OPINION: Racial microaggressions stem from a flawed society, p. 16
COMMUNITY: Local felines to compete in annual show, p. 11
Reveille The Daily
VOLUME 118, ISSUE 116
thedailyreveille
CRIME
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STUDENT GOVERNMENT
Thursday, March 27, 2014
BOARD OF REGENTS
McDonald’s Groovin’ moved to River Center employees With Groovin’ moved to the River Center, arrested will you attend? Vote in our poll at for theft lsureveille.com.
Fiscal year funding approved
Zach Carline
Deanna Narveson
Fernanda Zamudio-Suarez Senior Reporter
Deputy News Editor
Four employees of the McDonald’s in the Student Union weren’t lovin’ it when they were arrested Wednesday and another is expected to be arrested today for involvement in a scheme, likely lasting more than a year, involving felony theft, said LSU Police Department spokesman Capt. Cory Lalonde. The suspects, all employees at the time of the thefts and some managers, allegedly overcharged students on their Tiger Cards through the Paw Points system before pocketing the difference. LSUPD suspects the scheme may have lasted longer than a year, but the restaurant’s record system only dates back one year, Lalonde said. Although The Advocate reported the scheme resulted in the theft of $30,000, Lalonde was unable to confirm that figure. He said the initial investigation began in October 2013, when the Student Union received an anonymous tip. McDonald’s looked at discrepancies in transactions, eventually confirming the thefts, and LSUPD secured warrants for the arrest of five individuals. Previously, LSUPD arrested individuals for misdemeanor theft charges in the investigation, but the four arrested Wednesday and the arrest expected today were all different individuals, Lalonde said. He added that in addition to the five arrests, there could be subsequent arrests as the ongoing investigation continues. While LSUPD did not release information on the fifth suspect, the four who were arrested and booked into East Baton Rouge Parish Prison are: Bertrand Lawrence Brown, 34, 4631 Aldrich Drive; Constance Lacole Brown, 31, 634 North 37th St.; Danielle Marie Casey, 23, 1550 Kaufman St.; and Jeannine Rooks, 34, 1466 North 35th St. — all of Baton Rouge. MCDONALD’S, see page 4
Groovin’ on the Grounds is moving from the Parade Ground to the Baton Rouge River Center Arena due to inclement weather expected Friday evening. Weezer, Pepper and Battle of the Bands winner Deacon Jones are still set to play at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the new location. Student Government Chief of Staff Gerard Zimmerman said when planning the event, the River Center was the backup location. The PMAC was the on-campus indoor option used in the past, but it is booked for Friday. Michael Smith, SG adviser in the Office of Advocacy and Accountability, said the PMAC
is booked for a football coach’s clinic run through the Athletics Department. Zimmerman said the chance of rain Friday put the concert in a risky position. Had the concert remained on the Parade Ground and lightning struck, artists could choose not to perform, the stage would need to be cleared and the show would be canceled. “I’m not going to play poker with student fees because we would lose a ton of money,” Zimmerman said. “This isn’t our first choice, and our first priority is to put on the concert for the students.” The event will still be open to the public and SG will provide shuttles from campus to the River GROOVIN’, see page 4
Staff Writer
Read an entertainment writer’s view on why Weezer is still relevant, p. 11
Tufts, Lambert named SG president, vice president
The Louisiana Board of Regents approved a recommendation for the distribution of funding to the state’s higher education institutions for 2014-15 at its March meeting Wednesday. The funding recommendation allocates the same amount of money to each institution as the 2013-14 fiscal year, with the exception of $6.1 million distributed to the higher education institutions that received the least state funding and $5 million to the LSU AgCenter. The amount of funding from the state for TOPS BOARD, see page 19
STUDENT GOVERNMENT
SG pushes for federal assistance Fernanda Zamudio-Suarez Senior Reporter
2,881 votes, while Experience LSU received 44.1 percent and 2,270 votes. The overall number of votes, including the presidential vote, increased from last year by 626 votes with 5,284 — compared to 4,658 in 2013. For senate and college council seats, 78.8 percent were Next Step candidates with 52 seats, while 21.2
Senior members of Student Government traveled to Washington, D.C., to advocate for higher education and returned feeling confident in the connections and relationships formed over their four-day trip. SG President John Woodard said the students took the trip with four goals in mind: reauthorize the Higher Education Act, discuss solutions to reduce rising education costs, support Pell Grant funding and examine ways to establish a federal matching program for higher education.
ELECTION, see page 4
ASSISTANCE, see page 19
TAYLOR BALKOM / The Daily Reveille
Newly elected Student Government President Clay Tufts (middle right) and Vice President Taylor Lambert (middle left) react to hearing election results Wednesday at the Live Oak Lounge in the Student Union.
Election saw an increase in total votes Jacquelyn Masse Contributing Writer
A roar erupted from the Live Oak Lounge of the Student Union as The Next Step Ticket was declared the winner of the Student Government election on Wednesday afternoon. The Next Step ticket won with 55.9 percent and
The Daily Reveille
page 2
TODAY’S FORECAST
Nation & World
Thursday, March 27, 2014
NATIONAL
STATE/LOCAL
Mich. won’t recognize same-sex marriages Lawmakers
reject tweaks to TOPS
The Associated Press
Thunderstorms HIGH 74 LOW 65 sunrise: 6:59 a.m. sunset: 7:20 p.m.
Friday HIGH 84 LOW 64
Saturday HIGH 76 LOW 46
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan won’t recognize more than 300 same-sex marriages performed last weekend before a court halted a decision that opened the door to gay nuptials, Gov. Rick Snyder said Wednesday. The announcement came a day after an appeals court indefinitely stopped any additional same-sex marriages. It will likely take months for the court to make its own judgment about whether a Michigan constitutional amendment that says marriage only is between a man and a woman violates the U.S. Constitution. U.S. District Judge Bernard Friedman struck down the gay marriage ban Friday. Four counties took the extraordinary step of granting licenses Saturday before the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ordered a temporary halt. The stay was extended indefinitely on Tuesday. Snyder acknowledged same-sex couples “had a legal marriage.” But because of the court’s stay, he added, the gay
The Associated Press
Jake may / The Associated Press
Supporters hold up a banner during a pro-gay marriage rally held by the Unitarian Universalist Church of Flint on Wednesday outside the Genesee County Courthouse.
marriage ban has been restored. The governor’s move closes the door, at least for now, to certain benefits reserved solely for married couples. The American Civil Liberties Union said more than 1,000 Michigan laws are tied to marriage. “We did our own homework and I believe this is a reasonable legal position to take based on
the available literature and law,” Snyder told reporters. Other elected officials have urged the Obama administration to recognize the marriages for federal benefits. The U.S. Justice Department, which previously said it was monitoring the situation, did not immediately comment after Snyder’s announcement.
(AP) — Although House Education Committee members said they worry about the rising costs of the TOPS program, they refused a proposal Wednesday to rework the free college tuition program and shrink its price tag. Rep. Joe Harrison, R-Napoleonville, was pushing a bill that would have raised eligibility standards for high school graduates to get a TOPS award and would have capped the amount of tuition covered through the program in future years. It also would have required students to repay the state if they lose their TOPS awards within the first two years of college because they don’t maintain the required credit hour and grade point averages.
INTERNATIONAL
U.S. to commit more forces to NATO The Associated Press
BRUSSELS (AP) — The United States plans to join with other NATO nations in increasing ground and naval forces in Eastern Europe as part of the military alliance’s response to Russia’s incursion in Ukraine, the White House said Wednesday. The specifics of the NATO plan were still being finalized, including the size of the force increase. Rather than significantly boosting U.S. military presence in the region, the move seemed aimed instead at showing symbolic support for NATO members near Russia’s borders.
President Barack Obama’s deputy national security adviser, Ben Rhodes, said NATO was aiming to provide “a continuous presence to reassure our allies.” While he would not detail specific countries where the additional resources would be sent, he noted that the U.S. was particularly focused on efforts to bolster Poland, Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia. Rhodes briefed reporters as Obama traveled to Rome from Brussels, where he met with NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, as well as European Union leaders.
CORRECTIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS The Daily Reveille holds accuracy and objectivity at the highest priority and wants to reassure the reporting and content of the paper meets these standards. This space is reserved to recognize and correct any mistakes which may have been printed in The Daily Reveille. If you would like something corrected or clarified please contact the editor at (225) 578-4811 or email editor@lsureveille.com.
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
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Geert Vanden Wijngaert / The Associated Press
U.S. President Barack Obama smiles as he arrives for a speech at The Centre for Fine Arts in Brussels on Wednesday.
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The Daily Reveille
Thursday, March 27, 2014
faculty
page 3
Professor honored for wetland conservation efforts Award presented by Ducks Unlimited Panya Kroun Contributing Writer
Ducks Unlimited, a nonprofit hunting and conservation group, recently awarded University professor Alan Afton with the 2014 Wetland Conservation Achievement Award. Afton was recognized for the many scientific contributions he has made to wildlife conservation over the course of his 45-year career. Afton is a wildlife biologist who studies the social and migratory behaviors of waterfowl and the effects of human activity on their populations. His current projects include research on the ecology and management of geese, Louisiana bald eagles and lesser scaup, a duck species whose numbers have been in decline since the 1980s. Afton said populations decline for two reasons: organisms either have trouble surviving or reproducing. The enigma of the lesser scaup’s dwindling numbers has yet to be fully resolved, but Afton’s extensive research indicates that their
ability to reproduce is diminishing. Afton attributed much of this decline to the destruction of historic Scaup habitats by large agricultural corporations. Scaup typically nest in wetland depressions, and the drainage of wetlands leaves them unable to nest in conditions that allow their offspring to hatch. “Mature ducks are able to survive, but fewer offspring successfully hatch,” Afton said. Afton also said climate change and run-off from agricultural production that flows into wetlands is likely partially responsible for the decline in the reproductive success of waterfowls. This run-off carries chemicals and nutrients from farming practices into lakes and ponds and creates dead zones that endanger the ducks’ reproduction. Dead zones are areas in oceans and large lakes that lack oxygen levels needed to support marine life at the bottom of water. These bodies of water lack oxygen because plankton feed on the influx of nutrients and reproduce rapidly, consuming all the oxygen present near the top of the water. “It’s a very real and dangerous problem,” Afton said. Efforts to preserve duck habitats have been met with some success. Government regulations, like the Wetlands Protection Act, give
farmers money to dissuade them from draining wetlands the ducks need to reproduce. Afton’s own research has been used in efforts to counter the damage already done to the habitats, and to manage the habitats and populations of birds that live in them. Afton said that groups like Ducks Unlimited, which hunt birds, are integral to efforts to combat habitat destruction. “Hunters don’t want to destroy the environment, they want to keep most of the birds alive, so they donate the most to conservation groups,” Afton said. Hunting does not significantly affect duck population numbers, he said. If it did, the birds would have trouble surviving instead of reproducing. Afton said a percentage of the cost of hunting licenses and tests is given to conservation groups dedicated to the preservation of bird habitats. “Without hunters, conservation would be a lot harder, so it’s an honor to receive this award,” Afton said.
Contact Panya Kroun at pkroun@lsureveille.com
TAYLOR BALKOM / The Daily Reveille
An inquisitive female mallard takes a break from swimming Wednesday at University Lake.
MARCH
EVENT CALENDAR
THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 2014 6:00 PM
Back II Cool 80's &90's Hip Hop Night - Gasa Gasa WWNO Speakeasy - Chickie Wah Wah
7:00 PM
Leon Russel - The Varsity Theatre Trivia Night - Hi Ho Lounge-LA Michaela Harrison - Cafe Istanbul Micah McKee & Little Maker - Blue Nile
7:30 PM
Young Frankenstein - Baton Rouge Little Theater
8:00 PM
Frontier Ruckus Matt Owen - Mud and Water Yonder Mountain String Band - House of Blues New Orleans Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana - Manship Theatre, Shaw Center for the Arts Jason Stewart Quartet, Adonis Rose - Snug Harbor-New Orleans Betty Who - Hi Ho Lounge-LA Silent Disco - Parade Grounds Tom McDermott & Aurora Nealand - Buffa's Bar & Restaurant
8:30 PM
The Business - Lava Cantina Comedy Gumbeaux - The Howlin' Wolf
9:00 PM
Blues Jam - Phil Brady's Bar & Grill DJ Mike Larry - The Spanish Moon
politics
Higher ed bills remain stagnant Deanna Narveson Staff Writer
The Louisiana Legislature has yet to pass any bills regarding higher education in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, and several bills regarding TOPS have been deferred, said Uma Subramanian, deputy commissioner for legal and external affairs of the Louisiana Board of Regents, at the board’s meeting Wednesday. Senate Bill 62, authored by Sen. Conrad Appel, R-La., aims to establish a common application for all public colleges and Universities in the state. It has passed through the Senate and is now headed to the House Education Committee. The bill would not require that each institution charge the same application fee, rather it would streamline the application process, Appel said. Should the bill be passed, LSU would be required to create a new
application for incoming students in collaboration with other public colleges and universities in the state. Senate Bill 124, authored by Democratic Senator Ben Nevers, would give postsecondary education boards the freedom to set their own tuition rates. LSU President F. King Alexander has pushed tuition autonomy to save the University money and separate it from the state’s monetary constrictions. The bill has yet to be heard by the Senate, Subramanian said. The bill coincides with House Bill 943 authored by independent Congressman Jerome Richard. Should Richard’s bill be passed, public colleges and universities would be allowed to charge tuition on a per credit-hour basis. According to the University’s website, tuition caps off at $2,944.30 for 12 credit hours and does not charge for additional hours.
KLSU Fundraiser $5,960 donated as of Wednesday night
Senate Bill 526, which would establish the $40 million needed annually to support the Workforce and Innovation for a Stronger Economy (WISE) Plan, has also yet to be passed. The WISE Plan will provide funds to state institutions that get businesses to match 20 percent of the cost of the science, technology, engineering and mathematics programs universities are trying to grow. The Board of Regents must certify the matched funds for the higher education STEM programs before the programs can be awarded money from the WISE funding. The 20 percent match can be in cash or in-kind donations, but must come from private individuals or businesses.
Contact Deanna Narveson at dnarveson@lsureveille.com Listeners who donate will be given their choice of T-shirts, coffee mugs, water bottles and sunglasses, among other options.
$26,040 more needed
27
10:00 PM
Niko Night Life - Eiffel Society Jason Stewart Quartet, Adonis Rose - Snug Harbor-New Orleans Celebration of Fresh - Eiffel Society Bayou International Reggae Night with DJ T ROY - Blue Nile
For more information on LSU events or to place your own event you can visit www.lsureveille.com/calendar
EVENTS Rockstar Racing “Business League Night” Get your team of 4 and race every month for a trophy & bragging rights! Not into the league game? Come in and get your 3rd race free! Come be a rockstar at Baton Rouge’s premiere indoor kart facility, Rockstar Racing!
The Daily Reveille
page 4
FACILITY SERVICES
Improvements planned for north end of campus Lyle Manion Contributing Writer
In an attempt to beautify and make safer the parts of campus near the lakes, Facility Services is updating the English Language and Orientation Program building on Fraternity Circle and the area around the University Laboratory School. The Safe Routes to School Project will add a bike lane and a loading zone to Dalrymple Drive in front of the Lab School, and the aging ELOP building will undergo exterior maintenance, said Dennis Mitchell, assistant director of master planning and site development for Facility Services. The purpose of Safe Routes to School is to make the area surrounding the Lab School more hospitable to pedestrians, Mitchell said. This will be done through additions made to Dalrymple. A new bicycle lane will cater to both University and Lab School student cyclists. Furthermore, a designated loading zone will create stability. The current loading zone has a combined use of loading, parking and student pick-up. Mitchell said Safe Routes to School is a long-term project that could be a year away from completion. It should amount to $150,000. The roundabout on Dalrymple has already improved safety and flow of traffic in the area, said Shannon Thibodeaux, Port Allen resident and parent of Lab School students. Thidodeaux said driving her children to school is much easier with the addition of the roundabout. “Obviously, traffic is bad, but things have gotten much better since the roundabout,” Thidodeaux said. Crossing Dalrymple has also become safer, Thibodeaux said. The crosswalk in front of the Lab school is efficient, with University Parking helping children cross. The one issue Thidodeaux said she still experiences is turning out of the Lab School parking lot onto Lakeshore Drive. Traffic from both directions is intimidating, she said. The other bit of construction taking place is the beautification of the ELOP building, located on Fraternity Circle at the edge of campus.
GROOVIN’, from page 1
Center for transportation. Parking in the River Center lots will be available for $5 per vehicle and side street parking is free after 5 p.m. Construction management senior Jacob Pender said the move is inconvenient because of the downtown location. “It’s a little more hassle parking,” Pender said. Because of space capacity, students who want to watch the bands on the ground floor will be wristbanded and students in the upper levels of the River Center will not need wristbands, according to a news release. Zimmerman encourages students to carpool or take the
RICHARD REDMANN / The Daily Reveille
The English Language and Orientation Program (ELOP) building on Fraternity Circle is one of many buildings in need of improvements on LSU’s campus.
The building is showing its age, Mitchell said. External maintenance planned for the building aims to improve its appearance. The structure’s surroundings have created issues, Mitchell said. Drainage problems have resulted from mature trees raising the sidewalk. Furthermore, the ditch on the campus border has much overgrowth. Correcting these issues and adding landscaping to the building’s front side will improve its outward appearance. Mitchell said the building is in need of adequate accessibility. Consequently, a new ramp will be added to the entrance. The ELOP building enhancements are part of a larger goal of “defining the edge of campus in an attractive way,” Mitchell said. Improvements to the ELOP building should amount to around $5,000, Mitchell said. The University is applying for a grant from the state’s Department of Transportation and Development to cover a portion of the funding. All improvements should be complete by the end of the summer.
Contact Lyle Manion at lmanion@lsureveille.com shuttles to the event. Taylor Franks, English sophomore, said she wishes the concert were closer to campus because of the convenience, but she was not planning to attend. Mechanical engineering freshman Josh Pender lives on campus and said he wishes he could walk to the Parade Ground for his first event. Though the concert will be relocated, Zimmerman said he is confident the event will run smoothly.
Contact Fernanda Zamudio-Suarez at fsuarez@lsureveille.com
ELECTION, from page 1
percent were from Experience LSU with 14 seats. SG President-elect Clay Tufts and Vice President-elect Taylor Lambert embraced with smiles on their faces as their party members gathered for a group hug. Tufts said he plans on immediately getting to work on his initiatives because they will take time to implement. He also said he wants to reach out to students who want to share ideas for the next semester. Experience LSU presidential candidate Christian Coleman maintained a smile as members of his ticket burst into tears around him upon the announcement of Tufts’ win. “It’s a tough pill to swallow. No one had as great a team as we did,” Coleman said. “There is no one I’d
Thursday, March 27, 2014 rather have in my family.” Coleman also said he wishes Lambert and Tufts the best of luck for next semester. Current SG Vice President Taylor Parks said she is happy this year’s election ran smoothly. “The candidates were successful and kept students at the heart of their campaign,” Parks said. Biological engineering junior Joe Zerkus is part of The Next Step Ticket and won his seat as engineering senator. Zerkus said he is not surprised with the results. “We had a stronger presence Monday on election day out campaigning,” Zerkus said.
Contact Jacquelyn Masse at jmasse@lsureveille.com
MCDONALD’S, from page 1
According to a news release by Chartwells, the company that operates LSU Dining, students who purchased meals during fall 2013 will receive reimbursements to their accounts from the University by Friday. It adds that the McDonald’s location operates independently of Chartwells and that all of the employees allegedly involved in the theft were immediately terminated.
Contact The Daily Reveille’s news staff at news@lsureveille.com; Twitter: @TDR_news
Check out a recap of the LSU sand volleyball team’s loss to Tulane on page 10.
Sports
Thursday, March 27, 2014
FINDING THE RANGE
page 5
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LSU fielders show average DRF in SEC
Lawrence Barreca Sports Writer
A baseball player’s defensive ability is often defined by his fielding percentage. Hidden in the shadow of a player’s errors are the number of successful plays a fielder converts in comparison. The defensive range factor (DRF) of a player brings these statistics to light. DRF tracks the number of plays a fielder makes per game, and is calculated by dividing a player’s combined putouts and assists by the number of games he’s completed. The statistic tracks how often a fielder is able to both reach a ball and successfully record an out, providing a better look at the efficiency of a defender.
Whether it’s been sophomore center fielder Andrew Stevenson—who records 1.96 outs per game—making a diving grab or freshman second baseman Kramer Robertson—who records 4.47 outs per game—completing an off-balance throw to first base, the LSU defense has made its mark on the 2014 season. However, the Tigers’ DRFs are only average in comparison to the remaining 13 teams in the Southeastern Conference.
Contact Lawrence Barreca at lbarreca@lsureveille.com; Twitter: @LawBarreca_TDR
TOPN TE
DEFENSIVE RANGE FACTOR across the SEC SECOND BASE
SHORTSTOP
THIRD BASE
CENTER FIELD
Preston Overbey 5.31 (Ole Miss)
Brian Anderson 4.65 (Arkansas)
Nelson Ward 5.11 (Georgia)
Mikey White 4.04 (Alabama)
Taylor Smart 3.26 (Tennessee)
Xavier Turner 2.65 (Vanderbilt)
Stephen Wrenn 3.08 (Georgia)
Vincent Jackson 2.17 (Tennessee)
Kyle Overstreet 5.04 (Alabama)
Dansby Swanson 4.65 (Vanderbilt)
Damon Haecker 4.84 (Auburn)
Errol Robinson 3.85 (Ole Miss)
Blake Allemand 3.04 (Texas A&M)
Chance Vincent 2.63 (Alabama)
Austin Cousino 2.75 (Kentucky)
Tyler Spoon 2.04 (Arkansas)
Brett Pirtle 4.93 (Mississippi State)
Kramer Robertson 4.47 (LSU)
A.J. Simcox 4.70 (Tennessee)
Josh Lester 3.83 (Missouri)
Hunter Cole 2.81 (Georgia)
Ryan Howard 2.52 (Missouri)
Tanner English 2.61 (South Carolina)
Georgie Salem 1.96 (Alabama)
Dan Glevenyak 4.77 (Auburn)
Will Maddox 4.09 (Tennessee)
Alex Bregman 4.46 (LSU)
Marcus Mooney 3.78 (South Carolina)
Max Kuhn 2.75 (Kentucky)
Christian Ibarra 2.18 (LSU)
Buddy Reed 2.56 (Florida)
Andrew Stevenson 1.96 (LSU)
Casey Turgeon 4.72 (Florida)
JaVon Shelby 3.71 (Kentucky)
Richie Martin 4.16 (Florida)
Vince Conde 3.35 (Vanderbilt)
Austin Anderson 2.73 (Ole Miss)
Josh Tobias 1.88 (Florida)
Jake Ring 2.22 (Missouri)
Ryan Tella 1.96 (Auburn)
FOOTBALL
Dural, Diarse attempt to replace departed stars
Mike Gegenheimer Sports Writer
Expectations are set for the LSU 2014 wide receiver corps. Spoiler: they’re high. Sophomore Travin Dural and freshman John Diarse are charged with the responsibility of replacing more than 70 percent of the Tigers’ receiving production from last season following the departure of one of the best receiving duos Baton Rouge has seen in Odell Beckham Jr. and Jarvis Landry. Beckham and Landry became the first receiving tandem in program history to post a pair of 1,000 yard seasons, with Landry going for 1,193 yards and 10 touchdowns and Beckham with 1,152 yards and eight touchdowns.
No one is letting Dural and Diarse forget it, either. “Every now and then, coach will throw in, ‘Jarvis would do this this way,’ or, ‘Odell would do this this way.’” Dural said. “Before the scrimmage on Saturday, we watched film on past receivers that were here. Coach was like, ‘Those guys played fast. They did this. They did that.’” If following in Beckham’s and Landry’s footsteps wasn’t a daunting enough task, the Breaux Bridge, La., native didn’t do himself any favors by making his debut moment to Tiger Nation a 49-yard touchdown reception to defeat Arkansas in the closing minutes of last season’s Battle for the Golden Boot. Since November, Dural has been fielding a barrage of questions about his late-game heroics
against the Razorbacks, and with five months until he’s able to make his next catch, he doesn’t expect the questions to stop anytime soon. But Dural doesn’t want his legacy to stop at Arkansas. “I’d say it kind of ignited the fire that we’re trying to show everyone this year, that it’s not going to be a late-game heroic and that we can do it from the beginning of the game on throughout the whole game,” Dural said. As for the constant comparisons to Beckham and Landry, Dural said he understands it’s a natural connection, but he added the associations drive him to become the next model receiver for future generations of LSU pass catchers. RECEIVERS, see page 10
ANNE LIPSCOMB / The Daily Reveille
The Daily Reveille
page 6
Men’s Tennis
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Butsch emerges as match-clincher he wouldn’t want to put his most seasoned veteran in, but Butsch prevailed. Brown couldn’t have imagThe clutch factor. It’s something that is debated back and ined the freshman performing forth across America — in class- that way two months ago. Butsch lost his first three rooms, work cubicles and on the street. Wherever the conversation matches, going winless until of sports happens, a debate about Feb. 8 when he picked up his a player’s performance in the first victory against small-time Liberty. clutch is sure to come up. His performance was so Regardless of one’s stance on the word clutch in the world shaky, Brown was unsure where of sports, the stats can be hard to to place Butsch in the lineup, argue against, especially when constantly moving him between it comes to LSU men’s tennis courts four, five and six. “I don’t know if I was workplayer Justin Butsch. The native of Miami, Fla., ing as hard,” Butsch said. “I was is undefeated in Southeastern kind of taking shortcuts, not competing as well as I Conference play could, not bringthis season, while ‘I think I’m one of too much enthe Tigers have the best competitors ing ergy.” struggled thus far Butsch hit in conference play in the country, if not rock bottom on (1-6). He’s won the best. There’s not Feb. 21 against three out of his past five matches, many people who can Michigan, losing in straight sets. and would’ve won compete like me.’ After the match, a fourth and a fifth Brown sat down if the matches Justin Butsch with Butsch and weren’t stopped LSU men’s tennis player talked to him prematurely. about living up An undefeated record in the SEC is im- to the team’s expectations in pressive considering the level an attempt to reign the talented of competition the conference freshman back in. “We wanted to let him know poses — six teams in the top 25 including five players ranked in what our expectations were,” the top 25 in the nation — but Brown said. “We felt like he was the situations in which Butsch somebody who could fit into won these matches is even more that, but we just wanted to make sure that we got on the same extraordinary. Butsch has closed out all page.” Since the conversation with three of the Tigers’ most recent wins, including an emotional Brown, it’s evident Butsch has turned his game around. He clincher at Ole Miss on Sunday. LSU coach Jeff Brown found the key to success on the said after Ole Miss, when the court was bringing the same enmatch was being determined in ergy and personality he had off Butsch’s game, the crowd bore the court into matches. Brown said he has down on the court. The fans created an atmosphere Brown said never seen someone accept Jack Chascin
Sports Contributor
The St. Alban’s Spring Benefit Concert Sunday, March 30 at 6 PM
responsibility and change the way Butsch has. Once Butsch accepted his role and incorporated his fiery personality onto the court, he’s seen noticeable improvement, Brown said. Butsch has gone undefeated since Feb. 21, going 6-0 in that span, including three match clinchers in the Tigers’ past three wins. The real Justin Butsch has been released and as of late is boasting the confidence that his coach had been longing for. “I think I’m one of the best competitors in the country, if not the best,” Butsch said. “There’s not many people who can compete like me. Sometimes I may sound cocky, but I don’t really care.”
Charlotte Willcox / The Daily Reveille
Contact Jack Chascin at jchascin@lsureveille.com
LSU freshman Justin Butsch hits the ball during a match against George Washington University on March 13 at the W.T. “Dub” Robinson Stadium.
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The Daily Reveille
Thursday, March 27, 2014
page 7
Caldwell’s troops deliver gutsiest performance of the year THE SMARTEST MORAN James Moran Sports Columnist Nikki Caldwell can motivate someone straight through a brick wall. There’s a passion in her voice at all times, giving her words an air of intensity, even if she’s said them before. The inflection of Caldwell’s words have the power to light a fire under anyone who hears them, be they seemingly mundane mottos or rousing original speeches. Whether it’s putting her Lady Tigers through a United States Marine Corps training regimen during the summer, attaching heart monitors to players in practice or preaching “sweat equity” will determine playing time, Caldwell spends as much time as any coach trying to instill mental toughness and an emotional edge in her team. Before the season at women’s basketball media day in October, Caldwell told reporters she didn’t want her team hungry for success, she wanted them starving. The team fired out of the gate, but after closing the regular season losing seven of their last eight, it seemed the Lady Tigers lost their appetite. She reiterated that point heading into the Women’s NCAA tournament, but hungry or not, No. 7 seed LSU shot the lights out in a matter-of-fact 98-78 drubbing of
TAYLOR BALKOM / The Daily Reveille
LSU women’s basketball coach Nikki Caldwell yells at her team Tuesday during the Lady Tigers’ 76-67 win against West Virginia.
No. 10 seed Georgia Tech in its tournament opener. The true test of the Lady Tigers’ desire would come two days later, in a second-round matchup against No. 2 seed West Virginia. With starting guards Raigyne Moncrief and Jeanne Kenney lost to injury and starting forwards Theresa Plaisance and Shanece McKinney saddled on the bench with foul trouble, LSU found itself outgunned, trailing 63-56 with just over five minutes to play. At that very point, with the situation
looking bleak, all of Caldwell’s work paid off. Facing starvation, her shorthanded collection of Lady Tigers dug deep and reeled off a 20-4 run to steal a 76-67 victory, dispatching a shell-shocked Mountaineers club and securing a secondconsecutive trip to the Sweet 16. Caldwell’s greatest impact isn’t reflected in the fact LSU came back and won, but in how it came back and won. The Lady Tigers didn’t start suddenly launching and
connecting on jump shots down the stretch — any team can go on a hot-shooting streak — but by taking the ball to the hoop and battling in the paint. The undersized Lady Tigers attacked the basket and jumped all over the glass, scratching and clawing until someone eventually willed one of the subsequent putbacks through the cylinder. Despite Plaisance and McKinney missing chunks of game time and reserve forward Derreyal Youngblood being suspended for
the game, LSU managed to pull down an eye-popping 24 offensive rebounds. When size and sheer number of players is an issue, defense and rebounding comes down to effort and tenacity. That’s precisely how LSU won. With 5-foot-9 guard Danielle Ballard’s 22 points and 15 rebounds leading the way, Caldwell’s Lady Tigers delivered the single gutsiest performance of any LSU team this season, bar none. Throw in the way Caldwell rallied her troops after the loss of Kenney, the team’s emotional leader, to another injury and the comeback reads straight out of a storybook. I can hear the ESPN “30 for 30” now: “What if I told you a team battled into the Sweet 16 with only seven players? Then, what if I told you that same team came back the next season and did it all over again with six.” In order for the story to continue, LSU will have to leave the friendly confines and return to a building it was blown out of earlier this season. Sounds like a Disney movie to me. James Moran is a 21-year-old mass communication senior from Beacon, N.Y. Contact James Moran at jmoran@lsureveille.com; Twitter: @Moran_TDR
No, NCAA athletes shouldn’t get basic human rights THE DAILY LABOTAMY Trey Labat Deputy Sports Editor College athletes might start getting paid. Or not. They’re definitely going to be represented by a union, though. Northwestern quarterback Kain Colter originally brought his petition — that college players should be able to collectively bargain their rights under the protection of a union — to the National Labor Relations Board in February, and Wednesday the board ruled in his favor. I, for one, am utterly opposed. Who do these players think they are? Why should they be afforded the rights that every other American has? All they do is play a stupid game. It’s not like the organization they play for profits off their labor. I mean, the 12-year deal ESPN reached with the NCAA to extend the players’ season into a playoff is only worth $475 million per year. That’s only a total of $5.64 billion. Add that to individually-negotiated conference TV deals, like the Southeastern Conference’s, which is worth upward of $2.25 billion, and schools barely have enough to keep the stadium lights on, much less compensate
the players. Maybe that’s why according to a report by the National College Players Association and Drexel University Sports Management, players at LSU live $2,500 below the federal poverty line. I mean we “pay” them already, right? Why should a full-ride scholarship to the university of their choosing not be enough? It’s not like the average collegeathlete has more on their plate than a regular student. It’s not like they have daily practices, workouts, film sessions or meetings to attend. It’s not like they actually have to go to class. Everyone knows the athletes get special favors from their teachers. Maybe that’s why according to a CNN report, the average English score for an LSU football player on the ACT was an 18.4, when many academic experts consider the score for college literacy is a 16. Maybe that’s why according to the same CNN report, 60 percent of football and basketball players attending college at UNC-Chapel Hill read at only a fourth-eighth grade level. Colleges seem to be setting up their studentathletes for success, right? Why should they be able to negotiate for medical rights and protect themselves against career-ending injuries or concussions? I mean, 18 to 22 year old people are definitely
PAUL BEATY / The Associated Press
Northwestern quarterback Kain Colter (right) speaks while College Athletes Players Association President Ramogi Huma listens during a news conference in Chicago.
less susceptible to peer pressure from coaches or teammates to play through pain than established veterans who are protected by the NFL Players Association. It’s not like chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) has been proven to be deep-rooted among football players. It’s not like that same disease causes normal men, people considered upstanding citizens during their playing careers, to consider suicide or hurt themselves or their loved ones. What do college football players have to worry about anyway? Everyone knows concussions only happen in the NFL.
Maybe that’s why senior women’s basketball guard Jeanne Kenney continues to play, despite countless concussions suffered during her time at LSU. Speaking of competition, what will happen to the small teams? What about the spirit of competition in college football, won’t the teams with the most money just dominate the sport? It’s not like in the past 10 years 99.3 percent of the yearly top 100 recruits are already choosing teams from big conferences like the SEC, Big 12, Pac-12 or ACC. It’s not like they are currently choosing those
schools because teams like Alabama or LSU can spend millions right now upon millions upgrading weight rooms, stadiums and practice facilities, while teams in the Sunbelt are left picking up the scraps and hoping to find a gem. Maybe that’s why no other conference has won the national championship in the BCS era outside of those four conferences. These meddling kids need to realize what they are doing to the world of amateur sports. Maybe they can find some perspective in the words of Walter Byers — the first executive director of the NCAA, “Collegiate amateurism is not a moral issue; it is an economic camouflage for monopoly practice.” Seriously, why should we allow these kids to unionize and protect themselves? It’s not like they have the rest of their lives in front of them. Trey Labat is a 21-year-old history senior from Mandeville, La.
See what other students have to say about student-athletes forming a union, p. 9. Contact Trey Labat at tlabat@lsureveille.com; Twitter: @TreyLabat_TDR
The Daily Reveille
page 8
Nation
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Ruling allows college athletes to unionize for first time The Associated Press CHICAGO (AP) — In a stunning ruling that could revolutionize a college sports industry worth billions of dollars and have dramatic repercussions at schools coast to coast, a federal agency said Wednesday that football players at Northwestern University can create the nation’s first union of college athletes. The decision by a regional director of the National Labor Relations Board answered the question at the heart of the debate over the unionization bid: are football players who receive full scholarships to the Big Ten school considered employees under federal law, thereby allowing them to unionize? Peter Sung Ohr, the NLRB regional director, said in a 24page decision that the players “fall squarely� within the broad definition of employee. Pro-union activists cheered as they learned of the ruling. “It’s like preparing so long for a big game and then when you win — it is pure joy,� said former UCLA linebacker Ramogi Huma, the designated president of Northwestern’s would-be football players’ union. The ruling addresses a situation in American college sports where the tradition of college competition has created a system that generates billions but relies on players who are not paid. In other countries, elite youth athletes turn pro as teens, but college sports are small-time club affairs. Under U.S. law, an employee is regarded as someone who, among other things, receives compensation for a service and is under the strict, direct control of managers. In the case of the Northwestern players, coaches are the managers and scholarships are a form of compensation, Ohr concluded. The Evanston, Ill., university argued that college athletes, as students, do not fit in the same category as factory workers, truck drivers and other unionized workers. The school announced plans to appeal to labor authorities in Washington, D.C. Supporters of the union bid argued that the university ultimately treats football as more important than academics for scholarship players. Ohr sided with the players. “The record makes clear that the employer’s scholarship players are identified and recruited in the first instance because of their football prowess and not because of their academic achievement in high school,� Ohr wrote. He also noted that among the evidence presented by Northwestern, “no examples were provided of scholarship players being permitted to miss entire practices and/or games to attend their studies.� The ruling described how the life of a Northwestern football player is far more regimented than that of a typical student, down to requirements about what they can eat and whether they can live off
campus or purchase a car. At times, players put 50 or 60 hours a week into football, Ohr added. Alan Cubbage, Northwestern’s vice president for university relations, said in a statement that while the school respects “the NLRB process and the regional director’s opinion, we disagree with it.� Huma said scholarship players would vote within 30 days on whether to formally authorize the College Athletes Players Association, or CAPA, to represent them. The specific goals of CAPA include guaranteeing coverage of sports-related medical expenses for current and former players, reducing head injuries and potentially letting players pursue commercial sponsorships. Critics have argued that
giving college athletes employee status and allowing them to unionize could hurt college sports in numerous ways, including raising the prospect of strikes by disgruntled players or lockouts by athletic departments. For now, the push is to unionize athletes at private schools, such as Northwestern, because the federal labor agency does not have jurisdiction over public universities. But Huma said Wednesday’s decision is the “first domino to fall� and that teams at schools — both public and private — could eventually follow the Wildcats’ lead. Outgoing Wildcats quarterback Kain Colter took a leading role in establishing CAPA. The United Steelworkers union has been footing the legal bills. Colter, who has entered the
NFL draft, said nearly all of the 85 scholarship players on the Wildcats roster backed the union bid, though only he expressed his support publicly. He said the No. 1 reason to unionize was to ensure injured players have their medical needs met. “With the sacrifices we make athletically, medically and with our bodies, we need to be taken care of,� Colter told ESPN. The NCAA has been under increasing scrutiny over its amateurism rules and is fighting a classaction federal lawsuit by former players seeking a cut of the billions of dollars earned from live broadcasts, memorabilia sales and video games. Other lawsuits allege the NCAA failed to protect players from debilitating head injuries.
NCAA President Mark Emmert has pushed for a $2,000-per-player stipend to help athletes defray some expenses. Critics say that is not nearly enough, considering players help bring in millions of dollars to their schools and conferences. In a written statement, the NCAA said it disagreed with the notion that student-athletes are employees. “We frequently hear from student-athletes, across all sports, that they participate to enhance their overall college experience and for the love of their sport, not to be paid,� the NCAA said.
Contact The Daily Reveille’s news staff at news@lsureveille.com; Twitter: @TDR_news
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The Daily Reveille
Thursday, March 27, 2014
swimming and diving
page 9
‘Do you think student-athletes Tigers ready for NCAA championships should be able to unionize?’
Jack Chascin Sports Contributor
The LSU men’s swimming squad, represented by one individual qualifier and a four-man relay team, begin NCAA Championships today in Austin, Texas, in hopes of bringing home the first individual championship to Baton Rouge since 1988. The Tigers will only bring five total competitors, including junior team captain Frank Greeff, who will be appearing in his second NCAAs after earning an NCAA Honorable Mention All-American honor in last year’s event, finishing in 12th place in the 200-yard butterfly. Greeff returns to the event with his eyes set on a top-eight finish in the 200-yard butterfly, along with strong finishes in the 200-yard individual medley and the 100-yard butterfly. Being the lone qualifier could pose a challenge for the captain, but LSU swimming coach Dave Geyer said Greeff’s experience should help him overcome the circumstances. Greeff won’t be completely alone though, as he can rely on the support of the LSU relay team of freshman Tyler Crosson, junior Marco Gonzalez, sophomore Alex Linge and senior Michael Saco. The relay team will swim the 200-yard freestyle relay on Thursday, followed by the 400-yard freestyle relay on Saturday.
The meet is held at the Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center, and Geyer said the facility has taken some getting used to. “It’s a big pool,” Geyer said. “There isn’t a ton of room on the pool deck like what we are used to in other meets.” The atmosphere is sure to add extra pressure to the meet, as Geyer said it is sold out. But he said he believes his swimmers can handle the pressure and they are used to the atmosphere, having competed in high profile amateur national meets. The number one concern for the Tigers heading into the meet is the emphasis on performing well in the morning. Qualifying for the finals hinges on strong morning performances during the preliminary rounds. Geyer said it has been the focal point he has pitched to his squad: for them to do something special, it all comes down to the morning competition. “We have got to go fast in the morning,” Geyer said. “The past two mornings we have been waking them up early for the morning sessions to make sure that their bodies will be awake and ready to go when the morning hits.”
Contact Jack Chascin at jchascin@lsureveille.com
Jacob Danielson biology junior
‘No, I really think that athletes in college are students first, athletes second.’
Robert Walton biological engineeering sophomore
‘With limits. They can’t just say they’re not going to play.’ Daniel Boudreaux
Jessie Gros
kinesiology sophomore
business junior
‘No, I don’t think they should be paid to play. It just doesn’t sound right.’
‘I do, but there are a lot of issues that need to be covered as well.’
The Daily Reveille
page 10
sand volleyball
LSU loses to Tulane, 3-2 Tyler Nunez Sports Contributor
Once again, the LSU sand volleyball team fell a match short of victory Wednesday, with Tulane striking early and taking the contest, 3-2, at Coconut Beach in Kenner, La. All of the Tigers’ (2-4) losses have come with the same result against programs with more than a year of experience. LSU coach Russell Brock said balancing the squad’s expectations with its will to win has been a challenge early in the season. “It’s such a balance trying to stoke that competitive fire but also with the understanding that we’re a little bit behind the eightball,” Brock said. “That’s really the key for us ... to expect to win, but understand there are going to be times when we’re out-gunned and we just have to fight hard.” Brock said the experience the Tigers’ gained in the loss will prove to be invaluable to the future of the program. He noted that it was the first time his squad had played in a crosswind, something he can’t replicate in practice to help LSU prepare. “We talked about that, but if the wind doesn’t blow across the courts when you train, you’ll never experience it,” Brock said. “So it was a huge learning opportunity. You’d like to have those in practice as opposed to in your matches, but right now, we’ll take them where we can get them.” The Tigers found themselves behind early, as Tulane (3-3) won the first two matches of the afternoon to take a 2-0 lead, meaning LSU would have to win all three of the top-seeded matchups. “Coming in, we knew our fours and fives were going to be a bit of a struggle,” Brock said. “We’re making changes and we’re revamping that a little bit and trying to gain experience at that level. We hoped we could have gotten one. If we had gotten one of those, then we’d be OK.” The Tigers came back strong in the second round of contests, as the second pair comprising senior Kaitlin Hatcher and junior Helen Boyle won their contest in consecutive sets and the third pair of sophomores Cati Leak and Victoria Boraski won in three sets. “We needed all three, and they fought hard and tried to get all three,” Brock said. “It could have been a situation where you need all three and you don’t think you can get them so you don’t even go out there and give it your effort, but that wasn’t the case.” The deciding match came on court one, which pitted LSU’s top pair, senior Meghan Mannari and sophomore Katie Lindelow, against Tulane’s Tea Juric and Jackie Wegner. Mannari and Lindelow
ANGELA MAJOR / The Daily Reveille
LSU senior sand volleyball player Kaitlin Hatcher (22) bumps the ball Wednesday during the Tigers’ 3-2 lost against Tulane at Coconut Beach Sand Volleyball Complex.
stayed close for a majority of the first set and even took a 15-13 lead before Juric and Wegner rallied for eight consecutive points to take the set, 21-15. The Tiger duo never led in the second set but kept it close as Tulane took the match and the contest with a 21-18 victory. Mannari said she and Lindelow kept high spirits despite the loss, especially considering they will get another chance against the Green Wave in Baton Rouge in LSU’s season finale on April 19. “The first thing we said after the match, Katie and I looked at each other and said, ‘We’re playing them again,’” Mannari said.
Thursday, March 27, 2014 receivers, from page 5
“It’s a good bit of pressure,” Dural said. “Those guys were two good receivers. … It’s some pressure having to fill in those shoes, but like coach [Cam] Cameron says, ‘We’re the right guys to do it.’” Dural entered spring practice as one of only two returning wide receivers to register a catch last season and the presumptive No. 1 option for sophomore quarterback Anthony Jennings. In limited snaps, Dural produced seven receptions for 145 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Diarse is the current No. 2 behind Dural, but has been inactive for the past week because of an unspecified injury that kept him in shorts during Tuesday’s practice and out of Saturday’s scrimmage. Diarse wasn’t made available to the media during the week because of the injury. Miles said the injury is unrelated to the ankle injury that kept him out all last season. “Besides the little injury [Diarse] had, he was having a real good spring,” Dural said. “He was starting to develop into the receiver that we really needed. He was a big body, catching balls, making contact catches, making the right reads on certain routes, blocking people.” The injury could be detrimental to Diarse if he doesn’t get back to full speed soon, with an influx of top-receiving talent coming in the fall. Miles said he expects Diarse to finish out the spring with no further issues, but top recruits Malachi
Dupre and Trey Quinn could jump into serious roles during their first season on campus. “I think the wide receiver position will be one with a lot of competition and those young four guys will have an opportunity to compete very quickly,” Miles said before Saturday’s scrimmage. “They’ll have to pick up the passing game and route technique and how it all happens, but I think really all four of them will have opportunities to play significantly.” Miles has made no attempts to hide the fact that he views Dupre and Quinn as the future of the program at wide receivers — with mention of incoming freshmen D.J. Chark and Tony Upchurch in the mix as well — even if they don’t see time right away. Miles said Saturday that Dural is one of the Tigers’ fastest receivers. Miles also appears to have early hopes of Dural and Diarse filling the same roles as Beckham and Landry but isn’t ready to put anything into writing just yet. “I think we’re trying to make a determination as we design summer plans and this is where this guys is going to be, this is where this guy is going to be and how to operate it,” Miles said. “I think the recruiting class will hit us right where we need to be hit.”
Contact Mike Gegenheimer at mgegenheimer@lsureveille.com; Twitter: @Gegs_TDR
ANGELA MAJOR / The Daily Reveille
Contact Tyler Nunez at tnunez@lsureveille.com
LSU junior sand volleyball player Helen Boyle (23) serves the ball Wednesday during the Tigers’ 3-2 lost against Tulane at Coconut Beach Sand Volleyball Complex.
Richard Redmann / The Daily Reveille
LSU sophomore wide receiver Travin Dural (83) catches a pass during a drill Tuesday during practice at the Charles McClendon Practice Facility.
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Thursday, March 27, 2014
Entertainment
CARPE LUCEM
Weezer still big without mega hits Gerald Ducote
Entertainment Writer
“Carpe Lucem” is currently a three-act screenplay that infuses elements of magical realism into the long-standing cinematic tradition of film noir. The characters of Muhammad’s story exist in a world in which color does not exist. The protagonist of the film locates an object that brings colors into the world, but he is soon hunted by a group that wants to destroy his discovery. Muhammad said the story is symbolic of the creative suppression that occurs when artists confine themselves to the whims and styles of other people. In an effort to innovate the filmmaking process, Muhammad will host a multimedia event on campus with a large crowd of students and insert
The glory that is Weezer will be descending upon Baton Rouge on Friday night for the annual Groovin’ on the Grounds concert. The alt-rock quartet has been banging out its signature sound for more than 20 years, and many students are extremely excited for the GERALD DUCOTE performance. Entertainment Writer In all the hullabaloo, it’s important to look back at Weezer’s career and consider why people love the band so much. Weezer has made a name for itself with songs filled with loud, crunchy guitar and funny lyrics about nerdy seclusion. Since the band’s eponymous debut, more often referred to as “The Blue Album,” many have latched onto the all-encompassing lifestyle and mindset involved in being a Weezer fan. Weezer’s debut hit was “Buddy Holly.” Right off the bat, the song launched the band into the
FILMMAKER, see page 15
WEEZER, see page 15
RICHARD REDMANN / The Daily Reveille
LSU English and communication studies junior Akeem Muhammad is working on a film, “Carpe Lucem,” in which he has involved LSU students from across campus.
Student directs experimental film PANYA KROUN · Contributing Writer
According to the nonprofit film office Film L.A., Louisiana is the film production capital of the United States, and many students at the University want to join the ranks of the nation’s finest filmmakers. Hopeful directors enroll in the University’s film and media arts program and produce short films in hopes of one day making it in the big leagues. Akeem Muhammad, English and communication studies junior, doesn’t want to wait until graduation to achieve his filmmaking dreams. “Carpe Lucem,” a massive experimental film project, is Muhammad’s realization of his dream, and he wants it to be the biggest film project anyone at the University has ever produced. “I want to involve as many people as I possibly can in this project, and I want it to be enormous,” Muhammad said.
page 11
EVENT
Annual BR cat show features fancy feline competition Will Kallenborn Entertainment Writer
Every year in Baton Rouge, many of the city’s cat fanatics get together to compete in the Greater Baton Rouge Cat Club’s annual Cat Show. At the show, more than 150 cats compete for special prizes. “Cats from all over the country will be coming to compete. It is a great show,” said Larry Johnson, the show manager and president of the Cat Club. The show is highly competitive, with six judges reviewing the qualities of the cats and determining their own winners from the group. Judges look at a
variety of factors when judging a cat, including eyes, coat, claws and body shape. Cats are judged on a 100 point scale with many factors determining the number of points awarded, including how well the cats can play. “The judges play with the cats to relax them and to help them look their best. You learn a great deal from a cat by playing with it,” Johnson said. The show will host a variety of different breeds including Russian Blues, Sphinxes, Maine Coons and Siamese. There will also be a special category for household pets and cats without pedigrees, which will be an exciting opportunity for non-purebred
cats to perform for fun. Cat shows are different from dog shows, with several rules that are not what one would expect at Westminster. The cat show prioritizes breeding over endurance and agility tests one sees at dog shows. But similar to a dog show, preparation is of the utmost importance for the kitty competitors. Many owners will groom their pets for weeks in advance to get ready for the show. Ultimately, the show is about the cats. “We all have different avenues with how we relate to our pets,” Johnson said. “People do CATS, see page 14
courtesy of LARRY JOHNSON
Feline friends will compete for the top prize this weekend at the Baton Rouge Cat Club’s annual Cat Show.
page 12
Reveille Ranks
The Hold Steady, “Teeth Dreams”
Razor & Tie
With 10 years under its belt, American rockers The Hold Steady are back with “Teeth Dreams,” an album of unadulterated heartland rock. Lead singer Craig Finn has never sounded more like Bruce Springsteen. If it weren’t for the distinguishing factor of lyrical quality, I could have easily mistaken “Teeth Dreams” as the newest work from The Wallflowers. “Teeth Dreams” sounds like a lackluster ode to American life that provokes images of steam from manhole covers and working people in hardhats sitting on girders. The album sounds like Bob Seger-esque Americana with the dreary buzz of Tom Petty’s drug use. As a whole, The Hold Steady doesn’t come up with the right stuff on this album, and it’s the unsatisfactory result of the band being a decade under the influence of American rocking. GERALD DUCOTE
[ C- ]
Karmin, “Pulses”
Epic Records
After four years of YouTube videos and three EPs, pop duo Karmin has released its debut album “Pulses.” The record starts off strong with “Geronimo Intro,” which should be longer than 41 seconds. The intro eases into the album’s title track, in which Amy Heidemann channels her inner Nicki Minaj and Nick Noonan carries the hook. After these first two tracks, “Pulses” flatlines. Slow songs such as “Neon Love” and “Tidal Wave” are not the group’s strong suit. Karmin is at its best when it performs upbeat, bass-heavy songs with catchy choruses. Instead, the group makes a failing attempt at a pop song with a reggae twist on “Gasoline.” If “Pulses” is any indication that Karmin is trying to experiment with its sound, consider its career over.
[ D]
JOSHUA JACKSON
“Infamous: Second Son”
Sucker Punch Productions
In this transition period from one console generation to the next, it seems no one is sure what to expect from the next generation. “Infamous: Second Son,” is one of the first games to truly make use of the new hardware the PlayStation 4 provides. It’s a game where everything works. The game’s physics are incredible, and the faces in this game look fantastic. This may be the closest we’ve gotten to game characters looking like actual people. The game also has the entertaining gameplay and interesting story many have come to expect from the “Infamous” series. The major problem with the game is length. Many people have been waiting for this game since the PS4 came out last year, and the game can easily be completed in a few days with limited replay value. Ultimately, “Second Son” is a great example of what the PS4 can do, and it leaves a lot to be excited about for the system’s future. WILL KALLENBORN
[ B-]
Animals as Leaders, “The Joy of Motion”
Sumerian Records
Animals as Leaders’ debut album gave fresh and manic insight into jazz fusion and progressive metal. On the band’s second release, “Weightless,” the group explored electronica, but its efforts largely fell flat. On the third album, “The Joy of Motion,” it successfully engineered a formula for cross-genre success. Panicked electronic sounds punctuate faster-than-light riffs, and syncopated beats lend order to their tandem chaos. Listening to “The Joy of Motion” is just that — a euphoric, maddening odyssey through sound. The only mistake this album makes is that some of the songs don’t flow into each other — the transition between “Lippincott” and “Air Chrysalis” are awkward at best and jarring at worst. Despite this flaw, though, the album is still a joy to listen to.
[ B]
PANYA KROUN
Shakira, “Shakira”
RCA Records
Shakira’s newest album, “Shakira,” provides such an array of sounds and song types it’s hard not to find something to like on the record. Shakira, who is well-known for her Latin pop sound, expanded to more genres on this album, including rock and country. Her duet with Rihanna, “Can’t Remember to Forget You,” includes rock elements accompanied by guitar and heavy drums. Her duet with Blake Shelton, “Medicine,” has more of a country sound featuring Shelton’s twang. Shakira also includes a good mixture of break-up and love songs to keep from making the album seem like it only has one theme. While this record is a change for Shakira, she still didn’t forget her roots, including two Spanish songs, “Nunca Me Acuerdo de Olvidarte” and “Loca por Ti.” The album’s changes in sound and lyric type keep it from being repetitive, while also staying cohesive. MEG RYAN
[ B+ ]
EDITOR’S PICK: Manchester Orchestra, “Cope”
Favorite Gentlemen
Manchester Orchestra frontman Andy Hull has said countless times in the past few months that the main mission of “Cope” is to be the record that rock music today is missing. After sustaining a near slump with “Simple Math,” the Atlanta alt-rockers have more than delivered. As a band that has always prided itself on being honest, with “Cope,” MO have brought so much honesty, it’s almost brutal. Through all of MO’s work, guitars have gotten progressively louder, and “Cope” is no exception: the record starts off with an unrelenting bang and doesn’t quit for the full 11 tracks. Hull displays his signature loud shrill throughout, but the grand finale, the title track, “Cope,” is saved for the end of the album, leaving the listener with a final taste REBECCA DOCTER Entertainment Editor of the new Manchester Orchestra.
[ A]
The Daily Reveille
Thursday, March 27, 2014
MUSIC
Leon Russell to play Varsity Singer has spent 50 years in industry
songs and classics covered by Russell such as “Georgia On My Mind” and “New York State of Mind.” Other tracks suggest the album signifies the closGerald Ducote ing of his long career. The track “I’m Afraid The Masquerade Is Entertainment Writer Over” is a bold reference to RusBeing a college town means sell’s popular 1972 song “This Baton Rouge’s citizens attract mu- Masquerade.” Russell’s tour has taken sic and theater acts that are generally geared toward the young and him to all parts of the United States, working his way freewheeling. Tonight, the Varsity The- down from New England into atre is changing things up with the Deep South. Before his a performance by Leon Russell, stop in Baton Rouge tonight, whose career spans 50 years in Russell has already performed in production, writseven other vening and recording. ‘I’ve had studios in my ues, adding to his Russell is known houses for 45 years, and 11-show March for his producroute. I record all the time.’ tion and work on “Each place albums by numerhas its own ous popular artcharm,” Russell Leon Russell ists in the 1970s said. “They’re all musician such as Joe Cockdifferent and I ener, George Harrison and Bob joy most of them.” Dylan. Before “Life Journey,” Russell said he tours con- Russell had a resurgence in stantly, demonstrating his love popularity with his collaborafor music and playing for people tion with Elton John on their who come to listen. This current 2010 album “The Union,” stretch of touring coincides with which was supported by a 13the release of his latest studio show tour through the U.S. and album “Life Journey” scheduled England. Despite his glamour-filled for April. “It’s some stuff on the album career of working with worldthat I’ve done in the past and famous musicians, Russell has some stuff that I never did that yet to incorporate his friends’ I always wanted to do, so that’s star powers into shows with appearances. Instead, kind of a collection,” Russell guest said, in reference to the album’s Tulsa singer-songwriter Eric title. Himan is currently fronting “Life Journey” contains Russell. Because of his long career, a combination of original
the majority of Russell’s fans are middle-aged. This could mean many of Baton Rouge’s student citizens may be put off by Russell’s style. However, Russell said “[crowds] seem to have a good mix. There are a lot of Baby Boomers and also a lot of young people. I have a lot of young people at my shows.” Russell joked. “I think it’s because some of them think I’m Santa Claus.” Following “Life Journey,” Russell plans to continue work in the studio. No new album is currently in the works, but this doesn’t mean Russell will stop playing. “I’ve had studios in my houses for 45 years, and I record all the time,” Russell said. “Some of them get heard by more people than others but I sell about eight or 10 albums on the Internet over that period of time.” Leon Russell is performing tonight at the Varsity Theatre. Doors will open at 7 p.m. and the show begins at 8 p.m. Tickets begin at $30.
Contact Gerald Ducote at gducote@lsureveille.com
Thursday, March 27, 2014
KimYe deserves their Vogue cover THE REAL MEG RYAN MEG RYAN Entertainment Writer Anyone who knows me well knows I have an obsession with the Kardashian family. I watch the show, I follow their social media and I own some of their merchandise. So it’s no surprise that I would be one of the first to see Kim Kardashian and Kanye West make the cover of Vogue. Vogue named the couple “#WorldsMostTalkedAboutCouple,” hashtag included. The photographs were done tastefully, Kardashian was styled in wedding dresses designed from the Lanvin Blanche Collection by Alber Elbaz, Alexander McQueen and Nina Ricci. West is photographed in nice jackets and pants. They also include Kardashian’s and West’s baby daughter, North West. The entire magazine spread has the look of a rich entertainment family getting their family portraits done. Images include the family on a private jet, walking down Paris streets and lounging on a luxurious couch. However, people just can’t seem to get over the fact that Vogue picked KimYe to be on the cover. In some commenters’ eyes, a Vogue cover is earned, not given, and the couple has not earned this honor. Others feel it’s just shocking, with Kanye West constantly causing controversy and Kardashian only famous for her reality show and sex tape. Vogue is for dignified, hard-working celebrities and, to most, these two are neither. But being a fan of this dysfunctional family and Vogue, I’m going to defend both parties. Vogue is the fashion magazine to look to. It creates trends instead of following them. So taking two of the most talked-about celebrities and their baby and dressing them up for an article was done in a way only Vogue would think of. In reality, most other magazines are probably wondering why they didn’t think of it first because it’s brilliant. You’re still talking about it. You probably went out and bought it. You probably secretly love it even though you’re scoffing at the fact that these two made the cover. So Vogue is a genius, but what about Kardashian and West? Now is the perfect time for Vogue to place them on the cover. They recently had a baby, are engaged to be married and their personal life is seen on the family’s reality show. They are at the front of the public’s mind, so for the first obvious point,
The Daily Reveille
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putting them on the cover is a smart business move. However, a second point is less obvious. While these two may not seem like a couple that is dignified enough to be on Vogue, they are highly influential. Kanye West has sold plenty of albums and filled up arenas for concerts. Kardashian promotes her brands with her two sisters, Kourtney Kardashian and Khloe Kardashian. These two hold influence over music, clothing and television. They are the definition of a powerful entertainment couple, who, individually, have control, but together create conversation that never ends. So do these two deserve the Vogue cover? They are the world’s most talked-about couple, so I would say yes. Meg Ryan is a 19-year-old mass communication freshman from Philadelphia.
Contact Meg Ryan at mryan@lsureveille.com
ANNIE LEIBOVITZ / The Associated Press
The cover for the April 2014 issue of Vogue features rapper Kanye West and TV personality Kim Kardashian.
The Daily Reveille
page 14
ART
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Local vintage store carries rare oddities Bradley Williams Entertainment Writer
Vintage items offer a look into history through the beauty and craftsmanship of an object and its longevity. At Aladdin’s Lamp Antiques, the staff prides itself on vintage furniture, odd items and antique curiosities. Family owned by Jeanne Hanson and her son Greg Hanson for more than 25 years, the shop has been a hidden treasure, containing numerous rare finds that have decorated the homes of families across the nation. The business started as a weekend project for Jeanne Hanson when she decided she wanted to open up a little shop for leisure. The little shop and weekend venture quickly grew into what Jeanne said was a creation of its own that has given her great business and clients. College students often come in looking for small knickknacks or decor that can embellish and furnish their homes. Mass communication junior Dondalyn Breaux said she experiences a homey feel whenever she visits that adds to the beauty of the building and the objects inside of it. “The inside had me in awe, and it is an awesome place that I have found great objects to put in my home,” Breaux said. Aladdin’s Antiques carries oddities like alligator heads, old typewriters and old-style cameras, which help add to the “blast from the past” atmosphere.
“We have had a swordfish bone, which is very rare, and we have also had leopard skin and other interesting things like that,” Jeanne Hanson said. The antique shop offers creative pieces that help make this store different than a typical Hobby Lobby or a furniture store. “I want people to have a good time when they come in our store, and I want them to find something that makes them excited,” Jeanne Hanson said. The store has also had its fair share of politicians and Hollywood South movie crews come in to explore this one-of-a-kind shop. Aladdin’s Antiques has been in several locations but has kept residence for the last 10 years on Government Street, since Greg Hanson joined the business. He said he feels there is never a dull moment being with his mom at the shop. “She is very entertaining and quite knowledgeable,” Greg Hanson said. Aladdin’s Antiques is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Sunday from 12 to 4 p.m.
courtesy of LARRY JOHNSON
The Baton Rouge Cat Club’s annual show features a competition, and attendees have the opportunity to rescue kittens from local groups.
CATS, from page 11
this because they love their animals.” Show attendees will also get the opportunity to show their love for cats by playing with and adopting kittens provided by a variety of cat rescue groups in attendance. For those unfamiliar with the world of cat shows, Johnson promises the show will be a singular experience. “It is a very different kind of experience, everyone should come out to see it,” Johnson said. The show is from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday. General admission is $5.
CHARLES CHAMPAGNE / The Daily Reveille
Contact Bradley Williams at bwilliams@lsureveille.com
Antique radios, posters and lamps are among items at Aladdin’s Lamp Antiques, located at 2648 Government St.
4/20 HUGE STORE WIDE SALE!
Contact Will Kallenborn at wkallenborn@lsureveille.com
The Daily Reveille
Thursday, March 27, 2014 WEEZER, from page 11
FILMMAKER, from page 11
limelight with a catchy hook and showed off just how open lead singer Rivers Cuomo could be with his insecurities. “The Blue Album” was immediately accepted as a staple of ’90s emo music with the singles “Say It Ain’t So” and “Undone — The Sweater Song.” “Pinkerton,” the band’s sophomore album, was infamously shunned by diehard “Blue Album” fans, noting its darker tones. Weezer suffered extensive backlash, causing many admirers to reconsider how far the band would go musically. In the years that followed, Weezer has released record after record. As a fan of Weezer, I feel safe in saying I am among the many who have not felt the need to keep up with the band’s endeavors. I have maintained interest in Weezer since I first heard “Say It Ain’t So.” Even today, I will defend Weezer’s validity as a reputable band while also acknowledging my lack of savvy concerning the band’s current albums. Basically, Weezer has not put out a noticeable record since the early 2000s, and I fully accept that my interest is in those albums that are deemed “popular.” This is a sentiment I hope many admirers of Weezer are willing to accept. If anything, this situation is an example of how those who love a band’s music are not required to be up-to-date with all of its works. It is perfectly acceptable to be familiar with only popular music. This worry of not being deemed a proper fan is something forcing many people to listen to music and make opinions they do not actually agree with. The force of out-fanning someone stifles organic opinions, and organic opinions are what give artists the fuel to create something they, too, will enjoy. All of this doesn’t mean that Weezer is making music its members don’t believe in. The band will continue to put out music for many years, judging by its track record of nine albums. Personally, I hold Weezer in the highest esteem and know it proves to be an influence for many of the acts I admire today. When Weezer puts out something that breaks through the thick layer of stifling aficionados, I will listen, and I will love it. Until then, I’ll continue to blare 20-year-old songs like “El Scorcho” and “Surf Wax America” and wait for Groovin’ on the Grounds on Friday night.
footage of the event into a segment of the movie. The event will include spoken word performances, live music, dancing, an art exhibition and a fashion show. Muhammad hopes to host the event at the Greek Theatre in September, and he intends to invite everyone on campus to the show. Muhammad also hopes to involve students of all studies in his project. He said he believes everyone, regardless of major, has something to offer creatively, and overlooking the University’s massive pool of talent would be an egregious error. “If the University sees so many people involved in a successful project like this, they’ll want to support the creation of more artistic endeavors in the future,” Muhammad said. Muhammad’s brainchild was largely influenced by a TED talk given by “Lost” and “Star Trek” director J.J. Abrams in 2007. In his talk, Abrams encouraged aspiring artists to involve different kinds of thinkers
Contact Gerald Ducote at gducote@lsureveille.com
Free Wi-Fi, Exquisite Pastries 3350 Highland Road Baton Rouge, LA 70802
page 15
in their projects and not to confine themselves to the limits set by the film industry. Muhammad took Abrams’ advice to heart and began writing the script for “Carpe Lucem” last year. He assembled a dedicated crew of peers to assist him in this endeavor and solicited the University for approval and assistance just a few months later. Muhammad and his crew are now recruiting students for the project. They have given talks to various classes in the past few weeks, and they are currently holding auditions for various roles in the film. “I don’t want to leave any kind of talent out of the project,” Muhammad said. Muhammad and his crew will hold a round of auditions from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. tonight in room 452 of the Student Union. For more information, contact Muhammad at grandstandmedia@gmail.com.
RICHARD REDMANN / The Daily Reveille
Contact Panya Kroun at pkroun@lsureveille.com
Hey Tigers! P Metic Study
LSU English and communication studies junior Akeem Muhammad speaks to a class Monday in the Art Building for an opportunity to work on his project.
Pennington Biomedical is looking for healthy volunteers for a short, 3 visit research study testing the blood levels and safety of an investigational drug.
Eligibility
study design
Age: 18-65 years
1 screening visit
Weight: BMI ≤ 30
3 clinic visits
Have had a stable weight for the last 3 months
Visit
www.pbrc.edu/pmetic
Call
225.763.3000
Earn up to $350 for participation.
clinicaltrials@pbrc.edu
The Daily Reveille
Opinion
page 16
Thursday, March 27, 2014
WHATCHA SAY?
‘Microaggressions’ are proof of a flawed society NO WAY, JOSE Jose Bastidas Columnist
The word “microaggression” isn’t a thing yet, but it will be soon. While sitting in one of my classes, I started talking to a group of people about our latest assignment. We didn’t know each other, so they asked me what my name was and I politely replied and asked for theirs. The conversation reached a halt at their realization that I have a Hispanic name. “Jose? Oh my God, you don’t look Hispanic at all!” or “Your English is so good. How did you do it?” are some of the comments I’m used to hearing in situations like this. I moved to America almost five years ago, so you’d think I would be used to these statements of awe over my mastery of the English language or about the “non-Hispanic-like” color of my skin. Truth is, I’m not. The group was in no way being patronizing or racist toward me, but in a way, I did feel insulted because I don’t consider the fact that I don’t have a foreignsounding accent or that I am a white-skinned Hispanic person to be a huge accomplishment. I’m just not how preschool teachers portrayed Latinos in their word-teaching flashcards, and American brains can’t handle that. This interaction is one of many examples I have of what social media now calls microaggressions. A term first used only in academic settings by racial theorists and sociologists in the 1970s, the term has slowly become a phenomenon in the digital world after two Columbia University students founded The
ANNE LIPSCOMB / The Daily Reveille
Microaggressions Project. On the project’s website, people can post snippets of day-to-day instances where they felt insulted, belittled or unappreciated. It’s like the Whisper app, but with legitimate reasons to complain about life. Since the foundation of the project, universities across the U.S. have created their own microaggression pages on Facebook and other social media as an outlet for college students to shed light on the daily, subtle abuse they live with, and I believe the University’s student body would benefit from a
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Kevin Thibodeaux Morgan Searles Wilborn Nobles III Gordon Brillon Megan Dunbar
Editor in Chief Managing Editor Managing Editor, External Media News Editor Opinion Editor
page like that. One of the things I like about the website is that its goal isn’t to criticize the ignorance of American society, because the vast majority of the experiences posted were not intentional incidents. The goal of the website is to show how commentary, embedded in our minds by the society we are raised in, can have an abusive effect on our daily lives. Since everyone is used to brushing off this type of commentary — myself included — we ignore the fact that it is happening and, in consequence, we do nothing to change things.
When I moved to America and had my first experiences with microaggressions, my parents told me to get used to it because that’s just how society is — something they continue to tell me to this day whenever I complain about it — but I am glad these students from Columbia took initiative and are attempting to change the world, one post at a time. Our society is damaged, and even with a contribution as small as a post on a website, we can change the way we view each other’s differences. Last year, everyone was
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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.
obsessed with LSU Confessions. Maybe now someone can start LSU Microaggressions, and it’ll become the new Facebook thing. That way, we can actually do some good when we’re not paying attention in class. Jose Bastidas is a 20-year-old mass communication junior from The Woodlands, Texas.
Contact Jose Bastidas at jbastidas@lsureveille.com; Twitter: @jabastidas
Quote of the Day “Aggression unopposed becomes a contagious disease.”
Jimmy Carter former U.S. president Oct. 1, 1924 — present
The Daily Reveille
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Opinion
page 17
Facebook’s virtual reality investment discouraging NEUTRAL GROUND Eli A. Haddow Columnist For those who think this world is too depressing, your lucky day may be around the corner. News spread around the tech world Tuesday that Facebook had agreed to buy virtual reality firm Oculus VR for $2 billion. That’s right — if your life is not rewarding as it is, you will soon be able to don a headset that allows you to escape it entirely. While this seems like exciting news to some, especially those who watch “Star Trek,” we are in danger of putting even more emphasis on interaction through technology instead of actual communication. Facebook seeks to integrate its social networking into the headsets
so friends can be beamed to your virtual universe as if they are actually there. So aside from opening yourself up to blindside tackling, you can ditch your boring, human friends for some new ones on the Internet. And instead of taking a real, sunny walk through the Quad, maybe you can just enjoy it from your sofa. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg offered some more exciting prospects of the immersive 3-D technology. “Imagine enjoying a court side seat at a game, studying in a classroom of students and teachers all over the world or consulting with a doctor face-to-face — just by putting on goggles in your home,” he wrote in a Facebook post. Some of these ideas seem innovative and possibly even revolutionary, but they only increase the rate at which we replace real experiences with virtual ones.
As everything in this century becomes more digitized, we are gradually losing basic living skills like interpersonal social interaction. If Facebook succeeds in making a marketable virtual reality, where does this leave us? Will we replace real friends with virtual, computerized ones? Will we substitute memorable experiences like attending a basketball game for a virtual courtside seat? Will we be able to trust physicians who can’t actually examine their patients? These are questions that are sure to arise if a product ever hits the market. But still, most people will probably only use them to play video games. The acquisition comes on the heels of Facebook’s $16 billion deal to purchase the messaging app WhatsApp last month. In essence, the social media hegemony is purchasing technology and programming in all the areas it can
in a wave of horizontal integration. They are not alone. By now, everyone has heard of Google Glass, the first widely marketed digital headgear. Once this kind of technology becomes commonplace on the streets of Baton Rouge, we can kiss all semblance of social propriety goodbye. Google Glass users have already earned the term “glassholes” to describe their behavior while wearing the gadget. I pray I never see the day when normal, upstanding citizens have to rely on head-mounted hardware to perform everyday tasks. However, hope may be lost as our country has been embracing every adaptation of technology with open arms. If we are on a path to become consumed in what isn’t happening around us, then at least we can draw a line on wearing virtual reality helmets on the street. The problems facing our
generation are numerous, and it would be unreasonable for someone my age to argue that improvements in technology will not enhance our lives. But if we are escaping to a world of alternative reality instead of improving our lives, we aren’t accomplishing anything. It’s like Joaquin Phoenix hoping he can have a relationship with a phone operating system instead of a human being in the film “Her.” There’s no point in living in the real world if you need a fake one to fall back on. Eli Haddow is a 21-year-old English and history junior from New Orleans.
Contact Eli Haddow at ehaddow@lsureveille.com; Twitter: @Haddow_TDR
Minimum wage debate should interest students Mr. Fini Joshua Hajiakbarifini Columnist Earlier in this month, Louisiana Public Broadcasting hosted a panel discussion about a partisan issue affecting the lives of the working poor and business leaders alike, a minimum wage increase. LPB had a panel of experts to debate the issue, along with a room full of audience members consisting of small business owners, Young Americans for Liberty, College Democrats, high school students and activists. Students should be concerned with the current minimum wage taking off again not just in college political clubs, social media and local media, but soon to be legislature chambers. Many students currently work at fast food restaurants or convenience
stores to help pay tuition and living expenses. A raise in the minimum wage would positively affect many students who are currently working minimum wage jobs and trying to make ends meet. President Barack Obama sparked the minimum wage debate this year by declaring that it should be set at $10.10 per hour. During the State of the Union in January, Obama made a call for state legislatures, mayors and governors to take up the task of raising the minimum wage. La. Rep. Herbert Dixon is one of the legislators who answered Obama’s call to raise the minimum wage. Dixon’s bill will help hundreds of thousands of working poor people, but there is strong opposition in the state to raising the minimum wage. The Young Americans for Liberty members were against the idea of the minimum wage because they felt it hurt the people they are trying
to help. This is the standard libertarian view that government intervention into the market causes more problems than it solves. One of the YAL members felt it was immoral to raise the minimum wage because it would put some out of work. This is a weak argument because it neglects the reality that many in poverty have jobs and that those who may lose a job will have a safety net until the market adjusts. It is immoral for someone to work full time and be in poverty. The audience also included members of the College Democrats. One of them made it clear that the increase of the minimum wage is just a bandage and should be gradual. Dixon informed the audience that his bill, if passed, would gradually increase the minimum wage to $9 and by 2017 will be set to grow with inflation. David Gray, from the Louisiana Budget Project, explained that raising the minimum wage to $10.10
would raise the income of more than 360,000 workers and pump $689 million into the state economy. One of Gray’s best remarks was about the $15 minimum wage in SeaTac, Wash. Gray said many businesses received a flood of applicants from people across the state and even out of state. Gray’s work clearly demonstrates that raising the minimum wage is ultimately beneficial for the workers and the economy as a whole. The two panelists against the minimum wage were economist Robert Hebert and Jim Patterson, Louisiana Association of Business and Industry. Robert argued from the perspective of economics 101 with the price of labor increasing leading to a decrease in demand for labor. Hebert ignores that not all factors remain the same when the minimum wage increases because after the increase, workers’ income increased, translating to an increase in consumption and leading to increased economic activity.
Patterson and Hebert expressed negative concerns the business community has regarding a possible raise in the minimum wage, but what they both fail to address is whether these businesses will actually lay off people as opposed to them just wanting to do so. The argument against the minimum wage is an emotional one that comes from the idea that the free market is close to perfect and the government should just stay out of it. The reality is that the only reason the minimum wage exists is because of the failure of the marketplace to provide a living wage for the working poor. Joshua Hajiakbarifini is a 24-yearold political science and economics senior from Baton Rouge.
Contact Joshua Hajiakbarifini at jhajiakbarifini@lsureveille.com; Twitter: @JoshuaFini Louisiana Public Broadcasting minimum wage panelists debate the issue March 14 in front of a crowd of business owners, Young Americans for Liberty, College Democrats, high school students and activists.
courtesy of LPB
The Daily Reveille
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Sporting Goods and Convenience Store has openings for Customer Service/Cashier. Job will include front counter sales, answer phones and assist customers. Must be a team player with a positive attitude and able to multitask. Hunting and Fishing knowledge a plus. Send resume to officemgr@spillwaysportsman.com ________________________ Safety & Training Assistant Associated Grocers Part time position responsible for developing and conducting new hire safety orientation and promoting safety awareness throughout the Company. Excellent communication and presentation skills and proficient in Word & Excel. Must be able to work 20-30 hours per week. Apply online at www.agbr.com ________________________ PART TIME Assembler / delivery person. Mechanically inclined preferred. Apply in person at Fitness Expo 9603 Airline Hwy. B.R. La. ________________________ NEED SALESPERSON FOR CART AND STORE IN THE MALL AT CORTANA . CALL SAM @ 9852857818 . EARN AND LEARN . ________________________ Private school is looking for a Technology Teacher substitute. The position is Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Please email your resume to nathalie@brisla.com ________________________ Geauld Tiger restaurant is now hiring. Please contact 225 916 3209. ________________________ Weekend Leasing Agent Needed ASAP for New Property in Baton Rouge! Hours: Sat 10-4 Sun 1-5 Please fax resume to 225-924-2226 One Bedroom compensation included upon hiring. ________________________ Full/Part time, flexible hours. Landscape, Construction Laborer. Call 225-202-8875 or email Caity@smithandbaker.com ________________________ Small Childcare Center off of Perkins Rd. hiring part-time preschool afternoon teacher 2:30-5:30 M-F. Email Holly. Morris@countrydayschoolbr.com ________________________ Wanted: Outgoing, personable part-time employee for local nonprofit. Must be an energetic self-starter and a quick learner. Personality and self-sufficiency are critical. Resume/letter of interest to beacon_ adopt@yahoo.com. Phone number must be included to be contacted for an interview. ________________________ Student-work: IT Help Desk Technician position The successful candidate will have excellent customer service & communication
skills. To be considered for this position, the candidate must be in good academic standing with LSU, an undergraduate freshman or sophomore, hold a current driver’s license, & be available to work starting Spring/Summer 2014, including summers. S/he must be willing & able to work mornings (starting at 7:45/8:00am) as allowed by class schedule, as well as occasional evening and/or weekend shifts for classes & event support. The candidate’s primary responsibilities will be in the area of IT help desk support, hardware troubleshooting/installation/ configuration, software installation/training lab configuration, & technical support of occasional off-campus classes & conferences. Other duties as assigned. Please specifically include in your resume your PC troubleshooting & repair experience. Skills required: • Intermediate-to-advanced PC hardware maintenance & troubleshooting experience. Ability to confidently identify a bad RAM module is considerably more important than being able to recite the OSI model, for example. • Software & operating system installation & configuration. • Willing & able to work independently on tasks. Self-starting research for solutions is crucial, especially on new and unresolved issues.
for Line therapists to implement Applied Behavior Analysis programs one-on-one with children on the autism spectrum. Applicants must demonstrate ability to interact and play with children. Experience with children. Salary $9-$10/hr. Please send resume to admin@big-br.com. ________________________ SELA Aquatics is now hiring lifeguards, swim coaches, swim instructors, managers for several BR and NOLA country clubs for Summer 2014. Apply at www.selaaquatics.com. ________________________ NOW HIRING AT NEW YORK BAGEL LEE DRIVE Now hiring for sandwich makers in the kitchen. Looking for reliable hardworking people who can work from 11-4 M,W,F or 11-4 Tu,Th with weekend availability. Night shifts also available 4-8:30 Weeknights. Please apply in store at 257 Lee Drive ________________________ Assistant Managers and Team Members Wanted. Smoothie King and Jimmy John’s. Greater Baton Rouge area. Must have resume’. Email to eric@one12.net ________________________
Skills preferred: • A+ or other certifications • Familiarity with Symantec Ghost • Previous Help Desk experience If interested in this position, please send resume describing troubleshooting experience & a copy of class schedule to: cehr@ outreach.lsu.edu La Carreta Government is looking for team players to compliment our great staff. Hostess and servers please apply in person between the hours of 1-4 Monday thru Friday. ________________________ The Melting Pot Restaurant is now hiring servers and server assistants. Must be able to work late nights and weekends. Please apply in person: 5294 Corporate Blvd. Baton Rouge, LA Monday thru Friday 1-4pm ________________________ DENTAL OFFICE P/T assistant/receptionist needed. Great opportunity for those interested in the dental/ medical field. Fax resume’ to (225)7662122. ________________________ WORK WITH KIDS! Learning Center needs tutors. T/Th after 4pm. For more info: elinorbailey@ikumon.com ________________________
SEEKING DON CORLEONE OF NEW ORLEANS - INDEPENDENT FILM Casting March 29th at Homewood Suites on Poydras St., New Orleans. Email GodflowerFilm@gmail.com for more information ________________________ Behavioral Intervention Group is looking
Thursday, March 27, 2014
travel, day after day. We are looking for energetic individuals who are passionate about customer service to join our team. We are seeking out dedicated individuals for the following positions: FRONT DESK AGENT must exceed our guest’s expectations and ensure revenue optimization through check in/out while assuring to the attentive coordination of hotel services for our guests. NIGHT AUDITOR perform the duties of a Front Desk Agent and complete, balance and file night audit reports on the various areas of the hotel to provide accurate, timely information in accordance with cash handling, credit card processing and accounting policies and procedures. BARTENDER will be responsible for delivering excellent guest experience in our bar area by missing drinks for both guests and servers. Other responsibilities include the complete set up and break down of the bar area. HOUSEKEEPING staff are expected to exceed our guest’s expectations by maintaining the highest standard of cleanliness of the guest rooms. Clean and prepare guest rooms and public areas by meeting our established standards. LAUNDRY ATTENDANT & DRIVER process the hotel’s laundry by folding, stacking and storing linen in compliance with hotel standards. Class D driver’s license is needed for driver applicants. If you want to join our dynamic team you will enjoy competitive salary, benefits, paid time off and a 401 (k) plan e-mail your résumé to jobs@wampold.com Flexible hours, weekends and nights are required
DEREK CHANG’S KOTO: NOW HIRING SERVERS NO EXP NECESSARY APPLY IN PERSON MON-FRI 2:30PM4:30PM 2562 CITIPLACE CT ________________________ St. Theresa Summer Day Camp in Gonzales is hiring counselors for May 27thJuly11th. Must be 21 or older. Visit www. summerwarriors.com or email resume to office@summerwarriors.com. ________________________ FT home-school tutor/caregiver for 14 year-old girl with autism. Includes ABA training & supervision towards BCaBA / BCBA. Contact brstmd@bellsouth.net ________________________
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THE BIG SQUEEZY - NEW JUICE BAR Looking for part & full time juice consultants, food prep, dishwashers, kitchen manager & front of house manager. Please apply in person with resume to 3043 Perkins Rd (next to Jimmy Johns). ________________________ Part-Time position with Nabisco 25-30 hours in retail for Baton Rouge area. Please use the link below to apply http://global.mondelezinternational. com/Careers/Find_a_Job_With_Us/ USJobs/CareerApplication.aspx?isrc =https%3A%2F%2Fmondelez.taleo. net%2Fcareersection%2Fmndlz_careersite_hourly%2Fmoresearch. ftl%3Flang%3Den ________________________
I AM LOOKING TO PURCHASE IPHONE AND SAMSUNG GALAXY IN ANY CONDITION. IF YOU HAVE BROKEN PHONE OR USED PHONE THAT YOU WANT TO TRADE FOR CASH, PLEASE CALL OR TEXT ME AT 225…937…8866
Accepting Deposits for Summer/Fall Move Ins Lake Beau Pre Townhomes, Arlington Trace & Summer Grove Condos 2 & 3 Bedrooms Dean & Company Real Estate 225-767-2227 www.deanrealestate.net ________________________ $AVE $$ WALK TO LSU. LARGE 1 BR APT. $600 / MO. AVAL. JUNE 1ST. 225 769-7757 / 225 266-8666 / 225 278-6392 ________________________ Midcity Garage 1bedroom apartment washer/dryer, sewer included $600/mo/ deposit 2252059820 ________________________ One block from LSU lakes. Efficiency with separate kitchen and bath. All utilities, internet, cable, washer, dryer included. 225-921-3222 ________________________ LSU area $475-$495/mo 1 bed/bath flats. Water, sewer trash included, wood/tile floor. Call 225-615-8521 ________________________ 3 BR, 3 BATH gated townhome. Burbank/Bluebonnet area. $1500/mo. No pets. (225)413-8097/(225)752-4825.
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The Daily Reveille
Thursday, March 27, 2014 BOARD, from page 1
was also increased by $82 million because of tuition increases. The LSU system was allocated $313.9 million, with $107.5 million directed toward LSU’s Baton Rouge campus. Board members mentioned the possibility of funds being adjusted for the LSU system because of the realignment of the AgCenter and the Paul M. Hebert Law Center with LSU A&M. W. Clinton Rasberry, chairman of the board, said a search committee will be contracted from Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges for a new commissioner of higher education after former commissioner Jim Purcell stepped down this month. Rasberry said if the contract is approved at the April board meeting, the search for a new commissioner will continue with the group’s help. The board also approved funding for a series of small capital projects, including replacing the tile of the Arts Building roof, which is expected to be completed by June 30. Among the other projects approved directly affecting the University were plans to replace the roofs of Beauregard Hall and the Human Ecology building, waterproof Kirby Smith Hall and install gutters on the East Campus Apartment buildings.
ASSIsTANCE, from page 1
SG Chief of Staff Gerard Zimmerman said he enjoyed briefly seeing the nation’s capital and advocating for students on the Hill. “Everything we went for was tailored around federal funding,” Zimmerman said. The students, along with other Southeastern Conference students, not only met with policymakers from several Louisiana legislators’ staff but also with members from Alabama, Florida, Arkansas and South Carolina and Vice President Joe Biden’s domestic policy adviser. Woodard said he’s taken trips to Washington before, but this trip was different. Instead of briefly meeting with legislators and taking a quick picture like he had before, discussions went in-depth about the details of higher education policy. The students spent 30 to 45 minutes with legislative assistants, expressing their opinions and learning from the policymakers.
Woodard said it was more a discussion about policy than a “fluff” trip. The students’ messages aligned with the University’s stance on several federal issues, Zimmerman said. “A lot of what we are pushing is what President [F. King] Alexander pushes,” Zimmerman said. In an economic climate where college tuition and fees are rising and state appropriations are declining, Woodard said the students worked with legislative assistants to develop ways to create federal incentives for states to invest in higher education. Zimmerman said the students put a particular push on the Higher Education Act Reauthorization in their talks with policy advisers. The act regulates how federal dollars are given to students and colleges. Woodard said because this is an election year, the legislation might not by prioritized, but he told lawmakers that students at the University need the funding.
page 19 The SG members also discussed the ways for students to get the most accurate and up-to-date information about financially sound college choices. The White House’s College Scorecard ranks universities on various criteria like tuition, graduation rates, graduates’ earnings and student debt and loan rates, but some legislators feel uncomfortable with
the federal government ranking universities. Woodard said discussions about the scorecard included ideas for the possibility of third-party rankings.
Contact Fernanda Zamudio-Suarez at fsuarez@lsureveille.com
Let your kitty have fun in the sun this Spring Break
Contact Deanna Narveson at dnarveson@lsureveille.com FOR RELEASE MARCH 27, 2014
The Daily Reveille is hiring photographers, opinion writers and graphic designers. Apply online at lsureveille.com/ application
THE Daily Commuter Puzzle ACROSS 1 Desert, as one’s lover 5 Rattled 10 Actress __ Downey 14 Reason to bathe 15 Glider or 747 16 Not __ close; way off 17 Kill 18 Birdbrain 20 Egg layer 21 Gentle 22 Makes, as a salary 23 Emulate Michelle Kwan 25 Donkey 26 In __; shortly 28 In a __; unsure what to do 31 Blackboard user’s need 32 Tiny weights 34 British mother 36 Dawn, for short 37 Levi’s 38 Daddy 39 BPOE member 40 Diving birds 41 Not as coarse 42 Respect highly 44 Chops into tiny pieces 45 Actor Holbrook 46 Prefix meaning “sort of” 47 Actor Buddy __ 50 Injured 51 Dessert choice 54 __ ads; section of a newspaper 57 Armed conflicts 58 Needle’s eye 59 Worth 60 Sitting on 61 Has debts 62 Go into 63 Declare untrue 1 2 3 4 5
DOWN __ with; tease Not working Usurers Attempt Modernize
6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 19 21 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 32 33 35 37
Tuft of feathers Of sound mind Conclusion Peg for Nicklaus Discuss again “I’m looking __ a four leaf clover...” Cruel “No ifs, __ or buts” Takes a break Chat Potter’s oven Shoots carefully High point Entire Blocker and Quayle Set free India’s dollar High school math class: abbr. Raced “Red Planet” Music’s Billy __
by Jacqueline E. Mathews
Wednesday’s Puzzle Solved
(c) 2014 Tribune Content Agency, LLC All Rights Reserved.
38 40 41 43
Bowling targets Tilts Italian car Grad school papers 44 Cain’s crime 46 In a __; lined up 47 Resound
48 49 50 52 53 55
Hard hit Store event Sword handle Make smooth Catch sight of TV’s “__ Got a Secret” 56 Groupie 57 Fistful of cash
page 20
The Daily Reveille
The Best Alternative . Smoking to Get 10% off with an LSU or BRCC ID. 3753-B Perkins Road, Baton Rouge, LA 70808 (225) 771-8094 | vaporhazebr.com facebook.com/vaporhaze2014
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Free bottle of E-Juice with a purchase of $40 or more!