Maroon

              Loyola University New Orleans T&eMaroon VOL. 79, NO. 11 MAROON.LOYNO.EDU FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2001 Wolf sits at crossroads Survey says students want separate magazine, yearbook By Ylan Q. Mui Staff writer Since spring 1998, The Wolf has struggled with a split personality: Is it a traditional yearbook, as 85 percent of students said they wanted in a recent survey? Or is it a magazine that pushes the envelope, as journalism students would like to make it? Therapy for the schizophrenic magazine was clearly in order. The division had mired The Wolf in miscommunication, financial confusion and bureaucracy. Last year's editors have yet to receive their stipends, months after they put out the controversial yearbook/final issue. And this year's editor has yet to put out her first issue almost halfway into the school year. But after a series of meetings, surveys and deep breaths, some breakthroughs have been made — though feathers were ruffled in the process. The Wolf as magazine and The Wolf as yearbook are separating. Each publication will have its own unique identity, though they will still share staff and finances. All involved are crossing their fingers and hoping that, this time, the solution will be permanent. CONTROVERSY BEGINS The cracks in The Wolf as a yearbook-magazine hybrid became apparent at the end of spring semester last year with the publication of the controversial "yearbook," bound in a paper cover and complete with a centerfold picture of a handicapped student dressed in drag and posing provocatively — a far cry from the grip-and-grin organizational photographs in most traditional hardbound yearbooks. The yearbook hit the newsbins on graduation day, when parents, alumni and benefactors flooded campus. Complaints were reportedly filed to the Rev. Bernard Knoth, S.J., university president. Mary Flynn, Student Government Association president and finance senior, said she also caught some of the flak, mostly from students. "That was the first thing people told me walking around campus," she said. "I though it was cutting-edge," said Liz Scott, Wolf adviser and communications professor. "I thought the students would accept it. I never in a million years thought it would be sitting there for parents to pick up on graduation day." But there it was, and there it was doomed. The yearbooks were removed from the bins the same day they were distributed. That still THIRSTING FOR SOME CASH PHOTO BY M JASMINE DE LA CRUZ Fred Johnson, psychology sophomore, gets five drinks poured on his head and in his pants. Johnson was the winner of SGA's 'What Would You Do for $100' contest. Student surveys will determine fate of laptop policy By Erin Williamson Staff writer An upcoming student survey will determine whether the business school's proposed mandatory laptop initiative becomes policy. "Once we get the approval from the student body, then we can take the next step," said Brandon Thibodeaux, management sophomore and College of Business president, at the CBA Student Forum on November 12. "Because if we don't get a super majority, we don't want to go through with this." Many of the students at the forum agreed that laptops would be a positive addition to the curriculum. "I've heard people say the positive side of it, and really the only concern is financially, whether scholarships are going to increase or not," said international business and economics junior Martha Contreras. "But most people think it's a move forward for the college." Jason Cuccia, management senior, said he thinks laptops are a good idea because computer availability in the CBA lab is a problem when classes are held there. "It's a major disruption, because there are certain software programs that we can only use on those computers, and sometimes that's the only time people have to get on those machines," Cuccia said. "It's a major problem." J. Patrick O'Brien, dean of the business school, said he hopes to distribute surveys next week, and the CBA's decision will be based on those results. O'Brien said that because the undergraduate initiative is studentdriven, the vote of the students will he the deciding factor. "If this is rejected by the students, then we're not going to push it," O'Brien said. "If this is overwhelmingly supported by the students, then we go to the next step." The next step includes looking at laptop models and prices, as well as leasing and purchasing options. Part of the survey students vill fill out comes from a survey the University of Michigan used when considering a similar laptop program. It consists of questions from whether students favor the initiative and how often they use computers to when students want the program to begin. A decision is expected soon after the results come in. PHOTO BY AMY LOMBARDO Dan D'Amico, international business sophomore, Jason Cuccia, management senior, and Bea Forlano, management sophomore .discuss the laptop policy. Loyola backing 'Pack basketball By Nick Boeglin Staff writer There is a buzz of excitement on Loyola's campus. It's a buzz the likes of which has not been felt around this campus in decades. It's a buzz that started as a whisper and has erupted into a frenzy. And it's all about a basketball game. When the Loyola men's basketball team tips off against Tulane tonight (8 p.m., at Tulane's Fogelman Arena), that buzz will reach a fever pitch. For the first time in recent memory, Loyola students are zealously enthusiastic about something — and moreover, that enthusiasm is for a Loyola sporting event. With a record of 3-1, the ' Pack is off to its best start in years. Teams always draw support from their fans when they win, but no one could have foreseen this amount of energy and spirit. "I've been here 11 years, and this |student support] is more than I've ever seen. This is incredible," said Jerry Hernandez, Loyola's head men's basketball coach and athletic director. The excitement on campus about the Loyola-Tulane game has been building all week — and for some, all year. "When I looked at the schedule this summer and saw that Loyola was playing Tulane, I said we |Student Government Association) have to do something to get the campus excited and behind their team," said Mary Flynn, finance senior and SGA president. See WOLF, Page 4 See GAME, Page 3 S"CLOSE S5CE THE SHOWDOWN €£) n lOTOII TIUUi woifpack iieei whi TINIGIT tiuie s raauaaa aaiaa — a p.m. STAFF GFIAPHIC BY NICK BOEGUN AND LANE COTTON WINN THE MAROON WILL NOT PUBLISH NEXT WEEK DUE TO THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAYS.