Baseball: DH Raph Rhymes earns second chance at LSU, p. 7
Social Media: Facebook adds relationship status options, p. 3
Reveille The Daily
DINING
Soph. dorm residents must buy meal plans
www.lsureveille.com
A new start: Former Tiger returns for a degree after 8 NFL seasons, p. 7 Tuesday, March. 1, 2011 • Volume 115, Issue 99
Let it sneaux
BOARD OF REGENTS
SUNOUNO study deadline postponed
Mandate intended to increase retention
Litigation delays date to March 15
Emily Herrington
Sydni Dunn
Contributing Writer
Staff Writer
Beginning fall 2011, sophomores living in residence halls will be required to purchase meal plans. The new requirement is an initiative to increase retention rates in students returning to the University for their third year, according to Stephen Barr, assistant director of University Auxiliary Services. The 2008 retention rate for freshmen returning for their second year is 83.6 percent, and the rate for sophomores returning for their third year is 74.2 percent, according to the Office of Budget and Planning. Barr believes the difference between these two rates stems from the lack of programs for sophomores in comparison to the abundance provided by First Year
The “snow” is actually shavings from multiple blocks of ice totaling seven tons, according to Steve Waller, director of Residential Life. “It’s like a snow cone,” Waller said about the shavings. Emily Reckenbeil, architecture freshman, said she expected the event to be bigger and have more snow, but everyone still seemed to have fun at the event. Snowing in the South is typically for campus residents only. But this year to receive funding from
The Board of Regents said Monday the study to analyze the feasibility of merging the University of New Orleans and Southern University-New Orleans has been postponed from its original March 1 deadline. The study deadline has been extended until March 15, according to Regents spokeswoman Meg Casper. The Regents are currently discussing a date to schedule a special board meeting, Casper said. The study, which was called for by Gov. Bobby Jindal on Jan. 18, is being conducted by the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems, a Coloradobased company that has previously worked with the Board. The study is an extension of the Regents’ ongoing initiative
SNOW, see page 15
MERGER, see page 15
MEAL PLANS, see page 15
DAVID LYLE / The Daily Reveille
Students throw snowballs at each other Monday on the Parade Ground at the Residence Hall Association’s “Snowing in the South.” See a video of students playing in the snow at lsureveille.com.
RHA holds annual event after three postponements Emily Herrington Contributing Writer
Even in 74-degree weather, there was snow on the University’s campus. Snowing in the South, the Residence Hall Association’s sixth annual event, finally took place on the Parade Ground on Monday after being rescheduled three times. Despite the delays, students threw snowballs, made snowmen or simply watched from the sidelines while RHA blasted popular songs from speakers near the flagpole.
Weather concerns caused the first two postponements, and the most recent delay arose because of scheduling issues with security personnel. This year’s rendition was the latest in the year the event has ever been held. Kim Savoy, RHA programming and finance coordinator and elementary education senior, said last year was the only other time the event was held during the spring semester. “I like it better when it’s warmer,” said Joel Taylor, physics sophomore. “You can just step away and warm up.”
ENTERTAINMENT
Union Theater’s acoustical improvements almost complete Josh Naquin Contributing Writer
The Student Union Theater’s acoustical overhaul is almost finished, according to Union Theater officials. In addition to major structural improvements, the theater had a state-of-the-art electro-acoustical system installed, according to Michael Derr, Union Theater associate director. Derr expects the overhaul to be finished within the next week. “Only a handful of colleges have this kind of acoustical technology in place,” Derr said. About 70 small 4-inch speakers and several larger 9-inch speakers have been hung from the theater ceilings, Derr said. The new speakers
will redistribute sound throughout the theater and give every audience member an ideal sound experience, Derr said. “People seated under the balcony in the back will be able to hear as well as people in the front row,” Derr said. While the system relies on microphones and complex computer programming, it doesn’t use amplification, which creates a completely natural sound, Derr said. Audience members will not notice the sound is being redistributed throughout the theater, Derr said. The roughly $600,000 acoustical system will be controlled through a computer program. The system will be tuned this week and will feature four to five different settings to accommodate every type of
performance from opera to orchestra, Derr said. In addition, a large hardwood shell has been erected to improve theater acoustics, Derr said. The shell sits at the back of the stage and helps performers hear themselves as they play. The shell also keeps sound from escaping to undesirable locations offstage where it can’t be heard by audiences. Musicians also have the option to perform without technology. The shell can be removed, and the acoustic system can be turned off, Derr said. The structural work completed last fall was done with acoustics in mind, Derr said. “Ideally, a music performance THEATER, see page 15
BRIANNA PACIORKA / The Daily Reveille
The LSU Wind Ensemble plays a musical piece Sept. 22 during a concert at the Union Theater. The theater was renovated to improve acoustics.