Movies: Rave Theater installing IMAX-3D screen, p. 9
SG: Black caucus debate heats up in Senate, p. 3
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www.lsureveille.com
Sports: Lacrosse making mark on campus, p. 5 Thursday, March 3, 2011 • Volume 115, Issue 101
Let the Race Begin
Forbes names BR fifth most toxic city Rachel Warren Staff Writer
Aaron Caffarel & Allison Robison
Garrett Dupre & Jarrett Richard
before us have aimed to do,” Caffarel said. Alexandra Westermann, who is running on Caffarel and Robison’s ticket, said they will work to better the University, and she is ready to implement changes. Dupre and Richard, who refer to themselves as a combination of their first name initials, GJ, are supporting heightened communication in their campaign, “Open Source.” They said they want “all members of the LSU community” to voice their opinions. “We are speaking directly to individuals,
Baton Rouge has been ranked by Forbes as the fifth most toxic city in the country, but University officials question the results. Mike Durham, director of the Office of Environmental Health and Safety, said he hadn’t heard of the rankings but was upset by Baton Rouge’s placement. “It’s really disappointing to see this,” Durham said. Durham said he wasn’t sure the rankings were completely accurate. “I think it’s a bogus story, if you want to know the truth,” he said. Forbes says Baton Rouge saw 33.6 million pounds of on-site toxic releases in 2009 — the latest statistics available. Patrick West, safety and environmental training officer for Environmental Health and Safety, said in an e-mail the numbers were likely misrepresented. West said he read in an Environmental Protection Agency
ELECTION, see page 15
TOXIC, see page 15
David Jones & Kacey Brister
Cody Wells & Kathleen Bordelon
photos labeled presidential candidate first; by CHRISTOPHER LEH, BLAIR LOCKHART, BRIANNA PACIORKA and ADAM VACCARELLA / The Daily Reveille
Four tickets announce candidacy for Student Government presidential race Andrea Gallo Staff Writer
Pushcards, stickers and trinkets will pepper the campus for the next few weeks. Four pairs of Student Government presidential and vice presidential contenders announced their candidacies and their proposed changes to SG on Wednesday, officially commencing campaign season. Aaron Caffarel and Allison Robison, Garrett Dupre and Jarrett Richard, David Jones and Kacey Brister, and Cody Wells and Kathleen Bordelon announced their campaigns.
Caffarel and Robison said their campaign, “NOW,” will focus on creating relationships with legislators to find “long-term solutions to the financial crisis facing higher education in the state.” The pair said its ticket advocates increased student involvement within organizations, in cultural campus events and on faculty committees. They also said they want to increase campus sustainability and strengthen SG’s “visibility and accessibility.” “My purpose at LSU is to represent the best interests of my fellow students and serve them in whatever capacity I am able, just as those
PHILANTHROPY
Students, chancellor participate in Read Across America Event celebrates Dr. Seuss’ birthday Catherine Threlkeld Contributing Writer
Outside his usual setting of suits and ties, important meetings and decisions affecting thousands of students, Chancellor Michael Martin sat down with a group of elementary students Wednesday. Wearing a red-and-white striped hat like the one from Dr. Seuss’ “The Cat in the Hat,” Martin sat on a child-size chair and read Judith Viorst’s “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.” The occasion was “Read Across America” week and
Dr. Seuss’ birthday celebration. Martin engaged with the students, asking them questions about the book and the University. He learned in and asked if they wanted to come to the University when they got older. “You’re going to play sports? Basketball? Football?” Martin asked the kids. “We’ve got a place for everyone to come and do that.” Before leaving, Martin told the students to keep reading and snapped a picture with the group. “[Today] reminds us that we have an obligation to our colleagues who work in K through 12,” Martin said after reading. “I so enjoyed my own kids when they were this age.” Martin said it’s important to encourage the students to continue reading.
“If I had my choice, I’d do this all day and not go to important meetings,” Martin joked. “This is about the future of LSU as much as it is the present at Polk [Elementary School].” University students also volunteered at Polk and Buchanan Elementary Schools. Emily D’Aquin, child and family studies senior, said she volunteered because her major has taught her how important reading is. “You should start reading to your child from birth,” she said. “And in our public schools, there should be all kinds of books available.” D’Aquin read “Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge” and READING, see page 15
DAVID LYLE / The Daily Reveille
Chancellor Michael Martin reads to Polk Elementary School students Wednesday as part of Dr. Seuss’ birthday celebration and Read Across America week.