Maroon

              THE MAROON ESTABLISHED 1923 VOL. 73 NO. 5 Loyola University New Orleans FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1994 Beggars take steps to return By ELIZABETH KEENAN Staff writer The Beggars fraternity, suspended from campus in 1989 for hazing violations, has decided not to renew the lease on their Broadway fraternity house, a move that is widely interpreted as an attempt to return to the university as a chartered fraternity. In addition to the Beggars giving up their fraternity house, they must followfollow certain guidelines set up by the Interfraternity Council. Chris Cameron, coordinator for Student Activities, said that in 1989 the Beggars approached the university about rechartering. The IFC then set up certain criteria that the Beggars must adhere to before returning to campus. "One of those guidelines, among the others, was that they become affiliated with a national organization, and they have yet to do that," Cameron said. "The policy of all Greek organizations, according to the handbook, is that they be affiliated with a national organization. So that's what they need to do in order to come back." Cameron added that the IFC was receptive to the idea of the Beggars returning to campus. Harper Carroll, Beggars president and pre-med/biology senior, said that FILE PHOTO The Broadway house, adorned with the Beggars fraternity logo, will no longer serve as the organization's home. The fraternity has decided not to renew the lease on their house in an effort to return to campus as a chartered organization. Faculty member accused of assault By PETER REICHARD Editor in Chief In a public letter dated Sept. 29, Robin Denise Sidney Kirk, drama senior, accused David Johnson, technical director for the drama and speech department, of physically assaulting her. Two days after the incident and after speaking with Georgia Gresham, chair of the drama and speech department, Kirk sent copies of the letter to the administration, faculty members and The Maroon. According to Kirk, who is a technical assistant in the drama department and Maroon columnist, she was standing in the stairwell outside of Lower Depths Theater conversing with Steven Reed, drama junior. It was just before 8 p.m., and Kirk and Reed were preparing for rehearsal for the production, Frankenstein: The Modern Prometheus. "All of a sudden, the door just totally flew open," Kirk said. "Mr. Johnson pulled me by my overalls." Kirk said that Johnson pulled her into the theater; she hit the corner of the wall as he "dragged" her through the entrance."I strongly feel that if the action had been any more forceful, I would have fallen and possibly hit my head," Kirk stated in her letter. Kirk said that Johnson did not speak to her "at all, before, during or after the incident." "I don't know why he did what he did," she continued. Johnson declined to comment about the incident. "It's a personnel matter," he said. "It's inappropriate to comment right now." After rehearsals that night, Kirk said she went to Gresham's office and told her what had happened. "She was, I would say, concerned, a little shocked," Kirk said. Gresham would not comment about the incident, except to say that it is currently being investigated by both the drama and speech department and the administration. Vincent Knipfing, vice president for student affairs, also refused to comment.Drama students close to both Kirk and Johnson claim that the incident is rooted in a "power struggle" between the two, which has been going on since the beginning of the semester, when Johnson became technical director. According to one source, who asked not to be identified, it began when former Technical Director Johan Godwaldt was fired last year. The source said Loyola acknowledges gap between blacks, whites By MICHELLE HUDSON and RENE KELLER Staff writers There are various divisions among the student body at Loyola, but there is one that is the most obvious and harder to justify—the division between black and white students. On a typical day, one can observe this division by eating in the Orleans Room. Students of different races sit with students of the same color. Some students believe this separation is not linked to racism or division. "Yes, I've noticed that certain students eat together, but it's not that they're racist or racism is involved," said Angela Michaelson, general studies freshman. "They're just eating with their friends, who are black and white." However, Enezuem Hunt, pre-engineeringpre-engineering freshman, believes that the division between black and white students is due to racism, but said that students could learn about each other's culture if they would attempt to interact. "Black students tend to hang out with only black students and whites do the same," Hunt said. "Students could be brought together if the two races try to understand each other's culture and backgrounds."Jason Melancon, general studies freshman, believes that the issue of students socializing with others of their own racial or ethnic background is related to one's environment. "[The division is] small but an evident problem because we were reared in a position to think and act that way — in a manner which separates blacks and whites," Melancon said. "[lt is a] common thought that groups want to sit together for lack of losing strength in numbers. "Students should come together. Why not? If we regulate ourselves then we will never know what we are fully capable of doing together. I think that it would take some serious thought by [everyone] to realize [that] there is no reason why we should segregate ourselves."Loyola's administration tries to act as a mediator to ensure that students have the opportunity to learn about the differences between the campus' cultural diversity. v The Rev. James C. Carter, S.J., university president, is creating a committeecommittee to handle disputes underlined with racial and ethnic issues. Student Affairs encourages students to have an educational experience that includes learning about various ethnicities through volunteer programs such as "Bridging the Gap" and "5 on 5." "We've kind of found that if you can't break down barriers by helping students to build friendships, or at least build an understanding of each other, you can't really know how someone acts or feels," said Vicki McNeil, assistant vice president for Student Affairs. "I'm not sure we can do that, but I think we can at least expose students to each other in structured settings and give them a chance to maybe develop friendships with people who are different than they are." McNeil said that Student Affairs requests that each college and administrativeadministrative component of Loyola reflect society's ethnic and racial population in their staff. "Departments in the divisions have certainly been directed or encouraged to look at diversity within their staff— the professional staff and students there — and I think we've made some real in-roads in that area," she said. J.W. Gaulding, communications senior and co-president of Loyola's National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, said that there is a division between black and white students, but the division is not defined. "There is a level of comradery among the student body. The division is more a specific ideology, an understanding," Gaulding said. "Black students feel that historically, [oppression] A Campus Divided Part 3 of 4 See BEGGARS, Pg. 6 See ASSAULT, Pg. 6 See DIVISION, Pg. 5 Student concerned f about prices and food selection. dagèadge H Sticky Situations Body piercing rings with popularity in New Orleans. Pg-11