Maroon

              "For a Greater Loyola." THE MAROON ESTABLISHED 1923 VOL. 76 NO. 23 Loyola University New Orleans FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 1998 BREACH OF SECURITY Each year the Department of Residential Life touts a safe living environment as one of the key reasons to live on campus. It boasts 24-hour security as the lock that keeps those who don't live in the dorms out. We set out to determine how strong that lock is and found out just how easy it is to open. VISITATION POLICY — Sunday through Thursday: 10 a.m. to midnight. Friday and Saturday: 24 hours. On eves of holidays: 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. ACCESS REQUIREMENTS — Exterior doors are locked 24 hours and express cards are needed to open them. Staff graphic by NEAL FALGOUST and WEAK AREAS — Quad-side doors. celeste Marshall By MICHAEL GIUSTI and ELIZABETH STUART Staff writers Bzzzzz. "Right now we have people going out the back door," says Robert Reed, director of Residential Life. "That alarm goes off every hour or so." The door Reed is referring to is one of the many doors in the residence halls equipped with an alarm to notify officials when it is opened. It is also a door used to sneak people in after visitation hours in Buddig Hall. Early this week, The Maroon conducted an investigation to test the effectiveness of these alarms and other measures taken by the Department of Residential Life to keep people who don't belong in the dorms out. Over a five-day period, two reporters who do not live on campus and do not have building stickers entered each of the three dorms independently. On all six attempts the reporters walked into the buildings in plain view of the desk assistants. They were not asked to show identification by any of the desk assistants. According to Residential Life's policy, only residents, people who have official business in the halls and residents' guests are allowed in the building. All residents are given colored stickers on their IDs. The residents, in order to gain access to the buildings, are required to show their IDs to the desk assistant on duty. "I am disappointed in the (Residential VISITATION POLICY — Sunday through Thursday: 10 am. to midnight. Friday, Saturday and eves ot holidays: 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. ACCESS REQUIREMENTS— Exterior doors are locked after the front desk closes. ID cards are needed to open doors. WEAK AREAS — Doors by the restroom and fire exit. Life) staff," Reed said. "They didn't do what they were supposed to do." After gaining access to the halls, our reporters freely walked around to interview students on this issue of safety in their building Most of the residents interviewed felt secure in the dorms and said they rarely lock their doors. They also said they believed the desk assistants were consistent in asking to see people's IDs. "The DAs here are mostly pretty good," said Dustin Burns, political science junior and Cabra resident. "If they know you, they let you by. If they see a new face, they usually ask for ID." Dan Obarski, psychology senior and Cabra resident, agrees that security is reasonably sound. "They are usually pretty good with security, but I know some pretty strange people have gotten in," he said. "If you walk like you belong there and are VISITATION POLICY— Sunday through Thursday: 10 a.m. to midnight. Friday and Saturday and eves of holidays: 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. ACCESS REQUIREMENTS — Exterior doors are locked after the front desk closes. ID cards are needed to open doors. WEAK AREAS — Students walk toward residential life offices and walk upstairs. CABRA HALL Reporters entered through the quad side door to access the stairs They were not asked for ID. BUDDIG HALL One reporter walked through the exit door by the restroom, the other past the desk. Neither was asked to show ID. BIEVER HALL Reporters walked past desk without being asked to show ID. Commuters, faculty belly up to new meal plan By MATT MISTRETTA Staff writer Commuters and residents will be able to share in the privileges of a meal plan come next semester. Beginning in the fall, Loyola Dining Services will offer a meal plan option to the commuter community of Loyola. It will be ready to use by the beginning of next semester for commuter students, faculty and staff. According to Loyola Dining Services director Mark Atkinson, the plan will be available for purchase by commuters in the Express Card Office in 25 or 50 meal packages. "This meal plan is designed with the LU Policies comparable with others Lack of medical school makes environmental job easier at Loyola By AUGUST SMITH Staff writer Loyola is moving into the mainstream in becoming more environmentally conscious with increasing attention to environmental details. However, one of the ; details Loyola is missing is an environmental policy statement. The Wye College, University of London, seems to be a leader in environmental policies because it is one of the first colleges to have an environmental policy statement. A written statement that includes directives for future administrators to make decisions based on the college's goals establishes a guideline for environmental responsibility. "Wye College recognizes that its activities [have an] impact both negatively and positively upon the environment at local, regional and global levels and acknowledges a responsibility for the protection of the environment and of the o Greening up Loyola Part 5 of 5 See DORM, Pg 5 See GREEN, Pg. 4 See MEAL, Pg. 3 Counter in new garage Tack splits twin bill to T Modern dance depicts