Maroon

              THE MAROON VOL. 79, NO. 17 hghghg MAROON.LOYNO.ELH UNDER & OUT A change in coffee and tea service in The Underground yields low prices, same service for Loyola community By Jim Gunter Staff writer Make way, Phyllis Jordan; here comes Sara Lee. Patrons of The Underground are meeting with a new product line in the space formerly occupied by PJ's Coffee & Tea Co. While the beverage menu remains virtually unchanged, offerings are cheaper, and Loyola now has greater control over the products sold, according to Chris Cameron, director of Student Activities and the Danna Center. PJ's got the boot in December, partly because its supplier changed the billing terms, which Cameron said were unreasonable. "PJ's supplier wanted the money sooner than we could give it to them," he said, referencing a shortening in the billing period from 30 to 10 days. He said the new director of Loyola Dining Services, John Monica, was also a factor in the decision to switch to an in-house operation. PJ's had been operating without a written contract since last May, Cameron said. He first recommended the change to Jim Eiseman, vice president for Student Affairs, on Dec. 20. Eiseman then sent a letter to the PJ's corporate office notifying the company of the contract's termination, he said. The new brand, Java Coast, is provided through arrangements with Sodexho-Marriott and is one of a dozen brands produced by Superior Coffee, which is a division of the Sara Lee Corporation. Monica said the new coffees were classified as "gourmet blends" and not what the Orleans Room and convenience store offer, which is Maxwell House coffee. The new brand also comes with lower costs; the average beverage price dropped by 12.9 percent, according to LDS. While the name and the product has changed, the personnel have not. Since Underground employees work under LDS and not the P.J. or Java Coast franchises, none of the positions were affected. "I'm glad no one got fired |because of the change|," said Meg Courtney, communications senior. Sodexho-Marriott will bake new pastries for the Underground coffeehouse. Cameron said. Some of the breads and muffins that were previously offered are no longer available because they were sold through PJ's' operations. Cameron said he received more than 500 replies to a campus e-mail seeking feedback on the proposed change, and 90 percent favored a switch. "The response was overwhelming," he said. Now that PJ's is no more, some students don't seem to mind the change. "It's cheaper ... I'm glad it's not Starbucks," said Anneyvette Legendre, English writing freshman. "We (the students) like the coffee and the low prices," said Cheryn Robles, communications senior. STAFF PHOTO BY BRIAN CONVERY Loyola students are now privy to lower coffee prices. Lynne Holcombe, music education senior, and Alan Williams, English writing senior, enjoy the the new coffee. Grant secured to study Catholics By Robert Treadway Staff writer Thanks to a $500,000 challenge grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities, Loyola plans to create the Center for the Study of Catholics in the South, the only center of its kind in the nation. The grant's agreement states that the university must raise $1.5 million to match the grant during the next 4 1/2 years. As the university receives the $1.5 million, the NEH will match it proportionally, $1 for every $3, up to $500,000. According to the NEH Web site, the award, announced by the NEH on Nov. 28, was one of 26 challenge grants distributed last year to institutions ranging from local public libraries to universities. The 26 grants totaled about $11 million. The reward is a result of 3 1/2 years' worth of grant proposals and submissions developed by a committee comprised of members from the College of Arts and Sciences and the Monroe Library. The two main forces behind this campaign for the grant were associate English professor David Estes and Monroe Library special collections and technical services director Darla Rushing, who carried out its investigation. The duo will oversee the initial development of the center and make sure the grant is fulfilled. This year, outside reviewers of the NEH rated the proposal as excellent, and, in a rare occurrence, Loyola received all the money it requested. "We have to thank the administration for all their support for the grant. They were nothing but supportive," Rushing said. David Danahar, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, said he has seen the grant proposal go through many versions and is very pleased with the outcome. "This is a highly competitive program, and this is a proud achievement for the university and especially for the people who put the proposal together. I know that Darla Rushing, David Estes, Mary Lee Sweat (dean of libraries), Anne Banos and Gary Talarchek (director of grants and research) put many hours in on this proposal," he said. According to Estes and Rushing, the grant and matching donations will fund the center's two-pronged mission: hiring another assistant to help organize the New Orleans Jesuit province archives, located on the fifth floor of Miller Hall, and providing for public programming about the impact Catholics have on Southern culture. Programming will include speakers. Knoth's future at Loyola uncertain By Crystal Bolner Staff writer Uncertainty continues since the Rev. Bernard Knoth. S.J.. university president, is one of two candidates in consideration for the president's position at Loyola University Chicago. According to Knoth. he met with the presidential search committee chairman in early December in New Orleans. "I met with the chairman, and we had a good conversation," Knoth said. "After consultation with my Jesuit provincial in Chicago, it seems to be a promising opportunity." In early December, Knoth said LUCs search committee would contact him after its Dec. 20 meeting. At the spring convocation held Jan. 10 in Nunemaker Auditorium, Knoth told faculty and staff members that he was indeed one of two in consideration for LUC's presidency. He said it was a somewhat shocking situation because of the amount of time it is taking for LUC's committee to make a decision, but he expects more information some time this week. "Trustee members, department heads, the vice presidents are all worried about it." he said at the convocation. "I'm very interested in it being resolved." Thomas Smith, associate dean of Arts and Sciences and associate religious studies professor, said if Knoth left it could leave the future of his projects in question. "Father Knoth has initiated so many things here at Loyola. Whether his successor would have the will to move forward with that is questionable," Smith said. Knoth said he is confident that if he were to leave Loyola University New Orleans, projects already in the works would continue as planned. THE JOB HUNT Facts about the univerities which considered Knoth a candidate for president Loyola U. of Chicago Georgetown U. Students: 13,359 63% women 25% minorities NCAA Division I sports Students: 12,427 51.8% women 29.3% minorities NCAA Division I sports See COFFEE, Page 3 See GRANT, Page 3 See KNOTH, Page 3 NEW SECTION 'WELLNESS' GIVE IT A SHOT Page 4 NothirT But 11 Ct http://marnfin.lnynn.etiu Your 24-hour toypla news source  • Meet Fanah Moan, your new drag queen friend • The latest news updates • Daily wUrf art of campus Loyola University New Orleans NEXT WEEK: Be sure to check out the Maroon's new career section, LIFE & TIMES 2001: IN WITH A FIZZLE '■»' 2081