Maroon

              THE MAROON hghg MAROON.LOYNO.EDU VOL. 79, NO. 24 Fraternity members surrender hgh From staff reports The New Orleans Police Department has confirmed that the 11 Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity members suspected of beating a Beggars fraternity member have surrendered to police. All were arrested and assigned a $10,000 bond, but the bond was offset by a judge's order to release the fraternity men on their own recognizance. According to a clerk of criminal court, this is because it was each student's first offense. If one fails to show up in court, the bond will have to be paid, the clerk said. By press time, no court date had been set. NOPD Sergeant Paul Accardo said he does not expect more arrests at this time, but he does not rule out the possibility. The clerk of the City of New Orleans Civil District Court said no civil charges have been filed in the case. Cramer to wear two hats Also: IFC elections; Greek Week schedule announced By Robert Treadway Staff writer Michael Cramer, Interfraternity Council president, will serve as Interfraternity Judicial Board chief justice for the case against Loyola's chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity. He was picked at a March 8 meeting of the IFC. Cramer, political science junior and ADG member, is in the unprecedented position of being the head of IFC and IJB. In both cases, he assumed the post after someone resigned. Timothy Fanguy, former IJB chief justice, Sig Ep member and communications senior, resigned in November citing academicconcerns.Cramer became IFC president Feb. 22 after Jason Giles, drama/ communications senior, resigned THE McCAIN ATTRACTION McCain and Feingold paid a visit to Loyola last week to speak against soft money and special interests By Latoya Simons Staff writer Senator John McCain preached his message to stop the influence of special interests in the federal government last Friday at Loyola. "The guys with the money are sitting in the Congress with megaphones, while people like you are whispering in the background," McCain said. Loyola played host to a town hall meeting on campaign finance reform. The meeting featured Sen. McCain (R-AZ), Sen. Russell Feingold (D--WI), Sen. Mary Laqdrieu (D-LA) and Congressman John Cooksey (R-LA). McCain and Feingold have been traveling across the country rallying support for the McCain-Feingold campaign finance reform bill. This is a non-partisan bill that would ban soft money, which is unregulated money given to political parties and specific federal candidates by corporations, unions and wealthy individuals. "We are trying to get rid of a system that has fallen apart in the last five or six years," Feingold said. This bill will "reduce the influence and power of every special interest group in Washington, the ones who can go to the parties and the independent campaigns and give checks for $100,000; $500,000; $ 1,000,000." McCain said. According to The Federal Election Campaign Act, which was amended in 1974 as part of the Watergate-era Reforms, an individual or political committee can contribute no more than $ 1,000 to an individual candidate per election, and no more than $20,000 to a national party committee per year. "That's never really been allowed in our system, and it's caused the system to basically become a system of legalized bribery and legalized extortion," Feingold said. The Federal Election Commission created a soft money loophole in an administrative ruling in 1978 that allowed unregulated contributions. "I do have to question the timing and motives of the issue," said Percy Marchand, business management sophomore and Black Student Union president. "There is cause for a little concern that the Democratic and Republican parties have benefited from this system so much and a change is being made now that the third parties have begun to show an interest and a face," Marchand said. In response, Feingold said, "These are people who don't have very much money and could only have a voice if their vote counts the same as everyone else's. They could just be overwhelmed by those ads that are paid for by corporations and unions." "The future of third parties, the future of alternative political TOP STAFF PHOTO BY LUKE KUMMER, ABOVE BY MICHELLE CORNEJO Senator John McCain greets onlookers during his visit to Loyola last Friday. McCain was in town to rally support for his campaign finance reform bill. NEWS SERIES AA offers sobering look at addiction By Leo Juarez Staff writer Many college students admit that they sometimes drink to get drunk. They spill out of their last classes on Friday, eagerly anticipating a frothy escape from the sorrows of late-night cramming and lengthy papers. B u t students don't always use alcohol with this sort of premeditated recklessness. Many will occasionally decide to go out for just a beer or two, and it isn't a problem. But what if once you started drinking, you couldn't stop, until alcohol became a mental obsession? Steve (who asked that his name be changed for this story) knows all too well the helplessness of alcoholism. The Loyola graduate found himself at the mercy of an addiction, but Alcoholics Anonymous helped him realize that downing a bottle would not fill the void. Steve's troubles began before he even reached Loyola. He started drinking in junior high, and his habit gradually escalated into a serious problem. By the end of his junior year in high school. Steve had reached a See IFC, Page 4 See ALCOHOL, Page 4 See MCCAIN, Page 3 otBu" n_c_t_ Surviving llf^ http;//mamnn InynfiiPfln BREAST CANCER '2 . Page 11 ; M\ f ROAD "RECOVERY #If you or someone you know has a drinking problem, please contact one of the following organizations. ■■ Loyola Counseling ■B & Career Services x 3835 ■■ Alcoholics Anonymous Bfl 779-1178 ■■ • AA meetings are held ■■ Wednesdays at Temple Sinai Reform Synagogue, 6227 St. ■■ Charles Ave., and Fridays at 8 p.m. at St Charles Avenue Presbyterian Church, II 1545 State St. ATF Treatment Center ■ 24-hour Help Line 11 593-9050 STAFF GRAPHIC BY ROF!"' "RFADWAY There will be no Maroon next week. We will resume publication March 30 with a special SGA election pullout section