Today In Print: 07-07-11

PDSI: Mentoring program to be cut due to low funding, p. 3

Black Pistol Fire: Toronto duo to rock Chelsea’s Café tonight, p. 5

Reveille The Daily

www.lsureveille.com

Planking: Students embrace Internet photo trend, p. 5 Thursday, July 7, 2011 • Volume 115, Issue 148

Laura Furr

Staff Writer

Louisiana beaches are ranked among the dirtiest in America according to this year’s “Testing the Waters” survey by the Natural Resource Defense Council. Louisiana’s beach water quality exceeded health standards only once — at one beach — over the last three years. A total of 2,232 closing days were issued at 11 beaches across the state after the BP oil disaster, which began with the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon rig in April 2010. Many beaches remained closed throughout 2011 because of oil washing ashore and continued cleanup efforts. BEACHES, see page 11

CHARLIE RIEDEL / The Associated Press

Oil from the Deepwater Horizon spill floats on the water and is reflected in the sky at Barataria Bay off the Louisiana coast on June 7, 2010.

DIVERSITY

Gay professors battle prejudice Study reveals bias against teachers Laura Furr Staff Writer

In February, Student Government amended the equal opportunity nondiscrimination clause to include gender identity and expression. Although the bill did not pass unanimously, the clause’s success shows LSU is becoming a friendly environment for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning students. A study released last month suggests gay and lesbian professors fight

an uphill battle, facing discrimination on college campuses. The Journal of Applied Social Psychology presented 545 undergraduate students at the University of Houston-Downtown with syllabi for a course on human sexuality. Syllabi described the same topics and included biographies for hypothetical professors, hinting at sexual orientation and political views. The study concluded students incorrectly view gay and lesbian professors as politically biased — seeing gay men as extremely conservative and lesbian women as liberal. The study did not conclude gay or lesbian professors were viewed as more or less competent than others.

Elaine Maccio, assistant professor of social work, said she has never been openly discriminated against. “Discrimination isn’t always obvious,” she said. “There are students that are not taking my class because I am gay, but I will never know about that. Discrimination normally occurs as a way to oppress, but students aren’t in the position to do that with faculty and staff members.” Maccio noted the difference between discrimination and prejudice. “There are absolutely prejudices on campus,” she said. “Discrimination is an act, while prejudice is a belief.” LGBTQ, see page 11

FOOTBALL

SG trip to Oregon game to cost $35K Rachel Wilson

Contributing Writer

Students looking to kick off the football season with a road trip may have the chance to hitch a ride on the Student Government bus trip. SG President Cody Wells said SG is planning a bus trip for the season opener against the University of Oregon at Cowboys Stadium in Dallas, Texas. Wells said SG will have around 250 tickets, but only 235 would be available to students, with the rest going to chaperones. The total cost of the trip would be about $35,000, according to Wells. “We have a sponsorship program,” he said. “We’re going to try to offset the costs so we don’t have to use student fees.” SG is approaching sponsors from last year’s bus trip as well as seeking new supporters, Wells said. “Hopefully we’ll have a much more improved sponsor list,” he said. Wells said the price of the trip will not be finalized until SG receives an estimate on the rental cost of the charter buses and individual game ticket prices. BUS TRIP, see page 11

BABY YOU’RE A FIREWORK

TANNER SHORT / The Daily Reveille

Fireworks light up the sky at Monday night’s Fireworks on the Mississippi event.