Maroon

              THE MAROON ESTABLISHED 1923 VOL. 74 NO. 23 Loyola University New Orleans FRIDAY, APRIL 26, 1996 Benefits of wage increase questioned By ROSE FRENCH Assistant News Editor Burger King employees could have it their way soon if President Clinton's proposal for an increase in the minimum wage from $4.25 an hour to $5.15 over a two-year period passes both houses of Congress. Workers have not seen such a raise since 1989, a fact which has the Economic Policy Institute in Washington declaring the minimum wage to hit an inflationadjusted 40-year low soon. Clinton and other Democrats said the minimum wage increase would offer a more livable wage to those supporting families. Poverty levels would also decrease and give incentive to those on welfare, they said. A number of economists and business owners have declared, however, that the increase would hurt companies, forcing them to lay off workers and reduce many entry-level jobs which provide valuable experience. Deborah Walker, associate business administration professor, said the proposed minimum wage increase is not the answer. "I don't think they ever should have had a minimum wage," she said. "Most economists don't like the minimum wage, and the reason why is that it will cause unemployment." Walker said the goal of the minimum wage is to help people on the lower end of the wage scale. If the wage is increased, those on that end are the ones who will suffer the most, Walker said. "Whenever you increase cost to business, they're going to find some way to cut costs, and one way to do that is decrease the number of people they employ," she said. Walker mentioned various consequences of the minimum wage increase that many people are unaware of. The examples she cited were the studies that conclude that young black teenagers would be the hardest hit by the increase. Most of the people on minimum wage are teenagers, and it's their first job, she said. "They need that first job to get that track record. Without that they're going to have a harder time down the road." Yet many employed Loyola students do not see the proposed increase as a threat. "I think it's important to raise it (minimum wage) because inflation keeps Panelists discuss 'Covering the Planet' By CHRIS BONURA Staff writer Four student-operated videocameras panned around the Roussel Hall stage. Approximately 65 people gathered in the auditorium last Thursday to hear the third installment of the "Covering the Planet" series, which the Rev. Bernard Knoth, S.J., university president, has arranged to deal with some of the issues brought forth by the controversy over the Freeport- McMoßan-endowed environmental communications chair. Some whispered about the talk concerning the speech that was circulating around campus that day: that panelists were admonished about talking about Freeport and that moderator Josh Mankiewicz, a "Dateline NBC" correspondent, had familial connections to Hill & Knowlton, the public relations firm which Loyola has hired to plan the series and to search for candidates to fill the environmental communications chair. The six environmentalists who participated in the forum discussed a number of issues, including the By LEO ANDRES Audience members listen as journalists discuss issues that face the media in environmental coverage. SGA takes students out on 'Prowl' By LISA WULZYN Staff writer April 20 marked the beginning of an anticipated tradition of community service by the Student Government Association-sponsored "Wolves on the Prowl" attracted approximately 100 student volunteers who gave their time and services to the New Orleans' area. Various student organizations performed such services as preparing food packages through Second Harvest, gardening at the Curran Children's Home and painting and spending time with the mentally disabled, according to Katy Montgomery, political science senior and SGA president. "1 think the project was very important in that it followed the Jesuit tradition of helping your fellow man," Montgomery said. The idea for the service project came from Tim Bamett, Danna Center director and SGA adviser, who attended a conference of student government associations from around the country. While looking through brochures, Montgomery patterned the idea after Texas A&M University's 1982 project that attracted only eight students who volunteered to clean up a graveyard. The program there has now expanded to include over 5,000 volunteers. While she doesn't expect the number of students to escalate to that size because of Loyola's small student population, she said she does think that it is the beginning Elders speaks on America's social dilemmas By ALLISON TEMPLET Editorial Editor In September 1993, Dr. Joycelyn Elders became the first black, female United States surgeon general. On Dec. 1 of that year, World AIDS Day, Elders gave a talk at the United Nations and was asked if she recommended teaching children about masturbation as part of AIDS prevention. All phases of human sexuality should be a part of our educational curriculum, she said. The media responded by publicizing that Elders said all children should be taught how to masturbate. The next week, Elders was asked for her resignation because of her honest answer, she said. On April 23, Elders spoke at McAllister Auditorium on the Tulane University Campus. Approximately 40 people attended the speech, which was sponsored by the Tulane University Campus Programming Lyceum Committee. At the speech, she discussed her views on society's problems, some of which led to her controversial dismissal. One of these views she discussed was her belief in early childhood education. She recommended programs like Headstart, which provides education for underprivileged children before they enter kindergarten. She also spoke about the need for comprehensive health, not sex, education in schools from kindergarten through 12th grade. It cannot be left up to parents or churches, according to Elders. She said that this view was translated into a belief that she was "contaminating five-year-olds' minds and taking away their childhoods." She countered this view by saying. "We've tried ignorance for a very long time, and it's time we tried education." She added, "I'm really not about preventing adolescent sexuality. I'm about preventing the consequences of adolescent sexuality." Elders said that she believes in reproductive choice. To her, this does not necessarily mean abortion, but the By LEO ANDRES Elders speaks at Tulane's McAllister Auditorium Tuesday. See SERIES, Pg, 4 See PROWL. Pg. 3 See WAGE, Pg. 3 See ELDERS, Pg. 3 Enviromoment Professors debate economics and the environment. * 6* ' A night at Loyola on the HDJBo»fflwfli! |j!lji lonely and lively. ~~ Pg. 11