Maroon

              The Maroon "For a Greater Loyola VOL. 77 NO. 10 ESTABLISHED 1923 Loyola University New Orleans FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1998 THE WHITE PAPER Knoth suggests ways to improve athletic programs By ROBERT TREADWAY Assistant News Editor The Loyola community is debating the future of the university's athletic program. In a report known as the white paper, the Rev. Bernard Knoth, S J., university president, outlines some options for the athletic program. The report deals with athletic scholarships, league affiliations and facility renovations. The University Senate met Nov. 5 to hear Knoth speak on the future of Loyola athletics. The debate over Loyola's athletic program began two years ago when Knoth consulted Craig Bogar, athletic director, for his views on the issue. Many of Bogar's suggestions were published this fall in the white paper. The debate has brought about the topic of changing league affiliation. Loyola is affiliated with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics and participates in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference. This NAIA Division I conference also includes Belhaven College, Dillard University, Louisiana College, Spring Hill College, Southern University of New Orleans, Tougaloo College, University of Mobile, William Carey College and Xavier University of New Orleans. In the Oct 31,1997 issue of The Maroon, Bogar said many colleges in the NAIA division have started awarding participation awards, the equivalent of a sports scholarship. "Without giving scholarships, Loyola doesn't have a fair chance to win," he said. Options regarding league affiliation were also presented. Loyola could stay in the NAIA and offer athletic participation awards to student athletes. Another alternative is to move into the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division 111, a nonscholarship-awarding conference. A topic suggested by Bogar is forming a new Division HI conference in the NCAA. Bogar later retracted his suggestion, saying the chances of successfully forming a new conference are low. Knoth proposed advancing into NCAA Division 111. "Many say that the NAIA is on its last leg. We need to position ourselves in case the NAIA starts crumbling around us," he said. "For this reason, NCAA Division 111 is looking particularly good to us right now." According to the Knoth's white paper, if Loyola were to move to a NCAA division, only seven sports would be Sophomores low priority to register By ROBERT TREADWAY Assistant News Editor In an action to increase student retention rates, university college deans approved a measure last semester allowing freshman students to register first along with seniors during the pre-registration period. Traditionally, registration is scheduled according to class seniority, with seniors being first and freshmen last. Some students claim they will now have to struggle for enrollment into classes required for their majors. Rebecca Usner, communications sophomore, said if freshmen fill up the classes, it will be more difficult for upperclassmen to graduate in four years. "Some upperclassmen have certain common curriculum courses they have to take now in order to graduate on time," she said. William Hammel, communications chairman, said many departments were uninformed about the decision. "I don't know who made the decision, but it surely doesn't adhere to seniority," Hammel said. Patrick O'Brien, dean of Business Administration, said the decision was made to benefit of the freshmen. He said the change was a direct attempt to target the university's student retention problem. "An ongoing problem is keeping freshmen at the university so they can become sophomores," he said. O'Brien said Loyola has been losing up to 20 percent of the freshman class each year for the past few years. Maroon wins Pacemaker The Maroon Joined the ranks of the top college newspapers in the country Saturday. Loyola's student paper received the Pacemaker at the national convention of the Associated Collegiate Press and College Media Advisers in Kansas City, Mo. The Pacemaker, considered the Pulitzer Prize of college journalism, is given annually by the ACP and Newspaper Association of America Foundation. It recognizes overall excellence and outstanding achievement for the year. About 500 papers entered the competition. The Maroon won in the fouryear, non-daily category. The Maroon has won the Pacemaker twice before, in 1983 and 1986. The paper was also one of the first inductees into the ACP's National Hall of Fame. Neal Falgoust led the 1997-98 editorial board that included Sarah Bamett, Autumn Cafiero, Rose French, Michael Giusti, Larry Graham, Pierce Presley, Joseph Ruli, Tommy Santora, Sarah Sparks, Elizabeth Stuart, Stephen Stuart and Allison Templet Falgoust, communications senior, said many influential people have worked for the paper. "This certainly would not have been possible without the leadership of such Maroon legends as Peter Reichard, Jenny Johnson, Chris Bonura, Stephen Stuart and Father Ray Schroth," he said. Liz Scott, Maroon adviser and communications instructor, said the staff earned the award. "I think that the staff upheld the standards of fairness and accuracy and was not afraid of doing investigative reporting," she said. "College papers are typically fearless, but not always fair. I think The Maroon was fair." Capital Campaign nears its goal with close to $50 million raised By JIM GUNTER Staff writer With a month and a half to completion, the Loyola University capital campaign has brought in $49 million of its $50 million goal, according to Anne Phayer Banos, executive director of development for Institutional Advancement. According to the plan, $20 million will go toward the construction of the J. Edgar and Louise S. Monroe Library, $10 million toward the new library's operation, $10 million toward endowing faculty support programs and another $10 million toward endowing student aid. Officially titled "Thresholds: the Campaign for Loyola Univeristy of New Orelans." It is the first campaign of its kind at the university. It developed from a task force assembled approximately 10 years ago and made up of faculty and staff under then-president the Rev. James Carter, S.J., university chancellor. According to Banos, the need for a new library drove the campaign and became a focus point for the campus. "This (new library) will really stand for the university," she said. The silent phase of the campaign See WHITE, Pg. 5 See SOPHOMORES. Pg 5 See CAPITAL. Pg. 3 NEWS Monroe library to open mid-February. Page 3 ĥjh LIFE & TIMES f*Students flaunt fashion Wf\r» y i M sense at Loyola. IP Page 12