NFL: Former Tigers may return to BR if there’s a lockout, p. 5
NCAA: Purchasing scouting service videos doesn’t violate rules, p. 5
Reveille The Daily
www.lsureveille.com
SUNO-UNO MERGER
Regents suggest ‘Univ. of Greater NO’
Wednesday, March 16, 2011 • Volume 115, Issue 107
Grief by the Gallon As gas prices rise, people perceive news negatively Claire Caillier Contributing Writer
As gas prices skyrocket, Americans are having trouble seeing positives. The Pew Research Center found in its March News Interest Index survey that rising costs of goods are causing Americans to perceive more negative news on the economy and prices than in previous months. This month, 38 percent of Americans said they felt news about the economy was “mostly bad,” an increase from 29 percent in February. March data also showed 53 percent of Americans said the news is a “mix of good and bad,” and only 7 percent said it was “mostly good.” “Mostly bad” news hit a high in December 2008 when 80 percent of Americans reported viewing news negatively. The lowest number of “mostly bad” responses came in January 2011 at 24 percent. Increasing gas prices are a contributing factor to the rise in perceptions of negative news on economy and prices, according to the News Interest Index. This month, 90 percent of people said news about gas prices was “mostly bad,” compared to 77 percent in February. Kirby Goidel, mass communication and political science professor, said perception of the news changes with big occurrences, like the recent Tunisian revolution. GAS PRICES, see page 11
Robert Stewart Managing Editor
After a four-hour meeting laden with emotional testimony and some confusion over a final vote, the Board of Regents decided Tuesday to recommend to the state Legislature a proposal that could lead to a “University of Greater New Orleans.” The Regents voted 9-6 to recommend Alternative B following a study performed by the National Center for Higher Education Management Systems which addressed the possibility of merging the University of New Orleans and Southern University-New Orleans. Alternative B includes four institutional components — an urban research university, a metropolitan university, a comprehensive community college and a “university college” as an entry point for the other three units. No specific names of New Orleans institutions were identified in either alternative. Urban research and metropolitan universities would share a campus and be united as the “University of Greater New Orleans” — which could represent UNO and SUNO. MERGER, see page 11
Japan crisis: Quake and tsunami aftermath affects University community, p. 4
[right] graphic by CAITLYN CONDON, [above] photo illustration by ZACH BREAUX / The Daily Reveille
ELECTION WATCH: A series looking at the SG presidential race
Safety a concern for Jones, Brister Editor’s note: Ticket series will be printed in alphabetical order according to the presidential candidates’ last names. Andrea Gallo Staff Writer
Candidates of the “Defining Our Future” ticket for Student Government president and vice president say they want to approach SG with the idea that “to lead is to serve.” SG presidential candidate David Jones, an SG senator, and vice presidential candidate Kacey Brister, assistant director of First Year Experience, said the University needs to
“define its future” as the “pinnacle of public education in the state.” Jones and Brister said they are committed to ensuring the University retains its flagship status years from now. Though Brister is a sophomore, she said her job “overseeing a group of 50 freshmen” this year has prepared her, and she said she is paired well with Jones, who has served in the Senate for three years. Jones and Brister said “safety is most important” in their administration. Jones said he has spoken to Councilwoman Tara Wicker, District 10, about increasing the safety of both campus and the surrounding Baton Rouge community.
Jones said an acquaintance of his has been approached by a dangerous man on campus, and Brister said she frequently runs the LSU Lakes, inciting them to push for establishing call boxes, such as blue-light phones, on campus. Jones said LSU Police Department officers told him they are understaffed — Jones wants to ensure LSUPD is fully staffed.
Hear more from Jones and Brister at 5:20 p.m. on KLSU. JONES/BRISTER, see page 11
BENJAMIN OLIVER HICKS / The Daily Reveille
SG presidential candidate David Jones, left, and vice presidential candidate Kacey Brister, right, discuss their “Defining Our Future” campaign and initiatives Monday.