Maroon

              The Loyola MAROON Volume 70 No. 17 Loyola University New Orleans, Louisiana 7011S: February 21,1992 Bookstore proposal may result in layoffs By Katie Caillouet Staff writer Glenn Jones, a textbook buyer for the Loyola University bookstore, knows a lot about the bookstore business. Dressed in a black T-shirt and jeans, he looked more like a student than one who has been employed with the bookstore for over six years. Despite the casual attire, he is an authority on what texts the bookstore carries, and is gladly willing to help a student find a needed book. But one thing he is not an authority on is what would happen to his job if the bookstore is leased to an outside company. "We don't know much about this," Jones said, referring to the bookstore employees' knowledge of their job security if the bookstore is leased to Follett College Stores. A year ago, Follett was chosen out of several national companies to manage Loyola's bookstore if the university decided to lease it. Yet, because of faculty concern over the quality of service and treatment of employees that might result, the Rev. James C. Carter, S. J., university president, did not allow the leasing last spring. The issue has resurfaced this year. The university's financial situation is much the same, and the bookstore is in need of a renovation now more than ever. Undeniably, the most attractive part of the proposal is that Follett would pick up the tab for the renovation, which has a projected cost of about $300,000. The proposal has been brought back because of a realization that revenue from tuition is declining due to falling enrollment, Mike Moser, director of Finance of the Student Government Association, said. Wednesday, the SGA voted unanimously to endorse the current proposal and to submit its opinion to Carter. The proposal is to be put to a vote again at the University Senate meeting in March. It is expected that Carter will honor their recommendation.Besides the renovation, there are other advantages to leasing. One is increased revenue. Follett guarantees an 8 percent net return on investment each year. It is also expected that the national company would be able to run the bookstore more efficiently because of advanced equipment and methods it may have, Moser said. Finally, the company may have more purchasing power — they can buy items for less than Loyola could, Moser said. This may allow the company to make a profit without having to raise prices substantially, Moser said. There are problems which are inherent when control over a college bookstore is given to a national company, and it is in Loyola's interests to conduct more extensive research before a decision is made, lD. Julian Wasserman, professor of English, said. At the Feb. 6 University Senate meeting, Wasserman voiced concerns over the welfare of the bookstore employees, the possible decline in service, and the overall Finances of the situation. These are the same concerns which led the faculty to recommend not to lease last spring. The bookstore employees are the people whose lives will be fundamentally effected by the decision, Wasserman said. Under the new company, Loyola employees would lose Loyola benefits, one of which is that they would not be able to educate their children at Loyola free of charge. Wasserman said that bookstore franchises have a history of harassing long-time employees into leaving so that they can be replaced by lower-paid ones. The proposal states that current employees would be retained for six months at their current salaries, but there is some uncertainty as to what would happen after that. Charles "Dusty" Miller, Darma Center director, said that after the six month period for "existing employees performing satisfactorily, wages would not be reduced." Vincent Knipfing, vice president for Student Affairs, could not confirm this, and said he does not know if that was specified in the proposal. "In short, I believe that it is wrong to balance the budget on the backs of the 'least of these*— namely some of the lowest paid members of our Digging in — Construction workers make way for the new Biever Hall access ramp. The ramp is currently being rebuilt. /Photo by Shannon White Students react to New Hampshire primary By Rick Millbourn Managing editor prising results for both the Republican and Democratic parties Tuesday. Conservative challenger Pat Buchanan closely trailed President George Bush, and long shot candidate Sen. Paul Tsongas upset Gov. Bill Clinton. "It is interesting to see how Bush's popularity has fallen with the reces- _^^^_______ sion and the economic problems," Chris Sitz, business freshman, said. Psychology freshman. Colleen Cornell agreed. "I think Bush is going down in the polls because of the recession." —— Bush's aids point out, however, that New Hampshire was among the states hardest and most quickly hit by the recession.They attribute Bush's sluggish start in the primaries to this factor, also noting Buchanan's two months of campaigning in New Hampshire, compared to Bush's three days. Alan Tennille, political science freshman, was "glad to see a conservative challenger to Despite Tennille's preference for Buchanan, he thinks the "party is not ready for Buchanan— he is too far to the right." After conceding to institute new taxes, despite his pledge of "read my lips — no new taxes," some say Bush's position has fallen into question. "Bush says he is conservative, but he is becoming a poll president. He is very unreliable; '[President George Bush] has gotta shape up or ship out.' — Abby Lorenz History freshman Abby Lorenz, history freshman, put it a little more succinctly. "He's gotta shape up or ship According to an Associated Press article carried in the Times-Picayune on Feb. 19, the Democratic Party is concerned about its two front running candidates. Clinton's alleged affairs and admitted draft dodging make him susceptible to criticism, while Tsongas is a northeastern, ethnic liberal, which __^^___^_— may hurt him in other regions of the country. As a result, some consider Gov. Mario Cuomo a viable option. Cuomo carried a 3 percent write-in vole, with 92 percent of the votes re—^—^— ported. Lisa Pieri, business sophomore, considers Clinton to be a viable candidate. "I don't think the controversy will hurt him," she said. Hagan thought it surprising that Tsongas was ahead, due to the publicity which Clinton received in light of the Vietnam affair. Despite any doubts of the Democratic Party, though, Tennille is certain the nomination "will John Terp, communications freshman, said that "just so long as Bush doesn't win, I'm sat- While the next primary on March 3rd in Georgia may help narrow the field of candidates, some people still will not be happy — no matter what the results. "It's a lot like the Louisiana governor's race. I don't like the selection of candidates," Diane Holeton, biology sophomore, said See Bookstore/ page 3 moon. .... . . C 1 Inside this week... """* ~ mw -