Maroon

              THE MAROON ESTABLISHED 1923 VOL. 73 NO. 15 Loyola University New Orleans FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1995 Multiculturalism at Loyola By PETER REiCHARD News Editor □ Administrators and faculty struggle to define diversity Faculty concerns about a campuswide plan for diversity and attempts by administrators to assuage these concerns consumed the discussion at February's University Faculty Senate meeting. The meeting marked the first time faculty members expressed their concerns as a group. The meeting, held on Feb. 2 in Miller Hall, remained decidedly less tense than the Senate's last two meetings, which were characterized by raised voices, emotional flare-ups and, during December's meeting, arguments over a motion to end discussion of issues pertaining to multicultural efforts on campus until the recently-formed Committee on Multicultural Affairs could complete its work. Nevertheless, in the December meeting, the Senate agreed to allot itself one hour of free discussion during the Feb. 2 meeting. Senators' concerns ranged from possible impingements on academic freedom to what some perceive as an unrealistic perspective on administrators' ANALYSIS IS LOYOLA RACIALLY SENSITIVE? • 51 percent of minority students said they have personally experienced prejudice or discrimination on campus. • 62 percent of African-Americans said that they have personally experienced prejudice or discrimination on campus. •24 percent of the African-American students said they would not recommend Loyola to a friend. • 34 percent of minority students said they have been the victim of a racial incident. • 69 percent of minority students said they would like to see an office of minority affairs created. • 83 percent of the African-American students said they would like to see an office of minority affairs created. • 18 percent of minority students feel they are graded unfairly by their instructors. Source: Silas Lee and Associates, 1992 Endowed chair still vacant By EMILY DREW Managing Editor After an unfruitful year of examining and interviewing applicants, a committee has reopened its search for a chairperson of environmental communications. The position, sponsored through a $6(X),(XX) endowment from Freeport McMoßan, will put a person in place to teach students about the media coverage of environmental issues. The person sought for the position must have excellent credentials in both the communications field and environmental sciences. According to William Hammel, communications chairman and committee member, the process is taking so long because committee members did not feel that any previous candidates met the criteria and standards the committee set for the position. "You can't command what sort of resumes you're going to get," he said. "There are not many environmental communications specialists; this is a newer field." However, one professor working with Loyola's environmental issues who wishes to remain unnamed believes that the position should have been filled by now. "There must be a lot of games going on for them not to have found someone; politics as usual." Still, other concerns linger about the presence of "You can't command what sort of resumes you're going to get. There are not many environmental communications specialists." —William Hammel an environmental communications chair holder, especially if the position is endowed by Freeport McMoßan. John P. Clark, professor of philosophy and member of Loyola's environmental studies program, believes that the idea of Freeport McMoßan endowing any chair in an environmental field is highly problematic in itself. 'The position should be filled by someone who is concerned with communications as a service to the community; it should not be a purely instrumental way of selling something," he said. Hammel, however, believes that "Freeport McMoßan will make no attempt at muzzling or interference. Of course, if there were, there would be quite a public relations price for them to pay." By DORLENE DUNNE The Wisdom of Our Elders Nelson Perry, a war hero, spoke at Loyola last week. He discussed history, examining where African Americans have been and where they might go as a community. Residential Life attributes resignations to employee burnout By ALYSON NIX Contributing writer Over the semester break, a number of students quit or changed jobs within the department of Residential Life. Two Resident Assistants at Cabra resigned, two RAs changed to the job of Desk Assistant, and one Senior DA at Cabra Hall resigned. Director of Residential Life Robert Reed said there could be a number of reasons why these changes occurred. It is not uncommon for RAs to become DAs, he said, though it's fairly uncommon to have someone resign. "Everyone has his or her own personal reason. The RA position is a very demanding job," Reed said. Residential Life hires students with high academic goals but sometimes these goals conflict with their jobs. Residential Life tries to recruit within the department when employees quit. The department hires DAs who might be able to become RAs and vice versa. Buddig RAToni Marie Jones, English / French senior, said that over the past few years there has always been at least one person to change jobs or to resign. She is not exactly sure why these occurrences happen, but she said that it could be the stress of dealing with a job 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Commenting on potential problems within the department, Jones said, "I respect my bosses because they care. It doesn't mean thai we don't have problems within the system. However, I think because they do care everyone is willing to work out the problems that may exist." She also said that as an RA "your life is your job," and if someone finds an easier job, he or she might take it. Julie Wiley, English junior, said that she moved to her current DA position from her previous one as an RA because she needed to have her own time. She said her experience as an RA was very positive, but the time and emotional commitment overwhelmed her. "When I decided to switch jobs, Michelle Andrews, one of the assistant directors, was very supportive of me," Wiley said. Melody Phillips, psychology senior, also switched from an RA position to that of a DA. She said that her main reason for changing jobs was because of her academic goals. Phillips said that she believed her job as an RA was a positive and growing experience. Since she is graduating in May, Phillips needs the extra time to study and focus on her academic career. "The RA position is a very demanding job." —Robert Reed See SENATE, Pg. 3 See RES LIFE. Pg. 3 dgdagew B| Striking Out Baseball team loses two games on the ■ road. Un w'th f Baltimore Waltz takes F a ''Sht-hearted look at I a serious subject.