Maroon

              THE MAROON "For a Greater Loyola ESTABLISHED 1923 FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 1998 VOL. 77 NO. 2 Loyola University New Orleans The Underground opens after months of delays By GUY SCHAAFS Contributing writer Months of broken promises and wet feet have finally concluded with the opening of The Underground this semester. The opening marks the end of renovation problems on the ailing Wolf Pub that reached a peak during the spring, when building teams and the Student Activities Center were wading through troubling waters. "When we drilled for plumbing, water came through," said Tim Bamett, director of Student Activities. "We have no idea where it came from since the water table is not high enough, but we couldn't stop it." By sealing off the two main water leaks and installing both a water-absorbing foam compound and two pumps beneath the wood-paneled floor, builders could finally tackle other problems stemming from unsound architectural blueprints, Barnett said. "The building's original blueprints showed plans for a bowling alley in that location," Bamett said. "We found that they were incomplete in their description of the foundation and had to have someone come in and look at the problem." During renovations, Bamett used a marketing team from the university to consider the image the former Wolf Pub would take. Student surveys, distributed by the marketing team, found problems with the original projections for a cyber cafe with computers for student use. "Focus groups for the cyber cafe kept coming back 'No,'" Bamett said. "We found that students really just wanted a place to hang out or study." The idea of a quieter atmosphere for The Underground has substantially increased student patronage. Bamett said before renovations, the Wolf Pub was lucky if it got a half dozen customers after peak morning hours. "The Wolf Pub felt like a dark cave," Marcus Weller, biology/ pre-med junior, sai'd. "It's more relaxing now, and it's lit so that it's easier to study there." Bamett said in order to maintain a relaxing study atmosphere, future plans will allow students to check out laptops to use inside the cafe, along with installing capabilities for WebTV. Efforts to provide live entertainment in The Underground are another way the Student Activities Center has pulled in student TIME LINE The Underground's saga began more than a year ago when the Wolf Pub closed after being open for more than 30 years. October 1997 — December 1997: Original opening dates. Failed to open because of mechanical and electncal problems. Jan. 26,1998: Bids for the project go out later than expected. Contest to guess the opening date begins. March 13: Deadline for the contest to guess the opening date. Opening date projected as April 16. April 17: Foundation problems delay The Underground's grand opening for the third time. Summer: Water pumps and other water-absorbing materials installed under the flooring to prevent flooding. Late August: The Underground opens before the fall semester begins. Jamie Castille, music therapy senior, waits in line with other hungry students for food in the newly renovated Underground. Renovation of the area began more than a year ago and was delayed by foundation problems. STAFF PHOTO BY PIERCE PRESLEY Property sold, house torn down By DANNY LAYNE Contributing writer Passing the wide-eyed dog and watching the family on the porch of the old green house next door to Monroe Hall has become a part of the past. There is no woman rocking a baby as students walk by, and the family has long since moved out. On Sept. 10, the house was completely dismantled. According to John Eckholdt, former vice president for Business and Finance, Loyola bought the property this summer for an estimated $300,000. The land will be used as an added area to store equipment for the contractors remodeling the library. Once the library has been remodeled into the new visual arts center, the storage area will become green space. The grandparents of Conway Farrell, who owned the house, built it in 1894. Farrell had lived there for the last nine years. Farrell said he believes the house, like most homes built before the turn of the century, should have been preserved. He plans to reconstruct it on another site for personal and historic reasons. "I am not sure if it is going to work out — rebuilding the house," Farrell said. "Yet it should be a fun project to work on." Farrell said he doesn't have any negative feelings toward the university. "Loyola needed the space, and they STAFF PHOTO BY LARA RUTSKIN The Farrell house, next to Monroe Hall, will be turned into additional green space. SGA proposes honor code to prevent, punish cheating By ELIZABETH STUART News Editor Honor, trust and duty. Loyola students, including those who contemplate cheating on a test, will not be able to take these three words very lightly for much longer. The vote on an honor code will be up to the students in the coming weeks. Although she has not examined the proposed honor code. Sherry Alexander, assistant communications professor, said she thinks one would be beneficial to the university. "The general idea of having an honor code where the students are expected to conduct themselves in an honorable way is appropriate for the institution," she said. The proposed code does not excuse ignorance in violations. "Moreover, ignorance of the Code is not acceptable," it states. "All students who enter and are registered at Loyola University are bound by a statement affirming their understanding and acceptance of the Code, its implications and requirement." In the event of honor code violations, the accused person will be subject to an investigation by an Honor Council. Personal lawyers will not be allowed at hearings. According to the proposed honor code, the Honor Council will consist of nine elected student representatives, one faculty adviser selected annually by the University Faculty Senate and one staff adviser selected by the University Administrative Senate. Disciplinary actions range from community service or warning, to honor probation, or dismissal from the university. Honor probation prohibits the code violator from participating in all school activities except academics, on-campus jobs and social events sponsored by Loyola. See CAFE, Pg. 5 See GREEN, Pg. 4 See CODE, Pg. 5 mm NEWS jfe M LIFE & TIMES "iP'jp tenl ' Kvet takes the reins as wT Volleyball team relies * « Life not all parties for music school dean. | on experience this year. Un'VCrS'ty president'