Health: Drug designed to help cure cocaine addiction, p. 8
Academics: Teacher integrating Wikipedia into course, p. 3
Reveille The Daily
www.lsureveille.com
Super Bowl XLV final score Green Bay Packers: 31 Pittsburgh Steelers: 25 Monday, Feb. 7, 2011 • Volume 115, Issue 83
Sniffing out crime Tiger
LSUPD purchases first narcotics detection canine Sydni Dunn Staff Writer
photos by BRIANNA PACIORKA / The Daily Reveille
LSU Police Department Officer Christopher Masters handles Meggie, the officers’ first narcotics detection dog, Thursday. Meggie is from Holland and will work on a rotating schedule determined by “criminal elements and crime trends.”
The LSU Police Department has added a new member to its team — and she has a nose for crime. Meggie, a 2-year-old German shepherd, became a part of the force in November, making her the University’s first narcotics detection canine. While Meggie isn’t the first canine owned by LSUPD, she is the first trained in detection, according to Sgt. Blake Tabor, LSUPD spokesman. Tabor said LSUPD currently has an explosives detection canine named Sindy, who has been with the team about four years. He said the department owned a second dog, but she recently retired because of an injury. “In her place, we made the decision to get a narcotics sniffing dog,” he said. “We didn’t get her because of a drug problem on campus — she was obtained because of her ability to keep drugs to a minimum.” And that’s when Christopher Masters, LSUPD officer and certified canine handler, began preparing. “Masters has experience as an explosives detection handler, and he took a lot of initiative to get the dog,” Tabor said. “Masters was asked by the chief to do research and determine how a detection canine could benefit the LSU community.” The next step was a trip to U.S. K-9 Unlimited, a canine training facility in Kaplan that specializes in purchasing, selling and training detection canines for law enforcement and
government agencies. The majority of the dogs for sale are German shepherds and Belgian malinois breeds, which are known for their agility and obedience. The dogs are hand-selected based on quality and trained to the highest standards, according to the U.S. K-9 website. The facility has about 25 dogs in its kennels for sale at all times, imported from around the world. Meggie is originally from Holland. “They show you all of the dogs available,” Masters said. “I liked Meggie’s personality.” Masters said he knew the sleek black-andgold female was a perfect match, noting how MEGGIE, see page 6
UNION
Lair food court nears completion
Dining options could help recruiting Andrea Gallo Staff Writer
CC’s Community Coffee House is officially open for business in the Student Union, paving the way for the rest of the Tiger Lair food court. Most of the other food venues will be open soon, said Student Government Vice President Dani Borel after a Union Board meeting with Jason Tolliver, director of University Auxiliary Services. “It’s been a big struggle for the whole University,” Borel said. “Having the Tiger Lair open makes the Union the place where it’s supposed to be.” Borel said she and J Hudson, SG president, have been in contact with Tolliver and Eric LAIR, see page 6
EVENTS
Vet School open house features array of animals, Mike VI Event showcases daily operations Kevin Thibodeaux Contributing Writer
The University School of Veterinary Medicine held its 29th annual open house Saturday for visitors, relatives and prospective students alike. The event featured an array of animal-related activities. Scattered along the halls of the Vet School, spectators could find a number of animal-petting booths to appease pet enthusiasts. Some petting exhibits featured the standard domestic dogs and rabbits, but a petting zoo featuring pigs, goats, ducks and
horses also attracted guests. The open house boasted an exoticanimals petting room with snakes, lizards and various exotic birds. Emily Harrington, a first-year vet student and volunteer in the exotic animals room, volunteered to bring her own rabbit to showcase at the event. The theme of the event was “One World, One Medicine — Human and Animal Health.” The school’s website defined the theme as a movement to create equal and collaborative efforts between veterinary and human aspects of medicine. “This is just a good way to show the public what we do,” said Ginger Guttner, the Vet School’s public relations coordinator. Guttner said there were at least 200 Vet School student
volunteers at the event and more than 4,000 visitors to the open house. Mike VI was present at the open house, welcoming visitors at the entrance of the event. The Baton Rouge Police Department was also present to showcase its K-9 unit with a live demonstration from attack dogs. The open house featured a fistulated cow, which allowed children and adults to don rubber gloves and slide their hands into a pre-made hole leading to the cow’s stomach. Many volunteers were on site to encourage visitors to get past the “gross-out factor.” Among other exhibits, the open house featured a OPEN HOUSE, see page 6
BENJAMIN OLIVER HICKS / The Daily Reveille
Melanie Reed, veterinary medicine sophomore, holds a pig for visitors to pet Saturday afternoon at the LSU Vet School’s open house petting zoo.