known case of prostate cancer.

“Living conditions in ancient times were very different; there were no pollutants or modified

foods, which leads us to believe that the disease is not necessarily only linked to industrial factors,” she said.

A statement from AUC says the oldest known case came from a 2,700-year-old skeleton of a king in Russia.

page 5

INTERNATIONAL INTRIGUE

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

DINING

CONNOR TARTER / The Daily Reveille

Engineering professor Paige Davis [left] explains the benefits of Encounter Engineering in Europe to student Elliott Wheeler [right].

photo courtesy of TWIN PEAKS

Baton Rouge Twin Peaks, one of 20 locations in eight states, serves ribeye pot roast (pictured above).

Twin Peaks opens in BR, now hiring Emily Herrington Staff Writer

Twin Peaks opened the doors to its first Louisiana location on Siegen Lane last month, and the restaurant is looking for more “Lumber Jills” to fill the salacious eatery.

Meggie Miller, national director of marketing, said the company is looking for women who are the “total package” to work in the restaurant as Twin Peaks Girls.

“We’re looking for a girl who’s beautiful, fit and fun to be around.

She has to bring a lot of personality to the table,” Miller said. “The key thing is that she makes guests feel like they’re the most special people in the world at that given moment.”

Twin Peaks is a mountain lodge-themed restaurant labeled “the ultimate man cave.” Servers are Lumber Jills clad in plaid midriff shirts, khaki shorts and snow boots. The restaurant’s “About Us” Web page reads, “Actually, Twin Peaks is about you, ‘cause you’re the man!”

The restaurant currently has 20 locations in eight states.

“We’ve been very well received so far in Baton Rouge,” said franchise owner Jim Clark in a news release. “We’ve had lines of sports fans waiting at the door to experience our really great food, 29-degree draft beer and sports in a man cave atmosphere.”

General Manager Sam Baiocco told The Daily Reveille in November that the target crowd is men aged 25 to 55, and the location will attract business from the University, Denham Springs and Gonzales.

In 2010, Twin Peaks was named a “Hot Concept” by the magazine Nation’s Restaurant News.

Miller said the restaurant is proud of its award, and it attributes the designation to Twin Peaks’ rapid growth and original, innovative concept. She described the restaurant’s concept as a “sports restaurant,” which is a term not frequently heard, she said.

“We try to take everything a sports bar does and kick it up ... We do everything all-out — we don’t half-ass anything,” she said.

Miller said the restaurant is different from a typical sports bar because while it’s lined with televisions, it takes great care in its food preparation. She said the menu

consists of freshly prepared homemade comfort food. The cooks stray away from plopping food items in a fryer, she said.

“It doesn’t hurt to have scenic views,” Miller laughed as she referenced the serving staff.

Twin Peaks is open until midnight Sunday through Wednesday and will stay open later into the night on weekends.

Contact Emily Herrington at eherrington@lsureveille.com

“A man who stops advertising to save money, is like a man who stops the clock to save time.”

-Henry Ford

?

got get lifepages.

lifepages.com View the LSU yearbook online at lifepages.com

The Daily Reveille

page 6 PANACHE PLAZA, from page 1 brand,” he said.

Along with Rotolo’s pizzas, calzones, sandwiches and other Italian dishes, the Perkins location will offer a gelato bar, Rotolo said.

Rotolo’s, with its first location near campus on Nicholson Drive, has expanded to 21 locations in Louisiana, Alabama and Florida.

Rotolo said from now until July, he’s opening eight Rotolo’s locations.

“Our goal is to make the brand and Rotolo’s name a household name in the whole Southeast region,” he said.

Shaheen said Panache Plaza most frequently sees business from families and the 35-andabove group.

BROTHER JED, from page 1

faith,” Davis said. “These are the people who give Christians a bad name.”

Davis said Smock’s “hellfire” approach doesn’t work in his favor.

She said students don’t care about his message; they just want to antagonize him.

English junior Peyton Adkins said Smock is offensive to the student body.

“His approach is verbally abusive against students,” Adkins said.

“It can be seen as a threat.”

Throughout the world and primarily in the U.S., Smock and his wife, “Sister Cindy,” tour college campuses in order to bring the focus back to God. “The goal is to get students thinking about religion,” Smock said.

The man who is normally seen shouting to students about their sins discussed the background of his ministry with a calm demeanor, explaining the ministry’s heart is in saving people.

Smock, who converted to Christianity in 1972 while in Morocco, was increasingly concerned with campus cultures from the beginning. He said he wanted to spread the word of God to save others.

Smock spontaneously decided to preach at Indiana State University in 1974.

“I began to preach to a crowd that grew larger and larger as the day went on,” Smock said. “This is when I realized I could reach out to students.”

This one incident would spark decades of preaching to students in

ALYSSA SIRISOPHON / The Daily Reveille

Panache Plaza, on Perkins Road, is close to full capacity and is expected to be completely leased soon. Rotolo’s Pizzeria and Lavish Nails and Spa are open.

Rental space ranges from $19 to $22 per square foot, Shaheen said.

Shaheen is currently working to develop a 10-acre track on Burbank Drive. He said he’s

planning to transform the area to house a sports bar that will boast the largest patio in Baton Rouge.

all 50 states and countries around the world.

Student Union director Jason Tolliver said he remembers Smock coming to the University every year when he was an undergraduate student.

“The lively banter of Free Speech Plaza has been around for a long time,” he said.

Tolliver noted that he still has pamphlets Brother Jed distributed more than 12 years ago.

“Students are logical, smart and capable of their own thoughts,” Smock said. “I just needed to get them thinking and lead them on the right path.”

He said his main topic is the need for repentance. Smock believes if he can appeal to students’ consciences, he can save students from the wrath of God. Smock brands this method as “confrontational evangelism.” The term, which he coined in his book, “Who Will Rise Up?,” refers to confronting sin in a bold way that captures the attention of students.

“Atheists and other non-believers put most Christians on the offensive,” Smock said. “We counterattack that.”

Smock said he confronts students with God’s law because he believes students will be headed for the fires of hell unless they live a life of obedience.

“This method is effective because it provokes discussion,” Smock said. “Whenever we visit any campus, students are forced to discuss religion.”

As his ministry left the University on Friday, Smock said he witnessed students continuing

to discuss the topics brought up throughout the afternoon.

“We’ve been coming to LSU for years,” Smock said. “The students are actively discussing the word of God to this day.”

The overall message Smock said he wants for students to grasp is that there is only hope in Jesus Christ.

“All other religions are false,” Smock said While Smock’s beliefs are controversial, they’re fair game at the University.

“We have no official policies about the plaza,” said Susan D. Reed, assistant director for event management. “The First Amendment of the United States Constitution is the only policy we need.”

Though Reed said she’s never seen an incident in Free Speech Plaza that merited legal action, the LSU Police Department does occasionally monitor the area, she said.

“There is only a need to intervene if aggression is present or people are restricting the learning environment of students,” Reed said.

Smock said his ministry will continue its work on college campuses everywhere.

“There still needs to be a focus on God,” Smock said. “Students are too preoccupied with other things. It is our goal to get them refocused.”

OMG...

Did you see that?!

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Reveille

Contact Emily Herrington at eherrington@lsureveille.com

Contact Lauren Duhon at lduhon@lsureveille.com

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Sports

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Tiger faithful await Class of 2012 signees today at 17th annual Bayou Bash

Sports Writer

LSU is used to star-studded recruiting classes, complete with names like Patrick Peterson, Jamarcus Russell and Anthony ‘The Freak’ Johnson.

The 2012 edition of National Signing Day offers no such flashy names, as the Tigers are expected to haul in a class that currently ranks anywhere between No. 7 and No. 16, according to the various recruiting

services.

It wasn’t long ago that LSU was in prime position for two of 2012’s most prized commodities.

But, in January, the Tigers seemingly lost local five-star safety Landon Collins, who committed to Alabama, and prized quarterback Gunner Kiel, who recently enrolled at Notre Dame.

“Potentially losing two players of that caliber is something that, no matter how this class finishes, fans will remember,” Scout.com recruit-

ing analyst Sonny Shipp, said.

Collins hasn’t signed with Alabama yet, so he could still change his decision, but it appears unlikely despite dissent from his mother.

Scores of LSU fans will pack the Baton Rouge River Center for the 17th annual Bayou Bash, as beer and booze accompany cheers for incoming signees.

Through the blur of the Bash, it’s likely Tiger fans will be celebrating LSU’s strongest linebacker class in recent memory.

“Linebacker has been an issue in the state, so it’s incredible for Louisiana to have five solid guys in one year,” said Rivals.com recruiting expert Mike Scarborough. “Bringing them all in shows it’s a position [defensive coordinator] John Chavis wants to overhaul.”

The group includes four-star recruits in Woodlawn product Torshiro Davis and Patterson native Lorenzo Phillips. Three-star West St. John linebacker Ronnie Feist has already signed his letter of intent with LSU

and enrolled this semester.

The Tigers received good news Monday, as 6-foot-3, 270-pound quarterback Jeremy Liggins — an Oxford, Miss., native — committed to LSU, while three-star Texas safety Corey Thompson traded Texas A&M maroon for purple and gold.

Bayou Bengals Insider publisher Derek Ponamsky said those coups, plus a big offensive-line haul could offset the lack of standouts in SIGNING DAY, see page 15

SWIMMING AND DIVING

Helm, Vieke form rivalry, friendship Two compete neck-and-neck Chandler Rome Sports Contributor

The cornerstone of any successful team is the chemistry and camaraderie shared among teammates. Any hint of teammate rivalry often signals trouble.

Don’t mention that to the LSU men’s diving team.

Senior diver Matt Vieke and sophomore Daniel Helm are fixtures within the top five of most final standings after LSU’s diving meets. The intrigue comes in seeing which of the two has placed higher.

In the five dual meets this season the Tigers (1-4, 1-1 Southeastern Conference) have competed in, Helm and Vieke have finished either one spot above or below each other in four of them, with Helm besting Vieke in two, and Vieke topping Helm twice.

“It seems like Daniel and I always end up neck-and-neck,” Vieke said. “It’s become kind of a joke between he and I.” The Indianapolis, Ind., native said he and Helm first struck up a friendship during his recruiting visit from Beaverton, Ore., in 2009. The two have since shared the spotlight as two of coach Doug Shaffer’s premier divers.

Shaffer lauded both divers for not only respecting each other’s ability, but also for their

ability to hold each other accountable on a daily basis to improve their individual and team’s scores.

“It’s both of them being a competitor,” Shaffer said. “It betters you every single day.”

Practicing with another diver so equally talented has benefited both Helm and Vieke, who both admit to watching each other’s dives methodically to see what needs improvement.

“It simulates a meet system,” Helm said. “It pushes me to a level that I wouldn’t have if I didn’t have [Vieke].”

Vieke said he and Helm often bounce ideas off each other, even taking practice time to perform RIVALRY, see page 15

BENJAMIN OLIVER HICKS / The Daily Reveille

LSU sophomore Daniel Helm dives Sept. 21, 2011, at practice in the Natatorium.

The Daily Reveille

page 8

FOOTBALL

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Grueling workouts Freshman forward back in action pay off during season O’Bryant returns Chris Abshire Sports Writer

Most college students use the winter as a time to shape up for spring break or attempt to follow through on New Year ’s weight-loss resolutions.

Not the LSU football team.

The Tigers have spent the last few weeks hitting the weight room to prepare for games that remain more than seven months away. The workouts have been arduous and constant, and the players have taken to Twitter with the aftershocks.

Sophomore safety Eric Reid wrote, “I need a massage! Some kinda sore from this week.”

But the strain wasn’t limited to the hard-hitting safety or the defensive unit. Freshman running back Kenny Hilliard tweeted, “Hurting so bad, all I can do is lay in this bed all day.”

LSU strength and conditioning coach Tommy Moffitt said the work during the winter months can be the most grueling the Tigers will endure.

“Our goal in the weight room right now is to develop fundamental techniques in all the exercises,” said Moffitt, who is entering his 13th year at LSU. Moffitt said proper technique lays the groundwork for the rest of the year’s exercises by maximizing the impact of every future rep the player will do.

Time concerns also play a factor in the hardcore nature of LSU’s winter workouts. The NCAA has a strict 20-hour limit during the season, meaning the players’ time in the weight room is limited, with practices and film study occupying much of the players’ allotted preparation time in any given week.

“During the season, you can’t do the aggressive movements and cleans with the weights that we do in the

offseason,” Moffitt said. “We’re having constant hour-and-a-half long workouts right now. Those include more cleans, squats, snatches and bench-presses that would be unnecessarily taxing during the season.”

Moffitt said the players’ excess soreness is likely the result of an increase in exercise reps, not additional weight demands. The frequency of the workouts was also amped up when the spring semester began, from once to three times a week, according to Moffitt.

“It’s the volume of lifts that cause sore muscles, not their intensity,” he said. “A lot of reps of a medium weight creates more potential pain tomorrow than how much weight is on the bar.”

Moffitt singled out junior wide receiver Russell Shepard — who nearly bolted for the NFL just weeks ago — for his dedication since the end of the season.

“He was very upset after the BCS National Championship loss, and I don’t blame him,” Moffitt said.

“But he comes in the weight room, and you can see he’s mad. That is fueling him, so he’s working his ass off.”

But the renowned strength coach said external motivation is overrated once the players step into the weight room.

“Last year’s team was 13-0 in the regular season because they did everything our staff ever asked them to do and did it to the best of their ability,” Moffitt said. “I don’t see any difference in this team’s attitude or ‘extra fire.’ They won’t lose games because of fitness.”

after hand injury Albert Burford Sports Contributor

In his first start since Jan. 2, LSU freshman forward Johnny O’Bryant III made his presence known Saturday against the No. 1 team in the nation.

O’Bryant led the Tigers in points and reO’BRYANT III bounds, with 12 and nine, respectively, in a 74-50 loss to Kentucky.

O’Bryant’s 12 points against the Wildcats tied his second-highest output of the season.

A broken hand suffered during a Jan. 4 practice kept O’Bryant off the court for most of the month.

While he was sidelined, LSU coach Trent Johnson said O’Bryant couldn’t fully practice with the rest of the team, forcing him to come up with a separate workout.

“It’s been all lower body,” Johnson said. “It was high-level cardiovascular. Whether it was stairs, whether it was upper mezzanine, he just would run.”

Running was important for a player who Johnson said struggled to adjust to the speed of the college game.

“I think early in the season he wasn’t in good shape, and he was struggling with how hard and how fast the game was played,” Johnson said. “As of late, he was just coming around and getting in great shape.”

O’Bryant was cleared to return

Contact Albert Burford at aburford@lsureveille.com

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to the court one day prior to the Tigers’ bout at No. 17 Mississippi State, and Johnson didn’t hesitate to get his young forward back out on the court.

The freshman played 20 minutes against the Bulldogs, accounting for six points and four rebounds.

According to O’Bryant, the pain hasn’t slowed him down since his return.

“It wasn’t bothering me,” he said after the Kentucky game. “[My hand] got hit a couple times, but I just fought off the pain.”

While O’Bryant was sidelined, Johnson said he knew the injury was “hurting more than [O’Bryant] leads on,” but said he could also tell O’Bryant was itching to return to the court.

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The Daily Reveille

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

SPORTS MANAGEMENT

Equipment managers gain from experience Ian Fontenot

Sports Contributor

Even an avid sports fan might miss one of the most important aspects of a team — the equipment manager.

LSU’s success on the field has provided its athletic equipment managers with a wealth of opportunities.

“We’ve had about a dozen guys go on and become head equipment managers from the [former equipment manager] Jeff Boss era until about now,” said LSU Associate Equipment Manager George Branigan.

Branigan has worked for 11 years as an equipment manager and has been around the LSU program since attending the University as an undergraduate. The New Orleans native spent five seasons as a student manager for baseball and one season working with football.

“Being an equipment manager at LSU allowed me to meet the people that I work with today and opened up the doors,” Branigan said. “They say it’s not what you know, it’s who you know, and to get started in this business, that’s how it is.”

He said being an equipment manager also broadens your range of knowledge in other areas of athletics.

“There’s opportunities because of the environment we work in,” Branigan said. “And because of the elements we’re exposed to, being the business side, the purchasing side, the athletic equipment side, that really opens a lot of doors out of just equipment managing.”

Branigan took over for Jeff Springer, who left LSU to become the head equipment manager at Louisiana Tech. Springer is now the head equipment manager at Alabama.

“I had a lot of opportunities being a student manager at LSU that I wouldn’t ‘They say it’s have gotnot what you ten anywhere know, it’s who else,” Springer “I got to you know, said. see parts of the and to get country that started in this I would have been business, that’s never to if it hadn’t how it is.’ been for workGeorge Branigan ing there.”

LSU associate A student equipment manager at LSU from 1996 to 2001, Springer attributes much of LSU’s success with sports managers to Boss, who passed away from a brain tumor in 2003 after holding the position for 23 years.

“The work ethic that [Boss] instilled in all of us and taking pride in what we do has helped everybody in whatever field they went into,” Springer said.

Recent LSU graduate and former student baseball manager Josh Pope has learned first-hand

what experience at LSU can do for an equipment manager’s future.

“Our No. 1 job is to make the coach’s job easier,” Pope said. “[LSU baseball coach] Paul Mainieri is great person to work under, and so is [hitting coach] Javi Sanchez.”

During his time with the baseball team, Pope was responsible for tasks such as setting up the field for practice, laundry, BRANIGAN and ordering jerseys, bats and other equipment through companies like Nike and Easton.

“Students get to campus in August,” Pope said. “But we SPRINGER start a week and half before anyone gets there, setting up the locker room with the players’ cleats and everything.”

Pope said becoming close POPE friends with the other managers made the job a lot easier.

“We all knew what each other’s jobs were,” Pope said.

“It’s all about the friendships you make being an equipment manager. We all work together and we still all hang out.”

The Grapevine, Texas, native spent the 2011 football season as an intern with the Jacksonville Jaguars. As an intern, Pope was one of eight students from across the United States that worked 90 hours per week during training camp doing laundry, setting up practice, cleaning the locker rooms and handling and transporting equipment to preseason game sites.

After making it through tryouts in the Jaguar’s training camp, Pope was one of two managers invited to work with the team for the season. The 24-year-old got the opportunity to work with leading rusher Maurice Jones-Drew during the season while tending to helmets and other equipment for the team’s running backs.

Pope recently received an offer from the New York Mets to become the club’s assistant equipment manager. The former LSU student will begin working with the Mets on Feb. 15 as the team heads to Port St. Lucie, Fla., for spring training.

SPORTS BRIEFS

LSU announces 2012 spring priority point games, 2 points awarded each The LSU ticket office released its list of spring priority point games on Tuesday. Students that attend these games will receive two points for each game, which will be used to determine priority for 2012 away game football tickets.

The list is as follows: Thursday, February 2nd at 6:00 p.m. – Women’s Basketball vs. Florida Friday, February 3rd at 7:00 p.m. – Gymnastics vs. Kentucky Saturday, February 11th at 6:00 p.m. – Men’s Basketball vs. Alabama Friday, March 2nd at 7:00 p.m. – Gymnastics vs. North Carolina State Monday, March 12th at 6:30 p.m. – Baseball vs. Notre Dame Wednesday, March 14th at 5:00 p.m. – Softball vs. Auburn Wednesday, April 18th at 6:00 p.m. – Softball vs. McNeese State Wednesday, April 25th at 6:30

page 9 p.m. – Baseball vs. Southeastern Louisiana.

LSU student-athletes recognized

by Southeastern Conference LSU freshman gymnast Jessie Jordan, junior middle-distance runner Charlene Lipsey and sophomore weight-thrower Denise Hinton were recognized by the Southeastern Conference for their performances over the weekend.

Jordan, SEC’s Co-Freshman of the Week, won her first career allaround title against No. 7 Georgia last week, where she set season-high marks on the vault and bars. Her score of 39.250 was the highest in the SEC over the weekend.

Jordan was LSU’s first gymnast to win an all-around title away from Baton Rouge since Susan Jackson won the NCAA All-Around title at the 2010 NCAA Championships.

Lipsey was named the SEC Women’s Runner of the Week for the first time in her career after winning the 800-meter run in a time of 2 minutes, 3.79 seconds in the Razorback

Invitational on Saturday. Lipsey’s time is a personal record and currently leads the NCAA. Hinton was honored as the SEC Women’s Co-Field Athlete of the Week after setting an LSU record in the 20-pound weight throw with a mark of 66 feet, 1.5 inches.

LSU teams to hold ‘Fan Appreciation Weekend’ on Feb. 4-5 during games Several LSU teams will recognize their fans this weekend during their respective Southeastern Conference matchups.

The men’s basketball team will face Arkansas at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, with free Pete Maravich minibobbleheads distributed to the first 3,000 fans to show up to the PMAC. The LSU women’s basketball team, gymnastics, track and tennis teams will sign autographs prior to the game, while the LSU cheerleaders and Mike the Tiger will be in attendance.

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

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page 10

TRACK AND FIELD

The Daily Reveille

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Shaver proves staying power after having to follow legend Henry to be a really good administrator to manage the total numbers of people that we manage.”

LSU coach Dennis Shaver Shaver had no easy task foljoined the LSU track and field lowing one of the most successful program 17 years ago as the coaches in NCAA history. Henry sprinters coach under the legend- won 25 national titles in his 16 ary Pat Henry. years at LSU and was awarded Since then, Shaver has NCAA Coach of the Year four coached 33 NCAA champion times during that span before athletes, who have won 45 na- leaving for Texas A&M. tional titles; 18 Olympians, four “What made the transition of whom have won medals; and relatively easy for me was that I 48 Southeastern Conference had been a head coach before,” champion athletes, who won 106 Shaver said. “Number two was titles. He was also named the Coach Henry, being the excellent 2008 NCAA Women’s Outdoor leader that he was. I learned a lot Coach of the Year after the Lady and was fortunate enough that Tigers won the national title that he let me do a lot while he was season. here.”

“Our ultimate goal is to win Shaver took over the head championships,” Shaver said. coaching job in 2004, the year af“Of course in 2008 when we won ter Henry guided the men’s and the women’s championship, that women’s indoor programs to nawas a highlight because primarily tional titles, with the women winI had thought that group of wom- ning for the third year in a row. en had worked “The first ‘Our ultimate goal year transition extremely hard and really did dewas a really is to win serve it.” smooth move,” Shaver came championships.’ said Bennie Brato Baton Rouge zell, LSU assisafter a four-year tant coach and Dennis Shaver stint as an assisformer track LSU track and field head coach tant coach at Austandout. “It reburn. He also spent six seasons ally wasn’t that much of a tranas the men’s and women’s head sition, because you have to realcoach at Barton Community ize that Coach [Shaver] had been College in Great Bend, Kan., In under Coach [Henry] for all those 1991, the women’s team won the years.” first junior college “National TriBrazell is the newest addiple Crown,” sweeping the cross tion to Shaver’s staff, where he country, indoor and outdoor track works with the sprinters and hurtitles. dlers. Brazell was also a member “At any level, if you can be of the team in Shaver’s first seasuccessful competing with those son as head coach. at your same level ... it’s a great Brazell, a dual-sport athlete tribute,” Shaver said. “Track and member of the 2003 footcoaches are really unique from ball national championship team, that the standpoint that you have says his former coach doesn’t Michael Gegenheimer Sports Contributor

ALYSSA SIRISOPHON / The Daily Reveille

LSU track and field coach Dennis Shaver has coached the Tigers for 17 years and has served as head coach for eight years.

typically watch over his shoulder, but the coaches do maintain a close relationship.

“If I have a question, I always go to him,” Brazell said. “I feel like I always cover myself by going to talk to him, ask more questions, learn more things. Even when we’re eating I’ll ask him, ‘Hey Coach, is there anything I need to work on or improve on?’”

Assistant head coach and middle distance coach Mark Elliott joined the program a year before Shaver and has remained a staple for the Tigers ever since.

He’s the only other remaining coach from the Henry era and the only one who has stayed with Shaver throughout his eight years as head coach.

“We’re still co-workers, but we went from being both assistant coaches to now he’s the head coach,” Elliott said. “Our relations stay the same. We all love LSU and want to see it do well and want to win, but it’s still that head coach-assistant coach relationship.”

Shaver has won only one national title as LSU’s head coach,

but currently has the Tigers in position for another run at the championship, with the Lady Tigers currently ranked No. 2 and the Tigers No. 3.

“We’re constantly trying to improve the program from the fan base to the facility,” Shaver

said. “It’s very important to us for our athletes to show improvement from one year to the next.”

Contact Michael Gegenheimer at mgegenheimer@lsureveille.com

The Daily Reveille

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

GYMNASTICS

page 11

LSU ranks 5th nationwide on vault, 26th on beam Rowan Kavner

Sports Contributor

Most people can’t walk across a balance beam, let alone jump and twist without stumbling.

Falls for gymnastics teams tend to be more prevalent on beam given the daunting task, and No. 14 LSU isn’t the only team posting its lowest scores on the apparatus.

Beam is the only event in which the Tigers have averaged less than a score of 49.00 for each of the last five years. LSU ranks No. 26 nationally on beam this season, with an average score of 48.281.

No. 1 Utah averages a score of 49.208 on beam and is the only team averaging more than a 49.20. Conversely, eight teams average more than 49.20 nationally on vault, including LSU, which ranks fifth, with a team average of 49.256. The Tigers have averaged at least a 49.00 on vault for the last five years.

“Vault is just the easiest

because it’s the quickest, and I normally always land them,” said freshman Jessie Jordan. “I just need to work on straight legs, sticking, those sort of things.”

Jordan, who scored a 9.875 on vault Saturday against Georgia, also averages a 9.825 on beam and is the only Tiger averaging at least a 9.70 in the event.

LSU coach D-D Breaux said she didn’t recruit Jordan to increase the score of any particular event, although she looks at what the needs are on each apparatus.

“If we see somebody that’s particularly strong in an event, then we’ll take a special look at them,” Breaux said. “But the real bottom line is we’re looking for kids that are across the board, like [Jordan], just solid on all four events.”

If recent meets are any indication, the Tigers’ beam score could increase in coming weeks. After posting a 46.525 team score on the beam in the season-opening Cancun Classic, LSU has scored at least a 48.60 in the event in each of the last

three meets.

Gymnast Ericka Garcia could also help raise LSU’s beam average. The junior, who has dealt with knee issues, tied a career-high with a 9.85 on beam against Georgia in her lone event.

“My confidence is pretty good right now,” Garcia said.

“I feel great every time I go on beam and do my routine.”

Sophomores Maliah Mathis and Kaleigh Dickson and junior Shelby Prunty averaged three of the top four scores last season on beam, and all three have dealt with injuries this season.

Dickson missed one meet this season, Prunty missed two — including Saturday’s meet — and Mathis hasn’t competed on beam this year. Dickson and Prunty have combined for three scores of at least a 9.80 on beam this season.

“You need your people that have ice water running through their veins,” Breaux said. “Shelby had a fall last week, but performed the week before at that level, and has done so the past

FOOTBALL

Sandusky to learn accusers’ names The Associated Press HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky will learn by the end of the week the names of the 10 young men he is charged with having sexually abused, according to a court document filed late Monday by state prosecutors.

The attorney general’s office said that the alleged victims’ names will be delivered to Sandusky’s lawyer Joe Amendola by the close of business Friday, a process that would apparently avoid disclosure through public court records.

Sandusky, 68, is awaiting trial on charges that he committed a range of abuse against 10 boys over a 15-year period, including alleged sexual assaults on Penn State property. He has denied the allegations.

The names of the 10 young men were not disclosed in the grand jury reports, which listed them as victims Nos. 1 through 10.

The scandal resulted in the ousting of school president Graham Spanier and longtime coach Joe Paterno, who died Jan. 22, and has brought shame to one of college football’s legendary programs.

Athletic Director Tim Curley has been placed on administrative leave, and Vice President Gary Schultz, who was in charge of the university’s police department, has stepped down.

Schultz and Curley are charged with lying to the grand jury and failure to report the alleged abuse to police. Like Sandusky, they have maintained their innocence.

Amendola has requested a document from prosecutors that would include names of purported victims along with the times,

GENE J. PUSKAR / The Associated Press

Former Penn State University assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky (left) walks with his attorney Joe Amendola on Dec. 13, 2011, from a courthouse in Bellefonte, Pa.

locations and other information to back up the 52 criminal counts against the former Penn State defensive coordinator.

The attorney general’s offices said in a document filed in Centre County court that the grand jury

reports, charging documents and discovery materials lay out the facts sufficiently.

AUSTIN BENNETT / The Daily Reveille

LSU freshman Rheagan Courville scores a 9.375 on beam Friday during the gymnastics meet against Auburn in the PMAC. LSU won, 195.025-193.800.

two years for us. That was a real loss, I think.”

Breaux said she’s excited to see what the injured gymnasts can achieve at full strength on beam, as well as in every event.

“I’m guardedly anxious, but I’m crazy with expectation and

enthusiasm and excitement, for I think what this team is going to be able to achieve,” Breaux said.

Contact Rowan Kavner at rkavner@lsureveille.com

OPEN MIC

NIGHT Show us your skills Thursday, Feb 2 7-9pm Live Oak Lounge, Union

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+ 10 minute maximum time slot + material must be pg-13 + we cannot accomodate drum kits Sign up at the event from 6-7pm or in advance by tweeting to @sablsu.

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The Daily Reveille

The

page 12

Peanut

Gallery

How do you feel about the evangelism that takes place on campus?

Opinion

They’re all trolls to me

Bigotry brings out people’s worst THE NEW FRONTIERSMAN CLAYTON CROCKETT Opinion Editor

Compiled by CLAIRE CAILLIER

‘I’ll be damned if someone on the street will condemn me to hell, but if [Brother Jed] was being nice no one would Rachel Jackson communication studies pay attention to him.’ junior ‘[Brother Jed] is a hypocrite.

I feel like they are all brainwashed and live in a bubble.’

Caroline Russell photography junior

John Stinson

engineering junior

‘It’s irritating, but free speech is free speech; it’s their right.

I think they could spend their time doing better things.’

‘It’s a bit ridiculous.

You can’t force what you believe on anybody.’

Julie Nguyen

kinesiology freshman

‘Yelling at people isn’t the right way to convert people to Christianity.’

JeLisa Burney

mass communication sophomore

Two men, one bigoted and one fair, engage in a screaming contest.

Who wins?

Trick question. If you’re screaming, you aren’t fair.

Yet screaming all too often makes its way into everyday arguments where simple solutions — or even educational benefit — may come as soon as the decibel dam is lifted.

Free Speech Plaza is a beautiful example, especially on what some students have come to call “Crazy Christian Tuesdays.”

While the title serves to pigeonhole Christians as thoroughly as the preachers there deserve it, the events have garnered a fervent following among students — especially those who wish to voice the counterpoint.

Commence the screaming competition.

Indeed, it is difficult to engage in mannered conversation with a man hell-bent on your damnation, but consider this: It is equally impossible to judge a man with 30 college students screaming at him as to judge a student with 10 Pentecostals condemning him. While I can neither condone nor exclusively condemn either group, the conclusion is simple.

They’re all trolls to me.

The designation “troll” rose first on the Internet as a term for people who post, comment, whathave-you with the sole intention of provocation and offense. The term, it turns out, has always existed — we typically just call them assholes.

And the traits can be found on both ends of “Crazy Christian Tuesdays.”

While Brother Jed Smock is condemning hand-holding before marriage (because it can lead to “penile penetration”), students vault questions such as, “What about butt sex?”

They shout obscenities, fashion signs to out-picket the

The Daily Reveille Editorial Board

Matthew Jacobs Chris Branch Ryan Buxton Bryan Stewart Andrea Gallo Clayton Crockett

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

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

XERXES A. WILSON / The Daily Reveille

Brother Jed stands in Free Speech Plaza on Friday, preaching about evangelism and Christianity to students who pass by.

religious assault and sing the introduction to “Fresh Prince of Bel Air.” Both sides utilize the same tactics: drowning out the competition with shouting, using numbers to overpower a discussion, reduction to absurd arguments (or in the picketers case, reductio ad deus), posing unanswerable questions and stating opinion as fact.

Moreover, trolls are often pretentious, uninterested in responses and short in stature with large, hairy feet.

But all of these traits indicate the troll’s kryptonite: individual communication.

Trolling doesn’t work without a high ground. For the street preachers, the high ground is religion, or more specifically, divine right. For the rude respondents, the high ground is science — or logic, specifically.

It simply happens that one of these high grounds is fabricated.

Other high grounds can include non-falsifiable arguments

(claims which can neither be scientifically proven true nor false, as many religious claims), anonymity and group support.

But only once the barrier is broken and you’ve got the man one on one may judgments be made.

A year ago, when a Pentecostal group hosted the week’s edition of “Tuesdays,” I decided to speak with one of the younger members personally. The 15-year-old told me I was going to hell about as politely as one can, but I believe we surprised each other with our collective patience.

The subsequent argument I shared with his father — argument in the neutral, educational sense, rather than the common, heated conception — was also polite. His argument against perceiving the world with only our senses was a logical fallacy, as it is scientifically impossible to reduce past primary senses, but regardless, the man heard me out, as I did him.

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.

Unfortunately, such an experience is hard to come by. It can be overwhelming to hold onto hopes of polite conversation when a man you’ve just met swears you’ll be tortured in a lake of fire for eternity — especially when you forget the platitude and recognize the magnitude of such a claim.

But one mustn’t compromise intellectual integrity and the sanctity of debate by succumbing to sophomoric countermeasures.

Pick your battles. If there is no opportunity to speak the truth with the justice and clarity it deserves, don’t force it. The battle is already lost.

There will be no winner in a screaming contest.

Clayton Crockett is a 20-year-old international studies sophomore from Lafayette. Follow him on Twitter @TDR_ccrockett.

Contact Clayton Crockett at ccrockett@lsureveille.com.

Quote of the Day “Born again?! No, I’m not.

Excuse me for getting it right the first time.”

Dennis Miller American comedian and commentator Nov. 3, 1953 - present

The Daily Reveille

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

FOR THINKERS ONLY

Opinion

page 13

Wealthy Romney didn’t win Florida primary - he bought it

Less than two weeks ago, polls were showing Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich leading Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney in the Florida GOP primary.

Today, Romney is celebrating a double-digit victory in the most Matthew important primary Westfall to date in the volaColumnist tile race for the GOP presidential nomination.

It was Gingrich who came to Florida with the wind at his back, riding a wave of momentum following a triumphant victory in the South Carolina primary.

So, exactly how did Romney turn the tide and open up such a commanding lead? Was it his political prowess, his revamped debating skills, or his newly found aggressiveness?

Sure, each of these facets played a role in the high-stakes presidential primary election. But the real determining factor in capturing the largest primary-holding state this year was money — lots of it.

According to a report from ABC News released on Friday, the Romney campaign and his super PAC were outspending Gingrich and his allies by a margin of four to one on television ads.

On Sunday, those numbers inched closer to a margin of five to one, with the Gingrich campaign floundering in the expensive media markets throughout the state.

The Gingrich campaign didn’t even purchase TV time in the bigticket markets of South Florida. The reason being it was too expensive.

“We are not a campaign of means,” Gingrich spokesman R.C. Hammond told Time magazine on Monday.

The pro-Gingrich super PAC Winning Our Future neglected to spend heavily in the state until last week. Meanwhile, the pro-Romney super PAC Restore Our Future dished out millions in Florida long before the primary was held.

The media content became increasingly lopsided as primary day approached, with Romney and his super PAC spending a combined $15.4 million on television and radio advertising.

Compare that with Gingrich and his allies, who spent a measly $3.7 million in advertising.

Negative advertising was the tone of the primary, Gingrich being the primary target.

Negative ads accounted for 92 percent of political ads airing in Florida over the last week — a record rate for political campaigns, according to the Campaign Media Analysis Group, which tracks advertising content and spending.

Of all the campaign commercials aired in Florida over the last week, 68 percent were attacks on Gingrich.

The spending gap seen between the candidates allowed for a primarily one-sided flow of information with little counter from Gingrich.

With a one-sided flow of information, Romney used the negative

GERALD HERBERT / The Associated Press

Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, greets supporters Tuesday at his rally.

aura surrounding Gingrich in attacks during recent televised debates.

Romney didn’t just sharpen his campaign style following the defeat in South Carolina — he opened his wallet to reshape the GOP contest.

When Gingrich surged in the polls in Florida following his victory in South Carolina, Romney and his backers blanketed the state with negative ads, focusing on the critical population centers of Miami, Tampa and Orlando.

Many observers are highlighting the fact that Romney didn’t win Florida on substance, but instead on

an overflow of negative advertising that effectively drowned out his opposition.

“After failing to gain traction with Republican voters in South Carolina, anemic frontrunner Mitt Romney turned to a scorched-earth spending approach in a desperate move to secure a victory,” Florida Democratic Party spokesman Brannon Jordan told Talking Points Memo.

The fact that Romney needed such a drastic approach to secure a victory should suggest he’s not as strong a candidate as the primary

results indicate.

Romney not only proved capable of running the most negative campaign in history, but he proved just how easy it is to buy an election.

Matthew Westfall is a 23-year-old mass communication senior form Winchester, Va. Follow him on Twitter @TDR_mwestfall

Contact Matthew Westfall at mwestfall@lsureveille.com

THE C-SECTION

Louisiana needs legislative reform to combat violent crime

Louisiana has a problem with violent crime.

Shocker, right? Check your local crime briefs.

Or Nola.com — check its crime section.

A man was shot in the neck, and two men were shot and killed Saturday Chris Grillot in New Orleans.

Columnist A man was shot in the back Sunday during an attempted robbery, and two men were shot to death Monday.

Those are just a few of the crimes you’ll find. The list goes on and on, showing that our great state has some improving to do.

But the violence isn’t just a current trend of 2012. Our state has been one of the most violent for as long as anyone can remember.

In fact, Sportsman’s Paradise ranked as 2010’s most violent state by the Institute for Economics and Peace.

In 2010, Louisiana registered 510 murders.

This ranking, in part, was based on the general availability of small arms.

Though all the statistics aren’t in yet, it looks like 2011 was just as violent.

Baton Rouge saw firearms involved in 59 out of 64 murders, 469 assaults and 535 robberies, said Sgt. Don Kelly, BRPD Media Relations Director.

New Orleans experienced a whopping 199 murders — a 14 percent increase from last year, according to The Times-Picayune.

I’m willing to bet most were from guns.

In fact, New Orleans’ unrelenting murder rate has caused New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu to look to other states to alleviate the murder rate.

On Wednesday — after a man was killed trying to thwart a carjacking — Landrieu sent letters to municipal judges and criminal courts asking them to implement $30,000 bonds for defendants with weapons charges.

This strategy was used in St. Louis, and the city attributed its implementation to a 20 percent

drop in murder rate.

“This is about having an immediate consequence to a bad choice,” Landrieu told The TimesPicayune.

If it works in New Orleans, the rest of the state should follow suit.

But one reform isn’t enough.

Other things must change.

First, there are too many guns on the street.

So many that BRPD held “Gas for Guns” for the second year in November to get guns off the street. They received 165 guns, including a few sawed-off shotguns.

While a nice effort to lessen the amount of guns on the street, I seriously doubt criminals turned any in — unless, of course, they needed gas money.

One blatantly obvious way to solve this problem may be to require firearms to be registered when purchased.

Right now, all it takes is a background check and maybe 30 minutes of your time to walk away with a shiny new gun. Trust me, I’ve done it. It’s way too easy.

And registering guns will allow police to know who has a

gun and who doesn’t, letting them know what they’re getting into when investigating.

Next, Louisiana’s big cities should implement something similar to Chicago’s CeaseFire plan, which has lead to significant decreases in violent crime in Chicago neighborhoods.

CeaseFire places street-savvy people into violent areas where they try to settle disputes and help to calm people’s nerves after murders to prevent retaliatory violence.

New Orleans has been trying to get this program going. Baton Rouge should test it out as well.

Finally — take note Bobby Jindal — Louisiana’s public education needs to improve. This is the clearest solution of all.

Louisiana’s a pretty poor state.

Most people do not get the privilege of attending private schools and have to attend Louisiana’s deficient public school system — 44 percent of schools received a failing grade in performance scores, Channel 9 reported.

And what happens when people aren’t educated? Quite often they turn to crime.

While all of these solutions could do a world of good for violent crime in the state, they will certainly take time and money.

I can’t speed up time, but as far as money goes, there are a few things the government can do.

Stop locking up potheads — it’s not cheap.

Don’t offer tax-free weekends on guns and expensive outdoor equipment. Louisiana’s the Sportsman’s Paradise — we’ll buy that stuff anyway.

Add some tax to cigarettes and alcohol — we’ll keep buying those goods, too.

We live in a great state, but the rate of violence occurring is unacceptable by any means. There are ways to fix it. We just need to seek them out.

Chris Grillot is a 20-year-old English and mass communication senior from New Orleans. Follow him on Twitter @TDRcgrillot.

Contact Chris Grillot at cgrillot@lsureveille.com

The Daily Reveille

page 14

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The Daily Reveille

Wednesday, February 1, 2012 RIVALRY, from page 7 assorted maneuvers for each other.

“I can honestly say with issues I’ve dealt with in certain dives, I’ve had Daniel do examples on film so I can break it down,” Vieke said. “I can figure out what I need to do.”

Vieke said competition provides a contrasting dynamic, with both trying to outscore the other.

While the two seek to make each other better in practice, competition brings out a whole new

SIGNING DAY, from page 7

LSU’s class.

“LSU stayed with their plan, didn’t deviate from their methods,” Ponamsky said. “After things went south this last month, the staff could’ve tried to sign big-name guys to appease the fans, but they recruited to address their needs, even it wasn’t flashy.”

Among those expected offensive line signees is four-star Vadal Alexander; 6-foot-8, 320-pound Edna Karr product Derek Edinburgh; and coveted three-star Louisiana committ Jerald Hawkins.

While most of the Class of 2012 appears in place, there could be some room for fireworks today.

Four-star Oxford, Ala., natives and teammates Kwon Alexander and Trae Elston remain on LSU’s radar and will announce their decisions back to back at 10:05 a.m. Elston, a safety, currently lists Ole Miss as his favorite, but the Tigers remain in play. Alexander, a linebacker, is considered to be Baton Rouge-bound.

“I have [Alexander] as a near lock for LSU,” Scarborough said. “It would be surprising if he reconsiders.”

One Tiger commitment may have some big expectations, even without the five-star label attached.

Avery Johnson of Pompano Beach, Fla., is a Rivals four-star and considered one of the top 40 athletes in this year’s class.

He’s also Patrick Peterson’s

attitude, especially for Helm. despite their two-year age differ“Right when the meet starts, ence.

[Vieke]’s the “ We ’ v e one I want been pret‘One of the pillars of our to beat out,” ty good Helm said. program is respect, and another f r i e n d s , ” “Come meet is unity. When you put those Vieke said. time, it’s on “I honestly like ‘Donkey two together ... you can’t ask for don’t think a Kong.’” lot that he is a better environment.’

Outside much youngof the heat of er than me.”

Doug Shaffer competition Shaffer LSU diving couch and the grind praised Vieke of practice, Helm and Vieke have as a role model and a quintesfashioned a close friendship, sential student-athlete, someone younger brother and similar in stature to former receiver Rueben Randle, whose role Johnson may soon fill. Joining him could be prized junior college receiver Cordarrelle Patterson, who has drawn significant interest from nearly every school in the Southeastern Conference and Big 12.

“LSU has made a big push lately for Patterson, but he sure looks like a Georgia guy to me,” Scarborough said. “You never know on signing day.”

With Thorpe Award winner Morris Claiborne off to the NFL, the Tigers also nabbed some defensive backs to solidify the secondary.O. Perry Walker’s Dwayne Thomas — a four-star defensive back — heads LSU’s four likely secondary commitments and is a dynamic cover corner in the same mold as Claiborne.

Between the 21-0 loss to Alabama in the BCS National Championship and losing out on a couple of unanimous five-stars, excitement amongst the Tiger fan base has been comparatively low for this year’s Bayou Bash and the accompanying recruits.

“January took the wind out of LSU’s sails a bit,” Shipp said. “Domino after domino fell. This class should ease the pain, but maybe not immediately. These are players that will grow on you.”

page 15 essential to mentor and “pass the reins” to an up-and-coming diver like Helm.

“One of the pillars of our program is respect, and another is unity,” Shaffer said. “When you put those two together … as a coach, you can’t ask for a better environment.”

Vieke said he has nothing but great expectations for his friend and occasional rival. He expects Helm to shine in the next two years, even though he will be without his biggest competition and closest teammate following

Vieke’s graduation.

Helm said he expects much of the same. He said he’ll effectively use the plethora of techniques he learned from Vieke and may even find another friendly rival. But for his self-proclaimed “big brother,” Helm sums up their relationship rather simply.

“He’s the man,” he said.

Contact Chandler Rome at crome@lsureveille.com

Want to be a

Contact Chris Abshire at cabshire@lsureveille.com

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y1 r a u ebr F d n room l a l a 1 n B Union y3 o r i l a l u i Jan Cot ent . l d a m u . y t p S Ro LSU .m. to 3 11 a

page 16

The Daily Reveille

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Wednesday, February 1, 2012