Maroon

              The Loyola MAROON Volume 70 No. 7 Loyola University New Orleans. Louisiana 70118 October 1871991 ____________ No/AIDS walk gains momentum By Chris Raphael Assistant News Editor 1,836 people died from AIDS ill Louisiana last year, but 6,000 demonstrators gathered in the tail end of Audubon park on Sunday, Oct. 6, to voice their concerns about the deadly disease. The second annual No/AIDS Walkathon, sponsored by the No/AIDS Task Force and staffed by over 500 volunteers, attracted several local interest groups, including Planned Parenthood, Queer Nation, and Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. Loyola's own Sociology Student Organization (LUSSO) also attended. More of an event than a protest, however, the walk provided it's participants with entertainment, health information, food, and a chance to get involved. While one booth titled "AIDS Information and Services" dispensed free condoms and literature, another sold beer and jumbalaya. Shortly after 9:00 a.m, Monsignor Morin of the Archdiocese of New Orleans directed an opening prayer. "We ask you to bless all those who are sick and suffering... whose lives are being destroyed by AIDS," he said. "Ultimately, we will stand together in conquering pain and suffering." In Mary Hart/John Tesh fashion, emcees Brad Eldeman, former member of the New Orleans Saints, and Andre Trevigne, anchor for Channel 4 news, addressed the energetic crowd. Eldeman said "he was nothing less than impressed" with the turnout, and Trevigne introduced speakers and recognized prominent contributors to the walk. At one moment a group of poster-carrying Planned Parenthood members skipped up to the center of the crowd, and Trevigne reiterated the slogans on their pickets: "Planned Parenthood is here," she said. "America stands for choice!" Just a walk in the park — Audubon Park's second-annual No /AIDS walk-a-thon attracted several thousand walkers. /Photo by Steve Huerstel UBC: Wilson, Schroth stay By Chris Raphael Assistant News Editor The Rev. James C. Carter, S.J., University President, ended months of speculation on Friday, October 4, by accepting a Board of Communications decision against a petition calling for the removal of Maroon editor in chief Michael Wilson and faculty adviser Raymond A. Schroth, S.J. The petition, supported by the International Students Association and the Black Student Union, contained over 200 signatures. After hearing testimony from representatives of both the Latin American community and the Maroon staff, the Board issued a joint recommendation to Carter. The result of nearly four hours of deliberation, the Board's statement claimed that the removal of Schroth and Wilson would "cast a pall over the freedom of the Maroon to explore all sorts of important and potentially controversial subjects in the future." The Board also suggested to Carter that he reprimand both Schroth and Wilson, who, according to the board, failed in their responsibilities — specifically the role of Schroth as "Adviser/ publisher's representative" and Wilson for his "numerous inaccuracies" and "stated biases." "There is a certain tension there," Schroth said. "Their judgment was that as publisher's representative, I should have done something to prevent that material ["The Rebels" column] from appearing." Roddy Wolper, administrative member of the Board of Communications, thought the dual role of the adviser and publisher's representative was more easily defined. "It is my understanding that there is a clear distinction," he said. The statement also recommended that the Maroon establish a code of ethics which pays "special attention to standards for dealing with cultural diversity." "My reaction to the entire thing was that you had two groups of people talking to us, when they should have been talking to each other," said Kevin Althans, communications senior and Board member. "We had people saying things that weren't from the head but from the heart." Accounting junior James McDonald, who spoke in favor of the petition, thought the Board's decision was "typical of Loyola politics." Schroth labeled some of the accusations brought against him as "slander." "We were called racists, and and that is a word with a distinct meaning. It is a violent word, and the people who used it didn't know what it meant - they didn't know me, and they didn't know Mike." The decision of the Board, according to Carter, was for all purposes "unanimous" - even though chairperson Dr. Vicki McNeil, assistant vice president for Student Affairs, and Board member Victor Montilla, communications senior, issued a dissenting statement A copy of the minority statement was not made available to the Maroon. "A Board like this acts as a body," Carter said, "Not as a group of individuals." Loyola speaks out on Thomas By Michael Wilson and Kavln Patton Staff writers Like the rest of the country, Loyola University's reaction to Tuesday's Senate appointment of Judge Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court is torn. "I think the Court has reached a low ebb, one of the lowest in its history," Dr. Philip Dynia, chairperson 'and assistant professor of Political Science, said. "I didn't think it could get much lower, but it has." He called Thomas' claims to have never discussed the 1973 Supreme Court decision of Roe vs. Wade "purgery," and does not doubt that "he is capable of purgery again." "I'm ecstatic," Robert Peneguy, history and philosophy senior, said. "I think its refreshing to see someone on the Court who doesn't fit into any neat categories. He's a black who's not a black, who's not a white," he said. When discussing Thomas' appointment, the issue of sexual "I think the Court has "I'm ecstatic." reached a low ebb." Philip Dynia Robert Peneguy harassment — coupled with the Senate Judiciary Committee's investigation of Thomas — is inevitably raised. "If anything, the entire issue showed that the esteem of our Senate body is going downhill," Jim Dugan, communications senior and president of SGA, said. "It's tough now to picture kids saying, 'I want to grow up and be a Senator.'" However, he sees the newfound awareness of sexual harassment, sparked by allegations of such behavior by Oklahoma University Law Professor Anita Hill, as ulti- mately positive. "Women can really feel secure now, in knowing their rights." Maria Lisak, philosophy and economics senior, disagrees. "This whole situation really undermines people who have experienced sexual harassment. They won't be taken seriously. It's like crying wolf," she said. James Stapp, economics serior, said that he feels Thomas is qualified for the position, and that Thomas and Hill "had a relationship with each other, and it went sour, and she's trying to See Walk /page 5 See Thomas /page 5 See Board /page 5 nvj