Regents: Preliminary data about UNO-SUNO merger released, p. 3
Football: Freshman quarterback Barrett Bailey leaves team, p. 7
Reveille The Daily
www.lsureveille.com
Baseball: 9 first-year Tigers to pitch this season, p. 7 Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2011 • Volume 115, Issue 85
New beginnings
SCHEDULE
Academic calendar unaffected by day off
Matthew Albright Staff Writer
DAVID LYLE / The Daily Reveille
Nomzano Iyanu and drummer David Modeste perform an African-based ceremony Tuesday at the ground blessing of the African American Cultural Center. The ceremony involved sprinkling water and calling upon ancestors to bless the space by ridding negative spirits and replacing them with positive spirits. The current African American Cultural Center and Women’s Center are being torn down to build a parking garage, which will house both centers on the bottom floor. Read more about the ceremony on page 5.
Friday’s “snow day” won’t cause class days to be added to the academic calendar, University administrators said. University Registrar Robert Doolos said LSU requires 42 classes on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and 28 classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays. That allows for one day of classes to be canceled. If LSU has to cancel two days, however, the University will have to make up both of those days, Doolos said. That would mean the University would either call for Saturday classes or chop two days off spring break. Doolos said there are further provisions for making up class if more than two days are missed. The University canceled class late Thursday afternoon as potentially dangerous winter weather conditions approached. D’Ann Morris, executive assistant to the chancellor and interim director of the Emergency Operations CANCELLATION, see page 15
INTERNATIONAL
Unrest in Middle East, Africa could affect US influence Panelists highlight protests, media myths Brian Sibille Contributing Writer
Touria Khannous, foreign language and international studies professor from Morocco, emphasized at a panel discussion Tuesday that recent unrest spreading in the Middle East and North Africa could bring about important change in government. However, these protests may cause trouble for U.S. influence overseas, said Mark Gasiorowski, political science professor. The panel, hosted by the
International Studies Program, fo- protesters’ demands remain unmet cused on the impact the uprisings and they continue to occupy Tahin the Middle rir Square in Cairo. East may have Meshal also aton other countempted to clear up tries — espemany myths that she cially the U.S. said the U.S. and for“It’s a eign media have portime for watchtrayed as truth. ful waiting,” The idea that Khannous said. current conflict in Reem MeEgypt is “simple shal, religious binary” between studies assisEgyptian President Rima Massassati tant profesHosni Mubarak and studio art junior sor, explained the people is comthat a week pletely false, Meago, many shal said. Rather, it analysts believed the protests in is the regime versus the popular Egypt would be resolved by now. This has not been the case, as UNREST, see page 15
‘‘
‘If you’re standing for democracy here, why are you not standing for democracy [in the Middle East]?’
BRIANNA PACIORKA / The Daily Reveille
Students listen to a lecture Tuesday about unrest in North Africa and the Middle East. Panelists discussed the impact Egyptian protests may have on U.S. foreign influence.
The Daily Reveille
Nation & World
page 2
Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2011
INTERNATIONAL
NATIONAL
STATE/LOCAL
Arson not suspected in Rio de Janeiro Carnival warehouse fire
Government: No electronic flaws in Toyotas, declared safe to drive
Suspect arrested for two counts of murder, bodies identified
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Threads of smoke rose from the charred warehouses of three major samba groups Tuesday as workers salvaged what they could of floats and costumes. Damaged props were planned for use in a show celebrating Rio de Janeiro’s famed Carnival in less than a month. Police said they did not believe arson caused the blaze Monday, which consumed thousands of costumes, sculptures and floats built for the festival. A police spokesman said investigators were still trying to determine what set off the flames.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Electronic flaws weren’t to blame for the reports of sudden, unintended acceleration that led to the recall of thousands of Toyota vehicles, the government said Tuesday. Some of the acceleration cases could have been caused by mechanical defects — sticking accelerator pedals and gas pedals that can become trapped in floor mats — that have been dealt with in recalls, the government said. The White House wouldn’t say where the money for the rest of the program would come from.
(AP) — Authorities have arrested a 29-year-old man in the investigation of two bodies found in the trunk of a car. Maj. Lawrence McLeary of the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff’s Office said Kendrick Johnson, of Baton Rouge, was booked on two counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of 27-year-old Jarret Stanley, of Lake Charles, and 25-year-old Latonya Wright, of Baton Rouge. Both had been shot to death. McLeary says an anonymous phone call initiated the probe and led to the discovery of the bodies Monday.
Publisher defends book on Polish plunder of Jews during Holocaust WARSAW, Poland (AP) — A Polish publishing house defended its decision Tuesday to publish a book that has sparked controversy with its argument that Poles actively profited from Jewish suffering during the Holocaust. “Golden Harvest,” by Jan Gross and Irena Grudzinska Gross, argues that rural Poles sometimes sought financial gain from Jewish misfortune in a variety of ways, from plundering Jewish mass graves to ferreting out Jews in hiding for reward.
FELIPE DANA / The Associated Press
Firefighters work to put out a fire at warehouses in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Monday as a massive fire consumed the building.
Hungary’s 84-year-old ‘Flying Gizi’ burglar strikes again BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Hungary’s notorious octogenarian thief is not ready for retirement. The 84-year-old woman, known as “Flying Gizi,” whose criminal record goes back to the 1950s, is again in custody for suspected theft, police said Tuesday. Fejer County Police spokeswoman Agnes R. Szabo said the burglar, whose real name is Gizella Bodnar, is suspected of taking some 15,000 forints (euro55, $75) from a home in Bicske. Bodnar has been convicted of over 20 crimes and has spent nearly 18 years in prison,
Obama to call for $53 billion for high-speed rail to generate jobs WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama is calling for a six-year, $53 billion spending plan for high-speed rail, as he seeks to use infrastructure spending to jump-start job creation. An initial $8 billion in spending will be part of the budget plan Obama is set to release Monday. If Congress approves the plan, the money would go toward developing or improving trains that travel up to 250 mph, and connecting existing rail lines to new projects.
Payton moving family to Dallas, will remain Saints’ head coach NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Sean Payton is moving his family to Dallas and the Saints have no problem with it — however, many New Orleans fans do. Payton confirmed Tuesday that he’s buying a house in Dallas and is moving his wife and two children to Texas while he remains the Saints’ head coach. “When my wife and I relocated our family from Dallas, we had always dreamed of someday settling there,” Payton said.
BUILDING BLOCKS
Spring 2011 Career Expo February 9th & 10th, 10:30 am - 3:30 PM Cotillion Ballroom, LSU Union Black Student Union: Black History Quiz Bowl
Thursday, Feb 10 @ 7-9 in Live Oak Lounge Call (318) 787-8308 or email dmaneaz@lsu.edu Black History Month Black Academic Perspectives Lecture Series
Wednesday, February 9, 2011 French House, Grand Salon, 12 PM
DO YOU HAVE AN OCCURRENCE? Call Chase at the Student Media Office 578-6090, 9AM- 5PM or E-mail: officemanager@lsureveille.com
Today on lsureveille.com Read sports blogger Ryan Ginn’s take on the DeadspinMark Sanchez affair on Tiger Feed.
See a picture of a live opossum hanging out in a tree outside the Journalism Building in the Sharpshooter photo blog.
facebook.com/ thedailyreveille
@lsureveille, @TDR_news, @TDR_sports
Weather TODAY Rain
58 31 THURSDAY
FRIDAY
47 26
50 27
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
57 32
66 43
BLAIR LOCKHART / The Daily Reveille
See photos of of campus construction on Snapshot at lsureveille.com.
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) 5784811 or e-mail 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. Secondclass 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.
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The Daily Reveille
Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2011
page 3
BOARD OF REGENTS
New Orleans higher ed study reveals low graduation, retention rates Possible UNO-SUNO merger analyzed Sydni Dunn Staff Writer
The Board of Regents discussed the preliminary data for the ongoing study of higher education in the New Orleans area in a special meeting Tuesday. State representatives, state management boards and concerned citizens were invited to attend the public meeting to discuss one of the items being analyzed in the study — the feasibility of merging the University of New Orleans and Southern University-New Orleans. “This charge is being taken very seriously, and we want to hear from all involved,” said Regents Chairman Robert Levy. “We will receive the initial information from the study conducted by [the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems].” Dennis Jones, NCHEMS president, began his presentation by providing a snapshot of the current state of higher education in New Orleans, citing low graduation and retention rates. Gov. Bobby Jindal said last month that UNO has a 21 percent graduation rate over a six-year time frame, while SUNO has only 5 percent. “These are very low rates by any standards,” Jones said. Jones discussed the low enrollment at both institutions, while noting the soaring rates at Delgado Community College in New Orleans. He said nearly 18,000 students are enrolled at Delgado,
BENJAMIN OLIVER HICKS / The Daily Reveille
Dennis Jones (right), NCHEMS president, speaks Tuesday about the state of higher education in New Orleans. The meeting focused on the UNO-SUNO merger feasibility.
12,700 at UNO and only 3,500 at SUNO. Of these students, African Americans comprise 40 percent of the Delgado student population, 15 to 20 percent at UNO and almost the entire student body at SUNO, he said. “The institutions serve wildly different student populations,” Jones said. “They have very different backgrounds academically and in the students served.” But Jones said the New Orleans population is suffering on all educational levels, and the number of students entering college unprepared is high. “The pipeline leaks at every point — before students are out of high school, when students go to college, and it leaks at college completion,” he said. “The bottom line for us is this is a city that is not being well served by the status quo.” Jones said while a portion of the study is analyzing the potential
merger, NCHEMS is looking at all public higher education institutions in New Orleans. “In the public mind and in the press, this has been framed as a structure and governance issue,” Jones said. “And that’s the last thing we tackle, not the first.” Jones said NCHEMS will look at the educational needs to New Orleans, its citizens and ways to address those needs. He said the focus right now is on the students. The next step in the process, which is more extensive, will be presented to the Regents on Feb. 28. The last installment of the analysis, which will present the study’s conclusion, will be issued on its March 1 deadline. Following the Regents’ submission, the solution will enter the Legislature and must be passed by a two-thirds vote. Contact Sydni Dunn at sdunn@lsureveille.com
Wednesday February 9 SHADY’S
Greek Night - Free cover for Greeks $5 mixed drink pitchers $1 shots Come have a drink, Don’t be a DiCK
Pluckers Wing Bar Mon.: $14.99 All You Can Eat Wings and $3 Pluckers Lemonades Tues.: Kids Eat Free, $3 Mexican Beers and Margaritas Wed: Trivia at 8 pm, $4.50 Mother Plucker Mugs of Bud and Miller Thurs: $15.99 All You Can Eat Wings, $4.50 Mother Plucker Mugs of Bud Light and Miller Lite, $5.50 Patron Margaritas Sun: $3 Pluckers Specialty Shots
3:00-3:30 PM Survivor Bush 4:30-5:00 PM Survivor Bush 5:00-5:30 PM The Ramen 6:30-7:00 PM Making Moves 7:30-8:00 PM The Ramen Repeat ch 19 8:00-8:30 PM The Ramen Repeat 9:30-10:00 PM The Ramen Repeat
The Daily Reveille
page 4
ACADEMICS
Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2011
BUDGET CUTS
New LSU Retention Jindal proposal would increase fee Committee to focus on student learning Matthew Albright Staff Writer
Current graduation rate at 62 percent Celeste Ansley Staff Writer
The newly created LSU Retention Committee reached out to faculty and staff members Tuesday at the Provost’s Symposium in an effort to help students graduate. The symposium, hosted by the Faculty Senate, Academic Affairs and the Retention Committee, featured the presentation “Get LSU students to focus on learning instead of grades: Teach them how to learn!” Saundra McGuire, assistant vice chancellor for learning, teaching and retention in Student Life and chairman of the Retention Committee, said the Provost’s Symposium is the first campus-wide event for the Retention Committee, which was formed in January. The symposium focused on efficient teaching methods, McGuire said. “A lot of students leave because they lost TOPS, and they lose TOPS because of their GPA,” McGuire said. McGuire gave the presentation and focused on study tips, learning research and ways to improve students’ grades. The slideshow stated, “When all of these entities [the student, the instructor and the institution] take full responsibility for student
learning, we will see a significant increase in student learning, performance, retention and graduation! And that’s exactly what the LSU Retention Committee is all about.” Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor John Hamilton showed interest in forming the committee, said Kurt Keppler, vice chancellor for Student Life and Enrollment Services and committee member. “The Retention Committee is a group of people that has been put together to improve retention until graduation,” McGuire said. She said 62 percent of students who begin as full-time freshmen graduate from the University within six years, and the goal of the committee is to raise this number. “We are looking at why students aren’t graduating at a rate we would like them to be,” McGuire said. The committee is comprised of 41 representatives from a wide variety of University departments. The committee is divided into subcommittees based on four barriers to retention — academic, engagement, institutional and personal — and the deans also have a subcommittee, Keppler said. The committee held its first meeting Jan. 25. Committees and subcommittees meet monthly. Contact Celeste Ansley at cansley@lsureveille.com
A proposal by the Jindal administration would “re-index” students’ operating fee, increasing costs, according to a speech Gov. Bobby Jindal gave last week. Robert Kuhn, associate vice chancellor for the Office of Budget and Planning, says “re-indexing” a fee means updating the base year for which the fee is calculated. That means Jindal’s plan would not create a new fee. It would update the existing operational fee to be worth 4 percent of current tuition. Kuhn said when the University added the operational fee in 2004, it cost $80 — then 4 percent of tuition. Jindal’s proposal would “reindex” the fee to be 4 percent of current tuition value instead of the 2004 value. This semester, the University’s tuition was $2,863 for a student taking 12 hours. Four percent of that is about $115. Jindal’s proposal would not force students to pay all $115 — it would merely increase the current operational fee from $80 to $115. That’s an increase of $35 a semester, or $70 an academic year. That doesn’t factor in tuition increases allowed by the LA GRAD Act. That bill, passed during the summer, allows universities to raise tuition by up to 10 percent if they meet certain performance measures. It also doesn’t factor in other increases in fees or tuition the Legislature might choose to allow in the coming session. Jindal said in his speech last week the fee is designed to “help meet the ever-growing bill of mandated costs.” Also called “unfunded mandates,” these costs support
programs the state forces the University to pay for without providing the means to do so. The largest such cost is the University’s retirement system. The state mandates the University pay increasing amounts for employees’ retirement without providing money to fund those increases. University administrators claim such costs have caused recent budget cuts to be much deeper than they look “on paper.” During this academic year, for example, administrators claim these mandates have all but eaten up funding gains from tuition increases allowed by the LA GRAD Act. “Budget forms don’t depict unfunded mandates,” said Jason Droddy, director of external affairs. “So although our budget looks like it’s fine, the direct student impact is much worse.” Jindal said the proposed fee would give the University money
to cover some of those costs. “This will not cover all increases in mandated costs,” Jindal said when he announced the plan last week. “But it will generate tens of millions of dollars in revenue for universities.” Droddy agrees the fund is good for the University, even if it doesn’t make up the entire funding gap. “It would not cure the unfunded mandates,” he said. “But every piece helps.” Jindal’s proposal will have to earn a two-thirds vote in the Legislature before taking effect, Droddy said. The Legislature has to approve any fees that are directly related to instruction. Fees for other services, like housing, the Student Union and bus service, can be raised independently. Contact Matthew Albright at malbright@lsureveille.com
The Daily Reveille
Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2011
DIVERSITY
page 5
TECHNOLOGY
Cultural centers’ grounds Flirting website gains popularity blessed before demolition Emily Herrington Contributing Writer
Claire Caillier Contributing Writer
As construction begins for the University’s new parking garage, students and faculty honored the grounds of the soon-to-be-removed African American Cultural Center and the Women’s Center on Tuesday. The centers have been temporarily relocated to rooms 319, 323 and 325 of Hatcher Hall while the centers’ new, permanent facilities at the bottom level of the parking garage are constructed. Katrice Albert, vice provost of Equity, Diversity and Community Outreach, said the ceremony commemorated those who pushed for the African American Cultural Center’s creation. “It’s about the legacy of past students and staff who fought to acquire a space for African American students to come together,” Albert said. The blessing consisted of a libation ceremony, which involves sprinkling water and calling upon ancestors to bless the space by ridding negative spirits and replacing them with positive spirits. Nicole Moliere, 1991 University alumna, reminisced on the current African American Cultural Center and what it meant to her and the students of the time. “To us back then, it was a great place for us to convene,” Moliere said. “We needed the African American Cultural Center to recognize we
were here.” Niya Blair, coordinator of African American Student Affairs, said there are hopes for national projects with the coming of the new center. “When we have the new center, we hope to host a national conference for the [Association for Black Cultural Centers,]” Blair said. The original African American Cultural Center was established in 1993 and reflects the concept of the Harambee House, which is “coming together,” according to the African American Cultural Center. The $1.5 million expansion project is underway and will almost double both centers’ square footage, according to a news release. The new African American Cultural Center will have a multipurpose room, a conference room, six offices, an open reception and lounge areas, as well as a library and artifacts room, an open outdoor courtyard, a unisex dressing room, a work room and a kitchenette. Albert said as the University becomes more modern, updating the centers becomes more necessary. “Letting go is required,” Albert said. “The time has come for students to experience a better space.”
See a video of the ceremony at lsureveille.com. Contact Claire Caillier at ccaillier@lsureveille.com
University students have found a new way to flirt shamelessly without having to face rejection — or face anyone, for that matter. Students have been increasingly using LikeaLittle.com to flirt anonymously with other students by posting messages or compliments to crushes identified by their gender, hair color and location sighted. Like a Little was launched in October 2010 and has expanded to more than 450 college campuses, including the University. “At LSU — UREC: Female, Brown hair. You were running next to me on the treadmill last night in pink shorts. Made awkward eye contact. I’d love to meet you,” read a post on last week’s campus stream. “It’s like a mix between the personal ads in the Reveille and Craigslist missed connections,” said Dylan Staley, Like a Little LSU founding member and English freshman. Like a Little boasts a strong sense of anonymity, Staley said. Readers can comment on posts under pseudonyms or may send private messages to the author. Staley said Like a Little is a “positive complimentary community” that does not tolerate offensive or personally identifying posts. The site is heavily moderated, and anyone with a University e-mail address has the ability to delete any post. “If someone doesn’t respond to a post, instead of feeling rejected, students can reason that the person just didn’t see the post,” said Loretta Pecchioni, communication studies
associate professor. “You can send a person a direct message while saving face.” Pecchioni noted that most relationships today are a combination of face-to-face and technologicallymediated interactions. “I think it’s a positive idea,” Pecchioni said. “You can see someone and get a vibe and still check each other out through a mediated form before meeting each other.” Patrick Veale, business freshman, believes in meeting people traditionally — by approaching them in person. “I feel like sites like this are making people impersonal,” Veale said. “Everything is over e-mail, phone or text now. It’s not the same as actually talking to someone in person.” Raynesha “Ray” Ducksworth, psychology sophomore, thinks Like a Little is a “cute” idea for a large campus. “It opens the possibility of getting to know someone without the
fear of rejection,” Ducksworth said. Brian Ammon, biological sciences junior, was concerned about Like a Little’s effectiveness because he believes there is a small chance of everyone utilizing the site. Like a Little’s website has a “stories” section where students post their testimonials of success stories using the service. Staley said he has not heard of any success stories at the University yet. Staley’s goal is for the site to have a new post every hour. “We want it to be like ‘Texts from Last Night’ where you can check it every day and be able to read new posts for 30 minutes,” Staley said.
Will Like a Little work for LSU? Find out on lsureveille.com. Contact Emily Herrington at eherrington@lsureveille.com
The Daily Reveille
page 6
CAMPUS CRIME BRIEFS Papa John’s employee discovered baking more than just pizzas LSU Police Department officers arrested a Papa John’s employee Feb. 1 in the Outtakes grocery store in the 459 Commons for simple possession of marijuana, according to Sgt. Blake Tabor, LSUPD spokesman. Tabor said LSUPD received an anonymous phone call at 10:07 p.m. reporting someone smoking marijuana near the 459 Commons and West Laville Hall. An officer arrived at the scene and described a male suspect to the Papa John’s manager. He was identified as Darryl Brown, 26, of 3870 Delaware St. Officers searched Brown and discovered a joint containing 0.9 grams. Brown was placed under arrest, Tabor said. Brown has no affiliation with the University aside from being an employee of the campus Papa John’s, Tabor said. Brown was transported to the LSUPD office before being released with a misdemeanor summons, Tabor said. Brown was fired from Papa John’s. University student arrested after heading in several wrong directions LSUPD arrested a University student for driving while intoxicated on Feb. 4 near the intersection of Highland Road and Chimes Street. Tabor said Natalie Daigle, 21, of 1671 Highway 401 in Napoleonville, was stopped at 2:42 a.m. after the patrolling officer observed her driving in the wrong direction on Chimes Street, which is a one-way road. Daigle also attempted to turn left and drive the wrong way on Infirmary Road, Tabor said. The officer asked Daigle to take a field sobriety test. After failing all three tests, Daigle was transported to the LSUPD office where she registered a 0.100 blood alcohol content, Tabor said. Daigle was booked in East Baton Rouge Parish Prison. University student arrested for DWI, operating vehicle with no headlights LSUPD arrested a University student for DWI on Feb. 5 on East Campus Drive, Tabor said. Charles Myers, 19, of 8072 Seven Oaks Ave., was stopped at 12:17 a.m. after he was seen turning out of the Paul M. Hebert Law Center parking lot and driving on East Campus Drive with no headlights, Tabor said. The patrolling officer approached the vehicle and requested to conduct a field sobriety test.
After failing all three parts of the test, Myers was taken to the LSUPD office where he refused to take a breathalyzer test, Tabor said. Myers was booked into East Baton Rouge Parish Prison. LSU student arrested after trying to dispose of marijuana in sink A University student was arrested in his dormitory Feb. 4 for possession of prescription pills and marijuana, making it his second arrest in two weeks. Tabor said LSUPD was dispatched to Evangeline Hall at 10:34 p.m. after the residential assistant on-call reported a smell of marijuana coming from room 102. The officer knocked on the student’s door and spoke with Justin Goldberger, 19, of 18140 Rolling Wood Drive. Goldberger refused to step out of his room when asked and blocked the door, Tabor said. Tabor said the officer saw Goldberger trying to get rid of the evidence in his dorm room sink. The officer attempted to gain control of Goldberger, who resisted. The officer handcuffed him, and a narcotics detection canine searched the room and located a homemade bong and a small brown Concerta pill for which Goldberger had no prescription. The canine also found a multicolored smoking pipe outside of Goldberger’s first floor window, Tabor said. The officers gathered the marijuana remaining in the sink, which totaled 7.4 grams, not including the portion that had been forced down the drain, Tabor said. The officer also conducted a
body search and discovered more marijuana in a pill bottle in Goldberger’s possession. Goldberger was arrested on four counts: one for possession of marijuana, one for possession of prescription pills, one for possession of drug paraphernalia and one for resisting an officer, Tabor said. He was booked at East Baton Rouge Parish Prison. Tabor said Goldberger was also arrested and booked into prison Jan. 27 after a patrolling officer saw a suspicious vehicle in the Agricultural Barn parking lot. One Concerta pill and 0.3 grams of marijuana were located inside his vehicle. University student arrested for DWI with 0.116 BAC on Highland LSUPD arrested a University student for DWI Feb. 6 off Highland Road. Tabor said officers observed Collin Miller, 22, of 4685 Collins Drive in Collinston, driving south on Highland Road at 2:13 a.m. without headlights. When the officer approached Miller, his breath and body smelled strongly of alcohol and he was asked to take a field sobriety test, Tabor said. He failed all three tests before being transported to the LSUPD office where he registered a 0.116 BAC, Tabor said. Miller was booked into East Baton Rouge Parish Prison.
Contact The Daily Reveille’s news staff at news@lsureveille.com
Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2011
Tiger Feed: Read blogger Ryan Ginn’s take on the Deadspin-Mark Sanchez affair
Sports
Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2011
page 7
FOOTBALL
QB Bailey leaves the Tigers Katherine Terrell Sports Contributor
BRIANNA PACIORKA / The Daily Reveille
Former LSU LB Kelvin Sheppard was only a 3-star recruit out of high school. The First-Team All-Southeastern Conference player was part of a national championship team.
Recruit ratings don’t always translate to field Rowan Kavner Sports Writer
Every winter, college football fans fix their gazes on recruiting boards as National Signing Day commences. Fans cheer and jeer as two, three, four and five-star recruits decide where they will spend the next four-plus years of school. But if history at LSU is any indication, putting stock in a star system isn’t always a sure bet. BRANDON The 2004 LSU class LAFELL included Scout.com fiveformer WR star defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey, the fifth overall pick by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2008 NFL Draft. Dorsey won the Lombardi, Outland, Nagurski and Lott Trophies.
The 2004 class also included Scout two-star linebacker Harry Coleman, two-star lineman Tyson Jackson, three-star running back Jacob Hester and three-star linebacker Quinn Johnson. Jackson bested Dorsey as the No. 3 pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, also going to the Chiefs, after tallying 18.5 sacks as a Tiger. Hester went to the San Diego Chargers in the third round of the 2008 Draft, and Johnson, who converted to fullback at LSU, received a Super Bowl ring with the Green Bay Packers on Sunday. “That probably speaks to the quality of talent Louisiana has,” said Shea Dixon, managing editor of TigerSportsDigest.com. “Not only are they putting out the four and five stars, but they’re also putting out guys like Tyson and the JACOB HESTER great three-stars.” former Meanwhile, consensus running back five-star wide receiver Xavier Carter focused primarily on track, finishing his LSU football career with fewer than 10 catches. The next season’s draft included another
future track star who wasn’t projected to do as well as Carter. Two-star Scout recruit Trindon Holliday, a Zachary native, finished his career No. 2 in school history in kickoff return yards. “A lot of it has to do with living in Louisiana and playing a bit under the radar and not having that national exposure that maybe some Florida or California kids would have,” Dixon said. The 2005 recruiting class also included Rivals.com three-star recruit Brandon LaFell, who finished his LSU career No. 3 in receptions (175) and No. 2 in receiving touchdowns (25). Other LSU five-star players never quite lived up to their reputations. Five-star lineman Al Woods and five-star defensive back Jai Eugene signed in 2006. Woods started 16 games and had 73 tackles, while Eugene started 12 games with one interception. Five-star wide receiver Terrence Toliver recorded only 126 receptions in his LSU career, although he capped it off with a three-touchdown performance in the Cotton Bowl. Conversely, First-Team All-Southeastern Conference linebacker Kelvin Sheppard and RECRUITS, see page 11
The LSU football team will have one less familiar face when it resumes practice in March. Freshman quarterback Barrett Bailey has left the team, he and Michael Bonnette, sports information director, confirmed Tuesday. Bonnette said Bailey told LSU coach Les Miles he wanted to be a normal student and will not attempt to play football elsewhere. Instead, he’ll stay at LSU on a TOPS scholarship. “It wasn’t anything personal,” Bailey said. “It didn’t have anything to do with the coaches.” Bailey, who grew up in Baton Rouge, dreamed of playing football at LSU. Former offensive coordinator Gary Crowton recruited him during his senior season at University High, where he threw for 2,000 yards and 17 touchdowns. LSU couldn’t offer an athletic scholarship, but Bailey accepted a preferred walk-on spot with the Tigers over offers from Alabama-Birmingham and Northwestern State. “I always wanted to be at LSU,” Bailey said. “I wanted to be here no matter what happened.” Bailey said he made the decision partly because of Crowton’s resignation. “He recruited me, and that had a lot to do with it,” Bailey said. Bailey spent the season at No. 3 on the depth chart but saw the writing on the wall with so many offseason changes. In addition to Crowton’s departure, LSU signed quarterbacks Zach Mettenberger and Stephen Rivers, doubling its BAILEY, see page 11
BASEBALL
Young pitchers hope to end lull Jones, Gausman enter rotation Rowan Kavner Sports Writer
Organize a strong lineup to blow a team out. Organize a strong pitching staff to win championships. A solid group of players on the mound is essential to winning. Last season, the LSU baseball team saw what happens when pitching deteriorates. LSU, which had been accustomed to stud aces and stellar pitching staffs in years past, hit a lull.
Only two teams in the Southeastern Conference gave up more earned runs than the 2010 Tigers. LSU was No. 5 in the SEC West in earned run average with a 5.56 ERA. LSU’s ERA hovered around 4.00 in the two previous seasons. Now, the pitching staff has been remodeled. LSU fans may not recognize the nine first-year Tigers expected to pitch this season, but LSU coach Paul Mainieri said he is confident they’ll develop quickly. “They’ve got to get the experience, but we have eight or nine guys that have been clocked at 90 miles per hour or higher,” Mainieri said. “I don’t think I’ve ever had a team with
that many arms that have thrown that hard.” Mainieri said he expects freshman Kevin Gausman and junior transfer Tyler Jones to be the next two starters after senior Ben Alsup takes the mound Feb. 18 for the season opener against Wake Forest. Jones, a 6-foot-4 Junior College First Team All-American who participated in the 2010 JUCO World Series, had a 9-2 record with a 3.01 ERA for Madison Area Tech in 2010. “It’s like he’s throwing from the sky and he’s halfway to home plate,” said sophomore outfielder Mason Katz. “He’s got a lot of talent, and PITCHERS, see page 11
File photo
LSU senior pitcher Ben Alsup throws May 8 during the Tigers’ 6-0 loss to Vanderbilt at Alex Box Stadium. Alsup is one of only two senior pitchers on LSU’s roster.
The Daily Reveille
page 8
GYMNASTICS
Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2011
MEN’S BASKETBALL
LSU adapts to NCAA Tigers to meet Ole Miss for rematch makes first rulings with online- White trip back to Ole Miss only media guide ‘Once you play a Michael Lambert Sports Writer
the LSU campus in the video. The guide also includes videos from LSU football games. “I think it’s great,” said sophomore Shelby Prunty. “It allows more interaction so people can see tours of Rowan Kavner places and not just a picture here and Sports Writer there.” The LSU gymnastics team is The guide features a video tour ahead of the curve in what could be of the Cox Communications Acathe future of college sports media demic Center for Student Athletes guides. and a tour of the athletic training The NCAA decided in the fall facility, which includes the “largest to prohibit teams from distributing hydrotherapy pool in collegiate and printed media guides to recruits. professional sports,” according to Rather than upload guides and Clare-Kearney. send them electronically, LSU gymBreaux said anything fresh and nastics coach D-D Breaux said she original can help sway a recruit. wanted to produce an online-only “Kids make their decision media guide. where they’re going to go based on “The media get enough infor- strange things,” she said. “If we have mation from coming and watching this to put in front of them and we’re the event and the doing it better than statistics we put anybody else then together week in we’re going to get and week out. ... positive results.” Our media guide With new techis more telling the nology comes inevstory of our proitable minor issues. gram and our tradiBreaux said tions,” Breaux said. LSU is still tinkerSarie Morrison Breaux said ing with the online LSU freshman gymnast she wanted to promedia guide and duce a media guide figuring out how similar to No. 6 Oregon State’s. The much information can be included Beavers approached Pursuant Sports without the site being choppy. — a company that produces the on“The package of what we’ve line media guides — last year with got, we like it,” she said. “Now we’ll the online-only idea. just tweak it and change the paging “Everybody saw the rule com- a little bit so we can make it work ing, so Oregon State jumped in front better.” of the rule, and I really like what So far it seems the LSU gymthey did, and I have a lot of respect nasts enjoy the product. for their program,” Breaux said. “For LSU to do something difLSU’s online media guide con- ferent this year, I think it’s really tains the statistics a regular media fun,” said freshman Sarie Morrison. guide would include as well as inter- “Recruits will like the fact it’s onactive videos of LSU gymnasts. line and you can go to it any time to Former gymnasts Ashleigh watch it.” Clare-Kearney and Susan Jackson discuss their success and the storied Follow Rowan Kavner on Twitter history of LSU athletics, while cur- @TDR_Kavner rent gymnasts present what life is like as a Tiger. Contact Rowan Kavner at Freshman Kaleigh Dickson rkavner@lsureveille.com tours the on-campus apartments and
Guide features videos from gymnasts
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‘Recruits will like the fact it’s online and you can go to it any time to watch it.’
LSU freshman point guard Andre Stringer learned a hard lesson from Saturday’s heartbreaking onepoint loss to Mississippi State. Stringer, who said he hasn’t stopped thinking about the play, committed a last-second turnover and spoiled an opportunity for the Tigers’ third Southeastern Conference victory. “I’ll become better at those situations if I’m approached with them again,” Stringer said. “I should have tried to go to the basket faster. I won’t know until it happens again.” Stringer will get the chance to erase the memory Wednesday when LSU (10-13, 2-6) travels to Ole Miss for an 8 p.m. tipoff against the surging Rebels. Ole Miss (15-8, 3-5) won its last two games, including a 71-69 victory at home against then-No. 10 Kentucky. LSU coach Trent Johnson blamed the missed opportunity against the Bulldogs on the team’s lack of confidence and tendency to tense up during critical moments. “They’re tight,” Johnson said. “I talk to them all the time and tell them to relax. There’s no reason to be tight.” LSU is getting closer to claiming its third conference win, which has escaped the team in the past six games. The Tigers lost their first contest of the six-game slide by 38 points to Kentucky. They’ve only lost their last two games by a combined nine points. Wednesday night’s game is the second matchup in 18 days for the two teams. In the last meeting, Ole Miss, who was 0-4 in the SEC at the time, went into the halftime locker room with only a six-point advantage. But the Rebels ran away with a 78-51 victory after LSU could only muster 19 points in the final 20 minutes. This is the first time this season each team is facing a familiar opponent from earlier in the schedule.
“Once you play a good team, the season].” you see what their strengths are,” The 6-foot-6-inch, 193-pound Stringer said. “We knew what they guard contributed 13.7 points a wanted to do early from film, but night before the stress reaction, it’s different than only averaging 4.3 when you see it.” points in the three Junior forward games since his reMalcolm White turn. returns for the first Junior fortime to Tad Smith ward Storm WarColiseum, where ren took his turn he played two seain a boot while sons with the Rebtrying to overcome Andre Stringer els. an Achilles injury. LSU freshman point guard “Mac was a Johnson said Wargood player, a good ren should return addition to our program for the two to the starting lineup Wednesday. years he was here,” Ole Miss coach “We should be as healthy as Andy Kennedy said on the weekly we’ve been up to this point,” JohnSEC teleconference. “It was good son said. to see him in Baton Rouge. I know The news isn’t all positive, that he’s been playing well.” however. White had four points and four Freshman forward Matt Derenrebounds in the first meeting with becker is probable with a left ankle his former team. sprain, and freshman forward Jalen LSU freshman guard Ralston Courtney is out with right knee Turner was absent from the first problems. matchup with a stress reaction, but he is slowly regaining his early sea- Follow Michael Lambert on Twitter son form since the removal of his at @TDR_Lambert walking boot and returning for the Alabama game Jan. 29. “I’m getting there,” TurnContact Michael Lambert at er said. “I’m really close [to matching production from early in mlambert@lsureveille.com
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good team, you see what their strengths are.’
The Daily Reveille
Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2011
RANKINGS
TENNIS
Track and Skupski, Carlsson lead field stay rout of in-state rivals in nation’s Women fall to Rice in close road match top five Gymnastics team moves to No. 19 Staff Reports The LSU track and field teams are staying put. Both the men’s and women’s teams kept their rankings in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Top 25 this week. The Tigers check in at No. 2, while the Lady Tigers sit at No. 3. It’s the second straight week at No. 2 for the Tigers. The Lady Tigers have been No. 3 for five straight weeks. Both teams participated in the New Balance Collegiate Invitational last weekend. The Tigers took the overall men’s title, while the Lady Tigers nabbed a secondplace finish in the women’s competition. The only team ahead of the Tigers in the standings is defending NCAA Indoor Champion Florida. Texas A&M, who trounced LSU on Jan. 22 at the Texas A&M Invitational, stops in at No. 3. The Lady Tigers trail only No. 1 Oregon and No. 2 Texas A&M. Behind them are No. 4 Clemson and No. 5 Tennessee. GYMNASTICS RANKED NO. 19 The LSU gymnastics team saw some love in the poll after its best performance of the season against BYU on Friday. The Tigers moved up to No. 19 in the GymInfo national rankings, five spots up from last week’s No. 24 ranking. The leap can be attributed to the 195.875-point outburst against the Cougars. LSU’s season average is now up to 194.650. Amazingly, the ranking saw LSU stay in the poll for the 519th consecutive week and 144th consecutive poll. Other Southeastern Conference teams in the poll are No. 1 Florida, No. 4 Georgia, No. 7 Alabama, No. 11 Arkansas and No. 21 Auburn. The Razorbacks will travel to Baton Rouge next weekend to tussle with the Tigers at the PMAC. The Tigers also saw a spike in event rankings, where they rank No. 12 on the vault, No. 18 on the beam and No. 23 on the floor. Freshman Sarie Morrison rose seven spots in the bars, where she now sits at No. 15 with a 9.840 average. Contact The Daily Reveille’s sports staff at sports@lsureveille.com
Hunt Palmer
Sports Contributor
Chilly temperatures couldn’t cool off the LSU men’s tennis team Tuesday. The Tigers (3-2) swept a doubleheader against in-state rivals Louisiana-Lafayette and UNO at W.T. “Dub” Robinson Stadium. After dropping the first doubles match to ULL, No. 33 LSU battled back and won the final two matches to earn the opening point. Senior Sebastian Carlsson and junior Neal Skupski jumped out to a 4-0 lead and cruised to an 8-2 victory in doubles. “We’re playing well,” Carlsson said of himself and Skupski. “This is our fourth win in a row, so this is a good start for the rest of the season.” Sophomores Stefan Szacinski and Roger Anderson teamed up to earn a victory, 8-4. All six singles matches against the Ragin’ Cajuns were decided in straight sets, five going the Tigers’ way. The only loss came when junior Mark Bowtell fell to Ragin’ Cajun junior Carlin Murray, 6-3, 6-3. Senior Julien Gauthier picked up where he left off Sunday against Rice, defeating ULL’s Ted Nilsson, 6-3, 6-1. Carlsson gave LSU a 3-0 lead by topping Brandon Farine, 6-2, 6-4, while Tom Knights, a junior from London, downed Carl Alberton, 6-3, 6-3, clinching a Tiger victory. Skupski and Szacinski followed suit, providing LSU’s fifth
and sixth points. In the nightcap, the Tigers were too much for the outmanned Privateers. UNO, playing with just five players, failed to earn a point. “With the temperatures the way they were, it was a lot about keeping the guys focused,” said LSU men’s coach Jeff Brown. “The only match we lost today was against a very good player, so I think we accomplished all of our goals.” LSU has now won three straight matches after falling in its first two. “The match on Sunday was very big for us confidence-wise,” Carlsson said. “These two wins have us going in the right direction.” Meanwhile, the LSU women’s team fell to 0-3 on the season after a narrow loss to Rice, 4-3. LSU split the singles matches, 3-3, after dropping all three doubles matches to begin the day. Junior Whitney Wolf got back on track with a 6-4, 7-6, win against Rice’s Rebekka Hanie. Sophomores Ebie Wilson and Kaitlin Burns both notched their second consecutive win, as Wilson took down Daniella Trigo, 6-4, 6-4, and Burns battled back from a set down to knock off Jessica Jackson, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4. Sophomore Keri Frankenberger and freshmen Yvette Vlaar and Ariel Morton were all beaten in straight sets. “I’m disappointed with the loss,” said LSU women’s coach Tony Minnis in a news release. “I am also proud of this young team. We are coming together.”
Contact Hunt Palmer at hpalmer@lsureveille.com
page 9
The Daily Reveille
page 10
Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2011
FIRST AND GINN
The Jimmer giveth a Facebook lesson to all SEC fans If you thought Brett Favre was having a bad week, take a look at social media in the sports world. First, Ole Miss signee and fivestar linebacker C.J. Johnson took Mississippi State out of the running for his services because of overbearing fans accosting him on Facebook. Mississippi State’s technological horror Ryan Ginn continued when Sports blogger basketball star Ravern Johnson helped the Bulldogs become the first Southeastern Conference team banned from Twitter after tweeting this shot at MSU coach Rick Stansbury: “Starting to see why people Transfer you can play the minutes but not getting your talents shown because u watching someone else wit the ball the whole game shooters need to move not watch why other coaches get that do not make sense to me.” The week’s real winner, however, came when Auburn commitment Cyrus Kouandjio was besieged on Facebook by thousands of fans from both sides of the Iron Bowl rivalry after wavering from his Auburn pledge and ultimately signing with Alabama. Any time grown men are sending a high school student messages like “Go die,” it’s time to take a step back and re-evaluate things. Leave it to Mormons to show
ANDY CARPENEAN / The Associated Press
BYU guard Jimmer Fredette reacts after drawing a foul for a 3-point play during a game against Wyoming on Feb. 2. BYU won that game 69-62.
unrepentant SEC fans the way. BYU student Michelle Peralta wrote a letter to the editor of the Daily Universe, BYU’s student newspaper, bemoaning the constant love on campus for NCAA Player of the Year candidate/cult hero Jimmer Fredette. “I can’t walk across campus without hearing Jimmer Fredette’s name a dozen times,” the letter began. “His name comes up everywhere: in class, at work, during lunch
… really, people? Cut it out with the Jimmer worship. Last time I checked, idol worship was very much frowned upon in the scriptures.” And so it continued until ending with a plea to “let me live my own dreams in peace, even if they don’t include ever sitting in the Marriott Center screaming my brains out.” What happened next is something that should serve as a lesson to the death-happy fans of the SEC.
Dogged and resourceful BYU fans tracked down her Facebook page and began commenting en masse on her status announcing her letter to the editor. But here’s the thing — despite lacking the to-the-point approach favored by Alabamans (“Go die”), the comments are almost all hilarious, witty … and (not surprising considering the religious background of most posters) clean. To spare you the trouble of reading through the many hundreds of Jimmer-worshipping lines, here are some of my favorites: “Forgive Michelle for she knows not what she says.” “On the Marriot Center court, The Jimmer brought a dying lamb back to life by nuzzling it. As the onlookers gathered, the lamb sprang to life. The Jimmer then shot it through the net from 40 feet, killing it instantly. This was to prove that the good Jimmer giveth, and the good Jimmer, He taketh away.” “Double Jimmer all the way across the sky.” “Too bad you haven’t had a ‘Jimmergasm’ yet.” “You are here by invited to attend the first church of Jimmer! we
worship every Wednesday night and Saturday afternoon.” “Jimmer never said it was easy, he only said it would be worth it.” “One time the BYU basketball team was walking on the beach and they looked back and saw only one set of footprints!” “It is better to dwell in the Marriott Center and cheer for Jimmer, than with a contentious and an angry woman.” “Jimmer is the 11th commandment.” “You obviously haven’t asked Jimmer with a sincere heart OR real intent, because He would have manifested the truth unto you.” “I for one am going to try to befriend Michelle. It is what Jimmer would do.” And so goes almost every single comment, spreading the Gospel of Jimmer in a way that is hilarious, biting, and — most importantly — printable. Even if it’s not being delivered door-to-door, it’s an example worth following. Contact Ryan Ginn at rginn@lsureveille.com
The Daily Reveille
Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2011 PITCHERS, from page 7
we’re excited to see him.” Gausman, a Centennial, Colo., native, also went 9-2 his senior season at Grandview High School, recording 88 strikeouts and 14 walks with a 3.12 ERA. “I played in the California Collegiate League this summer, and it
BAILEY, from page 7
quarterbacks on scholarships. Mettenberger, a four-star recruit from Butler Community College, has enrolled and will compete for the quarterback spot this spring. Rivers, a three-star recruit from Athens, Ala., will enroll in the fall. Walk-on quarterbacks have never gotten much playing time under Miles. Harvard transfer Andrew Hatch started three games in 2008, but he was the exception to a list of walk-ons that have come and gone. Hatch played two seasons at LSU, in which he completed 26-of47 attempts for 286 yards and two touchdowns. After Hatch, only Jimmy Welker and T.C. McCartney got playing time, limited to handoffs and the Victory formation. “With the new recruits coming in ... it was the right time for me to leave,” Bailey said. “I enjoyed my time with the team. It was a great experience, and I don’t regret it.”
Contact Katherine Terrell at kterrell@lsureveille.com
RECRUITS, from page 7
2008 Butkus Award Finalist Perry Riley were only three-star recruits. That’s not to say all three- or four-star recruits will outperform their five-star counterparts. The 2007 class included fivestar safety Chad Jones, who led LSU in interceptions in 2009, and fivestar lineman Joseph Barksdale, who started the final 39 games of his career. “Those five-star guys were part of a team that won a national championship,” said Derek Ponamsky, recruiting analyst for BayouBengalsInsider.com. “That’s a high level of production.” In 2008, LSU grabbed another successful five-star recruit in Bednarik and Thorpe Award-winner Patrick Peterson. The 2007 draft class included Scout two-star kicker Josh Jasper, the only consensus All-American placekicker in school history, and the 2008 class included three-star starting offensive linemen Alex Hurst and P.J. Lonergan. The trend continued in 2009. Five-star defensive lineman Chris Davenport has not started a single game, while three-star cornerback Morris Claiborne led LSU in interceptions in 2010. “Claiborne, coming out being a 175-pound high school quarterback, has now bulked up to be an SEC cornerback and a successful one at that,” Dixon said. Follow Rowan Kavner on Twitter @TDR_Kavner Contact Rowan Kavner at rkavner@lsureveille.com
definitely helped me out getting used to college hitters because it’s such a big jump coming from Denver in high school,” he said. Gausman said he expects a few butterflies when he takes the mound in front of the LSU faithful for the first time, but he’s confident they’ll disappear after the first pitch. “Say to yourself you’ve done it
thousands of times before,” he said. In 2008, LSU had six pitchers with ERAs under 4.00 and a team ERA of 4.11. In LSU’s 2009 National Championship season, the Tigers had a 4.02 ERA and a whopping 679 strikeouts. Six pitchers notched ERAs under 4.00 once again. The regression was monumental
page 11 in 2010 as the Tigers had 472 strikeouts, and only Alsup and then-senior Paul Bertuccini recorded ERAs under 4.00. Junior outfielder Mikie Mahtook said new arms should change the decline. “I’m glad I have to face them in the fall and not the regular season,” he said. “They’re going to help us a
lot. I think anybody that follows this program and is a fan of LSU is going to be impressed and excited.” Follow Rowan Kavner on Twitter @TDR_Kavner Contact Rowan Kavner at rkavner@lsureveille.com
The Daily Reveille
page 12
CANCEL THE APOCALYPSE
Opinion
Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2011
Stop thanking God for winning, go ‘thank’ yourself The last line of any performance is the most crucial of all. It is an opportunity to thank those who made the experience possible and reflect on the trials and tribulations that brought about the victorious outcome. This is nothing new. Athletes and celebrities alike have always taken full advantage of remembering their benefactors in the midst of receiving due praise. But strangely enough, it’s a rare occurrence when those who actually helped earn the victory receive mention. What the hell, I’ll just come out and say it: People like to thank God when they are victorious. Our beloved Breesus followed in this tradition after the New Orleans Saints smote the Indianapolis Colts last year with a postgame pronouncement of “God is great” toward his heavenly Father. Fun fact: Breesus said the
SHOW ALL COMMENTS
As usual, the Opinion Section of our website, lsureveille.com, has been absolutely buzzing with reader comments. Check it out today, and let your voice be heard. Regarding Marcelo Vieira’s column, “Competition: why Americans have to be the best in the world,” readers had this to say: “Who are you talking about? You contradict yourself with your last article about prejudices. Are all Americans obsessed with competition?” -Anonymous “Marcelo, wonderful comments and thanks for supporting the philosophy of the Rio International cello Encounter ,which believes that all cellists have something important to say. Looking forward to you coming to Rio this summer to collaborate, your audience is asking for you and we all look forward to seeing and hearing you again, as ever David” -David Chew OBE, president and artistic director Rio International Cello Encounter www.riocello.com www.davidchew.com.br Regarding Andrew Shockey’s column, “Science teacher leaves his mark on former student,” readers had this to say:
identical transliteration of the ever popular Arabic “Allahu Akbar,” though I doubt anyone checked his pads for explosives. Even Ricky Gervais, the infamous lewd host of the recent Golden Globes, managed to thank God at the conclusion of his performance — but Andrew for making him an atheist, of Robertson Columnist course. And for a more recent — and less satirical — example, it was only Sunday that Green Bay Packers wide receiver Greg Jennings took the proverbial pious knee as he exclaimed “To God be the glory” over and again. Jennings apparently believes the Judeo-Christian God divinely intervened so he and his
teammates could obtain a victory over the evil and sinful Pittsburgh Steelers. Sounds a little strange when put in this light, does it not? But while the absurdity in this claim seems a bit much, it isn’t really a new way of thinking. The Bible is littered with similar victory claims from the “righteous,” though the biblical gridiron is usually littered with corpses and the entrails of the enemy after the “big game.” But what should we as a 21st century “secular” society think when an athlete or celebrity gives all their thanks to a deity on national television following a winning performance? For one thing, it is tribalism at its finest. By this, I mean it establishes and promotes the idea that God has chosen one group over another. This form of divine favoritism,
most notable in the Israelite conquests of Canaan, still exists today. The problem with tribalism: It dehumanizes and dismisses the “other” team as not included in God’s divine favor. And for a second — and more serious — concern, this sort of thinking neglects the complexities of the claim itself. For instance, the next time you hear someone thank God for their victory, ask yourself, “Why should God care if this particular person or team won?” Were they more righteous? Or maybe they prayed harder during halftime. Perhaps God had some money riding on the game and divinely intervened on His or Her own behalf. The point I’m getting at is this: If there is a God, I sincerely doubt He or She cares who can throw or catch the pigskin at the right moment or whether an offense can
run the option efficiently. We should all dismiss a God who would allow children to starve to death worldwide, but at the same time intervene so the Packers can take the Vince Lombardi trophy back to Green Bay — good grief. We are no longer in Bronze Age Palestine, despite what you may want to believe. So in the event you find yourself victorious, first thank your parents, then your mentors and finally, when it’s all over — go “thank” yourself.
“Louisiana citizens who agree that the Louisiana Science Education Act is an embarrassment to the state and to our students can help in Zachary Kopplin’s effort to repeal the bill in the upcoming legislative session that begins on April 25. See http://www.repeism. com.” -Barbara Forrest, Louisiana Coalition for Science
Regarding Clayton Crockett’s column, “Iran, Ahmadinejad untrustworthy in nuclear arms game,” readers had this to say:
EASY TO TELL WHEN IRAN IS LYING,THEIR MOUTH WILL BE MOVING!!!” -Anonymous
“You are soooo right!! they cant be trusted!! just ask them,and they will tell you...their religion tells them to lie and deceive nations!! HELL,it actually encourages them to do so!!! ITS VERY
“Exactly, “Anonymous” above. It’s called “al-Taqiyya” which means “the Concealment” which is deliberate lying to the Infidel (non-Muslims) about anything concerning Islam. Believe
psychopath Ahmadinejad as much as you’d believe Hitler or Stalin or Pol Pot or Idi Amin. Mass-Murderers, all.” -Anonymous
“Regarding the Tesla coil burn allegation, the referee, that oversaw the hearing, had this to say: Due to the sensational and provocative nature of this specified ground, it and the facts and circumstances surrounding it became the focus of the curious, including those in the video, audio, and print media. Once sworn testimony was presented, it [became] obvious that speculation and imagination had pushed reality aside. The referee also said, ‘On the average, Freshwater students performed at or above the state requirements and expectations for eighth grade science students.’ (For more info, see http://www.accountabilityinthemedia.com/ )” -mountvernon1805
Andrew Robertson is a 24-year-old English writing and culture senior from Baton Rouge. Follow him on Twitter @TDR_Arobertson.
Contact Andrew Robertson at arobertson@lsureveille.com
Contact The Daily Reveille’s opinion staff at opinion@lsureveille.com
BEST AND WITTEST
“That is awful. Check out my blog on this topic. http://anaffirmingflame-creationism.blogspot.com/” -Yannis cartoon courtesy of KING FEATURES SYNDICATE
The Daily Reveille
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 CommuniEditorial Board cation. Signed opinions are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the editor, Sarah Lawson Editor-in-Chief 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 Robert Stewart Managing Editor, Content number so the opinion editor can verify the author. The phone number won’t be printed. The Daily ReveilStephanie Giglio Art Director le reserves the right to edit letters and guest columns for space consideration without changing the origiSteven Powell Managing Editor, External Media nal 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 evDevin Graham Opinion Editor ery semester by the Louisiana State University Media Board, has final authority on all editorial decisions.
Quote of the Day “My books are like water; those of the great geniuses are wine. (Fourtunately) everybody drinks water.”
Mark Twain American Author Nov. 30, 1835–April 21, 1910
The Daily Reveille
Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2011
CAMPUS-RESIDENT ALIEN
Opinion
page 13
The dumbest column you could ever enjoy – stupidity sells Stupidity is at an all-time high. Knowledge and intelligence seem to be losing value, and things that can raise interest in the empty and self-absorbed minds of our generation are gradually being put aside. Before lamenting the amount of praise stupidity gets through major media outlets, let me make an important distinction to define what kind of idiocy I am talking about. I realize there’s an important side of human life that needs silliness. Everything can’t be about work and seriousness all the time. That’s the great purpose of comedy, and although comedic expressions in theater and TV seem easy and fun, being funny requires a lot of insight and hard work. The stupidity I’m bringing up here mostly isn’t intended to be funny. To give practical
examples, let’s ask ourselves why Sarah Palin, Jersey Shore and the University’s latest YouTube hit, “Pizza Girl,” are so popular? It’s hard to say. While we ask ourselves what kind of stupidity is making the charts, we should also ask if the knowledge being produced by our educational institutions Marcelo Vieira is good enough Columnist to beat the idiocy of the world around us. Apparently not. Being stupid from an early age at school can warrant popularity and attention. Keeping it up while you grow up and go to college obviously works to your advantage. But why are there so many people making money and fame
by portraying themselves as talking monkeys? If real monkeys could talk, they might be doing a better job. If you read my columns last semester, you can remember I commented on a TV clown who was elected to Brazil’s Congress with a record number of votes. After the election, he had to go through a test to prove his literacy — which he almost failed. He’s not a smart clown, like many. He’s famous for ... well, being stupid. Although I think American politics are much more serious and interesting than Brazilian politics, America does not lack its own political clowns. I don’t need to give any examples. Stupidity is taking over, and ultimately, my goal is not to fight it — although I think I am fighting it just by trying to be a good student, artist, professional
and person. My concern is how much attention and prestige we are paying to idiots who manage to get their asse(t)s on national and international television. Or why doing something stupid on camera and uploading it to YouTube can change anybody’s life from today to tomorrow. If you have a camera on you at all times, you might make a hit. But it just has to be stupid. It’s sad, but I think we are running out of options. Maybe our faiths should dismiss that which doesn’t really feed the better faculties of our minds. However, given some of the greatest demonstrations of ignorance, bigotry and misunderstanding shown by religious leaders — those who should be leading the “faith” business — it’s hard to believe faith can make much of a difference in saving us
from our stupidity. While we offer the sacrifice of our minds to the goddess of stupidity, the resources we could be using to spare the scarcity that afflicts society and the creativity we should be stimulating are going down the drain. Not even this stupid column could give you an answer. Maybe we should just stop and try to figure out why the difficulties of a troubled world are winning this round — but doing that just sounds stupid. Marcelo Vieira is a 33-year-old jazz cello graduate student from Brazil. Follow him on Twitter @TDR_MVieira.
Contact Marcelo Vieira at mvieira@lsureveille.com
GUEST COLUMNIST
Putting flouride in water supplies possibly dangerous
Daniel Winkler Special to The Daily Reveille
Every day, we eat food comprised of a host of substances. Just look at the often-lengthy ingredient list of any canned, frozen or boxed food. One thing we think is fairly simple, though, is tap water. We even know its atomic structure: H2O. However, two-thirds of the United States’ drinking water often has a significant amount (0.7 to 1.2 mg/L) of a foreign, potentially harmful substance in it: fluoride. Fluoride is an ion that comes from the element fluorine. It’s most commonly known as the stuff in toothpaste that helps prevent cavities, but it’s also in many food products like chicken nuggets, baby food, peas and tap water. Fluoride naturally occurs in ground water at varying levels. For instance, Baton Rouge’s fluoride level is 0.2 mg/L, or 0.2 milligrams of fluoride for every 1 liter of water. A water supply is said to be naturally fluorinated when it contains between 0.7 and 1.2 mg/L. Towns with a fluoride level within this range usually have better dental hygiene than places outside of this range. Many health organizations, like the World Health Organization and American Medical Association, support artificially fluorinating drinking water. In Louisiana, only 37 percent of the population has access to fluorinated water. To help the state’s dental health, many want to fluoridate the water, and in 2008, the Louisiana Legislature
passed a law requiring water systems to determine the expense of fluoridation. Ultimately, the cost would be covered by grants or the state’s budget. If 15 percent of a town dissented and petitioned, the community could resist fluoridation. The expense of this process wouldn’t be too cumbersome for the state. According to the Centers for Disease Control, the infrastructure would cost about 50 cents per person in large communities and $3 per person in smaller towns. For every $1 spent on fluoridation, $38 would be saved in dental treatment costs. Despite fluoridation’s benefits, many scientists, researchers, dentists and even Nobel laureates oppose the practice. This opposition varies in stance and virulence, but it generally claims fluoridation does not greatly help dental hygiene and contributes to a myriad of health problems like weaker bones and lower IQs in children. Recently, some of these concerns were confirmed when the CDC reported that overfluoridation was discoloring teeth, and consequently reduced the optimal range from between 0.7 and 1.2 mg/L to just 0.7mg/L. I am unaware of Louisiana’s plans to alter their own fluoridation program’s levels. I am unqualified to comment on many of fluoride’s health benefits and detriments, but as a researcher of intelligence, I can speak to its effects on children’s IQ. In some studies, fluoride levels at 1.8 mg/L were found to harm children’s cognitive development.
Basically, researchers look at two similar groups of children who, except for one group, has more fluoride in their drinking water. When the group with more fluoride ages, their average IQ is significantly less than that of their peers. This sort of research is correlational, not causal. In other words, you can’t say definitively that fluoride dampened these kids’ cognitive development. Also, 1.8 mg/L is significantly higher than 0.7 to 1.2 mg/L. Yet, the correlation is quite strong, and when one
considers how many foods contain fluoride, adding more to our water seems risky. Because of the state’s budget situation, fluoridation has lost its steam, but it will probably re-emerge sooner or later. When it does, remember that children, especially those ages 0-3, are in a critical stage of their cognitive development, and anything that might be harmful should be regarded as such. This may seem overprotective, but once those years are gone, they are gone forever
Missed chances at cognitive growth are difficult to make up. This isn’t to say that children’s dental health isn’t important, because it is. It’s just not as important as children’s brain development. Daniel Winkler is an education doctoral student. He studies brain development in children.
Contact The Daily Reveille’s opinion staff at opinion@lsureveille.com
BEST AND WITTIEST
cartoon courtesy of KING FEATURES SYNDICATE
page 14
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The Daily Reveille
Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2011
page 15
UNREST, from page 1
movement, she said. The recent uprisings in Tunisia have not been the main inspiration for protests in Egypt, she said. Meshal said Egyptian citizens’ desire for democratic rule has been brewing since 2008. “Tunisia might have been a spark,” Meshal said. However, none of the panelists denied unrest in countries like Egypt, Tunisia and Yemen could have great influence on other Middle Eastern countries. Khannous said Morocco may follow the current protest patterns. “Democracy has failed [in Morocco],” she said. Khannous said 40 percent of Moroccan citizens’ income is spent on food, yet many are unable to be properly fed because of high unemployment rates among young people. The median age in Morocco is 26, Khannous said, and Internet is easily accessible to even the poorest citizens. These facts suggest high probability for pro-democracy protests, Khannous said, and unsatisfied Moroccans could use Facebook and other online resources for organization in ways similar to the methods of many Middle East protesters. Gasiorowski said political changes that may occur in the Middle East could mean the U.S. will lose much of its influence in the area. If protesters are successful and democratic government spreads to many of the countries, the U.S. will still have power but not as much as in past years, he said. Democratic leaders constantly focus on re-election, Gasiorowski said, meaning foreign leaders may care more about public opinion than what the U.S. wants. Gasiorowski said radical Islamic takeover in many areas would be disastrous for the U.S., but re-established regimes would be in foreign policy makers’ favor. The panelists agreed the nonviolent nature of the protests has promoted a more positive perspective of Middle Eastern people among many Americans.
CANCELLATION, from page 1
Center, said Chancellor Michael Martin decided to close campus after the LSU EOC Core Committee warned icy conditions might make commuting dangerous. The National Weather Service issued a severe winter-weather warning Thursday, forecasting freezing rain and as much as an inch of ice on the roads. Gov. Bobby Jindal declared a state of emergency Wednesday because of the storm. State offices and public K-12 schools were closed Thursday and Friday. Private schools and other universities in the area, including Southern University and Baton Rouge Community College, were closed Friday. BRIANNA PACIORKA / The Daily Reveille
Touria Khannous, foreign language and international studies professor, speaks Tuesday about Morocco during a panel about the unrest in North Africa and Egypt. Panelists highlighted the impact of protests on U.S. influence in those countries.
Ahmed Abdel-Khalek, civil engineering graduate student and a Cairo native, said the panel did not focus on what was truly happening in Egypt and Tunisia, but the discussion has inspired more people to talk about the Middle East and be more aware. Abdel-Khalek said he disagrees with the panelists’ opinion that the Egyptian military has remained neutral during protests. Emily Halk, international
studies senior, said the panelists were well chosen, and the discussion was sensitive to the emotions of many Arab students in attendance. “They acknowledged that it was a diverse and complex issue,” she said. Rima Massasati, Syrian studio art junior, said she understands the U.S. will do what it has to do to maintain power in the Middle East, but she said people should
not be denied democracy. “There’s no limit to democracy,” she said. “If you’re standing for democracy here, why are you not standing for democracy there?” Contact Brian Sibille at bsibille@lsureveille.com
Contact Matthew Albright at malbright@lsureveille.com
7:20 a.m., 8:20 a.m. Noon, 3:20 p.m. 4:20 p.m., 5:20 p.m.
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The Daily Reveille
Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2011
Published on Feb 8, 2011
News, Sports and Entertainment
