The Daily Reveille - September 8, 2010

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Reveille

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The Daily

Volume 115, Issue 12

www.lsureveille.com

Withdrawing from

IRAQ

Catherine Threlkeld Staff Writer

Student veterans adjust to life back in college

As President Barack Obama announced the milestone decision Aug. 31 to withdraw combat troops from Iraq, Austin Stukins watched the situation with a mixed opinion.

Stukins, an interior design sophomore, served as a Marine in Iraq, often entering dangerous situations to provide security for several villages. He said withdrawing troops in August was not a good idea because the country put out deadlines and guidelines “for the entire world out there to know.”

“You’re letting the enemy know what you have,” Stukins said. “Because all they’re going to do is wait you out until you leave.”

Stukins is one of several student veterans tasked with readjusting to life as a college student while watching Operation Iraqi Freedom come to an end.

Stukins said Iraq will be much like Japan, Germany and Italy after World War II, where U.S. forces still have bases.

“We helped them to get their freedom, and we still have bases there,” Stukins said. “We will have a presence in the Middle East for a very long time, and thank God we do.

Do you want some nut job launching a nuke at the United States?”

SOLDIERS, see page 15

‘‘

‘There are people there trying to better themselves. There wasn’t a whole lot of reward for them.’

photo courtesy of AUSTIN STUKINS

Sgt. Angel Illaraga, left, and Sgt. Austin Stukins, right, prepare for a Marine security force mission in Diyala Province, Iraq.

MEMORIAL

Dustin Englehart former Marine

Tigers to kick off 2011 season in Cowboys Stadium, p.7 Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2010

Science dean seeks position as MSU provost Sydni Dunn Staff Writer

College of Science Dean Kevin Carman is one of four candidates selected as finalists for the provost position at Montana State University, according to a report by the Bozeman Daily Chronicle in Bozeman, Mont.

The search committee there announced finalists for the position after reviewing 72 applications.

If selected, Carman would also serve as MSU’s vice president for academic affairs. This position oversees teaching issues and the general fund budget. The provost is also put in charge during the president’s absence, the report explained.

Carman will visit MSU’s Bozeman campus Sept. 15 and 16 to meet with students, faculty, staff and administrators. Each candidate must also conduct a campus and community forum, according to the MSU News Service.

Carman has taught at the University for more than 20 years and has served as dean of the College of Science for about six years. He was unavailable for comment Tuesday.

The selected finalist will be announced within the next two months.

Contact Sydni Dunn at sdunn@lsureveille.com

Students remember life of drowned graduate student Gotham remembered by friends, loved ones Parker Cramer Contributing Writer

It was a somber gathering Tuesday night at the International Cultural Center as students and community members remembered Joseph Smiles Gotham, a 24-yearold computer science graduate student who drowned in a canoeing accident during Labor Day weekend.

About 100 mourners slowly trickled in until the auditorium was full.

Friends hung pictures of Go- all as a talented guitarist. He pertham on a chalkboard while others formed Aug. 15 at the celebration lit candles to commemorate their for Indian Independence Day, said loss.

Shravan Kilaru, an “We are electrical computer gathered here to engineering student mourn Joseph who attended the ‘Jo’ Smiles,” event. said Reji VarSameer Bhaghese, Govanibhatla, engineertham’s rooming graduate student, mate. “Nobody was with Gotham Sameer Bhavanibhatla on Saturday evening wants anybody engineering graduate student to go like this.” when he drowned in Va r g h e s e Tylertown, Miss. added that he and Gotham were so “I never expected I would be in close that Gotham used to call him this position,” Bhavanibhatla said. “uncle.”

Gotham was remembered by SERVICE, see page 6

‘‘

‘I never expected I would be in this position. It happened in a split second.’

DAVID LYLE / The Daily Reveille

Friends memorialize the life of computer science graduate student Joseph Smiles Gotham on Tuesday at the International Cultural Center.

The Daily Reveille

page 2

Nation & World

INTERNATIONAL

NATIONAL

Nuclear chief: Iran has the right to bar UN inspectors from program

Report: Reggie Bush to be stripped of Heisman from USC’s violations

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran’s nuclear chief said it has the right to bar U.N. inspectors from monitoring its disputed nuclear program, the semiofficial ISNA news agency reported.

Iran banned two inspectors from monitoring its nuclear activities after they reported what they said were undeclared nuclear experiments.

NEW YORK (AP) — Yahoo! Sports reported Tuesday that 2005 Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush is expected to be stripped of the award by the end of the month.

The former Southern Cal running back would become the first player in the 75-year history of the award to have the Heisman Trophy taken away. The report also said the award would be left vacant for ’05.

The NCAA found major violations in USC’s football program and levied serious sanctions against the school in June.

Japanese reporter tricks captors, sends message using Twitter TOKYO (AP) — A Japanese journalist held hostage in Afghanistan for five months managed to send out a message via Twitter that he was alive when his captors asked him how to use a cell phone.

Just days before he was freed, Kosuke Tsuneoka said one of the militants brought him his new cell phone and asked the prisoner to set it up. Tsuneoka successfully got them to ask him to demonstrate how Twitter worked.

Weather 93

Low:

73

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Police Chief Charlie Beck defended Tuesday an officer’s shooting of a knife-wielding man whose death sparked a violent protest with demonstrators pelting police with rocks and bottles.

THURSDAY 94 75

TODAY High:

LAPD chief defends officer’s fatal shooting of knife-holding man

SATURDAY

Partly sunny

93 76

FRIDAY 94 75 SUNDAY 94 74

Beck told the Police Commission that witness and officer accounts indicate that the officer who killed Guatemalan immigrant Manuel Jamines on Sunday acted “in immediate defense of life” and that Jamines was warned in English and Spanish to drop the knife, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Bobcat climbing power pole starts 5-acre brush fire in California PIRU, Calif. (AP) — A bobcat climbing a power pole got electrocuted and sparked a five-acre brush fire in California’s Ventura County.

County fire Capt. Dan Preston told the Ventura County Star that the bobcat was apparently chasing an owl or another bird when it touched the power lines, caught fire and fell to the ground in a rural area near Piru.

The fire was reported at 3:36 a.m. Monday atop Torrey Peak. More than 40 firefighters extinguished the blaze about five hours later.

Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2010

STATE/LOCAL

Alexandria school segregates sexes to improve student achievement

Backseat seat belt usage doubles since new law passed in 2009

ALEXANDRIA (AP) — To try to improve student achievement at her low-performing school, Arthur F. Smith Middle Magnet School Principal Norvella Williams was willing to try “anything and everything” for the new school year.

That included moving boys and girls into separate classrooms.

Some parents and staff thought having sex-segregated classrooms was a “crazy” idea, but so far it’s showing positive results.

“The first day, I saw my boys like I never seen them before,” said seventh-grade English teacher Camille Shelfo. “They were focused, they seem to be more challenged, they take more pride in their work — it just blew me away. I’ve never seen anything like this.”

Research has shown that single-sex classrooms, particularly with at-risk students, can improve achievement scores, Williams said.

(AP) — One year after a new law required back seat passengers to buckle up, a new survey says 58 percent are heeding the requirement and using their seat belts.

The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission released the survey Tuesday. It was the first such review since the 2009 law took effect.

Louisiana pilot killed, 3 passengers injured in Nevada plane crash HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — A pilot who died and three passengers who were hurt in the crash of a private plane in a southern Nevada neighborhood were from Louisiana.

A family member said the 50-year-old pilot and owner of the single-engine Piper Cherokee was Douglas J. Touchet of Erath, La. Touchet’s wife, Susan, and Randall and Tamika Savoy were badly hurt when the plane crashed and burnt.

TODAY ON lsureveille.com

Mike the Tiger has a new toy in an online exclusive story.

Music Blog: M83 Photo Blog: Student sets up hammock in the Quad.

CRAIG L. MORAN / The Review-Journal

Fire and police officials look over the wreckage of a small plane after it crashed in a Nevada neighborhood Monday. Four Louisianians were involved in the crash.

THE WHEELS ON THE BUS @ lsureveille, @TDR_news, @TDR_sports

GRE and GMAT Test Prep Courses Convenient on-campus classes are beginning next week Register online today! www.outreach.lsu.edu/test

GRANT GUTIERREZ / The Daily Reveille

Travel on a Tiger Trails bus route on Snapshot at lsureveille.com.

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POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

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The Daily Reveille

Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2010

page 3

FINANCIAL AID

Student loan debt now surpasses credit card debt in the US College students owe $830B nationwide Sydni Dunn Staff Writer

Student loan debt has exceeded the nation’s credit card debt, according to the Federal Reserve’s G.19 Consumer Credit June report.

Student debt has reached more than $830 billion — $665 billion from federal student loans and $168 billion from private loans. This total has surpassed the $826.5 billion credit card debt, Mark Kantrowitz, publisher of FinAid.org and Fastweb.com, said in a news release last month.

“There has been significant growth in the total amount of student loan debt outstanding,” Kantrowitz said. “About $300 billion in new student loan debt has been made in the last four years.”

Reserve data show while loan debt has increased, credit card debt has decreased from $838.1 billion in April to $826.5 billion in June.

Amy Marix, associate director of Undergraduate Admissions and Student Aid, said the state of the economy has contributed to the growing debt. And in the midst of budget cuts and raises in tuition, students are seeking extra assistance. “[The University] is seeing the need for financial aid increase,” Marix said.

The University currently has 19,910 students on some type of federal, state, athletic or institutional aid, according to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and Student Aid. The University distributed $51,949,579 in student Stafford and Perkins loans last year alone.

Another reason for the accumulated debt could be the delay in payment.

“Most students don’t start paying back until they are required to, but you also see a lot of students going to graduate school,” said Emily Burris, coordinator for the Student Financial Management Center.

In the spring 2010 graduating student survey, 31.3 percent of University graduates said they planned to attend graduate or professional school full time.

Burris said many students wait because they have the option to defer payment until after graduate school.

Psychology freshman Angelle Kerek is one of those students.

All of Kerek’s schooling is paid for through financial aid while loans cover her

7:20 a.m., 8:20 a.m.

Noon, 3:20 p.m.

4:20 p.m., 5:20 p.m.

living expenses. college but said students should “I got my loans so I could only borrow what they absolutely have a place to live,” Kerek said. need.

“I plan on payThis “wants vering them off sus needs” agenda is either after one Burris teaches to graduation or students. after graduate “If students are school — problooking for ways ably after gradto finance while in uate school if I school, keep a budhave a real caget,” Burris said. reer by then.”

“See exactly what Emily Burris The stanyou are spending, dard repay- Student Financial Management and see where you ment term on can cut back. WhenCenter coordinator student loans ever you put it down is 10 years, but students have the on paper, you can see what aroption to consolidate or extend eas you can make sacrifices in to loans to a 20- to 30-year repay- avoid a massive amount of debt.” ment schedule, Marix said.

Burris said managing financStudent loans have both ad- es this way will help alleviate vantages and disadvantages, Bur- stress and prepare students for the ris said. future.

“Student loan debt is what “Before a student takes out a they call good debt,” Burris said. loan, they need to talk to Finan“Getting a college degree is worth cial Aid,” Burris said. it, specifically a degree from LSU.” Contact Sydni Dunn at Marix agreed student loans sdunn@lsureveille.com are a good option if needed for

‘‘

‘Student loan debt is what they call good debt. Getting a college degree is worth it.’

graphic by STEPHANIE GIGLIO / The Daily Reveille

Wednesday September 8

Pluckers Wing Bar

Mon.: $14.99 All You Can Eat Wings and $3 Pluckers Lemonades Tues.: Kids Eat Free, $3 Mexican Beers and Margaritas Wed: Trivia at 8 pm, $4.50 Mother Plucker Mugs of Bud and Miller Thurs: $15.99 All You Can Eat Wings, $4.50 Mother Plucker Mugs of Bud Light and Miller Lite, $5.50 Patron Margaritas Sun: $3 Pluckers Specialty Shots

9-10:30 AM 12-1:30 PM 4:30:5:00 PM 5:30-6:00 PM 8:00- 9:30 PM 10:00-10:30 PM

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off Green Zone The Ramen The Ramen Billy Madison The Ramen

The Daily Reveille

Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2010

page 4

ACADEMICS

LSU looks into more online courses, working with BRCC

Projects could save University money Catherine Threlkeld Staff Writer

The University is looking to put more classes online and collaborate with Baton Rouge Community College to provide more financially feasible education services.

Both ideas would be moneysaving opportunities for the University, said Chancellor Michael Martin.

Online courses would reach students who wouldn’t normally be able to take classes because of time or other lifestyle constraints, Martin said.

Martin said the University currently only offers one online degree, a master’s degree in human resources, but is moving toward several other online degrees.

The engineering department offered an online course in construction safety this summer, and 20 students participated.

Richard Koubek, dean of the College of Engineering, said the motivation for online courses is more about providing opportunities for students than saving money.

“We offered it so engineering students could have the ability to do internships but also matriculate through their degree,” Koubek said.

Martin said recent budget cuts

increased the University’s motiva- there, they’re prepared to succeed.” tion to create the online classes, Koubek said the collaboration which would bring in extra revenue between the University and BRCC in the form of more tuition. Martin would involve more than sharing stuadmitted it would take resources and dents. Students at BRCC would be time to get the classes started and able to participate in students’ activisaid private partnerships could help ties at the University. BRCC faculty bring in those funds. would be invited to participate with Martin said the individual col- University faculty in workshops, and leges would reap a larger share of faculty from both would collaborate the tuition from on grants to improve online courses, engineering education. which could Teachers from motivate them both engineering proto increase those grams will meet every offerings. few months to make Besides the sure the curricula are convenience of similar and share tests. taking courses “I believe there’s online, students a bigger role for comcan save money munity colleges,” by attending Martin said. “I see Michael Martin community colBRCC as a natural Chancellor leges prior to partner with LSU.” attending the Martin mentioned University. the idea of a joint housing deal for The engineering department re- BRCC students who plan to attend cently partnered with BRCC to cre- the University. As Kirby-Smith Hall ate a joint engineering program that is renovated, some of the upper levis more affordable. Koubek said at els could be reserved for BRCC stuleast 70 students have already ex- dents, who would be known as “Tipressed interest in the program. ger Trackers.”

The new engineering program Martin, who has worked for would create collaboration among both traditional four-year institutions the professors and students at both and community colleges, said he schools. doesn’t see a problem with Univer“It doesn’t matter where the stu- sity students taking BRCC classes. dent starts, but we get them through “I held the same standards the system successfully,” Koubek [for students] at a community colsaid. “When they come here from lege [as at a four-year-institution],”

‘‘

‘I believe there’s a bigger role for community colleges.

I see BRCC as a natural partner with LSU.’

Martin said.

Martin said community college classes are not “watered-down” versions of the same courses at four-year schools. He said in some cases, community college professors have higher focuses on teaching and can better inform students than University professors, who are

simultaneously researching and consulting.

Tune into 91.1 KLSU at 5:20 p.m. to hear more about online courses.

Contact Catherine Threlkeld at cthrelkeld@lsureveille.com

The Daily Reveille

Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2010

CRIME BRIEFS Student arrested for DWI, threatening to bite, kick officer

misdemeanor summonses, Tabor said.

LSU Police Department officers arrested a 20-year-old female student Sept. 3 for DWI, simple assault, running four stop signs and an expired driver’s license.

Officers were patrolling the area in front of McVoy Hall around 1 a.m. when they heard the sound of tires squealing nearby, Tabor said.

Officers watched Emily Provosty of 100 East Park Place, New Orleans, drive straight through four stop signs at more than 20 mph, Tabor said.

When officers stopped Provosty, she failed a field sobriety test, Tabor said. As officers tried to take her into the LSUPD building, she threatened to bite the officer while screaming, “Don’t touch me.”

Tabor said Provosty had a blood alcohol level of 0.132 grams percent — more than six times the legal limit for a minor.

When officers tried to place Provosty in a holding cell, she threatened to kick the officer.

Provosty was booked in East Baton Rouge Parish Prison, Tabor said.

Students arrested for marijuana, running from police

Students arrested for stealing fire extinguisher from Tiger Trails bus LSUPD officers arrested two University students Sept. 5 for stealing a fire extinguisher.

Officers found John Lapoint, 18, of 6575 Morgan Shores Road, Lake Arthur, and Collin Simar, 18, of 3261 Empire Road, Jennings, using the extinguisher in the University Student Recreation Complex parking lot at 12:35 a.m., said Sgt. Blake Tabor, LSUPD spokesman.

Officers assumed they took the extinguisher from a Tiger Trails bus, Tabor said. The bus driver later confirmed their suspicions, and the extinguisher was returned.

Both students were issued a misdemeanor summons, Tabor said.

Students arrested for marijuana, drug paraphernalia possession LSUPD arrested two students Aug. 30 for simple possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Officers saw a car parked on West Lakeshore Drive near the Phi Mu sorority house with several males inside at 1:14 a.m., Tabor said.

The suspects fled when officers approached the car, Tabor said.

Officers detained Blake Scott, 19, of 205 Persimmon Hill, Ridgeland, Miss., and Michael Hauser, 18, of 411 Red Head Court, McKinney, Texas, Tabor said.

Hauser was found with 5.2 grams of marijuana, and Scott admitted to having 1.6 grams of marijuana in his car, Tabor said.

Officers also found three marijuana pipes in the car, Tabor said.

Both students were issued

LSUPD officers arrested three male suspects Sept. 1 for a series of drug-law violations.

Officers were patrolling near the Bernie Moore Track Stadium parking lot when they saw five men sitting on a cement walkway at 12:38 a.m., Tabor said.

The suspects ran toward

Broussard Hall as officers approached them. The officers detained Wright Van Edward Liliedahl, 19-year-old student, of 32 Holly Drive, LaPlace, and Zachary Revall, a 20-year-old man unaffiliated with the University, of 325 Devon Road, LaPlace, Tabor said.

Tabor said officers searched Broussard Hall for the other three suspects but were only able to find Christopher Wendt, 18-yearold student, of 1831 Paxton Drive, Carrollton, Texas.

page 5 The three suspects refused to identify the other two men, Tabor said.

Liliedahl was issued a misdemeanor summons for possession of marijuana, a marijuana grinder and pipe, Tabor said.

Revall and Wendt were issued misdemeanor summonses for resisting arrest.

Contact The Daily Reveille’s news staff at news@lsureveille.com

The Daily Reveille

Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2010 SERVICE, from page 1

“It happened in a split second.”

Bhavanibhatla said two canoes had flipped at the same time, and most people there remember seeing Gotham swimming for some distance after the canoes had flipped.

“Once everyone was on shore, we realized Jo was not there,” Bhavanibhatla said.

Shivaji Kugya, a graduate student at Southern University, returned to the water where he found Gotham. With the help of a lifeguard, they were able to pull Gotham out of the water and begin to

perform CPR, Bhavanibhatla said. roommate and current student at Bhavanibhatla believed it was Southern University, spoke Tuesday Gotham’s heavy shoes that caused about Gotham being mugged on the him to drown.

LSU campus two “The only job weeks ago. that is left for us is Gotham was to pray for him and approached by four make sure his body people while on is sent back home his computer one on time,” Bhanight, beaten and vanibhatla said. robbed, John said.

Gotham’s Sameer Bhavanibhatla He suffered from body is currently a large cut in the engineering graduate student in Mississippi back of his head awaiting transport but had no health back to India, Bhavanibhatla said. insurance to go to the hospital.

Jyothis John, Gotham’s former John told Gotham that “it is

‘‘

‘The only job that is left for us is to pray for him.’

page 6 God who gave you another chance, so you must set things right in your life now.”

John said Gotham attended chapel frequently the past two weeks after he was mugged.

Kugya said Gotham had removed his life jacket about five minutes prior to the drowning incident. His friends thought he could swim.

Transporting Gotham’s body back to India is expected to cost about $8,000, Bhavanibhatla said.

As of now, the cost is being covered in full by the Telugu Association of North America,

Bhavanibhatla said. However, they are taking donations to help reimburse the cost of transporting his body.

Students and faculty should contact the ICC for more information on how to donate.

Gotham is survived by his parents and younger sister who live in the Andhra Pradesh province of India, John said.

Contact Parker Cramer at pcramer@lsureveille.com

Sports

Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2010

FOOTBALL

LSU to open 2011 against Oregon Rachel Whittaker Chief Sports Writer

A few days after playing North Carolina in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game, LSU has announced it will participate in another marquee season-opening matchup in 2011.

LSU will take on Oregon, the reigning Pac-10 champion, in a game dubbed the “Cowboys Classic” on Sept. 3, 2011, at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Senior Associate Athletic Director Verge Ausberry said LSU will receive about $3 million for the game.

“It’s not definite, but it will be over $3 million,” Ausberry said.

The matchup between the Tigers and the Ducks will be the teams’ fourth meeting in football and the first since 1977, when LSU beat Oregon, 56-17.

“This will be a great opportunity to showcase our football program on national television against a quality opponent from the Pac10,” LSU Athletic Director Joe Alleva said in a news release. “The Dallas area also has one of the largest LSU alumni bases outside Louisiana, so it will be exciting to bring ... the LSU football experience to the state of Texas.”

In other scheduling moves, LSU will also host Western Kentucky in 2011. Its originally scheduled 2011 game against Southern Miss has been moved to the 2016 season, along with a newly added South Alabama contest.

In 2012, Idaho is slated to travel to Tiger Stadium along with Furman and AlabamaBirmingham in 2013 and Georgia Southern in 2014.

In 2015, LSU is scheduled to play host to Jacksonville State, who upset Southeastern Conference rival Ole Miss on Saturday.

Contact Rachel Whittaker at rwhittaker@lsureveille.com

page 7

Can’t Touch This

Sophomore Shepard asks for more touches after breakout performance Rachel Whittaker Chief Sports Writer

Spectators finally got the breakout performance they had been waiting for Saturday from LSU sophomore wide receiver Russell Shepard in the Tigers’ 3024 victory against North Carolina.

Shepard became the first Tiger to score a rushing touchdown and a receiving touchdown in the same game since Early Doucet in 2006.

But accomplishments like that are not enough for the second-year player. Shepard has higher goals in mind.

“The most important goal is to come out with a win, but my goal is to have 100 all-purpose yards every game, whether that’s rushing or receiving or returning,” Shepard said. “I want to be a 20-plus touchdown guy this year and a 1,000-yard all purpose guy. ... I owe this team that.”

Junior running back Stevan Ridley said Shepard has found his niche with the Tigers.

“Last year everybody was like, ‘We didn’t see Russell,’” Ridley said. “You can’t ask any more of a guy who had a rushing and receiving touchdown. He’s made the transition from quarterback to wide receiver great, and he’s started off hot. That’s how everybody wants to start.”

Shepard scored LSU’s first points of the season on a 6-yard touchdown catch from junior quarterback Jordan Jefferson, SHEPARD, see page 11 GRANT GUTIERREZ / The Daily Reveille

LSU sophomore Russell Shepard breaks through the Auburn defense Oct. 24 for his first career touchdown in Tiger Stadium. The Tigers won, 31-10.

FOOTBALL

FOOTBALL

Lack of plays still an issue for Tigers Tailgating areas limited on Vanderbilt’s campus Sean Isabella Sports Writer

Though it’s only one game into a grueling football season for LSU, the team has yet to make headway on its offensive production.

The Tigers finished last in the Southeastern Conference in 2009 with only 771 plays run.

Saturday’s season-opening performance was no different, as North Carolina ran a whopping 79 plays compared to LSU’s 57 — a major reason UNC was nearly able to pull off a shocking comeback.

The Tar Heels had the ball for almost 10 more minutes, sporting a 34:35 time of possession in comparison to the Tigers’ 25:25.

It also didn’t help that LSU had five turnovers — four fumbles and an interception — including two costly fumbles deep in UNC’s

OFFENSE, see page 11

Rob Landry Sports Contributor

BENJAMIN OLIVER HICKS / The Daily Reveille

LSU junior quarterback Jordan Jefferson throws a pass Saturday in the Tigers’ game against North Carolina. Jefferson has tried to limit his time in the huddle this season.

Vanderbilt University issued a statement Monday notifying fans traveling to Nashville for this weekend’s game about limitations on tailgating.

Since Vanderbilt is located in the downtown Nashville area, parking is extremely limited.

For people planning to set up tailgates, Vanderbilt recommends fans use the Harris-Hillman School across the street from campus, which welcomes recreation vehicles and has ample parking.

Another option is Fannie Mae Dees Park, located a block from Harris-Hillman. Fannie Mae Dees is a public park with room for RVs

and large vehicles, but alcohol and parking on the grass are prohibited along with the use of tents or open grills without a permit.

Vanderbilt has on-campus parking garages for those wishing to drive to the game and walk around the campus.

People can park on the streets of the metro Nashville area, but parking is tight, and businesses and residents ask people not to block driveways.

Nashville-area police will patrol the area, look for litter and issue tickets, according to the statement.

Contact Rob Landry at rlandry@lsureveille.com

The Daily Reveille

Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2010

page 8

FOOTBALL

Joseph, Clement fill tight end void left by injured Peterson Tigers run several TE sets vs. UNC Rob Landry Sports Contributor

Just when things seemed to be on the verge of clicking for the LSU passing game, it took a shot to the foot.

On Aug. 31, just four days before the Tigers were to kick off their season against North Carolina, junior tight end Deangelo Peterson suffered an undisclosed foot injury that kept him out of the Tigers’ opener.

Peterson’s absence left LSU without its 6-foot-4-inch, 243-pound dual threat as a solid blocker and receiver and thrust junior Mitch Joseph and sophomore Chase Clement into the limelight.

Joseph entered Saturday’s game with two career receptions for 18 yards, but he knew it would take a bigger performance to fill the shoes left by Peterson’s injured foot.

“Deangelo, he does a lot in the passing game,” Joseph said. “But when he got hurt I [knew] that I have to step up in his position and run all the routes he would do just like he would do.”

The New Iberia native did his

BENJAMIN OLIVER HICKS / The Daily Reveille

Sophomore tight end Chase Clement (88) clears a path for senior wide receiver Terrence Toliver (80) during the Tigers’ 30-24 win Saturday against North Carolina.

comrade proud by more than doubling his own career receptions and yardage totals against the Tar Heels.

Joseph was the second-leading receiver for the Tigers — behind sophomore wide receiver Rueben Randle — with three receptions for 41 yards and a long of 21 yards.

“Mitch Joseph was named the performer of the game on offense,” said LSU coach Les Miles. “It was not only a good night in receiving yardage, but he also blocked extremely well. We’ll expect him to play a lot of football.”

The stigma of being a “blocking tight end” has followed Joseph since high school.

“I did block a lot, but I also got passes [in high school],” Joseph said.

“The passes I did catch, they were pretty long. But a lot of people just thought of me as a blocking tight end because of my size.”

The other pleasant surprise Saturday was the emergence of Clement on the offensive side of the ball.

Clement was recruited out of E.D. White Catholic High School in Thibodaux and was rated a four-star defensive and tight end. He played in all 13 games as a redshirt freshman in 2009 at defensive end and recorded four tackles.

But after a logjam on the defensive line formed, Clement moved to tight end in the spring and shook off the offense rust quickly. “[Clement] has developed well as a tight end,” Joseph said. “He’s been away from the tight end game for a while, and he’s improved. He’s still working on his techniques and all the fundamentals about it, but he’s getting there. He’s a good factor for us.”

With the development of Clement and Joseph, the Tigers lined up in two tight end formations on multiple occasions Saturday — a trend Joseph expects to continue to help the running game.

“That’s what we do. We’re going to pound the ball,” Joseph said.

“So that’s what we want to do with the two tight end sets.”

LSU junior quarterback Jordan Jefferson said he enjoyed working with two new targets.

“They played very well,” Jefferson said. “Mitch made some big time

catches for us and big time blocks.

Chase did the same thing, as well.”

The Tigers anticipate the quick return of Peterson, who will add just one more weapon to the now vastly improved tight ends unit.

“Deangelo is a pretty special guy who gives us the ability to throw a little deeper to our tight end,” Miles said. “Hopefully we’ll get him back soon.”

Contact Rob Landry at rlandry@lsureveille.com

The Daily Reveille

page 9

Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2010

SOCCER

Martineau latest Canadian to play for LSU soccer team Three of 11 starting players are transfers Rowan Kavner Sports Contributor

LSU is a Canadian haven.

Three of the LSU soccer team’s 11 starting players are Canadian, including junior midfielder Natalie Martineau, the newest arrival.

“I wanted to go somewhere hot, that’s for sure,” Martineau said. “My dad liked American football, and he said LSU’s a really good school, so I looked into it, and I just fell in love with it right away.”

Martineau plays her first season with the Tigers after transferring from the University of Montevallo, a Division II school in Alabama. The

Ontario native said the competition she saw at Montevallo doesn’t compare to Southeastern Conference play, but she still enjoyed her time before transferring.

“I met a lot of people and played some really good teams,” Martineau said. “There are some good teams in Division II, but it’s more balanced teams and balanced players in Division I.” Canadian universities don’t give out athletic scholarships, which Martineau said makes recruiting difficult. Many athletes play in tournaments for club teams and travel to U.S. states like Ohio and Florida to get noticed.

“A bunch of the college coaches will go to the tournaments and just get your contact information,” Martineau said. “When you go back home, you wait for a call and

CHRIS PARENT / The Daily Reveille

LSU junior midfielder Natalie Martineau (3) dribbles the ball into South Alabama territory during on Aug. 22 game. The Lady Tigers shut out the Jaguars, 8-0.

hopefully they like the way you play.”

LSU junior midfielder Allysha Chapman was in a similar situation when she began her Tiger soccer career. She transferred to LSU from the University of Alabama-Birmingham after her freshman season.

Chapman has known Martineau since she was 15. The duo played together in the summer for the Toronto Lady Lynx of the W-League, which represents the highest level of women’s soccer outside of Women’s Professional Soccer. Martineau had made previous W-League stops with the Cocoa Expos, Rochester Rhinos and Ventura County Fusion.

But Martineau didn’t know junior defender and Alberta native Taryne Boudreau personally before arriving at LSU. Boudreau said she had heard of Martineau.

“She played with some people I grew up with back home,” Boudreau said. “It’s awesome playing with other Canadians because it reminds me of home.”

Chapman said she didn’t think she played a major role in Martineau’s decision to transfer, but some familiarity couldn’t hurt.

LSU coach Brian Lee said having Chapman and Boudreau has helped Martineau acclimate immediately to a new environment. He also said Canadian players tend to have more experience at a higher level by the time they enter college.

Martineau is already starting for the Tigers.

“The Canadian kids coming in tend to be more soccer savvy and more ready to play right away than even a high-level American is,” Lee said.

Lee said word of mouth plays a significant role in recruiting players out of state. He said Atlanta and Canada are two places LSU has had success reeling in athletes, and it’s mainly because players talk positively about their time to each other.

Former Tiger and Canada native Caroline Vanderpool, who was recruited before Lee came to LSU, honed her skills in Baton Rouge.

Lee said when she returned home to play in Canada the coaches saw how much better she had gotten and spoke positively about LSU. He said

her experience may have helped influence some current Tigers to go to LSU. Lee said he hopes Canadian players will continue to join the team in the future, but it is still rare to see players from America’s northern neighbor travel to the South.

“They tend to magnate to a couple schools, and we just happen to be one of them,” Lee said.

Contact Rowan Kavner at rkavner@lsureveille.com

The Daily Reveille

page 10

Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2010

CLUB SPORTS

Triathlon Club offers students chance to race, participate in multiple sports Triathletes train up to 15 hours a week Erin Henley Sports Contributor

Mark Primeaux, history senior, starts each day with a fourhour bike ride at 6 a.m., a time most college students reserve for sleep.

Primeaux is not an average college student.

Primeaux is a member of the Triathlon Club at LSU, where members train for and participate in triathlons, — endurance races that consist of swimming, biking and running.

“It’s a unique experience,” Primeaux said. “It’s not the normal college experience to wake up at 6 in the morning and go ride for four hours.”

Fellow triathlete Chris Bayer, mechanical engineering senior, said most of the club members were active in at least one of the disciplines in high school but were interested in competing on more than one level in college.

“One of the most intriguing aspects of the sport is that it is three sports combined in one,” Bayer said. “The awesome thing about racing in all three is that it’s really hard to have a perfect race.

Instead, I try to have an individual goal per each leg of the race.”

Primeaux, Bayer and club

vice president Mark Fry, recently skills that will be beneficial in the represented LSU in the Louisi- future. ana Triathlon in Pointe Coupee “We have all these responsiParish. bilities outside of the club, such Primeaux came in first place as school and work that we have out of 165 trito fit in along athletes on the with seven to 15 course, which hours of training consisted of an a week,” Fry said.

800-meter swim, “We really an 18.6-mile have to sit down bike and a 3.1and plan our week mile run, with an hour by hour. We overall time of learn to be effi1:18:36.9. cient at time manBayer and agement, which Mark Primeaux Fry finished 13th is a skill that is history senior and 30th, respecneeded outside of tively. college,” Fry said.

Primeaux said the triathlon is Next up for the club is the not an NCAA-sanctioned sport, Longhorn Ironman 70.3 on Oct. so members wear LSU-approved 17 in Austin, Texas. uniforms to competitions, but the Fry, Primeaux and Bayer club receives no funding from will all be competing in the race, LSU. which consists of a 12-mile swim, He said though they are not 56-mile bike and 13.1-mile run. a sanctioned sport, they do take Primeaux said the team will pride in representing the Univer- be heading in a more competitive sity. direction this year, but he doesn’t “We’ve represented LSU re- want to discourage people from ally well,” Primeaux said. “Both getting involved. in the presence of people there “We are going to have a team having fun but also in the level of that races, so if you’re an adperformance and achievement.” vanced racer we have the capacFry said the club’s achieve- ity to help you grow,” Primeaux ments beyond competition are said. “But if you’re a person that’s noteworthy, as well. Members of never competed in a triathlon, we the club balance up to 15 hours of have something to offer, too.” training a week with academics and various other responsibilities.

Contact Erin Henley at Fry credits the demanding ehenley@lsureveille.com nature of triathlons with fostering

‘‘

‘It’s not the normal college experience to wake up at 6 in the morning and go ride for four hours.’

ZACH BREAUX / The Daily Reveille

Mark Primeaux, history senior and Triathlon Club member at LSU, cycles around the LSU lakes for practice. Triathlon races consist of swimming, biking and running.

The Daily Reveille

page 11 its first Southeastern Conference game this weekend, and Vandera play Shepard said was set up by bilt coach Robbie Caldwell said the Commodores’ defense will Jefferson’s “big-time throw.”

“I just had to stick my hands have to be prepared to tackle Shepard’s arsenal of skills. up,” Shepard said.

“He’s the one who looks His second touchdown came on the ground, a 50-yard run un- like he catches lightning bugs for practice,” touched to the Caldwell said. end zone.

“He’s quick as a Shepard gave cat and can dodge credit to the rest and make you of the offense for miss.” effective blockShepard tied ing on the play. his career high “I did the for touches in a easy part,” he game Saturday said. “They made with seven total, it to where anyand Ridley said body could have Robbie Caldwell Shepard will get run through that.

Vanderbilt coach the ball “more I bet [offensive line coach Greg Studrawa] could than he wants” this season.

Shepard took 40 snaps at have run through that.”

Now that Shepard is en- running back, 28 at quarterback trenched as a wide receiver, he and 22 at wide receiver in his said he is more comfortable than freshman season as LSU tried to ever talking to the coaching staff find the best role for him. His first career touchdown was a 69-yard about getting more touches.

“It’s something they want run against Auburn on Oct. 24, a to hear — ‘Coach, I can do it,’ big-play spark he plans to repeat ‘Give me the ball’ or ‘This dude often in 2010.

Away from the football field, can’t cover me,’” Shepard said.

Shepard had five carries Shepard said Miles entrusted him for 68 yards, an average of 13.4 with a crucial task — being a pasyards per rush and two receptions sionate leader.

“The Drake Nevises, the for 12 yards Saturday.

Miles said he expects Shepa- Kelvin Sheppards, the Patrick rd to continue cementing himself Petersons, they’re not very voas an integral part of the team cal,” Shepard said. “I’m going to be that vocal person — let throughout the season.

“You’ll find going forward this team know how we’re doing that his productivity will con- and what we need to pick up ... tinue to rise, and he’s a guy we’d It’s something LSU traditionally love to get more touches to,” doesn’t do with a young player, Miles said. “Even though he’s but he asked me to do it, and I’ll had some success carrying it out carry it out.” of the backfield, we are requiring him to be a complete receiver, as well. ... He’ll get touches again Contact Rachel Whittaker at and again.”

LSU travels to Vanderbilt for rwhittaker@lsureveille.com

SHEPARD, from page 7

‘‘

‘[Shepard’s] the one who looks like he catches lightning bugs for practice. He’s quick as a cat.’

OFFENSE, from page 7

territory in the second half.

“What you saw was a number of opportunities squandered,” said LSU coach Les Miles. “If anybody turns the ball over [five times] … they are going to have fewer snaps on offense. That really is the piece that we have to get fixed.”

LSU ran an average of 59 plays last year, only two more than Saturday night’s performance — something offensive coordinator Gary Crowton didn’t have in mind when he spoke Aug. 10 at LSU Media Day. “We didn’t get enough plays last year,” he said. “We’re trying to get [junior quarterback] Jordan Jefferson to be faster at getting plays from the sidelines and getting the snap count so the play clock isn’t running down.”

Jefferson did his part Saturday, breaking the huddle with 28 seconds left on the play clock compared to about 18 seconds last year, but the rest of the offense failed to do its duty.

The 28-second average largely exceeded Crowton’s expectations.

Jefferson said Crowton spoke to him this summer and wanted him to break the huddle with anywhere from 20 to 25 seconds.

“That gave us more time to analyze,” Jefferson said. “We should have left that game with about 80 plays, but we had some setbacks.”

Turnovers or no turnovers, the

Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2010 Tigers were still the spitting image of their 2009 selves against the Tar Heels on Saturday.

Despite only turning the ball over 14 times last season — eight interceptions and six fumbles — the Tigers had fewer offensive snaps than their opponents in nine of 13 games and ran 139 fewer plays — an average of 10 less per game.

LSU’s 771 play total last season was its lowest since its 746 plays in 2000.

Like 2009, the offense’s inability to stay on the field and keep the defense on the sidelines was represented by Saturday’s time possession differential. The LSU defense was on the field for 9:10 longer than its counterparts, which could have played a role in its tired legs on UNC’s final drive.

“We got to try and have more plays … to keep our defense off the

field, to keep them fresh,” said LSU sophomore center P.J. Lonergan.

Fortunately for LSU fans, the Tigers had the same problem in the 2009 season opener at Washington but corrected it a week later for the start of SEC play against Vanderbilt.

The Huskies ran nearly twice as many plays as the Tigers with an 8348 play disparity.

But LSU bounced back against the Commodores in a 23-9 victory, running 72 plays compared to Vanderbilt’s 63.

Coincidentally, the Tigers travel to Vanderbilt this weekend in attempt to reverse their offensive misfortune.

“We just need to make sure we hold onto [the ball] for as long as possible,” Jefferson said.

Contact Sean Isabella at sisabella@lsureveille.com

The Daily Reveille

Opinion

page 12

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Spectrum upset over glory hole story We are highly disappointed, though not surprised, at the Reveille’s publication of the Sept. 1 article entitled “Anonymous hookup hot spots still active on campus” — or, as the above-the-fold photo in the print edition irreverently proclaimed it, “Hole Lotta Love.” Our

lack of surprise stems from the fact that the Reveille frequently sees fit to publish similarly sensationalist pieces.

The lazy reporting, lack of critical thought and willingness to reinforce negative stereotypes shown in this piece by reporter Parker Cramer and the editorial staff are baffling. We expect more.

Rather than engage the issue at hand in any meaningful way, the article chooses the path of titillation and sleaze, stoking up fears

of sexual predators in campus bathrooms, making gay men out to be uncontrollable sex-crazed maniacs.

This story and others of its kind contribute to the general perception of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer/questioning (LGBTQ) people as sexual deviants unfit to live in polite society.

We are not commenting on or promoting consenting adults engaging in sexual activities in public.

We are questioning if this is frontpage news. We are questioning the

ethics and journalistic integrity of printing such a story.

As the leadership of Spectrum, the LSU student organization that empowers and supports the LGBTQ community and its allies, we call on the Reveille to resist the urge to promote stereotypes and hate.

We have an active and socially responsible LGBTQ community at LSU and we would love to see front-page coverage of the many events and activities that are taking

Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2010 place in that community. We hope that in the future, the Reveille will engage in thoughtful reporting on these events rather than resorting to quick and cheap stereotyping.

Allies are always welcome at our events. We would love to see you there.

Officers of Spectrum Contact The Daily Reveille’s opinion staff at opinion@lsureveille.com

CANCEL THE APOCALYPSE

It’s about time for another American Revolution

We’ve lost faith in our government yet again.

All across this great nation, droves of citizens, impassioned with feelings of disgust in their leaders, have made their presence known in public rallies and protests.

In a recent Washington PostABC News poll, two-thirds of Americans apparently find themselves “dissatisfied” and “angry” with the performance of the federal government.

Some believe the straw that broke the federal camel’s back fell when our hard-earned tax dollars were stolen from us and used to bail out the irresponsible spending and lending of Andrew Robertson Opinion Editor our friends on Wall Street. Others think it started when our leaders overstepped their boundaries with unconstitutional bills disguised under the ever-patriotic name of “national security.”

But if we look back far enough in history, I think we can find the real root of this dilemma in the transferring of power from our elected leaders to those with the biggest wallets.

Essentially, while the silent majority uprising has indeed been fun to watch, its intended targets — our elected politicians — are merely pawns in the game of power that is played by a small number of wealthy individuals.

Sounding a little too much like a “conspiracy theory” column for comfort?

Perhaps — but stay with me.

The primary cause of the first American Revolution, as noted by Benjamin Franklin, was “the refusal of King George III

to allow the colonies to operate an honest money system, which freed the ordinary man from the clutches of the money manipulators.”

And what do we have now but an unconstitutional central bank governing the value of our money and the interest rates we live and die by?

But wait — it hasn’t always existed.

In fact, it wasn’t until 1913 that our dictatorial Federal Reserve System came to be.

The impetus for its creation came in 1907, when J.P. Morgan, the great American banker, published rumors of a prominent New York bank going bankrupt.

Masses of people withdrew their funds, and panic was thus created in the banking system.

The hysteria generated by this scandal prompted an investigation by Sen. Nelson Aldrich, R-R.I., then head of a commission to recommend the formation of a central bank.

A small group of wealthy men then got together on a J.P. Morgan estate on Jekyll Island, and framed what would become the Federal Reserve Act. In 1913 Woodrow Wilson became president, having promised before being elected to sign the bill. And two days before Christmas, the Federal Reserve Act was voted in by a small number of congressmen.

Some years later, reflecting on the matter, Woodrow Wilson wrote, “We are no longer a government by free opinion, no longer a government by conviction and the vote of the majority, but a government run by the opinion and duress of a small group of dominant men.”

I couldn’t agree more.

We are a society enslaved by debt — somewhere around $30,000 per citizen at birth —

The Daily Reveille Editorial Board Sarah Lawson Robert Stewart Stephanie Giglio Steven Powell Andrew Robertson

Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor, Content Managing Editor, Production Managing Editor, External Media Opinion Editor

and that’s just to the federal government. At this point, bankruptcy would be an improvement for our country.

Our currency is an illusion, worth only what a small group of powerful men say it is. And President Barack Obama, the great American hope, is but another failed politician serving his role properly — providing the illusion of leadership.

The American people are

waking up to realize their enslavement by the carefully constructed chimera of debt doesn’t have to exist.

And just as Mr. Franklin pointed out, a central bank cannot exist and a nation be free simultaneously.

When our freedoms have been compromised for the sake of fiscal profit, what else do we have to lose?

When the outcrying voices

of this country realize this, then the next American Revolution will have begun.

Andrew Robertson is a 23-yearold English writing and culture senior from Baton Rouge. Follow him on Twitter @TDR_Arobertson.

Contact Andrew Robertson at arobertson@lsureveille.com

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Editorial Policies & Procedures The Daily Reveille (USPS 145-800) is written, edited and produced solely by students of Louisiana State University. The Daily Reveille is an independent entity within the Manship School of Mass Communication. Signed opinions are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the editor, paper or University. Letters submitted for publication should be sent via e-mail to opinion@lsureveille.com or delivered to B-26 Hodges Hall. They must be 400 words or less. Letters must have a contact phone number so the opinion editor can verify the author. The phone number won’t be printed. The Daily Reveille reserves the right to edit letters and guest columns for space consideration without changing the original intent. The Daily Reveille also reserves the right to reject any letter without notification of the author.

Writers must include their full names and phone numbers. The Daily Reveille’s editor-in-chief, hired every semester by the Louisiana State University Media Board, has final authority on all editorial decisions.

Quote of the Day “From now on, depressions will be scientifically created.”

Charles A. Lindbergh Sr. U.S. Congressman Jan. 20, 1859 — May 24, 1924

The Daily Reveille

Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2010

SPORTSMAN’S PARADISE LOST

Opinion

page 13

Given the choice of douche or turd, don’t vote at all

The unmistakable scent of cheap cologne, faces still moist and brown from ass-kissing, and button-downs stained with vomit is wafting in the pre-fall winds, and we all know what that means.

No, not rush, bromosapiens.

It’s election season in Louisiana, when democracy rears her reptilian face and pimpled ass for the electorate to celebrate in the name of freedom, equality and the right to political impotence.

Previous seasons have produced mud-slinging classics, and the highlights are more exhilarating than a full-on double rainbow.

There’s the 1999 Insurance Commissioner race between Allen Boudreaux and Jim Brown, in which the latter, a convicted felon, called the former — you guessed it — a felon.

In fact, Brown was the third consecutive state insurance commissioner sent to prison, preceded

by Douglas Green and Sherman Bernard. Talk about a devil’s threesome.

It gets worse. The 1991 gubernatorial election was contested between convicted felon Edwin Edwards and former Ku Klux Klan Grand Wizard David Duke. No

witty comments are required here.

And any discussion of Louisiana political corruption would be remiss without mention of names like Huey Long, Bill Livingston and William Jefferson, only further smearing the skid mark left by the state’s political incontinence.

There are countless other Cody Worsham state elections Columnist when the choices provided were less than stellar.

Voters are usually forced to choose between the lesser of two evils, or as South Park so eloquently dictates, a “giant douche” and a “turd sandwich.”

The GD vs. TS component has found its way into yet another election season. The Louisiana candidates for U.S. Senator, the state’s biggest election in 2010, fit these categories impeccably.

Let’s start with David Vitter, who is the turdiest of turd sandwiches.

The most obvious criticism of Vitter is the giant fudge dragon of the well-renowned D.C. Madam

scandal. According to CBS News, Vitter, in Congress at the time, and a number of other political bigwigs were connected to a Washington, D.C.-area prostitution ring.

Vitter, who first entered Congress as a replacement for the affair-tainted Livingston, also allegedly visited a similar Canal Street Madam, with prices ranging up to $300, according to The TimesPicayune.

Who says your tax dollars don’t get put to good use?

Then again, the potential sales tax revenue all the condoms purchased to fully satiate our senator’s libido may make him a fiscally responsible choice, indirectly.

However, rubbers may not have been used at each encounter, because the sex scandal was soon followed by some personal difficulty with aides.

Enter Brent Furer, a former Vitter aide who resigned after ABC News revealed his criminal past. Charges against Furer include holding his ex-girlfriend at knifepoint and stabbing her in the hand, as well as a drunk driving conviction.

This gaffe either makes Vitter, who has built much of his political

career around ethics reform and family values, accepting of violent crime or completely ignorant of his staff.

Still, let’s give him credit for his bipartisan appeal. He could just as easily win the election as the giant douche.

However, previously employed poop metaphors, a dirty grin and an Internet-rumored diaper fetish make Vitter’s selection as this year’s honorary turd sandwich an obvious choice.

Meanwhile, Vitter’s opponent, Charlie Melancon, cannot be overlooked as the election’s giant douche. While he may earn the title by default, his resumé is not short of general douchery.

Consider his recent support of the moratorium on drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, which has hit Louisiana’s economy like a blow to the solar plexus.

Melancon was also the only Louisiana congressman to vote in favor of Obama’s stimulus bill, which hit the nation’s economy like a blow to the bangers.

However, the douche metaphor runs dry when considering Melancon would be a highly ineffective tool to clean the infected

money-snatch that is our federal government.

The solution? Don’t vote.

Against every public-educated fiber in your brain and P. Diddy’s most earnest supplications, exercise your right to not vote.

Choosing between the lesser of two evils is still supporting evil.

Instead of violating your convictions in the name of democracy, express your dissatisfaction with the system by turning away from the polls.

And as voter turnout plummets faster than M. Night Shyamalan’s authorial credibility, find a candidate actually worth voting for and support him — before election season is almost done.

Then watch as Vitter and the rest of the turd sandwiches in government hit the fan.

Cody Worsham is a 21-year-old mass communication senior from Baton Rouge. Follow him on Twitter @TDR_Cworsham.

Contact Cody Worsham at cworsham@lsureveille.com

SHOCKINGLY SIMPLE

Concussions in football still a bigger problem than we realize Research from Boston University and the University of North Carolina is shedding new light on the dangers of concussions and subconcussive trauma and their long-term health effects.

A concussion is a lapse in normal brain function caused by a sudden change in the acceleration of the brain, usually caused by a sudden blow to the head or other trauma. Basically, the rapid shift in acceleration shakes the brain cells and causes them to release more chemicals, or neurotransmitters, all at once.

This unorganized flood of neurotransmitters causes the characteristic symptoms of a concussion, such as short-term amnesia, fainting and even personality changes.

For years the NFL has disputed the findings of independent researchers, which showed concussions, especially multiple concussions, were far more dangerous to players than originally thought.

A study by the University of Michigan Institute for Social Research found that dementia occurred 19 times more frequently in retired NFL players (on average, 60 percent suffer at least one concussion) than in the general population. These men are only in their 30s and 40s; developing dementia so early is almost unheard of.

Thankfully, the NFL has finally begun taking some responsibility for protecting its players from the dangers of concussions. As of December 2009, if a player suffers

a concussion he is barred from reentering practice or play for the rest of the day. This is an obvious improvement over the previous rule, which only barred a player until their symptoms subsided.

In 2009 the NFL created a poster to be hung in locker rooms warning of the dangers of concussions. However, the wording left something to be desired: “Repetitive brain injury, when not managed promptly and properly, may cause permanent damage to your brain.”

The NFL recently capitulated to its Andrew Shockey detractors and Columnist increased the harshness of its wording for the 2010 season. The new poster reads “[traumatic brain injury] may lead to problems with memory and communication, personality changes, as well as depression and the early onset of dementia.” The new poster is definitely a step in the right direction, but it does not go far enough.

Why not tell the players about how of the six deceased NFL players, ages 25-50, who have been autopsied, the brains of all six looked like those of 80-year-old Alzheimer’s patients?

Why not tell them about how an 18-year-old football player, who sustained multiple concussions, died and had similar brain

damage to an Alzheimer’s patient four times his age?

If playing football is so dangerous, why don’t the players just stop?

Well for one, the bare minimum any NFL player can make, even if he only plays three games in the season, is $295,000, and according to the NFL Players Association the average salary in the NFL is $1.1 million annually.

Even though the figure can be misleading because of elite players’ salaries like Peyton Manning ($14 million) and Julius Peppers ($16.7 million), the worst paid players in the NFL are still in the top 1 percent of incomes in the U.S. at around $300,000 a year.

So who is to blame for this predicament?

We are.

Players only rake in these salaries because we watch them play. Just from an economics point of view, these are men who, for the most part, have been raised since the time they were in grade school to play football. It would be irrational for them to turn down these huge salaries and go work at McDonald’s.

Their education has always been given a backseat by their fans and by the people they are supposed to be able to trust — their families and coaches. What marketable skills do NFL players possess other than the game they’ve been trained to play and love since childhood?

I love watching football. I’ve

been raised on LSU football my entire life, and I don’t plan on disavowing them now, but we need to be aware of the dangers these players face and our responsibility to them.

I know we’ll all cheer when Brett Favre gets the stuffing knocked out of him tomorrow night, but maybe we shouldn’t be quite so eager now that we know

the consequences.

Andrew Shockey is a 19-year-old biological engineering sophomore from Baton Rouge. Follow him on Twitter @TDR_Ashockey.

Contact Andrew Shockey at ashockey@lsureveille.com

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Classifieds

page 18

To place your ad: Visit www.lsureveille.com and click on classifieds

Announcements

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LAW CLERK (second or third year law student) needed for small BR Law Firm. Interest in Personal Injury and Workers’ Compensation law a plus. Must be dependable, have excellent legal writing and research skills. Salary DOE. Email LadyJayne@aol.com or fax to: 756-5676.

BEST PART-TIME JOB ON CAMPUS “Graduate From College Debt Free” Sign Up Here: www.campusparttimejobs.com STUDENTS NEEDED TO work with children/ adults with disabilities. 4 positions available; various hours on Tues/ Thurs. Apply: St. John the Baptist, Human Services. 622 Shadows Ln, Ste A, BR, 70806 225.216.1199 RUNNER NEEDED FOR Bluebonnet/Perkins law firm. Contact Lillian at 225.769.0858 *COME ON DOWN* 5 people can rent, 5 bedrooms, 3 bath, $440/ month each, w/d, kit. appl., many extras, 3 min. LSU 225.241.4679 FASHIONISTA ACCESSORIES Now hiring part-time sales associates!! Must have retail experience and mornings available. Call Lacey 225-9072883 GRAPHICS HELP WANTED Local Company needs Junior or Senior Level Graphics Major - Part-time projects. Send your contact information and background to greg@gregtown.com EARN $1000-$3200 A month to drive our brand new cars with ads placed on them. www.

AdCarDriver.com SULLIVAN’S STEAKHOUSE IS now hiring hostesses. Daytime availability required. Please apply in person. 225.925.1161 SWIM INSTRUCTORS NEEDED Tiger Aquatics GREAT PAY Mon/ Wed 4 - 6:30 pm and/ or Tues/ Thurs 4 - 6:30 pm LSU Natatorium jeannine@swimtaq.com 225-636-0393 DON’T MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY! Now hiring for all positions at the following locations: JEFFERSON 7615 Jefferson Hwy Baton Rouge 70809 PERKINS ROWE 7707 Bluebonnet Blvd. Baton Rouge 70810 “Flexible schedules & Benefits for Full Time Associates” Please apply in person during regular restaurant hours.

Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2010

PARRAIN’S SEAFOOD Now hiring all front of the house positions. Apply in person Mon-Fri between 2:00 and 5:00 225.381.9922 ACTORS, MODELS, MAKEUP ARTISTS wanted for THE 13TH GATE Haunted House. No Exp. needed. Good Pay. Flexible Hours. Apply in Person at 832 St. Philip St. downtown BR. September 4th, 5th, 11th, 12th. 9am-5pm jamie@ midnightproduction.com 225-921-8006 MOORE CONSTRUCTION HIRING CM/ENG Major preferred Auto Cad a plus Email Ed at estock@mooreconstructioninc.com to set up an interview P/T RECEPTIONIST/FILE CLERK needed for small BR Plaintiff law firm. Must be mature, dependable, responsible, and MUST be available to work on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Salary DOE. Prefer undergraduate, long-term worker (at least one year), not just for one semester.

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PART TIME SECRETARY/RECEPTION. Law Office. Part time (about 20 hours). Afternoons preferred. Long-term position. Job duties include data entry, filing, and client coordination. Email resume to greggouner@bellsouth.net.

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Transportation

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The Daily Reveille

Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2010 SOLDIERS, from page 1

Business graduate student Dustin Englehart served two terms in Iraq from 2005 to 2008 and said he saw steady improvement in the years he was there.

“I wasn’t there during the last two years, so I can’t really tell if it got to the point where it was necessary and feasible [to withdraw],” Englehart said. “There was a constant improvement in security conditions and work ethics and Iraqi people standing up for their own country.”

Englehart worked with the Iraqi people on security infrastructure, but he said “the ball is in their court now.”

“There are people there trying to better themselves,” Englehart said.

“There wasn’t a whole lot of reward for them. They earned my respect for what they were going through.”

While U.S. troops have ended combative roles in Iraq, soldiers are still there to uphold the security infrastructure and provide support to the government.

Marketing sophomore Eric Fernandez, who has served in Hawaii and Japan, operated a howitzer cannon in Iraq. He said if the Iraqi infrastructure falls apart, then the troops pulled out too quickly.

“We’ve given them our blood and sweat,” Fernandez said. “Are they going to make democracy over there, or are they going to have a civil war?”

Fernandez is currently living in Baton Rouge with two Marines with whom he served in Iraq.

“We’re all pretty competitive now about whoever is making the best grades or getting fat,” Fernandez joked.

Fernandez attended the University of New Orleans in 2003 after he graduated high school, so he said the transition from the military back to school life wasn’t difficult.

“There really isn’t much if I focus on I can’t get accomplished,” Fernandez said. “School is way

easier than I remember because I’ve focused.”

Capt. William Conger, assistant military science professor and public affairs officer for Student Veterans of LSU, said there are about 400 student veterans attending the University.

Conger said SVLSU helps veterans with their GI Bills, tuition assistance and mentoring programs.

Stukins and Englehart are both members of SVLSU, which helps soldiers returning to student life cope with post-traumatic stress disorder and adjust to a civilian setting.

Both students are now

adjusting to student life, but Stukins said if he could go back to Iraq and do his mission again, he would do it in a heartbeat.

“Every single day I was there I made a difference in people’s lives,” Stukins said. “You see it in how they express their gratitude. They’re thankful for every little thing they have in life.”

As soldiers adjust to life at the University, they go from a routine, regimented life to a life of classrooms and tests.

“It’s one of the most difficult transitions I’ve ever done because you have to get used to a

photo courtesy of AUSTIN STUKINS

Interior design sophomore and former Marine Austin Stukins shares a meal with a cat while on a mission in Diyala Province, Iraq. Stukins is readjusting to college life.

page 15 completely different way of life,” Stukins said. “Nothing is what you’d consider the norm. You can’t allow yourself to get angry and upset because a civilian does not move with the same speed a Marine does.”

But some reciprocations from battle still linger, including heightened senses and nerves.

“I may have lost 60 percent of my hearing, but I’m still aware of everything that goes on around me,” Stukins said. “I’m very on edge.”

Contact Catherine Threlkeld at cthrelkeld@lsureveille.com

page 16

The Daily Reveille

Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2010