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              the Maroon VOL. 79, NO. 11 hghg MAROON.LOYNO.EDU Res Life staffers' pay cut short By Matt Walter Staff writer Brandi Morales was shocked last year when she received her first paycheck from Residential Life for $500 less than she expected. Morales, a desk assistant and political science junior, along with other student employees, said she was unhappy with the heavy taxes deducted from her pa) Check and felt Res Life misled her. Although the Res Lite staff employee contract said that "all benefits are subject to state and federal taxes," many students said they feel the administration failed to warn them properly. Students' Budgets Affected Res Life charges each employee for a room and meal plan. About two weeks into each semester, all RAs receive remission checks for their room and board. Other employees receive remission checks for only their rooms. Senior staff members also receive a $500 cash stipend each semester. "They give everyone the impression that they are going to be reimbursed," Morales said. "We do get paid that amount back, but then they take out the taxes." This year Morales said she received a check for about $1,700 after taxes, but Res Life charged her $2,174 for her room. She said this posed a serious financial problem for her because she is paying for her education on her own. A scholarship and student loan pay for her room and board, so she counts on the Res Life check to cover her living expenses. "My parents don't pay for my tuition or living expenses, and I planned in a bigger budget this semester. I only have $200 left to last me until December, as opposed to $700 before taxes. That's a big deal," Morales said. She said that she baby-sits three hours a day to make ends meet. Lori Sallop, marketing and business management senior, has held three positions in Res Life: senior Cabra Hall desk assistant, resident assistant in Cabra and night watch. She said she was surprised at her high taxes. Elections spark political fervor STUDENTS SPEAK OUT ON VOTING By Betsy Schmitt Staff writer As the presidential election draws closer, political interest is alive at Loyola. The Loyola Greens Club has 50 members this year, an increase from last year's 20. Members take turns sitting at a Greens Club information table in the Danna Center during class breaks. Loyola Greens Club is a chapter of the New Orleans Green Party. The club began on campus nine years ago, but joined forces with Environmental Action, a division of Loyola University Community Action Program, five years ago. "In many people's eyes, it has grown to be the most active group on campus and in the city," said Rosina Roibal, music education senior. Roibal said issues such as social and environmental justice and human rights are issues that affect all students, but specifically bring Greens members to the voting booth. The Loyola Greens represents the growing number of college students interested in grassroots democracy. In an Oct. 12 article in The Washington Post Oct. 12, Ralph Nader, the Green Party nominee for president, was quoted as saying both George W. Bush and Al Gore have avoided college campuses. "I Bush and Gore| like elementary and high schools better Ithan collegesl — good photo ops and less danger of blind-siding questions and pickets." According to Curtis Gans, chairman of the Committee for the Study of the American Electorate, members of the 18 to 24 age group are notorious non-voters. In 1996, 40 percent of collegians went to the polls, whereas only 28 STAFF PHOTO BY TOM LANDRY Lauren Campisi, economics junior, speaks her mind about politics at Free Speech Alley held Oct. 19 in the Peace Quad. Students fight to end death penalty By Elizabeth Buchta Staff writer With a little help from Loyola and Tulane university students. Moratorium 2000 hopes to change the world's policy on the death penalty. The group is a worldwide effort to stop the death penalty or suspend executions, led by Sister Helen Prejean, C.S.J., of New Orleans, author of Dead Man Walking. The group's biggest project to date is a petition drive. So far. members have collected 150,000 signatures in the United States, according to Theresa Meis/. outreach director, A' 94. The group has collected 3 million signatures worldwide. Prejean will deliver the signatures to United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan on Dec. 18 in honor of Human Rights Day, Dec. 10. "This will be a forceful message to the world's leaders that the people will not stand by while human beings are executed," Prejean wrote on Moratorium's Web site. Meisz said the ultimate goal of the group is to motivate people who sign the petition to take action. "This is no feel-good pat on the back. Signing |the petition] is the first step," Meisz said. The project moved its headquarters to New Orleans from Washington, D.C. It relocated at 7611 Maple St., and hired Bill Quigley, Loyola Law School professor, as a part-time director in June of this year. Quigley, a friend of Prejean, said that Prejean asked him to help coordinate the move to New Orleans. The group plans to seek a full-time director, a position Quigley said he did not want. Moratorium 2000 has three fulltime staff members: Meisz, outreach coordinator; Claire Gisel, interfaith coordinator; and Robert Jones, operations manager. Meisz said she is looking for volunteers, particularly students from Loyola and Tulane universities to join the effort. Kevin Schnepel, accounting junior, got a hug from Prejean his first day in the office. He said that he hopes other Loyola students will volunteer. "I didn't get involved in this through Loyola. I was just sitting in a sandwich shop on Maple Street and 1 saw the sign-up sheet," Schnepel said. See POLITICS, Page 5 See RES LIFE, Page 4 I r\r\\s CADI I nilCI I DEATH & TIMES mmmm LOOK r/ADU UUj. i vampire legend, Pick up our special pullout I pORf7revealed. Bg£t jfl fashion section next friday. g' *0 hghg NEXT WEEK: Election Analysis — part 3 of our 4-part news series, "The Race is On"