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

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Volume 3, Issue 3, Spring 1992

also inside

Local bands break info the business

The PC debate: what's it really all about?

Chimes Street — full of history, full of life The power to overcome.

Optimum music at Minimum prices.

Hours: 10-9 M-S 12-6 Sunday

226 W. State Street 344-2324 University Shopping Center .Baton Rouge, La. 70802

listening to the right musk is as important as keeping your teeth kleen. for best results, try klsu 91.1 fm baton rouge and don't forget to floss. GUMBO

m a g a z i n e

Volume 3 Issue 3 Spring 1992

3 6 Chimes Street Then ... 3 A n d N ow Playin' in the Band A history of one ofLSU's most A candid look at four local bands and infamous strips. their struggles to fulfill their dreams By B renda Murray — a naked woman frolicking on stage? By Robert Wolf

3 4 The Cards in the Attic A comfortable story about baseball 1 4 cards, Christmas at Pawpaw's, Skip's Field of Dreams fishing, and family The man behind the 1991 national By Jeffrey T. Barton champions, and a "timeless, endless game." By M att M usgrove 1 0 photo essay Who's W atching the Chil­ d r e n ? 2 1 The need of the University community Living with Leprosy for campus day care facilities, and The last leper community, located in what's being done about it. Carville, Louisiana, challenges By Alice Dukes Biblical stigmas and modem misun­ derstandings of the disease. By Eimear O 'C onnell 1 2 From Recession to Radical­ 2 4 ism: Voters dem and a Trouble in Allen Hall c h a n g e 2 8 An analysis of some of the issues that Gumbo magazine investigates what might influence the upcoming election, all the fuss is about in the English Walk on the Wild Side and the possible outcome of voters' Department's debate over political The many faces, personalities, and reactions. correctness. moods of Chimes Street. By Shannon C o lem an By J. Richard M oore By Darrell C o o p e r

Spring 1992 1 EDITOR’S GUMBO n o te m a g a z i n e

If you’re bothering to read this, then I hope you've already taken a look at the real stuff inside — features, fiction, photos, publisher and illustrations. We think you'll like it. Office of Student Media I don't have much to say, really, except to ask that you think about a few things while you're casually thumbing through this editor magazine. A lot of people you probably don't know and more Rebecca Anne Powell than likely don't care about have slaved over this issue, so if you see something you like, tell the author or the artist. This may not managing editor seem that important to you, but he or she will appreciate it. Lisa L. Roland I've never edited for this magazine before, although I've written for it. But I found out that being an editor after being design editor a writer is like being a driver behind the wheel of a car after Nicole Francoise Duet being the pedestrian in the crosswalk; whatever side you're on at the time, you think you're in the right. I hope I've been a design assistant considerate driver. M. Katherine Kent Special thanks to the members of Burlap Cat who were there for me when I needed them. photographers Lastly, the editorial staff dedicates this issue to Martin Todd Houghton, Darrell Cooper, Johnson. We wouldn't be here if it weren't for him. W. Scott Kiker, Bryon Justice Rebecca Anne Powell, Spring 1992 Editor advertising representatives Sharon Schoenfeld and AricWebb

adviser Family Thrift Center Pat Parish contributors Baton Rouge's Newest Thrift Store Jeffrey T. Barton, Shannon Coleman, Alice Dukes, Check our daily half-price sales J. Richard Moore, Matt Musgrove, Brenda Murray, Eimear O'Connell Student and Senior Citizen Discounts contributing designer Monique Coco $5.00 off with $10.00 purchase The Gumbo Magazine is written, edited and designed by Clothes for the whole family students of LSU. The opinions expressed in the articles are those of the writers and do not necessarily represent the views of the editor, Gumbo Magazine, the Office of New and used furniture for Student Media, or the University. No articles, photo­ the student graphs or illustrations in this publication may be repro­ duced without the consent of the Office of Student Media.

Volume 3 , Issue 3, Spring 1992 Copyright Gumbo Magazine

Cover photographs of Skip Bertman and LSU baseball team courtesy of Brad Messina, LSU Sports Information.

2 Gumbo Magazine Ceiling fan blades slowly slice through clouds of cigarette smoke. Dim shadows cover everything but the stage, lit in multicolors. The equipment stands ready, and the cymbals of the drums reflect colors at odd angles. A young man threads his way through the maze of tables to the bar to buy another drink. Women seek refuge in the restrooms and primp before mirrors. A waitress brushes by a table, removing empty bottles to the clink of glass against glass in a nearby garbage can. Spectators converse in shouts above the prerecorded music. A bartender wipes the counter, checks his watch — it’s time. The restless crowd waits for the show to begin... m u s i c

P l a y i n '

i n t h e

BAND

Most musicians dream of performing under the glaring lights before a sell-out crowd. For those who break through the seemingly impenetrable world of hit records, the rewards can be great. For those who don't, there is a cycle of hope and despair. Success in the music industry depends on catching the ear of a record company agent after playing an endless number of shows in smoke-filled dives around the country. The life can be rough. Nights on the road are often long and boring interrupted only by moments of intense craziness, and every meal comes from a different place. Dash Rip Rock, Better than Ezra, Func Haus and Cowboy Mouth all got their start playing in local spots. With shows often ending after two in the morning, and packing up con­ suming at least another hour, The Chimes, The Varsity and The Bayou became second homes to these bands. Initial local success encouraged them to move on to the bigger scene. With Louisiana's rich musical history steeped in jazz, blues and soul, it is no surprise that this swampy Mississippi delta has spawned several talented up-and-coming bands. The music industry, starved for innovative talent, has shown interest in all of these bands. But as the artists are discovering, talent alone will not propel them to stardom. The long road to the top is proving to be a test of ability, endurance and luck.

story by robert wolf

4 Gumbo Magazine

mary influences. But Hickel, who plays Dash Rip Rock - bass, offered a more colorful interpreta­ A travelin' band tion of their sound. "Our music is like Hank Williams Baton Rouge's own Dash Rip Rock on crack or an alcoholic Slim Whitman," is spending the first half of 1992 on tour Hickel said. "We started out as a psy- with the hard-edged underground band cho-billy band but now we play just The Cramps. They rock and roll." toured the South The members of Dash Rip Rock, and the East Coast who took their name from the boy­ before taking a friend of the character Ellie Mae on Mardi Gras break to "The Beverly Hillbillies," attribute their play a variety of success to persistence and hard work. local dates. Then it In more than eight years together was off to the West the band has produced four records on Coast for a few more several independent record labels. Still, weeks as The they would like to sign with a major Cramps' opening record company. The experience of act. playing with The Cramps may be just "With this what Dash needs to break into the busi­ tour we've been get­ ness. ting in front of some Davis, who describes any tour industry people," longer than a month as "a real drag," guitarist Bill Davis said this tour has been different be­ said in a phone interview from an At­ cause the band has been doing larger lanta hotel. "The Cramps have a strong theaters, with larger crowds than they're following and attract a lot of attention. used to. He also likes the shorter play­ We hope this exposure will help us to ing hours and The Cramps' tour bus. sign on with a major record label." "This last tour has been great," Davis formed Dash while he was at Davis said. "We go on stage early — LSU. Playing pool on the afternoons at about 10:30 — play for maybe an hour, the Bayou, Davis met Hoakey Hickel, and then go back stage and drink all of then a juke box repairman. They even­ The Cramps' beer. Usually we are on tually met up with drummer Chris stage until 2:30 in the morning, but now Luckett and began playing their own we are always finished by midnight." type of rock-a-billy music, an interest­ Hickel said record companies are ing mixture of bluegrass, country, and looking for acts ready to be sold to the hard rock and roll. public. With the fickle nature of the Davis said in the early years, the industry, Hickel said he doesn't know name Dash Rip Rock was almost syn­ exactly where Dash stands right now. onymous with The Chimes because they "Record companies want a pre­ were the house band there for years on pared package ready to be sold," Hickel Thursday nights. said. "It's hard to get record companies "Then in '87 we all just quit our day to invest time and money in you be­ “Our m usic is like Hank jobs and hit the road," Davis said. cause they're looking for the biggest Davis described their music as and quickest return on their investment. Williams on crack or Southern rock with a hard edge or "We have busted our asses to get an alcoholic Slim rewed-up rock-a-billy, and compared this far. The music business is hard but them to a mixture of ZZ Top and the Sex perseverance pays off." W hitman,” Hickel said. Pistols. He mentioned Jerry Lee Lewis The band's latest album, "Boiled “W e started out as a and Little Richard as some of his pri­ Alive," is a selection of live cuts pro- psycho-billy band but now w e play just rock a n d ro ll.”

6 Gumbo Magazine “There w as a girl in the front row w ear­

we’re playing a song, I can break into a ing a jacket. She duced by Mammoth Records. The band totally different song and the band will had nothing under has also hired a business manager for follow right along." bookkeeping. Ezra picked its name from a Na­ it... she got on Dash has toured the southeastern tional Lampoon article "How to Name stage and started United States extensively since they hit Your Band." The article was a sugges­ the road. Their travels have taken them tion of names that would be sarcasti­ dancing with us. She as far away as California and Maine, cally funny to give to a band. lifted her dress... but they still prefer playing clubs in the "Our name came from two differ­ South. Davis said crowds in the South ent names in the magazine, Better than and she wasn’t are more receptive to their music and Hendrix and The Ezra Pounders," said wearing panties. The illustrated his point with an anecdote Griffin. "We picked the name because from the last show they played in our first gig was coming up and we crow d went wild. ” Athens, Georgia. needed an identity. After the gig we "There was a girl in the front row were too lazy to change the name so it wearing a jacket. She had nothing under stuck." it and she kept flashing her tits at us. At In their four years as a first we were surprised,but after a while band, Ezra has played with a she got on stage and started dancing few big names like The Hoo­ with us. She lifted her dress while she doo Gurus, The Smithereens, was dancing and she wasn't wearing Drivin' and Cryin' and Let's panties. The crowd went wild. I have to Active. But the exposure of admit, a naked woman frolicking on playing with bigger bands has stage while we are playing is one of my not yet gone to their heads. biggest fantasies." "While we hope to make money in this business, we are here because we love to play Better than Ezra — Preparing music and we ha ve a great time for a “full-tim e” Ezra. at it," Griffin said. "The band works well because we’re good Although "Better than Ezra," is friends and our musical tastes taking a laid-back approach to breaking are compatible. The fun we into the music industry, they are seri­ have on stage translates as cha­ ous about doing it. A m ere four years risma to the crowd." old, the band has already released a 12- But being on the road is not song cassette, "Surprise," and is hoping always fun. While on tour with for another release on compact disc in the Hoodoo Gurus, Ezra's van the next few months. The band sold all was broken into the day before 5,000 copies of the cassette and say they a show. A bass and several could have sold more if they had rein­ guitars were stolen. While the vested the money. Being the business­ guitarist had another guitar, the men that they are, the band pocketed band had to special-order a bass the profits. and have it express-delivered Ezra played its first show at in the mail. M urphy's bar in M arch of 1988. They Griffin, the principal songwriter for moved on to fraternity parties and local the band, said, "We’re in sort of a crea­ club dates before their first tour that tive hiatus. We have tons of new songs summer. and a new label, but we don't want to "It didn't take us very long to be­ keep on playing the same old scene." come a tight band," said Ezra guitarist Griffin said he has seen too many and singer Kevin Griffin. "Now when great bands on the Southern college

Spring 1992 7 “This industry is real scene go unnoticed because there are no "We definitely try to do our own music industry people in the South. thing. We don't act like any other band flaky and it's hard Although the members of Ezra live and we only play a few covers on every to know w hat the in Los Angeles, Baton Rouge and Dal­ show." las, the trio tours every month and a While the road can be long and industry w ants,” half. The band gets together, practices boring, there are always exciting times. Bonnecaze said. for a few days and then sets out on tour Griffin remembers a time when the band in their "ragged out" blue 1983 Dodge almost ran into sportscaster John Mad­ “There are things in van "Sissy." den's customized tour bus. - the works for the "The name of the van is a private "We were driving down the inter­ joke within the band," drummer Carey state in our van pulling a trailer full of band but I don’t Bonnecaze said. "I can't say exactly what equipment in a rain storm," Griffin said. want to say any­ it’s about, but lets say Sissy was a girl "John Madden's tour bus sped past us. that helped us break in the van." We didn't know there was an over­ thing because Griffin said Ezra draw s from a va­ turned eighteen-wheeler in the middle there are so m any riety of influences such as R.E.M., The of the interstate several miles up the Smiths and Echo and the Bunnymen. road. Madden's bus swerved into the ups and downs. "We are a Southern rock college ditch to avoid the accident and we skid­ One minute you band," said Griffin, who currently ded right between the bus and the works as an in-house writer for "Pier truck." think you have a Music" in Los Angeles. "But as we've Bonnecaze said things are looking deal and the next progressed, the band has developed a bright as Ezra prepares for the road harder edge like The Replacements. But again. In late spring the band will tour m inute you don’t.” you can still hear the Southern influ­ Baton Rouge, Jackson, Dallas, Austin ences in our music." and other cities. Bonnecaze said the band got its Ezra has just contracted their first popularity from business manager out of Jackson, who the original may be able to get Ezra's foot into the songs they have proverbial door. Griffin said managers written rather have contacts in the music business and than from the can put out a "buzz" about the band to cover songs they the industry. play. He said The band recently signed with when the band is Malico Records, one of the largest on the road their rhythm and blues and gospel recording originals get a labels in America. great response "This industry is real flaky and it’s from the crowd. hard to know what the industry wants," And original Bonnecaze said. "There are things in songs are what the works for the band but I don't want the record indus­ to say anything because there are so try wants. many ups and downs. One minute you "The people in think you have a deal and the next Athens really got minute you don't." into our original Bonnecaze said some of the newer music," Bonne­ songs written by Griffin are great, but caze said in a he doesn't know what sound the indus­ phone interview from his home in Dal­ try is looking for. las where he works with computers. "I can't quite figure out the busi­ "Every time we go there we pack the ness," Bonnecaze said. "A lot of lame house. bands sign with record companies while

8 Gumbo Magazine a lot of great original bands get passed ual likes and then molds them into their up." own unique sound. Griffin said "a full-time Ezra will "I like a lot of melody and guitar," be back on the road" soon. Tilley said. "They like to grove so I just let them play and I try to put what I can Func Haus — Perfecting their on top of their beat." studio sound. Now that the industry considers While Ezra is preparing for the road, Func Haus a band the Baton Rouge-based trio Func Haus worth the invest­ is busy polishing up their studio sound. ment of both time Currently in rehearsal to do a review to and money, the pres­ be considered for an album, Func Haus sure to produce is may be the closest of all local bands to great. cutting an album with a major record "The industry is label. looking for a hit The band has signed a deal with song," Tilley said. Chrysalis records which will give them "We have writers money for living expenses and pay for that can help us but six months of rehearsals. For guitarist we would rather Windell Tilley, drummer Terrence come up with a Higgins and bassist Marc Pero, this may sound all our own." be the beginning of a prosperous musi­ The next album, cal career. however, may be "Six hours a day, four days a week, many months away. we're in rehearsal," Tilley said. "The "I get so frustrated with the length “I get so frustrated record company is giving us studio time of time it takes to do something in the with the length of to develop some material. The com­ music business," Tilley said. "For ex­ pany likes us, but they want to see if our ample, a representative from Chrysalis time it takes to do music can grow and mature." saw us play at the Art Bar. He contacted something in the Even though the band only started us and then brought in the lawyers, lots in May of 1990 they have already put of lawyers, and months later we signed music business,” out an 11-song cassette, "Desert Sky." an agreement to begin on a preview Tilley said. “For ex­ Func Haus' sound is an intricate album." Tilley said even if things go mixture of a heavy bass and drum beat well, it may be early 1993 before an al­ ample, a representa­ overlaid with delicate and complicated bum is cut. tive from Chrysalis guitar melodies. It's a sound Tilley The band used to tour a lot in the describes as "alternative pop" but has Southeast but said it was kind of point­ saw us play at the Art the flavor of progressive Southern rock. less without an album to sell. The band Bar. He contacted us "I can't describe our style," Pero has hit many major cities in the South said. "It's a gumbo — a mixture of dif­ such as Nashville, Houston, Little Rock and then brought in ferent types of music that just works." and Huntsville, with a few clubs stand­ the lawyers, lots of Pero listed a diverse group of musical ing out as favorites to play. The "Tip influences including James Brown, The Top" in Huntsville and "Zelda's" in lawyers, and months Police, A1 Smith, Earth, Wind and Fire Houston are two that came to mind. later we signed an and Prince. Func Haus has had limited touring Tilley said the music of Func Haus experience, but their 1982 Dodge van agreement to begin is an amalgamation of what the mem­ has produced several stories. Once when on a preview al­ bers like. He said the band members the van suffered from a broken gasket, bring together the sounds each individ­ continued on page 48 bum.”

Spring 1992 9 WHO'S WATCHING THE CHILDREN? Why is it so difficult to find students on this campus tion of some day care services causes faculty and students who have young children? Is it because these students had to waste a great deal of time transporting their children to to give up their education to support their families? Or and from the facilities. Dr. Janice Haynes, a professor and could it be because they were unable to find affordable day mother of three, said, "My day care service is located so far care facilities for their young children? from campus that I must spend three to four hours per Although many parents are forced to give up or post­ week driving my children there and picking them up. This pone their educations for economic reasons, those parents time could otherwise be used in doing research or prepar­ who do have the means to finance their educations often en­ ing for class." counter problems with day care. Students who cannot The lack of a university day care system places LSU at locate day care facilities for their children and do not have a disadvantage when trying to attract faculty who have family members who can care for their children must often children. For example, if a professor with young children postpone or even cancel their plans for an education. is choosing between several schools, he or she is more As the number of college students becoming parents in­ likely to choose a university with day care services. Also, creases, the demand for convenient day care services in­ if a professor is teaching at a university which offers day creases. Many universities across the country remedy this care, he or she is likely to take this into consideration before situation by offering day care facilities for students, as well accepting a position with a university which does not as faculty and staff. However, Students who have chil­ LSU is one of only two univer­ dren must also consider sities within the state that does available day care services not offer these services. Day C are on when choosing which Due to the lack of day care university to attend. Clearly, at LSU, faculty and students LSU loses valuable faculty are forced to find other serv­ and students because of its ices within the community. C ampus lack of day care services. However, Baton Rouge faces a In the past few years, shortage of day care facilities, C ommentary however, LSU has taken ac­ especially for infants and very By A lice D ukes tive steps to begin a univer­ young children. Most pre­ sity day care service. In No­ schools and day care services vember of 1989, in response in Baton Rouge have long waiting lists, sometimes forcing to concerns voiced by students, staff, and faculty mem­ parents to wait months before their children are accepted. In bers, Chancellor William Davis created the University Day some instances, parents can not even find available day care Care Center Committee. The committee's function was "to services for their children. investigate and make recommendations concerning a child Those students who are able to find day care often face care system on campus." According to Chairperson Diane difficulties with these services. Students are forced to ar­ Burts, the committee has worked on formulating a plan for range their schedules around the operating hours of the day campus day care and has investigated possible start-up care. Differences in schedules often force students to miss sites. classes because their day care services are closed. One LSU The intended day care system will be an educational- student claimed, '1 missed so many classes last semester be­ based system. It will benefit not only the faculty, students cause my child's day care was closed that I was forced to and staff who have children, but also the entire University. drop two of my classes." The day care system could be used by many departments Faculty members suffer from the absence of campus day as a source of research and training. For example, it could care services just as students do. Faculty members with be used to train students who are entering fields that work children are also forced to arrange their schedules around with children. that of their day care’s. According to Joan Benedict, director of the LSU Pre­ Inconvenient locations are another problem. The loca­ school and child development instructor, "It is absolutely

10 Gumbo Magazine Illustration By M. Katherine Kent necessary for people who will work with children to be able the day care will be operated, carrying out these plans has to observe and interaact with real children under the super­ been a different story. So far, the committee has been unable vision of a trained professional." to locate a suitable place to start the day care. Existing A campus day care service could also aid researchers in buildings either cost too much to renovate or are unsuitable their studies of children. Many different departments, such for children due to size or safety problems. Buidling a new as sociology, psychology and social work, do research which faciltiy would not only be expensive, but would also require involves the study of children. These are only a few of the a great deal of governmental approval and could take years many ways in which an educational-based day care system to complete. could benefit the University as a whole. The belief that the For now, LSU's day care plans are on hold until a suitable university day care issue concerns only those who have site is found. Students and faculty members with children, as young children is a mistake. well as the entire university, will continue to feel the effects Although the committee has developed plans by which of the lack of day care on campus.

Spring 1992 11 politics F rom R ecession VOTERS DEMAND A CHANGE

The depressed economy is playing matic changes in the next ten years. If havoc with the moderate viewpoint. voters continue to be angiy, there will Traditional middle-of-the-road voters, be more talk of a third party. The whether Republican or Democrat, are American political system, however, is now faced with a difficult decision. not designed for a third party. But if Should they continue to put up with constituents continue to talk of radical­ the same politics and politicians, hop­ ism and change, it may show politicians ing both the economy and government that the public is tired of voting for the will get better, or are they fed up same ineffective leaders and is seeking enough to call for a change? alternatives. All indications seem to point to only one solution to this dilemma. It's Tough times result in the fringes — time for a change. the radicals — becoming more vocal, Because of the recession, people are said LSU history Professor Mark T. Car- disgusted with the government at the leton. highest level ever measured, said LSU The fact that the nation is in, what political science professor Wayne Par­ Carleton is calling a real depression ent. The combination of this disgust makes the situation much worse. Re­ with the continued distrust of govern­ cessions, he said, usually only hurt ment — scandals, pork-barreling, etc. small businesses, the mom-and-pop — was tailor-made for a politician like stores. But the fact that the banking David Duke, Parent said. Duke was structure is suffering and large compa­ able to take this general anger and point nies such as General Motors are being it in a very specific direction, toward forced to lay off workers and close welfare recipients. down plants shows that the nation is in This same generalized anger is severe economic straits, he said. being felt by the rest of the nation as Carleton said the monstrous fiscal well, Parent said. People are upset, problem has caused views to polarize. even outraged, but they really don't The right — traditionally middle-class, know what to do about it, he said. blue-collar workers — don't see things Term limitations on state and per­ from a "college-educated," or perhaps haps federal legislators is one answer, more open-minded, point of view. And Parent said. Colorado and California the left — homosexuals, blacks, and have already passed legislation to place other groups that are considered special term limitations on state legislators. interests, such as women — start to Also, some feel the current system is blame what they see as the heartless ineffective. "The electoral system is a society for their problems, he said. little too distant," Parent said. Once these factions split even fur­ But these may be only the first steps ther apart, the middle moderate view in a series of reactions to excessive disintegrates and few people look at the government and poor economy. actual issues anymore, Carleton said. Parent predicts there will be dra­ During periods of relative prosper­

story by shannon coleman

12: Gumbo Magazine to Radicalism: ity, during the 'Jimmy Stewart-June Al- They vote on their perceptions of issues i lyson" 1950s for example, there was closest to them." very little social protest, Carleton said. But once volatile, one-issue "brouha- The two main factors leading to has" became part of public conscious­ radicalism — the economy and the ness, as the Vietnam War did in the quality of government — are not new. 1960s, social criticism and even demon­ People have always been dissatisfied strations occur. Now, with issues such with government. What makes this re­ as abortion and affirmative action di­ cession different from any other? viding the nation, political groups are Perkins said what sets this reces­ even more divided. sion apart is its magnitude. People who * But this "current" widening of the once thought they were going to have political division is not really current it all are now affected by the economic at all. problems, what Perkins calls the "yup­ In his book "Chain Reaction," Tho­ pie recession." There is more anger mas Edsall of the Washington Post says than usual, Perkins said. the gap has been widening between the Carleton agreed. He said it's not Democrats and Republicans since the only the unemployed who are worried, Democratic "intraparty reform drive but also those who have jobs and are erupting in the wake of the 1968 con­ afraid they're going to lose them. The vention in Chicago." fear is far-reaching. However, a feeling This drive, which combined the of hopelessness often leads people to inclusion of minority special interest think nothing they do will make a dif­ goups with the "ascendancy of a upper- ference. Carleton said there is a history middle-class, college-educated cultur­ of the unemployed not voting. ally liberal elite" within the Democratic However, because so many are party, allowed the Republicans to play unemployed and because their situ­ on traditional fears of race and taxes, ations are so extreme, the opposite ef­ Edsall says, and portray the Democrats fect may result. Candidates cannot as elitists and liberals. exclude the unemployed by assuming Edsall's analysis is right — to many they are non-voting citizens. in the upper and middle classes, the words "tax," "minority," and "liberal" As a result of the economic crisis, are dirty words. distrust of the government has also Republicans used the idea that worsened, and Perkins said he expects Democrats stood only for class. But af­ the next presidential election to be a ter twelve years of Republican "leader­ "watershed election." ship" in the executive office, people are "The nation is heading toward beginning to look elsewhere. This is another turning point," Perkins said. partly because of the economic crisis. If Perkins, as well as Parent and Carleton, it continues, a Democrat will likely be believe the Democrats will regain the elected president, predicted LSU jour­ middle class. nalism professor Jay Perkins. The feelings are there—dissatisfac­ Carleton agreed, and said, "People tion, disgust, fear — and they aren’t tend to vote on their pocketbooks. going to just go away, Parent said.

Spring 1992 13

s p o r t s

S k i p ' s

F i e l d o f

D r e a m s

The words of "Hey, Fightin' Tigers," one of LSU's most popular fight songs, tell the whole story.

"Hey, fightin' Tigers, go all the way Hey, fightin' Tigers, win the game today You've got the know how, you're doing fine Hang on to the ball as you hit the wall And smash right through the line

"Go for the touchdown, run up the score Make Mike the Tiger stand right up and roar-----"

That's the LSU tradition — Saturday night football in Tiger Stadium. It's a tradition that's in the words of songs and within the hearts of a bizarre breed of cajun crazies known simply as Tiger fans. LSU's gridiron lore is sacred with these folks. To parallel a favorite phrase of Louisiana's neighbor to the west, "Don't Mess with Tradition." Anyone who dares challenge the football supremacy that has reigned over LSU for decades must be crazy. Well, if people thought Tiger basketball coach Dale Brown was a little crazy as he boldly put roundball on the LSU sports map in the early 1970s, then Skip Bertman must be certifiable. But Bertman is far from crazy; he knows exactly what he's doing. In eight years, he has built a collegiate baseball empire across Nicholson Drive from Death Valley.

story by m att m usg rove Photos Courtesy of LSU Sports Information

Spring 1992 15 It has not been easy for Bertman as ter week and basketball is doing that as he has introduced the art of champion­ we speak. ship baseball to a football-crazed com­ "Those guys don't have to sell as munity. That's right, championship hard, they have to win. In baseball, you baseball— as in 1991 National Champi­ can win a lot of games and not get a lot ons. of people in the stands. We've got to sell Since Bert- our product year in and year out," he man's arrival in said. Tigertown in The problem of jump starting a 1983, LSU base­ comatose program is one that Bertman ball has been the has had previous experience with. Prior hottest team to his arrival at LSU, Bertman was re­ around. He has garded as the premier assistant coach in directed the Ti­ collegiate baseball under the tutelage of gers through Ron Fraser at Miami. three SEC cham­ Bertman said the most important pionships and aspect of coaching he learned under five College Fraser was the art of public relations. By World Series looking at the results of his salesman­ appearances ship, one concludes that Bertman could and earned 1991 probably sell an air conditioner to an Es­ NCAA Coach of kimo. the Year honors for his efforts. When Fraser first arrived at Miami Bertman, 54, has piloted the Tigers in 1963, he faced a situation similar to to a 307-108 mark over the last six years, Bertman's. giving the Tigers the highest winning "Miami was a football community," percentage in the SEC (,740) during that Fraser said. "Nobody wanted to hear a span. thing about baseball." His accomplishments have not gone So, Fraser had to sell. In 1976, unnoticed by LSU supporters in Baton however, he was sold on a "relentless" Rouge; attendance at Tiger baseball teacher/coach from Miami-Dade “I would hear Skip games has skyrocketed in recent years. Downtown junior College who had won speak and just from In 1991, a school record 113,832 fans a state title in a previous job at Miami found their way into Alex Box Stadium. Beach High School. talking to him I real­ It's easy to gamer community and "I would hear Skip speak and just ized he had a great university support when you win, no from talking to him I realized he had a matter the sport, right? Not always. Not great deal of knowledge about base­ deal of knowledge in a community where Curley Hallman's ball," Fraser said. "He was always very about baseball,” gridiron gladiators and Dale Brown's inquisitive. But he was a great teacher "Shaq Attack" reign supreme. and communicator as well. To this day Fraser said. “He w as But there is a secret to establishing a I run into people who had him as a high alw ays very inquisi­ solid baseball program in "football school teacher in health and they com­ heaven." It's a skill that Bertman picked m ent on how great he was." tive. But he w as a up while serving as an assistant at the But it was when he brought Bert­ great teacher and University of Miami: Be a great sales­ man into his program that Fraser real­ man. ized exactly what he had found. Known com m unicator as "I don't think Dale Brown and as a tremendous pitching coach, Bert­ w e ll.” Curley have to sell their products to the m an tutored 25 Hurricane hurlers who community," Bertman said, "I think were drafted by major league baseball football will load up the stadium and teams in just seven years as an assistant produce an absence of tickets week af­ under Fraser.

16 Gumbo Magazine "His presence in our program to one of the stadium's hallowed con­ pushed us up a notch," Fraser said. cession stands. "When we got Skip Bertman, we were a "My accessibility is very unique," contender every year and, of course, Bertman said. "Fans can walk right in won the national title in 1982. my office, reporters come on in at any "When he left for LSU, well, I just time and I'll even answer my own “I feel about this knew he was going to do great things. phone." place the w ay I feel With the abilities Skip has, I'm not sur­ It's no small wonder that the LSU prised at all by his success with the LSU baseball office even has phones. Prior to about my own program. He's a great communicator Bertman's arrival, LSU's baseball facili­ hom e,” Bertman said. and he relates real well to his players," ties more closely resembled a suburban he said. Little League ballpark than a major col­ “ I’v e m o w e d t h e Success is something Bertman is lege stadium. grass with my own quite familiar with. A self-proclaimed But beginning in 1986, Bertman "relentless perfectionist," Bertman is an spearheaded efforts to improve the over­ lawn mower and eternal student of the game of baseball all appearance of LSU's baseball facili­ Coach Bailey and and of coaching philosophy. Part of ties. Among the improvements added that overall coaching strategy is the to the stadium under Bertman's guid­ Coach Laval have important sales tactics he acquired while ance include a renovated locker room, been out here to put at Miami. training room, new lights and a modern In fact, Bertman's job on the field outfield fence that gives LSU a stadium up the paneling.”. might be the least stressful of all his comparable to that of major league responsibilities with the program. Triple-A farm clubs. He has the attitude that if the people "I feel about this place the way I feel are reluctant to come to him, he'll go to about my own home," Bertman said. the people. Bertman's travels have car­ "I've mowed the grass with my own ried him to all comers of the country but lawn mower and Coach (DeWayne his biggest concern has been reaching "Beetle") Bailey and Coach (Ray out to the Baton Rouge community. In "Smoke") Laval have been out here to fact, most of his 150 speeches per year p u t up the paneling. are given to area " T h e y ' v e Rotary Clubs, edged and mowed Kiwanis Qubs and and all the players various LSU help take care of the alumni groups. park." While most Waita minute. coaches in major Is this the 1991 Na­ collegiate athletic tional Champion­ programs hide be­ ship baseball pro­ hind sports infor­ gram? With the mation depart­ coach, his assistants ments, Bertman and the players has a refreshing doing some of the open-door policy. maintenance and His office is manicuring in their located just off the own stadium? first baseline of "The games Alex Box Stadium don't start until — adjacent to the seven o'clock at batting cages and night so what else suspiciously close are you going to do

Spring 1992 17 between one and by major league four," Laval said. "We ballclubs since go out there and take Bertman's arri­ care of some odds and val in 1984. So ends in the ballpark. far, seven have "We'll go out made it through there and cut our own the big league grass and edge around farm system to the fence but it's not wind up in "The because we have to do Show" (major it. We get a lot of help. leagues). The We do it because we most highly prefer to take care of touted draftee some of that our­ was pitcher Ben selves," he added. McDonald in While a major 1989. league look is cer­ McDonald, of tainly important to the D e n h a m brain trust behind the Springs, was a program, it is sub­ 20th-round draft “O ne part of The stance, not image, that choice out of System has to do with truly makes Bertman's program a win­ high school and was offered $67,000 to ner. Each player that comes into the sign with the Atlanta Braves at that trust and loyalty that LSU program is exposed to what Bert­ time. After three years in the Bertman can’t be duplicated in man terms "The System." It is a set of "system," McDonald emerged as the guidelines established by Bertman when top amateur pitcher in the nation and a classroom or on the he first arrived at LSU which provide was the number one overall draft choice band field,” Bertman each player with a formula for success by the Baltimore Orioles. He signed for — on and off the field. $950,000. said. “Even though "It is essentially a guideline for a Bertman, who also coached those things are m ade certain amount of work that's required McDonald as the pitching coach for the on the field, in the classroom and in 1988 USA gold-m edal-winning Olym­ up of team work, the your personal life," Bertman said. pic team, said his track record for put­ bond goes a little "When you stay in The System over a ting players into the pros is just a posi­ period of time, you mature mentally, tive by-product of his system which deeper for athletes physically — improve your baseball." strives to make players better in all who see each other at One trademark of Bertman's teams aspects of their lives. during his tenure at LSU has been cohe­ "I'm proud of the number of play­ super-highs and su­ siveness and unity, something he said ers we've put into the pros," Bertman per-lows. Evidently, relates directly to "The System." said. "But it really doesn't move me that "One part of The System has to do much. I'd rather see a one hundred the pro scouts like with trust and loyalty that can't be percent graduation rate. what we do here.” duplicated in a classroom or on the band "But, if it's the goal of one of my field," Bertman said. "Even though those players to be in pro baseball, I don't dis­ things are made up of teamwork, the courage it," he added. bond goes a little deeper for athletes Under Bertman, the graduation rate who see each other at super-highs and for LSUbaseball players is nearly eighty super-lows. Evidently, the pro scouts percent. In fact, just one player, Minne­ like what we do here." sota Twins pitcher Mark Guthrie, did They certainly do, coach. In fact, 45 not, pick u p a degree after staying four Tiger baseball players have been drafted years under Bertman's tutelage. Guthrie

18 Gumbo Magazine is working with LSU officials to estab­ couple, really got going until they saw lish an independent study program to what Skip was doing at LSU," Laval complete the 13 hours he needs for a said. "People now look at the success general studies degree. here and say, hey, it can be done. Bertman's high graduation rate is a "For me, looking to go on to be a T m proud of the great selling point for LSU when he and head coach, I needed this because I his staff head out on the recruiting trail needed someone to show me how it's num ber of players looking to attract top-flight student done. I came from Florida where we w e’ve put into the athletes from all parts of the country. were always really good, but we could Laval, LSU's chief recruiter, said that never beat Miami. I came here to learn pros,” Bertman said. having a national championship under from Skip and Skip was taught by Ron “But it really doesn’t his belt is a tremendous weapon to be Fraser down at Miami. used in the recruiting wars, especially "I don't know how much baseball m ove m e that much. since LSU is still a relatively new kid on knowledge Skip learned down there I’d rather see a one collegiate baseball's block of heavy­ because most of their on the field suc­ weights. cess was his doing. But in terms of what's hundred percent "The title will help, but it's the con­ good for college baseball, Skip had graduation rate.” tinued success of our program that's the somebody teach him, and Skip has big thing," Laval said. "But even with taught me," he added. the success, it's not that easy. I recruit Bertman's instruction has been a against the Miami's and the Texas's for labor of love to be sure. For it's not just players and they've got the long-stand­ a love for the profession that drives Skip ing tradition and name recognition that Bertman, it's a real passion for the game LSU doesn't have just yet. of baseball itself. Bertman's philosophy "But with the national title, we'll be of baseball sounds a bit more like a able to get a visit from a kid, say from soliloquy straight from the baseball- New Jersey, that we may not have been fantasy big-screen hit "Field of Dreams" able to get before," he added. than a line from a Laval's selling point is simple— an collegiate baseball opportunity to learn from one of the coach. best all-around coaches in collegiate "Baseball is athletics— Skip Bertman. After all, that's unique," Bertman what brought Laval to LSU from a solid said. "It's effort, assistant coach's spot at the University it's got a lot of in­ of Florida. The formula for success that dividuality where Bertman carried with him from Miami it pits pitcher is proven. In fact, Laval credits Bert­ against hitter. It's man's approach with turning baseball timeless, the game around throughout the entire state of hasn't changed Louisiana. He said colleges throughout since 1845. the state followed Bertman's lead in "T he gam e boldly putting baseball on the minds of itself is a magnet people in "football heaven." and that's what After LSU expanded its baseball draws me to it. facilities in the mid-1980s, demonstrat­ You have to be there to see the guy make ing it was serious about baseball excel­ the double play and see another guy lence, schools like McNeese, USL and make a double play and ultimately know Tulane followed suit with such improve­ that there are tens of thousands of double ments. plays that were made on that day, and "None of those programs in the state no two are alike. or even in the conference, outside of a "If s a timeless, endless game."

Spring 1992 19 Thanks for sticking Living with By Eimear O'Connell Photos by Todd Houghton with us. The circus was great. They had special seats at the front of the ring. A lot of them didn't go. Some just weren't interested in the circus. Others might have had enough excitement from a previous trip to New Orleans. They had rolled their way from the Ri verwalk to the French Quar­ ter, cruising through Jackson Square some literally cruising in their wheelchairs. Excursions such as these are common for the residents of the Gillis W. Long Hansen's Disease Center. HD is today's preferred term for leprosy.

Emanuel Faria, executive editor of The Star, works at his desk while using a pencil to aid him in typing.

With a lot of determina­ tion and a little help from us, millions of people are now doing extraordinary things. Like talking, walking and laughing. Give the power to over­ come. Support Easter Seals.

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20 leprosy Years ago, people with HD weren't al­ lowed such trips as these. On the contrary, they were excluded from society — shunned by people who knew little about the ailment, except their own fears of catching it. Perhaps that’s why events such as these, which might seem ordinary, are so special. Besides outings, parties are also an essenr tial factor to life at thecenter— not just parties for common holidays such as Valentine's Day or Christmas, bu t for things like George Wash- ington’s birthday. They'll find any reason to celebrate. Adele prefers bingo, herself. She won $200 in a game this year. Lydia just likes sit­ ting on the porch smoking. Most of these residents are remnants of the past—: sent here by law in the times when little was known about the disease. Now free to leave at any time, they choose to remain; they know no other way of life. Bautista was forced here when he was twenty. Taken from his job at a cigar-making factory in Florida, he had to leave his grand­ parents and 17-year-old wife. Recognizing the bleakness of his situation and the improbability of a quick Bautista, who works part time at the center's library, release, he urged his wife to divorce him so she could lead a normal life. She finally consented. recounts his story.

The older tombstones in the center's cemetery have B, as he is known at the center, used to sneak out of a hole numbers inscribed on them — the case numbers as­ in a fence with his friends to go barhopping or to LSU ball- signed to patients to identify them. garhes, even though there was a jail at the center for such offenders who got caught. He fell in love with another patient and, since marriage wasn’t allowed then at the center, they both sneaked out and were married by a justice of the peace. Patients had to undergo a monthly test for the disease and were only allowed to leave after twelve negative tests in a row. Although B was testing negative, his wife was still testing positive so he stayed with her. B's wife eventually died, still he remains. He is 77. The center is the only way of life for these patients, most of whom have been here for as long as B and have similar stories of being uprooted from their family, their friends, their life.

Spring 1992 21 A M isunderstood

In 1894, New Orleans' residents staged an uproar to prevent the establishment of a leper colony. Knowing that C o m m u n i t y the citizens of other cities would react in the same manner, the Louisiana legislature obtained a five-year lease on prop­ By Eimear O ' Connell erty known as Indian Camp Plantation under the guise that I they were planning an ostrich farm. 1 Later that year, five men and two women afflicted with Hansen's Disease were shipped on a coal barge up the Mississippi River to Carville, just a thirty minute drive from Baton Rouge. They became the first residents of the leprosarium. The state purchased the site in 1905, making it the official "Louisiana Leper Home," and in turn the federal govem- mentpurchaseditinl921. Now known as the Gillis W. Long HD Center, it is the only remaining residential treat­ ment center for HD in the continen­ tal United States. There are 12 to 15 million cases of HD worldwide and approximately 3,000 in the United States, with the disease being most prevalent in Louisiana, Texas, Florida, Geor­ gia, and Hawaii.

The word 'leprosy' still strikes fear in the hearts of many, bring­ ing to mind images of disfig­ ured people lacking fingers or noses. But as light is gradually being shed over the truth about HD, one finds these fears not only unnecessary but also er­ roneous”. Medical authorities say there is no direct relationship between today’s HD and the leprosy mentioned in the Bible. According to a videotape pro­ duced at the center, the Biblical leprosy was probably a term used collectively for a variety of skin diseases. However, the horrible stigma associated with the leprosy in the Book of Lev­ iticus is still common today. John Trautman, a physician with the center, noted that

Illustration by Nicole F. Duet

2 2 Gumbo Magazine throughout histroy people who were often suffer repeated injury, eventu­ complete with pool tables, a theater branded 'lepers' were ostracized. In ally causing the shortening of fingers which is not in use, two chapels, and the Middle Ages, they were forced and toes. its own cemetery. Patient cottages are to wear bells or Chaulmoogra oil was the pre­ located away from the main complex warning clappers ferred treatment for HD in the and are available to married patients. and distinctive 19th century, but it was not The 50-bed infirmary and the vari­ garments. Even Medical au­ an adequate cure. In 1941 ous hospital departments are all con­ until 1960, most thorities soy Dr. Guy Faget of Carville suc­ nected by covered walkways to the newly diagnosed there is no di­ cessfully used sulfone drugs different shops and patient's living HD victims in the as treatment. Yet Carville quarters to facilitate those in wheel­ continental rect relation- literature notes that because chairs. Electric doors are at every en­ United States ship between of the rising incidence of sul- trance were required to today's HD fone-resistant diseases, it is Patients living at the center can be admitted to necessary to treat patients participate in the patient work pro­ Carville. and the lep­ with more than one drug. gram and earn extra money. One man Now, how­ rosy men­ Usually rifampin and some­ gives daily tours to visitors, and oth­ ever, patients di­ tioned in the times clofasimine or ers run shops in the buildings. agnosed with the ethionaminde are given in Patients also produce their own once-dreaded dis­ B ib le . addition to dapsone. newspaper, The Star, which has many ease can be Capt. Robert Hastings, di­ subscribers outside of the center. The treated on an out­ rector of laboratory research patients do everything at The Starr patient basis and con­ at LSU, said because of resis­ from writing, typing, pictures, and tinue to live their lives tance, there can never be graphic arts to the actual printing. in a normal and respectable fashion. enough drugs. Hastings said the im­ Some who are unable to use their As a result, the center is gradually munology department has finished two misshapen hands to type easily use a being phased out. The Research Cen­ trials of new drugs which "look good pencil to hit each key individually. ter relocated in February to the School so far," and have a third trial scheduled The paper was founded in 1941 by of Veterinary Medicine at LSU. in Manila in April. "We always try to a patient, Stanley Stein, and it has been Dr. G. Armauer Hansen first stay ahead," he said. instrumental in the fight against igno­ discovered Mycobacterium leprae, the Forty people staff six different re­ rance toward HD. Stein was also one technical term for the leprosy bacil­ search departments: pharmacology, of the main forces in having leprosy lus,inl873. Research has shown that immunology, pathology, biochemistry, officially recognized as HD. A memo­ this disease is one of the least com­ microbiology and animal rial room to Stein is municable of all contagious skin dis­ care. located across the eases and that the majority of people Currently, the center it­ hall from the pa­ are naturally immune to it. Accord­ self is staffed by commis­ Even until per's offices. ing to the Carville tape, authorities sioned officers, civil service think it is spread through the respi­ employees, and eight Sisters 1960, most Many people ratory tract, and also possibly of Charity, an order of St. newly d ia g - come to the center through skin-to-skin contact and in­ Vincent de Paul which has nosed HD vic­ on an outpatient sect-born methods (this was found been with the home since the tims in the basis, and not just with mosquitos in S. India but not in beginning. continental those with HD. Dr. the United States). However, the There are about 150 vol­ United States James Birke, a tape notes that no medical personnel untary patients living at the physical therapist have ever caught the disease, and at­ center and about twenty staff were required at the center, said tempts to experimentally transmit it members who also live on tobe admitted his department from person to person have failed. the site. to Carville, started treating The Carville tape explained that On the 340-acre plot of diabetics about ten HD primarily affects skin tissues and land, there is- a canteen, a years ago. Birke nerves in the hands and feet. Conse­ tailor, a mini-grocery store, a said that in an av­ quently, a person loses sensation and barber and beauty shop and erage month, clien- the ability to distinguish pain and gift shop. The center also encompasses tel consists of 500-600 patients with touch. As a result, the hands and feet a 50-bed hospital, a recreation area continued on page 48

Spring 1992 23 TRO

IN ALLE 1

b y J. R ich ard M o o re

On the second floor of Allen Hall a battle is raging. It is a battle of words, of old vs. new, and of race, gender, culture, and political ideology. That battle is the conflict over political correctness, and it has LSU English professors up in arms. The influence of the PC conflict may be largely unrecognized by the student body; yet one need look only as far as the classrooms and offices of the LSU English department to find trouble a-plenty brewing. The PC conflcit rages on across college campuses all over the nation, and the PC ideology has spread beyond academia. It has trickled down into the Department of Education's consideration of high school curricula, where Secretary of Education Lamar Alexander is work­ ing to establish a national curriculum of standard "Ameri­ can'' information, to combat growing trends of multi-cul- tural teaching. It has trickled up, to abuse a metaphor, into the Oval Office, where President Bush, struggling to dis­ play a little party-line conservativism, told graduates at the University of Michigan commencement last May, "The notion of 'political correctness'. . . replaces old prejudices with new ones. . . . What began as a crusade for civility has soured into a cause of conflict and even censorship." Avid readers of the Reveille and the anti-PC publica­ tion Discourse may be aware of the issues that Bush spoke of and their presence at LSU. The conflict is very real right there at the northwest end of the Quad. WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL?

he PC conflict, in a nutshell, is the result of a backlash among conservative academicians (who T are frequently, in PC terms, white Anglo-Saxon Protestants, or WASPs) against the demands of a new and growing class of liberal professors who are re-examining the ways that college courses are and have been taught. The conservatives' main interest is twofold: to preserve what Ward Parks, an Associate Professor in English, calls "the English tradition" — a body of knowledge that has tradi­ tionally been held as the main influence on contemporary UBLE N HALL

American literacy; and to prevent what they see as "reverse discrimination" against those who have become victims in the classrooms and on the faculty because they are associ­ ated with their "oppressor" forbears, i.e., white males As the English curriculum has begun to diversify, and the English faculty along with it, certain professors are crying foul against what they see as preferential hiring practices and discriminatory classroom behavior. But in­ stead of being the typical racial or sexual underdogs demanding equality, these professors are conservative traditionalists decrying injustices done in the name of political correctness.

ACCUSATIONS OF DISCRIMINATION

aybe ‘you have overheard someone telling how he was abused or penalized in an M English class for es pousing a politically incor­ rect opinion (the use of "him” here is not politically incor­ rect: such complaints usually come from "hims”). Perhaps you have even been shocked at the preferential treatment given to the study of women or minority writers in a literature class. Parks, one of two particularly outspoken anti-PC English professors, says that he hears complaints concerning these issues regularly, at LSU and from other universities. He said that LSU appears to be headed for more of these types of situations. "The dominant trends in this department and around the country are in that direction ... to a point that is not just radical but extremely intoler­ ant," he said. In a letter to the editor of the Birmingham News Parks cataloged his own collection of PC-generated instances of flagrant reverse discrimination and politicalization from across the country. He included one from an LSU English 2026 class in which a "Heterosexuality Assessment" chal­ lenging traditional attitudes concerning homosexuality, was included in the course packet. Parks also noted a situation at the University of Washington where a male student was barred from a women's studies course after questioning the teacher, who had said that lesbians make better parents than heterosexuals. Parks also mentions instructors at other universities who categorically insulted men and heterosexuals in the classroom. In Parks opinion, this types of intolerance and politicali­ zation are contrary to the true goal of the university — to make the student think. "If a wide range of goals are taught from a highly political point of view, how are students to learn to think for themselves? They won’t even know what it means," he said. Parks also said that a teacher who "The notion of politi­ expresses a blatant politicalized viewpoint, such as femi­ nism, should "bend over backwards to expand on other cal correctness'... views." replaces old preju­ Parks said that anti-conservative ideology doesn't stop outside the classroom, but extends to hiring and tenure dices with new ones. practices. "Our hiring is prohibitively discriminative against ... What began as a conservatives. That has been the case here for years," he said. "That there is only one registered Republican on the crusade for civility has English faculty is symptomatic of a state of acute discrimi­ soured into a cause of nation." Associate Professor Kevin Cope is that lone Republican. conflict and even Like Parks, Cope claims to have heard numerous com­ censorship." — Presi­ plaints from students about indoctrination and reverse dis­ crimination in the classroom. Cope said that such practices d e n t B u sh are not only unethical, but they also violate a legal obliga­ tion that the university has to the student. "Students that go into a class and find a professor who talks... about nothing but feminism should sue the uni­ versity for failure to deliver knowledge," he said.

THE PC DEFENSE

he professors whose politics and practices are attacked by Parks and Cope have an easy T defense to allegations of reverse discrimination "If a wide range of goals are in hiring and in the classroom: they simply are not true. "You can't use an ideological test as grounds to hire any­ taught from a highly political body," said Assistant Professor John Lowe. "There's tre­ point of view, how are stu­ m endous lying going on." Lowe, who teaches American and African-American dents to learn to think for literature, blames Parks and Cope for stirring up trouble in them selves? They won t the English department and for creating problems out of nothing. "They have done more to blacken the image of the even know w hat it m eans." English department than anybody else in history," he said. "They say these things on the basis of no truth whatsoever." Associate Professor Michelle Masse echoed Lowe's alle­ gations. Masse, the director of the new Women's and Gender Studies department, said that the most notable as­ pect of the anti-PC movement is how little in fact it is rooted. "The actual data that has been collected," she said, "all show that the whole argument has very little grounding." Masse advocates the establishment of a grievance board within the department. The board, she said, would have the responsibility of reviewing the complaints of students. It would prevent students from being "manipulated," as she

2 6 claims they have been. "I don't like students being used as footballs," Masse said. Concerning hiring practices, Masse pointed out that women and blacks are currently underrepresented in the department, a fact which undermines the anti-Pcers' claims that the white male is being discriminated against. Out of 58 members of the professorial faculty in English, 19 are women and only one is black. The testimony of Charlotte Curtis, a Ph.D. student and the head of the English Graduate Student Association, also points to a greater tolerance than Parks and Cope indicate. Curtis, a self-proclaimed conservative, spoke out against abortion in one of her first graduate classes at LSU. She was confronted with a fiery opposition by some of her classmates. "They're afraid that the 'A' "We went at it hair, teeth and eyeballs for ten minutes," list, starting with C haucer, she said. "I went home and threw up because I thought which tend to be dead everyone would hate m e... and I found out instead that from then on my opinion was elicited, and that not everyone dis­ pale m ales,' are going to agreed with me." be sw apped out for Toni Curtis said that she believes most of the PC conflict is comprised of egos clashing with no forum for civilized dis­ Morrison, Jimi Hendrix, course. She said that she does not believe that she has suffered for her non-PC beliefs. "If all this is true, then why the 2 Live Crew." am I doing so well?" she asked.

THE ENGLISH TRADITION — LOSING GROUND

he other major facet of this conflict concerns how T the prevailing PC attitude might affect the Eng lish core curriculum. The growing movement of multiculturalism, which is concerned with consciously attempting to avoid traditional Eurocentric evaluation of different peoples and cultures, is causing alarm among conservatives like Parks and Cope. The LSU English de­ partment's core curriculum is indeed undergoing revi­ sion, and the opinions of Parks and Cope reflect a national concern among anti-PCers over the literary canon, the "English tradition" that includes such writers as Chaucer, Milton, and Shakespeare. As Professor Jim Springer Borck, the Director of Graduate Studies in English, said, "They're afraid that the 'A' list, starting with Chaucer, which tend to be 'dead pale males,' are going to be swapped out for Toni Morrison, Jimi Hendrix, the 2 Live Crew." For Parks, such a danger is no laughing matter: 'To me it is very important for undergraduate English majors... to get an extensive exposure to many kinds of works, not just works that influence contemporary professors." Parks said he is almost sure that as women and minority writers begin to dilute the traditional canon, Shakespeare will be among the first casualties of revised curriculum requirements. "The fact that Shakespeare is a white male works against him is racism and sexism in the worst," he said. 'To be bigoted against white males is just as bad as to be bigoted against black females." Cope blasted curriculum revisionists for attempting to

2 7 diminish the entire definition and importance of what the study of English is. In perceiving and teaching everything in term s of race, class, and gender, he said, the PCers "are in their ow n way quite bigoted." "They're changing and revising without any reference to ‘No faculty member of what is right, what is valuable, and what is beautiful," Cope said. "They push to the side perfectly valid intellectual ideas. any persuasion has sug­ A particular professor, at a meeting, said, 'If there's a tradition gested that we drop of religion in literature. I'm not aware of it.'... What is right [or PC] is being substituted for real intellectual pursuit__ we Shakespeare." have seen a call to reduce literary studies to a branch of social history."

INCLUSIVE, NOT EXCLUSIVE

he types of literature at LSU and at other universities are undeniably changing. The literary canon is being T increasingly re-examined. Toni Morrison, the author of Sula , Song of Solomon and Beloved , is being taught in several English classes, and it is quite possible that both Jimi Hendrix and 2 Live Crew might come up in Professor Robin Roberts' Women in Popular Culture seminar (though both "The academ y is for the m aybe rather politically incorrect). Yet according to the other side, it is decidedly unlikely that the canon will suffer in the creation of knowledge. curriculum revision, and Shakespeare, in particular, ap­ We are not a museum . pears to be on safe ground. "No faculty member of any persuasion has suggested ...That m eans exploring that we drop Shakespeare," said Masse, who says she other cultures that have wholeheartedly believes that neither undergraduate requirements nor professorial quality in hiring should not been researched." be co-opted for the sake of political ideology. Yet she said that revision means studying and talking about im­ portant, if not universally popular, ideas. "There's a difference between talking about an idea and presenting that idea as fact," Masse said. "As a university we always have to be able to talk 'about'." Assistant Professor Dana Nelson, who teaches American literature and women's and gender studies courses, said that there is very little chance that the literary canon will go away. 'In any given American lit course I teach, more than half the works I teach are by men," she said. "I wouldn't find it historically responsible to disregard the canon." Nelson cited the recently published Heath Anthology of American Literature as an example of what curriculum revi­ sion holds for the future. The Heath Anthology is to anti- PCers what The Satanic Verses are to Muslims. The anthology includes and incorporates the canon, yet it also includes a vast range of non-canonical writers. Lowe served as an editor for the Heath Anthology, and he asserts that the revision and expansion of "the greats" is part of the very nature of the study of literature. "They're ignoring the fact that this is what is always, always done," he said. "There is an entire tradition of revision in the academy, and there is always resistance to changes.. .. American literature was not even taught in the academy until the 1920s." Lowe said the whole idea behind the university is the expansion of knowledge, not simply its preservation and

2 8 adulation. "The academy is for the creation of knowledge. We are not a museum," he said. "That means exploring other cultures that have not been researched." The attack on modem literature, Lowe said, is being made largely in ignorance. "Almost every critic I have ever seen of the new canon... showed no sign of having read any of the new literature."

AGAIN, WHAT'S THE BIG DEAL?

f what the PC people say is true, if the stories of dis crimination and harassment against the politically incorrect are mostly exaggerated, and if the canon is I mainly safe, then one question remains: Why? Why do the conservative professors care so much about changes in what is said, thought, and taught? A good question, Masse might say. "I take a look around at my peers, at salaries at tenures, and I hear them complain "LSU is an apolitical about being victimized, and I wonder: how are you suffer­ institution.. .The only ing? Where does it come in?" Lowe has an interesting answer to the question: "The thing w e re intolerant of whole thing is power," he claimed. "We [the PC] are barbari­ is intolerance.'' ans who have broken into the citadel of power." The conser­ vatives, Lowe said, are desperately trying to maintain their hold over curriculum and teaching practices. Lowe alluded to goings on shadier than simple name-calling and public in­ sults; he said the anti-PC movement is rooted in and funded by several large right-wing foundations determined to arrest what they perceive as the subversive leftward sway of the academy. Lowe said that persons at LSU have attempted to get on the right-wing gravy train in order to revamp the entire LSU curriculum. When a great deal of money is involved, hell is just around the comer. Nelson also said that power drives the anti-PCers. "Fresh ideas can overturn systems of power," she said. "They're scared that they're going to lose what they hold on t o .. . it's like a witchhunt."

A FINAL ANALYSIS

orck gave the administrative view of PCissues: "LSU is an apolitical institution," he said. "The only thing B we're intolerant of is intolerance." Borck manages to maintain a mostly neutral position, yet he offers colorful advice to both students and professors on the PC issue: "If "The whole thing is pow er... you go to Jimmy Swaggart Bible College, you know before W e (the PC) are barbarians you get there what the topic for discussion will be— why be surprised? If you go to LSU, or any other large state univer­ who have broken into the sity, you should be prepared to run into things you are citadel of power." unprepared for — why be surprised?" Is there a bottom line? Not now, in any case. The two sides are still slugging it out on the upper floors of Allen. Professor Nelson’s words indicate the gulf that blocks the PC and the anti-PC from legitimate discourse: 'I'm glad that Ward [Parks] is in the department, because he offers legiti­ mate grounds for argument. He keeps me on my toes. ...I'm glad he's in the department, although unfortunately, I don't think he feels the same about me."

2 9 fiction

The Cards in the Attic By Jeffrey T. Barton Illustration by M. Katherine Kent

T he oldest family in the suburb where I spent my elementary school days had been there since the neighbor­ hood's construction, then five years. Our house was two-storied and boxy, but is was well insulated and saved money on fuel bills, kind of like a Volvo. When we moved in, it was the only house on the street, with homes under construction on five of the ten other lots. I remem­ ber the winter afternoons there, after the construction workers had gone home, but before Mom and Dad re­ turned from work. I would go to my room and look at my baseball cards. Sometimes, I would sit on our huge living room sofa and pretend it was Christmas in Baton Rouge with my grandparents, and my Uncle Tim and everyone. My grandfather would take me on his lap, and I would have to kiss my cousins, Mary and Angela, and the room would smell like lilac air freshener.

30 Gumbo Magazine

W h e n nite chill in the Christmas time air. I could finally came, hear every­ Mom, Dad and I f thing, the would leave g crickets, the from Houston at. rush of an oc­ five in the morn­ casional car ing and make from the high­ the drive to Ba­ w ay , and ton Rouge in blood pound­ about six hours. ing my ears. I knew to have T h e my things ready the first hint of night before, because dawn was appear­ I made us a half hour ing when we pushed late once and Dad was in a When we ex­ off from the landing. The boat bad mood for the whole trip. He changed presents, I really rocked and I gripped the sides of my wasn't mean about it; he just wanted to cleaned up. I was at an age where every­ seat. leave at five. one bought for me, but I didn't buy for "This boat ain't goin' anywhere," The drive was the worst part of the them. Most of the gifts I didn't even like. said Uncle Tim smiling. To prove it he waiting. It was three hundred miles of There were ugly sweaters and books I stood up and began shaking the hell out freeway and there was nothing to see, would never read and things I was ei­ of it with his feet. He laughed at the look except for the tall bridge in Lake Char­ ther too old for or too young for, but I on my face and tousled my hair. "You les, about half way there. I loved the loved them all. The sheer number of ready to catch some fish?" bridge, and from its peak I would try to them made me feel a part of that room "Yessir," I said. I w as tingling. see all the way to Baton Rouge. Once filled with people, even if it was just for "Call me Tim, all right? Nobody sits we were on the other side, though, the one day. in a bass boat all day sayin' 'sir.' This waiting started again. Dad didn't say ain't an interview. It's a fishin' trip." I much. Apparently he wasn't as ex­ smiled. cited about the trip as I was. Mom sat hen I was thirteen, Uncle Tim, Tim brought the boat to life and we quietly, too, and looked out the win­ W my father's brother, invited me were off. We went so fast that the front of dow or read, or hummed. to go fishing with him at his the boat lifted up, and I couldn't see Christmas at Mawmaw and camp on Belle River, which wasn't far where we were going. I was jittery from Pawpaw's was better than Astroworld from Baton Rouge. Surprisingly, my dad caffeine and the cold wind, but I felt to me. The house was packed with said I could go. I counted the days. strangely comfortable. My bright orange relatives. I had cousins and aunts and My aunt and uncle picked me up on lifejacket was on tight, and it smelled great-aunts and uncles and relatives a Friday night at the New Orleans air­ like fish. whose names and relation I never port — it was much cheaper than flying We stopped when we got to a point learned. Every available table was directly to Baton Rouge. Though it was that had a lot of stumps and limbs reach­ crammed with cookies and candy, and late when we reached their house, Aunt ing out of the water. We didn't anchor the tree was enormous and stood tall Maggie fixed me a plate of something though, but just let the current carry us despite the wealth of ornaments it she called chicken paprikas. She told me slowly along the shore. I wished we supported. The wood floors creaked that it was Hungarian and that my grand­ would anchor. The floating made me under the weight of the people. I was father had showed her how to make it. It nervous. By this time it was nearly light. overwhelmed and mostly just sat and was the most wonderful meal I had ever Tim showed me how to hook a plastic watched. There were so many conver­ tasted, even before I had taken a bite. worm and how to tie-a fisherman's knot sations going on that I couldn't match After I finished eating, my uncle said, to keep it secure. Then he showed me words with mouths. It seemed as if the "You better git to bed and git some sleep, how to cast. I was very clumsy at first, smiles that opened and closed had boy. We're gonna be on the river by but soon I got the hang of it. nothing to do with the noise they cre­ sunrise." He might as well have told-me "The trick is not to throw too hard," ated. The clamor rose and fell and sur­ to fly to the moon. Tim said. "Just let the weight of the rounded me, and I just sat and took it The camp was dark and still when sinker do the work. Try too hard and all in. Mom mingled and enjoyed her­ we arrived before dawn. We had stopped you'll end up in those willows." He self, but Dad looked very tired, and I ata7-ll to get some coffee and packaged pointed with his rod to the trees that noticed that he didn't speak much to donuts. "This'll git us goin'," said my hung low over the water. "You know, Pawpaw. Once when I did see him talk uncle. I had never had coffee before, and once I was fishin' with you Pawpaw, to Pawpaw, it looked like he became by the time I finished the cup I was and he cast too hard and hit one of those angry, and he went outside for awhile. awake enough for the both of us. There trees. Now the trouble with that was When he came back in, he kept looking was a light fog on the ground, and there was this huge wasp nest in there, at his watch as if to speed up the time. though it was summer, there was a defi­ an' those suckers came out after us and 32 Gumbo Magazine they were mad. I dove over the side in "Hmm. That sure sounds like your It would be good to see him again, since time, but your Pawpaw—you know dad. I'd really like to tell you,butI don't my family had stopped going to Baton how big he i s —he had a little trouble. think it's my place. Heniy'd be plenty Rouge even for Christmas. Also, though, He was plum eaten up by the time he upset if I told you and he didn't want I was looking for something. got away." He looked over at me and me to. He's always been kind of funny Since I was young, I had collected grinned. "He don't go fishin' much when it comes to his private life." baseball cards. It was my one and only anymore." "Oh." Tim could see I was disap­ hobby and I enjoyed it tremendously. Soon we were fishing in earnest, pointed. He had this pained look on his Some cards I collected for the money, and Tim caught a beautiful three-pound face like he really did want to tell me. Of some for the players and some for the catfish. I was amazed at the fight it gave. course, his answer just made me more companies that put them out. Mostly, When he got it in the boat, he told me to curious. But I was frustrated too that I though, I liked the old cards, the ones grab hold of it so he could get the hook was in the dark about so much of my that were painted by a real artist, the out. Not knowing any better, I grabbed family and its history. ones that seemed to preserve players it with as tight a grip as I could. Soon I Tim changed the subject back to forever. I spent hours in my room along was wishing I hadn't. That fish finned fishing and handed me my rod. The rest with the dozens of the photo albums I me so bad I wanted to shout, but I of the trip was fun, but I found myself had filled with cards. They were my wouldn't let myself look like a baby in wondering why my dad was the only own personal museum. front of my uncle. I jerked my hand member of the family to leave Baton Sometimes I would devote an en­ away and wrung it, on the verge of Rouge, or for that matter, why he was tire album to one player, like Ron tears. Then my uncle said, "There's a the only one who even went to college. Guidry. I would trace his career with right way and a wrong way to grab a Everyone else seemed so content. cards and try to obtain every card he catfish, boy, and I think you just found was ever on. The backs of cards were out the wrong way. Hurts like hell don't filled with players' stats and facts about it? Best way to learn." He reached into baseball history. Players had pasts that the ice chest, handed me a beer and hen I told my father that I I could touch and learn, and I gradually winked at me. "Maybe this will make W Wanted to go to college at LSU became an encyclopedia of baseball you feel better, but don't tell you dad, in Baton Rouge, he didn't like trivia by memorizing the backs of the okay?" I promised I wouldn't. The beer the idea. He told me that as long as he cards. Ask me anything. Want to know was bitter and made me cold, but the ici­ was paying for college, I wasn't going how many games Guidry won in 1978? ness of the bottle eased my stinging anywhere out of state. Then I got a I can tell you. hand and I had the feeling I was being scholarship, and the issue was settled. Once while talking to my dad I dis­ initiated into a new world. Nobody came with me when I drove covered that he and Tim had collected By noon it was near ninety degrees to school for the first time. I checked in cards when they were kids. They had and the humidity was stifling. We took at the dorm and registered for boxes of 1950's Topps baseball cards. a break and reached for the ham sand­ class on my first They would be worth a fortune. I re­ wiches in the cooler. Sitting there in the Thursday member that Dad had become very heat, relaxing with the movement of the there, which excited while telling me about boat, I started thinking about my dad, if left me four them. It was one of the he had ever been fishing like this. I days until few times he ever wondered if he had gone with Tim and classes ac- seemed genu­ Pawpaw. t u a 11 y inely willing to tell "Uncle Tim, can I ask you a ques­ started. me a story about his tion?" I said, taking the plastic wrap off On Sat­ family. He told me my sandwich. urday how he and Tim 'Tire away." He uncapped his third I was gambled by flipping been cards with other kids in "Why is it that my father and their neighborhood. Pawpaw don't get along too well?" Only it wasn't really gam­ Tim thought for a second before re­ bling because Pawpaw had plying, "That's no easy question to an­ showed them how to cheat, swer. They've been at it for years, you so they always ended up with know. Most of us don't even think about the other kids' cards. A fist it much anymore." He paused and fight even broke out once when seemed to be thinking, then he asked, they cleaned one kid out com­ "Haven't you ever asked your dad pletely. Dad actually chuckled this?" and said, "We beat his ass twice." "Yeah, but Dad doesn't like talking When he said that, he looked a lot about it. He just tells me there's no sup­ like Tim, and even had a trace of an problem between him and Pawpaw. He posed to eat accent. But when I asked him what thinks I'm too young to understand." dinner with Uncle Tim, became of them, his smile faded and Spring 1992 33 in high school, and about how they got married when they were eighteen and that they wanted lots of kids but he just couldn't do it. He told me, "I think my sperm are kinda like me. They've got great potential, but they're just too dam ned tired to go anywhere." I learned more about Tim that night than I had in all the Christmases we had shared put together. When I finally left at two in the morning, I promised my­ self I would tiy to stay in touch with him. As it turned out, besides old sto­ ries about my dad, we didn't have anything to say. We were family, but then again, in a way we weren't.

wo weeks after my dinner w ith Tim, I called Pawpaw. It was strange talking to him on the phone for the first time. His voice w as thin and tired. H e offered to cook for me on Sunday evening, and I grate­ fully accepted. It would be the first time Pawpaw and I had ever been alone together. I tried to imagine how he would look, how the house would look, he said if anything had really changed. he d id n 't With some difficulty I found know. I wished Paw paw 's house. The light blue paint he would go on, tell was peeling, and the stone steps up to me another story, but I the porch were cracked, but the yard knew better than to press was as manicured as ever. There was a him. His excitement was gone, storm coming, and the wind that just like the cards. whipped my hair around brought with it the scent of rain. When Tim answered the door, I no­ to those cards?" I con­ Once I was inside, the downpour ticed that his hair was graying a little tinued. "they're quite valuable, you began. Thunder boom ed and the lights and he'd put on some weight. As usual, know." flickered with the lightening. Pawpaw he was smoking a cigarette, but he Tim lit another cigarette and took a got his Black and Decker flashlight and seemed to be coughing more. He shook long drag as he tried to remember. "Jeez, kept it by him as we sat in the living my hand. "Come on in! You're just in it's been so long since I thought about room. The room smelled like lilac air time for dinner." He called over his 'em. They might still be up in your freshener. shoulder, "Hey, Maggie! John's here!" Pawpaw's attic, unless they got thrown He ushered me to the breakfast table away somehow. Ask your grandfather." "Those cards should still be up in where we sat and drank a beer before He flicked ashes into the ashtray. "What the attic. You're welcome to go up in dinner. The conversation turned to my do ya' want em' for? Gonna sell 'em? there and check. You can take this here father. I told Tim he was the same as "No, " I said. "I just wanted to see flashlight. Watch our for the mouse­ always — serious and punctual. I told them." Even to my own ears that traps." Tim about the conversation Dad and I sounded lame,but it was becoming more "Do you have any idea what kind of had about baseball cards. He got this and more the case. I wasn't really con­ box I should look for." I asked. huge grin on his face and looked down cerned with the actual cards, but with "If they're up there, they'll be in a at his plate. "Your dad and I had some the history they represented. Irrefutable small black metal trunk about this high." good times when we collected cards. evidence that Dad wasn't bom my dad, His hand was at knee level. "I'd help He tell you 1x)ut any of 'em? but was a child once. And a brother. you look, but this old body don't climb "Yeah," I answered. "He said you And a son. ladders so good anymore." The smile used to cheat everyone out of their cards. After dinner Tim and I drank a lot he gave me made him look twenty years I never thought he had it in him." of beer and talked for a long time. He younger, but then it was gone and he We laughed. "Whatever happened told me about how he met Aunt Maggie was an old man again.

3 4 Gumbo Magazine The attic reeked strongly of moth­ "Well, I'm gonna tell you, because I to me. He was staring at the blank TV balls. Scattered all over the dusty floor think you should know why you and screen. were the mousetraps Pawpaw had me were never given the chance to be There was a long silence. warned me about. One or two had close. I want you to know that I wanted "Right after he found out was when claimed victims, but the rest looked too to know you. You're my grandson." He he started wantin' to go to college rather rusty to be of any real use. Being in the took a deep breath. "When your dad than work for me in the car lot. That was attic reminded me of the couple of times was sixteen, he found out I had had an why after college he accepted the first I had been there before. When I was affair with another woman. Bertha told job he was offered out of state." He young, at Christmas Pawpaw would him. I don't know why — maybe she looked at me again, "And that is why take me and the other children up into was mad at me. Maybe she just felt he I've never even seen your house in the attic and set the mousetraps off for should know just like I feel you should Houston." us. He would take off his belt and slowly know now. Anyway, your Maw maw I stood there in front of my grandfa­ lower it onto a trap until with a loud and I had already patched things up ther, not saying a word. I was trying to snap the trap would go off and frighten when your dad found out. It didn't decide if I should be upset, and if so, us all. We were scared of the mouse­ matter to him that Bertha had who I should be upset with. It all seemed traps, but we loved to see Pawpaw set forgiven me. He wasn't so far removed from me that I couldn't them off with his belt. going to. I guess believe one incident had so totally he was changed the course of my life. Auto­ matically, I started to think of ways to reconcile the two of them, and then I realized how hopeless that was. Not knowing what to say or what to do, I I stood there in front of mygrandfather, not saying a word.I was trying to decide if I shouldbe upset, and if so, awasifIsayingword.Itodecideshouldbe notmygrandfather,stoodintherefrontoftrying who I should closed the lid on the trunk and started to be upset with. pick it up. Inside the shoebox were The attic was surprisingly unclut­ about a hundred worthless 1950's tered from years of giving things away— baby beds, toys, old furni­ baseball cards I have ever seenThey werebeautiful. ture. It wasn't long before I found the black trunk Pawpaw had de­ scribed. I decided to open it down­ stairs so he could see too. It wasn't Pawpaw said, "Just leave it very heavy, and soon Pawpaw and I there. The cards are were standing over it on the living room yours. I doubt floor. I'll The lid creaked as we raised it. In­ find side, under an old tablecloth and some a use bedsheets was a single shoebox. Inside for the shoebox were about a hundred of them." the most beat up and therefore worth­ I less 1950's baseball cards I have ever thanked seen. They were beautiful. These cards him and had been handled. They had been told him I bought and sold and traded. Kids that had study­ were now fifty years old had been ing to do. swindled out of them. They were works He said he un­ of art. As I sifted through them I didn't derstood and to notice my grandfather, who had sat come back any­ down in his chair again. He was lost in time. a memory. As I ran to my 'Taw," I said, "What is it? Is some­ car, I shielded the thing wrong?" cards from the rain, "Did you ever wonder, John, why I and finally deposited never came to visit ya'll in Houston? them on the passenger Why ya'll never came here 'sept on always closer to seat next to me. Christmas? Why your father and I never Bertha than me. Maybe Before I left, I opened talked?" that's why Tim could forgive me the box again. I wanted to "Yeah.Sure," I said. "The only thing and he couldn't." I had the feeling get another look at what I I know is that it goes back a long way." Pawpaw had forgotten he was talking had been so eager to find.

Spring 1992 35 C h im es S t r e e t THEN...

By Brenda Murray

Just a few steps past the gates of LSU lies a small area, one block long, that has a history almost as colorful and vivid as the University itself. LSU students from as far back as the 1930s can tell stories of the popular hangouts that once existed on Chimes Street. And although many of those places have closed down, other bars and stores have opened to replace them. But lately this neighborhood has faded from a bustling business area to a desolate strip. Graffiti covers the boarded- up storefronts of several old buildings that once housed bar­ structure was damaged in a fire that destroyed six other bershops, clothing stores and restaurants. Trash litters the buildings on November 25,1973. street, clinging to the curbs. The fire started late on a rainy Sunday night, probably set During the day, a strange quietness haunts the strip. The by a derelict hanging out behind the buildings, Anselmo said. street has an air of decadence— of a neighborhood that once At that time, the mall at the comer of Chimes Street and High­ boasted prosperous businesses that fell because of hard eco­ land Road that now houses Godfather's Pizza, G&S Records, nomic times. and other small businesses did not exist. In an article that But at night, the street comes alive once again. Handfuls appeared in the State-Times the day after the blaze, Fire Chief of people travel up and down the cracked sidewalks, walking Willie Miller explained that one main building had been ex­ from the Library to the Bayou, then maybe on to Highland panded over the years to cover the whole comer section of the Coffees and the Chimes. block. Partitions, false ceilings and connecting walls ham­ And there are the people who inhabit the old apartments pered the firemen in their fight against the fire. that sit above many of the closed-down shops. Sacrificing the Firemen were able to prevent the flames from spreading luxury of a Tigerland apartment, they choose to live in a place to the Death Valley Shell Station and from jumping across an that is close not only to school but also to a grocery store and alley on Chimes Street that separated the gutted buldings many fast food establishments. And, of course, residents are from Dirty Pierre's (now the Bayou), the State-Times article only a few steps away from some of the most infamous said. hangouts in LSU history. The fire destroyed several businesses, including the New Generation Clothing and Record Store, the original Co-Op THE LIBRARY bookstore, Cody's Shoe Repair, the New Orleans Bicycle Shop, an Air Force recruiting station, and a branch of the oe Anselmo, owner of the Original Library Joe's, pur­ American Bank and Trust Co., Anselmo said. chased the Library in 1968, but the bar has not always The Library sustained only slight damage in the blaze, been in its present location. The original hangout was but Anselmo decided to relocate anyway. J in a white building at the comer of Highland Road and "We didn't have any fire insurance, so we had to take it on Chimes Street where Highland Coffees now stands. But that the chin," Anselmo recalled. "We borrowed more money to

36 Gumbo Magazine LANDMARKS OF THE PAST

isible from a window in the left comer of the Library is the sloped cement foundation that was once the V floor of the old Chimes Theater, destroyed by a hur­ ricane many decades ago. The slab is located directly behind Tiger Town Jewelers and is now used by Chimes Street residents as a parking area. But several decades ago, a popular business sat on that foun­ dation. Charles Bazzell, who attended LSU in the late 1930s and early 1940s, worked as an usher and later as manager of the theater while he was a student. The Chimes Theater opened in September 1937, just a m onth before the Varsity opened. Both movie houses were under construction at the same time and there was a race to see which theater would open its doors first, Bazzell said. The Varsity belonged to Paramount-Richards, which owned about three other theaters in the city and usually showed movies that had already been run at the other theaters, Bazzell said. One of the largest crowds the Chimes Theater ever saw was when "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" premiered in 1938. This film drew children from all oyer the Baton Rouge area, Bazzell said. However, the majority of patrons were usually LSU students. Bazzell described the old theater as a cheaply constructed building that was not very fancy and seated 409 people. An A-frame marquee graded the outside of the building, and Photo by Darrell Cooper there were usually lines of people leading out of the theater. Sunday matinees were very popular am ong theatergo­ ers. The afternoon of Sunday, December 7,1941, stands out remodel a fourplex apartment building, which is now the vividly in Bazzell's memory. Patrons of the one o'clock present location." movie had cleared the theater and Bazzell and his co-work­ Anselmo has seen many types of people come and go on ers were preparing for the three o'clock rush. But three Chimes Street over the last two decades. First there were the o'clock came and went and the theater remained deserted. hippies of the late 1960s and early 1970s. Then the leather- The employees of the theater remained puzzled until a short clad motorcycle gangs moved in. And now, Anselmo said, time later when a newsboy came rushing down the street, the neighborhood is populated by punkers and skinheads. proclaiming the grim news that the Japanese had bombed Students are not the only people who congregate at the Pearl Harbor. Library. "We've had a cross-section of people visit the bar, "We went from a full house to nothing," Bazzell recalled. from judges to state representatives to musicians, as well as "It was very eerie." students and faculty," he said. At the time Bazzell worked at the theater, a number of During the afternoon, business is slow at the Library. A restaurants crowded the street. There was the Playhouse, a few regulars hang out at the bar, catching a bite to eat or restaurant owned and operated by the having a beer. And Anselmo greets each one by name. Baker family. It had a live group "There's a 'Cheers'-like kind of atmosphere in here," called Johnny Kidd and His Band that Anselmo said. "We have many regulars that hang out and played during evening meals. And they've been through everything — divorce, being laid off, the building that now houses Game changing jobs." Masters used to be an eat- The interior of the Library has not changed much in the last eighteen years, Anselmo said. The biggest change lately was the installation of a new jukebox, equipped with compact discs, to replace the old one that was filled with 45s. But the room still boasts the same vinyl-covered booth seats that have been part of the hangout for almost two decades. And, in a comer, a small set of shelves filled with books justifies the NOW name of the bar.

Spring 1992 3 7 ery called the Kozy Komer that served According to Bazzell, the only simi­ immediately into a deep fryer instead of plate lunches and suppers for 25 cents larity between today's Chimes Street using frozen, pre-packaged fries. The each. The Kappa Alpha fraternity house and the Chimes Street of yesterday is two remained good friends over the stood next door to the eateiy in the two that the strip is still mostly populated years. story wooden house now connected to by students. Other than that, the area is the University Plasma Center. quite different now. THE CHIMES At the comer of Chimes and High­ "The whole neighborhood has changed," Bazzell said. "When we go to land Road where Highland Coffees now hen Tim Hood attended LSU football games, we park in Tiger Town W operates sat a restaurant called the Goal in the mid- 1970s, he spent so we can walk down Chimes Street and Post, so named by owner Jack Sabin most of his free time at a bar because of all the football memorabilia see all of the changes firsthand." called Dirty Pierre's, a hangout which is decorating the interior. Sabin and his With the advent of fast food chains, long-gone, replaced by the Bayou. Little restaurant were very popular with the the old cafes and restaurants struggled did he know that one day he would be college crowd, probably because of for survival, but eventually went out of co-owner of one of the most popular business. Louie's Cafe on East State Sabin's generosity in lending students hangouts on Chimes Street — the money, Bazzell said. After giving the Street is one of the only food joints left Chimes. over from the golden days of Chimes student the requested cash, usually no At that time, the building that now Street. more than five dollars, Sabin would houses Hood's prosperous business was post an IOU on a bulletin board in the a drugstore and had been since 1937. restaurant, which would be removed LOUIES Not until 1983 was the building reno­ when the money was repaid. But even­ vated and reopened as the Chimes. The tually his lease ran out and he pur­ hen Louie Sisk moved to Ba­ area that now serves as the Chimes' chased a restaurant on Airline High­ ton Rouge from Texas, he pur- kitchen was a barber shop, and the sec­ way. W chased a restaurant on tion that was recently T. A.'s Tavern was Another food joint frequented by Chimes Street called the Dutch Mill, so a survey supply store, Hood said. students was the Orange Bowl, a board- named because of the policy of slipping During Hood's days as an LSU stu­ inghouse-tumed-eatery. Located be­ the check and payment for the meal in a dent, one section of the newly-remod­ tween what is now The Bayou and the box located next to the door instead of eled Varsity building housed Library, the Orange Bowl featured or­ giving the money to a waitress. There O'Donoghue's clothing store, which ange juice pumped out of coolers stored was already another Dutch Mill in the eventually closed down and reopened under the counter, as well as hamburg­ city, so Louie had his name painted on as a bar. The building that now contains ers and sandwiches, Bazzell said. the sign, making it "Louie's E>utch Mill." Hudson Bay was once the General Store, In the building that recently housed But eventually the sign fell, and instead a business Hood described as a late the vintage clothing store East of Eden of putting it back up, Louie merely had 1960s-early 1970s 'head shop' that dealt his name painted in drug paraphernalia, among other across the front of things. And just a few shops down in his business, what is now the Plasma Center stood Bazzell said. another popular hangout known as "Soon after McGoo's Bar and Grill. The owners of Louie moved in, he McGoo's instituted Chimes Street's an­ came down to the nual St. Partick's Day street party, Hood theater and asked said. me what the Hood attributes the popularity of chances were of Chimes Street among students to the making a profit sell­ fact that it has a draw, which happens to ing hamburgers," be several bars and other places to hang Bazzell recalled. "I out. advised him to go "The Chimes happens to be located back to Texas. But on a comer that's pedestrian-oriented," he didn't listen to Hood said. 'In this neighborhood, me and stayed there there's not a single place that has the Photo By Darrell Cooper for thirty years." benefit of being really convenient." Bazzell de­ Sophomore Jay Cudd, who has lived stood Kean's laundry and six apart­ scribed Louie as a grumpy old man who on Chimes Street for two and a half ments. Then next door to that building prepared his French fries the old-fash­ years, said he lives on the street mainly was the College Supply Store, which ioned way — by cutting a fresh potato because of its convenient location. "I remains in that location. into long strips and dropping the fries don't have a bike or a car and every­

38 Gumbo Magazine thing I need is around here," Cudd said. Although Cadzow has not been di­ twenty-five years old and I think I just '1 can just walk down the street to get to rectly affected by local crime, he said outgrew the place," he said. the store or to school. This street's just the problem has hurt him indirectly. Co-manager Jim Bradford, who has like its own little community." The bars on the coffee shop windows worked in the bar for three years, said Despite the number of closed-down that were placed there businesses, Hood said things have got­ by the bank owners ten better since he took over the Chimes have kept his shop six year ago. from being broken "When we moved in, the neighbor­ into. But if the fear of hood was dead," Hood said. "The Var­ crime keeps patrons sity was closed down and there were away from Chimes more unoccupied storefronts than ever Street at night, then before. Most of the places in the mall at Highland Coffees the corner of Highland and Chimes were and the rest of the closed down and there was a nagging businesses are af­ crime problem. fected, he said. "But things have gotten better since then," he said. "The street is alive at THE BAYOU night and we expect this to be the best spring we've ever had." he Bayou is another Chimes HIGHLAND COFFEES T Photo By Darrell Cooper Street landmark, ne of the newer Chimes Street opened fifteen years ago by Frank Duvic. he started hanging out at The Bayou businesses is Highland Coffees, But the Bayou is only one of the busi­ years before he worked there. What which opened up on the comer ness' several identities. For several most attracted him to the club was the o decades it was a pool hall, known as progressive music that still draws of Chimes Street and Highland Road across from the Chimes two years ago. Chimes Street Billiards. Then in the crowds of students from the campus. Owner Clarke Cadzow said he early 1970s, when the law permitted But Bradford said it is almost impos­ chose that location for his coffee shop LSU to allow alcohol on campus, sev­ sible to describe The Bayou's patrons. because he wanted to be near campus eral small taverns opened. One of them "The thing about The Bayou is that and found that area appealing. was Dirty Pierre's, the next business to there is no certain type of crowd that "The other side of campus lacks inhabit the building. When that bar hangs out here," Bradford said. "No one charm and is not as close," Cadzow said. closed three years later, another bar is alike. We attract everyone from skin­ "I could have opened anywhere on opened there called the Hawk's Nest II. heads to biker types to rednecks to stu­ Chimes Street but I thought this was a The Hawk's Nest went under after dents to good old boys." nice location." only one year of business, and the build­ The Bayou became nationally The space where the coffee shop is ing was deserted when Duvic returned known several years ago when the bar located was formerly a bank, and to Baton Rouge after graduating from was featured in Stephen Soderberg's Cadzow liked the arched windows and USL. He opened the building in 1976 as award-winning film "Sex, Lies and solid foundation the building was con­ The Bayou. Videotape." structed on. And with the Varsity and Duvic said Chimes Street is exactly "Steve was a regular customer at the Chimes across the street, and the Li­ the same today as it was during his The Bayou, but we weren't his first brary and The Bayou a few steps in the years at The Bayou except that a few choice," Duvic said. "He tried to film at other direction, Cadzowknew there was businesses have closed down. a couple of other places, but when they a lot of pedestrian traffic in the area. "It's a place where individuals go," found out the name of the film, they Cadzow said he is often amazed at he said. "There were always bars that wouldn't let him shoot there. So he the number of businesses that inhabited catered to the fraternities and sororities approached me and I said yes." the piece of land before him and he and there were a couple of places that Like the other business owners on hopes that someday the neighborhood everyone else went to. The Bayou was Chimes Street, Bradford said the only can return to the bustling shopping area one of those places." radical change of the last few years has that it once was. Duvic became co-owner of Louie's been an increase in the crime rate. But "The area has been abandoned by Cafe in 1986. When he and his partner since the Shell station on the comer of LSU as well as the city," Cadzow said. decided to build a new cafe on the other Highland and East State Street, where 'It's so important to preserve this area side of town, he decided to give up The high school kids, punks and skinheads and it's a shame how much it’s deterio­ Bayou. gathered to drink and socialize, shut rated." "I had been at The Bayou since I was continued on page 48

Spring 1992 39 photo essay (above) MORE THAN GRAFFITI Local artists leave their marks on a unique canvas.

(left) PLAYING POOL Billiards and beer are synonymous with The Bayou.

Photos by Darrell Cooper

Spring 1992 41

(above) HANGING OUT Bayou patrons go outside for fresh air and conversation.

(left) BRIGHT LIGHTS & BANDS The reopening of the Varsity brought life to Chim es Street at night.

(right) NO TIME FOR COFFEE TALK Highland Coffees offers an oasis of quiet for serious studiers.

Spring 1992 4 3 (le ft) THE F IN A L YARD A young m an p a r t i c i p a t e s in a Chimes tra­ d itio n .

(rig h t) A LITTLE LU NACY The Bayou's own Man in t h e M o o n w a t c h e s street life with a sm ile .

(above) LUNCH DATE A couple enjoy a private m om ent.

4 4 Gumbo Magazine Spring 1992 4 5 Playin' in the Band continued from page 9 studio to record their second album in “It is unusual to have Pero said the engine leaked a quart of only a year. All four members have oil an hour. played in other successful bands like the drummer as the "It was pretty stupid of us to be the Red Rockers, Dash Rip Rock, and focal point of the driving around the country in a van The Backbeats before they formed their that drank more oil than gas," Pero own band. show,” Walters said. said. "One day the van broke down As a follow up to their first record­ “But Fred is a real outside of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and ing entitled "Cowboy Mouth" the band Windell and Terrance wound up walk­ will soon release "Word of Mouth," showman and he ing about ten miles to get help." even though the production date has always gets the crowd Although Tilley writes most of the been pushed back several months due band's songs, Pero and Higgins con­ to "business problems." The original going.” tribute to the writing. Tilley and Pero tracks were recorded in Nashville with played in another band named "Cool overdubs done at MCA studios. The Toys" before they formed Func Haus. final recordings were mixed in Mem­ "Windell comes in with phis, but the band is heading back to a tune and we try to put a the studio. beat to it," Pero said. "He "We are going to rerecord the al­ does the words and mel­ bum with a new company," bassist Steve ody and we do the rest as Walters said. "The first recordings were a band." good but we had some problems with Pero said it's rough the legal details of the deal." producing new material Walters said the band is going to because the music has to add a few new songs, remove some old conform to what the in­ ones and make changes in songs they dustry wants. want to keep. "The industry knows "We’re playing a lot of college towns what it is looking for but trying to expand our base," said Wal­ we don't know what they ters. "Now we are concentrating on a want," Pero said. record to put out and develop a follow­ "Chrysalis said our mu­ ing in new places. People won't come sic is too complicated. see us if they don't know what we play." They don't want people Drummer and singer Fred LeBlanc to have to think, they just said the name "Cowboy Mouth" came want a hit song." from a play written by Sam Sheppard. To remain with their label, Func Guitarist Paul Sanchez was reading the Haus has to prove they can grow and play at the time the band needed a develop as a band. name, so they used the name and it "There is lots of pressure to come stuck ever since. through," Pero said. "We have six The music of Cowboy Mouth has as months to prove to the company we can many influences as the culture of Lou­ do it." isiana. Walters likes punk rock while The band plans to be back on the Sanchez brings a New Orleans and road this summer to take a break from Cajun sound to the band. LeBlanc and the confinement of the studio. guitarist John Griffith prefer older 60s and 70s rock and roll. Together their Cowboy Mouth— Saddling up influences combine to create a sound for a second album and show that Walters describes as "way out of control." It’s no wonder that the band called LeBlanc said he credits their success Cowboy Mouth is heading back to the to the unique qualities of their sound.

46 Gumbo Magazine "We are a conglomeration of influ­ and Tuesday serving as their weekend. ences and talents that translates into 'Traveling is tiring but we come melodic chaos," LeBlanc said. "If the home every week so it's not too bad," Nevilles and the Clash had children, Sanchez said. "We have very little free that would be us." time but it pays the bills and feeds us." Cowboy Mouth is a band that has to As Cowboy Mouth is discovering, be seen live to be completely appreci­ the life of a rock and roll band is not all ated. The band already has a reputation it's cracked up to be. as a flamboyant lot sure to deliver a "We always kid about the glamour show full of crazy antics. of this business," Walters said. "We Aside from the show, Cowboy travel around the South, four guys Mouth has another unique feature. The cramped in a van, in each others' face. drummer is the lead singer and front We get to a town, set up our equipment, man for the band. LeBlanc's slick drum- do a sound check, try to get some sleep, stick-spining techniques combined with do the show, pack up, sleep some more, his uncanny ability to capture the audi­ and then get up to do it all over again. ence's attention allows him to entertain That's the life in a rock and roll band." the crowd as he plays and sings. The band travels "It is unusual to have the drummer around in LeBlanc's as the focal point of the show," Walters Nissan Van with all said. "But Fred is a real showman and their equipment piled he always gets the crowd going." in the back. The ride is Cowboy Mouth had its humble cramped with each beginnings at the Carrollton Station in member confined to a New Orleans. Sanchez was playing an captain's chair with acoustic set one night at the club and he little leg room. invited LeBlanc to sing harmony and Cowboy Mouth play bongos. has toured the South­ "Right before I left to work in Bos­ east college scene ex­ ton, I invited Fred to sit in on a gig I was tensively in the last playing at Carrollton Station," Sanchez year. They like to play said. "The energy that night was in­ Austin, Texas and credible— it just felt right. Fred wanted Charlotte, North Carolina but said the to start a band right away but I couldn't crowd in Baton Rouge is one of the best. because I had a job waiting for me." "We had 1,000 enthusiastic people “It’s a hectic busi­ After spending a cold winter in show up to our last show at The Var­ ness with a lot of Boston, Sanchez was persuaded by sity," Sanchez said. "Our fans in Baton LeBlanc to come back and start a band. Rouge are really some of the best." hurry— up and wait "I had stopped playing music while The long moments on the road, full m om ents,” LeBlanc I was in Boston," Sanchez said. "One of boredom and tension can be inter­ day Fred called and said he really rupted by outburst of personal lunacy. said. “There's no wanted to set up a band. I was cold Walters tells a story that happened while m ercy in the busi­ enough, hungry enough and tired Cowboy Mouth was playing with Dash enough so I left the long hours in Bos­ Rip Rock in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. ness with every­ ton." "One night after we played a gig body going for the As the popularity of the band grows, with Dash some of the band members their schedule becomes more hectic. got drunk at the club. The party spilled pot of gold. Unfortu­ They are on the road most of the time over to the hotel where we were stay­ nately there's only playing three or more gigs a week. The ing. Everybody got carried away and band usually leaves on Wednesdays Hoaky accidentally stabbed Fred in the so m uch gold.” and returns on Sundays with Monday head with a broken beer bottle. Fred

Spring 1992 4 7 came back to the room with blood pouring out of his head. They weren't fighting, they were just drunk and out of hand." Chim es Street Then ... And Now The harsh realities of the music business are nothing new continued from page 39 to the band. With each member a veteran of the music scene, the band has no illusions about making it big. down, the problems have diminished, he said. "It's a hectic business with a lot of hurry- up and wait mo­ As for altercations in the Bayou itself, Bradford said ments," LeBlanc said. "There's no mercy in the business with problems like that are now few and far between. everybody going for the pot of gold. Unfortunately there's "We used to have fights back when drinking was in only so m uch gold." vogue," he said. "It used to be really wild. But now people are thinking healthier and are more careful about drinking and driving, so the volume of the people has really dropped off." Living with Leprosy During Bazzell's years on Chimes Street, none of the continued from page 23 merchants had a problem with crime. Unfortunately, how­ ever, robberies and vandalism have begun to plague the HD and 200 without. For non-HD patients to come to the neighborhood. Merchants on Chimes Street and Highland center they must have a referral from their doctor. Road have banded together to try and combat the problems. HD and diabetes are distinct diseases, but the neuropa­ Some of the changes the business owners hope to bring to thy (abnormal condition of the nerve) is the same, Birke the area are better police protection, help from the city in noted. Progressive destruction of the skin and bones is a cleaning up the neighborhood, better street lighting, new resulting problem of both diseases, and Birke encounters sidewalks and more litter barrels, Anselmo said. many lesions/ulcers on the bottom of patients' feet as a "Image is everything," Anselmo said. "It doesn't help if result of pressure or injury. Therefore, the methods used at you have groups destroying everything you try to improve." Carville to heal leprous ulcers are also successfully used on the diabetic population. Despite the problems that have afflicted Chimes Street, Lourdes Deya, an instructor in the Department of Cur­ there are certain things that have not changed over the years. riculum and Instruction at LSU, gets treatment for her dia­ Students still tell their parents that they spent the previous betes at the center. She said she was given excersises to do evening at the Library. And The Bayou is still the favorite to strengthen the muscles on the back of her heel as well as hangout of people who wouldn't be caught dead in Murphy's special support hose to relieve the pressure on her metacor- or Sports. sal arch. As long as there are students at LSU, Chimes Street will "The pain was terrible, but the stockings are very help­ remain one of the most popular and infamous areas in the ful," she said. "I was very impressed with the situation and city. I'm happy that I've gone down there," Deya said.

The U.S. Bureau of Prisons attempted a brief stint at phasing a level I federal prison onto the center. At the time of the writing of this article, half of the complex was being shared with elderly or ill prisoners, as well as healthy inmates who were working on renovations. However, an Advocate article in February noted that the BOP agency would be leaving the center "within the next several years rather than assume full ownership because they cannot operate in a cost-effective manner if it cannot eventually take over the center and expand its inmate popu­ lation." The future of the Carville Center is unsure since suc­ cessful drug therapy has negated the need for forced isola­ tion, yet the residents, whose average age is seventy, will be allowed to stay as long as they want.

4 8 Gumbo Magazine ARTISTS & WRITERS p r o f i l e s artists writers

Monique Coco Jeffrey "Coonie" Barton Matt Musgrove is a senior in English who has no future is the tireless drummer for Burlap Cat, is a career student majoring in English and would rather be in Cancun. the best band you 've never heard. He is Literature. Following graduation, he also part of a leg-breaking vigilante intends to write some poetry and lyrics, organization and plans to go to grad then drop everything to play drums in a Darrell Cooper, school. He gets cranky without his rock-n-roll band. junior in News-Editorial, is a new afternoon nap. photographer at the Reveille. He hopes to pursue a photo-journalism career and Eimear O'Connell, take pictures of Pygmies for Shannon Coleman, a previous contributor, hasn't changed National Geographic. a junior in News-Editorial and a copy much since the last edition. editor for the Daily Reveille, is a first-time contributor to the Gumbo. She enjoys Nicole F. Duet, local college bands and being harassed in Robert Wolf layout goddess, will be attending a the Reveille newsroom is a senior in Journalism on the verge of a stress-management seminar after being terrifying experience— graduation. released from therapy for all the vices she Although he has yet to suffer great hunger acquired while working towards dead­ A lice Dukes or cold, the anxiety of possibly becoming a lines. is a senior majoring in English Literature/ permanent fixture in the unemployment pre-law and minoring in Philosophy and office is causing him undue stress. By Todd Houghton Political Science. After graduating from May when his parents pull the plug on likes taking pictures. law school, she hopes to work as a funding, Robert will most likely have prosecutor of sex crimes so that she can already moved under the overpass at the Bryon Justice help put rapists in jail. corner of Interstate 10 and College Drive. was coerced into working for the He will work for food. magazine because he is in the editor's Italian class. Ciao,y'all. J. Richard Moore is a junior in English and Political M. Katherine Kent Science who quite obviously plans to go to Lisa L Roland, is a junior in Graphic Design. In her law school. After ten to fifteen years as a a junior in Journalism, shares Wolfman's spare seconds, she enjoys bubble sculp­ lawyer, he plans to give it all up and fears of post-graduation poverty. She will ture, crystal mining, and stomping become a country and western singer — work for food in another part of town. barefoot through puddles. After gradu­ or run for state office; he hasn 't decided ation she hopes to buy a VW microbus, which. paint it psychedelic colors, follow the and Grateful Dead, and wear live animals as Rebecca Anne Powell hats. Brenda Murray, wants to go ice skating. She also wants to a junior in News-Editorial, works as a write books. After graduating next year, Scott Kiker staff writer for the Daily Reveille. She is she will either go on to grad school in is a photographer for the Reveille. He also a member of the service organization English or ascend a pillar, following the was not available for comment. Circle K International. steps of St. Symeon Stylite.