Maroon

              "For a Greater Loyola." The Maroon fhfgh ESTABLISHED 1923 V0L.77 NO. 20 Loyola University New Orleans FRIDAY, MARCH 26, 1999 Homosexuals deny promiscuous stereotype By ELIZABETH KEENAN Assistant Copy Editor Some gay people think the biggest assumption that straight people make about the gay community is that promiscuity pervades the culture. "They think that we're all flaming little whores and we're going after straight guys," said Rafael Jarquin, physics/pre-engineering freshman. He said many people develop this misconception from a view of only a few people. "Most aren't like that, (though) some are. Most are really looking for the monogamous stuff." he said. Jarquin said many gay young people go through a stage of promiscuity as they realize that they have opportunities for a new social life. "Fortunately, I skipped that stage," Jarquin said. "I don't really go out — I don't go searching. When they're older, hopefully they'll settle down." Jarquin is not alone in his assessment of the "coming out" phase of a homosexual person's life. Arthur Stem, assistant director of publications and GOAL adviser, said that when people come out, they find a new social world. "This is what they (the public) see, and this is the perception everyone gets," he said. "Hopefully people grow out of that, gay or straight." Stern said the social scene in New Orleans can be tempting to many students of all orientations when they Church, state differ on homosexuality's legality, morality By YLAN MUI Online Editor For nearly two centuries both Louisiana and the Catholic Church agreed that sodomy would not be tolerated. But last week the state changed its mind. Louisiana's sodomy law was struck down March 17 by the Orleans Civil District Court. The law had made consensual anal and oral sex between both heterosexual and homosexuals illegal. Penalties for the crime against nature were a maximum $2,000 fine or five years of prison, with or without hard labor. The law was declared unenforceable in 1994, as long as the acts were private, between two consenting adults and not compensated. In October 1998, the Louisiana Electorate of Gays and Lesbians petitioned the court to declare the law unconstitutional on the basis that it violated an individual's right to privacy and was applied arbitrarily to the homosexual community. There have been at least 28 arrests for sodomy performed in private locations, such as the home or a parked car, according to court reports. Trey Woodside, business sophomore and vice president of Gay Outreach At Loyola, believes that overturning the law has not changed the sexual habits of the gay community. He said he felt relief at the ruling. "I don't think it (the law) should ever have been there," he said. "I'm tickled to death that it's gone." Thresholds exceeds overall goal, some funds falter By JIM GUNTER Assistant News Editor Sometimes success isn't as sweet as it may appear. An $8.6 million shortfall in the J. Edgar and Louise S. Monroe Library operations endowment mars the overall success of Loyola's capital campaign, according to data in the recently published campaign report. "Thresholds: The Campaign for Loyola University New Orleans," officially ended Dec. 31, bringing in $51,230,130. The campaign was the first of its kind at the university, developed by a task force assembled approximately 10 years ago under the Rev. James Carter, S.J., then president. The campaign's goal was to raise $50 million for library construction and various endowments. Out of the money raised, however, more than $10 million in contributions was given to separate categories listed as unrestricted or "other," according to the report. Anne Phayer Banos, development director for Institutional Advancement, explained that unrestricted donations were not designated for one specific category in the campaign. Students get out and vote By JENNIFER CERNICH Assistant News Editor About 200 more students voted in the Student Government Association elections this year than voted last year. Approximately 1,100, or about IS percent of the total number of Loyola students, cast votes, up from 900 last year. Mo*t portions of the university had good voter turnout. Temika Lomas, political science sophomore, said that the candidates got more involved. "This year was the first year that I read The Maroon and saw everyone's opinion," she said. Lomas also said freshmen seemed to be more excited about the elections. Jason Steinle, English junior and SGA arts and science representative, attributes the increased turnout to the plenitude of candidates and more election publicity. "The candidates advertised themselves a lot more. More candidates means more signs, and this made people more aware," he said. Nathaniel Hodges, finance and management junior, said the voting machines used in the elections had a lot to do with the turnout increase. "The huge machine they had sitting out there sparked interest in the election," Hodges said. He also said the higher turnout was a result of the increased publicity and general interest in the elections. Only 15 percent voted in the runoff election. "I wanted to vote this year because the candidates were more in contact with the student body," Lomas said. Blazing trail into future requires planning, prevention for universities By ROBERT TREADWAY Editorial Editor Y2K. Privacy. Money manipulation. While universities plunge headlong into technology, they must scramble to find safeguards against many pitfalls that may lurk in the future. Universities around the country have executed plans to neutralize many of these problems. While enriching their computer resources by increasing computer terminals and integrating technology into the curriculum, universities are reallocating budgets to provide for equipment and support. On Chapel Hill In 1998, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill announced the Carolina Computing Initiative. The plan requires that by fall 2000 all incoming freshmen must own a laptop computer that meets university specifications: All computers should be Windows and Intel-based personal computers. The university's Web site reads, "The laptop requirement is both a recognition of and response to Carolina's responsibility to prepare students to live and work successfully in the 21st century." Laurie Casile, assistant to the vice chancellor of Information Technology at UNC, said limited space available in computer labs partially contributed to the CCI. Before the CCI program, there were not enough computers and software available on campus. Chapel Hill has 17 computer labs that are exclusively for use by the student body of approximately 24,000. One dilemma in instituting such a plan is how to purchase the new hardware. UNC reallocated See PERCEPTIONS, Pg. 5 See SODOMY, Pg 5 See CAMPAIGN. Pg. 3 Election rusults on Pg. 4 See COMPUTER, Pg. 3 MSG A election results — all ■LMvj HaHf Bogar leads swim team to Gays tell stories of leaving the races and referenda. winning inagural season. the closet's safety.