Maroon

              THE LOYOLA MAROON Vol. 73 No. 4- • Loyola University New Orleans, LA 70118* Sept 24,1993* Loyola up for reaccreditation By Sidney Alvarez Contributing writer Loyola is in the process of evaluating itself with the hopes of reaccreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. SACS evaluates the university's self-study once every ten years. The exam's objective is to reveal how objectively and maturely the school can appraise itself. However, the emphasis is to improve Loyola's performance as an institution. "We have to be accredited to have federal funds for students to come here; you know, when you're in high school you want to go to an accredited university," Dr. Katherine Adams, assistant vicepresident for Academic Affairs and director of the self-study, said. "Other schools would not transfer our credits if we were not accredited. I don't think a university would stay open without accreditation," Adams added. Standards vary according to the emphasis of the self-study. This evaluation is focussed on outcome assessments. "Things change in education in terms of what is emphasized one time to the next; outcome assessments is not just the learning of students, it is also the outcome of all kinds of things on campus... what goals were set for advancements and grant offices," Adams said. "It's just that in academics the goals that are set involve students." This semester the committees of the self-study will work on their evaluations of the university's programs. The committees will meet Sept. 28 to give an update on their progress. "With 12 committees and over 100 faculty members involved , people are giving a great deal of their time," she said. Adams said that the Student Government Association is appointing student members to the committee to serve this semester, in the spring, and next fall. One aspect of the study involved the distribution of questionnaires and surveys to faculty, staff and students. "Putting out the questionnaires was more work than I had realized," Adams said. "We surveyed the alumni, students, graduate students, law students and faculty to get an idea of what proclamations need to be coordinated." Though Adams does not doubt that Loyola will be reaccredited, she still emphasizes the importance of coordination and direction. "When you look at something which is involving hundreds of people, you want to work carefully. My agenda is to facilitate the self-study and faculty in making any kind of decision which involves changes," Adams said. Liver may come soon for Rachel By Chris Bonura News Editor Rachel White didn't look worried about her second liver transplant as she nibbled on a large cookie in front of PJ's Coffee and Tea Monday. But then again, two-year-olds don' t think about much when they've got a cookie in their hands. Rachel's mother, Mary White, Loyola Micro-Center operations manager, estimated that a liver would be available for Rachel in four to six weeks. Rachel is first on the list for liver transplants in San Francisco and should soon be fourth on the list in Nebraska. Rachel was bom with extra-hepatic biliary atresia and a related disease, cholangitis. Either at a very young age or while in the womb, Rachel was infected with a virus that kept the bile ducts from fusing. At first, doctors tried to remedy this by connecting the ducts to her small intestines. The procedure, while patching up the problem in the short term, led to bacterial infections. Rachel received a transplanted liver from her father in June of 1992. The doctors had to rework the arteries surrounding the bile ducts using arteries from her father's groin. Rachel's body accepted the portion of the left lobe of his liver. However, now the arteries that bring blood to her liver are clotting. This causes the bile ducts to deteriorate. When the bile ducts deteriorate they cannot properly drain bile. Her impending surgery would remedy this. There is also a problem with Rachel's bilirubin count. Normally this measure of excess bile in the body is below one. Rachel's is around 17. When the count reaches 20 or 21 brain damage can occur. Rachel has three tubes to drain the bile that protrude from her midsection. Mary White has to flush out these tubes three times a day. The tubes make it impossible for Rachel to swim or bathe. Another tube protrudes from her nose. This is a feeding tube. For about 12 hours a day, usually while Rachel is sleeping, Mary White pumps food into her daughter. "She stopped eating and she was loosing weight," White said. "Once her liver functions were elevated, it makes everything taste bad, it makes her feel nauseous and she doesn't feel like eating," she explained. Feeding Rachel through the tube insures that she will be nourished properly. "It was amazing to watch her after the transplant. She was everywhere, bouncing on the bed and everything," she said. "Surprisingly, she is very affectionate. She has an aggressive side to her," White said. "She's a little tiger, but that has helped her deal with the situation." "Rachel's father works at night; 1 work during the day. I have to work because of the health insurance," White continued. "I don't think I could work if he didn't take care of her." White doesn't think she could trust anyone else with Rachel. "I call him two or three times a day, and I trust him," she said. Rachel first captured the heart of the Loyola community in February of 1992, when the Whites were preparing for the first operation. Loyola had just changed insurance policies to Aetna. The Whites originally thought that under the new plan they would only have to pay $1,500. They later found out that they would have to pay $30,000 for the first transplant. The Loyola community responded, raising more than enough money to pay for Rachel's operation. A $75,000 trust fund was set up to take care of Rachel's future uninsured medical expenses. White thinks that the impending operation will eat away the funds that remain in trust. "It's not that we have really large hospital bills, but we are nickeled and dimed to death," White said, citing the inflated common medical supplies. Cookie Muncher—Rachel White nibbles on a cookie atop the counter of PJ's on Monday. Rachel Is awaiting a liver transplant/Photo by Carta C. Soils See Rachel, pg. 3 If! N S 1 D E TtfiS WEEK PROFILE: THE TWOMEY CENTER Far from Loyola's main campus—and virtually unknown to many students— the Tworney Center for Peace and Justice is working for social equality. Pg.6 FLAG FOOTBALL FEAST That ever so popular intramural sport has grown to mammoth proportions. Pg. 10 GHOSTS IN THE GRAVEYARD Two Loyola students produce a documentary about about some New Orleans cemeteries. Pg. 13