Maroon

              THE MAROON ESTABLISHED 1923 VOL. 76 NO. 1 Loyola University New Orleans FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1997 New class the largest since 1988 By AUTUMN CAFIERO Editorial Editor Loyola's campus may seem more crowded than last semester. With 703 students, the 1997-98 freshman class is the largest since 1988 - a 46 percent increase from 1996. According to Nan Massengill, dean of admissions, these numbers are due to new recruitment strategies carried out in 1996. "[There were] two major areas (of improvement): the additional expansion of travel and the infusion of resources and upgraded technologies," she said. These resources include new phones and computers in the telecounseling center that student workers use to call interested students. "That was a new initiative that really paid great dividends this year," said Daniel Sheridan, associate provost. In addition to being larger, the new freshman class moves Loyola one step closer to becoming a nationally recognized university. This semester, 56 percent of the freshmen represent 46 states, an increase from last year's class in which 52 percent of freshmen represented 37 states. "In formulating a recruitment plan ... you always build on where you're getting your st-jdents each year," Sheridan said. "Keep getting students from where you've always gotten them and add new areas to recruit from.... We set our goal to recruit from all over the country, have high quality students and have a diverse mix of students." According to Massengill, travel was a key element in recruitment. "This past year the president and provost provided additional resources for us to expand fall and spring travel in the North and Northeast and on the West coast," she said. By SARAH BARNETT Sean Wentworth, senior admissions counselor, mingles with Samuel McCord, psychology freshman; Jackie Wilneff, communications freshman; and Nathaniel Hodges, business and economics sophomore, Sunday at Swamp Stomp in Audubon Park. For more on orientation, see Pg. 4. Loyola expresses mixed opinions about new quad By JULIE LARUE Contributing writer A transformation of the area between Monroe Hall and the Communications/ Music Complex has created a new quad of brick pathways lined with French Quarter-style lights and surrounded by 24 benches and 47 tall palm trees. The former parking lot was destroyed last fall and renovated over the summer to make room for added green space. "I think the new palm court — what we will call it for now — is a very positive addition to the campus," said the Rev. Bernard Knoth, S.J., university president, in a written statement. "It gives us another whole area where students, faculty and staff or visitors to campus can congregate and visit or sit and read." Some opinions on the new foliage run lukewarm. "I think it's nice, except for the trees," said Juan Muniz, psychology senior. "I just wish that the trees chosen for the quad would go with the rest of the area," said Gabe Siles, general business senior. However, some students say the palms are a welcome change and that they like the quad's new look. "It's better than that Chia grass," said John Perez, accounting senior. Cara Huey, international business sophomore, said, "I like it. It's kind of trendy." Linda Ireland, administrative assistant Computer network completed after months of anticipation By PIERCE PRESLEY Assistant Sports Editor Loyola's students, faculty and staff now have a high-tech connection to each other and to the world through an extensive computer network. Aiming for a network connection in every work space, The Office of Information Technology installed network connections in every office and dorm room on the main and Broadway campuses. Financed by $3.7 million of a $45 million bond issue, the installation started in October. The network installation lacks only minor adjustments, said Allen Sparks, director of information technology. "Friday (today), we'll be real, real close to having everything done," Sparks said. Some faculty members hail the network as Loyola's entry into modern communication. "It's given us the ability to move our training of teachers and students into the 19905," said Melanie McKay, director of Writing Across the Curriculum. "It's terrific. I was frustrated in the past because I didn't have the equipment," she said. WAC opened an IBM-compatible computer lab in Bobet Hall in which students can use the network for group writing projects and to communicate with teachers without leaving the computer. The library will become easier to use and offer more online services, said Mary Lee Sweat, dean of libraries. "It will give everyone in the library direct access to the network," she said. "We plan on offering a lot more public access." The Rev. Bernard Knoth, S.J., university president, called the network an "initiative with extraordinary potential Chicken, Wolf Pub to go cyber By ELIZABETH STUART Contributing writer The Wolf Pub has howled its last call and will reopen as a cyber cafe in October. Meanwhile, plans for Chick-Fil-A's arrival at Loyola have flown the coop. Tim Barnett. director of the Danna Center and Student Activities, said Chick- Fil-A's delay resulted from problems with the architectural contract. Now, plans for Chick-Fil-A have been scratched altogether due to a lack of money, Barnett said. Needed air conditioning and electrical changes would have cost an additional $20,000 to $30,000, he said. "There were expenses that we were trying to solve. ... We didn't have that kind of money to make those changes," he said. Chick-Fil-A's spot in the Danna Center required new deck work, an airconditioning unit and an electrical panel because of the inadequate electricity there, Barnett said. Cyberwraps, which arrived in August as a temporary replacement forTaco Bell, is slated for an indefinite stay in the Danna Center. P.J.'s on the first floor will be converted to a quick-and-go P.J.'s when the cafe in the basement opens. The Wolf Pub will get a new name after it is modified. Students and faculty will vote on the new name in September. Construction will go from the end of September until some time in October. Rob Selzer, philosophy senior, is disappointed the pub will be closed until October. "I'm over 21, but there's something cool about having a beer on campus," he said. Now that Louisiana's legal alcohol age is 21, business has dropped off in the Wolf Pub, and it has become "wasted space," Barnett said. Loyola wants to provide more comfortable places for students to interact and study. The university wants to draw more people to the pub to add to the sense of community, he said. With special features such as sofas, big-screen televisions, internet access and a coffee bar, students will have more options. "1 think students will like it once it's put in," he said. Furnishings in the cyber cafe will include single seats at internet stations, See FROSH, Pg. 4 See PALM, Pg. 3 See NETWORK, Pg. 5 See PUB, Pg. 5 1 Pricey Permits . Campus parking ,it jM permits become more ptfmmwjkmm, GOAL! A Wolfpack starts soccer season 1-0 against Mount St. Clare. Pg. 7 R j: ..ggg£ Going My Way B i&- Summer travel takes rim writers to New York .City and beyond.