Maroon

              The Maroon VOL. 78 NO. 11 ESTABLISHED 1923 FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 19,1999 Catholic League dogs new movie s message Mary Chauvin Contributing writer Long before its Nov. 12 U. S. release, director Kevin Smith's new movie "Dogma" was surrounded by controversy. The Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights has registered loud protests. In a press release on the Catholic League Web site, William Donahue, Catholic League president, described "Dogma" as hate mail to the Catholic faith. In an interview with Bruce Kirkland of the Toronto Sun, Smith, a practicing Catholic, expressed his dismay at (he conflict his movie is creating. "I tried to make adevout flick. The film was kind of an expression of my faith," Smith said. "I think I'm pro-Catholic and I think the movie proves that." Throughout its production, "Dogma" was owned and slated to be released by the Disney-owned production company Miramax. Smith's previous works including "Clerks," "Mallrats" and "Chasing Amy" were released by Miramax. According to the Catholic League Web Site, after reading an Internetcirculated script for "Dogma," Donahue sent a letter to Michael Eisner, Disney president, demanding that Disney order Miramax not to release the movie. This is not the first time Miramax has run into trouble with the Catholic League. In 1994, the League led a protest against Miramax's British film "Priest," which dealt with a homosexual Roman Catholic priest. Though Eisner never responded to Donahue's letter directly, Disney executives told Miramax that "Dogma" was going to be a problem, according to the Catholic League Web site. Although Disney is Miramax's parent company, according to the Catholic League, the two have an agreement allowing Miramax to release any movie as long as it does not have an NC-17 rating. Since it only carries an R rating and Disney never specifically ordered them to shelve the movie, Miramax had the right to release "Dogma." However, in early April, the Catholic League reports, Bob and Harvey Weinstein, founders and chairmen of Miramax, bought the movie with $14 million of their own money in an attempt to avoid more conflict for Disney and Miramax. On June 15, the law offices of Mitchell, Silberg and Knoff, who represent the Weinsteins, sent a letter to the Catholic League stating that "Dogma" was now the property of the Weinsteins and no longer affiliated with Miramax or Disney. It also stated that the Catholic League would be held responsible for any harm caused by Catholic League-encouraged activity in protest to "Dogma." • For more see movie review, Page 15 PHOTO COURTESY OF LIONS GATE FILMS ACCU adopts new draft of Ex Corde Ecclesiae From Staff Reports The National Conference of Catholic Bishops approved on Wednesday a draft of norms for a juridical implementation of Ex Corde Ecclesiae, Pope John Paul IPs 1990 apostolic constitution on Catholic universities. Among the more controversial aspects of the document is the requirement that Catholic theology teachers receive a mandate from the local bishop, which has drawn criticism for its potential to limit academic freedom in universities. Other areas addressed by the document include requests for increased Catholic representation on boards of trustees and faculties, as well as a commitment to social justice and ecumenical issues. The effects of Wednesday's vote will not be felt immediately; the norms must first be submitted to the Vatican for Papal approval. The last such draft was rejected by the Vatican in 19%. • Sec analysis, page 2 • See editorial, page 8 what's in — convenience? With the new convenience store in the Danna Center comes a debate on which products would be convenient to the Loyola community By Danielle Mastropiero Staff writer After a long series of discussions, the new Loyola convenience store policy to sell cigarettes, but not alcohol, has left many floundering to define convenience. Originally, the convenience store was to sell both alcohol and cigarettes. Beer was to have been sold only in packages of twelve and not cold. Students would have had to present both a valid state ID and a Loyola student ID. However, the university received a $20,000 grant, which established a coalition to curb underage drinking. The coalition led by Leigh Anne Baraketl, Counseling and Career Services Center staff counselor, and Chris Flynn, director of Counseling and Career Services, works with students, faculty, staff, bar owners. University Police, the New Orleans Police Department and neighborhood residents to study what promotes underage drinking. Flynn argued to several administrators that increased access to alcohol would be an inconsistent message to the student body. 'The goal of our coalition is to combat substance abuse and promote healthy behavior. Why would we begin selling addictive substances?" Flynn said. He added that if the sale of alcohol would have been approved, then Loyola would have been the only university in the nation to sell packaged alcohol to its students. Flynn also went on to say that 54 percent of Loyola students binge drink at least once a month and that nationwide one student dies each weekend of alcohol poisoning. "Our time is going to come," he said. Chris Cameron, director of the Danna Center and Student Activities, said that he felt that selling alcohol and then enforcing school alcohol policies would be "upsetting and confusing." "Ultimately, the decision not to sell alcohol in the convenience store was Cameron's. "My decision was based on the fact that it wasn't important enough to sell alcohol. Agreeing not to sell it moved the conversation forward," Cameron said. This decision met with the approval of Jim Eiseman, vice president for Student Affairs. Moot Court advances to nationals From Staff Reports Loyola placed second out of 10 schools in the 50th annual National Moot Court competition for Region VII Nov. 3 through 6. The members of the team were third year law students Elisia Shofstahl, Carolina Fomos, Steven Griffith and their coach, Matt Landreau. The Loyola Law School played host to the event. The members of the Moot Court Board are third year law students Ashley O'Dwyer Day, Nathan Abercrombie, Rhonda Rabie, Aleta Barnes, Matt Landreau and Zviad Guruli. Participating universities included Tulane University, the University of Alabama the University of Mississippi, the University of Memphis, Southern University, Vanderbilt University, Cumberland School of Law and the University of Tennessee. The oral arguments were held at the Federal District Court. Judges Leon CannizzaroandCamille Bums, along with Assistant U.S. Attorney John Morello judged the semifinal and final rounds at the Louisiana Supreme Court. Vanderbilt University placed first at the competition. Both teams will continue on to New York for the National rounds of competition in late January. Church prepares for year of 'Jubil'-ation THE TEST OF TIHE PttßTaOFt By Autumn Cafiero Staff writer The turn of the millennium for some evokes visions of meteors crashing into the earth, billowing mushroom clouds and complete computer chaos. But for Roman Catholics, it is a time of repentance, forgiveness and the celebration of a new beginning — a Jubilee. According to the Vatican's Web site, a Jubilee, or Holy Year, in the Roman Catholic tradition is "a great religious event. "It is a year of forgiveness of sins and also the punishment due to sin; it is a year of reconciliation between adversaries; of conversion and receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation and consequently of solidarity, hope, justice, commitment to serve God with joy and in peace with our brothers and sisters. "A Jubilee year is above all the year of Christ, who brings life and grace to humanity." Jubilee can be described as a fresh start, said Laura Catherine Gallien, associate Campus Minister. "It's kind of a spiritual cleansing to prepare oneself for the next set of years," she said. History of Holy Years According to the Vatican's Web site, the first Jubilee transpired in I.MX), at which time wars and plagues were See DOGMA, Pg.3 See STORE, Pg.3 See CHURCH, Pg.4 H LIFE & TIMES jv Lighthouse for the Blind ■ illuminates the lives of l many handicapped people Page 12 NO MAROON The Maroon will not appear next week because of the Thanksgiving holiday. We will resume publication Dec. 3 for the final issue of the semester. Dec. 3: An in-depth report of Ex Corde Ecclesiae gfgf