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Winter 1992 Gumbo Magazine, Winter 1992 Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College

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and d o n 't fo rg et to floss* GUMBOm a g a z i n e Volume 3 Issue 2 Winter 7 992 features 20 45 Decades of Sex at LSU Crime Story 3 How we think about sex has changed Students need to know how safe over the years. Where have we been their campuses are. Many don't. Keeping the Faith and where are we going? We take a look at religion on campus. One religious studies professor says f i c t i o n most students are ignorant about their faiths. 34 'Til Death We Part, 6 A Trilogy of Love Obsessions Murder: Three stories tell of preoccupations Piecing the Puzzle Together that end in tragedy. Blood, bones and bugs provide crime- solving clues for LSU's forensics specialists. 10 Dale Brown: Crazy Days at LSU How much of LSU's basketball success is due to this kooky coach and his unconventional methods? 26 14 The Dark Side of Dating From Russia With Love Some romances are not very romantic This is a story about fresh bread, - or even very safe. photo essay friendly people and freedom. 38 28 Hill Memorial Library: Life on the Edges LSU's Treasure Chest of Campus This beautiful museum, with its LSU is diverse, like it or not. rare books and valuable art, waits Warning: these pictures are not undiscovered on campus. for the shy or squeamish.

Winter 1992 1 EDITOR'S GUMBO

n o t e m a g a z i n e

We hear sometimes that people are put off a bit and confused a little by this modest publication many of you may be reading for the first time today. The magazine has printed its three issues a publisher year, for about three years now and lots of people still don't know Office of Student Media anything about us. What we try to do is bring you a product that characterizes life editor at LSU in a slightly more memorable form than the Reveille does Martin Johnson and a slightly less imposing form than the yearbook does. We're essentially just another arm of Student Media, trying managing editor to put out a magazine you will want to read, keep and show to Ronlyn A. Domingue your friends. And I think we have done just that this time around. From a design editor story about sex itself to a profile of the strangest coach in LSU Nicole Francoise Duet history, this magazine should have something for everyone; I hope you'll find yours. If anywhere, it may be in our photoessay, copy editors "Life on the edge of campus." Lisa Roland, Erik Spanberg, In the past, when noticed at all, magazine staffs have been Tim Thompson criticized for swinging a student body’s publication too far to the Left, and well, that's too bad, because the contents of each of the photographers Gumbo magazines I've read have been decidedly non-political, Tanya Albert, Christopher Carroll, perhaps occassionally social, but never militant or preachy. Todd Houghton, Dusti Johnston, Lots of people make the assumption that if a publication even Robb Williamson mentions AIDS, African-Americans and the environment, it turns automatically into a revolutionary journal that serves only the advertising representatives campus' liberal whackos. That simply is not true. Many of us may Tiffany Cunningham, Natalie Longman be liberal, but we're certainly not raving lunatics. Regardless, putting this magazine together has been a lot of adviser fun, and I hope that shows in the spirit of it s layout, art and Pat Parish writing. There's some funny stuff here, but also a serious side. And that really is what LSU is about - we pass a great time. contributors We know good food, loud music, solid athletics and fun people. Mary Cummings, Andre Maillho, Brenda Murray, But there’s also something here that is desperately wrong. Eimear O'Connell, Laura Pevehouse, Rebecca Powell, The athletic program has had a number of problems with Mike Ritter, Wayne "Gonzo" Schexnayder, violence within their department this year, that same athletic Robert Wolf department takes a front seat to our University's academic life, the state consistently underfunds this and every other institution of contributing designer higher learning in this state and residential housing is slowly but Richard Valadie surely dying. And Student Media tries to bring all of it to you the best way we can. Sometimes we're good, but we often miss the mark. The Gumbo Magazine is written, edited and designed by Luckily, I don't think that is the case with this book. But if you students of LSU. The opinions expressed in the articles think we've done a bad job, take me up on a challenge. are those of the writers and do not necessarily represent If you don't like our magazine, steal it and get involved. A lot the views of the editor, Gumbo Magazine, the Office of of people criticize the Reveille and the rest of Student Media for StudentMedia, or the University. No articles, photo­ not representing campus properly and fail to realize they can do graphs or illustrations in this publication may be repro­ something about how things happen in the murky basement of duced without the consent of the Office of Student Media. Hodges Hall. Lead a revolt. Take back your magazine or your newspaper or your radio station or your yearbook. We would all profit from Volume 3 , Issue 2, Winter 1992 the experience. Copyright Gumbo Magazine

Martin Johnson, Winter 1992 editor

2 Gumbo Magazine eepingthe

eligious activity, likeaith it or not, has classes offered by religious studies has been low — always been an important part of life but that may be changing. A recent religious studies at LSU, and religious groups have newsletter suggested enrollment in these classes is always played an active role on cam­ increasing. pus. story by eimear o'connellAnd that is good news for Whittaker, who said religious scholars are fighting years of theological Almost every student, believer orphotographs not, has at one by tanya albert and time or another been accosted by a preacher in front ignorance. of the Union, seen someone wear an ornate crosstodd orhoughton "At one time, the church thought it was danger­ Star of David or been invited to worship on or off ous for lay people to become educated because they campus. might doubt their faith," he said. In spite of this religious activity, John Whittaker, Whittaker said the religious studies program ques­ director of the Religious Studies program says, he tions the idea that ordinary people don't need to thinks most students here are woefully underedu­ know anything to be religious, that their job isn't to cated about their own faiths. question but to agree with what ministers and priests "Ask the average Roman Catholic what Vatican II tell them. is," Whittaker challenged. "I think most people don't He also stressed the need for people to under­ know the history of their church." stand the long history of religions and the beliefs that And Whittaker said that most students won't have been developed for centuries. Whittaker said, study the history and doctrines of their faiths be­ however, that religious studies professors do not cause they don't think it is necessary. take a religious position and are careful to remain "The great majority of LSU students don't think of neutral. religion as something to be learned about," Whit­ "We're not teaching to spread the word about a taker said. "It's surprising — you sometimes hear religion," he said, "but to teach information about about students going into the seminary, but they the religious tradition. have never had one religious studies class. There's a "Our first responsibility is not to make known our conception that professional ministry doesn't in­ biases, but to enable students to learn about religion volve much learning." in a form in which they feel no pressure and can Whittaker said enrollment for the more than 40 freely discuss ideas."

Winter 1992 3 hittaker said students pling of religious organizations on cam­ "We offer comfort, encouragement in a religious studies pus to see what most of them offer and overall friendship in a Christian class need to be open students. atmosphere," he said. "We're all people to possibilities and • Hillel, the organization for Jewish going through the same thing, the same ready to learn. students, is small but active, according struggles." "We're trying to its adviser, Donald Kraft. Baptist churches in Baton Rouge pro­ to become educated at the University," "Our purpose is to provide a Jewish vide funds for this organization, with Whittaker said. "I don't know why atmosphere," Kraft said, "for students most local support coming from the people think religion is a field they don't who want to take part in it." Judson Baptist Association. need to become educated in." Hillel is connected to several local The BSU offers a free weekly lunch At the same time that religious stud­ synagogues. The organization has occa­ for students, as well as a weekly wor­ ies enrollments are increasing, many sional Friday night sabbath services, ship, "Tuesday Night Together," which students are turning to more conven­ weekly lunch meetings at the Union often includes concerts, speakers and tional religious environments. and hosts the Israel booth at the Interna­ discussions. Simon calls it "creative Campus ministries provide that com­ tional Exposition each year. worship." munity for students. The group also holds meetings with Another weekly lunch, costing $1, LSU has what it calls a "liaison rela­ speakers and provides transportation incorporates a Bible study. "There is a tionship" with the various congre­ to religious services. scripture reading at this time, and gational organizations on campus. Louis Goldman, executive director we discuss what it means to us When students mark a re­ of the Jewish Federation of and how to make it come ligious preference on their Hillel meets, eats. alive," Simon said. application to the Univer­ photo by todd houghton Small "family groups" sity, student services sorts meet to discuss certain top­ these names and provides ics throughout the week. And them to student ministries. the BSU organizes freshmen Although students names care groups, where upper­ are provided to these religious classmen lead a Bible study. groups, the Vice Chancellor of "People have to study, Student Services, Norman so sometimes it's hard to fit Moore, said that LSU does not the BSU into their schedule. have an official stand on reli­ We try to provide encourage­ gion itself. ment because school is tough," He said that giving the he said. "We'd like to at­ names to congregations is tract those that don't go just a way the University 1 to church or have no reli­ tries to help students feel Greater Baton Rouge, said gious purpose. If they are more at home. Hillel at LSU attempts to bridge stu­ interested in seeing our love, Whittaker said the religious stud­ dents with the Jewish community in they might get interested in seeing ies department itself has no connection Baton Rouge. what God has to offer." with campus religious centers, but that "We are a social and intellectual or­ imon said the BSU the ministries contribute funds for print­ ganization," Goldman said. "We pro­ stresses Christian living ing of the religious studies newsletter vide opportunities to meet and interact — reading the Bible and and help distribute it. with new and/or existing friends." meditating on God's "I am very grateful to all of them for • The Baptist Student Union's mis­ word — but doesn't their support," he said. He said his only sion is to be a lighthouse for the campus make an issue, for in­ criticism of the groups is the scope of where people can share God's love, said stance, of knowing the Ten Command­ their teaching. Jim Simon, outreach coordinator at the ments or memorizing every book of the "From my point of view as a profes­ BSU. Bible. sor, I sometimes wish that campus reli­ The BSU is operated by Baptist Richard Cross, a junior whose so­ gious centers would pay more attention churches and while its director is Bap­ phomore physics class prevents him to intellectual issues," Whittaker said. tist, "anyone is welcome, all denomina­ from attending the BSU as much as he Gumbo magazine talked with a sam­ tions — we all get along," Simon said. would like, said he was satisfied with it.

4 Gumbo Magazine "The BSU is about dealing with the other religions." He compared their meets often in front of the Union to campus and personal growth," he said. meetings to a catechism class. "praise, worship and preach." "The history isn't as exciting as the Chris- "(The CSU) reinforces my personal he student group has tian living aspect." relationship with God but being with a several religious out­ • The campus is currently home of lot of people who share that same spiri­ reach programs, includ­ two organized Catholic groups, which tuality helps me keep on track., .it's some­ ing a traveling mime have clashed at times during the last where I can go," Figueroa said. team that recently per­ year. Faith, Peace and Justice is another or­ formed on Chimes The Catholic Student Union is com­ ganization in charge of social works, Street and got a good response because prised mostly of Catholic students but collecting food for the poor, visiting "people had never seen (the Gospel) also "open to anybody and everybody," nursing homes and hospitals, serving presented that way before." said Sister Judy Couturie, one of the five dinner at soup kitchens and sponsoring Living Waters also sponsors a dorm campus ministers who organize the forums on justice issues. ministry and yearly summer mission CSU's activities. Couturie said the three groups are in trips to places like the Soviet Union, But there is also a group of funda­ constant communication. South America and Central America. mentalist Catholics, Catholicism on COC President John Zmirak said his Wooten helped build an orphanage in Campus, who split away from the CSU organization is more conservative than Honduras, and he helped rebuild a because of their differing views. the CSU, stressing that he was speaking church in Nicaragua. Couturie stressed that the CSU was for himself and not the entire group. The group has weekend Bible the official Catholic presence "We're more interested in tradi- studies and a "street ministry on campus, not COC, Students gather at the CSU. team" that goes to the Ti- which is not recognized photo by tanya albert gerland bars to "preach by the bishop. and witness," Wooten said. Students have the choice •The main objective of to participate in up to three the Muslim Student Associa­ clubs at the CSU. The New­ tion is to "know new students man Club is a social organiza­ and try to bring them to the tion. The group organizes par­ Mosque to share inactivities," ticipation in intramural sports said President Emad and other campus activities. Abuelrub. The Mosque is lo­ Basic leadership training is cated in a one-story house the first step students go across from the side of the LSU through to become part of Natatorium. another club, the Basic Abuelrub explained Leadership Team. tional values and base things | that people of Islamic faith Couturie explained on papal doctrines," he said. pray five times a day and that the Basic Leadership Zmirak said the COC is only a fast one month a year (from Team does "outreach on campus," lay organization, not an alternate chapel sunrise to sunset). These services such as setting up tables at the Un­ — it holds no religious services — but are available in the Mosque on campus. ion, promoting activities for the center he said they are interested in letting "Some don't come," he said. "They and sponsoring Bible groups. people know what's really going on in get involved in their study." the church. The MSA, part of the Baton Rouge "We're not teaching to spread the "We don't need the bishop's permis­ Islamic Center, has sports and a picnic word about religion but to teach sion to have meetings," Zmirak said. at Highland Park on Sundays, parties information about religious tradi­ "It's not like we're setting up a Catholic "once in a while" for special occasions tion".______-John Whittaker church." and lectures varying from topics about Fernando Figueroa, a graduate stu­ • Living Waters is a non-denomina- Islam to scientific talks. dent in the BLT, agreed that the club tional organization tied to Christian Life "We who came from the East know stresses "lots of history, such as the sig­ Church in Baton Rouge, said Vice Presi­ much more about religions because we nificance of sacraments and symbols, dent Phil Wooten. have Christians, Jewsand Muslims," he why the mass is in a certain order and The club, with 200-250 members, has said. what makes Catholicism unique from weekly meetings at Christian Life and continued on page 44

Winter 1992 5

the Puzzle Together

story by robert wolf illustration n i cole duet

F i v e years ago, a murderer drove out of Houston with a victim in his car's trunk. He cold male body, wrapped in plastic, had al- ready b egun to smell of death in spite of the lime his killer had doused him with to cut the odor. The driver head east, crossed the Louisiana state line and even­ tually stopped near the Mississippi River in rural St. Charles Parish. He carried the corpse into the woods and dug a shallow grave, what he thought would be the body's final resting place. Recently, an informant no longer able to keep the secret divulged his knowledge of the murder to authorities. When he agreed to show them the grave site, police investigating the case took along Mary Manhein, a forensic anthropologist at LSU. Shane Fowler and Mary Trudell, graduate students in forensic an­ thropology, accompanied Manhein and the police. "It took us two days to find the body," Fowler said. "It was flood season on the Mississippi, and we were walking around in knee- deep water looking for an unmarked grave." Using a tractor and prison trusty labor, authorities found the body and cleared away the dirt, exposing the body, still wrapped in thin brown plastic. Fowler said none of the investigating officers wanted to cut open the plastic, but Manhein wanted to see the body immediately. "I borrowed a knife from a state trooper and split the plastic open," Fowler said. "I peeled away the plastic, and we could see the back of a large man. This was my first case and I did not expect the horrible smell." Fowler said he almost gagged from the stench. "You learn to deal with the smell," he added. But even after several years in the acidic Louisiana soil, where a body can completely decompose in two weeks, much of the man's tissue was preserved.

Winter 1992 7 "The moist cases. He said he usually has to get the Louisiana's Creole and mulatto people environment, evidence accepted and then explain the can have the properties of both races. lime and plas­ process through which he arrived at his "South Louisiana is full of mixed tic bag prevented conclusion. races," said Trudell. "This can really the forces of nature The LSU forensics lab gets about 25 make our job complicated because an from breaking down the cases a year with at least a 50 percent individual can have the physical prop­ bodily tissues," said record of positive identification. The erties of several races." Trudell said Lou­ Manhein. "The killer unwit­ remains that are identified are typically isiana has plenty of people who do not tingly preserved the evidence returned to the authorities for evidence. fit any one racial category. that led to his conviction. Any The individuals not identified remain The size and length of the skeleton effort to hide the body usually at the lab. gives some idea of the size of the per­ retards decomposition." Each set of remains brought to the son. She said enough tissue remained on forensics lab is inventoried to catalog At the request of law enforcement the victim's hand to get his fingerprints. anything missing from the body. The agencies, the forensic anthropology lab In this case, Manhein provided law remains are then x-rayed to find any will also do a facial reconstruction of a enforcement officials with enough in­ metal fragments, such as bullets, that victim. These life-like reconstructions formation to identify the body. At the might be lodged in the bones. Manhein of a person's face are made by taking the murder trial in Houston, she testified as said the x-ray will also detect metal skull and using clay to fill in the missing an expert witness. The killer was con­ plates or pins used in surgery. She said flesh. The idea is to reconstruct the victed and sentenced, in large part due this is important in proving identifica­ person's face and find someone who to Manhein's work. tion if medical records are available. would recognize them. Manhein and her associates at the Except for x-ray machines, forensic "We use erasers cut to certain lengths LSU forensic anthropology lab are often anthropologists use little high-tech to chart the depth of a person's flesh on called on by state and local law enforce­ equipment to find clues. their face," said Fowler. "Then, accord­ ment to help solve the most difficult "We rely mainly on observations, ing to clinical charts, we place the mark­ murder cases. They help identify sui­ measurements and common sense," ers on the appropriate spot on the face. cides, missing persons and victims of said Trudell. "The skeleton is carefully Usually someone with an art back­ murder and mass disasters, sometimes measured and the numbers are plugged ground fills in the clay." using a single body part to reveal an into a discriminant formula to get a Scientists rebuilding a person's head identity. probability of race or sex. The rest is take into account that victims profile "There is not always a complete skele­ subject to interpretation based on expe­ especially their race, age and sex.The fa­ ton to work with," said Manhein. "Many rience and previous knowledge." cial reconstructions have no hair, eye­ times we get just a skull or a hand and Anthropologists look for several brows or eyelashes, which makes them we have to identify the person from that indicators to determine a body's iden­ fairly expressionless. little bit of evidence." tity. Manhein has one facial reconstruc­ Pat Lane, a forensic scientist with the • Bones help determine age. The older tion done on a woman known as the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab, said a person, the more brittle the bones be­ "witch of Zachary." The woman, who the LSU forensic anthropology lab come. Bones of younger people are more was buried in an above-ground tomb provides local and state law enforce­ resilient and flexible. on the edge of town in 1859, still has ment with important links in the inves­ • The hip bone is the best determi­ quite a reputation among the locals. tigation process. nant of sex when the soft tissues of She had been removed from "Forensic anthropologists build a the body are gone, Fowler said. her tomb so many times that the profile of an unidentifiable body or A woman's pelvis is wider Zachary Cemetery board had skeletal remains," Lane said. "With than a man's. The difference to put iron bars on her grave amazing accuracy, the LSU forensics in the shape of the pelvis is to keep people from stealing can determine a person's age, race, sex, because the female carries her body. Although her grave weight and height. The profile of the re­ and gives birth to a baby. robbers are kids with a morbid mains gives us a general picture of the • The skull is the best indi­ curiousity, the disturbance of victim. We then go back over the rec­ cator in determining the race her body has caused quite a stir. ords and see if anyone missing fits that of an individual. "This woman was probably not a description." "Each race has a slightly different witch," said Manhein. "She was sup­ Identifying a murder victim can also head shape," said Manhein. "We meas­ posedly married to the nephew of provide clues to the scene of the crime, ure many different angles of the skull Zachary Taylor, and her grave is the Lane said. and plug those numbers into a formula. only one above ground on the edge of "Finding out the identity of a murder The person's major ethnic origin can town. A lot of folklore has developed victim allows us to backtrack to a home, usually be determined from the meas­ around this woman." Manhein said they vehicle or crime scene," said Lane. urements. We look for black, caucasoid did a facial reconstruction just to get an "From there we can look for evidence or mongoloid features." idea of what the woman may have and work our way back to a suspect." In South Louisiana, identifying a looked like. Lane has testified at numerous court victim's race can be a little more tricky. The reconstruction is so unsettling 8 Gumbo Magazine that the graduate students in the lab "The police might have a hunch on who aluminum trays of bones, some human, keep it hidden in a cabinet. the body is and they will give me dental some animal. Manhein picks up two After a basic profile of the person has records to compare the teeth to." identical-looking bones to demonstrate been determined, the skeleton is exam­ After determining a general profile the difficulties involved in her work. ined for clues to the time of death. The of the person, forensic anthropologists "One of these bones belongs to the condition of the bone is also a good look for evidence of trauma to the body. leg of a person and one of these bones indicator as to the time of death. Manhein said trauma to a body severe belongs to the leg of a deer," she said. "The resiliency of the bone tissue enough to kill a person often shows up "At a first look, they look like the same gives us a good clue as to the length of somewhere on the bones. These are bone. Only the trained eye can tell them time the bone has been exposed to sometimes the best clues to the cause of apart." the elements," said Manhein. "We a person's death. Manhein said the lab gets several look to see if the bone still has Manhein explained that they cases a year that are animal bones. oil and fat deposits. If it does, it look for three classes of trauma The third room is where some of the is rather recent. If the bones are when examining a skeleton. less glamorous work takes place. In this dried out, they have been ex­ "Ante-mortem trauma is room, bones are cleaned and x-rayed. posed for a longer time." trauma that happened before Manhein said there is a very human To determine the time since death such as a broken arm side to her job. Once she investigated a death, forensic entomologists that has healed," said case where a young woman's body was examine insects on the victim's Manhein. found under a pile of rocks on the banks body. Lamar Meek, an LSU fo­ "Post-mortem trauma is trauma on the Mississippi River in Port Allen. rensic entomologist, often lends that has happened to the body Manhein took the case personally. his expertise in solving crimes. after death such as animal scaven­ "She was never identified, and I know "A large number of insects shows up gers that may have chewed on the someone, somewhere, loves her and is to break down the body shortly after a bones. The key to what we are looking hoping she is still alive," Manhein said. person dies," said Meek. "We collect for is perimortem trauma which is "Thoughts of that young woman haunt the bugs present, identify them and trauma that may be responsible for how me from time to time." backtrack to the time of death. the person died." The forensic anthropology lab also "There are successive waves of bugs "If a person is stabbed deep enough works with historic and prehistoric that are attracted to the body shortly to cause death, the knife will usually cemeteries. after death," said Meek. "While these wind up clipping a bone or taking off a "The first burial I ever worked on waves overlap somewhat, they provide piece (of bone)," said Manhein. "Or if a was over 3,000 years old. It felt funny a good time line as to the time of death." person is beaten, he may try to block a digging it up, but the burial was erod­ Meek said flies show up first, then blow with his arm, resulting in a frac­ ing away," Manhein said. "I look at it as certain types of beetles. They are fol­ ture." preserving the past for the future." lowed by wasps, ants, then different In developing a profile from such Later, Manhein was instrumental in flies and more beetles. spartan remains, forensic anthropolo­ getting a law passed that preserved the When only a skeleton is left, teeth can gists develop keen eyes. sanctity of unmarked burial plots. The be some of the best clues to a person's "In some cases we can determine if a law made it a crime to excavate a burial identity. They last much longer than person was right-handed or left- site in Louisiana without a permit. bone and their condition can reveal handed," said Fowler. "Bone growth To the people who work in the lab, much about a person's lifestyle. adjusts to the level of stress it receives so the challenge of identifying people keeps Vincent Lagatutta, a local dentist and the dom inant side is bigger." them motivated and in high spirits. a forensic odeontologist, often consults The three-room LSU forensics lab, in "W hat we do is like solv-1 with the LSU forensics lab to solve cases. the Howe-Russell Geology annex, is the ing a puzzle or a mys Forensic odeontology is the study of most complete in the state. The first tery," said Manhein. teeth after death. room is filled with boxes of remains "We put what pieces "I do what's called a dental autopsy removed from a massive Indian burial we have together by looking at the teeth and charting in Canada. The bones are being studied and try to fill in the what I have," said Lagatutta. "From the and cataloged. Once the studies are gaps." teeth I can tell a person's age, race, so­ complete, the bones will be returned to cioeconomic status, and determine any Canada for reburial. trauma that may have resulted." Several large tables sit in the middle Lagatutta said the condition of a of the second room and the walls are person's teeth, such as the amount of lined with cabinets and counters brim­ dental care they have received, indi­ ming with books, records and an­ cates the person's socioeconomic level. thropological tools. Cabinets lining He also said people of different races the walls contain bones from un­ have slightly different teeth patterns. solved cases, many of which are "I also use old dental records to check still under investigation. the identity of a person," Lagatutta said. In the middle of the table sits

Winter 1992 9 10 Gumbo Magazine D a l e B r o w n :

r a z y D a y s

a t L S U

story by mike ritter photographs by brad messina

In an otherwise normal state, Dale Brown, 56, might be a local wacky weatherman or a town lunatic. But in Louisiana, where Jimmy Swaggart and Edwin Edwards run free, Brown has been thriving for the past 20 years as a basketball coach. With more catch phrases, slogans, hot air and prophecies than the L. Ron Hubbard library, Brown could capture the at­ tention of a cypress stump and probably teach it to dribble a basketball. And then explain to that stump just exactly what the meaning of life is. No matter what he says at the beginning of each basket­ ball season, you get the feeling that Brown is still on a search. No matter how wacky, he is not one of those characters in a Walker Percy novel who is so bored with life that all they have to do is drink gin and make out with their secretary. Thankfully, he also is not a member of the Cliche Coaches Clique— the scores of coaches whose speeches consist of "We have to win them one day at a time." Brown, from childhood to the Final Four, has never been at ease. And he's spent his life wondering why- out loud. Growing up in Minot, South Dakota, Brown wanted to be an FBI agent. His desperate upbringing in a single-parent home left him with an insatiable desire to escape. "I've always wanted to right wrong. There was always this voice from within that wanted to solve a mystery, figure out why people were in the circumstances that they were in," Brown said many years later. Brown's mother, who he describes as the most pathologi­ cally honest person he's ever known, was constantly ill and suffered further tragedy time and time again. Three days after Brown's birth, his father skipped town. "I think I was inspired by my mother and the things that happened to her. We didn't have money, and I saw her being whipped down by welfare workers and landladies. I was going to make sure that it d idn't happen to me," Brown said.

Winter 1992 1 1 Sometimes Brown got away from his own feelings of "anger, depression, rejection and self-worthlessness" by wadding up some socks and shooting them at the holes in between hot-water pipes in the basement. A gifted athlete, Brown's self-determination began to have a vehicle as he grew older— sports. He first played basketball in the fifth grade. By the time he was a senior in high school, Brown had developed into a solid rebounder who could pile up points in the paint. At 6’-3", he be­ came South Dakota's leading scorer, let­ tering in three sports at Minot State while driving a taxi to help support his mother. "It (sports) was definitely a tool for me, a way to get back at the world," Brown said. "Maybe I didn't have a father, but there were other people who influenced my life. God sort of picks out 1989, when LSU gathered what might This year's edition of the purple- orphans and gives them spirits to guide have been the most talented group of and-gold roller coaster is set to receive them." players in the nation. A stellar recruit­ more national attention than Louisiana's Brown has graduated from orphan ing class expected to make numerous other media export, David Duke. With to guardian angel— his orphans are the trips to the Final Four, the team flopped, consensus Player of the Year Shaquille budding college basketball players that exiting the NCAA Tournament two O'Neal returning, pirogue prognostica- have come to him from every part of the straight years. tors from Bunkie to Bossier City are world to play for "Daddy Dale." "I really think that Dale is better off asking themselves, "Can this guy really His zealous quest (Brown prefers to when he has a less-than-stellar team coach a team with talent?" call it "spiritualism") is a genuine at­ that he can mold," former North Caro­ "Anybody who asks that question tempt to bring something unique to his lina State coach Jim Valvano said. "He probably doesn't know your first basic players. Team activities have ranged is a master at motivating a lesser team. in bounds play," Brown said. Many from a trip to the Louisiana State Pene- I think he's a little uncomfortable with a would challenge Brown on that one. tentiary in Angola to the dreary one- great team." The Tigers aren't exactly known as an stoplight towns that he himself stumped Brown argued that few teams have X's and O's squad, and he isn't known to spread the program's gospel upon won 43 games in the last two seasons, as a master of the fundamentals of the his arrival at a football-mad LSU. adding that LSU is one of six teams in game. How many teams get special in­ the nation that has reached the NCAA Brown's one strategic legacy to the struction from former NBA legends Tournament eight consecutive years. game may be the Freak Defense, a Kareem Abdul-Jabaar and Bill Walton? "We have a gold-medal mentality change-as-you-play defense that Brown This year, Brown plans to bring in Julius in this country," Brown said. "No one used with some of his weaker teams to Erving and Magic Johnson— obviously remembers who won the silver or the neutralize opponents and prevent them to talk about more than basketball. bronze." from doing what LSU never does— run But while trying to teach lessons of Before and after Pete Maravich an offense. life, Brown still must deliver wins. momentarily sparked the basketball When the camera zooms in on Sometimes, even winning isn't enough. program, it wasn't unusual for LSU to Brown's huddle during the time out, There are many who doubt Brown's lose to the Washington Generals. Under you will not see him diagramming the coaching abilities even though he has Brown, LSU's basketball program has swinging gate. He is more likely to just compiled a 360-212 career record, mak­ outshined its gridiron neighbors in reassure and say "We're going to win," ing him the second-winningest coach in national ranking and television expo­ or "I have a feeling he's going to miss." Southeastern Conference history-not to sure in recent years. But, so what? mention two trips to the Final Four and Today, more people identify with What Dale Brown does every time four SEC championships. Shaquille O'Neal’s vibrating dunks and his team wins a big game is make a He was already called a pure moti­ Chris Jackson than LSU's football pro­ mockery of the pretentious tags of vating coach who could assemble and gram that has struggled through three "genius" that are given to coaches like inspire a motley crew of players before losing seasons. North Carolina's Dean Smith and Indi-

12 Gumbo Magazine ana's Bobby Knight. Brown proves that it is the players on the court who win games, not coaches. Two years ago, he announced that he would no longer discourse on the M ORE CRAZY DAYS... vast array of subjects other than round- ball that the media was so often accus­ compiled by erik spanberg and andre maillho tomed to. Even God scoffed at that promise. But Brown said that he has changed. Among Dale Brown's sidetrips during his two decades as "I'll still be emotional, the emotional LSU's basketball coach: leader on the court, what I'm talking about is all the other stuff. I've started to look at things in more of a mature way, • swam naked in the Tigris-Euphrates River after milling no longer feel the need to fight the about the Babylonian desert w ith traveling m ate Jim Talbot, a windmills," he said. local businessman Brown is past the oral rage that caused him to spend thirty minutes of a • coached the Iraqi national basketball team and left the post-game press conference lambasting country the day the Iran-Iraq w ar started corruption in the Kentucky basketball program after the Wildcats had routed LSU in Lexington in 1977. • called the NCAA investigative and rules committees "Ge­ When a local reporter at the same stapo bastards" press conference asked Brown if his program was without guilt, he retorted, • climbed halfway up the M atterhorn in Switzerland "Do you masturbate?" One of his favorite targets was the NCAA rules and investigations com­ • recruited players from the Soviet Union, Netherlands, Is­ mittee, a group he once referred to as rael, Yugoslavia, Argentina and Dominican Republic "Gestapo bastards." Brown publicly blasted the organization and almost had • attem pted to set a new land-speed record by boat, traveling to pay for it. the M ississippi from M innesota to New Orleans The NCAA spent nearly four years investigating Brown's program. They found a local restauranteur had spotted • m et All-American Shaquille O'Neal at a U.S. military base some players a few steak dinners. Brown in W est Germany, asking the 13-year-old w hat unit he was in was somewhat of a maverick, being one of the first coaches to call for reforms, • prom ised to win several national championships after land­ especially for financially-troubled ath­ ing O'Neal, Stanley Roberts, Chris Jackson and M aurice Wil­ letes. liam son w ithin tw o years; after being elim inated in the second His suggestion that athletes should be paid ("We need to get the pimps round of the 1990 NCAA Tourney, said, "There's too much of away from the players") proved espe­ an emphasis on the gold medal in this country" cially poignant after Tulane's John "Hot Rod" Williams was accused of point- • used LSU-Notre Dame Superdome game proceeds to aid shaving in 1984. At the time, Brown's h o m e le s s bashing seemed like rhetoric, but the NCAA has since leaned closer and closer to legitimate reform. • berated the media at former football coach M ike Archer's On the other hand, he has found resignation press conference - "You know what you did," himself caught between good intentions Brown told the media and constant pressures to win. He Continued on page 44 • caught his first fish, a 5-pound rainbow trout, at the age of 55 in Great Falls, M ontana

• in M etz, France, on a frigid evening, gave a poverty-stricken youth the shoes and socks off his feet

Winter 1992 1 3

From Russia With Love

by rebecca powell

une, 1991 - The Soviet Union was still intact and the statues of Lenin still stood in every city's central square. Gorbachev hadn't yet been over thrown or reinstated when my sister and I went to Russia this summer as part of a student exchange program. We had no idea of the changes that were still to come. I was an ignorant American-1 didn't know the language or the politics. All I knew about the Soviet Union came from a few classic Russian novels. I knew that things were changing, but I had no idea in what ways or to what degree. But I went, and I learned from the best possible source- the people them­ selves.

Historic St ‘Basil's Cathedral in Moscow's Red Square.

Winter 1992 1 5 t was raining when our flight This food, how­ landed at Moscow, and all ever, was expen­ we saw from the buses as we sive to the Soviets. drove to the train station was We were told that cold concrete buildings and overgrown the average grass. We found our compartments and monthly salary of a settled in; by morning, we would be in Soviet worker was Kiev, the capital city of the Ukraine. The only around 200 trains were noisy and rocked incessantly. rubles. Still, they Some of the older people traveling with waited in incredi­ us told us trains in America were like bly long lines for that in the '40s. American food. Mi­ The next morning, train attendants litia men watched brought us hot tea in glasses like Sean over the crowds, Connery drank out of in "The Hunt for which stretched Red October." By the end of the trip, I around three sides had fallen in love with that tea. It fol­ of a city block. lowed every meal. The meals them­ selves, however, took some getting used The Governor's to. Drug Free Program The meat and potatoes were greasy; and the Soviet As­ cucumbers were served too often. There sociation, "Peace to were few vegetables and few desserts, the Children of the little variety and even less seasoning. World," sponsored We supplemented our meals with bread our trip. or fresh fruit we bought at the open-air The Soviet Union, markets in each city. That bread was like the United homemade and wonderful. States, is facing a When we returned to Moscow at the massive drug and end of the trip, we were thankful to visit alcohol problem. McDonald's and see its murals of con­ For Soviets, alcohol vertibles, beaches and '50s drive-ins. is an accepted part Two hamburgers, fries and two Cokes of the culture. The whole nation is still above cost 25 rubles, less than one U.S. dollar. in the denial stage - it is a new concept, ‘This is the Soviet Statue of Liberty-‘Motherland/ with open arms andflowing robes. Many cities in the Soviet states have statues just life this one, dedicated, to their homeland.

left 'The travelers 6ou£ht fresh fruit and Bread at these open- air markets as they went from town to town. That bread was homemade and

w o n d e r f u l .

16 Gumbo Magazine even to the experts, that alcohol can be us. Dennis told us we were "very free stood so many things about the Soviet abused and that alcoholism is a disease. inside." We asked him to explain. As an people. I was under the impression that Few are aware of the risks involved. example, he mentioned the meetings everywhere I went, I would see soldiers And as for drugs, the Soviet market is we had on deck with both the Soviets who did not smile, carrying machine smaller because of the general state of and Americans present. We would sit guns. We did see soldiers at many of the the Soviet economy, but experts predict cross-legged on the floor, and after a places we went, but they were young the Soviet Union faces a crisis in the moment, the Soviet kids would join us. and very thin, and they weren't carry­ years to come. Dennis explained that normally they ing guns. They looked like they were far Our group traveled for two weeks on would have either sat in chairs or stood from home, and more often than not, re­ a boat down the Dneiper River, sharing up - they wouldn't usually have sat turned our smiles. our information about drug abuse. The cross-legged on the floor. It just wasn't At first, I misunderstood most of the theme of the trip was "We're in the done; they were usually more formal. memorials we saw. I thought they were Same Boat Together." to commemorate this war or that. There The Soviet students on the boat with t each city the boat docked, were so many of them - there have been us were about 14 years old. While we we were welcomed with great so many wars -1 thought that they were knew hardly any Russian, the Soviets ceremony. After speeches by celebrating power as a nation. spoke excellent English. Getting to know city officials, girls in tradi­ But once we went to the memorials each other was awkward at first. We tional dress would offer us bread as a and I saw them up close, I realized that talked about the normal things - school, sign of friendship. Then we visited with the monuments weren't glorifying their music, hobbies, movies. these new hosts. A lot of older people, conquests, they were really remember­ "You like Rim?" one young Soviet some of whom had never seen Ameri­ ing their people - fathers, brothers, hus­ asked my sister. cans, always came to meet us. Perhaps bands and sons who had died. "You mean R.E.M.?," she said. they expected us to look different, as we There are other things that now, more "Yeah." had expected them to. But they only than ever, the people are trying not to Another boy from Moscow, Dennis, smiled and handed learned a popular rap by Hammer with us bouquets of flow­ the help of one of the American girls. ers from their gar­ We were surprised that they knew such dens. current music; other things from our It was so odd; culture, however, have taken longer to these old men, vet­ arrive. "Star Wars," part one, was re­ erans of WWII, leased in the Soviet Union only last grinned as we year. pinned American I learned a lot about their country flags next to their from Dennis and his friend Basil. As we military ribbons le ft Kiev, Basil pointed to a huge statue from the war. They of a woman on the bank of the river. She shook our hands reminded me of our Statue of Liberty and welcomed us. with her stature and flowing robes. Basil These men had told me it was a statue to the Mother­ lived to see a war land. I noticed more of these statues in where our two other cities. Despite economic hard­ countries were al­ ships, most of the Soviet people we met lies, a cold war expressed a love for their mother coun­ where we were try. forced to be enemies When we got to know them better, we and now peace. asked the boys what they thought about I had misunder­

*During his reign, Soviet leader Stalin executed many o f His country people fo r their political Beliefs. ‘This museum at (Dnepropetrosk is devoted to these dissent­ ers. ‘The photos glow, lit from Behind, and votive candles Burn in front o f each o f their faces.

Winter 1992 17 forget. For many years, knowledge of tend. A number of Soviets attended and how it m ade m e feel, if it helped in my these things was kept from them and even participated. It was a simple serv­ life. Although, I was a little taken aback, lies were told. But recent generations ice, with guitar- accompanied songs and I answered her as best I could. are uncovering and preserving the truth Bible readings, but it meant something of their history. important to the Soviets. They were here were many little sur­ We saw many of their museums of crying as they left. They talked to us prises. One afternoon I history, but one room in the museum at about it afterwards, thanking us for let­ heard street corner musi­ Dnepropetrosk stands out. ting them share such an incredible cians in Moscow playing experience. "Do You Know W hat It Means to Miss he room was quiet, shrine­ We visited beautiful churches in Kiev New Orleans?" And at the time, I had like, when I wandered in. and Moscow and even inside the Krem­ never missed Louisiana and jazz music A black and white pyram­ lin. They were magnificently decorated, more. id of photographs rose be­ and, despite hundreds of years of his­ The entire journey w as an incredible fore me, illuminated by eerie red light. tory those walls held, they felt peaceful. experience. I do hope to return some Electric lights shined in front of each But they no longer belong to the people. day. I grew to admire aspects of their photo on the pyramid like votive They are museums now, not places of culture that before I wasn't aware of. candles. More red light glared off the worship. The fact that they name the main streets stark black and white walls were the The Soviets seemed to be hungering in their cities after their poets, novelists, people's stores were recorded. for something to hold on to, something composers, and artists impressed me. The people in the photographs were stable. I was just walking in the park one Still, I was glad to get home; it was political dissidents persecuted under day, and a woman named Natalia quite a 4th of July. We came back with a Stalin. They were executed by his or­ started a conversation with me. (Many greater appreciation for the little things der. Some of their writings and photos times people, sighting us as Americans -air conditioning, ice, Coke, and fast- of some of their families stood vigil from our clothes, approached us on sub­ moving lines. from the walls as I walked around the ways or other public places to practice I was lucky to get to see changes that room. I noticed blank places on the their English.) So I was listening to Na­ have occurred in the Soviet Union over pyramid, for those whose names and talia, and she told me that she medi­ the past few years. I'm less ignorant faces were not known. I could feel that tates. She described some of the exer­ than I was. I hope the changes that have the room was a sacred place, a place for cises she had developed for herself and occurred in the weeks since I've returned healing. showed me her journal. But she was cu­ mean that more people will be allowed And the people of the Soviet Union rious about prayer and asked me about to go to the USSR, speak to the people, need a lot of healing. To me, they seemed it. She wanted to know how I prayed, and understand for themselves. to be reaching out for something while they struggled to regain hold of their past. One Sunday on the boat, the Americans celebrated a non-denomi- national worship service. We wel­ comed anyone who wished to at-

One day, the group stumbled upon this jaz z Band playing on a street corner in Moscow. Ironi­ cally enough, they were playing, ,'Do You Know ‘What it M eans to M iss N ew Orleans ?'

18 Gumbo Magazine Y ou m ay not know ...

• The University conducted an economic im­ pact study which showed that our Baton Rouge campus contributed $672.6 million to the local econ­ omy last year. The athletic department brought $65 million to the l a t e x city's econ­ omy. • LSU received $1 million to start a Civil War center. • The average ACT score for students in the most recent class of freshmen was 23.1. LSU awarded 4,002 degrees last year. • The Office of Accounting Services paid LSU's 11,829 full-time and 19,037 part-time employ­ ees more J than $226, in fiscal 1990- 1991. \ • Residence Food Services '"served a million meals in Highland and Pentagon Dining - halls last year. • Campus Mail handled more than 10 million pieces of mail last year. • Also in the last year, LSU Police issued 560 traffic tickets, investigated 480 traffic accidents, made 265 criminal arrests and 247 disciplinary referrals to the University. • As of 1991, the LSU Li­ brary had 2,460,219books. • The Office of Par king, Traffic and Transportation is­ sued 64,537 parking tickets and 29,626 parking permits last year. • More than 1,100 students joined LSU's 40 Greek organizations last year. And Greeks do­ nated more than $50,000 and 40,000 hours to o r n o s e x worthy causes. • By 1990, the size of LSU's faculty and staff had shrunken from its high in 1983 - 4,788 - to 4,403. NOT MUCH OF A CHOICE

• 11,000 With increasing numbers of people becomig infected with faculty, staff and socially communicable diseases, the staff of the Gumbo students Magazine strongly suggests the use of condoms. While use cam­ pus buses not being the most comfortable or convenient of practices. each day. PRACTICING WITHOUT a condom COULD KLSU 91.1FM has a 10-mile broadcast radius. K I L L Y O U !

- Information comes from a report recently compiled by LSU Public Relations.

Winter 1992 1 9 20 Gumbo Magazine ecades of Sex at LSU

story by ronlyn a. domingue photographs by Christopher carroll

ondom. Norplant. HIV. AIDS. STD. Safe sex. This is the language of a decade that has experienced a new openness about sexuality. Sex is no longer the wedding night's dirty little secret. It's everywhere, from middle school locker rooms to prime­ time TV. Despite warnings from parents, churches and even friends, more young people are sexually active today than ever before, and they are having sex at an earlier age. Most young adults have sex at least once during their teen-age years. By the time they are 19,78 percent of Ameri­ can men have had sex, compared to 66 percent of women, according to statistics from the U.S. Census and the National Survey of Family Growth. It has been argued that all of this sex is a sign that America's moral fiber is collapsing. Others would say it's an inevitable trend in people's attitudes. Regardless, young adults today have much to consider: to do it, or not to do it....

Winter 1992 21 SU is watching you signing in and out of their dorms. They - they would stay out of their dorms also had specific quiet hours and rules until after curfew and then all sign in The Univer­ for having guests or spending the night late. sity's policies have or weekend outside of their dorms. But still, the University stood by its in changed considerably Marcia Willis, a first-year LSU stu­ loco parentis policy, Willis said. "They since the 1960s. dent in 1971, said female dorm resi­ told us they had a responsibility to our In 1963, LSU women students got a dents at that time had to sign in and out parents to protect us." booklet called "Socially Speaking"—a with their dorm mother and get permis­ Gradually, however, the in loco pa­ how-to guide for social success. The sion to go home for the weekend. rentis policy crumbled, and today stu­ booklet contained tips such as a cloth­ "It was kind of ridiculous, because I dents have much different rules. Stu­ ing guide to appropriate dress for was old enough to vote but I had to let dents are allowed to establish their own classes, dates and other events, clues on them know where I was going," she visiting hours in each dorm. Signing in how to avoid social blunders such as said. and out of dorms is optional, although using the wrong fork at dinner parties The double standard was already overnight guests are still supposed to and hints on topics to talk about on beginning to break down, however, be registered with the dorm. dates. Willis said. She said the catalyst for Lisa Cowling, a resident in Graham The "L Book" of university regula­ change was an incident in 1969 that had Hall, said male visitors there are given tions from 1967-69 gave women clear become legend by the time she entered passes to go to female residents' rooms, instructions about their behavior: LSU in 1971. and dorm assistants check to make sure "It is expected that the behavior and She said the University tried to pun­ male guests leave by the end of visiting appearance of an LSU coed shall at all ish a female student caught outside her hours. She charged that a double stan­ times reflect the gentility, refinement dorm after curfew. The woman had dard still exists, however. and decorum of a lady. In keeping tied sheets together to get out of "A woman can go in or out of a guy's with this standard, rudeness, her dorm window but had bro­ dorm from any entrance any time of public display of affection, ken her ankle when she day or night," Cowling said. "No one vulgar and profane lan dropped to the ground. seems to care." guage, and other be­ There, she was discov­ Freshman Kevin LeCount, who lives havior which vio­ ered by LSU police. in West Laville Hall, an all-male dorm, lates the proprie­ Willis said the said that if his residence hall has a fe­ ties of ladylike woman male visitation policy, it isn't posted or d em ean o r found a enforced. and socially section in "I wouldn't be surprised if a female acceptable the student were living next door," LeCount said. standards of code of con­ conduct are unbe­ duct that said coming to an LSU students would not he rules are different student." be discriminated The University ad­ against on the basis of Societal expec­ hered to an in loco parentis— sex and challenged the Uni­ tations have also in place of the parents—policy. versity to give her the same changed in the past While men were largely unregu­ punishment that would be given decades. Willis said lated, women were given a strict set a man in the same situation. that in 1971, couples who wanted to use of rules. They had curfews, set accord­ To show support, Willis said, women contraceptives often had an embarrass­ ing to their year in school, and rules for students began staging mass "stay-outs" ing time getting them. Condoms were

Contraceptive options coil-shaped devices that are placed into a r woman's uterus to prevent pregnancy. • Condoms. When used properly, condoms can prevent pregnancies and the spread of • Spermicide capsules, jellies and foams. STDs, including AIDS. They are cheap and These products kill sperm to prevent pregnan- available almost anywhere. ties. Some medical professionals suggest that nonoxynol-9, a sperm-killing agent, may also • Intrauterine devices (IUDs). Widely avail- prevent STDs, but no concrete evidence backs able since the early 1960s, lUDs are small, T-or this up.

22 Gumbo Magazine sold under the counter, so a person had about the risks and options, but there become an issue over the last few years. to ask for them. If a woman wanted to are many references to sex." Some media officials, such as those at buy a diaphragm or to have birth con­ She said women are confronted Fox, Inc., and MCA/Universal, Inc., trol pills prescribed, Willis said, she with sex as something that is for have taken stands to be more sen­ would be asked many pointed ques­ bidden yet encouraged, and sitive to the gay and lesbian tions about why she wanted such items. that men are told they community. "The idea was that if you were a should always want sex Steve Ransome, presi­ 'good girl,' why would you ask for The and that they should dent of the Gay and Pill unless you were married?" Willis be aggressive to get Lesbian Student said. it. The media re­ Alliance at LSU, Couples lived together in 1971, she flect change said he is said, but not as openly as today. "Living as well as p l e a s e d together sort of went along with the causing it that there hippie lifestyle. But they were hippies a n d are more gay as long as their parents didn't know McGuire said and lesbian they were living together," she said. "If the sexual por­ characters in the mom and dad were coming to visit, the trayals in shows and media, and he thinks boyfriend and everything of his—his movies these days are a this leads to a greater shoes, his clothes out of the closet—had recognition of society's awareness of diversity. to go." change in attitudes. He thinks, however, In 1990, by contrast, many students But in a decade in which safe that homosexuality is no more live together openly, and the U.S. cen­ sex is a matter of survival, respon accepted today than it was 20 or sus form had a "romantic partner" op­ sible sexual behavior may not be even 10 years ago. He attributes this tion under the marital status heading. stressed in the media enough. lack of acceptance to the rise in reli­ Some shows do make an effort to ad­ gious fundamentalism and the AIDS dress sexual issues facing young adults. scare. ex in the media ABC's "Doogie Howser, M.D.," for ex­ It is not only in television and movies ample, has stressed the importance of that sexual attitudes have changed - In the 1950s, sex on TV using condoms. But media people are music has changed as well. In the 1950s, was clean—so clean uncertain about how to portray such Ed Sullivan banned Elvis' pelvis. And that actors portraying methods to adults, McGuire said. the Beatles' "I Want to Hold Your Hand" a married couple never Craig Benoit, an LSU Wellness Pro­ of the 1960s was only subtly sexual. slept in a double bed, only twin beds. gram student health advocate, said he In the 1990s, rap and rock songs by Today, television portrays sex be­ thinks the media should be more re­ groups from 2 Live Crew to Van Halen tween unmarried people more often sponsible in the messages they send. can be blatant in their sexual references, than between married people, said Es­ The media have "a responsibility not if not bordering on obscene. Critics of­ ther McGuire, graduate assistant in necessarily to pass out information, but ten say these lyrics promote irrespon­ sociology. to at least convey information correctly sible sexual attitudes and are degrading McGuire also said that 2.81 refer­ and without ambiguity," he said. to women. ences are made to sex each hour of The AIDS epidemic has confronted Willis, who now has children of her prime-time network television. the media world with the gay issue. ow n who are 14 and 18, said she thinks "Young adults are getting mixed Portrayals of gay m en or lesbians have the music her children listen to is messages about sexuality," McGuire often been stereotypical representations, "obnoxious and disgusting," but she said. "There isn't much information and positive portrayals of them have doesn't stop them from listening to it.

• Sponges. This product is shaped like a • The Pill. Depending on the prescription, circle that is placed in a w om an' s vagina against oral contraceptives can prevent implantation her cervix. It contains a sperm -killing substance. of a fertilized egg or stop ovulation completely.

• Diaphragm s. Developed in the 1880s, dia­ • N orplant. Recently approved in the U.S., phragm s are flattened, cup-like rubber devices this device is a group of small, hormone-filled that fit inside a w om an's vagina against her cer­ tubes surgically placed under the skin of a vix. Since the 1950s, spermicides have been woman's arm. Norplant can work up to five used with diaphragms. years, but it’s expensive - costing about $500.

Winter 1992 2 3 "I don't think listening to that music today, but not all sexually active people cent. Heterosexual contact, blood trans­ will make my daughter want to go out use them. fusions and other transmission ac­ and have sex because what I listened to Only about half of young adults to­ counted for 11 percent. Drug users ac­ didn't make me want to do it," she said. day use protection, said Dr. Phyllis C. counted for the remainder. Alternative messages in today's Gilmore, a physician at the Student In the United States as a whole, al­ music world include those from two all­ Health Center. m ost 193,000 cases of full-blown AIDS woman rap groups. Salt-N-Pepa re­ Many young adults have the "it can't were reported among adults and ado­ leased "Let's Talk About Sex," and "Do happen to me" attitude about pregnancy lescents between June 1981 and Sep­ You Really Want Me?" which suggest or AIDS, she said. tember 1991. Men, including gay, hetero­ discussing whether to have sex and wait­ Also, Gilmore said decisions about sexual, and intravenous drug users, ing to have sex until both partners are sex are affected by the degree of close­ accounted for 90 percent of the cases, ready. BWP (Bitches With Problems) ness in a relationship. People in mo­ according to the National AIDS Hot­ released "No Means No," which ad­ nogamous relationships tend to use line. dresses the myth that when a woman contraception more often, she said, while Women accounted for only 10 per­ says no to sex, she really means yes. people who have multiple partners may cent, but Sims said the number of hetero­ not even address the issue. sexual women getting AIDS has in­ In addition, some young adults don't creased dramatically, especially among ontraception use contraception because they can't women of color, during the last 10 years. afford it or don't think they have access The number of gay men getting AIDS C a s a n o v a to it, she said. has decreased, she said. popularized the con­ Jose Mendoza, LSU Wellness Pro­ Linda Rome, coordinator of the LSU dom in the late gram student health advocate, says Wellness Program, said the Student 1700s. Madeof young adults don't always do Health Center does not release statistics animal intestines, it was used what they know they should on the number of HIV-positive or AIDS to prevent diseases and do because they want to be cases on campus. pregnancy. Condoms "cool.” "We're a big university so what holds were mass-pro- true across the nation holds true here," duced in the From sex to sick­ she said. "National research indicates 1840s after the n ess-A ID S that for a campus our size, there would invention of B e - be 36 to 44 HIV-positive cases, and two vulcanized tween 1982 or three people would actually have rubber. and Septem­ AIDS." The contra­ ber 1991, almost Two years ago, the medical commu­ ceptive sponge we 1,800 cases of full­ nity thought a person could have HIV can buy over the blown AIDS have (human immunodeficiency virus) and counter today is an im­ been reported in Lou­ not show symptoms for five to seven proved version of the natu­ isiana, according to Sara years. Now, we know a person can have ral sponges women used as Sims, the executive director latent HIV for as long as 12 years, Sims contraception since the rise of of Capitol Area HTV /AIDS Serv­ said. ancient Egyptian civilization and ices, also known as Friends for Life. Sims said that means a person could perhaps before. Of these reported cases, homosexual have had sex without a condom or used Contraceptives are widely available and bisexual men accounted for 71 per­ intravenous drugs in 1981, when AIDS

From sex to sickness— "The numbers (of STD cases) have been about o t h e r S T D s the same for the last three or four years," Rome said. "They are just very high." College students need to worry about other Chlamydia: If left untreated, a person may STDs besides AIDS. develop a discharge, pelvic pain in women, At LSU last fall, there were more than 300 genital pain in men, and eventually sterility. new STD cases, including chlamydia, Drugs can be prescribed to cure a chlamydia condylom a^yphilis, gonorrhea and hepatitis B, in fe c tio n . R o m e s a id . Condyloma, or genital warts: These are

24 Gumbo Magazine was first identified in the United States, themselves from unwanted pregnan­ The student health advocates get their and be carrying the HIV virus today cies and diseases? messages out through tabling at the with no symptoms. McGuire said the studies she Union and giving special programs "Some experts say 45 to 50 percent of has read indicate that educat­ that include skits. the people who have HIV will get full­ ing young people doesn't "We try to make the blown AIDS. We simply don't know," prevent sex, but it does programs humorous and she said. "For those people who are car­ make them more likely interesting. We don't riers, they could be HIV-positive and to use contraception preach," Benoit said. asymptomatic,HTV-positive with symp­ and it reduces the "People are get­ toms, or get AIDS which has several n u m b er of ting informa­ diseases associated with it." new STD tion from a Various forms of cancer, pneumonia cases. n w and "wasting" (dehydration through She dis­ angle." diarrhea and vomiting) are associated agrees with the In addition to with AIDS, Sims said. argument that sex giving out infor­ education encour­ mation, these pro­ ages young adults to grams are designed to ducation, or Beyond have sex. Knowledge get students to think about where babies come about sex doesn't cause sex­ what they're doing. from ual activity, McGuire said. Rome said a portion of several Rome said sex education should programs involves getting people Benoit said he be incorporated in some form, per­ to consider their values. thinks the most serious haps in health classes, throughout the "If I give a presentation on condom problem is that people think they know time a child is in school. usage, I ask the question 'what do you about these issues and they really don't. "By the time students are old enough have to know before you use a con­ He said he has dealt with several to have sex and know about diseases, dom?"' she said. "I'll get responses such students, male and female, who thought they should know how to protect them­ as, you have to know how to put one on. a woman couldn't get pregnant the first selves," she said. That's correct, but what it really comes time she had sex. Although many students may be down to is how you feel about having Mendoza agreed. "They (many col­ sexually active by the time they get to sex." lege students) didn't know some meth­ college, it's not too late for them to be ods of safer sex; they didn't know you educated on sexual issues. "Knowledge about sex doesn't cause could get an STD from pre-ejaculatory LSU's Wellness Program is designed sexual activity "-Esther Me Guire. fluid or even how you get an STD," he to help young adults learn more about said. sexual issues, from STDs to date rape, People must question if they want to First-year students usually know and about other health concerns. have sex at this time, if it7 s OK for them least about sex, Rome said. As students Student health advocates are repre­ to have several partners, or if they want spend more time in school and perhaps sentatives for the program. They are all to stay virgins until they get married, become sexually active, they learn more students. Benoit considers this an edge she said. about contraception and STDs, she said. over other methods of getting informa­ These are hard choices, but ones that But do these young adults know what tion out to students because he thinks students make every day and night at they need to know in order to protect students are receptive to their peers. LSU.

caused by the hum an papillom avirus, or HPV, HPV detected early can be treated success­ Gilmore said. Although genital w arts m ay seem fully, she said, but left untreated, it can be fatal. a m inor problem , HPV can be deadly, she said. O ther STDS, such as syphilis or gonorrhea: HPV is suspected of causing cervical cancer. These can be treated w ith various drugs. M edi­ A woman who starts having sex early in life cines for STDs are available only through a and who has several partners runs a much d o c to r. greater risk of getting the virus, she said. Gilmore said the Student Health Center pro­ The risk is not lim ited to wom en. M en can get vides m any services to help students w ho have genital cancer from HPV, Gilmore said. S T D s.

Winter 1992 2 5 story by laura pevehouse illustration by nicole duet

Tommy and Beth's names have been would want me, that I wasn't pretty and Many cases go unreported, she said. changed to protect their privacy. that he was the only person that would And most abusers hide their violent put up with me," Beth said. Their rela­ tendencies from people outside the re­ Tommy hit Beth to help her become a tionship did not start out violent. But lationship. Many victims excuse or cover better person. At least that's what he after he hit her to force her to go to the for them because they fear the abuser told her. movies with him, physical and verbal and what other people will say. For two years, they dated steadily. abuse became a powerful tool for "There really aren't a lot of statistics She never dared argue with him, for she Tommy. to support w hat we think is going on," knew Tommy would become violent. Statistics show that one-fifth of all Nancy Mathews, associate director of But what hurt more than Tommy's blows college dating relationships are violent, Student Health at LSU, said about abuse was the emotional abuse he used to according to Barbara Davidson, com­ on the campus. She said, however, that keep her tied to him. munity trainer for the Battered Women's LSU staff members in counseling roles "He would tell me that no one else Program of Baton Rouge. hear of the problem frequently.

26 Gumbo Magazine The dean of students, the Wellness Beth said the main reason she left away, Davidson said, because they must Program, LSU Mental Health and LSU Tommy was because another guy asked remain on campus where they may have police all hear of battering in dating her out. The fact that someone else was the same classes as their abuser. relationships, Mathews said. interested in her showed Beth that In cases of severe battering it may be Mathews said violence is a learned Tommy had lied to her and that she even more dangerous for the victim to behavior and is more common today could find another man. leave her abuser than to stay, Davidson than 10 years ago. She said an increase In addition, Beth saw a friend also said, because threats against the life of in violence on television and in the home involved in an abusive dating relation­ the victim or her family's life may be may contribute to the high amount of ship. carried out. dating violence today. When a woman finds herself in an For women students who fear their A person who grows up in an abu­ abusive situation, she needs to know it abusers, the dean of students' office can sive home will not necessarily is not her fault act as an intermediary. The staff there become an abuser, however, can help the victim by recom­ Davidson said. mending counseling and "It's real typical that vio­ discussing such options as lence will escalate in a rela­ issuing a restraining or­ tionship," Davidson said. der against the abuser. She explained that it could Another re­ begin by simply throwing source on campus is objects at the wall. Such ac­ the Mental Health tions are attempts to intimi­ Service, which pro­ date and control through vides three types of fear. A display of violence counseling. Individual when arguing, even though therapy is available for not directed toward the the victim and for the partner, is a warning that abuser also. There is such behavior could even­ also group therapy tually change into abuse. for survivors of sex­ Identifying a date as a po­ ual abuse and for chil­ tential abuser is not always dren of dysfunctional families. easy. "Most batterers have good points, and seek help, Davidson said. The third type of counseling is too," Davidson said. Many of the vic­ "Seeking help is not a weak thing to couple therapy, which attempts to "re­ tims she counsels say they had no clues do," Mathews said. "It really takes train" the relationship. beforehand that their partner would be strength." The Battered Women's Program pro­ an abuser. The best thing a friend can do, she vides a safe haven and counseling. The Many violent people, however, do said, is "talk strongly to the victim," program emphasizes giving options in­ exhibit certain characteristics, Mathews urging them to seek help. stead of advice, Davidson said. said. "The first hint, the strongest hint, Leaving is often presented as the best Women need to remember that bat­ is when anybody hits anybody," she solution to an abusive relationship, but tery is a crime, Mathews said. Ultimately said. "This is not love; It is control and leaving is not always easy. it is up to the victim to have the strength domination." College students often cannot get to press charges against her abuser.

W arning signs to look for • Tendency to disregard the w om an's feelings • Expectations of perfectionism • Difficulty in discussing problem s calmly and • Extreme jealousy and possessiveness. ra tio n a lly • A view of wom en as inferior or submissive —compiled from a booklet on preventing • Problems with alcohol or drugs sexual violations distributed by Bowling Green • Constant criticism of the female partner State University and from 'The Battered • Isolation of the female from her family and W om an's Survival Guide," by Jan B. Statman. frie n d s

Winter 1992 2 7 LIFE

O N T H E photo by robb williamson (above) In step. A G reek struts his stuff at a Black Greek Council Showin Nov. 1991.

EDGE OF CAM PUS

(left) Sex, Lies and a Cam era? Just another night at the Bayou, a local hangout. photo by Christopher carroll Winter 1992 2

(opposite page) All dressed up... Jeff Roberson (left) and Cody King examine a prop from their stage show, "Knocked Up." Roberson, an LSU student, performs in drag as Varla Merman, the "illegitimate daughter of Ethel Merman," at night clubs in Baton Rouge, New Orleans and some­ times New York. In this show, Roberson's character gets pregnant and gives birth on top of a bar. photo by dusti johnston

photo by todd houghton

(above) A boy and his iguana.

(left) Johnny got his gun. Members of the Louisiana National Guard's Special Reaction Team storm a building to rescue hostages in a simu- lation involving local police, FBI and emergency units. The special team is made up mostly of college students from state universities. photo by robb williamson Winter 1992 31 DEATH

(right) Raw m eat. LSU students and employees regu­ larly conduct slaughters in a building just up the road from A.P. Tureaud Hall. W orkers bleed the steers, inspect th e m e a t a n d s to r e it. photo by todd houghton 32 Gumbo Magazine Winter 1992 3 3

ONE

By the light of the moon I saw her. Her hair, flowing like the rivers of the world, rippled in the wind as the faint lights cast by the night encircled her head like a halo. She stopped for a moment, TIL caught in the halls of her thoughts, barely aware that I watched. The small wrought-iron gate creaked as she opened it to enter the courtyard. Our eyes met. She turned towards the table. My heart beat stronger. Was it the smell of her perfume or the wine that DEATH made me light-headed? I readied myself for the first words, not knowing exactly what to say. My mind raced to the dreams I had of her. The nights filled with her sensitive kisses, her skin, her eyes. How many times had 1 dreamt of her? Slowly I looked up from my glass. My WE heart pounding in my throat, 1 felt faint. As graceful as an apparition in the night, she weaved through the glass-covered tables and came closer to mine. My arm flinched to greet her. She fell. Her eyes flew wide as she tripped on the careless foot of an unseen patron. Her PART hands desperately reached for something to grab. From nowhere it appeared. An umbrella unwittingly positioned in the A path of her plunging body. It pierced her eye and sliced into the depths of her brain. Her body flinched. trilogy I glanced at the waiter, his face para­ lyzed in a state of shock. 1 reached for my glass, swallowed the last of the wine, and of love grabbed my hat. As 1 left the restaurant, 1 heard the obsessions sirens, a faint noise growing louder as 1 walked down the street. by: wayne schexnayder She opened the door clad only inher bath­ robe. She looked both ways. Stopping for a moment, she pointed her head directly at my car. I thought for a THREE second that she saw me. Then he ap­ Crossing my arms on the edge of peared. Still adjusting his tie, he turned the bed, I moved my head forward and to kiss her. She pushed him away and placed my chinonmy hands. Shelooked waved goodbye. Perhaps her last. so peaceful lying there, her hair spread As he drove away, I started the over the pillow. Her perfume still lin­ engine. Turning into the driveway, my gered. hand reached for the gun, the cold blue We had a good time last night. She steel and the ivory handle sent contrast­ spoke with my friends so easily. I ing sensations to my brain. The car thought that I had finally met the right coughed once, gasping again before it one, the one you think you're destined died. to be with, the one you could grow old The smell of fresh-cut grass filled with. my nostrils as I jumped out of the car. A TWO three-bedroom, two-bath, two-car ga­ The day she started at the office I rage slice of suburbia. The topic of saw the boss showing her around. She conversation in every grocery store moved so gracefully. She dressed with magazine. sheer elegance. As I entered the house I could hear Icouldn't understand why a woman Thoughts of her invaded my mind: the water running in the bathroom, all with so much class needed to work. Her her betrayal, her carelessness, the desire the doors between us were open. I beauty was distracting, and eventually long gone in a relationship that was walked to the back. I was consumed by my desires to be over before it began. Stopping at the bathroom door, I w ith her. What was I thinking? How many turned, putting my back against the Months went by before I built up times had I lied to myself, had she lied wall. Beads of sweat formed on my the courage to ask her out. Every day l to me? I gave her everything I had: my brow. I slowly slid to the floor, glancing told myself I would. I cursed myself in car, my money, my heart. She wrecked at my weapon. The sheer power of one the bathroom mirror at work. Why my car, spent my money, broke my skillfully fired bullet could end my can't I bring myself to ask her? heart. problems, sever the ties that bind. I knew she didn't have a boyfriend, The sunlight glaring through the A click. The tub gurgled as the others had asked her. She told them she windshield bounced off the dash and drain swallowed the water. As the just hadn't found the right one. Maybe momentarily blinded me. The flash of splashes from the room signaled her it w ould be me? light triggered my memory. exit from the tub, I rose to my feet. I Then my neighbors had a party. I had thought she m ight have been pulled the hammer back slowly — the They invited me, but told me I had to unfaithful, but how quickly my thoughts spring creaked slightly until it snapped bring a date. This time I had to ask her. had become reality. into place. W ith both hands I raised the I couldn't back down again. I would Without her knowing I had taken gun to chest-level and turned to enter hate myself forever. the day off. I waited in my car, just the bathroom. I checked my hair in the bathroom, down the street; just far enough to see brushed my teeth and straightened my who comes and goes. Then I caught her. clothes. As I walked to her desk I felt a It happened just as I wished it lump rise in my throat, my mouth went wouldn't. An old model car. Who was Speed-bumps echoed through the dry. I said hello, stumbling over the few it? He knocked once. She let him in. car as it veered from its path. I reached words I could get out of my mouth. I The time dragged. Their rendez­ for a cigarette. Inhaling deeply, I tossed babbled incessantly for a minute or two vous seemed to last hours. The air the match out the window. about work and finally got to the point. trapped in the car became stagnant. I My concentration returned to the She said yes with no hesitation in had nearly run out of cigarettes when road that led me away, towards any­ her voice. I walked away in a daze. I he finally left the house. where, nowhere, somewhere different. never imagined it would be that easy. My heart was stunned, my body a little my face. In a mild state of shock I turned had fallen for. How would I face the numb. I felt as if I had just won the the engine over and drove down the next day at the office? I could not bear Superbowl, walked away with the street. the thought. heavyweight boxing title, or inherited a W hy had she led me on like that if I pulled a small pocket billion dollars. I was the happiest man she knew my intentions? I didn't be­ knife out of the glove com­ alive. lieve her. How could I have been so partment. The blade was The week went by quickly. My boss wrong, been so stupid to believe that difficult to open, the commented on my improved attitude. I she liked me, that there was a chance for spring rigid from disuse. knew my neighbors would be jealous. I love? I pointed the tip at my was the king and nothing could bother I had to see her, to watch her, to arm, drawing a line from my me. Each day I rehearsed what I would smell her perfumed body in the room. I hand. The flesh gave easily, a say to her, plotted each minute of the braked slowly at the end of the street. red line grew wider and night she would be mine. I had to see her again. I had to ask brighter as I pulled the blade I picked her up early. We went to a her why. across my wrist. Blood Chinese restaurant where I ate fre­ As I drove up I noticed that the began to bubble from quently. I tipped the maitre d' hand­ lights were out in her apartment. Qui­ my arm. With each somely and he brought us to a small etly I closed the door of my car and heartbeat the booth in the back of the restaurant. walked to her building. It was locked. flow quickened. She was gorgeous. The light from I looked at the window in her apart­ Placing the knife the candle between us flickered beams ment. It appeared to be slightly open to on the passenger seat, I of light on her jet-black hair. It was let the cool breezes of the evening in. touched the blood as it straight out of a fantasy. We laughed Ever so gently I raised the window and ran dow n my and talked forever. I couldn't imagine climbed in, careful not to make any arm. The how I had lived w ithout this woman. noise. warmness We entered the party fashionably She just looked so peaceful lying greeted my late. All of my friends turned their there with her hair spread over the pil­ fingertips. I reached heads to see her. I was high with excite­ low. I must have been sitting by the bed for her nightgown. ment. The night flew by. When we for half an hour when I decided it was Gently I brushed it made our exit, I felt great, my head too late to ask questions. against my face. The buzzing slightly from the champagne. As I crossed the room to leave, I images of her face The conversation dwindled during noticed a nightgown on her floor. flooded my mind. the ride to her apartment. I didn't know Touching the material to my face, a Never what to say. I wanted to spend the night shiver went through my body. Apiece shall we with her. I had fantasized a million times of her. A small reminder of the feelings meet what it would be like to make love to I held deep inside. again. her. I had to tell her how I felt. The Driving down the street, the shad­ G oodbye! blood rushing to my head and the lump ows from the street lamps crawled m y love. in my throat made it difficult to talk. As slowly through my car. The cool air bit the car slowed to a stop in front of her at my face through the open window. I apartment, I turned to speak. pulled the car off the street, stopping Then it came. She opened her mouth under a light in the parking lot of a gas and in so many words cut away my station. flesh, exposing my heart to the cold air I began to ponder that which I of the night. She thought it was nice that had done. What a fool I had I was enchanted with her. She had seen been. There was no way the way I looked at her at the office. She out. I had tried and failed. thanked me for a wonderful evening, The hopelessness and then proceeded to tell me that I swelled in my mind, shouldn't ask her out again. It just wasn't desperate thoughts of right. Her life was different. It had no an exit running tan­ place for the relationship that I wanted. dem with the im­ She said that she enjoyed herself at the ages of the party, thanked me again, and said that wom an I it wasn't necessary to walk her in. I didn't know what to do. I sat in the car for what seemed like hours. I contemplated my ac­ tions and what had happened. My fantasy had exploded in "Humming Birds" by John Gould (1804- 1881) is one of m any ornately illustrated natural history plates in the E. A. McIlhenny Natural History Collection.

Written for people unfamiliar with M ardi Gras, this 1893 pamphlet includes information about the history of M ardi Gras, crewes and places to v isit.

38 Gumbo Magazine H LIBRARY: LSU' s

by brenda murray phonography courtesy of hill memorial library

From politics to poker, Chaucer to chess, an eclectic hodgepodge of silent treatises lies virtually undiscov- ered on the LSU campus. Hiill M em orial L ibrary is nothing I like most univer- sity libraries, and it- is nothing like any other LSU building. Instead of crude cement steps, brute bricks and pale green shatterproof glass, the building is graced with two elegant marble staircases, glorious ceilings and high-arched w indows- There are no fluorescent lights, instead, small. reading la mps are placed on each spacious reading table in Hill's main South Reading Room. There is no grafitti on those wide tables, instead, they are polished and clean. There are no dirty linoleum floors, instead, visitors find wall-to-wall mauve-colored carpeting. Since 4985, Hill Library h a s housed the University’s Special Collections, a vast- wealth of rare and unusual mate­ rials the library has accumulated. S o p recious are the treasures it holds, visitors to Hill are greeted by a guard who takes their name arid the reason for their visit. And everyone using the library must wear num- bered visitor badges. The downstairs gallery is used to display many of the “ original designs of several Louisiana plantation homes and This automobile sticker from H ueyLong's their elaborate floral arrangements. campaign in 1932 is in the Seymour U p the stairs, visitors find .another gallery with artwork Weiss Collection. . showing Louisiana's rich natural history.

Winter 1992 39 To the left of these displays lies the Senate work,from Russell Long as well be added w as th e elephant folio of South Reading Room where visitors can as Buddy Roemer's Congressional pa­ "Au dubon's Birds of Am erica," a giant use materials from the Louisiana and pers. book of the naturalist's prints. Lower Mississippi Valley Collection' just Material from governors as far back During the 1820s and 1830s, orni­ part of Hill's broad Special Collections. as the mid-19th century are also in­ thologist John James Audubon began Assistant Dean Robert Martin said cluded in the collection. composing this book of life-sized draw­ this special collection has been called Other items in the collection include ings of American birds. Audubon stud­ the largest accumulation of history and the papers of many plantation owners, ied birds in their natural habitats across culture of this region in existence. the book collection and writings of Pul­ the United States. The LLMVC contains Louisiana staite itzer-prize winner T. Harry Williams, This finished product, which took 15 documents, backfiles of almost every and the letters of regional authors such years to complete, consists of400 plates Louisiana newspaper on microfilm and as Grace King and Andrei Codrescu. in four volumes. historical photographs. The Mcllhenny collection also ^fea­ Martin's favorite item, a map of Lou­ N ot just hot sauce. tures numerous works of art including isiana drawn in 1816by William Darby, Across the hall to the north stands porcelain sculptures and original oils is available for viewing, along with a the reading room where visitors can and watercolors by natural history art­ copy of the Louisiana Ordinance of Se­ find the literature and materials of the ists from the past and present. cession from 1861. Rare Books Collections. One item of particular interest is origi­ The most prestigious part of this nal watercolors Of the native flora of Huey, Harry and Andrei Codrescu. collection is the E. A. McIlhenny Natu- Louisiana by botanical artist Margaret Of course, the LLMVC contains Vol­ ral History Collection. Stones. umes of material on Louisiana govern­ in 1971, the LSU Libraries acquired Chancellor Paul W. Murrill commis­ ment. Edward Avery Mcllhenny's natural sioned th e artw ork in 1976 to celebrate The collection is home to such valu-5 history library. the 50th anniversary of the university. able documents as the coroner's inquest Mcllhenny, who served as president The project spanned 14 years and in­ from the assassination of Huey P. Long of the prominent Tabasco corporation cludes 220 drawings. in 1936, as well as the watch Long body­ of southwest Louisiana, was also an ac- guard Murphy Rodin was wearing dur- claimed naturalist and conservationist. Rare books and poker. ing the shootout. When the Mcllhenny collection was The Rare Books Collection embraces It was struck by a bullet and the brought to the University, other books works ranging from a first edition of impact reportedly caused the watch to in the Special Collections pertaining to 19th-century author Jonathan Swift's stop at the exact time of the murder. natural history were added to this col­ novel "Tale of a Tub" and a collection of The library also houses Huey Long's lection. . books designed by noted typographer papers from his early career, 38 years of One of the most important works to Bruce Rogers to a rare copy of the works of Geoffrey Chaucer printed at Eng­ land's Kelmscott Press.

H ill Memorial has over 1,300 items from the William T. Johnson fam­ ily dating from 1793-1937. The collection includes personal papers , diaries, commercial records and music of a Natchez freed slave. In 1835, Johnson married Ann Battles, a former slave who was fried in 1822, and they had several children. The date of the picture is unknow n.

4 0 Gumbo Magazine The building was constructed in 1925 "The Purple Pel," pub­ when the University moved to its new campus. lished by Theta Sigma It took its name from the library John T H E Sigma in the 1920's, was Hill built on the old campus as a memo­ LSU's humorous maga­ rial to his son, who died in 1902. P U R P L E zine. Throughout the "The library was quite instrumental in helping LSU get going as a univer­ PEL magazines, there are sity' George Hill, John Hill’s great- Louisiana State University poems, jokes, short essays, Humorous JXtagazine grandson, said. "It was a major addition cartoons and direct refer­ to the facility." ences to students and fac Besides being the main library for the ulty. Many of the illus tr a campus, the new Hill Library also tions depict the flapper housed the department of arts and sci­ ences culture that was popular In 1958;'" Middleton Library was at this time. completed and Hill, Library was re­ modeled to accommodate the architec­ ture and psychology departments as the Louisiana Newspaper well as LSU Press. Microfilming Program for And in 1983, the University decided more than 40 years, a pro­ to turn Hill into the home for the rap­ gram responsible for pre­ idly growing Special Collections, which servings many state papers had been stored in Middleton. on microfilm. The department also takes care of preserving the Volume one, number one o f Cou- photographs housed in the rier de la Louisiane" appeared on April, 1926 Naughty Boid! Louisiana and Lower Mis­ Oct. 14,1807. This weekly newspa­ sissippi Valley Collection. per also had an English masthead. The Rare Books Collection also holds Hill, take 3. Hill Memorial has many copies on several smaller groups of books. Martin calls this the "third incarna microfilm and some originals. The Oliver P. Carriere Collection of tion" of Hill Library. , Poker and Hoyle contains most of the early works of Edmund P. Hoyle and a vast array of literature on poker. Carriere's collection documents the history and development of the game as as the social and legal questions associated with it. The Judge Warren L. Jones Lincoln Collection contains a vast array of lit­ erature documenting the life of Abra­ ham Lincoln. The c6lle c t i o n com plem ents the other Civil War memorabilia housed in the library and contains books, jour­ nals and artifacts.

Wait, there's more. Hill Library also houses the Special Collections' Preservation Department. The LSU Libraries has sponsored

Winter 1992 41 photo by tanya albert Hill Memorial Library has-been the home of the University's Special Collections since 1985.

These renovations were completed Putting the word on the street. drum up awareness of the library among in 1985 and the collection moved to its Al though this wealth of information students, especially undergraduates, current residence. is available for all LSU students, Martin Martin said. Contrary to LSU history books, the said he feels that not enough students Until that interest is more wide­ name of the library was never changed take advantage of the collections. spread, however, most of Hill's treas­ to Hill Memorial Building; Martin said. "We are Ilk' laboratory for research ures will remain unseen, undiscovered "When the library moved to Middle in a wide range of disciplines," Martin and under appreciated. Ion in 1958 and Hill was turned over to said: "Students and faculty should make non-library purposes, someone chipped use more of these rich resources." the word 'library' off the facade of the He said the library does offer orien­ Samuel Augustus Mitchell (1792- building, but the name was never offi­ tations for student groups to help them 1868) drew this map of Louisiana, cially changed," he said. get used to using Hill Library. Mississippi and Alabama, and it Between 1983 and 1985, when the Martin call the tours "orientations," was copyrighted in 1834. library was renovated, staffers went because the programs of­ through a lot of trouble to put the word fer more than a general "library" back on the portico, Martin overview of the library. said. The new bronze letters were pur­ "We try to put more chased by Kappa Delta sorority. substance into the pro- The collection is mainly funded by gram," he explained. donations from Friends of the LSU "We custom-tailor the Libraries and others, Martin said. The orientations to graduate money is used to purchase rare books and undergraduate and materials, but many of the items courses. The orientations have been given to the library. are done with some fre­ The library tries to avoid using state quency." funds and tax money to purchase re­ The library tries as sources for the collection, he said. much as possible to

42 Gumbo Magazine left Howe-Russell Geoscience Complex right East and West Laville Dormitories

East Laville Hall and said she is proud to live in the dorm named after her aunt. "She's definitely a hero in my book," Scharfenberg said. "Although I never met her, I know she would be proud of me living in the dorm, just like she would have been of her sis­ ter, my mother, who also lived here." Physics professor Richard Huggett Jeremy White, a residential assistant said he and other members of the phys­ in the west wing, said he enjoyed read­ ics department were afraid "The math ing about Laville. "All the residents people would move in on us" if the should learn about the great person for buildings were connected at the second which these dorms were named," White floor, the home of the mathematics said. "It would make them appreciate department in the old building. O t h e r these buildings more." The third floor houses a planetar­ - by Brian Williams ium, 30 feet in diameter, that seats about 100 people. Huggett said that for years B u i l d i n g s • N icholson Hall. this planetarium was the only one in Built in 1937 under Gov. Richard Louisiana and hosted regular star shows Leche and LSU president James Monroe for visiting school children. When a Smith, the building was named for Col. larger one was built downtown, the a t L S U J. W. Nicholson, a former president of planetarium's popularity waned. photographs courtesy LSU (1883-1884 and 1887-1896,) and - by Eric Parsons of lsu public relations housed the physics, astronomy and mathematics departments. • Howe-Russell Geoscience Complex. • East & West Laville Dormitories. In 1939, a refractor telescope was Henry Van Wagener Howe was al­ Germaine Laville received her added to the building, and enclosed in a ready a famous geologist when he be­ education degree from LSU in 1942. solid-brass, rotating dome, astronomy gan his career at LSU in 1922. His job Two years later, she was dead. instructor Arlo Landolt said. Retired was to help rebuild the University's The year after she graduated, astronomy instructor Ray Grenchik said geology departm ent. By 1931, he had Laville enlisted in the Marine Corps he remembers when that dome used to done just that, as well as restoring the Women's Reserve and met her doom leak during the 70s. Louisiana Geologic Survey and found­ trying to rescue a fellow Marine from "When we'd get a severe rain storm, ing the Shreveport Geological Society. a burning building that thing would Richard Russell came to LSU in 1928, on a base in Cherry really leak. Water at Howe's request, to develop the geog­ Point, North Caro­ would get in our raphy program. Russell went on to help line. offices," Grenchik start the Coastal Studies Institute. LSU honored said. He said faculty Now the Howe-Russell Geoscience this heroic alumna member made their Complex is the home of three different by namingtwo resi­ own drainage sys- disciplines - geography, geology and dence halls after her tem inside the build­ anthropology. Its two main buildings - East and West ing. are joined by a walkway. Laville, which were In 1959, LSU The garden-like atrium at the center then women's finished an annex to of the newest building in the complex dorms. Women still Nicholson. This new was built in honor of former Chancellor live in East Hall, but part of the building James Wharton. It contains a variety of West Laville be­ joins the old only on plants and shrubs in a temperature- came a men's dorm the third floor and controlled environment. in 1970. in the basement. The complex also is the home of the Laville's niece, Dinotrek exhibit - a collection of arti­ Mary Scharfenberg, Nicholson Hall facts and models. currently lives in - by Nicole Batten Winter 1992 4 3 keeping the faith continued from page5 "We help Muslims practice their religion here be­ cause there's no other way to make it available," Family Thrift Center Abuelrub said. "People can learn from these sessions (in the Mosque). Some Muslims don't know how to Baton Rouge's Newest Thrift Store pray, and many Americans come to see the Mosque Check our daily half-price sales — some convert." The Islamic Center has a school on weekends for Student and Senior Citizen Discounts children to learn about Islam. During the summer it met every day. $5.00 off with $10.00 purchase "We let people know what Islam is and how to practice it," Abuelrub said. Graduate student Jehad Naser said the MSA stud­ Clothes for the whole family ies the history of other religions, as well as politics. "The Koran discusses other religions in full detail and therefore all Muslims would know other relig­ New and used furniture for ions' histories and their beliefs," Naser said. the student dale brown: crazy days at lsu 209 Little John continued from page 13 blasted the NCAA's Prop 48, a rule that forced enter­ ing freshmen to sit out a year if they did not meet certain standardized test scores. Brown's own teams have received a lot of criticism for being riddled with players who didn't graduate or left the school early. USA Today and The Times-Pica- yune have reported the LSU basketball team's gradu­ ation rate at less than 20 percent. Brown said that 52 of 87 lettermen have graduated at LSU or another college, totalling 60 percent. "I've said it before and I'll say it again, I refuse to go over to that dormitory and wake players up to go to class. That7s not my job," Brown said. He said there is no reason why a player who stays at LSU for four years shouldn't graduate. But despite his efforts to call for reform, Sports Illustrated's Armen Keteyian and Alexander Wolff called Brown "part of the problem" in their 1989 book "Raw Recruits." The book said that Brown signed a $300,000 contract with L.A. Gear. "I resent the implication in the book that because other colleges had offered (former LSU star) John Wil­ liams tons of money, that somehow he couldn't have Optimum come to LSU without getting a car and all this other stuff," Brown said. music Williams left LSU for the NBA draft after two seasons. at "The people who influenced him to go pro know who they are. It's a tragedy," Brown says. "Here was a Minimum guy who wasn't ready for the pros, and didn't want to go to the pros." prices. As he heads out of the L-Club up to the floor of the Assembly Center he gives one last thought on the new kinder, gentler Brown that is content without a national championship or the Holy Grail. "Oh, I'm not saying I've lost my fighting spirit. I'm still going to stand up for things. They haven't invented an elephant gun big enough yet to put me down."

44 Gumbo Magazine story by mary cummings

n most American cities, a prominent figure ar­ rested for rape would be cause for a local media circus for days - unless that rape oc­ curred on a college campus and the prominent figure was a basketball player. Then, as was the case at Southwest Missouri State University in 1988, such information could be swept under the rug of the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act and never seen again. Several universities have locked away crime reports under the auspices of the federal act designed to protect the privacy of student records. Some schools fear losing federal funds; others just want to protect their images. But what started as a local problem- students versus their university - hit the national scene when Traci Bauer, then the editor of The Southwest Standard, filed a suit in January 1990 against Southwest Missouri State for access to police records. Since then, student journalists nation­ wide have fought for better access to details of crimes committed on their campuses, including the names of students arrested for those crimes. Under most state open records laws, this information should be available to the public. Yet in several states, includ­ ing Louisiana, a crime com­ mitted across the street from a college campus would be in the public record, but the same crime committed on campus could be cov­ ered up if a student is arrested.

Winter 1992 4 5 L E F T H A N D .

ine Louisiana college To add to the confusion, the U.S. the newspaper printed the name of a newspapers inter­ Department of Education sent letters to crime victim. viewed by Gumbo LSU and 11 other universities in Feb­ "The victim called the police chief Magazine in October ruary 1991, warning them they could and bawled him out, so after that, the and November 1991 lose federal funding if they continued police just gave us information sheets," reported varying ac­ to release campus crime records with­ she said. When Morris pressed for more cess to campus crime records. South­ out student consent. As of November, access, the police stopped all crime in­ eastern Louisiana University could not however, no university had lost funds formation except for crime statistics get crime reports from their campus for releasing those records. required by federal law. police at all. Four schools - University LSU Police Chief Randy Watts said Marek said he spoke to the Depart­ of New Orleans, Nicholls State Univer­ the University isn't worried about los­ ment of Education about how to inter­ sity, Louisiana Tech and Tulane - had ing funds because of the outcome of the pret the Buckley Am endment last fall. limited access, ranging from copies of Bauer case in Missouri. In March 1991, "They said 'the law is the law until police reports without identifying in­ a federal judge ruled that universities it's changed,"' he said. "When they tell formation to police selecting reports and could release campus crime reports if you that, where does that leave you?" reading the information over the phone they are kept separate from students' Morris wrote a letter to the state at­ to student reporters. academic records. torney general's office about the dis­ LSU, Southern University, North­ "As long as we comply with the sepa­ crepancy between the federal law and western State University and the Uni­ ration of reports, we're in compliance the Louisiana open records law. versity of Southwestern Louisiana news­ with federal law," he said. The attorney general's office said the papers reported complete access to po­ open records law and several cases in­ lice records, although students at the o access dicated campus police records should Northwestern paper said Fall 1991 was be available to the public, but referred the first semester they had full access. But Chief Paul Morris to the Department of Education A number of universities contend Marek of Southeast­ for ad vice about its stance on the federal that campus police records are protected ern University Police law. under the Family Education Rights and said the ruling doesn't After Morris received the letter, Dean Privacy Act passed by Congress in 1974 apply here. of Students Leonard Garrett told her to protect student records. "That's just one judge in one dis­ that police won't release detailed re­ Many university officials have said trict," Marek said. "Who's to say a judge ports until they are required to by fed­ the law, usually called the Buckley down here wouldn't (rule) differently?" eral law. Amendment, not only gives guidelines Marek said the university is worried for what information can be revealed, that it could lose its federal funding if ...the Buckley Amendment not but also threatens to take away federal it disobeys the Department of Educa­ only gives guidelines for w hat funds if such guidelines are violated. tion. One section seems to say that campus "All you have to have is one person information can be revealed but police information should be relayed whose name is in the paper complain also threatens to take aw ay fed­ only to other police departments. (to the Department of Education), and eral funds if such guidelines are "Because the language is vague and things happen," he said. "It hasn't hap­ v io la te d . confusing, campuses are using it as rea­ pened yet, but that doesn't mean it won't son to deny access to police reports that happen tomorrow." are public under most state laws," said Michelle Morris, editor of The Lion's "I really don't think they're (the Mark Goodman of the Student Press Roar, said her staff began having prob­ administration) going to do anything Law Center in Washington, D.C. lems getting access last February when unless they're forced," Morris said. She

46 Gumbo Magazine said she will sue for access if she can counsel and director of governmental Watts said he believes releasing crime find a lawyer to represent her for free. affairs for UNO. information helps protect students. In the meantime, Marek said the po­ "We have a certain amount of lati­ "By putting the information out and lice will alert students of crime trends tude in interpreting the law because making it public, people become aware through electronic billboards, the cam­ there is no specific case in Louisiana of crime," he said. pus radio station and the newspaper. that would apply to this (situation)," Although the public has access to the "We're not dumb enough to just ig­ Thornton said. police blotter, the Reveille receives a nore it," he said. Currently, state and federal law re­ weekly press release containing descrip­ quire Louisiana universities to gather tions of the major crimes. imited access and release crime statistics every year. Fall editor Matt Bordelon said the But Goodman said students need to policy is a holdover from the spring At UNO, the know about crimi? as soon as possible semester. "I'd like to send a different newspaper staff has in order to protect themselves. reporter each day to examine the blot­ found its administra­ "It's only of limited value to know ter, so we could have more current crime tion almost as cau­ that three rapes occurred on campus stories," Bordelon said. tious as Southeastern's. last year or last month," he said. Bu t staff turnover has made that plan Jane Amanda Hawxhurst, editor of Ha wxhurst said she realizes the UNO difficult to implement, he said. The Driftwood, said the newspaper re­ administration is trying to do its best ceived its first crime reports in October in uncertain times. hat's next after a semester of talks with the UNO "The administration hasn't been to­ administration. The administration tally helpful or totally against it," she Last fall, the agreed to give reports with descriptions said. "They just want to cover their Department of Edu­ of the crimes but the identifying infor­ asses." cation reversed its mation - names, addresses and ages - course and sponsored of the arrested students would be ull access several bills in Congress that would deleted. make campus crime reports public rec­ "I'd like to have the full reports, but At LSU, The ord. As this article went to press, four I accept this as a place to start," Daily Reveille tradi­ bills with amendments to eliminate the Hawxhurst said. tionally has had lim­ conflict between state public record laws Hawxhurst said the reports they re­ ited access to police and the Buckley Amendment were ceived did not include assault reports, reports. In 1988, the state open records under consideration by Congress. which was the primary reason she had law was amended to clarify what infor­ In the meantime, most universities wanted the reports. mation should be released as part of the are content to sit and wait until the mat­ The fight for access at UNO began public record. ter has been decided once and for all. last spring, when a basketball player "There was temporary confusion But Traci Bauer, now news editor of allegedly beat up a student in a dorm, (after the amendment was passed), but The Southwest Standard, encourages stu­ she said. we were able to clarify what was re­ dents to pressure their administrations UNO administrators balked at re­ quired by the 1988 act, and to our knowl­ for access to crime records. leasing the information because of the edge, there have been no problems "If people don't have access, they're letter sent to LSU and 11 other univer­ since," said Lloyd Lunceford, media not able to function in a democracy as sities by the Department of Education. lawyer for The Daily Reveille. they should," she said. 'They have a "Honestly, because of that letter, we According to Chief Watts, LSU Po­ right to know if there are rapes on cam­ (UNO) chose to interpret the law more lice has supported publishing crime in­ pus, if cars are being stolen or if some­ narrowly," said Julia Thornton, general formation since he's been chief. one has the master key to their dorms."

January 1992 47 A R T I S T

& W R I T E R

p r o f i I e s

a r t i s t s w r i t e r s

Tanya Albert Mary Cummings Mike Ritter, is a junior in graphic design, minoring is a senior in news/editorial journal­ 23, wrote "Saturday Night's All in photography. Tanya hopes to write ism. Last summer, she received a Dow Right for Fighting" for our fall issue. and illustrate a book one day. Jones Newspaper Fund internship and A native of Luling, La., Ritter is a worked at USA Today as a copy editor. journalism major who plans to live in Christopher Carroll the Pelican Republic forever. is a junior in graphic design and is mi­ Ronlyn A. Domingue noring in photography. After gradu­ is a senior in news/editorial journal­ Robert Wolf ation, Christopher would like to work ism. Unwilling to abandon activism, is a news/editorial senior and is for a small design group and visit the she plans to freelance for political minoring in history. From Covington, African Rift Lakes. magazines and write fiction. La., Wolf would like to get a master's degree in creative writing and work Nicole Duet Brenda Murray, for National Geographic some day. is majoring in graphic design and a junior in news/editorial journalism, advertising. Nicole's plans include is a staff writer for the Daily Reveille Nicole Batten, Eric Parsons working for an advertising firm as an and public relations chairperson for & Brian Williams art director. Circle K, a service club. She hopes to were in Phil Ward's media writing pursue a career in journalism. class together last fall. Todd Houghton works for th'e Gumbo yearbook, as well Eimear O’Connell Andre Maillho & Erik Spanberg as the magazine. He is a third-semester is majoring in news/editorial journal­ spent several semesters as sports co­ engineering student who plans to study ism and history. She hopes to attend conspirators at the Reveille. Erik in Africa next year. Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland, graduated, but Andre is still here, next year and would like to pursue a covering Tiger athletics. Dusti Johnston career in magazine writing. is a news/editorial senior. She is also Wayne "Gonzo" Schexnayder features editor for the Daily Reveille. Laura Pevehouse, is a career student at LSU. Gonzo is also a senior in news/editorial serves back on campus, taking a few more Robb Williamson on the college advisory board of an classes and considering his options in is a sergeant in the National Guard. upcoming Cosmopolitan magazine the world. He plans to go to graduate school at publication, Life after College. Harvard, talcing pictures on the side. a n d Rebecca Powell, Martin Johnson Richard Valadie a junior in English, plans to earn a graduated from LSU in December. is a junior in graphic design. He says Ph.D. in literature. She wants to He plans to continue studying politics he's interested in finding gainful em­ publish fiction some day, perfect and writing. He also plans to go to ployment. speaking Italian and return to Europe. graduate school, but not right now.

48 Gumbo Magazine G et involved

at the U N IO N

photo courtesy of Isu public relations The Union Program Council Commit­ The Ideas and Issues Committee hosts the tees coordinate concerts, lectures, films, talent Perspectives Speakers Series, Coffee 2051 lec­ shows and other lively arts events. They also tures, the Gathering of Poets and other programs sponsor trips, produce major art exhibits and each year. provide outlets for talent in fashion modeling and for skills in sports. Students involved with the International The committee chairs, along with mem­ Committee explore cultures from around the bers selected by the LSU Governing Board, world, broadening their horizons and working form the Program Council, which is funded by together. student fees. Any student is eligible for membership The Lively Arts Committee was respon­ on any committee. sible for bringing the Phantom of the Opera, the Hubbard Street Dance Company and the Royal Members of the Art Advisory Board Lichtenstein Circus to LSU. Members advertise learn about the management of galleries and and help produce these events. museums, the installation of an art show and fundraising techniques. Pop Entertainment brings mimes, hypno­ tists, comedians, steel bands, as well as blues and The Black Culture Committee plans pro­ jazz artists to campus. grams which explore the issues blacks face today as well as the rich heritage of blacks in The Recreation Committee organizes America. horseback riding, canoeing, hiking, white water rafting and skiing adventures. Members study The Fashion Committee puts on several first aid, outdoor living techniques and leader­ seasonal and holiday fashion shows, as well as ship skills. programs like Bride's World. Members of the Films Committee select the films that show at the Union Colonnade Please stop by Room 304 in the Union or call 388- Theater, usually picking recent box offices hits, 5118 for more details about any or all of the fun classic movies and documentaries. and exciting groups at LSU.