Maroon

              THE MAROON ESTABLISHED 1923 VOL. 75 NO. 16 Loyola University New Orleans FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1997 Gram of cocaine found on third floor of Miller Hall By AUTUMN CAFIERO Staff writer A staff member at Loyola was shocked when she discovered cocaine in Miller Hall. The staff member, whose name could not be released, found one gram of the narcotic on the floor outside of the third floor elevator in Miller. Patrick Bailey, director of Public Safety, said the person reported the incident to Public Safety Feb. 4 at 11:52 a.m. According to Public Safety, the substance tested positive as cocaine. "This is one of the first incidents [this year] that we've had any recovery of cocaine," Bailey said. Bailey said drugs, when they are found, are usually in the residence halls; a discovery in Miller is highly unusual. "What this tells me is that at some point someone was in possession of it," Bailey said. "Somebody probably dropped it." According to Bailey, the drug was in a sealed container. "It was in a very small plastic Zip-loc bag," he said. Although it appears to be a small amount. Bailey said the cocaine is worth between $100 and $140. Public Safety has no suspects yet in its investigation. Bailey said Public Safety can do little in the case at this time. "We're hoping we can get some leads on it, but at this point we haven't got any," Bailey said. After the cocaine leaves the hands of Public Safety, it will be turned over to the crime lab evidence control room in the New Orleans Police Department, where the drug will eventually be destroyed. "If they had a suspect, it would be used as evidence," Bailey said. "[But] at this point, since we have no suspect, I would assume that they would destroy it immediately." In order to prevent similar events from occurring at Loyola in the future, Public Safety will continue to conduct random drug searches in the residence halls. "Loyola will not condone possession, consumption, distribution or sale of illegal drugs," Bailey said. "The university is adamant that the community should be free from illegal drugs." Bailey said that Public Safety is still looking for information regarding the incident. "If anyone would call us and give us a tip on it, we would appreciate it." Greeks face struggle for integration By NEAL FALGOUST Managing Editor ANALYSIS Loyola University has for most of its history struggled with issues concerning racial integration and diversity. From the first attempts at integration in 1962, to a satirical column — written by former Maroon Editor in Chief Mike Wilson in 1991 — mistaken for racist bigotry, to the recent decision by the Rev. Bernard Knoth, S.J., university president, not to establish an office of multicultural affairs, issues of race have always stirred emotions and debate on this campus. The integration of Loyola's Greek system, however, stands out as one of the most enduring cases concerning issues of race. This semester will mark the 10th anniversary of a decree by the Student Affairs Committee of the Board of Trustees calling for the integration of Loyola's Greek system. According to the minutes of the April 3, 1987 meeting, committee members decided that the implementation of affirmative action plans by each of the fraternities and sororities was necessary, considering most of the Greek organizations on campus at that time had never had any black members. The minutes of the meeting also say that any programs devised by the fraternities and sororities would have to go through "an evaluation so that problems and successes can be addressed and recognized." Ten years later, however, statistics show the Greek system as a whole has Semester Snooze By BETH McGOVERN Andrew Winter, history freshman, takes a break from studying in the St. Charles Room on Sunday. Buildings will open later because of early-morning incident By MICHAEL GIUSTI Assistant News Editor Anyone trying to go to work at 3:30 a.m. must now have his own key. In light of the recent Uptown crimes, buildings on Loyola's campus will remain locked until 7 a.m. Public Safety made the decision after three men walked into Marquette Hall, and one of them asked a woman cleaning the building for money. The men were escorted from campus by Public Safety officers, and the solicitor was found to have a criminal history. Nobody was hurt, but the ease with which the people walked into the building raised the question as to when the outer doors should be opened. "We try to review our procedures on a fairly regular basis. We sat down and decided the doors didn't need to be opened that early," said Roger Pinac, Public Safety investigator. With Public Safety's limited manpower, it is unable to keep the entire campus safe during off hours, Pinac said. "You have almost no control over who comes and goes into a particular building when they are unlocked," he said. According to Pinac, it is unsafe to be in a building when nobody else is around. "If you have a single person sitting in a building someplace, they are pretty vulnerable ... someone could become a victim of a crime and nobody would know about it," Pinac said. Ann Tregle, assistant director of Physical Plant said, "When it is that early in the morning and you are all alone in a building, it is very uncomfortable." All three university residence halls have card-operated door locks. Some other buildings on campus already have these locks, but they are not operational. Public Safety plans to expand the card access system used in the residence halls to the rest of the campus. "This is a goal, but it is an expensive goal," he said. "It is not achievable overnight, though." Pinac said there are many advantages to having a card system. "If you lose a key, you can't turn that key off with a card reader. [With card keys] you can tailor access to your needs," Pinac said. Carjacking last straw for student By PIERCE PRESLEY Staff writer The daughter of an assistant U.S. Attorney was caijacked at 221 Broadway on Feb. 10. Heather Melton, English writing senior, and Eric Kristiansen, her boyfriend, were not injured in the attack. Kristiansen was driving her white Honda Accord when a black Dodge Avenger blocked the car on the side of Broadway. "Eric and I both remained very calm, at least on the outside, which I think is one of the reasons we're still alive." A black man, 5 feet 10 inches and 160 pounds, brandished a large silver automatic pistol and demanded entrance to the car. "When he got into the car, I thought 'Okay, this is it,'" Melton said. She thought the attacker was going to kill her. The assailant demanded Kristiansen's wallet and Melton's purse. Kristiansen complied, and Melton gave him her jewelry, wallet and a credit card. See CARJACKING, Pg. 5 See RACE, Pg. 5 EGSDFG ďf Elements of Style jl I Loyola professors and I students develop writing mh styles in many ways.