New Taco Bell on Burbank should open Oct. 15, offer free Wi-Fi, p. 5
Reveille Les Miles trusts defense to carry team despite offense, p. 7
The Daily
Volume 115, Issue 21
WALK
The Saints defeat the 49ers Monday night, 25-22, p. 7.
www.lsureveille.com
THE
Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2010
LINE
BUDGET CUTS
Slacklining gaining popularity in Baton Rouge Sydni Dunn Staff Writer
BRIANNA PACIORKA / The Daily Reveille
Carolina Rodriguez, architecture sophomore, poses in a yoga stance on a thin piece of nylon webbing Monday. Rodriguez has been slacklining for three years, and the sport is gaining popularity in Baton Rouge.
Potential faculty union gains support
Completely calm, Carolina Rodriguez gracefully steps across a thin piece of trembling nylon webbing strung between two pines, her arms slowly swimming through the air to keep herself from falling to the ground below. Some call it a circus act, but the professionals call it slacklining. Slacklining is a relatively new sport with a worldwide following — including many University students. The concept of the recreational activity is simple. A piece of climbing nylon webbing is fixed between two anchoring points like trees or poles. A tightening device creates tension on the line, making it taut enough to support body weight. This enables slackliners to stand, walk or perform tricks across the line. “It’s kind of like a tightrope but with slack,” Rodriguez said. “It seemed impossible at first, but I worked every day until I finally got it.” Slacklining is closely associated with the rockclimbing community, where the sport originated. In fact, the UREC Student Recreation Complex climbing gym is where Rodriguez’s group of 15-20 slackliners met. Rodriguez, architecture sophomore and local climber, has been slacklining for three years. She began practicing the sport to improve her climbing technique but said it has become an addiction. “It’s an entire body experience,” Rodriguez said. “I wanted to get better at climbing, and [slacklining] helps you improve shifting your weight and your footwork.” Brad Penny, economics and philosophy junior, said most climbers slackline during the climbing down season. “It is all about finding your center of gravity and your sense of balance,” Penny said. “It’s getting on a line and focusing. You are totally present in that mo-
Deep in the heart of a right-towork state, University faculty are in the process of creating a union at the flagship university. Louisiana is one of 22 rightto-work states, securing the right of employees to decide for themselves whether or not to join or financially support a union, according to the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation. Faculty interested in the potential union attended an organizational session Monday in the School of Music to discuss procedures for the creation of a union, said Faculty Senate President Kevin Cope. Plans for a union developed during Faculty Senate’s September meeting, and Cope said there has been a surprising level of interest since then. “Level of concern is much less,” Cope said. “The faculty leadership has made it clear that this is not to set faculty against the administration but to provide administration with some additional tools.” The plans for a union are developing at the same time the
SLACKLINING, see page 6
UNION, see page 6
Catherine Threlkeld Staff Writer
BUSINESS
A sign in front of Storyville on West Chimes Street shows the store’s stance on the ‘Who Dat’ issue. The store received letters Monday from a company claiming it had trademarked the phrase in 1983.
Company claims to own ‘Who Dat’ Stores receive cease and desist orders Rachel Warren Contributing Writer
Just months after several stores fought the NFL for the use of the phrase “Who Dat” on merchandise, owners are once again receiving cease and desist orders. But this time, the letters aren’t coming from the NFL. They’re coming from a group known as Who Dat? Inc. Josh Harvey, co-owner of Sto-
ryville on West Chimes Street, said he received a cease and desist order from Who Dat? Inc. in June and a second one just last week. The letter, which Harvey posted on the store’s Facebook page, says if Harvey wishes to continue using the phrase on his merchandise, he must contact Who Dat? Inc. to “discuss a resolution of the claims related to your past usage of WHO DAT and explore the terms for a relationship moving forward.” Harvey said the letters came from Steve Monistere, who recorded a song using the phrase “Who Dat” in 1983 with his brother Sal and trademarked the phrase.
Harvey said he received a phone call from Monistere the day after he and other store owners won their fight with the NFL. He said Monistere told him that when the media attention from the NFL letters died down, he would come forward and make it known that Who Dat? Inc. was the trademark owner. Harvey said he didn’t hear from Monistere again after that until he received the first letter from him in June. Monistere said Who Dat? Inc. has reached out to several store owners offering to sit down and come to WHO DAT, see page 6
SHAINA HUNTSBERRY / The Daily Reveille