Maroon

              THE MAROON ESTABLISHED 1923 VOL. 75 NO. 4 FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1996 Loyola University New Orleans Policy on alcohol toughens By SARAH WALKER Staff writer The ever-changing legal age to consume alcohol has kept Loyola's administration busy trying to keep in accordance with the law. The legislation has flip-flopped over the constitutionality of age discrimination for nearly a year. As a result, Loyola has revamped its university alcohol policy. Since August, 21 has been the legal drinking age here. But anyone between 18 and 20 can drink in a private residence or under the supervision of a parent or legal guardian. The university is in compliance with the new law and intends to strongly enforce the new policy, said Vincent Knipfing, vice president of Student Affairs. However, Knipfing commented on the poor enforcement throughout the city. "The answer is not 21," Knipfing said. He said it is still legal to serve alcohol at receptions on campus, but it is the responsibility of the organization to ensure that the drinking policy is enforced. Judy Deshotels, assistant director of student activities, helped Knipfing draw up the new alcohol policy. "The [school's] policy had to be consistent with the law," Deshotels said. At an on-campus reception, requirements must be met for serving alcohol. "For all events where alcohol is available, the organization must complete By BETH McGOVERN Bear with It Amber Ramamauskas, English freshman, brought her koala bear for support to Monday's blood drive. Armed robberies around university on the rise By EMILY NETZHAMMER Staff writer Crime continues to rise in the area surrounding Loyola University's campus. A Sept. 17 robbery brings the total of armed robberies reported to Public Safety up to five. All of these incidents have occured in the neighborhood surrounding the main campus and the law school. According to Roger Pinac, Public Safety investigator, the actual number of crimes may be greater than those reported to Public Safety. Pinac notes that in many incidents victims call the New Orleans Police Department directly. As a result, Public Safety often does not hear about these crimes. "This puts us in a bind," Pinac said. "I feel it is our responsibility to let students know what is going on in the neighborhood." Pinac adds that Public Safety is required to inform students about crimes occuring only on campus, but students should be aware of problems in the neighborhood. Pinac is requesting that the NOPD report to Public Safety any incident involving a Tulane or Loyola student or occuring in the area around campus. Most of the reported incidents have been armed robberies in which no one was injured. A Sept. 12 incident, which involved two Loyola students, resulted in minor injury to one of the victims. The victim was hit in the head with a gun during the course of the robbery. A purse, wallet and keys were stolen. The robbery occured on Zimple Street at Adams Street around five a.m. One of the most recent robberies around campus occurred on Sept. 17 at 12:45 a.m. According to a Public Safety flier, two male Tulane University students were held up at gunpoint, forced to their knees and searched by the robber. A wallet was taken from one of the students. Pinac warns students to be cautious Enrollment worse than expected By ROSE FRENCH News Editor Official numbers concerning the university's drop in enrollment are now available with results showing an acrossthe-board loss of 409 students. However, this number does not include the 73- student drop in special programs enrollment. The 409 loss of enrollment student reflects that of the undergraduate, graduate and law schools. Special programs, in which transient students are not formally admitted to Loyola but enroll in university courses, do not factor into this enrollment number. Down from last fall's 5,686 total registered students, including those in the undergraduate, graduate and law schools and special programs, the current number reads 5,204. "We have a problem," said David Danahar, provost and vice president for Student interest sparks petition, but fate of yearbook remains 4in limbo' By ALLISON TEMPLET News Editor Uncertainty still surrounds the existence of the 1996-97 Wolf. Although William Hammel, communications chairman, said the yearbook is currently "in limbo," concern over its possible loss has spurred three Loyola students into action. Jennipher Mulhollem, psychology sophomore, Sookia Staggers, sociology junior, and Catherine Nichols, communications senior, wrote a letter on Sept. 11 expressing their desire to keep The Wolf from being eliminated. In the letter, Mulhollem, Staggers and Nichols said they were planning to ask students who either expressed a desire for a yearbook or who were interested in working on it to sign a petition. They sent the letter to Robert Rowland, dean of arts and sciences, David Danahar, provost and vice president of Academic Affairs, the Rev. Bernard Knoth, S.J., university president and The Maroon. If by today, they have gathered the signatures of at least 1 SO students wanting a yearbook and at least 15 students willing to commit to working on it, the letter asks the administration if it would assign a temporary adviser to The Wolf. As of Sept. 17, the three students had gathered over 160 signatures from those who wanted a yearbook and over 30 from those interested in being a part of the staff. Hammel said that this was the most student interest for the yearbook he had ever seen. "We're feeling really positive about it," Staggers said. However, an adviser has still not been found and Hammel said that work could not begin until this occurred. Hammel is currently making inquiries for possible advisers, but he could not say when one would be found. At its final meeting of the last academic year, the communications faculty decided that the yearbook should no longer be a publication of the department. They made this decision out of frustration over under-financing and student apathy, Hammel said. The three students who wrote the letter said that they started the petition in order to show there was interest in the yearbook among Loyola students. The three cited a lack of advertising as a reason why there is no yearbook staff. Many students did not know how to join, they said. They said that the advertising for a new staff should have been the responsibility of the 1995-96 Wolf staff. Nichols said that there were only five See BUDGET, Pg 4 See ALCOHOL, Pg. 4 See CRIME, Pg. 4 See BOOK, Pg. 3 Sensored |l Pj ,3Jk/.?'~r%~**', Loyola bookstore i '•''''iiSv* hopes to reduce theft sh—SV,'(BBMJ !&"* • with security system. Sm a ■■§! Expectant father Freshman Stephen Priding reflects on his goal to become a Jesuit.