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Water skiing: Club sport rides new waves of success, p. 7 Cinco de Mayo: Drink specials abound for holiday, p. 11 Thursday, May 5, 2011 • Volume 115, Issue 137
Student wanted in flag burning, may have fled to Ga. Brian Sibille Contributing Writer
University student Isaac Eslava is wanted for burning an American flag and theft of a University flag at the War Memorial early Monday morning. The LSU Police Department obtained an arrest warrant Wednesday morning for Eslava, who is wanted for two felony counts of simple criminal damage to property in addition to arson,
theft, resisting an officer and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to a University news release. Sgt. Blake Tabor, LSUPD spokesman, said the damISAAC ESLAVA age to property suspect charges include burning the American flag and cutting the rope holding it up.
House bill proposes to cut admin. salaries
LSUPD responded to a call from a University employee and located Eslava, who escaped capture, according to the release. A stolen vehicle supposedly used by Eslava was discovered, and the missing University flag was found inside in addition to drug paraphernalia, spray paint and Eslava’s alleged clothing, the release stated. Tabor said no charge was filed regarding the stolen vehicle. Eslava was later identified
by LSUPD, and a knife allegedly used in the crime was discovered with the rope fibers intact, police say. Detectives connected Eslava to graffiti vandalism also committed Monday at the Venue Apartments on West State Street, according to the release. Eslava, a psychology student, has allegedly fled to Atlanta, but his current location is unknown. The arrest warrant says Eslava is a dual citizen of the U.S. and Colombia.
Police estimate repair costs to the War Memorial at more than $7,500 and Venue Apartment graffiti repairs to total about $400. The Baton Rouge Police Department and the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab assisted in the investigation, the release said.
Contact Brian Sibille at bsibille@lsureveille.com
Rallying for Change
Kate Mabry Contributing Writer
With budget cuts continuing to chip away at the University’s funds, University employees’ salaries are an important concern for many. And while faculty members complain their pay is too low, some also claim administrative salaries are too high. And while faculty members agonize over their own paychecks, newly proposed legislation in the House of Representatives Highest-paid academic staff looks to reducing a d m i n i s t r a t o r s ’s members: salaries as a way to 1. Michael Martin, save money. chancellor — $400,000 According to Kevin Cope, Fac2. Eli Jones, College ulty Senate presiof Business dean — dent, the majority of $299,999 faculty salaries have 3. Jack Hamilton, remained largely provost — $280,000 unchanged since 4. Richard Koubek, 2008, with the exCollege of Engineering ception of “celebrity scholars.” dean — $275,000 “The faculty 5. Edward Seidel, has lost all confiNational Science dence in the state’s Foundation director, higher education mathematical and system to pay fair physical sciences — wages,” Cope said $255,050 in an e-mail. “Faculty members are fully demoralized.” According to The Daily Reveille’s newly updated University salary database, the average salary at LSU hasn’t changed much since 2008, SALARIES, see page 5
Check out lsureveille.com for the fully updated salary database.
EMILY SLACK / The Daily Reveille
A group gathers Wednesday at the State Capitol to protest cuts to state programs at the Better Choices for a Better Louisiana rally. Read more, p. 4.
Faculty debate over $16M in funds continues Matthew Albright Chief Staff Writer
Debate over obscure, controversial financial management by the LSU System that could cost the University millions was reignited Wednesday at a Faculty Senate meeting. Faculty members grilled LSU System President John Lombardi and CFO Wendy Simoneaux over $16 million they believe the System is cheating LSU. “This sounds like fraud,” said accounting professor Larry Crumbley. “This is money laundering.” The debate centers on how the System plans to dole out its
$43 million share of the state’s $97 million Higher Education Initiatives Fund. The state’s higher education institutions are slated to donate tuition money to the HEIF this year, which the state will replace with general fund money. The tuition money will be carried over to the next year to stave off lost federal funding. The System plans to distribute less money to LSU than the University put in proportionally. Faculty members interpreted that as sending LSU tuition money to other campuses. “Your distribution is backward — it is irrespective of what
money you put in,” said Suresh Rai, electrical engineering professor. Faculty members pointed to figures released by the Board of Regents that distributed HEIF money proportionally — giving LSU about $16 million more than it would get under the System plan. When asked if other systems were using a similar method, Lombardi said “they are waiting for the Regents to fix their distribution so we don’t have this conversation.” Lombardi also said the LSU System faces unique problems because it has health centers and
other programs, which “distort” its funding metrics. Because those programs don’t raise much tuition, the loss of federal stimulus money hurts them more than schools like LSU. That means they get more money for their size. Faculty members argued that provides a disincentive to raise tuition, punishing institutions for self-sufficiency. Lombardi made it clear that LSU’s funding wouldn’t technically be cut if the System plan passes — he said LSU would just be getting less extra money next FUNDS, see page 5