Maroon

              THE MAROON Loyola University New Orleans FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1994 V0L.72 NO. 16 ESTABLISHED 1922 Students Eat in Style New decor improves dining experience By JENNY JOHNSON News Editor By JENNY JOHNSON Marriott employess, Reginald Gatlin and Joseph Vance, go for a wok at the Oriean's Room's reopening Rhonda Sharkawy, communications/ sociology senior, ordered Chinese food Tuesday night and she didn't have to go farther than her own campus. Sharkawy ate in the Orleans Room for the grand opening of the new facilities. "1 think the place is great. I wish it were here my freshman year when I was on the meal plan," Sharkawy said. John Perkinson, Director of Loyola Dining Services said the two main focuses Marriott and Loyola wanted to capture was the empowerment of the employees and the presentation of the services available. "It costs a lot of money to be on the meal plan and we wanted the students to feel like it was worth it," Perkinson said. Vince Knipfing, vice-president for Student Affairs, said Marriott worked with a marketing consultant, faculty and students before they picked the theme of Renaissance. "As far as college food goes, you just don't see this—this is state of the art," Knipfing said. Thenew decor includes Corian-topped surfaces on the serving areas, new flooring and wall paper, and a microwave. Knipfing said Marriott also plans to replace the drapes, the carpet and the furniture in the future. Tim Barnett, director of Food Services said Marriott paid around $235,000 for the renovations. Barnett said the costs will not be passed on to the students. "There won't be a price increase on the old items," Bamett said. The format and design of the Orleans Room now includes five basic lines: a deli line, grill line, pasta line, hot food line and display-cooking line, which usually hosts Chinese stir-fry or Mexican fajitas. There are also separate areas for deserts, cereals, salads and drinks. In the deli line, sandwiches are freshly made on request. Options include van ous lunch meats, cheeses and breads. The pasta bar will have three choices daily, plus an entree pasta. SGA tries to represent students, interest despite problems By CHRIS BONURA Managing Editor Student Government President Association Erika Schwarz, fust-year law student thinks that this year has been a turning point for the SGA. She said that this year's SGA has tried to focus more on answering student concerns and problems, instead of merely allocating funds to student organizations. The year got off to a rocky start for the SGA because of controversy surrounding Schwarz's appointment of her boyfriend, Andre Dupont, business junior, to director of finance, said Congressman at Large Jason Murphy, political science junior. But, he said that now the SGA is on track and has managed to get a great deal accomplished. Among the accomplishments that Schwarz and Murphy attributed to this year's SGA are better response to the book exchange, lower parkingparking rates for part-time students and a more efficient SGA budget process. One accomplishment which Schwarz is particularly proud of is the tuition forum. Schwarz used the forum to urge the University Budget Committee to keep tuition hikes low. "The administration each year gives us a little more recognition, and I think the reason they do that is because we've earned it. In some small way, we've held them accountable to the students," said SGA vice president John Hernandez, third-year law student. "I feel that we've tried to be more interactive with the students," Murphy said. "I think the way that has happened most has been the book exchange." Although this year wasn't the First that SGA held the book exchange, the amount of students buying and selling books increased.Sch war/, said the book exchange could be very important to the SGA in the future especially if Residential Life decides to put micro-fridges in the residential halls. That would interfere with the SGA refrigerator rental program, which is one of its Loyola dives into suit over pool construction By SIDNEY ALVAREZ and CHRIS RAPHAEL Staff writers Loyola filed suit for more than $1 million against five corporations involved in the construction of the indoor pool in the Recreational Sports and Athletics complex. Loyola is suing the pool's architects, construction company and sub-contractors for breaches of contract that dale back to 1988, when the pool first became operational. The pool closed Jan. 4 because of cracks and rust on its metal interior. A date has not been set for its reopening. The university's petition claims that those involved in the pool's construction used "inferior design, quality and workmanship."In particular, the petition alleges that: •In June of 1986, Loyola signed a contract with Hastings & Chivctta Architects, Inc., who oversaw the design and the construction of the Rec-Plex. After reviewing bids, Hastings recommended that Loyola consider the proposal of Recreonics corporation for construction of a stainless-steel pool. Recreonics was given the contract. Subsequently, Loyola entered into a contract with Cabildo Construction Co. for the construction of the Rec-Plex. • Cabildo issued a purchase order to Recreonics for all the materials necessary for the installation of a stainless-steel pool at the price of $279,398. The purchase order included a 10-year warranty on parts and labor. • Less than one week after the pool opened in March of 1988, the bottom of the pool, the welded seams and the inte- I Who: Loyola files suit against architect and construction companies for breach of contract. I Amount: Over $1 million I What: Loyola claims defendants used inferior design and materials for pool. rior walls began to rust. Cabildo repaired the pool in May, but rust reappeared in July. Cabildo had to perform repairs in September, 1988 and again in December 1989 and December 1990. "Despite all of these attempts by defendants to remedy the rust and corrosion problem, the swimming pool continued, and continues to date, to show signs of rusting and corrosion," the petition states. • In 1992, the stainless-steel plates and welds of the pool began to crack. They can not be satisfactorily repaired. Loyola estimates the cost of removing the old pool and replacing it with another one at more than $1 million. • The petition also alleges that United States Fidelity and Guaranty Co., Cabildo's insurer, agreed to protect Recreonics from Loyola's claims. Natare Co. is being sued because, as a successor corporation, it assumed all of Recreonic's assets and liabilities. In an answer to the university's petition, USF&G denied Loyola's allegations for "lack of information sufficient to justify belief." Nan Davis, associate director of recreational sports and athletics, said the See Orleans Room Pg. 4 See POOL Pg. 6 See SGA Pg. 6 IH&Jt Reaching Out Mflßj W That Brass King * 4 'ne Man,ho LUCAP offers help Wolfpack basketball % - The art of the float; T to those who need it team e-vcs e'uslve B ifl parades listed in the SAFETY TIPS / Don't carry a lot of money, credit cards or jewelry. / Do not depend on public transit to run on time. / Respect parking regulations./ Stay in groups. / Drink in moderation. / If you are arrested, call Public Safety at 865-3434. compliments of Public Safety The Maroon will not print next week. It will resume Feb. 25.