Maroon

              The Maroon ESTABLISHED 1923 VOL. 74 NO. 1 Loyola University New Orleans FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1995 Knoth to study ways of Loyola By CHRIS BONURA Editor in Chief To those faculty and staff members who were expecting the Rev. Bernard Knoth. S.J., new university president to lay out his vision for the school's future at his first convocation. Knoth explained that he was not comfortable with formulating that vision until he studied "the fabric of the university" more closely. As for his first perceptions of the university. Knoth said "the more I learn, the more I am convinced that Loyola is a gem." Knoth. a former Georgetown University associate dean who was approved by the Board of Trustees in January, had served as president two weeks when he delivered his speech at the Aug. 16 convocation. University administrators are briefing Knoth on the topics which need immediate attention at the university. Knoth also announced that he would be "meeting with faculty and staff under more relaxed circumstances" during the semester. Knoth plans to assign to each department a week, during which they could schedule a breakfast, luncheon and late afternoon meeting time. "It will take time to get around to the departments," Knoth said. "But we need to take that time." Although Knoth would not lay out a formulated vision for the university, he did set an agenda of topics that he believed needed immediate special attention. He said that the university needed to focus on marketing, students. Before Knoth spoke to the assembled faculty and staff, Universi.'y Provost David C. Danahar mentioned in a speech that approximately 25 percent of arts and science students left before completing 12 months of school. Knoth said that the issue of retaining students should be studied and that the university should come up with a plan to improve upon it. On marketing, Knoth announced that Institutional Advancement is working on a capital campaign and that his plans to make a consistent university logo to go on stationery, advertising, business cards He reiterated that Loyola was not changing its seal — the coat of arms that is represented on a mosaic on the second floor of Marquette hall. Knoth said that a number of versions of the new logo would be on display for the community to consider. Knoth supervised a similar logo project while at Georgetown University. Knoth stressed the importance of Financial aid, which he said must be used to curtail the Financial burden created by the increasing cost of a Loyola University education. On the progress of the university library Knoth expressed concern about attention. "We cannot have any surprises on a project this large and this permanent," he said. Knot h also talked about the importance ot the university living up to its Jesuit identity. "It's imperative that we deal with each other and those we serve with dignity and respect that each one deserves as a daughter or son of God. "We're only as good as our worse interchange that takes place on campus each day," he said. He asked that everyone does his or her part in upholding the identity. PHOTO COURTESY OF HAROLD BAQUET Fr. Bernard Knoth, S.J., jokes with University Relations photographer while his picture is snapped. recruitment, Financial aid and retaining and publications is being implemented, some financial details that needed Committee recommends multicultural office By DOMINIC MASSA Staff writer After months of evaluating the racial climate of the university and the need for a proposed Office of Multicultural Affairs, the committee formed to do so recommended May 9 to proceed with plans for the proposed office. In a letter to the Rev. James Carter, S.J., university chancellor, the Committee on Multicultural Affairs recommended "that an office/position on Multicultural Affairs be created and report directly to the president." Carter had spearheaded work on the proposed office as university president. The nine-member committee also recommended "that a committee on Multicultural Affairs exist to support that office/position," suggesting that a permanent committee should be established once the Office of " / have not yet spoken with Fr. Knoth on the issue, but I expect that will come relatively soon." — Anthony Decuir Multicultural Affairs is put into place. The issue must now be taken up by the Rev. Bernard Knoth, S.J., university president, though it is unlikely any decision will be made before the end of this semester. Committee chair Anthony Decuir said he had not yet spoken with Knoth on the recommendations in an effort to allow Knoth a smooth transition into office. "Out of respect for the man and his trying to learn his job, I have not yet spoken with Fr. Knoth on the issue, but I expect that will come relatively soon," said Decuir, associate dean of the College of Music. Decuir said he will also present the committee's recommendations to the University Senate at an upcoming meeting. At its April 27 meeting, the University ADG and Phi Psi suspended for violations By JENNY JOHNSON Staff writer The Greek system has always been relatively small on Loyola's campus, but this semester the number of members walking on campus appears even smaller. After entering pleas of guilty with mitigating circumstances to charges of hazing at the end of last semester, Alpha Delta Gamma and Phi Kappa Psi have been suspended for the fall semester. Both fraternities agreed to fulfill certain sanctions specified by Vincent Knipfing, vice president for Student Affairs. These sanctions include attending educational programs and performing community service. Neither of the fraternities are allowed to participate in this semester's rush program. Sigma Phi Epsilon will conduct an informal rush by itself in a couple of weeks. While Knipfing said that he did not consider either of the hazing incidents as being very serious, he said that because there have been a number of deaths nationwide as a result of hazing, he wants to deal with any problems that arise before they become a major problem or things "get out of hand." "We just will not tolerate hazing," he said. Michael Dyer, pre-med/biology senior and Phi Kappa Psi president, said that someone sent an anonymous letter to Student Activities alleging that Phi Psi had engaged in hazing during the spring of 1994. This, according to Dyer, is what started the investigation of possible hazing violations. Knipfing confirmed the fact that he received the anonymous letter, but said that the person who sent the letter did attend the organizational hearing and confronted the organization's president. Dyer said that none of the charges against his fraternity could be proved. "It was basically an allegation, but we weren't caught doing anything." He said that he is upset that the contents of the anonymous letter hurt the standing of the fraternity on campus. "I believe this hurt our image a lot, and that bothers me," he said. "It all came from an anonymous letter and a lot of it was hearsay." Dyer said that the fraternity has been working to improve its pledge program and to avoid activities that could be considered hazing. Chris Cameron, adviser of the See FRATERNITIES, Pg. 8 See OFFICE, Pg. 4 tl 8~33j I Detour I Construction for the I new library has entire **w rM school rerouted. r IJs -:::: 'SHSbH Po i Alive and Active A Soccer team has a new *«. dedication for a new Pg. 9 __J jipjtina's loses I business due to crime, ■I n construction and HOB.