Maroon

              THE MAROON VOL. 78 NO. 1 ESTABLISHED 1923 FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3,1999 Dorm repairs force cramped conditions By Ylan Mui Online Editor The class 0f2003 need not worry about making new friends in college. Due to Biever renovations and the large freshman class, five people live in four-person suites on two floors of the new residence hall. Three people share each of the 10 rooms on four floors in Buddig. That's 70 extra students in two dorms — 40 in the new hall and 30 in Buddig. "I really feel like, though it's not the ideal situation, we can still work it out," said Michelle Andrews, assistant director of Residential Life. Housing in the new dorm was given on a first-come, first-serve basis. Freshmen who procrastinated filling out thuir housing applications had their living rooms converted into a sleeping area for another roommate. Each individual room still houses two people. The Buddig housing situation is a little more complicated. Even-numbered rooms on the second, third and fourth llixDrs have a set of bunk beds along one wall and three desks, three chairs and three wardrobes along the other two walls. Odd-numbered rooms have a set of bunk beds plus a bu i It-in bed. bui only two desks, two chairs and two wardrobes. One person will have to sleep in one room but keep most of his stuff in the other. "It's more like five in a suite than three in a room," said Daren Fiske, political science freshman, who shares his room in Buddig with two other guys. Tripling in Buddig was based on who matched up in rixDmmate profiles since more people in Buddig are in this situation, said Robert Reed, director of Residential Life. Fiske arrived early last week before both of his roommates, but said he docs not anticipate any problems. "It seems adequate for me. It might be a little tight, but there should be enough room." Then again, Daren gets to sleep in the single bed since he was the first one to arrive. Students with an extra roommate received a letter in the mail early this summer explaining the situation. Andrews said that complaints have been reasonable. "They just have practical questions about Internet hookups and voice mail. It really hasn't been traumatic." This is the first year that Loyola has had three people in a rixDm in Buddig Hall. Reed attributes it to a larger-than-expected freshman class and the loss of Biever Hall to renovations. But even with cramped dorm rooms. Reed said that dropping the freshman housing requirement, which mandates that all freshmen under 21 and not from the New Orleans-metro area live on campus, was never considered. "Freshmen need a major adjustment period to gel their feet solidly on the ground so they can pursue their degree." he said. According to Reed, Loyola had 50 reserved spaces in Tulane's dorms to accommodate freshmen, but the rooms were taken away. "They [Tulane] are in the same situation as we are." Reed said. Housing freshmen in hotels and apartments off-campus was also considered but deemed too expensive and inconvenient. Tripling was the most logical solution. Reed said. Still, both Residential Life and students STAFF PHOTO BY KRISTY MAY Students and parents are waiting in line for more than a half hour in Buddig Hall to ride the elevator to their new rooms. Class size sets new standard 'Lr\-Hj2003 By Robert Treadway News Editor Campus may seem crowded compared to past semesters past. With 818 freshman, the class of 2003 is the largest freshman class in Loyola's history. According to Deborah Stieffel, acting dean of admissions, the large pool of students is a direct result of recruiting strategies that were started in 1995, the year the Rev. Bernard Knoth. S.J.. took office. "They (Knoth and his staff] gave us the tools to do our job effectively," Stieffel said. "When someone trusts you enough to give you all the tools you need, you better produce the goods." She said these tools enabled the admissions office to introduce what Stieffel explained as a three-tier system. The first was the implementation of a computer-based recruitment management system. Since 1997, the Office of Admissions has been using "targeted Administration cleans house in Danna Center Custodial staff absorbed by WFF Facility Services By Robert Treadway News Editor Seven Danna Center, Rec Plex and garage custodial workers lost their jobs Aug. 1 after Loyola signed a contract with WFF Facility Services. Workers were informed by Christopher Cameron, director of the Danna Center and Student Activities, at a meeting on July 9 that Rhonda Cartwright, vice president for business and finance, and James Eiseman, vice president for student affairs, signed a new contract with Witt, Fiala, Flannery and Associates Facility Services to take over the cleaning duties of the Danna Center, Rec Plex and the two campus parking garages. This change left the 12 workers with two choices: work for WFF for a wage cut and fewer benefits, or be terminated. This move shocked many workers who have been employed by Loyola for as many as 20 years. As well as losing benefits, employees said they were treated in an unprofessional manner. At one point Hanson said Cameron told her that "We [Loyolal only want to deal with professional people." Cameron said he did not treat the workers with disrespeel. He said there was a lot of misunderstanding in the switch. "The last two weeks were filled with anxiety and fear. I think they were scared and didn't understand the way the benefits and how the shift would take place." he said. Nevertheless, some workers were hurt by the move. "I feel that when Loyola sold the contract, they sold their workers too," said Ernest Chinn, ex-garage custodian and seven-year Loyola employee. Joan Hanson, former custodial supervisor for Danna Center Janitorial Services, said has she heard rumors about the contract signing since February. When employees confronted administrators about the rumors, the rumors were denied. "They said 'No, of course not. That would never happen'," Hanson said. In June, when she had a better job offer, Hanson said that Eiseman persuaded her to stay at Loyola. 'Two weeks later. 1 was fired. When I Promotions, new duties abound Student Actii ities By Michael Giusti Editor in Chief Chris Cameron replaced Tim Barneti as director for Student Activities last May, marking the beginning of a restructuring of that office. Shannon Murphy also received a promotion, moving from assistant to associate director for Student Activities. Jon Ness, a newcomer to Loyola, became assistant director for student activities. Coming from East Stroudsburg University in Pennsylvania, Ness is the only Student Activities administrator hired from outside Loyola. The position of coordinator for conference services remains open. Cameron said someone should be hired early this month. The candidate is expected to be brought in from outside the university. Along with the personnel shifts, each position's responsibilities will be different. As director. Cameron is responsible for advising the Student Government Association, ftxxJ services, the bookstore, the Danna Center Mall and is the liaison between certain vendors and the university. He is also responsible lor overlooking all the assistant directors within the department. Cameron said one of his goals as director was to support the Black Student Union and Greek system. He said that one way he could help is by restructuring Ness's position so that 80 percent of his job would deal with the fraternities and sororities. He added that a permanent adviser for CAMERON Director for Student Activities and the Danna Center MURPHY Associate director for Student Activities NESS Assistant director for Student Activities See DORMS, Pg. 3 See WFF, Pg. 3 See STAFF, Pg. 4 See FRESHMEN, Pg. 4 ■ T- 1 IWQ UFE & ™ES SounD Bytes sports ■HI I [BO i iii ilßr A change of address News and notes about The Maroon Online this week Hernandez among . y••' ■P jEL brings a change of Laptops vs Desktops four finalists for HfYHNB a"'tUde for C°"ege Pros and cons on the best deals in town. | athletic director j W) J H KB students. Knoth's plans for the school year position. L 1«4 - ■ Wsrf us at maroon.loyno.edu |) . |