Maroon

              THE MAROON ESTABLISHED 1923 VOL. 73 NO. 5 FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1994 Loyola University New Orleans Campus Ministry protests 'Reality' By SONYA WILDMON Assistant News Editor While students formed a jagged line in the St. Charles Room on Sept. 15, waiting for their turns to play the latest form of video entertainment called Virtual Reality, members of Campus Ministry conducted a peaceful protest against the violence associated with the 3-D game in the Danna Center lounge. The game Virtuality 2000, sponsored by the University Programming Board, features a 360 degree screen through which players move along and shoot at robots. The players appear to be active participants in the video by wearing an electronic headgear. "You are a virtual robot and you kill other robots," said Brett Kinstler, a Funny Business employee. Funny Business is the company that offers Virtuality 2000. "Robots shoot at you and the bullets slow you down. The object is to move along and to destroy as many robots as you can, and to pick up as many power pills as possible." Campus Ministry protested the event because Virtual Reality symbolizes violence in society, said Emily DeMoor, associate campus minister. "We felt that the activity that was happening there further desensitizes people of the reality of human violence," DeMoor added. "We wanted to give violence a human face." Campus Ministry displayed a bulletin board titled "Not Virtual, 'Just' Reality," which featured articles of children gunned down and vivid pictures of Jesuits killed in El Salvador. The purpose was to make people aware of violence before playing the game, said A 1 Alcazar, associate campus minister. "Virtual Reality is one of those many things that desensitizes us to the violence that happens around us. There are violent video games and violent movies. We make it entertainment, and we have, by our silence, accepted it," Alcazar said. Kinstler said the game is nonviolent because players kill only robots, not animals or human beings. Of the 20 universities his company has toured in the past two months, Kinstler said, this is the first time he has heard a complaint about violence in the game. UPB members said they do not consider the game too violent. "The reason we brought it was because students wanteo to play, which is backed up by surveys," said Chris Cameron, UPB adviser. "It introduces people to technology, and we are programming for adult college students, who can distinguish between fact and fantasy." Lisa Talley, UPB's Variety Unlimited chairperson, said she agrees with the concern about violence, but the purpose of Virtual Reality is to demonstrate the new technology. "I agree we are desensitized to violence, but that happened a long time ago, that didn't happen last week with Virtual Reality," Talley said. Ryan Benton, UPB vice president, and Velonese Williams, Contemporary Sounds chairperson, said the video games Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter II in the Wolf Den are more violent than Virtual Reality. Students who played the game described it as a normal form of entertainment. "We all need an escape. To get into a video game is relief. To play a fighting game as a release, I don't really see too much of a problem with it," said Robert DoQui, drama/ communications sophomore. Some students found the Campus Ministry protest reasonable. DeMoor said more people than she had expected were drawn to the Campus Ministry display.display. "There were reactions of true sorrow and horror. It gave me hope that we're not as numbed out as I thought," DeMoor said. Martha Bausch, music education senior, said she played Virtual Reality last year but decided not to play this year because of what it represents. "I think every step we take towards non-violence and peace will make us a less violent society," Bausch said. "I certainly would not ask people not to play the game, but I would ask them to think about the game before they play it." By JOHN A. GABERINO Jennifer Muse, accounting freshman, was one of more than 150 students who participated in Virtual Reality, sponsored by UPB Sept. 15. Campus Ministry conducted a protest against the violence of the video game. Loyola prepares to open Women's Resource Center By MICHELLE HUDSON News Editor □ The center will serve as a research, learning facility Last spring, members of Women's Issues, a student organization, and supporting faculty and staff members of women's studies hosted a week long festival to solicit members and asked students to sign a petition for a women's resource center. This semester, the Rev. James Carter, S. J., and the administration approved the building of a women's resource center. Loyola had a women's resource center in 1980, but closed it because of lack of student interest. Although funding for the new center has not been fully detailed, a site has been selected. The Loyola Women's Resource Center has been allocated space in the old Mercy Academy building. The Women's Studies Committee drafted a proposal that explains the need for a women's center and suggested a format for staff, space and funding. The proposal also integrated guidelines from the Arts and Sciences Handbook. It reads: "The Loyola Women's Resource Center will provide an environment in which students, faculty and staff can seriously examine 'those conscious and unconscious assumptions of institutional injustices' that relate to gender. The [center] will promote interdisciplinary dialogue on women and gender issues and the sharing of ideas and information within the Loyola University community." Leslie Pan, assistant communications professor and Women's Studies chair, said the center will not only contribute to Loyola's liberal arts tradition, but boost the confidence of women students as well. "I think the Women's Center could be a very important part of the Loyola community," Parr said. "I think it will help to attract and help in the retention of students. Women students sometimes feel left out. They are less likely to assume leadership roles. "[A women's center] will encourage women to be leaders, raise self-esteem and feel part of the [Loyola] community and stay here." Parr also said that the center does not exclude men, and it will provide films, literature and speakers that represent the diversity among women. Loretta Pequefio, sociology senior and co-chair of Women's Issues, said she would like the Loyola Women's Resource Center to become nationally renowned. "Whatever the Women's Studies Advisory Board wants [Women's Issues] to do, we will do. So the Women's Resource Center will be in the league of Tulane's Newcomb Center for Research on Women and [the University of New Orleans'] women's resource center," Pequefto said. Members of the Women's Studies Advisory Board are composed of faculty, staff and two student representatives. They are concerned with hiring a salaried director, facilitating a meeting room, collecting videos, films and coordinating seminars and lectures for the university and New Orleans' community. The director will play a crucial part in the success of the center because he or she will be responsible for communicating with the Women's Studies Advisory Board and the office of Academic Affairs. The proposal states that "the director of the Women's Resource Center must possess administrative experience and training and/or research and teaching experience in Women's Studies. "It is desirable that the director be tenured in an academic department. The director will work closely with the Women's Studies Committee and will report to the vice president for Academic Affairs. Support staff will consist of an administrative assistant." Parr said that "the prospects are fascinating." She believes Loyola could become a part of the National Women's Studies Association and Women for Catholic Higher Education. Pequefio said that Women's Studies and the resource center will benefit all students. She said she plans to use her Women's Studies courses in her career as a social worker. "It opens your mind to other disciplines that are out there. It opens your eyes to things that are out there," Pequeiio said. "Coming from the point of view of a rape survivor, I believe I can change the stereotype of rape victims." rMK3IFFF| Speaking Out! ' Tlirl Loyola student heads to the nation's capital for education reform. H Girls' soccer team falls to Huntington. Pg.7 Monster Mash Drama department takes a new look at Frankenstein. nmH