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

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Introduction Aug. 27th 226 West State Street Class boglns Sept. 3rd In The University Shopping Center Tuos. - Thurs. 7-9 p.m. 344-2324 Call Now for moro Info. Hours 10-9 Monday thru Saturday Pros. Paul Houghton 12-6 Sunday 767-6536______MINIATURE

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M ocha, Cafe Au Lait, A HOLE NEW COFFEES Espresso, Cappuccino specialty coffees a n d t e a s Gourm et Pastries EXPERIENCE Fifteen Varieties of L o o s e T e a This m essage brought to you by the Celebration Station Council Gates of LSU Iced Coffees for Fam ily Fun. Highland at Chimes 1-12 and Airline Highway 3350 Highland Road G reat Gift Ideas (10111 Gwen Adele Avenue) Baton Rouge, LA 70816 7am-10:30 pm (504) 924-7888 M on-Fri 8am -10pm Sat-Sun $1.00 O FF G O LF 1-12 and Airline Highway (10111 Gwen Adele Avenue) Baton Rouge, LA 70816 3 3 6 - 9 7 7 3 (504) 924-7888 Not valid with any other offer. One coupon per person. Expires: 09/30/92. Gumbo Magazine

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a n d Call now lor m ore Inform ation: LSU-TVs 388-8687 Gumbo M agazine KLSU: 388-KLSU (request line) The Daily Reveille: 388-4810 Gumbo M agazine: 388-2670 ARTS & ENTERTAIN- MENT SPOTLIGHTS SEPTEMBER 1992 VOLUME 4, ISSUE 1 9 ©GUMBO MAGAZINE Concerts 50 The Man Behind U ib ia u State University on Campus Hammer, Metallica, the Voice Jim Hawthorne Bill Grimes &Friends, Cover photographs and Summer by Paul Houghton. Cabaret Models provided 52 by Dolly Dean/ Stan Ford, Con­ Model and Talent 14 Management. When Alternative cert Pianist becomes making music "Alternative" suggestedo listening 16 N E A Look Inside the Visible Gallery art for the senses T c NEWS FICTION 18 Summer Movie 20 Wrap-up Research Notes 58 from the labs of LSU the season's The Television blockbusters 21 Love Thy Mother results of the earth summit

TMs &©1992 DC COMICS INC. 22 The Media Game and How the Candidates Are Playing It presidential election coverage FEATURES Editor's note 28 SPORTS Breaking Into the Business It is with great pleasure that I screenwriting on campus present the LSU community with the 39 new Gumbo Magazine in its larger Team Three-peats format. Just as “gumbo” suggests, this SEC Championship 31 Skip's club still strong TAs—Their Side OPINION publication offers a wide variety of the challenges of teaching articles for your perusal. With topics 4 ranging from the conflicts couples may 43 How Lucky Can face trying to achieve career and Women Take Golf 54 Louisiana Get? relationship objectives to coverage of Title King Verdict the lottery gamble ladies first Sparks Violence the presidential election, Gumbo in L.A., But Magazine offers something for every­ Awareness at LSU one. And if you concur (or even if you students seek solutions don’t), my staff and I would really s appreciate your comments. Enjoy! T —Melanie L. Lanaux N HEALTH COYER Staff 44 8 35 Publisher Ladies Sprint to Well-Fair Checkup Mapping It Out O ffice of Student Media Sixth Title the best deal in town couples and career teamwork pays off decisions Editor Photographers Melanie L Lanaux Darrell Cooper Audra Holden Managing Editor Chip King Rebecca Anne Powell 48 if:|; Advertising Design Editor Pigskin Excite­ Representatives R adi R isso ment Returns in Scott Simmons '92 Design Assistant Kellie Schnebelen Carrie Cabler football preview W riters Photo Editor Eimear O'Cornell Paul Houghton Kadee St. Romain

■ Gumbo Magazine is written, edited, and designed by LSU students. The opinions expressed herein are those o f the writers and do not necessarily represent the views of the editor, the magazine, the Office of Student Media or the University. No part o f this publication may be reproduced without the consent o f the Office of Student Media.

SEPTEMBER 1992 OPINION

But let’s give ourselves some hibition. Why had the composers of credit. Perhaps not everyone the constitution specifically laid out waltzes into the store with hopes of a law forbidding a lottery? Perhaps coming out a richer person, the one because Louisiana had made such who’s equipped to buy everyone a a mess out of the post-Civil War round at the Chimes or buy that lottery which was discontinued in H o w ] new $40,000 car. Some perhaps the 1890s due to its fraudulent would like to donate their winnings ways. L u c k y to a fitting charity. And there are But Rep. Lalonde, the primary probably many who say, “I’m just author of the bill, and his cohorts C a n buying this to help generate more laid out specifics in developing the money for our state.” Louisiana Lottery Corporation— Ah, but our legislators know us from the background check and so well. The bill passed in 1990 drug testing of its employees to the L o u i s i a na states that “The Louisiana Lottery penalties to be incurred from the Corporation shall be managed in skimming of funds, to name a few. such a manner that enables the The bill reads that “after the people of the state to benefit from start-up costs are paid, it is the G e t its profits and to ei\joy the best intent of the legislature that it shall possible lottery games. The corpo­ be the goal of the corporation to ration shall conduct and adminis­ transfer each year not less than 35 ter lottery games which will result percent of gross revenues to the in maximization of revenues to the state treasury.” BY EIMEAR O'CONNELL state of Louisiana while at the same That sounds pretty good, but let’s time provide entertainment to its examine what’s occurred with the citizens.” Thanks, guys—at least money so far. To date, $369 million "Oh, I won $2. Give me we know it’s not wasted money. has been made from the lottery— Well, we hope it’s not wasted money. $75 million from the big win lotto two more tickets please!” No concrete results have been seen and $294 million from the instant It’s a game of chance, so far from all the money that has win tickets. Ninety million dollars this Louisiana lottery. And been generated, but no concrete cor­ have been given to the state trea­ ruption has been seen so far either. sury. Whoa, now, don’t get too the knowledge that the odds Proponents and opponents of the excited. Remember who’s in charge aren't great doesn't fare well lottery fought equally hard in the of allotting these proceeds. beginning. Opponents screamed it against th at little voice push­ A law was passed the same time would hurt the poor, because they as the lottery bill which states the ing us to buy more: "Cash in are usually more likely to play, and state can’t spend the money the th at winning ticket for more it would hurt the economy because same year it is collected. But, this we’d end up relying on it as p art of is Louisiana we’re dealing with— tickets," the voice whispers ourincome when planning our bud­ we can find a way around anything. seductively. "Run back to get, and would receive a slap in the The state fiscal year runs July 1 your car and scrounge up all face when sales went down. Propo­ to June 30. The lottery started in nents yelled that in other states the September 1991. Getting the pic­ the change on the floor," it average lottery player was 42 years ture? It runs through the first half urges. “Play me, play me, old with a salary of more than of the fiscal year to Dec. 31, 1991. play me hard.” W ho can help $25,000 a year, and shouldn’t citi­ Technically, that year—the calen­ zens winning big money help our dar year—is over. but succum b to the wily voice, economy, asked Senator Ken Hollis So, $50 million goes to State the voice that usually ends in The Advocate Sept. 16, 1990. Treasurer M ary Landrieu on Dec. u p ta k in g c o n tr o l in t h a t c o n ­ The Coalition Against Legaliz­ 30,1991 to be used the next year— ing a Lottery in Louisiana was which is only two days later. Why venience store, the voice th at formed and prayer rallies were held; the enforcing of technical loopholes? envelops you, and ignores all reverends cited the immorality of a Where did the money go? A lot of lottery. When our current consti­ previous vows made before citizens were under the impression tution was being written, even Gov­ it would go directly to education. you left the sanctuary of your ernor Edwards called the lottery “a We must have misunderstood. It car, the voice that overpow­ sucker’s bet.” The constitution had went straight into the general fund forbade a lottery, so the 1990 legis­ and was used only to plug up the ers your mind, your body, lature had to pass a constitutional holes in the miscalculated budget. your wallet. amendment that removed the pro­

4 GUMBO MAGAZINE OPINION

PHOTO BY PAUL HOUGHTON The state was given another $41 a predictable life span, starting as • “The effect of lottery revenues million in May. None of this money strong revenue products, falling off, is felt right on the budget margin,” is dedicated to any specific cause regaining strength, and then flat­ countered Karen Benker, research either. It, too, will find its way into tening out to a slow rate of growth. director for the National Associa­ T. o d a te , the general fund. In fact, at the Neither industry nor state officials tion of State Budget Officers. “It recent legislative session, our leg­ will bet on how long a lottery can can help balance the budget when $369 million islators, in planning the budget, survive as a successful source of you’re scrambling for revenue.” h a s been appropriated $140 million from lot­ state revenues,” Witt said. Witt also noted that earmarking tery revenues to the general fund. • Professor L. Mikesell of Indi­ lottery proceeds for particular pro­ m ade from Hello, boys! Did we fall a little ana University said, “The danger is grams, such as education or aid to short in our elementary math that we’ll get confused about what the elderly, has proved politically the lottery— classes? Let's see. We collect $41 a lottery is able to do and what it smart and soothed the path to pub­ $75 million million in four months, so we esti­ can’t do. We’ll get diverted from lic approval. Are you listening, mate well collect (hmm... 41 x 3) meaningful solutions to public prob­ Edwards? from the big $123 million in one year. Not to lems. The lottery is not going to be The air surrounding the newly- mention deducting the oh-so-little the state’s savior; it produces insuf­ passed casino bill also seems to be a win lotto and factors, such as: revenues will prob­ ficient yield and unstable yield at bit dark. The voting machine was $294 million ably decrease as the newness of the th at.” turned off early when the casino game wears off, and lots of the play­ • Rev. Harvey N. Chinn, former bill passed the House—without the from th e ers who were driving in from over director of the California Coalition regular time for legislators to pon­ the border won’t be because Texas Against a Legal Lottery, said, “It is der their votes and record them on instant win has established its own lottery. not the function of government to the voting board for full view. Rep. tic k e ts. Something doesn't make sense here, market a product to its citizens David Vitter, R-Metarie, even and it's not just the math ... when most of them will inevitably shouted, “They stole this vote, pure A 1987 article by Elder Witt lose. The government is here to and simple.” shows that current fears are not protect its people.” The casino bill, also authored by only new, but true: “Lotteries have Rep. Lalonde, legalizes a single

SEPTEMBER 1992 5 OPINION

gaming hall at the Rivergate Con­ ideas that might generate revenue. held Feb. 1, 1992. To date, there vention Center on Canal Street in Other states have tried and it’s have been 19 winners, with only New Orleans. The bill creates the proved successful so it could be a one who has not yet claimed the Louisiana Economic Development good thing if done properly,” he prize. Of the 19,14 used the Quick and Gaming Corporation, which has said. Pick Computer and five picked their nine state board members ap­ Although he hasn’t played the own numbers. pointed by the governor. It also lottery himself, Dossantos said he The Lottery Corporation hired a grants an exclusive 20-year con­ probably would if he had more company to conduct a “bench sur­ tract to a casino operator and re­ money. He said he doesn’t think vey” in February 1992 on a number quires that the operator pay the people who are barely getting by of questions about the lottery. corporation 18.5 percent of gross should squander money on the lot­ Asked which statement best de­ revenues or $100 million annually, tery. scribes the lottery, 55.9 percent of whichever is greater. One provi­ “The people who live week-to- the respondents said it benefits the sion makes for a double head turn— week seem to be the ones wasting state; 28.4 percent said poor people compulsive gambling programs of­ their money,” he said. play more than they can afford; fering counseling and treatments Keith Boeckelman, assistant 11.4 percent said they felt the same for persons suffering from compul­ professor of political science, said on both statements; and 4.3 per­ sive or problem gambling must be the lottery preys on desperate cent said they don’t know. provided. people. His worry stemmed from The corporation approached LSU I think the legislature should living in another state which ad­ about selling tickets on campus, also open up a bar at the state vertised its lottery as an easy way but the idea was rejected. capitol and then try to appease those to make money and, he thought, Executive Vice Chancellor James on-the-wagon by holding AA meet­ relayed the message that the way Coleman said, “We didn’t think the ings there once a week. to get rich is not to work hard. university is an appropriate place Proponents of the casino echo However, he said things didn’t re­ for selling gambling.” lottery proponents’ cries that it will ally seem to be that bad here in He also said the university create jobs and bring money into Louisiana. doesn’t want to be unfair competi­ the state. Opponents fear for the Boeckelman also said the lottery tion to the convenience stores adja­ character of New Orleans, which is an unstable revenue source. You cent to campus who rely on student they say will be tainted, and ask if don’t know how much it will bring customers. “We try to work with conventions such as the Southern in from year to year, he said. It’s our neighbors,” he said. Baptists, or even the Superbowl, hard to say that revenues will con­ John Wells, a sophomore in which has an unwritten policy not tinue at the same level. chemistry, won $50,000 on a Mardi to go to gambling towns, will still The sale of lottery scratch tick­ Gras scratch-off ticket. After taxes come to the city. They say orga­ ets began at noon on Sept. 6,1991. had been deducted, his winnings nized crime will be inevitable. In the first 24 hours, $4.5 million equaled $37,500. “[The lottery] doesn’t make that tickets had been sold statewide. In “I invested $10,000, bought a car much difference,” Adam Rose, a an effort at entertainment and with $10,000, went to Disney World junior in English, said. Kind of innovativeness, the scratch-off tick­ and am having a better-than-usual ironic coming from someone who ets have included a variety of time,” he said. won $200 on a Bayou Gold scratch “games”: Louisiana Treasure, Wells said when he scratched off. But Rose said he hasn’t played Match 3, Bayou Gold, Holiday Cash, the ticket and saw he won, he first since the win because when he “fi­ Three of a Kind, Mardi Gras Dou­ slid the ticket to the cashier and nally broke even,” he quit. bler, Lagniappe, Crawfish Cash, said, “Look at this.” His second Rose said he cashed the ticket Louisiana Purchase and Louisiana reaction was to thank God, and his immediately, saved some of it, threw Hot Sauce. third impulse was to kiss the cash­ a party, and bought a tie. The big lottojackpot started Jan. ier—which he didn’t do because she “With all the things going on, the 22,1992, and the first drawing was was “too ugly.” last thing anyone should worry He quit playing the lottery for a about is the lottery,” he said. A sked which statement best describes the couple of weeks after he won, However, Rose’s opinion on the thought about buying 2,000 tickets prevailing casino is more decisive. lottery, 55.9 percent of the respondents said but didn’t, and now spends $1 to $2 “The casino will bring revenues into it benefits the state; 28.4 percent said poor every week. However, Wells said the state but make organized crime he still has mixed feelings. “Even a big industry.” people play more than they can afford; 11.4 though I won, I know the winners Jose Dossantos, an industrial en­ are few and far between,” he said. gineering graduate student, held percent said they felt the same on both Todd Budd, a senior in advertis­ an optimistic view. “I think we statements; and 4.3 percent said they ing, said he thinks he’s the only should have both [the lottery and person who doesn’t know what it casino]. We should try out any new don’t know. feels like to cash in a winning

6 GUMBO MAGAZINE OPINION scratch card. “I’ve never won,” he said, “and I’ve spent about $25 on it, too.” The taunting bumpersticker T he eggs us on—How Lucky Can You Get? That’s precisely what mil­ L o ttery W hat do you think lions of people in Louisiana are Corporation aiming to find out. about the passage And that’s fine because fun is approached what it’s about to many. But, to risk sounding pretentious, it should LSU a b o u t of the casino bill, have a deeper meaning, too. The selling extra income the lottery provides and where would for our state is wonderful, but it tickets on has to be handled right. you like to see its Granted, if the legislators hadn’t campus, but used the first $50 million donated the idea was to fill holes in the budget, a lot of revenue go? hospitals and universities would rejected . 'It's pretty convenient for have felt the cuts. But that’s a Edwards, I'm surprised it mismanagement problem. And has taken so long. We what do we elect those guys for? need to fix the numerous Yet instead of looking for viable substandard highways s a i d solutions, they’re coming up with and try to get off the ridiculous,evenignorant, answers. bottom of the education i t First, balance the budget right. list." Not with the knowledge that you’ve Sarah "Bits/ Spencer got a crutch to fall back on. And Physical Therapy Junior. 21 don’t make that crutch into a damn wheelchair. Be sensible. It doesn’t take a financial analyst to tell that you’ve grossly overestimated. We’re just going to end up in seri­ ous debt at the end of next year and have to rely on the casino to bail us out. Then we’re going to over-allot the casino money and end up in the same place. We’re just digging in deeper and deeper, and we need to wake up. Address the budget problems in­ dependently, and dedicate the money from the lottery and casino “W hat do I think? to a specific purpose, like educa­ Edwards is governor tion, and let’s see if we’re not all again. Now a casino. I the better for it. "I feel a casino in New think I’m moving. I Orleans would bring a lot would like to see the of money to the state as money go to schools, Well a s m ore highways, environmental employment. concerns and anywhere I would like to see the else but the pockets of money go to teacher pay Edwards and friends.” raise s." Philip J. Knieper III Michele Carlisle Mathematics Secondary Chemical Engineering Education Senior, 22 Senior, 21

PHOTOS BY AUDRA HOLDEN

SEPTEMBER 1992 7 HEALTH

G m n f e o

W e l l - F a i r

BY KRISTIAN SONNIER C H E C K U P W A N T S

T O

K N O W

PHOTO BY PAUL HOUGHTON LSU’s Student Health Center sugar level, dental health, and held its seventh annual health fair height, weight and body fat compo­ at the Union’s Royal Cotillion Ball­ sition screenings, as well as hear­ room in April 1992. ing tests. WHAT Despite its poor timing—-just Also, each year a blood drive is prior to Easter break—Well-Fair held at the Well-Fair. This year’s ’92 had a considerably large turn­ willing participants gave about out. In previous years, attendance thirty pints of blood. “It’s the least averaged about 2,000 students, fac­ I could do,” said civil engineering ulty and staff; this one was no ex­ major Nick Ferlito. “Once I was in ception. a wreck and I had to have a lot of “The purpose of the whole thing blood; now I give every chance I YOU is to increase awareness of health get.” among students,” said Linda Rome, Besides exhibits from typical LSU’s Wellness Coordinator. The health care services, this past year program’s target audience consisted the anthropology department de­ of the LSU community, but the pro­ signed an impressive exhibit ex­ gram was open to the public. plaining the structure of the hu­ All Baton Rouge area hospitals man body. The booth’s information and an assortment of health agen­ was aided by the presence of com­ THINK cies volunteered their services to plete human skeletons and various the health fair. “Much of what we skullbones. Their models also in­ offered at the health fair would cost cluded one whole skeleton of an The Gumbo Magazine staff wants to know you money at the doctor,” said Rome. infant. what you think. We want to know what you Over fifty exhibits were dis­ The next health fair is scheduled think about our new form at. About our ar- played at tables which surrounded to be held at the same time next the perimeter of the ballroom. All year—late April. It will be adver­ ticles. We want to know if your satisfied, mad, services provided by the agencies tised in the Reveille, around cam­ or don't care. We're curious, O.K.! were free of charge. Service offer­ pus and by local media, and it will ings varied from simple informa­ include much of the same free in­ Send all letters to: tion pamphlets to complete vision formation. The Well-Fair contin­ Gumbo Magazine screening. Some exhibits offered ues to be the best bargain for a blood pressure, blood typing, blood check-up in town. B-4- Hodges HallBaton Rouge, LA 70803

8 GUMBO MAGAZINE ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

CONCERTSprefacing each song with some sort of dialogue which I found not as Hammer amusing as it was supposed to have been, not as interesting as it could strikes have been, and not as audible as it should have been. “I was talking backstage with Baton my friend and he suggested I play something for all the ladies out Rouge there.” That’s pretty much how the pre-“Have You Seen Her” chat went. As if anyone really thought he was BY EIMEAR O'CONNELL having a backstage dialogue con­ Though I’m not a big fan of the cerning Baton Rouge women. man’s music, I’ll admit that Ham­ Hammer also held a conversa­ mer and his band of dancers can tion with a man from the audience put on a show. about one of his female dancers. Hammer played for a not-quite- Pointing to the girl, the gist of packed Assembly Center June 13, Hammer’s talk was “do you want 1992. Jodeci and Boyz II Men this,” as the man wagged his tongue. opened the show. On and on it went until the point I was impressed that though was finally driven home with there were many dancers on stage Hammer’s infamous “U Can’t Touch at one time and each was doing This.” That song received enthusi­ different moves, the performance astic audience response. looked quite polished. Hammer also seems to consider Their vivaciousness and energy himself a fine dresser because he were shared by the crowd, many of was sporting a different jacket for whom were doing the same steps nearly every number. But even the and singing along with the music. back-up people got to change a few Even mothers were standing up times. The choir was dressed like and shaking their babies on their gospel singers for “Pray,” which was hips. a hit. “2 Legit 2 Quit,” the encore, However, Hammer persisted on bordered on riveting. PHOTO BY CHIP KING ONCAMPUS SEPTEMBER 1992 9 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

band’s unique triangular stage and guitarist and vocalist James a great view (from our nosebleed Hetfield led the group in renditions seats) of the coiling mosh pits below of “For Whom the Bell Tolls,” “Fade me. to Black,” and “Creeping Death.” Never fear—I was given another Metallica pulled all the right chance to appreciate Metallica’s strings by playing selections from thrashing rhythms at LSU’s PMAC their 1986 release M aster of Pup­ June 15,1992. Arriving early with pets. Pieces chosen included the little brother, no car trouble, no title song, “Battery,” and “Welcome alcohol, and up-close and personal Home (Sanitarium).” floor tickets, we were able to prop­ Other selections included “Last erly take in the show. And what a Caress,” from Garage Days Re- show it turned out to be. Revisited (1987) as well as “Har­ There was no opening act; a half- vester of Sorrow,” “Sad But True,” hour “history of Metallica” short “The Unforgiven,” “Wherever I May film worked nicely. Live backstage Roam,” and “Nothing Else Matters.” footage, mostly featuring drummer The band amazingly used very Lars Ulrich, cut into the film to little break-time during the three- work fans into a frenzy. Their film and-a-half hour show. Most took crew even personalized the video the form of solos as in the case of by including opening footage of fa­ Jason Newsted’s bass solo and an miliar LSU and Baton Rouge scen­ amusing but awe-inspiring battle ery. How thoughtful! of the drummers between Ulrich After that, the band themselves and Hetfield. decided to grace their triangular The encore began with “One” stage—complete with elevators and from And Justice for All (1988). tracks for two drum kits. Pyrotechnics and strobe lights Metallica’s Jam es Hetfield, brought the song to a bone-crush­ Kirk Hammett, Lars Ulrich and ing ending with no survivors left PHOTOS BY DARRELL COOPER after the final song of the evening, TOP “Damage, Inc.” As I filed out of the PMAC along Singer/rhythm M e t a l l i c a guitarist with thousands of combat-boot clad James Hetfield dew-ragged sweating metal heads, I reflected on the experience and RIGHTI d e l i v e r s the band’s talents. Although I’m Drummer Lars Ulrich and lead not a true-blooded metal fan, I en­ guitarist Kirk m etal m ania joyed the concert and found Hammett Metallica’s sound to be a haunting, to the PM AC powerful one. The members didn’t hide behind makeup or fancy spandex clothes. In my book, they proved to be true musicians in their BY MELANIE L. LANAUX own right. Ulrich and Hammett also got on my good side by passing On Jan. 18,1992, some friends Jason Newsted exploded onto the out several pairs of drumsticks and and I had planned a journey to stage with the help of pyrotechnics guitar picks after the show. UNO’s Lakefront Arena with our (which I don’t remember from the Given my new-found apprecia­ little brothers (and open minds) to New Orleans show) and the first tion of Metallica’s talents, I was watch M etallica rock New Orleans. chords of “Enter Sandman” from thrilled to hear that Guns and Well, my dude had car trouble, their latest self-titled effort. Roses, Metallica and Faith No and I had to pick him up in a sepa­ What followed this riveting per­ More planned a stop at the rate car, so we arrived late. We formance was a musical history of Superdome Aug. 29 for a concert spent the rest of the concert search­ the group’s six album releases. “no one thought could happen.” It ing for my brother and our friends. From Kill ’Em All (1983), the band will be well worth the bucks. Little Because I was preoccupied and I played “The Four Horsemen,” brother better be ready, because as don't qualify as a true metal fan, “Whiplash,” “Am I Evil?” and “Seek they say, three’s the charm. most of the concert remains a blur. and Destroy.” The drink I had didn't help matters Fans watched the band Ride any either. I can only remember the the Lightning (1984) as rhythm

10 GUMBO MAGAZINE music at SLU, on piano; Tom LEFT Wolfe, faculty member at USL, on Bill Grimes guitar; Stephen Futrell, director of the Baton Rouge Symphony Cho­ TOP rus, with vocals; and, of course, our Left to right; own Bill Grimes on bass. Rick VanMatre, Grimes & Friends managed to recording simulate an intimate and jazz-ap- engineer Joel propriate setting in the stiff Union Boyer, Bill Theater with their set-up. First, Grimes and the house lights were dimmed in­ Richard Thompson stead of completely blacked out, rehearse before making the concert seem less for­ the concert. mal and less classical in style. And by confining the players to an area in front of the curtain, the stage area seemed tighter. The group opened with the aptly- titled “Just Friends,” followed by a composition by Thompson entitled “Eventually.” Next came “I Re­ member Clifford” and “Waltz New,” and the first half closed with a piece by saxophonist VanMatre, “Gettin’ Past It.” After a brief intermission, the PHOTOS BY AUDRA HOLDEN second half started with “Bolivia.” at LSU—or, as he says, “as regu­ Then came a sweet Ellington piece An evening larly as I can afford it.” (my personal favorite), “Star- That’s right. Bill Grimes, as­ Crossed Lovers.” Futrell, vocalist, sisted in small part by the School of joined the group for the last three of jazz Music and concert ticket sales, paid numbers, even singing scat. Scat is the expenses for “Bill Grimes & singing that uses improvised non­ Friends” out of his own pocket. sense syllables for jazz phrasings with friends July 9 marked the fourth time or effects. There was “Route 66” he has organized such a concert; and “Someone to Light Up My Life,” BY REBECCA POWELL this one was called “Chapter IV.” and then Grimes & Friends con­ Grimes invited five friends down cluded the evening with “It’s You or LSU needs to hear more jazz. to Baton Rouge to play. The gath­ No One.” Bill Grimes, associate professor ering included Rick VanMatre, Friday night the group stopped of music, is personally seeing to it associate professor at the Univer­ at Gino’s, a more appropriate and that we do. sity of Cincinnati College-Conser- intimate setting forjazz, and played In addition to directing the LSU vatory of Music, on saxophone; Ri­ a packed room. Jazz Ensemble’s ever-wonderful chard Thompson, free-lance When not giving performances, concerts, Grimes regularly invites drummer/teacher, on drums; Willis the musicians squeezed in some professional jazz musicians to play Delony, associate professor of Continued on page 64

SEPTEMBER 1992 11 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT a

Molly Johnson and Billy Craven sing “Friend­ ship" while Don Hid looks on. PHOTO BY AUDRA HOLDEN mance by N eil N e th e rly of “Fidg­ braceable You” by Kartal. “Some­ Sum m er C abaret ety Feet.” A more subdued perfor­ one to Watch Over Me” was just as mance of “Somebody Loves Me” by touching, with Deverger portray­ Sebnem Kartal reminded the au­ says H ooray ing a “lost lamb” who laments about dience of what it’s like to wait for not finding her Prince Charming. Prince or Princess Charming. The From “Love Is Here to Stay,” to f o r L o v e audience was asked “Can you do “Of Thee I Sing,” the ensemble kept without love?” when the ensemble the audience’s attention. The nos­ sang“I Wish I Were in Love Again.” BY APRIL REDMOND talgia was high, the singing excel­ The audience was delighted with lent, and the mood cozy. The Netherly and Don Hill’s rendition sumptous dessert buffet with offer­ Friday, July 18, opening night of of “Just One of Those Things,” in ings ranging from truffles to cheese­ the Cabaret, was a complete suc­ which one performer embraced a cake topped off a wonderful perfor­ cess. The theme, “Hooray for Love,” suitcase and remembered what it’s mance. brought forth a repertoire of won­ like to be set free. derful love songs about every emo­ Next came jealousy, with Molly tion from lust to loneliness. A troupe Johnson and Kartal singing “The of six performers delighted the au­ Lorelei.” dience in the Plantation Room with The girl who couldn’t be caught a full hour of singing and dancing. was the one most desired, but The musical numbers included Deverger couldn’t be captured as “Steppin’ Out With My Baby,” she sang “My Heart Belongs to which Billy Craven and Angela Daddy.” The couple with the odds Deverger sang as they exhibited against them, Kartal and Craven, dance moves reminiscent of the '50s, did a rendition of “They All and “Let’s Face the Music and Laughed.” The audience then lis­ Dance” coupled with a solo perfor­ tened to the moving solo of “Em-

12 GUMBO MAGAZINE T here's only one individual in this picture

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W hen alternative I’ll begin this informal, music- review thing by saying that the becom es ALTERNATIVE alternative music scene/biz is frequently quite irritating. Like A new-music review any other musical genre, alternative music suffers from recurring by Philip Simon, cases of pocket popularity—annoying occurrences marked by the Music Director KLSU mindless acceptance and subsequent dominance of one particular sound. When a pocket gets its grip on the industry, flocks of young Pockets of popularity that affect wannabes come out of the woodwork, all Xeroxes of each other, alternative music hurt you, the listener, because they direct indus­ all scrambling for that five-figure contract. Remember that try attention toward the predomi­ Athens pocket and all those REM derivative bands th at jumped out nant “sounds o’ the month,” exclud­ in the late 80s? How about that M anchester Brit-hop pocket that ing those artists that really sound the Stone Roses and Happy Mondays started up? Worse, even, different. Thus, the so-called alter­ is the Seattle-grunge sound that’s still barely trudging along. Like native genre (college music) flirts with hypocrisy—alternative becom­ my friend, John, says, pertaining to these pocket-trends, “Every­ ing “alternative.” body goes ‘Aw, I like this!’ and then there are a million other bands Anyway, the point is I’m review­ that play the same shit.” ing the following dozen titles (eight bands and four compilations) to give lead singer/guitarist, formed her studios in Cambridge). Sandman you, the intelligent, open-minded musical trio with two guys and re­ sings about relationships, isolation, reader of LSU’s Gumbo Magazine, leased two singles in Britain. These drugs (“I’m just a test-tube baby / 1 a peek at some markedly different, did well on the English charts, and sta rt out fresh and clean each day / fairly-new releases. a Brit label, Too Pure, released Dry I have a pinch of this / 1 have a taste Hey ho, let’s start with PJ overseas in early 1992. Indigo of that / 1 have a bit of this / 1 have Harvey’s Dry album (and I don’t Records picked them up for their a bag of th at”), and immortality. like this just ’cause there’s a photo­ recent State-side, summer release. Spiritualized is a band which graph of nekkid PJ on the back of Minimalism is the key here. This includes four ex-Spacemen3 mem­ the CD). This is probably the most album sounds sorta like a Breed- bers, so you can easily figure that accessible of the 12 titles I’ve picked ers-esque Patti Smith Group with Lazer Guided Melodies (BMG to review. Last year PJ, female only half the band present. It main­ Music), Spiritualized’s first album, tains the clean, simple sound that is delicately packed with hypnotic, made pre-Doolittle Pixies so good. lush guitars and moody Dulcimers. There’s a slight touch of rockabilly This album is immensely mellow, in PJ’s guitars and a hint of Mecca and the cadre of additional instru­ Normal in her vocals. If you get ments that are utilized (autoharp, past the first over-dramatic cut, saxophone, cellos, flute, violin) are the rest of the album is an easy mixed in well with the trippy, ped- treat. The songs on this album aled-out guitars. The vocals on this range from quick, jumpy ditties (“O album are Love and Rockets-esque, Stella,” “Sheela-na-gig,” “Joe”) to harmonious yet docile and pretty slower, quirkier cuts (“Water,” nondescript, but the instrumenta­ “Hair”), every song soaked with PJ’s tion more than makes up for this. feminism (obsessive?). Downtown Does The Beatles Minimalism works for Mor­ (Knitting Factory Works) is a com­ phine, as well. Good (Accurate pilation of Beatles’ covers, all re­ Distortion Music), their first album, corded live at the Knitting Factory, is a thirteen-song, mostly saxo­ an avant-garde haven on East Hous­ phone/bass/drums romp. Their ton Street in New York City. The untraditional line-up creates a bands on this compilation range murky, often jazzy, sound. Vocal­ from the avant-Muzak Les ist/bassist Mark Sandman co-pro- Miserables Brass Band (doing “Be­ duced the album, mixing live cuts ing for the Benefit of Mr. Kite” and with studio sessions (some recorded “Eleanor Rigby”) to the straightfor­ w ard rockiness of Alex Chilton andPHOTOS BY AUDRA HOLDEN at the now-infamous Fort Apache ward rockiness of Alex Chilton andPHOTOS

14 GUMBO MAGAZINE ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

While the cuts “Najda” and “Rap with more weirdness—insect/lizard Song” are pretty weak, the hyp­ loops mixed with radio static and notic, eight-minute plus “Hadiya” glass-in-the-trash-compactor rever­ and “Mousa” deserve attention. It’s berations. Nice instrumentations got a great cover, too—some laugh­ to have around if you’re alone at ing guy sticking his head in a home with an American Psychol crocodile’s mouth. Gunslinger mindset and want to Jesus Chucho Vaides recently get all worked up. released his Lucumi album of pi­ We now come to the new ano solos on the Messidor label. Miranda Sex Garden five-song Chucho Valdes is a Cuban per­ EP, Iris (Mute Records). An all­ former, initially taught by his fa­ female group, Miranda Sex Garden ther, a pioneer in the development thrives on angelic, Irish-tinged vo­ of pre-Castro mambo-jazz. Chucho cals with minimal, ambient back­ Valdes was part of the Orquesta ing music. “Fear” is the heaviest Cubana de Musica Modema and song on this EP, with massive ’60s the influential jazz group, Irakere, organs and chilling Psycho-shower- and he eventually defected from scene vocal attacks. If you like the Cuba. Lucumi is a collection of nine sound of that high-pitched kid in piano solos of various lengths, uti­ The Cook, the Thief, His Wife, and lizing classical and jazz elements. Her Lover, then you should enjoy Lucumi is an extremely soothing this eerie sweetness. album; I’d suggest “A Jessica” and Another mellow, ambient fix for “Adiva.” the late summer is the second In The second compilation we have the Nursery album, Doubt, from King Missile to the fall-down weird­ Third Mind/Roadrunner Records. ness of Eugene Chadbourne (doing This was probably the most disap­ a twangy solo version of “Day in the pointing album I had to sit through. Life” with Willie Nelson “On the It starts off with a cheesy kind of Road Again” riffs) and Buddha Pest Olympics theme song, “Belle (“Blue Jay Way”). Other cuts that Epoque.” Also, there are several stand out are Lydia Lunch’s indus­ songs, “Always,” “Corruption,” trial rendition of “Why Don’t We Do “Universe,” and “Mecciano,” which It in the Road” and the “Don’t Let use this Ginsberg-on-The-Clash’s- Me Down” cover featuring Arto "Ghetto Defendant”-ish (but worse), Lindsay, Mark Ribot, and Syd new-age male voice that announces Straw. This is a fun 1twelve-song is the Phauss/Karkowski/Bilting things like “Strive to be happy,” compilation, utilizing the varied compilation (Silent Records). The “Keep peace with your soul,” “En­ styles and musicians that pass first three pieces are computer dure not yet a breach, but an ex­ through the Knitting Factory, in­ works that mix Close Encounters pansion,” and several “thys” and cluding the hard blues of Defunkt space-ship engine noises with sound “thees”and“thences.” What makes and the ambient-fusion of Samm loops (a human voice whispering this album worth mentioning, Bennett with Chunk. quickly, bubbling water, bamboo though, are two cuts, “Dulaity” and In addition to live compilations, percussion-ish tappings, submarine “The Engraver” which utilize a soft, A withs the Knitting Factory also releases radar blips), all three being collabo­ French voice and good instrumen­ solo artist albums on its Knitting rations between Ulf Bilting and tations, and the instrumental tril­ any m usic Factory Works label. Theyearl991 Zbigniew Karkowski, recorded at ogy, “Thoms,” “Pulse,” and “AVale- review, this saw the release of Amy Denio’s no­ the Chalmers University of Tech­ diction.” Dupe a friend of yours into table Birthing Chair Blues, and we nology in Gothenburg, Sweden. The buying the CD and copy those five ain’t worth now have the summer 1992 Zahar fourth piece, “Final Folklore,” is a decent cuts for yourself. album, which has an interesting 24-minute collage of live and studio JG Thirl well, who’s also recorded spit unless it intemational/rock sound. At first, recordings by Phauss, taken from under the Foetus moniker, gives us Steroid Maximus, a group headed moves you, I wanted to ascribe an Indian (as in Gothenburg, Warsaw, and New India) flavor to it. I played some of York performances. This, too, has by Thirlwell and featuring Lucy the intelli­ this for two of my friends and one an alien, spacey feel to it, nice back- Hamilton, Away, Raymond Watts said “No, that’s Middle Eastern, ground music for a Martian (a secret mix of Raymond Pettibon gent reader, not Indian” while the other said Chronicles/Splinter of the Mind’s and Mike Watt?), and a few others. Continued on page 64 to scope out “Hey, that sounds like Santana.” Eye-ish film. The last bit is an So I don’t really know what to call interesting Karkowski solo piece, new stu ff. it, but some of it is kinda neat. another 20-something minute cut,

SEPTEMBER 1992 15 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

A LOOK INSIDE THE VISIBLE ART GALLERY

BY APRIL REDMOND The art on display is an interest­ ing mix of craft and fine art. Large geodes, small sculptures, necklaces, On the ground floor of the black and white photographs, Union, between the Book­ masks, paintings, and earrings are just a sample of the gallery’s wide store and City National Bank, PHOTOS BY AUDRA HOLDEN array of offerings. One can pur­ is a small fine art gallery chase a rose quartz necklace for Nash’s main objective is to pro­ called the Visible Gallery. $20 or an original painting for $500. mote artists who have developed The gallery carves its niche About half of the art on display is both a clear sense of who they are student work. The other half comes and a mastery of their chosen art out of a small space sal­ from local artists. medium. Be it painting, sculpting, vaged from the hall. Al­ Daniel Nash is the founder and or jewelry-making, the idea Nash though there is barely manager of the Visible Gallery. He wants the artist to express is one of saw a need for a small art gallery brutal honesty in the art medium enough room for three people catering to LSU students. Student chosen, while having a clearly vis­ to stand comfortably, it art was not getting enough expo­ ible theme throughout. doesn't feel cramped. This sure, and local art was not receiv­ Using excess profit from his other ing many chances for community undertaking, the LSU Union Frame is the Visible Gallery: a tiny presentation. An artist himself, Shop, the art gallery became a real­ consignment art gallery dis­ Nash understands how difficult it ity. The gallery first opened in playing some of the finest is to get started in the “gallery November on a trial basis. After scene.” Realizing student and local three months, the Visible Gallery works by local artists and artists would benefit from the ex­ was continued based on student the LSU community. posure, he created the gallery. interest, sales, and the number of

16 GUMBO MAGAZINE ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

LEFT signing artists. forty percent. Behind the Recruiting artists to display their Craft sales have been strong, masks featured work is not an easy task. Nash uses accounting for a large percentage of at the Visible art department newsletters, flyers, the spring semester sales. The neck­ The Gallery is local and word-of-mouth to recruit stu­ laces and earrings on display cost artist Cheryl EDITOR'Snote Clem. Origi­ dent and local artists. Nash also around $20. The other crafts, such Visible nally from asks art professors and instructors as the geodes and crystal balls, fall Hawaii, she to mention the gallery to students into the $60 or more range. The Gallery projects her in class. He sometimes asks for gallery offers these lower-priced fondness of personal recommendations from the crafts to compensate for the expen­ is always looking for new art, masquerade in visual art and instructors and professors. Nash sive fine art. especially from undergraduate and literature into wants to exhibit student art exclu­ Some of these pieces have a price her creations. sively, but with lack of student tag as high as $500. Such high graduate students. Applications Each mask sells participation that goal has been prices can be out of a college are available at the LSU Frame for $30. postponed. student’s budget. Why the high After recruiting artists, choos­ prices? Paula Robertson, a painter Shop, located on the third floor o f ing what art to display has proven who displays her art in the gallery, the Union and the art department. to be difficult. The artist must first feels that the gallery’s prices are fill out an application, available at reasonable. “Apaintingispersonal, Interview times are Mondays and the LSU Frame Shop and the Art capturing the innate spirit of the Fridays between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Department. The application asks artist,” Robertson states. “It is a for specific details about the artist, reflection of that artist’s ideas.” It For more information, contact his influences, and the kind of style is the uniqueness and the extreme Daniel Nash at 388-5436 he wants to pursue. The applica­ emotional effort creating the art tion process screens out those try­ that makes it expensive, she adds. weekdays. ILEFT ing to make a quick buck. Nash □an Lafayette wants only those who are more con­ views oil cerned about the quality of the art paintings by local artist they produce. Nash is also trying Mona McGehee to avoid promoting commercialism. with help from “I try not to get artists who create gallery employee ‘cutesy’ items just so they will sell," Family Thrift Center Natalie Nash says. Longman. Next is the interview, where the Baton Rouge's Newest Thrift Store Following in the footsteps of her artist has to explain and defend the Check our daily half-price sales artist father, central theme, emotional tone, and McGehee truthfulness of his art. Nash is not Student and Senior Citizen Discounts receives afraid to scrutinize his applicants. inspiration for He believes the more truthful and her paintings knowledgeable an artist is about $5.00 off with $10.00 purchase from natural settings. his work, the better the art will be. The artist must present several Clothes for the whole family examples of his work. Each piece must have an underlying theme and a clearly visible “common New and used furniture for thread.” Nash feels it is important that the artist has some sort of the student identifying element in each piece he creates. 209 Little John “There should be some thing that makes the piece that artist’s and no one else’s,” explains Nash. “A cus­ tomer should be able to identify the artist’s work without having to look for the signature.” The price of displayed art is de­ termined by the artist, with some guidance when necessary. If the art sells, the artist receives sixty percent of the revenue. The Union and the gallery retain the other

SEPTEMBER 1992 17 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Summer income netted this movie over $100 cally played the film’s star-pow­ million. Dude, check out the ered villains while Michael Keaton fundage! Enough said. donned the industrial scuba suit While Pauly staked out high school hallways, Eddie Murphy for another go-round. Although atman fans split on whether this one was “B prowled corporate board rooms as a better than the first, the rift didn’t Returns” is Don Juan executive in search of the keep them from packing theaters to perfect woman in Boomerang. This not only the see it again and again. film marked Murphy’s return to the big screen with a Rico Suave Mel Gibson and Danny Glover film title but made their house payments with wardrobe for this modern-day ro­ Lethal Weapon 3. Once again also what mantic comedy which turns the Gibson yanks Glover (this time with tables on gender dating roles. Boo­ executives at only one week until his retirement) merang features a black cast and largely leaves race relations behind into every dangerous situation W arner within a 100-mile radius. Audi­ to let the audience embrace Murphy and crew as high-level profession­ TMs 4 ©1992 DC COMICS INC. ences continue to love the Gibson/ Bros, chant BY MICHAEL J. FARRAR Glover combo, peppered with ac­ als with personal ups, downs, and tion stunts and cooked on a high at the stock plenty of laughs. The public re­ sponded to this tale of corporate The box office kicked off the sum­ flame, even when served with the holders mer season with heavy artillery, flimsiest plot line of the film series. courtship by investing $36 million and kept blockbuster ammunition You exit the theater feeling as if meetings. coming all the way into August. you have just watched seven epi­ The major studios did their best to sodes of The Fall Guy at high speed, lure you to theaters to witness their but it earned enough to break the latest cinematic offerings. $150 million mark, firmly cement­ Toting the biggest gun was ing another Lethal sequel. Gotham City’s gothic crime The real surprise was the num­ fighter—Batman. Batman Returns ber of mall kids who lined up to see is not only the film title but also Encino Man starring MTVs Pauly what executives at Warner Bros, Shore. Teenagers with disposable chant at the stockholders meetings. The caped crusader broke box office records, quickly grossing $118 mil­ lion in only three weeks. Michelle Pfeiffer and Danny DeVito poeti­

TMs & ©1992 DC COMICS INC. ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

TMs & c 1992 DC COMICS INC. ENCINO MAN. PHOTO BY LUKE WAYNE c HOLLYWOOD PICTURES COMPANY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

©WARNER BROS. NC. the 1800s. The historic Oklahoma land race, recreated for the film’s climax, is a real event that Ron (Opie) Howard’s own ancestors took after only two weeks of trading. part in a century ago. Cruise Rounding out the comedy bat­ couldn’t lure his usual legion of ting list this summer was A League fans to this romantic timepiece de­ of Their Own, the story of the World spite a hefty $10 million salary. War II-era women’s professional Better luck-of-the-Irish next time, baseball league. GeenaDavis,Tom Tom. Hanks, and Madonna star in direc­ The Irish are still coming to America, but this time they are out tor Penny Marshall’s Norman to kill Harrison Ford in Patriot Rockwell-like rendering of Ameri­ Games. This film is a sequel of can life. This coming-to-terms movie sorts to the movie adaptation of covers everything from sexism to Tom Clancy’s The Hunt for Red sibling rivalry, to weave a unique October. Ford took over the role of and colorful film. Moments of ex­ Jack Ryan, originally played by Alec cessive corniness are kept to a bear­ VivULUWOinQCOINBIA PICTURESriV/iunco nuwiMDUSTRES, n NC. Baldwin. Ryan, a former CIA infor­ able minimum. Diamonds (in this Fincher, whose best known works mation analyst, gets on the bad case, baseball diamonds) still seem are Madonna music videos. Sci-fi side of an IRA assassin who stalks to be a girl’s best friend as League fans didn’t turn in the box office Ryan’s family, upsetting their pic­ batted $38 million in the first two “M ake business the studio had hoped for, ture-perfect J. Crew/Eddie Bauer weeks of the season. and despite good performances from catalog lifestyle in New England. Sigourney Weaver sported the 'em laugh, the cast, Alien 3 drifted away from The film did fairly well at the box slick Sinead O’Conner look, shear­ its predecessors’ successes. office but doesn’t seem as if it will ing her hair to battle the monster in m ake 'em Meanwhile, back on earth, Tom surpass the Hunt, but then it’s hard Alien 3. Alien, the first film, di­ Cruise and his wife Nicole Kidman to compete with a movie that has rected by Ridley (Thelma and cry, m ake played a pair of Irish immigrants Sean Connery and a nuclear sub­ Louise) Scott, is hailed as a science who find love and land in the New 'em kiss their marine. fiction classic. James (Terminator) World. Far and Away was director To quote Tinsel Town wisdom, Cameron tackled Aliens, the well- six bucks Ron Howard’s epic tale of the “Make ‘em laugh, make ‘em cry, received sequel, but this time, the struggles and sufferings endured make ‘em kiss their six bucks good- director’s chair was filled by David good-bye.” by immigrants in the America of bye.”

SEPTEMBER 1992 19 NEWS

COMPILED BY KRISTIAN SONNIER FROM LSU NEWS SERVICE BRIEFS notes G lass m aking working to specifications,” said Ben Craft, an associate director Since 1975, LSU has been with the LSU J. Bennett the home of the only university RESEARCH Johnston Sr. Center for Ad­ vanced Microstructure and De­ glass blowing department in the Louisiana State University holds a prominent position state. vices. in American higher education. In 1978, LSU was named Christian Boussert and The synchrotron radiation Vincent Guerrini head the de­ a sea-grant college. There are only 2 5 universities in device forces electrons to travel partment which is responsible the country recognized as both land and sea-grant at 99.99 percent the speed of light in a racetrack formation. for the custom-made scientific Institutions. In 1987, LSU was designated a Research glass apparatuses used by the This produces an intense bright university and occasionally University I, which puts it in the top two percent of the light and enables beam-line in­ prestigious research facilities, nation's colleges and universities. There are only struments to perform special micro-electronics research. The including NASA, the Center for seventy universities in America that hold this honor. Marine Biotechnology in Balti­ end result will be technology more, Maryland, andthe USDA livestock feeding companies body fats,” said Winston. that will bring about incredibly They are currently involved about producing the dietary ad­ Winston believes that today’s powerful computers and super- in making a quartz counter for ditive. cancer is caused by the same tiny machines. the international Soviet-Ameri- “Within the next two years, defensive chemical reactions can Gallium experiment which we may see it in the commercial humans developed in the pre­ H ur r i canes is to determine what makes the swine industry being used as a historic ages to ward off toxins sim shine. This experiment was feed additive,” said Page. that plants produced then. “The LSU researcher Kam-Biu Liu listed in 1991 by the American same mechanism that helped is using an innovative method Association for the Advance­ FIu vacci ne our ancestors survive may be to determine how often a par­ ment of Science as one of the killing us,” he said. ticular place gets struck by a year’s ten most noteworthy Researcher David Horohov of catastrophic hurricane. projects. the LSU School of Veterinary Clothing fiber Liu is studying sediment Boussert and Guerrini re­ Medicine is at work seeking a cores taken from coastal lakes ceived their formal training at better vaccination for the flu in An LSU husband and wife and marshes along the Gulf of the Lycee Technique Dorian in horses and humans. research team has developed a Mexico. The samples probe into Paris, France. “It is special work “The virus that causes influ­ wrinkle-resistant cotton-like fi­ the ground up to 30 feet and which involves much practice enza, commonly known as the ber. date back nearly 5,000 years. and know-how; you can’t learn flu, in horses is very similar to John and Billie Collier have He studies sediments taken everything in a book,” said the one that makes humans been working on their internally from the earth to find records of Boussert. sick,” said Horohov. reinforced rayon fiber for years. past hurricane traces preserved Horohov hopes he or other They were only recently able to in the core samples. By compar­ L o a n e r pork researchers can develop a cross make the cotton-like skin fiber ing those to current hurricane reactive vaccine that would ef­ adhere to a polyester nylon core. data, Liu hopes to be able to Scientists at LSU have ap­ fectively block infection by the The Colliers have a patent on predict accurately when and plied for a patent for a diet addi­ virus mutations and would pro­ the core-coating process and are where another massive hurri­ tive for pigs that will reduce vide a longer-lived prevention waiting on another for the adhe­ cane will strike. their body fat and increase lean for the flu. sion process. Liu has received a second muscle, giving consumers leaner “Our invention will make grant from the National Science pork. Cancer possible a fabric made from one Foundation for $98,000 to con­ Researcher L. Lee Southern fiber that combines the best of tinue his research in 11 differ­ and graduate students Tim Page LSU biochemist Gary Win­ both worlds,” said Billie Collier. ent sites in addition to the Gulf and Terry Ward have discov­ ston is researching the enzyme Coast region. ered that through the use of cytochrome P450 which he be­ CA M D chromium picolinate they can lieves will help clear out foreign reduce the rib fat on porkers by substances from our bodies, in­ LSU scientists have tested 20 percent. cluding cancer. the brand new $20 million Page and Southern have been The enzyme activates a sys­ CAMD electron accelerator, and researching the project for three tem that dissolves fat-soluble it works. years and just recently were compounds so they can be ex­ The machine, also known as given a $10,500 grant from the creted in the urine or bile. “It’s a synchrotron radiation device, National Pork Producer’s Coun­ the survival mechanism animals was revved up to 1.3 billion elec­ cil to help fund the project. developed as veterans of the tron volts—just shy of its design Since releasing the news, plant and animal wars to kick capacity. “The brief start-up they have been contacted by out pollutants and toxins that operation is significant in that it seven national and international would otherwise be stored in indicates that everything is

20 GUMBO MAGAZINE Love thy Mother The earth' s nations gather treaty out of fear that some of its ment leading to a binding treaty to protect the home planet requirements would slow the that would protect the world’s for­ BY STEVE NEWITT growth of U.S. industry and cost ests. Poorer countries suspected PHOTO COURTESY OF LaSPACE the country jobs. that the industrialized nations CONSORTIUM In order to monitor and report wanted to use tropical timber stands Although falling short of achiev­ on the 153 nations participating in to compensate for the weakened ing key goals on its agenda, the the two treaties, the Earth Summit global warming treaty. As a result, Earth Summit held in early June approved Agenda 21, a non-bind­ the forest agreement did not men­ planted seeds for international re­ ing action plan for global strategies tion a binding treaty and instead sponsibility toward the environ­ for such concerns as toxic waste vaguely committed to further coop­ ment. Among the chief accomplish­ and marine pollution, to desertifi­ eration on forest issues. ments were two treaties setting cation and the rights of native Population growth, a world-wide forth goals for preventing global people. Agenda 21 also calls for environmental concern, was an­ warming and for promoting talks leading to a Convention on other topic discussed at the sum­ biodiversity. Desertification to deal with the mit. Although the population is The global warming treaty, ex­ growth of deserts and loss of pro­ expected to reach eleven million in pected to be the centerpiece of the ductive soil in arid regions. forty years, any direct approach to Earth Summit, had its firm dead­ However, Agenda 21 failed to population control as a key to envi­ lines and targets cut as the price for get substantial financial commit­ ronmental protection was largely President George Bush’s atten­ ment from richer nations to help skirted. Instead, the principles of “sustainable development” under­ ,nly time dance at Rio de Janeiro. Neverthe­ poorer nations keep their end of the 0 less, the treaty provides a strong bargain. U.N. officials called on the lying the Earth Summit were ap­ can tell how foundation for phasing out ozone- developed countries to contribute a proved by consensus; “sustainable destroying gases. fifth of the estimated $625 billion- development” means developing strong the The Earth Summit also set forth a-year cost for the Third World to industry to support the growing population without sacrificing en­ international a treaty, or convention, on carry out Agenda 21. While Japan biodiversity. This pact plans to topped the list of donors, promising vironmental safety. commitment slow the high rate of extinction of $7.7 billion over the next five years, The success of the Earth Sum­ natural species and create interna­ the combined pledges fell far short mit relies on the good will of the is to fulfilling tional standards for biotechnology of the U.N. target. countries participating in the trea­ ties. Only time can tell how strong the aims of and commercial use of genetic re­ Another setback the Earth Sum­ sources. Only the United States mit suffered was the failure of U.S.- the international commitment is to fulfilling the aims of the Summit. the Summit. refused to sign the biodiversity led efforts to negotiate an agree­

SEPTEMBER 1992 21 NEWS

There are no indications that 1992’s election will be any different. Retired anchorman Walter Cronkite had more heavy words for T H E M E D I A contemporary political campaigns and media coverage. In an inter­ a n d h o w view with TV Guide, he said, “Cam­ paigns are now entirely organized the candidates to appeal primarily to television GAME are playing it ...we’re not getting pure politics.” When asked his opinion of can­ didates’ usage of television shows Most people would agree that things have gotten out of hand such as “Donahue,” “Larry King this presidential election. With the media investigating the elec­ Live,” and “Arsenio Hall,” he tion-relevant histories of candidates’ infidelities and with candi­ sharply criticized what TV Guide dates doing tricks on TV talk shows and in any other public forum, called “politics by talk show.” the real issues seem to have been pushed aside: who will balance Windhauser and Stempel also raise the question, “What can we the budget? Who will reduce unemployment? Who will reform expect in future elections?... Who education? Who will protect the environment? will set the agenda for campaign The run for the presidency has turned into an image contest coverage? Will it continue to be the instead, with candidates using every opportunity to score popular­ candidates and their staffs, or will the press exercise greater initia­ ity points with voters. But the media sometimes interferes by tive and thereby bring more atten­ making irrelevant attacks on a candidate. Oftentimes a candidate tion to the issues?” finds himself campaigning as much against bad press as he does Who will win the 1992 race to against his opponent. It’s a game that keeps him on his toes at all the White House is a question that will have a definite answer in No­ tim es. vember; who will win the media INTRODUCTION BY BECKY POWELL paign in which the Republicans game for now remains unknown. blamed the media for the lack of So far, it’s been a draw. Neither the candidates nor the coverage of issues, stating the Bush media are completely toblame;both staff had issued more than a hun­ have used and been used by each dred position papers which the other. It’s the voting public who media simply ignored. loses in the media game. Everyone concerned blames the In their book The Media in the problem on “the other side.” 1984 and 1988 Presidential Cam­ Windhauser and Stempel con­ paigns, John Windhauser, associ­ clude,". . .the game of criticizing me­ ate professor of journalism at LSU, dia coverage of the presidential elec­ and Guido H. Stempel III state, tion, now forty years old, has en­ “We believe that the lack of cover­ tered a new stage. This complaint age of the economy, education, and challenges the very way that the science largely reflects what the media have covered presidential candidates did with these issues. campaigns. It has been event-ori- They didn’t get coverage because ented coverage, and position pa­ the candidates did not address them pers are not events. Speeches by in any significant fashion.” candidates, on the other hand, are They cite the 1948 presidential events, even when the candidate is election between Harry S. Truman saying the same thing for the fifti­ and Thomas E. Dewey. Truman eth time. Furthermore, television had been largely ruled out by the has caused coverage to focus on the media but won the election. One of sound bites—the brief visual.” his main campaign issues was the They report that television cov­ charge of “the one-party press.” erage in recent elections was domi- Windhauser and Stempel suggest nated by soundbites averaging only that his victory was proof to politi­ nine seconds each in length. “Any cians that “you could win votes by explanation of issues that took attacking the press.” longer than nine seconds was likely They also mention the 1988 cam­ to get lost in the shuffle,” they write.

22 GUMBO MAGAZINE NEWS B PHOTO COURTESY OF W. SCOTT KIKER the unemployed and the middle class. So I don’t feel so bad. Bush won’t do my show, so I guess that’s two houses he won’t be in—my house and come November, he won’t be in that White House. Get with that George Herbert Bush,” Hall spewed. Perhaps it’s hard to teach an old dog new tricks. After all, media games took on a whole new per­ spective in 1992. Television may have changed the scope of politics, but never before have viewers had such easy access to candidates. From Jerry Brown’s 800 number to the talk show craze, the trend has dominated the way politicians are campaigning. But this year President Bush has been unable to channel the tech­ nological changes in campaigning to his advantage. His anxiety is evident, and even his closest aides admit that the president has been The Incumbent an emotional yo-yo: a go-getter one BY KADEE ST. ROMAIN Jeb said his father was getting minute, a depressed and frustrated enough of a “bad boy” image al­ man the next. Remember the analogy moth­ ready. The Boston Globe reported one ers gave to explain why the same The Boston Globe’s Michael Bush official who said the combined kids in school had to sit in the Kranish reported that Jeb Bush effect of the Gulf War, personal corner or wash the blackboards said, “Eighty-five percent of the health problems, and political at­ during recess? “They just want news stories have been negative.” tacks hadleftthe68-year-oldpresi- attention,” they would say. “To He contended that if the media gave dentdepressedformonths. Though them, bad attention is better than his father a break, he would get a the Globe said Bush had bounced nothing.” break in the polls. back, it maintained that officials hough the But remember how it felt to Bush sought out positive media said Bush was so emotionally T. drained he even thought twice about Globe said want attention, but be too scared coverage when he agreed to appear to risk recess or face the embar­ on “20/20,” and his interview with running for re-election. Bush had rassment of the comer? Perhaps Barbara Walters amidst the White Whether or not Bush entertained that’s how President Bush felt House’s rose garden has been a the idea of foregoing the campaign bounced during the media’s obsession with source of reference for scores of for president, he probably wishes he could reset the clock and start back, it political rivals Bill Clinton and media articles, questions, and Ross Perot. Bush warranted at­ analyses. over. He hasn’t been able to pin­ maintained tention as the incumbent candi­ But his effort to keep up with point where to take his campaign date and got little more. While he Clinton’s saxophone performance and his search for the key to the White House has led to his con­ that officials grappled with the economy, tried and Perot’s satellite sessions turned his hardest to sprout a green thumb sour when Bush claimed he would stant complaints of how the media said Bush has treated him. during the Earth Summit, and appear on any talk show except for On June 29, Bush, frantically was so apologized for his poor-spelling vice “The Arsenio Hall Show.” waving his arms and steadily esca­ president, Bush never received the Bush’s democratic rival had lating his voice, told Republicans at emotionally coverage that kept Clinton and made a splash when he jived with a Detroit dinner “I think we are j ust Perot in the limelight for most of Hall about the issues and then drained he exactly where the heartbeat of their campaigns. sported his sunglasses to play a America is,” The Washington Post even thought Bush, who aggressively pursued saxophone. Hall seemed to have the last reported. the presidency in 1988, said he Bush continued, “But you twice about would launch a stronger, more at­ word, giving Bush an on-the-air message that all but told the presi­ couldn’t tell it because of all the running for tention-grabbing attack on his op­ dent he wasn’t welcome. “Now I’ve noise and fury out there of Politics ponents after the Republican con­ ’92—endless polls, weird talk reelection. vention in Houston. But his son joined the ranks of the homeless,

SEPTEMBER 1992 23 NEWS a PHOTO COURTESY OF LSU PUBLIC RELATIONS shows, crazy groups telling you decorated with an LSU logo. what to think.” He called the year But the rest of the country has “weird” and “strange” and chal­ only the incumbent president, who lenged the media to recognize the is on his own this election year good he has done for the country. instead of running on Ronald In that way, he may have a point. Reagan’s coattails, to compare with Indeed, he has overcome incred­ the Clinton/Gore ticket. ible obstacles in hard times. And it And the media coverage has is not easy to balance economic con­ shown that the race is not a clear- cerns with ecological ones. He often cut Republican vs. Democrat race. emphasized jobs and economic Candidates such as Perot took mat­ growth over the environment. ters into their own hands in an He complained when the media attempt to bring their messages focused on the demonstration in straight to the people. Now that Panama that forced his evacuation Perot has dropped his name from from the planned open-air speech, the never officially-announced list, insisting that the incident would voters looking for change seem to not keep him from being the “envi­ be heading toward the Clinton side ronmental” president. But Bush of the fence, polls indicate. missed the fact that his actions The trouble is that Clinton is have consistently weakened his moderate enough to attract even green-thumb claim. die-hard Republicans. Gore is a For example, he ordered U.S. perfect match for Quayle in the negotiators to weaken the Earth family values arena and even picks Summit’s global warming treaty by up the slack that Clinton, leaves in removing deadlines and target lev­ foreign policy. els for reducing carbon dioxide emis­ If Bush is to win back the hearts sions. He also refused to sign a of Americans he is going to have to treaty offering protection to endan­ play by the new rules. He will have gered plant and animal species. to jump into the year’s “weird” poli­ The Still, Bush insisted that the me­ tics, maybe change his mind about dia have failed to show the bright on which talk shows he will and BY APRIL REDMOND side. He maintains that Panama will not appear, and become a more was a success and his environmen­ aggressive campaigner by working tal record was misrepresented. with the new campaign trends in­ Another four years has passed. It’s time to pass the Presidential For President Bush to gain more stead of wrinkling his brow and Buck of increasing national debt, positive press coverage, he is going shying away. decreasing government funding, an to have to put smiles on millions But despite how much he com­ in recession economy and dissatis­ more faces. plains about the media’s coverage fied taxpayers/voters. Should we He was off in the right direction of his campaign or his presidency, if leave it in George Bush’s hands, or in July for Louisiana voters—LSU Bush doesn’t find a way back into should we let ambitious Bill Clinton Today printed a picture of the presi­ the White House in November, it have a try? dent golfing in Maine, clad in a polo won’t be the media’s fault. H The media have scrutinized both his sincerity and his moral prin­ ciples. The issues go far beyond the marijuana question, his avoidance of the Vietnam draft, and his al­ leged affair with Gennifer Flowers. Can Clinton be trusted to keep to his platform and deliver on the is­ sues of pro-choice, environmental clean-up, and economic reform? His trustworthiness has always been questioned. There have been many cases in which Clinton di­ rectly contradicted himself. He at first claimed not to have smoked marijuana and did not admit to trying it until eyewitnesses came

ILLUSTRATION BY forward. Clinton claimed to be a ANDREW TEEKEU. family man but could not deny that

24 GUMBO MAGAZINE NEWS

ILLUSTRATION BY ANDREW TEEKELL

and greatly discouraged any unscheduled stops. “CBS News” trailed the motor tour on its last day and uncovered a few interest­ ing facts. Clinton staff members would visit the towns two to three days before Clinton arrived. They would build camera platforms, sometimes in the middle of cornfields, so the media could get the best possible view of Clinton with the masses. The staff would give out handwrit­ C h a l l e n g e r ten signs to people attending the rally, directing the sign holders where to stand and when to hold he did cheat on his wife Hillary. professional politician. Ever since up the signs. The staff members Clinton also touts the idea of racial high school, he planned on and went so far as to write the signs in harmony, but his attack on Sister worked toward being a powerful different colored markers so they Souljah during the “emergency political figure, with the hopes of would look homemade. meeting” of the Rainbow coalition being president. John Brummett, “CBS News” covered this orches­ did not further the cause. editor of the Arkansas Times, con­ trated event which included Bill With all the scandals, troubles, siders Clinton to be “a political ro­ Clinton in flannel shirts and jeans, and attacks on Clinton’s character, bot, who’s been running for presi­ A1 Gore with his sleeves rolled up how did he manage to stay in the dent all his life.” in working man fashion, and their race and win the Democratic nomi­ With a media persona of steel, families surrounding them seated nation? Clinton has made America Clinton has something that other on hay bales. The Democrats are like him by showing that he is a Democratic nominees before him taking tips from Bush’s stop in J ohn fighter. When his alleged extra­ did not—backbone. This was ap­ 1988 at an American flag factory marital affair with Gennifer Flow­ parent during his first two-year and making a media event of their B rum m ett, ers hit the newsstands, Clinton and stint as governor of Arkansas. He own. The problem is th at it’s work­ his wife did “60 Minutes” to show came in much like Perot would have; ing. Clinton is higher in the polls editor of the America “the family man.” When he brought in outside political pro­ than ever. A rk an sas the draft avoidance and marijuana fessionals, raised property and li­ Clinton may not offer the best issues came to light, Clinton cense plate taxes, and raised the plan, but with Perot out, his is the Times, consid­ promptly did the talk-show circuit, educational standards for teachers. only alternative plan. Will it work? showing America that he was will­ Two years later he was ousted from Looking at his Arkansas governor­ ers Clinton to ing to fight. When he was charac­ office for his efforts. In 1982, Clinton ship, the answer is no. Listening terized as a cold, professional poli­ was back. He was a little wiser and to the speeches given during the be “a political a lot more realistic. New England bus tour, Clinton tician, he did Arsenio Hall and robot, who's played his saxophone for millions Clinton’s current media cam­ says yes. Is the promise for change of undecided American voters/view­ paign is one of the better political worth the risk of electing a profes­ been running ers. Clinton has a plan of attack for theatrical performances. The best sional politician? whatever comes his way, and he example is the New England motor Only Nov. 8 will tell. for president does not give up. tour in late July. Clinton support­ all his life.” Bill Clinton is nothing short of a ers scheduled all the campaign stops

SEPTEMBER 1992 25 NEWS

W ho w ill you vote fo r T he B illio n aire a n d w h y ? said BY EIMEAR O'CONNELL presented the opinion that the de­ i t pression did not have a big effect on Faster than a speeding bullet, the family because his father was he came, he milled around the is­ “a successful cotton broker and his “I plan to vote for sues, he went. One day we woke up horses were Tennessee Walkers, President Bush because I believe he and 62-year-old Texan H. Ross Perot the smooth-gaited choice of South­ and the Republican was here. ern farmers.” party are more He couldn't have sprung up from Perot went to the U.S. Naval fiscally responsible nowhere because thousands of Academy but resigned his commis­ than the Democrats. people managed to put him on the sion after four years of active duty. With Bill Clinton and presidential ballot in 26 states when Time said they found a letter from a Democratic he hadn’t even officially declared Perot asking his father to use his Congress I believe himself. influence to get him out of the Navy. we would see an The people latched on, for what­ After the Navy, Perot began sell­ Unrestrained tax-and ever reason: genuine support or ing computers for IBM. He said he -spend approach to government. I believe frustration at the political situa­ was such a success that the com­ Clinton represents 'big government intru­ tion. pany cut his commissions so he sion* and ‘entitlem ent’ ra th e r th an self- During his short-lived, unoffi­ wouldn’t earn more than his man­ determination, economic opportunity, and cial run for the presidency, Perot agers. Once when he filled his an­ personal moral responsibility.” was great at not giving an answer. nual quota in mid-January they Dean L Kirby, M.D., LSU Infirmary He did, however, take a stance on "l am planning on testing for Medicare and Social Se­ voting for Bush. He curity, pro-choice issues, and gay is the only candidate rights. He opposed the Gulf War. that has a proven He advocated televised town meet­ record of leadership ings to obtain public input. He and governmental claimed he could fix the deficit but experience. I think didn’t say how. he can turn our He was, however, able to use TV country out of the talk shows in his favor by portray­ recession and back ing a down-home guy who wanted to the prosperity we to be in touch with average citizens. enjoyed in the 80s.” Larry King, whose CNN show Larry Demmons, Political Science Senior; Perot appeared on, said “He’s not handsome, but the camera likes ”I will vote for Bill him... there’s something about Clinton in the Perot that appeals to people. Things presidential election that would not ordinarily benefit a for two reasons. politician, such as saying ‘I don’t One, having a know’—that works for him.” Democratic presi- dent and a Demo­ A Time magazine poll in April cratic Congress showed Perot in third place, but he means we won’t jumped to number one in May. A have divided govern­ Newsweek poll in June still had ment which pre­ him in the lead. sents the opportu- Yet the shroud around the in­ nity to break up the log jam of legislation triguing mystery man began to and to pass legislation to solve some of the droop as he increasingly encoun­ United States’ problems. Two, 1 believe tered the press. The man was not a Clinton has a legislative program that known public figure so they set promises a more egalitarian solution to about researching his character and some of the United States' economic and verifying his tales. other problems.” Perot spoke of his depression- Jeannette Money. Political Science upbringing when his father was a Assistant professor cowboy turned horse-trader turned PHOTOS BY AUDRA HOLDEN cotton broker. Newsweek (June) ILLUSTRATION BY ANDREW TEEKELL

GUMBO MAGAZINE NEWS

made him sit idly for six months. I was going to come down here and Time says th a t fellow salesmen of not mention the world’s finest that period report IBM had no ob­ man.” She concluded with the ob­ jection to salesmen earning more servation that any successful life than managers. must include service to others. Perot quit IBM and founded Bush herself has lived a life of Electronic Data Systems, Inc., in service to others, and she was one 1962 on the idea of selling a pack­ of three dignitaries recognized with age of computer services—an idea an honorary degree. Her work IBM had rejected. This proved to promoting literacy earned her an be a highly successful venture, es­ Honorary Doctorate of Humane pecially due to contracts in many Letters. states with Medicare and Medic­ Bush entered to a standing ova­ aid. He eventually sold EDS to tion. Secret service officials re­ GM in 1984. mained unconcerned when gradu­ The press did their job of expos­ ates saluted certain lines of the ing his background. Though some National Anthem, “and the rock­ of it was favorable, such as the fact ets red glare, / the bombs bursting that he played a major role in push­ in air” with popping confetti, as at ing a “no-pass no-play” bill (for a home game in Tiger Stadium. high school athletes) through the Bush enjoyed the music performed Texas legislature, a lot of his back­ by the LSU Commencement Band, ground was questionable. clapping her hands and tapping The media did not pay much her feet, and she declared LSU’s attention to Perot’s side of the story music the best of all four com­ when Bush alleged that Perot had mencements she had attended so investigated Bush’s children. far th at year. So Perot was trudging along Bush prefaced her speech with when the papers ran a big story preliminary praises of LSU’s ath­ about how he insulted the NAACP letic legacy, a recitation of “Hot by referring to a black audience as Boudin” followed by an embar­ “you people.” Then Perot’s only rassed, “I can’t believe I said that,” advertising firm was dropped from and some name-dropping of uni­ the campaign, and soon campaign versity celebrities such as co-manager Ed Rollins resigned. Shaquille O’Neal, whom she met Perot officially dropped his when she visited campus with her unofficial bid for the presidency on husband in March. Then Bush July 16. He said he feared “his PHOTO COURTESY OF settled into her speech which fo­ W. SCOTT KIKER cused on the importance of valuing campaign would only throw the election into the House of Repre­ family. She said to the graduates that sentatives” and also noted the “re­ she realized they were “probably vitalization of the Democratic as interested in family matters as Party,” though he didn’t endorse T h e F i r s t those two guys in Wayne’s World” either candidate. but encouraged them not to let His announcement stung his themselves grow old regretting supporters, many of whom kept time not spent with their families. headquarters open and professed Bush is the mother of five and they still loved him and wanted the grandmother of twelve. The him back. Many, too, were dis­ L a d y importance of family is an ethic gusted and felt let down. They saw BY BECKY POWELL that her Republican party em­ Perot as a quitter and found his First Lady Barbara Bush waited braces and one that her husband action quite contradictory to one of till the very end of her LSU spring has especially emphasized in his his favorite quotes, “never give in.” commencement address this presi­ campaigns. Whether it was a hasty decision dential election year to mention her Mrs. Bush is not the first White or not doesn’t matter, because as House resident to address an LSU fast as lightening, Perot was out. husband. She began her closing statement graduation; former President Ro­ The media, naturally, had a field with, “As George Bush says—” in­ nald Reagan spoke to the spring day with this, and analysts specu­ terrupting herself with an aside to graduating class of 1990. lated whether his supporters would the audience: “Now, you didn’t think turn to Bush or Clinton. 0

SEPTEMBER 1992 27 FEATURE

BREAKING

i n t o t h e

BUSINESS

Rick B lackw ood

is helping local

screenw riters

g e t t o

H o l l y w o o d

BY EIMEAR O'CONNELL

When the curtain opens and cred­ its start rolling, most people are usually too engrossed in the pre­ movie preparations to pay much attention. The seat-finding and the popcorn are too often more impor­ tant than who wrote the screen­ play. Yet a screenplay, the written version of a film, is a vital part of any movie. It’s where the film starts, said Rick Blackwood, assistant pro­ fessor of English. Blackwood has been at LSU for two years now, teaching screenwriting in the creative writ­ ing division of the Masters of Fine Arts program. The program has Two years ago, three options of concentration: screenwriter Rick Blackwood left screenwriting, poetry, and fiction. Hollywood's fast Blackwood described the screen­ lane for an play concentration, of which he’s environment more the sole instructor, as just a little conducive to corner of the MFA program. “I offer writing. That place [the students] an alternative,” he happened to be LSU. Now, said. Blackwood His alternative must be exciting teaches because his 7920 graduate class screenwriting to and 4009 undergraduate class are graduate and always pretty full. His students undergraduate students, and in learn how to format a screenplay, his spare time has how to write one, what Hollywood managed to sell is all about, and how to practice two movie scripts. w hat they learn.

28

FEATURE

He explained that a screenplay graduate of the MFA program, requires a writing form different Kathleen Fitzpatrick, get a job in from any other type. “Many good the center of the film business in writers simply can’t do it because of Los Angeles. She is now executive its technical challenge,” he said. assistant to the director of creative “It’s also hard to sell a movie affairs for MCA Universal Televi­ script. You have to have contacts sion. and find out if that’s what they’re Blackwood said he put literally looking for. You also need a go- hundreds of hours into Denno’s and between,” he added. Fitzpatrick’s careers. “I didn’t do it And Blackwood should know, for people’s appreciation,” he said. because he’s been in the business “I did it because they’re talented.” for several years. “I can’t help everyone but I will “After graduating from UCLA read what they write in class and film school, I spent ten years of my try, within reason, to help people life making connections,” he said. get jobs and sell things,” Blackwood “Basically, if you start as a screen­ said. “It is very time-consuming writer, it’ll take you about ten years and incredibly inefficient to try and PHOTOS COURTESY OF JIM ZETZ / LSU PUBLIC RELATIONS until you start making any money.” break people in [to Hollywood].” nity, keeping in mind nothing’s He noted that there were some ex­ Right now, though, he’d like to come of it yet, but it’s nice to do ceptions, but likened them to win­ help Tom Lundin, an MFA student what you’ve been studying and hop­ ning the lottery. concentrating in fiction and ing to do,” Lundin added. Before he came to LSU, screenwriting, and John McMillan, McMillan also described their Blackwood spent his time writing a former State-Times writer and current stage as a sort of limbo. TV movies in Hollywood. Since he’s now full-time screenplay writer. “We’re just waiting,” he said, “but been here, he’s sold two movies. Each has taken more than one of you’ve got to keep writing.” But he’s not the only one at LSU Blackwood’s classes. The two have strong opinions prospering in “the business”—for Blackwood was approached by about their instructor and partner. "I ca n 't his experience and expertise are Rob Fried, an Academy Award-win­ “Rick is a good teacher. He’s helping many students. help every­ ning producer at Columbia, who very entertaining, informative, Blackwood and MFA graduate had two New Yorker magazine ar­ helpful, hard-working, and not only Sam Denno wrote the screenplay one b u t I ticles he wanted developed into a does he know what he’s talking for a movie, Pyramider, which they screenplay. Blackwood then ap­ about, he can do what he talks will read sold to Paramount. They completed proached Lundin and McMillan, about,” McMillan said. the first rewrite, which was ac­ w h a t th ey outside of class, to work with him Lundin said he really enjoyed cepted, and are now in the process on the project. Blackwood’s class and found it to be of rewriting a second draft “to the w rite in As of yet, nothing has actually very educational. “Blackwood im­ studio’s specifications.” pressed me from the beginning as c la s s and been written. The three have just “Pyramider is a chase movie gone through one of the first stages someone concerned with giving the about a guy who stops a maniacal try, within in the screenwriting process, which full picture of a career in writing to business conglomerate from taking is verbally pitching a general story graduate students. He emphasizes over the world economy,” reason, to idea. Blackwood was in Los Ange­ the creative, artistic aspects of ev­ Blackwood said. les in early June doing just that, erything that underlies writing but help people Blackwood said th at Denno was and now they have to wait and see grounds it in the practicality of what in one of his classes and wrote some­ get jobs and what happens. you need to do and go through to be thing he thought was funny. “I was A verbal pitch is necessary only a screenwriter,” he said. looking for a writing partner, asked sell things. if there is no script. The second “Having someone like Rick who, him if he was interested, and he It is very stage is the treatment stage, which in two years, has given you more was,” he said. is the condensation of the story, opportunity than ever before gives “Sam helped make [the screen­ tim e- con­ which can be from two to ten to you a much better chance to have play] funnier. It’s not a comedy but seventy pages. If the treatment is something completed and come out it has a sort of wicked sense of suming and approved, then the actual writing on the other end,” Lundin said. humor,” Blackwood said. The com­ incredibly and rewriting processes begin. But the praise goes both ways. bined writing process for Pyramider Lundin said coming up with the Blackwood said that the graduate took six months. inefficient verbal pitch only took about one to students are absolutely terrific, and Denno, whose concentration was two weeks. He described the cur­ he doubts if the film schools at U SC actually fiction, was in Los Angeles to tr y to rent situation as touch-and-go be­ or UCLA (top-rated film schools) trying to make a different movie b reak cause “you don’t know what the are doing any better as far as the deal at the time of this writing. situation of the sale is.” number of awards or deals the stu- Blackwood also helped another people in.” “It’s exciting to have an opportu- Continued on page 64

30 GUMBO MAGAZINE Gazing at the heavens is as­ tronomy graduate student Paul A. Mason. He won the Society of Physics TAs- Students teaching award in the Spring of '90. their M ason has now reached the research phase of his graduate ! school years and was awarded a LaSPACE grant which enabled him to travel to Russia to make observa­ Side tions. He will also travel to Israel as part of the grant in January 1993 to attend an interna­ tional conference on binary stars. FEATURE

BY KADEE ST. ROMAIN sistants—TAs make up 40 percent of the total. TAs have carved quite Kathy Brignac smiled as she re­ a niche for themselves in higher viewed her scores. One being the education and are today respon­ highest, she had merited a two. She sible for 25 to 38 percent of under­ was looking at neither a written graduate instruction in institutions nor a standardized form of test. Her across the country. score was the evaluation report from Since most TAs hope eventually her first semester as a teacher. to teach at the university level, they Brignac, 28, is a teaching assis­ see teaching their first class as the tant for the economics department. first step in reaching their career She graduated from LSU with a goal. Thus, TAs’ main concerns cen­ degree in international trade and ter on their classroom activities. finance and is currently working TAs consider conducting discus­ toward a Ph.D. in economics. sions and laboratory sessions, hold­ Though she has been a graduate ing office hours, lecturing, and of student for four semesters, spring course the responsibility of teach­ 1992 brought her first teaching ex­ ing a course to be their top priori­ perience. ties. She is one of 738 TAs, a portion Dugas said that most TAs begin noticeably; I had really gotten my­ of LSU’s student body defined as their semester wondering, “How can self worked up. After a while some graduate students assigned to any I effectively be the best teacher I students came by to tell me I was instructional duty such as prepar­ can be, covering all the bases and doing a good job. It was great to ing exams, lecturing, grading or addressing all aspects without a know I’d gained their respect,” she assisting labs. great deal of teaching knowledge.” said. “The TA is so vital and crucial to Brignac agreed and said the re­ But Jerome May, a TA seeking undergraduate education that they sponsibility of preparing a lecture his Ph.D. in chemistry, began his are an integral part of faculty,” said took more than just being able to first day teaching with an over­ Kelly Dugas, coordinator of gradu­ talk about a subject for 90 minutes. loaded classroom. “I was nervous ate planning. Since TAs are enter­ “Teaching takes public speaking about coming across as an idiot ing freshmen’s first taste of LSU, ability, not to mention patience and because I was worried about the they are the front-line and provide finesse,” she said. two extra students that gave me an the indicator of LSU’s teaching en­ " L a te a t Isles said her biggest concerns unanticipated problem,” he said. vironment, he said. involved some of the mechanics of Students themselves, TAs found Though TAs are found in all night or on teaching. She said she worried most dealing with their class trying at majors at all ages, they share the about preparing fair, reasonable times but held steadfast to the tri­ w eekends same university requirements. exams that accurately tested stu­ umphs of charting their students’ First, they must have earned at you w o n 't dents’ knowledge and making the progress. least 18 graduate semester hours lectures as clear as possible. Isles, who originally intended to in their teaching discipline. Next, find a profes­ “My first semester I would pre­ get her Ph.D. in computer science they must be assigned to a faculty pare a lecture that I thought any­ and work in industry, said it would sor to save member who directly supervises the body could follow, and while talk­ be difficult to tear herself away teaching. Finally,they all receive your life. But ing I could see that it just wasn’t from teaching. She marveled at how in-service training and are regu­ getting through. Then, a concept fulfilling it was to watch a class larly evaluated. TAs a re that I anticipated to spend two days discover what it took to get a college After these basic requirements, on would be grasped immediately,” degree, come to terms with this alw ays in the TAs and other graduate assis­ she remembered. But teaching was realization and blossom right be­ tants are subject to the regulations their offices like diving off the high boar d for the fore her eyes. of their particular department. first time—once you’ve made it May said he was thrilled when The economics department gen­ with a stack through that first semester, it only two students changed their majors erally reserves teaching assistant- got easier. of papers and to chemistry but was even happier ships for the third year of graduate Brignac began her first day when they told him the switch was school, said Brignac. But Patti Isles, a cup of teaching Economics 2030 dressed directly related to his teaching. He a TA in computer science requested professionally, trying to compen­ said one student changed from en­ a teaching position right away and coffee.” sate for the fact that she was a gineering and the other from art. has been at the head of the class­ woman, and a short woman at that. —P atti Isles, He said “smart alecks” who resent room for three semesters. As time went on, she found out that the fact that their curriculum calls Of the three types of graduate C o m p u ter the days she dressed down, she was for chemistry labs try his patience. assistants —teaching assistants, more comfortable and taught bet­ Brignac reveled in the fact that research assistants and service as­ S cience TA ter. “That first day I was shaking her colleagues made comments con-

32 GUMBO MAGAZINE FEATURE

their TAs as they did for their pro­ fessors, if not more. Melissa Gover, a senior in speech communication, said she has only had one bad experience with a TA. “He was in charge of grading a major assignment, and one day he never showed up for class. We never saw him again so we didn’t get a grade for a project I had worked hard on,” she said. But London Campbell, a senior in elementary education, said she was thrilled when her history teacher was absent and the TA lec­ tured for the day. She said he was “so much more animated and inter­ esting than my professor.” Dugas said that many times stu­ dents have the preconceived notion that if they land a TA in a class, they are not getting their money’s worth. “I think this idea is dissi­ pated as soon as students experi­ ence TAs in the classroom,” he said. Isles said th at one reason TAs TOP LEFT cerning problems she had put on an for that reason, Dugas said. Profes­ quickly earn students’ respect is their availability. “Late at night or Physics grad exam. They told her 2030 students sors, in turn, give TAs their guid­ student Kenny could never solve them, she said. “I ance and experience. They are, in on weekends you won’t find a pro­ Geng poses with was so proud when some students effect, their mentors. fessor to save your life,” she said. a truncated with “B” and “C” averages really Brignac said the faculty in the “But TAs are always in their offices icosahedron nailed those questions.” economics department was always with a stack of papers and a cup of antenna, the there to offer her or any other TA coffee.” project of fellow But she recalled one incident graduate where a student sarcastically chal­ support or advice. She said the TA/ Despite the effort on their end, student Stephen lenged her while she was teaching. faculty relationship was similar to TAs at LSU face a problem that is Merkowitz. Though it was not a fond memory, a professor/student interaction. But an issue for TAs across the coun­ Eventually Geng it has not changed her love of teach­ as TAs move toward the research try—training and preparation. will help ing. “If you don’t like teaching, get phase of their graduate study, fac­ Every fall, new TAs are given an Merkowitz, but idea of what being a teaching assis­ now he studies out of graduate school,” she said. ulty members become more like electronics of Preparation was invaluable. “Know colleagues. tant is about during an orientation weak signal what you are talking about,” she Similarly, May said his experi­ that gives a broad overview of the measurements. said. “That is the main thing that ence at LSU has been positive, university’s setting. In addition, separates you from them.” though he clashed with a professor workshops sponsored by the Cen­ TOP May said it wasn’t hard for him while a TA at the University of ter for Faculty Development are Thomas to relate to his students because he Tennessee. The professor was up­ given periodically throughout the Buerkert remembered his attitude toward setting students with his teaching semester. The program lasts about calibrates an ion TAs when he was an undergradu­ methods, and May was forced to two hours and covers such aspects exchange as how to deal with cheating, how column. The ate. He said he respected them as serve as a liaison between the stu­ calibration i6 much as a professor, thus he was dents and the professor. “He re­ to design lesson plans and how to part of his confident that his students would fused to acknowledge their com­ determine reading assignments. thesis project do the same. plaints and never asked me to serve Though the sessions are well at­ and material for under him again,” May said. tended by both faculty and gradu­ a graduate Brignac said that it was a TA Undergraduates saw TAs as ate students, the university has class he will who taught her in 1983, Robert teach this fall. Suppenfield, who got her inter­ little more than their teachers, de­ recognized that the program is not Buerkert, who ested in teaching. “He inspired me, spite the value that a TA put on his enough to prepare tomorrow’s pro­ used to teach and here I am,” she said. or her class. Though some students fessors. physical geology Since TAs take much of the teach­ reflected the attitudes present in A new policy, PS21, addresses lab, said he is the stereotypes of TAs, including going to miss ing load off of faculty, they allow this issue and requires departments teaching professors to spend more time on reservations about language barri­ to submit a plan for further TA undergraduates. their research and are appreciated ers, most had as much respect for training, said Lynn Evans, director

SEPTEMBER 1992 33 FEATURE

of faculty development. The pro­ and the subject. For TAs on LSU’s campus, that’s posal is currently in draft form but The goal of the perception study not a problem. Some, like Kathy has been approved by the Graduate is for TAs to score higher when the Brignac, enjoyed teaching so much Council and is undergoing further semester evaluations are given, that she volunteered her time to review. Evans said. “Whatever we do to tutor students in economics. She said such a plan will benefit help TAs will help students in their “She was always there to help both TAs and undergraduates, since classes. Right now TAs are teach­ me, even ifit meant going out of her they will be getting better teachers. ing with a good amount of content way,” said Ivory Hillard, LSU foot­ Some departments such as English, knowledge but no background in ball player and student Brignac speech and microbiology already teaching. Our program helps them tutored. “I admired the way she have extensive plans, so they will to see their strengths and weak­ was in school, teaching and helping be unaffected. Other departments nesses and improve their teaching me at the same time. She helped me have no plan and will be forced to methods,” she said. learn because she would help me create one. She said often the weakness with my homework but not do it for Dugas is in the process of ob­ stems from a language problem. me,” he said. serving and gathering information Foreign TAs can be difficult to un­ Others, like Patti Isles are satis­ on other universities’ TA training derstand, but she said she has ob­ fied with the high they get from programs. His study will bring him served many foreign teachers, and seeing the lightbulb pop on in a to Syracuse University in July, though the accents sound strange student’s mind and knowing that which he said has one of the finest in the beginning, the ear easily ad­ somehow they got the message TA programs in the country. justs. “I find students say an accent through. Isles said part of learning But the new policy is not the only is bothering them when they are is being challenged, and she always way departments can help their doing poorly in a class. I often have tells her cl asses,"Learning is the TAs grasp the concept of teaching. to ask is it really the TA, or is the sorting out of confusion.” Evans said her department, the subject just difficult?” she said. Whatever their methods, goals, " Center for Faculty Development, May said he believes the pro­ joys or worries, LSU’s TAs love aids both TAs and faculty by confi­ grams Evans offers in her depart­ teaching, and nothing’s better for dentially analyzing classes and T cach­ ment should be mandatory for all students than that kind of love. gathering student perceptions of ing ta k e s TAs on LSU’s campus, whether they teaching methods. have had previous experience or She said she uses questionnaires public speak­ not. He said at UT, an intense train­ and phone interviews to randomly ing program lasting three days was ing ability, sample the classes’ ideas. The stu­ mandatory but failed to really help dents are conscientious of the way not to men­ his teaching. Evans’ programs fo­ they are being taught, and their cus directly on improving teaching suggestions are always considered, tion patience and should be required by the Uni­ she said. and fin e sse.” versity, he said. Another form of data collected is Focus on TAs has only evolved in the instructors’ perceptions of their —K ath y the past few years, when universi­ own teaching. TAs request either B rignac ties began to put emphasis on the study, and the results are confiden­ student as a consumer or client tially kept between the researcher EconomicsTA who deserves the best, she said.

LSU FOOTBALL SCORECARD

DATE OPPONENT SCORE DATE OPPONENT SCORE

Sept. 5 Texas A&M* Oct. 24 Open Date Sept. 12 Mississippi State* Oct. 31 Ole Miss Sept. 19 Auburn Nov. 7 Alabama* Sept. 26 Colorado State* Nov. 14 Open Date Oct. 3 Tennessee* Nov. 21 Tulane** Oct. 10 Florida Nov. 27 Arkansas Oct. 17 Kentucky* Dec. 5 SEC Championship *home gome *Home game **Homecoming M A P P I N G

I T O U T

C o u p l e s

struggling

t o f a c e

the future

m u s t a s k

t h e m s e l v e s

“ w h e r e

a r e w e

g o i n g ? ”

BY MICHAEL J. FARRAR

College couples often find their future holds different roads— and difficult choices. Is it worth sacrificing one person's career fo r the other's? Which is more important, a career or the relationship? Distance is often a key problem. One partner in a relationship may be admitted to a professional COVER STORY

PHOTOS BY PAUL HOUGHTON. MODELS PROVIDED BY DOLLY DEAN/MODEL AND TALENT MANAGEMENT

*NAMES HAVE BEEN CHANGED a certain amount of give-and-take, under the Napoleonic code, but she they can stay together without sac­ is committed to living close to Ricky, school hundred of miles away or be rificing either one's career. who is leaving next May. offered a job in a distant state while Ellen and Ricky* are one couple “It’s not recommended that you “We the other partner must remain here, who want to stay together and who stay at LSU for grad school if you to work or finish school. believe they can do so without ma­ earned your bachelor’s degree here,” cannot When roads diverge, some jor sacrifices by either one of them. he said. “I think my education would control the couples make the necessary sacri­ They have been dating for a little be best served by going elsewhere.” fices and stay together. Others go over three years now and look for­ They are looking at universities circum­ their separate ways, and still oth­ ward to continuing their relation­ with strong law and physics pro­ ers take different roads with plans ship past their time spent at LSU. grams or a region with more than stances; we to meet again. She plans to attend law school, and one school in order to accommodate are being Ultimately, the partners must he intends to go to graduate school their educational goals and their decide together what is best for in physics. They both want to move commitment to staying together. controlled them. to an area which allows them to Ellen is influencing their circum­ stay together as they pursue their stances by taking extra classes to by them.” higher degrees. be able tt> graduate next May with Together, wherever “I think I will be the problem, Ricky. and he thinks he will be the prob­ Their first relocationwill recog­ Some individuals choose the re­ lem,” said Ellen in reference to the nize Ricky’s need to leave Louisi­ lationship over their own careers, difficulty of getting accepted at ana to continue his education, but perhaps following their partner to other schools. She wants to prac­ for Ellen, going to law school out of graduate school or medical school, tice law in New Orleans, which state means extra work. putting off plans of their own. usually means going to an in-state “That’s a problem because I will Others think that with effort and law school in order to be trained have to come back and take an

36 GUMBO MAGAZINE COVER STORY

additional five-month course to pass which path to take. Louisiana were numbered. the Louisiana bar exam,” she said, “We fight over the fact that I am “When we first met, she told me “but it’s only a semester and I could not for long-distance relationships,” she was leaving in August,” he said. work at the same time.” said Angela, a senior in architec­ “We agreed that we would have a Ricky respects her wishes to re­ ture, adding, “I probably can’t get a good time with each other until she turn to Louisiana to work but ad­ job in Louisiana as an architect and leaves, but we ended up caring more mits that relocating here after they he’s got two years left.” for each other that we thought we complete their higher degrees lim­ “No, one!” said Tom. would.” its his possibilities. Both Angela and Tom are ambi­ Lucy wants to follow in her “There just aren’t that many jobs tious in their respected career pur­ " W e ' v e father’s footsteps by learning his around here in physics,” he said, suits. She intends eventually to specific trade, but only two colleges talked about “but maybe I'll get on as a faculty run her own architect firm, and he in the U.S. offer the programs, and member here at LSU. But who can wants to secure a position as an m e m oving both are more than a thousand miles pick and choose their job?” automotive engineer with his me­ from Baton Rouge. to wherever It’s been a give-and-take situa­ chanical engineering degree. As Ian doesn’t even entertain the tion, deciding where and when they with all of the couples interviewed, thought of following her to Califor­ s h e g o e s will move. “I think for someone else timing, economics and location nia. “That’s not very realistic,” he it would have made a lot of sense to seem to be at the root the problem. b e c a u se I find somebody else,” she said, “but “We’ve talked about me moving can be I had to make a guess about what I to wherever she goes,” he said, “be­ thought would be best for us, and cause I can be educated some place e d u c a te d we decided to stay together.” Both else. But I won’t go to a school agree that the demands of law and that’s not as good as LSU.” some place grad school will put stress on their “I want to get married before he else. But I relationship, but they feel they are does,” said Angela, citing that as a prepared for it. couple they pay twice as much for won't go to “We will have to give each other groceries and separate rents. “I space and be understanding of how think it’s kind of silly,” she said. a sch o o l important school is to the other “We can’t live together now because that's not as person,” said Ricky. my dad pays the rent,” she ex­ But won’t lengthy, time-consum- plained. “He [Dad] won’t go for it.” good a s ing assignments for both of them Angela said her parents had fre­ strain their quality time together? quently traded the roles of student LSU.” “We will be growing together and breadwinner. “I’ve watched my parents. My mom goes to school, said. “I have financial and educa­ my dad works; my dad goes to school, tional reasons to consider. I’ve got my mom works,” she said. “They’ve a job here. I can’t afford to go out dealt with it easily over the years.” there. When asked if relocating on her “The college she is going to re­ behalf would cause any kind of re­ quires her to stay in dorms,” Ian sentment on his part, Tom re­ said. “She has a place to stay. They sponded, “I don’t think I would move will feed her three meals a day. She unless I really wanted to." has a place to sleep. I would not have that. “Emotionally, we both care a lot Apart and on their own for each other,” he said, “but she’s not asking me to move out there Other couples find that they can­ and if it were [a] reversed situation, not stay together without one part­ I would not expect her to follow instead of pulling apart,” she said. ner making a major sacrifice. me. “I look at it as a God-send that it Ian is a journalism student grap­ Ian sees their decision as the kind of works out that way.” pling with this situation. most objective one they can make Ellen summed it up by saying, “Every long-distance relation­ in their situation. “There’s no way “It all comes down to what opportu­ ship that I’ve seen has never I can ask Lucy to save herself for nities are available if we have the worked,” said Ian, whose girlfriend me, emotionally or physically,” he chance to make the choices.” Lucy leaves in August for a four- said. “I can’t say the same for Tom and Angela are another year college in California. myself. We care enough about each couple intending to stick together, The two have dated for two and other to know the realities of it.” but they have many unresolved a half months, and they knew from Although Ian stands firm on their questions. Conflicts arise over the very beginning that her days in decision, he admits that separating

SEPTEMBER 1992 37 COVER STORY

will not be easy. “We’re going to the separation may lead to prob­ off. “I graduated from grad school miss each other but we also have lems in the relationship. the same time he finished his the reality that she is leaving," he The couples profiled so far can undergrad degree,” she said. “I was said. “There is going to be pain, but only speculate about the compro­ offered a job [at LSU], so we both “ W e we will both ju st have to deal with mises that lie ahead of them. But moved down here.” i t ’ Amanda, a counselor at LSU, is a But how did they determine to will b e Logan is a senior in general stud­ newlywed who can look back on her move here? On what basis did they ies who agrees with Ian’s view on long-distance separation. evaluate his career goals with hers? grow ing the lack of success of long-distance Amanda met her husband Chuck “Although we never stated this, relationships. when they were both in undergradu­ it was understood that I had a much to g e th e r “It seems socially unacceptable ate programs at another univer­ better chance at getting a job be­ instead of for two people in a relationship to sity. She was slightly older than cause I had my master's degree in a call it quits,” he said, “but many Chuck and was scheduled to gradu­ specific field,” said Amanda. “We pulling times it’s for the best.” ate two years before him. Amanda both knew it would be easier for me Logan has been on the receiving wanted to earn a master’s degree, to get a job.” Chuck followed her to a p a r t. A end of a failed long-distance rela­ but the program was not offered at Baton Rouge and secured a job tionship, but he doesn’t want to be their school. shortly thereafter. look at it as characterized as embittered about Amanda found the perfect solu­ Amanda is confident that their a God-send them. tion close-by. “I moved to a city relationship would have survived a “It seems selfish to ask someone about an hour away from Chuck,” more distant separation but admits th at it kind you care about to deny themselves she said. “This school had just that she cannot be completely cer­ companionship because you can’t started a new program which was tain. “By that time we were pretty of w o rk s be there,” said Logan. “I would exactly what I wanted my master’s serious,” she says, “I can’t imagine want her to be happy with whoever degree in.” that ending our relationship, but t h a t w ay .” she chooses, not miserable because Although the schools were a rela­ who knows for sure? I think we of some obligation I placed on her.” tively short drive away from each would have worked through it some­ other, the couple spent a consider­ how.” The long-distance able time far apart. A sociological study of student “He went on an exchange pro­ couples at four Boston colleges relationship gram to England for a semester,” showed that break-ups were most she said, adding, “and at a different likely to occur at key turning points Another option for couples is the time I went to Washington, D.C. for of the school year—suggesting that decision to compromise, pursuing an internship.” external factors such as moving to separate post-graduate work (fur­ “We both believe in taking ad­ different locations may interact ther schooling or a promising job) vantage of opportunities given [to with internal factors such as con­ until one of the two completes his or us],” said Amanda. “We didn’t flicting values or goals to cause her work and they relocate together. think, ‘I shouldn’t go because I can’t relationships to end. Although this option allows the in­ stand to be away from him or her.’" If one partner has already been dividual to pursue personal goals, She believes their planning paid considering terminating a relation­ ship, external changes may make the action easier, the study said: blaming the break-up on the exter­ nal factors avoids the embarrass­ ment or guilt that may be associ­ ated with confronting the internal factors. But the simple fact of parting was not always bad for the relationships. "Absence," as La Rochefoucauld said, "extinguishes small passions and increases great ones." Couples were more likely to stay together at difficult times, the study found, if they were relatively well-matched in age, educational plans, intelligence and physical at­ tractiveness. Down the road it is the couple who must decide for themselves. 0

38 GUMBO MAGAZINE SPORTS

T e a m

th ree-p eats

Chris Moock belts a grand slam home run in LSU's NCAA Regional win over Tulane. SEC cham pionship PHOTOS COURTESY OF BRAD MESSINA/SPORTS INFORMATION4 FORMATION

BY PATRICK WRIGHT

It was a hot and muggy Saturday evening in Baton Rouge, and the clock was about to strike midnight— literally and figuratively. The LSU baseball team was trailing Cal-State Fullerton 11-0 in the ninth inning of their NCAA South Regional game at Alex Box Stadium. LSU had committed six errors, the pitchers were being pounded, and the once* potent bats had gone silent. The impending ugly loss would end LSU’s season and their dream of returning to the College World Series to defend their national champi­ o n sh ip . Yet, above the obnoxiously loud music coming from the bars in Tigerland, a loud roar could be heard at the Box. Many of the crowd of 5,372 remained as the Tigers took their final cuts in the ninth.

39 SPORTS

Chris Moock led off the ninth the term “pinpoint control” and who saw very lim ited action in ’91 and was greeted by thunderous made a science out of it. Peever and struggled badly early in ’92. chants of “Moock! Moock! Moock!” pitched 37 innings before he walked He hit rock bottom when he gave The senior left-fielder was making "T hey his first batter of the season in one Maine eight runs in the first inning his last ever plate appearance in of the finest displays of control ever of an early season game and took an LSU uniform, and the crowd w e re n o t exhibited by a collegiate pitcher. the loss. But Rantz emerged and showed its appreciation. He was a LSU had its ace from the start, dominated down the stretch. Used picked to key contributor to the success of the but other pitchers had to step for­ as a “mid-week” starter for much of baseball team in ’91 and ’92. win, yet all ward. Scott Schultz was a fresh­ the season, Rantz saw very little Unfortunately, Moock struck out man who did just that. Schultz action in conference series. How­ in his final at bat on this evening, y e a r long came to Tiger Town from Virginia ever, with pitching depth at a pre­ but that was okay. The crowd gave with an outstanding fastball and a mium in post-season tournament never lost Moock one final salute as he re­ good breaking pitch. He was a play, Rantz got an opportunity to treated to the dugout to end his tw o g am es in middle-round draft choice of the pitch and was awesome. He won career. When Jared Mula struck California Angels, but he decided two games in the SEC Tournament out to end the 11-0 loss, the crowd a row b u t to come to school instead. His first and one game in the NCAA re­ again responded and gave the Ti­ game as a Tiger was an 8-3 win gional. once. In gers a very heartwarming ovation over UNLV, and he eventually And of course, LSU had Rick for an outstanding season. And essence, I settled in as the number two starter Greene to close the deal in the why not? LSU didn’t repeat as on the staff. bullpen. He didn’t quite match his national champions, but they think they Three pitchers who were left over ’91 season statistically, but he did weren’t supposed to. LSU lost six from the ’91 team also established have five wins and eight saves. can even do position starters and three starting themselves: LSU also answered many of the pitchers from the ’91 championship a lo t of • Mike Sirotka was LSU’s best batting questions early in the sea­ team, which meant that in ’92, un­ pitcher down the stretch in ’91, but son. The biggest contributions came derclassmen and junior college things that he was hampered by shoulder prob­ from a freshman who technically transfers would be asked to carry lems in ’92 and never regained his wasn’t even supposed to start. Sec­ last year's the load. Sparked by loyal support old form. Sirotka did finish with a ond baseman Todd Walker was the from the fans until the bitter end, team couldn't 6-3 record and did post a big SEC Quad-A player of the year in Loui­ this young ballclub was able to do win over Arkansas. siana in ’91 as a senior at Airline some remarkable things. do." • Matt Chamberlain saw lim­ High in Shreveport and came to After losing so many key play­ ited action in ’91 because of a mid­ —Skip LSU as atop recruit. Many thought ers, such as the power-laden Gary season elbow injury, but he was that sophomore Keyaan Cook was Hymel and Lyle Mouton and the B ertm an full strength for ’92 and was listed the heir apparent to Tookie John­ strong arms of Chad Ogea and Paul as LSU’s third starter for much of son at second; however, Walker was Byrd, many observers thought the the SEC season. Chamberlain went outstanding in fall practice and Tigers were a longshot for the SEC 8-2 and at times during the season showed good range defensively, so title. In the new divisional play was brilliant. he was named to start at second format, the Tigers were picked to • Ronnie Rantz was a big lefty base. He would never give up that finish second behind Mississippi State in the West. Head coach There were many question Skip Bertman displays the marks for LSU. Who would replace SEC Tourna­ the big hitters? Who would step up ment Champion­ and take control on the mound? ship plaque as When would these leaders emerge? Ronnie Rantz, Luckily for the Tigers, all of these and Adrian Antonini look questions were answered early in on. The Tigers the season, and the effort lasted all won the the way through the season. tournament at Coach Skip Bertman’s bunch the Louisiana opened the season with a three - Superdome in game sweep of UNLV at home. The New Orleans. opening night pitcher was Lloyd Peever, a relative unknown. Peever established himself as the ace from day one as he dominated the Rebels in a 3-1 victory. This started a successful season for LSU and a dream season for Peever. He took

40 GUMBO MAGAZINE they had not really been tested on the road. They had played a fairly soft schedule and didn’t even leave the state until their first confer­ ence series at South Carolina. There, they swept the Game­ cocks in three low-scoring games. Then Bertman’s club went to Or­ lando and picked up the 400th ca­ reer win for the Skipper—a 5-2 de­ cision over Central Florida. The ever-humble and classy Bertman refused to comment on the mile­ stone victory after the game, want­ ing instead to talk about his team’s performance. On the weekend of April 4-5, the 24-4 Tigers reached the midpoint of the regular season. The competi­ tion was the third-ranked, 26-6 Gators. The series was billed as LSU’s “big test” going in. It would be the first time the Tigers played in a really hostile environment on the road against equally outstand­ ing competition. And LSU and Florida have been known for their great clashes on the diamond. The two teams met an incredible eight times in 1991 with LSU winning six. But the cast of characters was different for LSU, and the Tigers knew the meeting with Florida Shortstop Andy Sheets was would be a big deal. Unfortunately, named first- game one of the Saturday double- team All- header turned out to be a big disas­ Louisiana and ter. The Tigers lost 5-4. was voted the It must have been a long 25 min­ MVP of the SEC Tourna­ utes between games for LSU. Signs ment. pointed to another Florida victory over a demoralized, inexperienced position, either, and he was the The third true freshman to make LSU team. only Tiger to start all 65 games. a big impact was Russ Johnson. It didn’t turn out that way, how­ Unfortunately, Cook’s playing time Johnson and Mike Neal alternated ever. LSU’s starter Schultz was all but disappeared, and he trans­ between third base and designated masterful, throwing his overpow­ ferred to Cal-State Northridge to­ hitter, and Johnson excelled in both " ering fastball by the Gators and ward the end of the season. As for positions. The Denham Springs mixing in a newly learned change- Walker, he was pleased to become native was the second leading hit­ I was up. Schultz shut out the Gators 2- the first freshman position player ter on the team at .338. 0. He allowed only four hits and since Keith Osik in 1987 to start on These freshmen, plus veterans really fo­ struck out eight in an effort that a regular basis. Moock and Andy Sheets, combined would gain him co-national player- cused to Said Walker, “It’s a dream come to give LSU a potent offense that of-the-week honors. Most impor­ true. I came in wanting to play and showed its muscles early in the night. I didn't tantly, he picked his team up after thinking I had a chance. Now that season. a tough loss in front of the rabid I’Ve accomplished that, I want to go It’s not hard to see how all of this let anything Gator fans. “I was really focused on to the next step and that’s play­ could come together and make an tonight. I didn’t let anything affect affect me.” ing well.” Which, of course, he did. awesome team. However, it must me,” he said after the game. “I Walker hit .400, which is the high- be noted that a lot of the demolition - Scott didn’t want to let the team down.” est-ever batting average for a single took place at home; as the Tigers On Sunday, it was up to Cham­ season in LSU history. went into play in the rugged SEC, Schultz berlain to try to give LSU two out of

SEPTEMBER 1992 41 SPORTS

three in the series. Interestingly, series. Arkansas left Baton Rouge among starting pitchers in the SEC, the studious Chamberlain missed 5 1/2 games back and all but out of and Wallace would become the third the Saturday double-header be­ the race. The new competition for pick in the major league draft in T he torrid cause he was back home in Baton LSU was Mississippi State. June. Rouge taking the Medical College After mid-week wins over Loui­ LSU won 8-3 and needed only Mississippi Admissions Test and had to fly in to siana College and Northeast Loui­ one more win for the title, and they Gainesville late Saturday night. He siana, the Tigers were back on the State team got the icing on the cake on Sunday followed up all of that by pitching 7 road again in the conference, this when they won again by a count of sw e p t y et 1/3 innings of three-hit ball, and time at Auburn. Peever made his 5-3 to sweep the series. the Tigers won, 5-3. Bertman said return in game one of the series and “They were not picked to win, a n o th e r the outing was the best of the red- showed no signs of sluggishness. yet all year long never lost two shirt sophomore’s career. The win He tossed a five-hitter through eight games in a row but once. In es­ series, and gave LSU two out of three in the innings to improve to 10-0. Greene sence, I think they can even do a lot suddenly, series and gave them a two-game pitched the ninth and saved LSU’s of things that last year’s team cushion in the SEC West. 2-1 win. However, the Tigers from couldn’t do. They’ve got a lot of there was a More importantly, however, this Bayou Land lost the next two to the competitiveness and they really series showed the character of the Tigers from the Plains. tie atop the have a lot of togetherness. This is LSU team. The Tigers would be Meanwhile, the torrid Missis­ the best bunch I’ve ever coached in SEC W e st. known as a team that won when its sippi State team swept yet another terms of togetherness,’’ said backs were to the proverbial wall, series, and suddenly, there was a Bertm an. This set up and it all started in Gainesville. tie atop the SEC West. This set up The next day, LSU was indeed After losing the first game, this the big showdown for the final SEC th e big awarded a regional, and that took a team could have folded. Instead, weekend —Mississippi State at little of the urgency away from the show dow n they picked themselves up, won the LSU. It would be winner take all, upcoming SECTournament in New series, and gave themselves a con­ as the team that took at least two of Orleans. But it didn’t seem to bother for the final fidence boost that would last all three would win not only the West, the young Tigers, who rolled season long. Schultz and Cham­ but also the overall crown in the SEC w eek­ through the eight team field and berlain established themselves as SEC based on conference record. If won the tournament title, as well. end. . . pitchers who could be counted on to LSU did it, they would become the Peever and Rantz picked up two win the big game, and winning on first team in fifty years to win the wins each in the tournament, and Mississippi the turf of the third-ranked team in regular season title three straight Sheets was named MVP after catch­ the country proves that you can years. S ta te a t ing fire in the six games. Even win anywhere. Saturday, May 9, was warm and though the tournament didn’t mean LSU. Following the drama in Florida, sunny and was a perfect day for anything in terms of LSU’s NCAA the Tigers possibly let down a little baseball. The Bulldogs brought bid, the young Tigers added more and struggled in a win over North­ their usual entourage of fans from hardware to their collection. east Louisiana and a loss to Tulane. Starkville down to the “big city” to That brought on the regional, The Tigers did take two of three cheer their team. which included perennial powers from Ole Miss in an SEC series at When the Tigers and Dogs took South Alabama and Cal-State Ful­ home, but they suffered a major the field for the first game, they lerton, along with Tulane, Ohio blow in the first game of that series. were greeted by 7,460 of their clos­ State, and Providence. LSU and Peever was struck in the head by a est friends. The crowd marked the Peever beat the Friars in their first vicious line drive in the third in­ largest single-day attendance in game but were shut out by Ohio ning of th at game. He was hospital­ Alex Box history. About 500 fans State’s Scott Kingenbeck, 5-0, in ized overnight, but thankfully, all were seated on the field in foul the second game. That meant LSU tests were negative and the prog­ territory down each of the lines, would have to win twice on Satur­ nosis was for full recovery. It would which put the crowd even closer to day and once on Sunday to win the be almost four weeks before Peever the action. Also, many fans were regional. The Tigers beat Tulane 7- pitched again. seated on the roof of the married 3 on Saturday to advance. But one Again, LSU could have collapsed, student apartment complex beyond problem loomed big for the Tigers: but they excelled. They won ten of left field, and others used Mardi they suddenly weren’t hitting the their next fourteen games. That Gras-type highchairs to catch a peek ball. LSU picked up only five hitsin streak included a sweep of the other behind the right field fence. And the Ohio State loss and only four in SEC newcomer, Arkansas. In that they said baseball would never catch the Tulane game, even though they series, Schultz took over for Peever on a t LSU. won. They would face Fullerton on as the number one starter in SEC Game one was a battle of two of Saturday night, and if they could series and responded with a vic­ the best pitchers in the nation. somehow get by, they would have tory. Chamberlain and Sirotka also Peever was 10-0 and was opposed Peever to throw in the champion­ started and won for LSU, who by 8-1 lefty B. J. Wallace. Peever ship game on Sunday. Peever would outscored the Hogs 32-10 in the and Wallace had the best ERAs Continued on page 63

42 GUMBO MAGAZINE SPORTS

PHOTO COURTESY OF BRAD MESSINA/SPORTS INFORMATION

W O M E N An excited team poses with their trophy. Pictured, TAKE TITLE from left, are Greg LaFleur, BY FRANCES DICKERSON Head coach Karen Bahnsen talked Julie Rigazio, about the sport and the tournament. Page Oeser, G o l f She said despite the fact that golf is Jennifer One of the smallest teams for Vernon, Kristi such an individualized sport, the a competitive sport at LSU won one Coats, Laurie team holds regular practices every of the biggest honors for any ath­ Robbins, and week, practicing every day and no letic team—an SEC championship. Vanderbilt. Coach Karen more than twenty hours per week. Bahnsen. For the first time ever, the Kristi Coats and Julie Rigazio On her team’s performance last sea­ Women’s golf women’s golf team, totaling six, took were named to the All-SEC squad. has been son, she said, “We’d played up and the title at a three-day tournament In addition, Coats was named hon­ competing in down the whole season...we started they hosted last spring at the Santa orable mention All-American; she the annual picking up around the tournament. SEC tourna­ Maria Country Club at home. competed as an individual in the Beingin Baton Rouge, and with their ment since They beat out teams from Ala­ NCAA tournament. playing well, won the championship.” ’80; this is bama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Laurie Robbins, Page Oeser, Jen­ their first Kentucky, Mississippi, Mississippi nifer Vernon, and Jennifer Murray time as State, South Carolina, and rounded out the team. number one. 43 SEPTEMBER 1992 competition leading LSU by 529 points, 28-26. After Lady Gator Leah Kirklin captured the triple jump title in the women’s first event of the day, Florida led 38-26 and looked as if they would wear the champion’s crown one more time in ’92. LSU had two things in their fa­ vor, though—numbers and experi­ ence. The Lady Tigers had more participants in more events on the meet’s final day, and they had been through this kind of pressure the five previous years. Sophomore Danyel Mitchell started the scoring by placing third in the shot put to go along with her fifth place finish in the discus on Friday. The Lady Tigers piled up the points in the sprints. The 100-meter hurdles proved to be critical as LSU seniors Dawn Bowles, ’91 NCAA 100-meter hurdle champion, and Cinnamon Sheffield attempted to match or better Senior Dahlia plished the feat by coming from Duhaney Florida’s duo of Freeman and captured the behind on the meet’s final day. Monica Taylor. 200-meter “This was a big one and a great Bowles and Sheffield kept the T here is a song that states, national title one to win,” said an elated Henry. Lady Tigers in striking distance by and ran the “One is the loneliest number.” “To win this after not being pre­ finishing second and fourth, respec­ anchor leg on That may be true, but LSU head dicted to is a lot of fun and very tively. Freeman barely nipped the winning coach Pat Henry and his Lady Ti­ 400-meter gratifying.” Bowles at the tape for first place, relay team. gers don’t seem to mind sitting all The front-runners for the and Taylor placed fifth. by themselves at the top of colle­ women’s crown were the Florida “Everyone keeps telling me that giate women’s outdoor track and Lady Gators. The Florida women, Michelle [Freeman] has a good start field. led by 100-meter hurdle and 100- and I know that,” stated Bowles, Amidst an oppressive June heat meter dash specialist Michelle Free­ “but my coach [Myrtle Chester- at Memorial Stadium in Austin, man, came into Austin as this Ferguson] told me not to worry be­ Texas, the Lady Tigers claimed an season’s NCAA indoor champions cause there are ten hurdles and I unprecedented sixth consecutive along with the SEC indoor and out­ would start catching her at the fifth. NCAA outdoor national champion­ door titles. I almost got her, but I am happy.” ship title. This time they accom­ Florida entered the final day of “I could win forever,” Sheffield

44 GUMBO MAGAZINE SPORTS

CONTRIBUTED BY ROBBIE BURNS LSU SPORTS INFORMATION INTERN PHOTOS COURTESY OF BRAD MESSINA SPORTS INFORMATION l a d ie s sprint TO SIXTH TITLE said. “We lost indoor conference, second, Taplin fourth, and Sheffield national title,” she said. “I do not indoor nationals, and outdoor con­ seventh. Freeman edged out Taplin think we felt any extra pressure ference. But under pressure, I think for third by only .01 of a second. going into the race and with we do well.” "T his The Lady Tigers hammered Chrystel out, I did not think there The next show down came in the down their sixth national title in was anyone else who could offer 400-meters between Florida’s Anita was a big the 200-meters. With no Florida any great challenge. I just needed Howard and LSU sophomore participants and Stanford’s to get out and relax.” Youlanda Warren. Howard won, one and a Chrystel Gaines and USC’s Inger Henry only had praise for the but LSU lost no significant ground great one to Miller withdrawing from the race, performance of the team. “I think as Warren finished a strong second the door was left wide open for this shows a lot of character in our in a school record time of 51.55. win. To win Duhaney and Taplin. ladies coming back after losing the Warren waited until just the Duhaney ran her best 200 ever SECs and the NCAA Indoor,” he right time to have her best meet of this after not as she pulled away down the back said. “We don’t worry about what the’92 outdoor season. Her biggest being pre­ stretch and breezed to the win in a other folks do. We just worry about accomplishments came during ev­ personal best of 22.80. Taplin fin­ ourselves, and if it falls right, it ery 400-meter race she ran in Aus­ dicted to is a ished fourth (23.42) to give the Lady falls right.” tin as she broke the school record Tigers fifteen points in the event The Lady Tigers received their held by Opal Cunningham (52.44 lot of fun and and an insurmountable lead of first points in the heptathlon on in 1989). very gratify­ twelve points in the team stand­ Thursday as sophomore Sharon She broke it not once, but three ings. Jaklofsky, the defending heptathlon times. Warren placed second in all i ng." Crossing the finish line for her national champion, finished second, three races while posting times of first-ever individual national title, and Jovennie McDuffie placed fifth. 52.37 (preliminary heat), 51.67 Duhaney held up one finger. “I did Friday proved to be a record set­ (semi-final heat) and 51.55 in the that partly because I knew we won ting day for the men’s and women’s finals. the title and it is my first individual 400-meter relay teams. In the fi- “It feels good,” Warren said. “I am very happy, and I have two Senior Dawn Boyles placed more years. I could have gone a second in the little better at the 200-meter mark, 100-meter but as long as I set a personal best, hurdles and I’m satisfied.” was a member The Dallas, Texas native also of the champi­ onship 400- anchored the 1600-meter relay meter relay team, which finished fifth. team. The 100-meter was where the numbers game played heavily in LSU’s favor. The Lady Tigers en­ tered with senior Dahlia Duhaney, sophomore Cheryl Taplin, and Sheffield. Florida’s lone partici­ pant was Freeman. The Lady Tigers racked up fif­ teen points and pulled to within three (71-68) as Duhaney finished

SEPTEMBER 1992 45 SPORTS

nals, LSU became the first school to together. They concluded their ca­ with a mark of 175-11. ever capture the men’s and women’s reers the same way they began—as Melendez became the only " 400-meter relay national titles in national champions. Bowles, woman from her country of Puerto the same meet. Both entered the Duhaney, McDuffie, Sheffield, Rico to post a 100-meter hurdle I could finals by setting stadium records in Joyce Melendez, and Laurie Trapp time below fourteen seconds. She the preliminary heats as the women became the second group of Lady broke her own mark in the NCAA win forever, " finished in 43.00 and the men in a Tiger seniors to complete their ca­ preliminary heats with a time of school record time of 38.85. reer never losing an outdoor na­ 13.36. Sheffield said. In a replay of the SEC 400-meter tional championship. “Our senior leadership was very “W e lo st relay title race, Sheffield and During their careers, this senior influential in our success,” said Duhaney again had trouble on the class racked up some impressive Henry. They come out each day indoor confer­ final handoff, enabling Florida to figures: motivated, trying to improve indi­ take a considerable lead in the last • Four NCAA outdoor national vidually. This is where the team ence, indoor 100 meters. Just as before, titles (’89-’92) aspects come together.” nationals, and Duhaney made up the ground and • Three SEC outdoor titles (’89- In such an individual sport, nipped Florida at the finish for the ’91) Henry’s philosophy focuses on ev­ outdoor title in 43.03. • Two NCAA and SEC indoor ery athlete contributing to the The LSU women now own five of championships (’89 and ’91) team’s success. This was evident conference. the top ten all-time collegiate 400- This group has totaled 29 All- in Austin as the women failed only B ut under meter relay performances. America honors (Sheffield and twice to advance an athlete to an One key to the Lady Tigers’ vic­ Duhaney, 10; Bowles, 7; McDuffie, event’s final round. It also ex­ pressure, I tory was the underclassmen. LSU’s 2). They have also collected two plains why they gathered twenty four sophomores, Jaklofsky, individual national titles; Bowles All-America honors. think we do Mitchell, Taplin, and Warren, won the 100-meter hurdle champi­ “Depth, numbers, and quality well.” played a major part in LSU’s suc­ onship in ’91 and Duhaney cap­ are all important,” said Henry. cess in Austin. The foursome scored tured the 200-meter crown this se a- “You do not have to win all the 38.5 of the Lady Tigers’ 87 total son. events to win a national champi­ points with no one finishing below Great success in the 400-meter onship. That is not what it is all fifth place. relay will always be associated with about.” Taplin was the individual point them. These four-time national Henry said this championship leader among the four. Her fourth champions have captured the 400- is special and similar to the LSU place in both the 100 and 200 meters meter relay title three times (’89, men’s outdoor national title in ’89. totaled ten points, and she contrib­ ’90, ’92). Sheffield was a member of “This is a good one because we uted another 2.5 points as a mem­ all three squads, Bowles ran on the went in and won it when others ber of the 400-meter relay team. ’90 and ’92 teams, and Duhaney said we could not,” he said. “No Mitchell scored ten points with her appeared this season. one counted on us to win it, but we third in the shot put and fifth in the Trapp closed her career as the did. It was a great accomplish­ discus. Warren and Jaklofsky gar­ best discus thrower in school his­ ment to do that. We knew we were nered eight points each. tory. In her final regular season in the money.” The seniors, though, kept it all meet, she broke the LSU record

STUDENT RECREATION

SPORTS COM PLEX C a l l w ill o p e n

3 8 8 - 8 6 0 1 ______F a c i l i t i e s T o I n c l u d e :

for m ore info. 3 Lane Jogging Track T H I S F A L L 5 Basketball Courts 3 Fully Equipped, State-of-the-Art Students need only show Weightrooms with exercycles & stairmasters their ID for use. 12 Racquetball Courts DIVISION OF M em berships will be available for Indoor Pool RECREATIONAL SPORTS faculty, staff and alum ni.

46 GUMBO MAGAZINE c° N T rTbuTorS

The Gumbo Magazine staff thanks all of STEVE NEWITT our contributors. We couldn't have done If it without you. APRIL REDMOND April, a freshman, is an aspiring nov- you would FRANCES DICKERSON elist who hopes to make a lot of Frances doesn't have much to say lor money someday. like to herself. PHILIP SIMON volunteer MICHAEL J. FARRAR Philip is addicted to comic books and Mr. Entertainment, a graduating se­ alternates between staying awake a your nior in general studies, is now living lot and sleeping a lot. He also got in Uncle Walt's backyard-Orlando, overruled on the capitalization of talent to Florida. prepositions and articles in his story. Gumbo Any hostilities from the "A ," "An," GARY GOVERNALE "The," "For," and "ln"'s of the world Magazine, Gary Governale, a senior in broad­ shouls be directed to Becky. cast journalism, has learned a lot in call the past lour years-but not in the KRISTIAN SONNIER classroom. When asked what the Kristian is a news-ed major. 388-2670 three most important things he learned were, he said: 1) Never PATRICK WRIGHT or stop by judge a person until you walk in his Patrick graduated in May 1992 with shoes, 2) There is a one-in-a-million a broadcast journalism degree. He B-40 chance you'll meet the perfect mate covered LSU baseball for two years in a Tigerland bar...but there always for KLSU and the LSU Sports Network. Hodges is that one chance, and 3) Everyone Patrick is currently a sports talk show else is crazy, and I'm starting to feel host for WBIU (1210 AM). Hall. like one of the crowd.

A brief sampling of the Pa r t n e r s L t d . Polo collection in stock Dress Shirts • Jeans • Jackets O f BATON R o u g e Shorts • Knit Shirts • Socks • Ties Pants • Sport Shirts • Rugbys W e l c o m e s P o l o F o r M e n . PARTNERS LTD CLOTHIERS 4410 Highland Road P olo R alph L auren Baton Rouge, La. 70808 SPORTS

PHOTO COURTESY OF ERIC PARS0NS/1992 GUMBO

BY GARY GOVERNALE But the improbable began to dence builders by reading the pre­ RIGHT happen. The Tigers slowly began season publications. Most have All eyes will be Curley Hallman’s first season to improve. Curley’s crew gave him LSU picked to finish fourth in the on Curley as the head coach of LSU had a what every coach wants out of his new SEC West Division. You won’t Hallman's team team: steady improvement. The now that he's nig h tm arish beginning. The Ti­ find any star players showcased, Tigers managed to salvage the sea­ either. Pedro Suarez gets some rec­ laid a founda­ gers were trounced on the road tion in Tiger son, taking the best teams to the ognition, but not many teams brag Town. at Georgia and were totally hu­ wire and claiming victory over infe­ about their kicker. Without star rior teams. Close losses to Florida miliated in College Station by players, though, the Tigers should State and Alabama showed the benefit; team unity could carry them Curley’s alma mater, Texas country that Curley’s team was just successfully through the season and A&M. There was no offense, a few steps away from becoming a possibly to a bowl game. there was no defense, and the really good squad. The Tigers hope The good news is LSU has seven to prove it in the up-and-coming home games for the first time since fans were wondering if there 1992 season. 1987, the year the Tigers finished was a coach. But fans won’t find any confi­ 10-1-1. The bad news is the 1992

48 GUMBO MAGAZINE SPORTS PIGSKIN EXCITEMENT RETURNS IN schedule is murder. Six of the teams Don’t look for that to happen again. est backfields'92 in the SEC. The last went to bowl games last year, and The Bulldogs had two weeks to pre­ time the teams met, the Vols won in the others are expected to improve pare for LSU in 1991. This year, an impressive offensive showcase. in 1992. Here’s a look at what’s on they will be coming off a game with Look for more fireworks with LSU tap for the Tigers this year... Texas in Austin before coming to getting the upper hand this time. LSU kicks off the season against Death Valley. State’s defense could The Tigers will see more orange much-hated rival Texas A&M on be as good as A&M’s, so LSU will in Gainesville when they take on Sept. 5 in Tiger Stadium. The Ti­ have to open up the offense. Florida Oct. 10. The Gators are gers are still digging the cleats out Things don’t get any easier as expected to win the SEC this year of their chests from the last meet­ LSU takes to the road Sept. 19 to and contend the national champi­ ing, a 45-7 thumping. With re­ take on another rebuilding pro­ onship. They are unbeatable at venge in mind, the Tigers are look­ gram, Auburn. The Tigers from the home and feature a productive quar­ ing to pay back the Aggies on a Plains are wrestling with NCAA terback in Shane Matthews and a regionally televised game...BUT problems thanks to least-favorite tenacious defense. If LSU loses one WAIT! It’s a dreaded day game! alumn, Eric Ramsey. Ramsey game this year, this will be it. The The Tigers have not won a day brought forth allegations last year Tigers have a chance only if they game on ABC since 1984. On the that Auburn coaches were paying can keep the Gator offense off the other hand, the Aggies have not players, a clear violation of NCAA field. won in Baton Rouge since 1975. rules. The threat of a NCAA inves­ lose The Tigers return home Oct. 17 c, to battle Kentucky. The Wildcats Curley and the fans would love to tigation could psychologically hurt get this one, but it will be easier Auburn this year. This will be a losses to are expected to improve this year with Bill Curry planning to use the said than done. A&M is a top-ten tough test for LSU simply because Florida State team, and they will bring a lot of it’s the first road game of the sea­ option as much as possible. Last fire-power to Tiger Town. LSU is son. However, on paper, the Bayou and Alabama year’s game was a nailbiter, and an impressive 60-12-3 in season Bengals have the edge over the War Todd Kinchen won’t be able to save openers in Baton Rouge. Eagles, the Tigers, the Plainsmen, showed the the day this year. LSU should take the Cats easily because everyone Much-improved Mississippi or whatever the heck they call them­ country that State comes to town Sept. 12. Last selves. knows the only reason U.K. plays year, Jackie Sherrill jammed the Coach Earle Bruce returns to Curley’s football is to kill time until basket­ wishbone down the throat of LSU. Tiger Stadium on Sept. 26, this ball starts. time with Colorado State instead of team was Following a week off, LSU trav­ els to Jackson for a Halloween date Ohio State. He seemed to single- just a few handedly turn the Rams around, with Ole Miss (I’ll spare you the until last year’s miserable 3 and 8 steps away Billy Cannon stories since you’ll finish. This could be a much-needed hear plenty of them following the breather for LSU, and don’t expect from becom­ Kentucky game). The Rebels are expected to dwell in the cellar this Curley to let his team take the ing a really Rams lightly. This one should be a year, and LSU should be able to get cakewalk. good squad. back-to-back wins in Jackson LSU will take on Tennessee Oct. against Billy Brewer. Expect 3 in Baton Rouge. The Vols sent The Tigers Brewer to show up for the Oct. 31 game disguised as a coach. their usual entourage of talent to hope to the NFL again, so Johnny Majors Alabama returns to Death Val­ must hope he can reload instead of prove it in ley November 7. Even Tide fans rebuild. Wide receiver Carl Pickens, will admit their team got lucky in quarterback Andy Kelly, defensive the up-and- Baton Rouge last year, squeaking by 20 to 17 thanks to a blocked field end Chris Mims, and defensive coming 1992 tackle Shazzon Bradley are gone, goal attempt. Unfortunately for but Majors still has one of the deep- season. Continued on page 64

PHOTO COURTESY OF BRAD MESSINA/SPORTS INFORMATION

SEPTEMBER 1992 49 SPOTLIGHTS

PHOTO BY PAUL HOUGHTON

BY KADEE ST. ROMAIN

W hen it’s tim e for an LSU football, baseball or bas­ ketball game, thousands of fans turn off the TV. Sound, that is. Fans across the state pre­ fer to watch the game ac­ companied by the smooth, mellow voice drifting from the radio, has brought LSU sports into living room s and cars for over nine years. And to Jim Hawthorne, the Voice of the Tigere, LSU sports and radio is a combi* nation that can't be beat.

50 GUMBO MAGAZINE SPOTLIGHTS

Hawthorne has seen it all, from he moved on to fill Ferguson’s shoes the back yard, playing with my dog, LSU basketball's first Final Four as LSU’s official Voice of the Tigers. maybe cooking up something on trip to baseball's College World Hawthorne first became inter­ the grill,” he says with a smile. Series championship. He even has ested in electronic media in high “I t’s He envisions greatness for both the most exciting moments in all school. Driven by his love of music Tiger basketball and football. He something to three sports figured out. and sports, he got his first radio job says he doubts there will ever be a “In football it would have to be in 1961 at KLLA in Leesville, La. bo able to more exciting season for the bas­ Tommy Hodson’s pass to Eddie “We used the reel-to-reels and ketball team than 1986, but some­ Fuller to beat Auburn,” he says. recorded the high school games that c re a te a day the team will be national cham­ “It’s said that the roar of the crowd played on Friday night and then picture of pions. at that moment registered on the replayed it on Saturday,” he says. And he says Curley Hallman will seismograph.” He moved on to work for North­ w h at’s do great things for the football team. The date was Oct. 8,1988, and western State University football, happening “Curley will take the program where part of the excitement stemmed basketball and baseball while at­ it needs to be,” he says. He says from the fact that since Fuller’s tending college. The station was for listeners. Hallman’s first taste of LSU was touchdown brought the score to 7- KNOC radio in Natchitoches, where rough because of the difference be­ Describe it 6, the Tigers won by only one point, he remained through college and tween LSU and the University of he said. even after he received his degree in fully, and Southern Mississippi. He pins basketball’s thriller on speech and journalism. He blames the rocky transition Anthony Wilson’s shot to beat After graduation, he moved to th ey can on the high concentration of media Memphis State in 1986. “That Shreveport where he worked for close their attention Hallman received. “He wasn’t supposed to happen. Of KWKH radio. He also broadcasted really had no idea what he was course, we weren’t supposed to beat Shreveport area high school foot­ eyes and getting into. The media exposure Purdue the night before, and so ball, AFA Shreveport Steamer foot­ he received was mind-boggling to se e it.” that shot was extra exciting,” he ball, Centenary College basketball him. He was completely over­ says. and Shreveport Captains Texas whelmed,” he says. But baseball, his favorite sport, League baseball. At USM, Hallman was not con­ produced two fantastic thrillers. While handling the play-by-play stantly under the media microscope One was in 1988 in the game for LSU basketball from 1979 to the way he has been head coach for against Texas A&M, whom LSU 1981, he even drove back and forth LSU. Such attention is simply a beat twice in one day. The other between Shreveport and Baton type of pressure he didn’t have to was LSU’s home run win against Rouge. deal with at USM, Hawthorne said. Southern California that took the Though he has dabbled in televi­ But no matter whether any of Tigers to Omaha for the College sion work, his heart is with radio. the Tiger teams win or lose, World Series the following year. “I enjoy listening to games on the Hawthorne plans to be the Voice of Hawthorne’s voice first reached radio. Itis fantasy; your mind can do the Tigers for years to come. the LSU airwaves in 1979 when wonderful things with sound. TV is “I’ve been to bowl games, cham­ John Ferguson, the reigning Voice 'what you see is what you get’,” he pionship games, stadiums around of the Tigers, offered him a job says as he leans back in his chair, a the country. Where else could I go calling basketball play-by-play. dreamy look on his face. and have it be any better than this? “At the time, basketball wasn’t And he says he considers radio to I sincerely love being the Voice of nearly big-time. I didn’t even real­ be a more challenging medium. “It’s the Tigers, and I’ll be happy if I’m ize the significance of making it to something to be able to create a still here in 20 years,” he says. the Final Four in 1981,” he says. picture of what’s happening for lis­ That trip had excitement of its teners. Describe it fully, and they own. Two hours before LSU was to can close their eyes and see it.” play the University of Virginia for His cool drawl matches his look— third place in the tournament, relaxed and casual. And words roll President Reagan was shot. easily off his tongue. “I had to keep interrupting the Even his hobbies are laid-back. game to give updates on Reagan,” He says he likes playing golf and he says. listening to music, but as he gets By 1983, WJBO, a local a.m. older he finds himself enjoying "just station, hired Hawthorne full-time. doing nothing” more and more. He started calling football and “I don’t have much time off, so baseball as well as basketball when I do get a break I like to spend games, and from that experience, time with my family—just sittin’ in

SEPTEMBER 1992 51 SPOTLIGHT

BY FRANCES DICKERSON True. And being from St. Louis, Missouri, they really assume that I Stan Ford has been a staff mem­ play jazz, and I tell them that my ber of the Mozarteum in Austria, expertise is in classical music, and one of the oldest music institutions I’m not there to prostitute jazz. in Europe, for six years. In 1984, he Certainly I can dibble and dabble, placed third in the institute’s as so many have done, but I respect Mozart Competition, an interna­ the art too much to massacre it in tional event held every four years. front of any kind of audience. I He is a classical musician, a concert would prefer that they hear it un­ pianist. What brings him to LSU? der a person who has really, really To work towards his D.M.A., or researched it and calls himself an Doctorate of Musical Arts. Gumbo expert in that area. That’s one Magazine spoke with him in July reason why I went to Europe; be­ before one of his performances. STAN cause I felt since my expertise is in You currently reside in Austria. classical music, and because classi­ What is the difference in the role o f cal music came from Europe, my classical music in Europe and in experience would be most benefi­ America? cial. Well, first of all, the government Tell me about the Mozarteum, supports the music activities in where you work. Europe, compared to here. That’s Well, it’s one of the oldest insti­ the one reason so many Americans, tutions in Europe, and as a result, especially opera singers, come to one of the most famous. We have Europe to try to start a career of over 250 faculty and over 1500 stu­ some kind. dents attending the school coming Is that why you went to Europe ? from all over the world, in particu­ In my case, since I’m a pianist, FORD lar Japan .... At least seventy not exactly. I went there because I percent of the students are foreign­ wanted to get the flavor of classical ers. music. One can certainly learn How did you obtain your posi­ about European music, but to be tion there? there is certainly a different feeling That was pure luck. It was in that one gets . . . a different atmo­ 1986. I had been studying in Swit­ sphere. I learned to appreciate zerland for a year and heard by what I’m playing a lot more through accident that there was a position going there because I had opportu­ available in that pedagogy depart­ nities not only to study the music, ment—they were looking for a pi­ but to study art, study literature, ano teacher, a piano professor, and become acquainted with several a day before the deadline I sat down different cultures. For example, and wrote an application out and Austria happens to border on five sent in all my materials, and to my countries, and as a result, one can surprise, two weeks later, I was one travel two hours in any direction of five people chosen to come and and be immersed into a totally dif- interview. ferent culture. For example, Italy— But this wasn’t your first teach­ the Italians are very, very tem­ ing position. peramental, and as a result, one No, I taught in the university for has to learn the language, or be­ a few years, one at Southern Illi­ come acquainted at least with other nois, that was my alma mater, languages. where I got my bachelor’s and Doesn’t that lead to stereotypes master’s, and I also taught at a about musical styles associated with community college for a year, so I certain cultures? had a little bit of teaching experi­ True, true. Right. People do ence behind me in addition to my come to generalizations .. . When private teaching. I’m in Europe, for example, people Well, the very next day [after the just assume that I play jazz. interview] I received a phone call It doesn’t help that you’re from a saying congratulations, we have se­ southern university, either. CONCERT PIANIST lected you for the job, and of course

52 GUMBO MAGAZINE SPOTLIGHT

every musician, to be able to moment, I can’t imagine my life teach at a school of real reputation, changing from what it is. One of my THIS and the Mozarteum is considered goals, of course, is to complete this one of the finest schools in the world, D.M.A---- Also, I am in the process as for example, the Juilliard School of starting an exchange program in the United States, or Curtis In­ between the Mozarteum and this stitute .... The level of perfor­ school because I’ve been so im­ mance is very, very high, and very pressed with the faculty and the tough. entire atmosphere. This would, in SPACE I was lucky enough to be chosen turn, give the Europeans an oppor­ as the first black, ever, in Austrian tunity to discover the American way history for a full professorship at of life, and at the same time the the school, and I hope I’m not going music students who are interested to be the last. in classical music can get a first­ What brought you to LSU? hand experience studying at the For years I had thought that I Mozarteum as well as being able to would like to take that very last travel to the neighboring countries. COULD step—I have a bachelor’s and a Do you think the American cul­ master’s degree and I had a tre­ ture will come to appreciate classi­ mendous amount of experience in cal music more? my teaching field, but I felt that I Well, apparently, we seem not to could learn even more___Because have enough money for our educa­ of my position at the Mozarteum, tional system. And as a result, I’m not allowed to be away an en­ when budgets are cut, programs BE tire year. And either I teach or I are cut, and one of the first pro­ give up my position there, and that grams that normally seems to get I wouldn’t want to do. The school cut is music. People don’t seem to systems here in the States, for the realize that music is a very, very better schools at least, require a major part of one’s life. And we’re year of residency, and I couldn’t moving to the computer age, which fulfill that requirement. This par­ I have nothing against, in any sense YOURS ticular school was able to somehow of the word, but it makes one, in my get around that, allowing me to opinion, somewhat insensitive. And come one semester, an adjacent se­ music tends to bring out emotions. mester, and two summers to fill What about the notion that clas­ that requirement. sical music is just for the highbrow, And, the second reason why I elitist crowd? Call decided to come here was because That’s only because the others of my former piano teacher, have not taken the opportunity to Kathleen Rountree, who is on the discover it on their own. It’s for 388-2670 faculty as head of the pedagogy everyone. It’s for everyone. And department. I’m the type of person who learns to Do you plan in the future to re­ try to appreciate the environment turn to the States to stay, or will you that I’m in. For example, when I for continue in Europe? was in Indonesia, in Bali, I got the Well, at this point, it’s very, very chance to attend a ceremonial difficult at this time to consider dance. Now of course, this kind of advertising coming back to the United States in music, by just listening to it on the the area of classical music since radio, would not be appreciated, classical music is not particularly more than likely, because it seems supported or appreciated by the to be quite monotonous, but watch­ rates masses. More people are inter­ ing it in the context that it was ested in rock music or disco music, written for turned out to be one of and that I can understand since the most fascinating things that and that is part of the American tradi­ I’ve ever seen. So I learn to appre­ tion. So my plans at the moment ciate. But everyone is different, are to remain in Europe because and everyone has his own taste,but I’m playing music that is really fewer people are open-minded, and information appreciated there. I have many I would hope that that would even­ occasions to come back to the United tually change. States because I give tours as a concert pianist—and 111 be back in February, for example, to perform a couple of times with an orchestra as well as give solo recitals. At the

SEPTEMBER 1992 FEATURE a

K ing verdict

sparks violence BY KADEE ST. ROMAIN PHOTOS BY DARRELL COOPER i n L A .

When Michael Jackson wailed out the phrase, “It don’t matter if you’re black or white,” comedians criticized the black singer for his increasingly whitening skin. AWARENES “I guess it does m atter after all, doesn’t it, Michael?” they joked. Times reported. Michael Jackson was perhaps As anger and shock swept across trying to comment on racism in the country, nowhere was the fo­ a t America in a positive way. But rum for debate of racism more alive Americans just listened to the song, than on college and university cam­ snapped their fingers, and let life puses. Students not yet bom when roll on. the 1960s crusade against segrega­ LSU Then, on April 29, 1992, the tion was at its height marched, dem­ police officers accused of beating onstrated, and rallied against the motorist Rodney King were acquit­ King trial verdict. University pro­ Onlookers ted. The nation who had watched tests occurred in cities across gather on the the 81-second home video of white America including Las Vegas, At­ Delta Zeta balcony to view police officers beating the black lanta, Tampa, Seattle, Pittsburgh, man was shocked. the protest New York, Omaha, and San Diego. march on LSU's Citizens seized the opportunity Paralleling the violence in Los campus May 1, to protest racism in America, claim­ Angeles, some universities’ protests 1992. ing it does matter if you are black turned sour. raded through the streets armed or white, and it shouldn’t. According to the New York Times, with signs that read, “America, Hours after the verdicts for the students from San Jose University We Weep For Thee,” and “We Won’t four Los Angeles police officers marched to the Federal Building Go Back”; at North Carolina Cen­ were announced, angry mobs and threw rocks and bottles at pass­ tral University, students marched torched buildings, looted stores, ing cars, including police vehicles. peacefully to protest the trial out­ and attacked passing vehicles with When asked about his reaction come. rocks and sticks in an outburst of to the violence, a black senior at The Connecticut Weekly re­ uncontrollable violence. Texas Southern University was ported that the University of Hart­ California Gov. Pete Wilson fi­ quoted as saying, “Students are ford African-American Student As­ nally turned to the National Guard amazed at such a verdict. They’re sociation organized a peaceful sit- after rioters set ablaze more than talking about taking up some kind in in the administrative offices and 150 fires, stormed police headquar­ of arms and uniting in an eye-for- followed it up with a lengthy dis­ ters, and trashed numerous down­ an-eye, giving back what was given cussion attended by the town buildings. While gunfire to us.” university’s president. flared in the streets, heavy smoke The Los Angeles Times reported Trinity College’s students held from the fires caused authorities that about 100 Central Missouri an open microphone session to dis­ to re-route landing patterns for State University students broke cuss the King trial and racial inci­ aircraft at Los Angeles Interna­ windows and overturned a car. On dents on their campus. tional Airport, the Los Angeles the east coast, Boston students pa­ At home in Baton Rouge, stu-

54 GUMBO MAGAZINE dents were equally shaken by the The march paused around 1:30 should take the lead in the state by Over 300 verdict but avoided trouble, Acara- a.m. outside Chancellor Davis’ of­ scorning racism.” students, faculty, and van of demonstrators from South­ fice where the protesters presented Davis responded to what seemed campus workers ern University, LSU’s historically their grievances. The triumphs of to be the heart of students’ con­ participated in black neighbor, stormed toward the this session were found in a letter cerns—sensitivity. Cross burning, an organized capitol six miles away as soon as Davis published in The Daily Rev­ Rebel flag flying, racial slurs, cus­ march to the verdict was announced. eille only days later. In it, he as­ todial Olympics: these events were respond to the addressed in the letter and reflected King trial The protest that rainy Thursday sured students that LSU was com­ verdict. night at LSU was simple—a march, mitted to being “a warm and hospi­ blacks’ concern that students and a meeting with the chancellor, and table place where students, fac­ administrators were insensitive to a quad sit-in, said Don Scott, an ulty and staff of all races are wel­ the ideals and goals perpetuated by LSU law student and cornerstone come." Davis said that racism on multiculturalism, the ideal of cre­ of the organized protest on LSU’s campus would be cause for disci­ ating an environment made up of a campus. Scott said students began plinary action. combination of several distinct cul­ gathering Thursday around 8 p.m. Scott and other students in­ tures. at the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity volved in the King trial protest Scott pinpointed such acts of in­ house with the will to “do some­ considered this letter a stepping sensitivity as the burning of a cross thing positive.* The decision was to stone toward greater victories, outside a black RA’s dorm room, begin marching Friday morning. deeming it an unprecedented several fraternities’ choice to fly However, as students left the meet­ event. “This is not a black thing; the Rebel flag, and one fraternity’s ing, they were allegedly confronted many whites are jumping in and submission of a picture to the by a neighboring fraternity. fighting for the same things. This Gumbo yearbook in which white “They yelled racial slurs, but in­ makes me believe there is still a members dressed as African tribal stead of fighting, we walked away chance for things to change and members. He claimed the Univer­ and just kept on walking,” Scott move forward,” he said. sity should take a firmer stand in said. LSU’s protesters aim to have condemning such actions. In response to the sudden turn of the University understand what Such assurance is hard to come events, the march began that night racism is and diminish it at LSU. by, said Dean of Students Thomas and continued on into Friday when As outlined by Scott, their major Risch. The first obstacle is the fed­ protesters totaling over 300 stu­ goals are to officially open the Afri­ eral Family Educational and Pri­ dents, faculty, and campus work­ can-American Cultural Center, to vacy Rights Act of 1974, or the ers visited the locked due to lack of establish a race relations commit­ Buckley Amendment. The act for­ funding African-American Cultural tee, and to write a racial harass­ bids the release of any names or Center, fraternity row, Power Hall, ment policy into the student code. specific action taken. Students are and the Anglo-American Museum, “We are supposed to be the ‘flag­ reluctant to take an administrator’s finally resting in the quad. ship university’,” said Scott. “We word that action has in fact been

SEPTEMBER 1992 55 FEATURE

taken against offenders. He said students often ask “why haven’t you done what I think you should do,” instead of “has something been done?" Scott said, “We don’t need to know who is responsible, but we do need to know that something was done. Unless the University ad­ dresses these problems correctly, they will not go away.” The student code mandates that all complaints be brought before the Dean of Student’s office, but the dean himself is not responsible for finding anyone guilty or innocent. From his office the m atter moves to a hearing panel comprised of three students, three faculty members, a representative of the academic dean’s office and a faculty chairper­ son. Risch said his office investigates every situation that is brought to his attention, but that raises an­ other problem. “We must know what has hap­ pened before something can be done about it,” Risch said. One incident that never made it to Risch’s desk was the appearance of a dead skunk outside the same room that had received the burning cross. Risch said that students as­ sume the administration knows everything that goes on. He attrib­ uted the unreported event to “poor communication skills.” Risch acknowledged the prob­ lem of sensitivity and mentioned goals of his own. These included a strong policy statement and changes in orientation and faculty/ The protesters’ the fraternities on campus which that to blacks, it represented a time staff training. He also advocated route consisted flies the Confederate flag next to in history they would prefer to for­ dealing with offenses in a timely of stops at the the Stars and Stripes, said the dis­ get. m anner. African- American play of the flag carries neither a Some students argued about the “Discipline should be corrective, Cultural racist message nor is used as an issue more directly when they held not punitive,” he said. Center, insensitive ploy to anger blacks. an informal protest outside the In many ways, Scott, from the fraternity row. “Our heritage is important to us, Anglo-American Museum Friday, student’s side of the spectrum, and Power Hall, the and we traditionally display our May 8,1992. Three students carry­ Anglo- Ameri­ Risch, as part of the administra­ pride in being Southern,” said ing the Rebel flag met with David tion, saw eye-to-eye. They both rec­ can Museum, and the quad. Paysse McWilliams, president of “Sonny” DeVillier, Special Assis­ ognized a problem and formulated Delta Tau Delta fraternity. Another tant to the Chancellor’s Office, goals to move toward solutions. member of the same fraternity said claiming the attention given to black Risch was familiar with the inci­ the flag was attractive and added grievances was unwarranted, dents Scott mentioned and said that color and attention to the front of DeVillier said. offenders were often warned of sen­ the house. These students who addressed sitivity. Though he knew the fraternities themselves as the “non-silent stu­ But the problem lies in defining could not be forced to stop display­ dent majority” presented DeVillier sensitivity. The president of one of ing the Rebel flag, Scott maintained with a letter demanding that the

56 GUMBO MAGAZINE FEATURE

University defend the rights of was botched last spring when there white students, including the right was a mix-up with the Student to fly the Confederate battle flag. Government Association election They also asked any policies geared T.his is not a black thing; many whites ballots. toward “political correctness” or Two referendums should have “multiculturalism” to be repudi­ are jumping in and fighting for the same appeared on the primary election ated. The letter was signed only things. This makes me believe there is still i ballot. The first was an option for “Louisiana Students for Campus all students to volunteer money on Conservatism,” without listing any chance for things to change and move their registration fee bill for the specific students as its members. center. The second was a tax to be Chancellor Davis responded to fo rw a rd .” imposed on black students for the this letter in much the same way same cause. The University does indeed have that he responded to the black stu­ Neither referendum appeared on plans for more sensitivity aware­ dents’ demands. His response ap­ the first election ballot, thus the ness on campus. For example, Ed peared in LS U Today, a faculty and options were forced to appear on Chasteen, professor of sociology at staff newsletter. the run-off ballot, and the second William Jewell College in Liberty, He said that the university rec­ referendum was absent from this Missouri, is scheduled to speak to ognized the rights of all students election. Both Snearl and Vice invited student leaders and faculty and that where these rights were Chancellor Norman Moore main­ in October. concerned, there were no minori­ tained that this option would have ties or majorities. He also assured “LSU is taking a step in the right passed. The first failed, sending direction. We need to start talking students that the University had thecenter’s options for funding back no policy pertaining to “political about diversity and sensitivity. to the drawing board. correctness” or “multiculturalism” There are students out there who Moore, who is head of a task but only observed policies that re­ want to reach out and be sensitive force for the center made up of stu­ but just don’t know how,” said Gwen spected academic freedom. dents and faculty, said funding Many white students felt the Snearl, director of Minority Stu­ could materialize next semester if attention given to the demands of dent Services. the University would cover the fees Scott and other protesters were un­ Scott said that for now, issues until student referendums are warranted. They wanted the same such as the display of the Rebel flag passed. Moore said the task force sensitivity and concern. by fraternities take a back seat to was currently compiling informa­ Somewhere inbetween lay the goals that seem within reach. Even tion to present to Chancellor Davis. group “Students for Free Thought” manyblackstudent' complaintthat The incidents during the Rodney which released a statement ap­ the percentage of black faculty King protest had little impact on plauding Chancellor Davis’ pro­ members should be increased has plans for the cultural center, he posed initiatives. “While we oppose been put on the back burner for the said. But Snearl said the center’s political correctness as a threat to African-American Cultural Center opening was high on the list of pro­ academic freedom, we also condemn and the Race Relations Committee testers’ wishes and they “pushed unequivocally all manifestations of to move forward. the center to the forefront of atten­ genuine racism on campus,” said The African-American Cultural tion.” the group’s secretary in a press Center is waiting for funding, said The cultural center will serve release dated May 9,1992. Snearl. Its first chance for funding both the campus and the commu­ nity as an African-American cul­ Protesters pause outside ture museum featuring art, books, of the Alumni and films relating to African-Ameri­ Center on can history and culture. sorority row. The next item on Scott’s and other students’ list is the formula­ tion of a Race Relations Commit­ tee. Davis, in his letter to the stu­ dent body, defined the committee as a group of individuals nominated by the Faculty Senate, Staff Sen­ ate, and SGA who would “study and make recommendations on ra ­ cial relations on campus.” Paul Pitts, director of the Office of Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity, said, “Nothing about Continued on page 63

SEPTEMBER 1992 57 FICTION

t h e

T e l e v i s i o n

BY FRANCES DICKERSON ILLUSTRATIONS BY CARRIE CABLER

“What’s this?” I ask my room­ mate and her fiance as I pull my keys out of the lock. I had gone home for the weekend and was just returning to the dorm. Liz and Wes were sitting on her bed in front of it. “Our new TV,” my roommate smiles. That means their new TV. “Nice.” I’m stunned. “When did you get it?” “Saturday, at the mall.” I look it over—nineteen inches, color, with remote. Very nice. “How?” I drop my heavy booksack and plop on my bed. “Credit card!” Of course. That’s how they pay “So what’s its name?” I get Christine they wouldn’t cooperate for everything. Even Burger King. around to asking. half as much.” We (that’s me and Liz) had lived Liz and I have a habit of naming Wes rolls his eyes again and without a TV for a few semesters. all our appliances. The microwave reaches for the remote. “You’re We had just about everything else is Mike, the refrigerator is Fred, both being ridiculous.” in the room already—microwave, the computer is Mac, the stereo is Liz and I look at each other be­ refrigerator, computer, stereo. I Steve. hind his back. I stick my tongue could have afforded a TV with my She looks at Wes. “How about out, and we laugh to ourselves. birthday money, last year. Liz was Brian?” she asks. Wes rolls his all for that idea, but I decided eyes. Liz and I had become best friends against it. I hadn’t wanted any “They won’t be nice to you if you our freshman year in high school. distractions. We could ju st go down­ don’t name them,” I explain to him. She transferred in from another stairs to the lobby to watch the “A name makes them more per­ school, and I was the first person to dorm TV when we really needed to. sonal.” talk to her. I remember asking her “Now you can watch the news,” Liz settles on the name Dave. how long she’d been at our school, I she says, “see what’s going on in the Then Wes has to know why we didn’t recall ever seeing her before, world.” always pick a guy’s name. and she said she’d been there four “That'll be nice.” I’ve rather “To get better service. If they weeks. missed my daily dose of reality. were named Susan, or Jennifer, or We were both pretty shy then.

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Neither one of us had what you Wes roars again. more important to do,” he said. I might call a boyfriend through high “Would you mind keeping it down hadn’t begun my English paper yet, school; we didn’t even go to senior a little more?” I ask as nicely as I but I told him I could stay. prom. Liz’s cousin said he’d go with can. And so we talked and listened to her, but she said forget that. In­ “Fine,” Wes says, turning it down the radio. He was sitting on the stead, she and I went to her house, one notch with the remote. Again, bed, and I sat cross-legged on the cooked dinner (I think it was spa­ I try to read my play, but I kept chair that went with his desk. I ghetti; we didn’t know how to cook having to check the footnotes. looked over his book shelves, the too well back then), got all dressed A commercial comes on, and posters he hadn’t had time to put up, and had our own dinner. Then there is some whispering on the up, snapshots from high school, his we watched some old movies—that other side of the room, then Liz tape collection. In one of those was the night we saw Casablanca giggling. I clench my pen firmly; pauses where you look for what for the first time. It was real late “Don’t you two have any homework subject to start next (but it wasn’t when that finished, and Liz’s par­ to do?” I say with a saccharine smile. awkward at all because somehow I ents were asleep, so she and I talked “Yeah, we’re going to do it after, felt really comfortable with him by in whispers in the dark about col­ in Wes’s room,” Liz says. this time, and the night was getting lege and what we were going to be I glance at the clock; I still have late), he caught my attention, looked doing soon. We were going to watch at least nineteen minutes of this. I me in the eye, and asked, “Can I the sun rise, but we fell asleep on just try to concentrate harder. I kiss you?” the floor about 4:30. We enjoyed could leave, I guess, but I’m comfy I leaned forward. I can’t say the our evening more than we would on the bed; besides, it’s my room thought hadn’t occurred to me on have enjoyed prom, I bet. too. numerous occasions throughout Rooming with her in college has When the show goes off, the two this evening and others. We smiled been great; we get along fine. She love birds go off like they’d said, to at each other, giggled a little, and doesn’t study quite as much as I do, study I guess. I finish Act III, admitted we had wanted to do that but I’ve got a scholarship to keep. wondering if the TV will become for a while. It was sweet. And old- id you We used to have lots of talks like more of a problem when I have fashioned, to ask me first if he could. D the prom night one—every few studying to do. I liked it. I liked him. know th a t weeks or so, I mean. Before drifting I’m done for the night. I turn on The Star Trek theme plays as off to sleep, we’d talk about school, the TV and watch the news. When tonight’s episode goes to commer­ the average or work, or whatever was on our the local goes off, national comes cial. The show isn’t any better than m ale falls in minds. We’ve been too tired, lately. on, followed by commercials. Liz I remember it being then. I quickly I don’t know what I’m going to do still isn’t back, and I’m still not switch off the TV, take a shower, love at least when she gets married and leaves tired, but I’m bored. I leave the TV and go to bed. me. on, just to see what comes next. eleven times Star Trek. Not the old ones, but It’s Monday night and I have the in th eir lifes, the Next Generation. room to myself again. It’s later Sunday evening, and I used to watch the show with I don’t feel up to Shakespeare, so not counting I’m trying to get through Act III of this guy I met in a class last semes­ I watch the news again. I have a Much Ado About Nothing, but the ter. We would talk before the lec­ million things to do and no desire to at least two ture started or walk a part of the do any of them. canned laughter added to the sitcom times after that Liz and Wes are watching is way to our next classes together. The news go off. I’m about to distracting me. I hear Wes’s cackle He told me about what a great show shut down the TV when a commer­ their first above all the racket; annoyed, I Star Trek: the Next Generation was cial appears for the upcoming look up to see just what is so hys­ and said I really should watch it. I sitcom. I decide it won’t hurt to m arriage, told him I didn’t have a TV, and he watch a little longer since I don’t terical. b u t th e A guy in a wig and women’s said I could watch it at his place. really need to finish everything to­ clothing is being arrested; a raving His name was Mike, and it soon night. average woman next to him is trying to became habit for him to walk me All through the show, I keep explain to the police while depart­ from my dorm to his every Sunday telling myself how stupid it all is, female falls night to sit in his room and watch how ridiculous and foolish the char­ ment store alarm s go off and lights in love only flash. “Who writes this stuff,” I Star Trek. We’d talk about it Mon­ acters are, and how implausible grumble. day. I didn’t think the show was all the plot is. But then the commer­ about seven “It’s funny,” Liz says in defense, that great, but I didn’t tell him cials come on, and I can’t tell which times, and “and if you’d ever get your nose out that. I liked talking about it, any­ is dumber. There’s one commercial for this of a book, you might like it.” way. le ss once “Hmph,” I say. “That’ll be the About the second or third time talk show I think must have been created for housewives with no lives; day.” I look at my Shakespeare that I was watching the show with a fte r m ar­ tomorrow’s show is going to be about again and get through a dozen more him, he invited me to stay and talk men, women, and love. Don’t they riage? lines of iambic pentameter before a while, “If you don’t have anything

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have anything better to talk about, orders memorized, and we never kisses her on the nose. Then, to me I think. had to prompt her with our recita­ he says, “Did you say less than Don’t miss it, the host says. “I tion of “with lettuce, not sprouts; once?” He looks puzzled. wouldn’t dream of it,” I say sarcas­ with American cheese, not Swiss; “Yeah.” tically. Then the sitcom comes back and with hash browns, not fries.” “W hat does less than once mean? on. The semester Wes started hang­ That’s ridiculous.” I watch for about twenty min­ ing around, he didn’t understand “It’s just a statistic.” utes, until I hear Liz’s tennis shoes our nocturnal binges, so he never “Where did you hear it?” he asks squeaking down the hall. I click the joined us. That was fine. Liz and I me. power off, vault onto my own bed, haven’t had a Louie-break yet this “Um, I read it,” I say. But I’m and open my English book before semester, but then she has had a lot kicking myself. I’d almost given she even has time to put the key in of planning to do for the wedding. myself away. the lock. “Where?” I try not to breath heavy as she I get up the next morning, go to “Hmm?” I ask, stalling. and Wes come in. “Studying again?” the cafeteria, and have breakfast “Where did you read it,” he re­ Liz asks. with my book, as usual. As usual peats. Liz keeps studying all this I smile in answer. I’m waiting since The Engagement, that is. Liz time; she usually stays out of my for one of them to find the remote and Wes will be eating together in and Wes’s discussions. She calls and turn the TV back on, but they about an hour. them arguments. don’t. Wes takes off his jacket and I really don’t feel like going to “I don’t remember,” I say meekly, opens his booksack, and Liz is reach­ psych class. It’s so boring; the prof wishing I’d never said it, and add a ing for her books too. just reads the text to a lecture hall shrug for effect. “No TV?” I ask incredulously. of four hundred comatose students. Wes rolls his eyes and goes back “No, finals are coming. Study­ Besides, the lecture hall is always to work. ing first,” she says with uncharac­ freezing cold. I look at my watch Feeling chastised, I pick up my teristic resolve, and sits next to her and remember the commercial I psychology book to see what I’d fiance. saw on TV last night for that talk missed in class. “Oh.” I scowl, disappointed by show—the one about men, women, my curiosity, and immediately com­ and love. Somehow it doesn’t seem I was actually responsible for mence studying, to make up for such a stupid topic to talk about, introducing Liz to Wes. Isa t next to wasted time. this morning. I debate with myself, Wes once lunch at the cafeteria and but in the end I skip psychology. thought this was someone Liz had In semesters past, Liz and I have Now, if the show was on during to meet. He had a better sense of been deeply affected by the stress of English, there’s no way I would humor then. The three of us ate studying for final exams. We would skipped, but since it’s on during dinner together, nearly choking have this freaky simultaneous psychology, I figure, why not? I I skipped from laughing so hard, and so we cleaning attack and end up reorga­ won’t be missing anything in class. started hanging out and studying psych again nizing our desks and closets and Besides, the show’s about real together. We’d go to movies every stuff. She was better at it than I people with real problems, and now and then. The one night I was this week. I was. We’d give each other a shot at that’s much more interesting than sick and couldn’t make it was the figure I'm the clothes we were tired of, before textbook cases, you know? It’s the night those two decided they’d like giving them to the Salvation Army, first time I skipped this semester. I to date. A few months later, they learning more and a broom touched the floor for figure it will be okay as long as I were engaged. And at the end of the first time in weeks, and the don’t make a habit out of it. this semester they will be married. about human dishes were washed, with soap. I have a hard time imagining it. behavior from Then we’d study some more, drink­ ing coffee and eating M&M’s. Did you know that the average I finish the psychology and look th e s e Before Wes started hanging male falls in love at least eleven over at Liz and Wes. They’re curled around, Liz and I also used to cope times in their lives, not counting at up like puppies, dozing on the bed. talk sh o w s w ith the help of Louie’s. We ate as least two times after their first When they get entangled with each than I ever many Louie platters during finals marriage, but the average female other like that I have to go take a week as we did over all the other falls in love only about seven times, walk. would from weeks of the semester combined. and less than once after marriage?” I start around the block. I’m not We would sit at the same table Wes looks up at me; he and Liz dressed for the cold, so I won’t be the textbook every night (or morning, really; it are actually studying again. That able to take it for long. I start think o r o n e of was always available at that hour) makes two nights in a row. It must about the Star Trek guy again. and the same waitress took our be for their biology text on Thurs­ After the kiss that first night, we th o se d ry orders. When she asked “What’ll day. “That better not be the way turned the lights off and talked to you have tonight?” I liked saying with us,” Liz teases Wes. each other on the bed. By about le c tu re s. “the usual.” She had Liz’s and my “It won’t be,” he promises, and three, though, I thought we should

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let each other get some sleep, asked days. They’re spending less time in if he minded walking me across the room anyway, and when they’re campus. He asked if I wanted to here, they’re usually sitting on her spend the night there, but I bed watching TV. I sit by myself on wouldn’t. I couldn’t, even if noth­ my side of the room and pretend to ing happened. I liked him I lot, I read. said, but... Besides the talk shows, I started Mike nodded, said he under­ watching a few sitcoms, too. I’ve stood. He got thoughtful, looked grown to admire the neatness of reflective, and said, “That always the thirty minute show: most of the complicates things.” I wondered show involves getting the charac­ which of his ex-girlfriends he was ters into a heap of trouble and all it thinking about, but I didn’t want to takes is just a little time left over to ask. Reaching for the overhead get them out of it. I think it’s nicer light, he changed the subject; than real life, where people seem to “Watch your eyes,” he said, and I need more than a little time to work thought that was the end of that. through even a little bit of trouble We put on our shoes, I found my that they manage to get into in such keys, barrette, and earrings on the a little time. And sitcoms resolve it desk where he had put them. We all in a mere half an hour. walked back to my dorm, stopping every half a block or so for a giant I slap my book shut for effect. hug. I was tired, but I ran up the I’m caught up on English assign­ three flights of stairs to my room, ments again. I had let it slide for “Oh.” I press my lips together instead of taking the elevator like I more than a week. tightly and stare at the screen. usually did. “Finished?” Liz asks, looking up Five minutes later Wes comes He and I used to get together on from her desk. For once, Wes isn’t in, dripping puddles on our floor. I week nights, too, not just week­ with her. stay on the bed and watch the TV ends. We took walks in the rain “Yeah.” while Liz turns off the ceiling fan and talked. We talked a lot, about “Casablanca's coming on tonight. for him and fetches him a towel. everything. I told him about books Let’s take a break and watch.” “Come sit down, Liz,” I urge her; I’d read and he told me about mov­ “Where’s Wes?” “you’re missing it.” Let him get his ies he’d seen. Sometimes we’d go “Class. He gets out at 9:00.” own towel. In his own room. see something together, although “Okay. I’ll fix us some popcorn,” “In a minute,” she promises, we never read a book together. He I say, and soon have the microwave floating around the room some wanted to write movies someday. going. more. Going to movies was fun because The rain beats outside. We sit She offers him some of my pop­ he knew so much about the actors on Liz’s bed, hugging our pillows, corn and uses my microwave to and directors. But I liked the nights and tuck our feet under the quilt make hot water for some chocolate. we stayed in and watched Star Trek because the room has grown chilly. She hands him the mug; he kisses best. They were great. We would I set the bag of steaming popcorn her thank you. They’re making watch from his bed with the lights between us, put the Puffs box and puppy dog eyes at each other. I off. And when the commercials wastebasket handy. click the remote volume button a would come on, he would kiss me It’s been a long time since Liz few times. and we would fool around until the and I’ve had two hours to ourselves. “Come sit by us,” Liz tells him, show interrupted us. Maybe we’ll even talk before we fell moving back toward the bed. I shiver; it’s too cold tonight to asleep. It’s a little like high school So he joins us. I reluctantly stay outside. I go back in, ignoring again. And Casablanca is such a make room and wait while Liz the puppies, and go to bed. great movie. spreads the quilt over his feet. They The phone rings at 7:15. snuggle close. I skip psych again this week. I Liz gets it. “Hello? . . . Hey, “Do you w ant me to leave?” figure I’m learning more about hu­ aren’t you late for class?... oh — “Don’t be silly,” Liz says. man behavior from these talk shows we’re watching a movie ... okay.” We watch for a little while in than I ever would from the text­ She puts the receiver down and sits silence, then they start whispering book or one of those dry lectures. back on the bed. to each other again. I haven’t made any more slips in “That was Wes.” I scramble off the bed and throw sharing my newly-acquired knowl­ That parti had figured out. “Uh- open my closet door, looking for my edge with Liz and Wes. I just keep huh?” raincoat. it all to myself, storing away all the “His class got canceled so he’s “Where are you going?” Liz asks. advice about relationships for later coming over.” “Out.”

SEPTEMBER 1992 61 FICTION

“Are you sick?* ment ring: a traditional diamond, Something’s missing. “Where’s the B “No.* Not physically, anyway. not too big for her small hands. “It’s TV?” “I just need some fresh air.* beautiful,” I said. “Wes’s room,” she says. “I esides the “W hat about the movie?* “Why are you crying?” thought it would be better over “I know how it ends.* “Oh, I’m just so happy for you!” there.” talk shows, I I don’t look back and let the and I gave her a hug so she couldn’t I nod and try to smile. “Yeah. started watch­ door slam. see my eyes. I listened to her tell Okay.” me how Wes had proposed, and “You can still come watch the ing a few I walk around—nowhere in when the wedding was going to be, news, though.” particular. It’s windy, drizzly, and what color dress I was going to “Okay.* sitcoms, too. and cold, and there isn’t a soul wear, because I was going to be the ... I think it’s around. I fold my arm s in front of maid of honor. The wedding’s only a month me to stay warm as I breath in Mike never called. away now. The announcement and nicer than real the damp night air. The trees Heat lightning makes flashes but engagement picture came out in throw shadows on the sidewalk, no thunder sounds. I try to avoid the newspaper today. Liz and Wes life, where but the streetlights catch glim­ around the broken glass, but it still do make a nice-looking couple. people seem to mers of glass from beer bottles crunches on the concrete under my They’ve already invited me to their that have exploded there. feet. apartment for dinner some evening. need m o re One night I had watched Wes If Wes makes dessert, I guess I’ll and Liz walk the way I’m going. I get in around eleven, clothes just have to be on a diet. than a little I just happened to look out our slightly damp. Wes is gone. Liz is I’ve already bought them their time to work dorm window at the right time to in bed already. wedding present—a VCR. Every­ see them below, coming back She sets a book down and gets up thing seems set: in ju st a few weeks through even a from a banquet or something for to turn off the fan and hand me a I’ll be helping Liz’s mom make those one of the clubs they’re in. They clean towel. little sandwiches on white bread little bit of were walking couple-like, arms “Thanks,” I say. “Whatcha read­ for the reception, and I’ll be pasting trouble that around each other’s shoulders ing?” I ask in a voice that admits on a smile for all those tortuous and waist, and they came across none of the night’s earlier events. pictures the photographer puts you they manage some glass shattered on the side­ “To Kill a Mockingbird.* through a t the wedding. walk. They stopped. Wes picked “For a class?” I haven’t met the best man yet, to g e t into in her up, squealing and kicking, “Nojustforfun. It’s pretty good.” but Liz tells me he’s really cute, and such a little and carried her across. On the “I love that book,” I say. “Haven’t he loves to read. other side, he set her down again. you ever read it before?” E tim e. She kissed him. I looked away. “No,” Liz says. “We did The That had been a Saturday Scarlet Letter our junior year in­ night. A few hours earlier, I had stead, don’t you remember?” been watching Star Trek with “I guess I must have read it on EDITOR'S Mike, and when the first com­ my own,” I say. note mercial came on, instead of kiss­ “You nerd.” I smile. “Wes ing me, he just said, “I need to couldn’t believe I hadn’t read it ei­ Thanks to all who submitted spend time with other people.* I ther, so he gave me a copy.” entries. The winning story was asked him what he meant, and I don’t say anything. judged on the basis of original­ he never gave me a straight an­ “You okay?” ity, style, and content. The swer. We watched the rest of the “Yeah. I’m sorry, I dunno what’s show in silence, not even touch­ wrong with me,” I say. She waits Gumbo welcomes submissions ing. He walked me home. I tried for more, but I’m trying to sort out for publication from students. to make conversation, about any­ everything I want to tell her—how Send entries to: thing, but he was being quiet. much I love her... that I just want B-39 Hodges Hall When we got to the dorm, I asked her to be h ap p y . . . th a t I miss her him to call me, and he sort of now, and was going to miss her Office of Student Media nodded and walked off without even more after the .wedding . . the usual good-night kiss, and I .th at I’m lonely, and a little scared. went inside alone. “I’m just tired, I guess,” I force a A few hours later was when I laugh, then I dry my face and give saw Liz and Wes walking, and a her one of those hugs as if I’m pre­ few minutes later Liz came in menstrual and my hormones are to literally jumping on her bed. I blame for it all. I don’t get this way asked her what was going on, often, so she lets it slide. and she extended a trembling When I sit up I notice the corner hand to show me the engage­ of the room looks more empty.

62 GUMBO MAGAZINE plained that too many black Cravins, and Ramona Carrier. Jack Crowe. To rejuvenate the Rodney K ing students were complacent, un­ Edward Henderson, Peter offense, they hired ex-Tulane conthustf tompagt 57 willing to pick up the torch Soderberg, Allen Lee, Kofi coach Greg Davis to build a the committee has been final­ that is passed down from gen­ Lomotey, James Werbel, and pro-style offense. If you read ized, but there is every indica­ eration to generation. Nona Mack represent the fac­ the previous paragraph, then tion that it will come together Scott said that the differ­ ulty. Staff members on the you know Davis’ team only for the fall.” ence these reforms will make committee include Todd tallied one win last year. The Pitts will serve in an advi­ will not serve just blacks, but Pourciau, Mary Lockman, Bar­ Hogs shouldn’t set the world sory role, but said he doesn’t all human beings. “This is not bara Jackson, Guadalupe M. on fire. know who else will sit on the a black thing; many whites LaMadrid, Father Pat The Tigers have a great committee. Snearl said she are jumping in and fighting Mascarella, and Doris chance to post a winning sea­ hoped to be involved but had for the same things. This Dawson. son this year. Lots of experi­ not received any indication yet. makes me believe there is still enced players will be back; Finally, the long-term goal a chance for things to change Curley has a year under his P i g s k i n that Scott and other protest­ and move forward,” he said. belt, and the coaches did an ers are most working toward If Michael Jackson is right, oontlnuod from page 49 excellent recruiting job. Last is the implementation of a ra­ and color makes no difference, LSU, Tiger Stadium has been year, the Tigers were a few cial harassment policy into the then change and reform will less than intimidating to the plays away from a respectable student code. transcend the color line and Tide. Bama is 10-0-1 in Death season. This year, if the ball Risch said he hoped a racial^ benefit all races. The fact that Valley since 1971. Bama re­ bounces the right way, Curley’s harassment policy would be students across America pro­ turns many veteran players, crew could post seven or eight an item the Racial Relations tested what they said was an and they are expected to com­ wins and score a bowl game. Committee would recommend. injustice to Rodney King only pete for the SEC crown. How­ And at this point, no one would “A policy of this type is diffi­ brought racial issues in ever, Bama has been known to complain if it was even the cult to define, thus achieve. America and on college cam­ slip up on the road at least Poulan Weed-Eater Indepen­ Right now, verbal harassment puses into the limelight. Many once a year. Their only loss dence Bowl. is being hotly debated across circles were already tossing last year was a mass thump­ the country,” he said. around ideas to ease tensions. ing in Gainesville from the Only time will tell if such a The Rodney King incident Gators. This year, the Tigers T hree-peat policy is printed into LSU’s sparked awareness of the dif­ could pull the upset. code. Far from impossible, the ferences between black and Tulane will drive up Inter­ continued tom pag& 42 event is preceded by winds of white. Perhaps there will al­ state 10 to tangle with the never see the mound on Sun­ change already beginning to ways be a difference. But Tigers Nov. 21. LSU has a day because the red-hot Ti­ blow. America and the world will nine-game winning streak tans crushed LSU. Davis announced in his let­ only be content when they fol­ against the Green Wave in So it ended, a great 50-win ter that four more African- low the advice of the band Live what has become a not-so- season, which is the fifth high­ Americans would be joining and “learn to appreciate the great rivalry. After 1992, the est victory total ever at LSU. the faculty in the fall, and Scott beauty of gray.” teams will only meet once ev­ The fans who stayed and boasted that for the first time ery other year. Tulane will cheered the Tigers after the the Student Bar Association Editor's Note sport a new coach in Buddy disappointing loss almost has elected a black president. Teevens, an Ivy Leaguer who made it seem like an awards Statistics from the Office of After the writing of this ar­ will take the helm of a team ceremony. Several Tigers were Budget and Planning showed ticle, in late July, Chancellor that finished ’91 with a pitiful duly honored: that black faculty enrollment Davis appointed an 18-mem- 1-10 record. Teevens says he • Peever was named na­ has increased by 64 percent ber biracial committee to ad­ is looking forward to the LSU tional player of the year by since 1981, even though white dress multicultural concerns match-up. He might not be too Collegiate Baseball Magazine faculty members outnumber and to serve as a sounding ecstatic after the Green Wave for his 14-0 season. black by the hundreds. board for racial problems on gets washed up by the Tigers. • Walker was named na­ However subtle, change is the Baton Rouge campus. LSU will close out the regu­ tional freshman of the year in the air. The committee includes stu­ lar season on the road Nov. 28 with his .400 average and 76 “The Rodney King situation dents, faculty members, and against new SEC member Ar­ RBI’s. highlighted frustrations about staff members. Davis ap­ kansas. The teams haven’t • Schultz joined Walker on fairness and sensitivity and pointed Forest Benedict, di­ met since the i966 Cotton the first-team all-freshman caused a series of events to rector of human resource man­ Bowl, where the Tigers upset squad with an 8-3 record and a come bubbling up at once,” said agement, committee chair­ the undefeated and second- 2.90 ERA. Dean Risch. man. ranked Razorbacks 14-7, end­ • Johnson was named hon­ Black students like Scott The student members of the ing an Arkansas 22-game win­ orable mention freshman all- hope to be able to move for­ committee are Craig S. John­ ning streak. Times have America squad with his .338 ward without a major protest son, Graham E. Breedlove, changed, though. The Hogs average and 49 RBI’s. to spark reform. Scott com­ Karen E. Smith, Don R. are only 9-14 under head coach And LSU will be ready to go

SEPTEMBER 19 9 2 63 SE° 0 2 1933

again next year with a great outof Houston, Texas. They’ve artist Minoy and Pain Clinic), that CD. In the meantime, try nucleus. Peever will be gone, recently released Various Tear Ceremony and Pain to catch the LSU Jazz En­ as he was drafted by expan­ Artists Manifestation III, Clinic, and Regicide Bureau semble, directed by Grimes, in sion Colorado in the fourth featuring eight bands. The and Pain Clinic. Side one con­ recital at the Union Theater round and signed a contract. bulk of this release is devoted sists of spooky electronic and on Nov. 13 at 8 p.m. Sheets and Greene are ex­ to noise-collage bands (sort of guitar fun, mixed with tape . V ...... v...... v.f...... I pected to sign big-league deals, like the Phauss/Karkowski/ loops and reverberating/dis­ as well, but they won’t leave Bilting release but more lav­ torted vocals. “Rants 1 & 2,” a Rick Blackwood;! the cupboard bare. Walker ish) that obviously sample any­ Tear Ceremony/Pain Clinic confoued trorr, page 30 and Johnson will anchor the thing they can get their equip­ collaboration, stands out as dents have to their names. infield, with catcher Adrian ment on—all sorts of human being well produced and suc­ He did have some advice,! ; Antonini again behind the vocalizations (from children cessfully disturbing. Side two though, for screenwriter hope­ plate and Kenny Jackson back laughing and cooing to females is a long, priceless live perfor­ fuls: “Work hard. If you’re lazy to play first. Mike Neal could making heron-like screams), mance that was aired on Dec. and can’t take criticism, do some­ fill the infieldvoid left if Sheets dozens of animalish sounds, 12, 1991, on KLSU’s Friday thing else, but if you have the does leave, and Armando Rios bells, doors creaking, things night avant-garde show. This right kind of talent, there is in­ and Harry Berrios will be back breaking (bottles?)—and mix piece features entertaining credible opportunity.” in the outfield, although Chris these samples into layers of vocal babblings by Minoy (“I- Currently, Blackwood is also Moock does leave big shoes to keyboards and loops, creating S-M. Ism! Hey, what do I entwined in a project of his own. fill in left field. The pitching intriguing and eerie pieces. know from an Ism?”), as re­ He was hired by MGM to write j the screenplay Dead Lock about should be very solid with Five bands work towards this corded via telephone from St. a Mafia Trial. Rantz, Chamberlain, and noise-play: Cyclops Joint, Torrance, California. Anyone Yet he says he loves it at LSU ' Schultz as the leaders along Pleasure Center, Alquimia, interested in Pain Clinic and because he can write here. “I’m I with Sirotka, but finding a Jesus Penis, and the mellow other cassette culture artists not always on the phone, having I closer to replace Greene, who Tuesday’s Delusion. There are should write to Voodoo Ar­ lunch with some producer or try­ was a first-round pick of De­ a few mediocre industrial/in­ chives at7008Annabelle Lane, ing to close some deal,” he said I troit and most certainly will dustrial-dance bits on this com­ Baton Rouge, 70806. And as for the lack of fame in ] sign, could be tough. But con­ pilation, Cecilia + - ’s “Jus­ Well, that’s that. I’ve given regards to the battle with the 1 sidering what Skip Bertman tice,” Cyclops Joint’s “Bleed­ you a dozen distinctly differ­ popcorn? Blackwood thinks it’s j did with the 1992 Tigers, LSU ing Pure Air,” and Jesus ent titles that I believe de­ good that writers are relatively fans shouldn’t have anything Penis’s “Lethal Injection.” serve attention. As with any anonymous because it enables j to worry about. LSU doesn’t There are two bands that make music review, this ain’t worth them to lead pretty normal lives, j rebuild; they reload. music in the usual sense spit unless it moves you, the He added, however, that inside i (people playing instruments intelligent reader, to scope out the film industry, writers are j live): the Intuitive Music Unit new stuff. Also, no matter how well known, and their reputa- (I.M.U.) and Stinkerbell. hard one tries, music simply tion is what sells them. Alternative I.M.U. is abizarre, saxophone- can’t be conveyed through an based quartet, coming across article—you have to listen to music as a mixture of the above-men­ it all and make your own little continued tom pagelS tioned Morphine and Love decisions. I’m sure your local Quilombo, their album re­ Camp 7. I.M.U. contributes independent music store and leased on Big Cat Records, is two songs, “Out of the Shad­ your local college station’ll be an incredible mishmash of ows” and “Nocturnal Leash glad to assist you. Thanks for sound, from driving, pep-beat- Transmission.” Stinkerbell your attention. Salut! nik/industrial (“Fighteous,” only has one song on this, a “Life in the Greenhouse Ef­ killer cover of that “Venus” Jazz fect,” “Quilombo”), to dark song, which beats the living continued tom page 11 hauntings (“Big Hedda Meets hell out of Bananarama. recording time at the LSU Little Napoleon,” “Phantom Sleeve art by the Artistic Bar­ School of Music recital hall. Miscarriage,” “The Smother ren Women Who Eat Out Sup­ Grimes plans to include the Brother,” “The Heidnik port Group (for true). recordings on a new CD col­ Manoeuvre”) to light, swing­ Finally, we have alocal com­ laboration of his. He praised ing jazz (“Transcendental pilation from those cassette the talented engineers at the Moonshine”). Highly recom­ culture folks at Voodoo Ar­ School of Music for the high mended. Keen artwork by the chives. Entitled Inca Hoots, sound quality of the record­ Pizz. this cassette and 8-track only ings. O.K. Almost done. Hangin (“No Foolin”) release features Although more studio time there. various Pain Clinic collabora­ will be required for comple­ What we have now is a com­ tions: The La-La Connection tion of the project, I recom­ pilation from Aweful Records, (ultra-famous cassette-culture mend keeping an eye out for

64 GUMBO MAGAZINE Put up or shut up Piecing together a shattered Red Stick music "scene”

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