Maroon

              THE MAROON "For a Greater Loyola ESTABLISHED 1923 VOL. 77 NO. 3 Loyola University New Orleans FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1998 Dormitory construction makes noise for residents By GUY SCHAAFS Contributing writer Early in the morning, before the sun rose, Brandi Morales, psychology freshman, awoke to voices outside her fifth story Buddig window. Growing louder as they began their work, the construction workers' voices in front of her room became clear and, to Morales, annoying. "At six in the morning, they are all out here cussing and screaming. They say the mickey fricky word," Morales said. "It's a nice wake-up call when you don't have a class until 8 a.m." The early-morning voices began months ago, according to Robert Reed, director of Residential Life, when the foundation was laid for the initial piece of a three-year, multi-million-dollar dormitory construction and renovation project. The first phase, the construction of a new dormitory adjacent to Buddig Hall, is set to be completed in May 1999. Renovations to the aging Biever and Cabra halls will follow in the next two years. "Before we even did this, a long, long time before we even planned this out and started to draw it, I spent many a night with a number of student focus groups," Reed said. "Students were involved the whole time." Once plans were outlined, a problem arose — money. Initial bids came back well over budget because of the heavy construction in the area, Reed said. This escalated prices, required cuts by both builders and committee members, and finally ended up placing the beginning costs at a million more than the projected $12 million budget. While the unexpected increases may cost students more, the cuts will not directly effect the dorm's appearance. Reed said the plans still include fully-equipped apartments and a convenience store. "We used prices from Tulane and [University of New Orleans], who both have apartments. We also had to look at the debt service and what's included," Reed said. "They're not going to be cheap, but they are not going to be overly expensive." Just how expensive the cost of a dormitory will be is still undecided, Reed said. Without knowing what problems may arise, Reed said he must wait until meetings with architects in November before deciding price issues. The November meeting will also mark the start of talks on Biever Hall's renovation, beginning in June 1999. "Renovations have been needed for six or seven years. The problem is funding. We had initially planned to do half of Biever this summer and half of it next summer," Reed said. "But we have run into problems where we realized we have to remove asbestos, so that the building really has to be closed down all at one time." Biever Hall renovations include new STAFF PHOTO BY PIERCE PRESLEY A large pump moves concrete to the topmost floor of the new residence hall. The hall is scheduled to open in June 1999. College students face decisions about sex By ELIZABETH STUART News Editor Sex is one of the most frankly discussed, yet probably one of the more mind-boggling, topics on campus. Sex involves more than just the act. On college campuses, students experience a freedom unparalleled to that in high school. Besides handling the new types of relationships, both professional and social, college students may start to experiment with other people in romantic relationships that might lead to life-long commitments. A person's sexuality permeates all aspects of his personality in varying degrees, according to pamphlets obtained from the Career and Counseling Department. People generally search for a life partner with whom they can build a solid relationship foundation, someone who reaffirms their self-worth and whom they can trust with their innermost feelings. Both people in a relationship can reap benefits of mutual love and companionship, according to the same pamphlets. While experimentation may include random people in bars, one-night stands and multiple sex partners, some people in search of a stronger sense of security and stability might try to find such things in a more permanent relationship. Once in college, people puzzle over their sexuality, and, in turn, are faced with the decision of whether to have sex, said Cecelia Sun, counselor for Counseling and Career Development. Micah Backer, communications senior, said he thinks people's moral standards are formed before they come to college. "If you don't have a morality of your own by now, I don't think Loyola will change it or add to it in any way," he said. Sun, however, said she thinks college offers more choices. "I think the decision to have sex or not to have sex is a very individual one," she said. "College gives you the Disabled employee rejected for university pension plan By NEAL FALGOUST Staff writer Mary Guidry had hoped Loyola would help ease her pain. Those hopes were dashed early this summer when she received news she would not be able to collect the pension she had planned on. Guidry, former assistant to the dean of Arts and Sciences, was one of 36 faculty and staff members who applied for the voluntary severance program offered to them in the spring. She was also one of two people rejected because of a $3 million cap on the program. The other was physics professor Carl Brans. Brans is working in Germany as part of a grant he received and could not be reached for comment. Guidry suffers from multiple sclerosis, a disease that eats away at the body's central nervous system. The disease affects motor control, impairs vision and sometimes causes slurred speech. She was diagnosed with MS in 1991. and until January 1997 her doctors said the disease had been in remission. Last year, doctors upgraded her diagnosis to "secondary progressive." Guidry said if she had received the SGA debates proposed honor code in light of freedom of religion, vote near unanimous By ELIZABETH STUART News Editor Some wording in the proposed honor code concerning students' freedoms of religion may also play an important factor in deciding whether the code will benefit Loyola. ' Rosina Roibal, music sophomore and Student Government Association music president, pointed out a discrepancy with the wording of the proposed honor code dealing with God. "I know this is a Catholic institution and that a lot of people talk about Jesuit traditions," she said. "That's fine and all, but using the word 'God' is implying and assuming that everyone is monotheistic, denying people who are polytheistic and atheistic." The part of the code she referred to reads: "Our starting point as a community is our recognition and acceptance of the goodness of all our members and the ideal of human solidarity and community under God." Roibal contended: "It's denying our freedom of belief by using that word (God)." Tim Fanguy, communications sophomore and SGA arts and sciences representative, disagreed with Roibal. He said that because Loyola is a Jesuit university, there are going to be certain religious aspects present. "This just furthers the whole Jesuit tradition that Loyola is based upon," he said. "If people don't believe in God, then that's their own beliefs, but in coming (to Loyola), there's a certain degree of religion that's going to be there. It's your choice not to come to Loyola if you don't like that," Fanguy said. The honor code passed congress with a vote of 15-1; Jenn Abreo, communications senior and SGA congressperson at large, voted against it. "I just think everyone (students) should think about it before they vote, read it over and see what exactly it entails and make sure they're ready to take that commitment on," Abreo said. See DORMS Pg 5 See SEX, Pg. 4 See GUIDRY, Pg. 3 See CODE, Pg 5 Information Technology Two meets, two records Olita Magee combines reorganizes, restaffs. or ross Country. /Sl school with work.