Maroon

              THE MAROON ESTABLISHED 1923 VOL. 75 NO. 17 Loyola University New Orleans FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1997 NEWS Money Matters Shawn Donnelley gives $70,000 to PR and advertising students. Pg3 SPORTS Rough 'n' Tumble Men's and women's basketball teams lose home games. Pg.7 LIFE & TIMES Maple Mother Bookstore owner Rhoda Faust relates experiences with Walker Percy. Pg.H Students test school of business By ANNA MITCHELL Staff writer The reaccreditation peer review team of the American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business met with 17 business undergraduates on Monday to ask their opinion of Loyola's College of Business. The three board members on the team included deans from three universities across the country: Greg Ulfert of the University of Detroit, Bud Barnes of the Gonzaga University in Spokane, Wash., and Hugh Parker of Millsaps College in Jackson, Miss. The students were asked about the curriculum, advising and faculty. 'They asked us specific questions. They were very open for us to speak," said Veronica Kittok, business senior. One of the improvements students asked for in this week's meeting was better career placement. "We discussed installing our own career center within the business school. We want the school to play a more active role in career guidance," Kittok said. Plans for the future include improving student advising to be more mentoring than just "take these classes," Dauterive said. Improving the curriculum and technology are also priorities of the dean's office. The students agreed that the college's faculty involvement had improved. Many students were pleased with the relationship between student and instructor. "I think the overwhelming majority of the faculty make themselves available in class, with office hours and by appointment," said Jake Bauman, international business junior. "They are concerned about the well-being of the students inside and outside of the classroom." Another faculty member receiving praise by students and faculty alike is Dean J. Patrick O'Brien. "He has made a lot improvements in the short time he has been here," said Emmanuel Fyssas, finance and international business senior. O'Brien joined the college in August of last year. ' "Dean O'Brien came halfway through my career. He has definitely had a positive impact. I have seen drastic improvement in the selection of courses, quality of professors and the new computer lab," Kittok said. Cheating raises complex questions By STEPHEN STUART Editor in Chief Most people agree that cheating has remained a part of college life over the years. It takes forms ranging from peeking at someone else's answer to high-profile scandals, such as the expulsion of 24 midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1994 for passing around an advance copy of an exam. But what they don't agree on, at least at Loyola, is a single explanation for why cheating persists on college campuses, even those with honor codes like the Naval Academy's. From Loyola administrators to students, the views and theories on academic dishonesty vary in terms of its prevalence on campus, its causes, professor and student attitudes and solutions. Questions even exist about the definition of cheating and whether one form of cheating is more 1 1 serious than another. The answer to the second question is yes and no, said Glenn Hymel, associate psychology professor. In an absolute sense, any form of cheating is bad. 'If it's a violation of university honor code, then it's a violation," he said. But in another sense, certain forms of cheating appear worse than others. "The uneven distribution of work in a group project is not as grievous as someone going through an elaborate scheme to cheat on a comprehensive exam," Hymel said. The guidelines for what qualifies as cheating must be spelled out by the teachers, said Claire Paolini, associate Arts and Sciences dean. "Students need to know where they stand," she said. in her own Spanish classes, Paolini said she tries to eliminate the opportunity for cheating as much as possible. "I try to make clear what I expect every student to d 0... to let them know where I am drawing the line," she said. By BETH McGOVERN Loyola in last with graduates By MICHAEL GIUSTI Assistant News Editor Loyola University has the lowest freshman graduation rate among 32 schools studied by the University Planning Team. Only 41 percent of entering freshmen graduate within four years, according to the UPT. The goal of the UPT is to increase this number to 80 percent. Administrators have found no common reason for the low graduation rate despite exit interviews conducted by the College of Arts and Sciences and other colleges. Robert Rowland, dean of arts and sciences and member of the UPT, said there is no way a sweeping statement can be made on why students are leaving. 'They could be leaving for any number of reasons," Rowland said. "They may have family problems, like divorce or illness, or they could be having some personal problems. You never know." Marcus Smith, English professor and member of the UPT, said the party atmosphere in New Orleans may cause some problems in the retention of students. Smith also said he sees tuition increases and a lack of financial aid as causes for some students to transfer or drop out. "As the cost of education goes up, some students just can't afford to come here ... I have had students working three jobs and trying to carry a full load. You just can't do that," he said. According to the Rev. Bernard Knoth, S.J., university president, Loyola needs to work on some aspects in order to hold onto its students. "Loyola's program isn't well adapted to graduate students in four years," he said. Swanzy leaves position after 20 years at helm of music school By SARAH SPARKS Assistant News Editor David Swanzy will resign as dean of Loyola's music program on July 31 after holding the position for 20 years. He will return Aug. 1 as a music professor. Swanzy became dean of Loyola's College of Music in 1977. He helped plan and raise $13 million to build Loyola's Communications/Music Complex and Roussel Hall. He also created many new music programs for the university, including the music industry studies program, still active today. "I take pride in the fact that the 1980s and the first half of the '90s were extremely fine years at the College of Music," Swanzy said. "The college of music is now blessed with four nationally-prominent programs; these are in the areas of vocal performance, string education, jazz studies and music therapy." According to David Danahar, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, Swanzy has also been a leader in the university at large. "In good times as well as troubling times. Dean Swanzy has given sage council and advice on a full range of university concerns," Danahar said. Some have questioned Swanzy's decision to leave during such a successful time in his career, but Swanzy is firm about his choice. "I've always believed that one shouldn't fall in love with a seemingly important administrative position," he said. "Change that is thoughtfully planned and executed is healthy; change that provides little time for a thoughtful incubation period is questionable. "I can tell you that 1 have gone through a thoughtful incubation period before deciding to shift to new challenges in my professional life. I See CHEAT, Pg. 5 See REVIEW, Pg. 4 See DEAN, Pg. 4