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Reveille The Daily
A New Pipeline
University gets $8.2 million from BP, others for oil spill research
www.lsureveille.com
Sports: Student wins rally car racing championship, p. 7 Valentine’s Day: Find out where to get your chocolate fix in BR, p. 11 Thursday, Feb. 10, 2011 • Volume 115, Issue 86
CHARLIE RIEDEL / The Associated Press
Oil from the Deepwater Horizon spill floats on the water off the coast of Louisiana on June 7.
Xerxes A. Wilson
LEGISLATION
Health care reform will apply to students Matthew Albright Staff Writer
As the smoke settled and oil spewed from the remains of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig, a rat race of academics began to seek funding to quantify the disaster. Nine months later, more than $8.2 million has been awarded to the University to conduct research in the aftermath. A large chunk of the funding comes directly from BP. Initially, the oil giant responsible for the spill pledged $10 million to the University for the next decade. The University was given $5 million last year and has awarded about $2.5 million to researchers thus far, according to Matthew Lee, interim associate vice chancellor of the Office of Research and Economic Development. In the initial round of funding last year, the committee drafted a request for proposals netting 71 requests for funding. The committee had the
The Affordable Care Act will soon apply to college health insurance plans if newly proposed regulation by the Department of Health and Human Services goes into effect. The legislation, announced Wednesday, would ensure University-provided health care plans are defined as “individual health insurance coverage” and therefore be included in the bill’s provisions. “Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, college students will have more control over their health care,” Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius said in a news release. “This rule would ensure that these plans remain a viable, affordable option for students while guaranteeing that they are regulated consistently and offer transparent benefits.” If the regulation is implemented, several provisions would create new rules for companies insuring student plans. One rule would prevent
OIL SPILL, see page 6
HEALTH CARE, see page 19
Staff Writer
graphic by CAITLYN CONDON / The Daily Reveille
RESLIFE
Sophomore community to open in fall Sydni Dunn Staff Writer
Sophomore students interested in living on campus this fall now have the opportunity to experience “SophomoreGOLD,” a new living and learning community located in East Campus Apartments. SophomoreGOLD is an initiative by Residential Life and First Year Experience to create a residential community designated for 28 sophomore students. Rhea Perkins, ResLife coordinator for Herget Hall, said University programming often overlooks the sophomore population, and SophomoreGOLD will cater to their college experience. Perkins said first-year students
are introduced to many programs when they enter college, and many activities are targeted toward just freshmen. On the other side, juniors and seniors are nearing degree completion and have an idea of what they want in life. “Sophomores are a unique group,” she said. “They are like the middle child.” Missy Korduner, assistant director of FYE, said she wants SophomoreGOLD to extend the support provided to students in their first year to meet sophomore needs. “The community will provide additional support to our sophomore students and provide them an additional connection and opportunity for engagement at LSU,” Korduner said.
Perkins said the highest national rate of college dropouts occurs between the sophomore and junior year. To help alleviate this, she said SophomoreGOLD will create a community that encourages career exploration and hands-on leadership development. “The whole program is focused on academic progress and civic engagement,” Perkins said. Korduner said a number of programs have been outlined as a part of the Sophomore Success Series, and FYE has collaborated with departments like Career Services. “In addition, FYE plans to coordinate discussions around global issues to assist students in seeing the SOPHOMORE GOLD, see page 19
YOU CAN’T MISS THE BEAR
CHRISTOPHER LEH / The Daily Reveille
Raymon Perkins, psychology junior and member of Phi Beta Sigma fraternity, dances around in a bear costume Wednesday for the Bears 4 Bucks philanthropy.