Maroon

              THE MAROON VOL. 79, NO. 23 Loyola University New Orleans | 1 RIPAY, APRIL 26, 2002 | MAROON.LOYNO.EDU BACK BEAT STAFF PHOTO BY DANIELLE PALMATIER Dasen Kendrick, drama senior, and Nicole Williams dance to the music at Loyolapalooza on April 19 in the peace Quad. Students were treated to live music and all-you-can-eat crawfish during the annual event, which had the theme The Eight Wonders of Loyola.' Bin Laden still alive, lecturer says By Curie Veronica Jones Staff writer While he was being driven through the Afghan mountains in 1997, journalist Peter Bergen had no idea that the man he was about to interview would later be held responsible for the most devastating terrorist attacks in U.S. history. Bergen, one of the few journalists in the word who has interviewed al Qaida leader Osama bin Laden, shared his experience with an audience on April 18 in Roussel Hall. Bergen said he thinks bin Laden is alive. "Whatever you may think of him, he is a bright guy. I believe he's in Afghanistan." Bergen is author of the book Holy War Inc: Inside the Secret World of Osama Bin Laden. He also has worked as a news producer for ABC News and CNN and has covered stories that include the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center. "He was very important even then," Bergen said of bin Laden. "He had already declared war on the U. 5.," Bergen said. Bergen said that he was "blindfolded and guarded by three heavily armed men" while being driven to his 1997 interview with bin Laden. "We had absolutely no idea where we were going." Bergen said. "I didn't have any idea how this was going to end up." Bergen's interview with bin Laden took place in Afghanistan's mountains. "He (bin Laden) was quite soft-spoken. His words were full of anger, and he didn't raise his voice. The interview consisted of bin Laden's and his followers' views on the United States. "His followers treat him with a lot of deference. You've got to take him seriously," Bergen said. "It was clear that the guy and his followers declared war on the United States." During the lecture, Bergen also spoke of future terrorist attacks and the possibility of weapons of mass destruction. "The short-term prognosis is not good. We are going to have anti- American attacks, not necessarily in this country, but around the world," Bergen said. "When he (bin Laden) says he has them (nuclear weapons), we have to pay attention." said Bergen. His speech was the seventh annual talk given as part of the Father Carter Lecture Series. The committee that picks speakers for the series BERGEN One of the few Westerners to interview Osama bin Laden Campus vendors not welcomed by all students Cell phones, jewelry and posters available - but no credit cards By Stephanie Sarradet Contributing writer While wandering around campus, students can find cell phones, jewelry and even posters being sold throughout the Danna Center and the Peace Quad. However, many students disagree on whether these vendors are a convenience or just a nuisance. "I think the purpose of these items to be sold on campus is to offer something new to the students," said Chris Cameron, director of Student Activities. "Many students do not have cars, and offering these services to them and the rest of the student body makes it more convenient for them," he said. Francisco Larrieu, psychology and pre-med freshman, agreed. "I think it is easy access to the students," he said. "If students need cell phones, and they are available on campus, why would they leave campus to find one?" Not everyone feels the same on the subject, however. "I think the students would go somewhere else to buy (products), even if they are offered on campus," said Erin Clark, business management sophomore. Some students said the vendors are a hassle that detracts from the campus. "I think the vendors are tacky and intrusive to poor college students, and they make the campus look bad," said Emily Pervel, history sophomore. "The cell phone people hassle you and then send out your names to other companies." said Christin Carotta, finance and philosophy junior. "Although I do not think the students would buy cell phones from campus, I think the jewelry and poster vendors are great for the students," Clark said. "I think it livens up the campus, and they really don't get in your way. If you don't need their services, just ignore them." Credit cards declined Credit cards are not available to the students through vendors. "We starting having problems with credit card companies a couple of years ago, and after the problem persisted, they had to be removed from campus," said Michele Dupre, administrative assistant for Student Activities. "We have an agreement with all of our vendors that come on campus. but the credit card companies just could not seem to follow them," Cameron said. "We knew we had to draw the line when we found a credit card company bringing a copy machine on campus and copying students' licenses." After a vote made by the SGA/ Student Activities subcommittee, the credit card companies were removed from the campus. "I think it is a good thing that the credit card companies have been taken off, because they come to make a profit off of students' impulse buying," Pervel said. Although the credit card Louisiana's first lady discusses stance against sexism By Jeremy Cook Staff writer When she went to the bank after her husband's death and tried to buy property, Corrine "Lindy" Claiborne Boggs was told that she needed a backer for her purchase. Boggs wasn't to be put off by the sexism that existed in the banking industry at the time. She looked up at the banker and replied "You're looking at the author of those banking laws." While serving in Congress, Boggs was a member of the Appropriations Committee and spearheaded legislation on issues from civil rights to credit access and government service pay equity for women. But despite spending many years in politics, Boggs still is very much a Southern woman. Last Thursday, at 7 p.m. in Roussel Performance Hall, she told this story and others to WWL-TV anchorwoman Angela Hill. The interview will be aired on C-SPAN at a later date. Boggs took the place of her husband, Representative Hale Boggs, in Congress after he disappeared in a 1972 plane crash. She won the next eight elections. In spite of having such a long political career of her own, Boggs still placed a great importance on her husband's memory. "I always felt like Mrs. Hale Boggs," she said. Boggs also served as the United States ambassador to the Vatican from 1997 to 2000. A devout Catholic, she came to Loyola as the first speaker sponsored by the fledgling Center for the Study of Catholics in the South. The program was called "A Southern Catholic Woman: A Career in Politics and International Affairs." Boggs' entrance brought the crowd to its feet. "You're so connected: it's like fusion," said Hill of Boggs and Loyola, after Boggs mentioned that Loyola's first president had married her parents. Boggs was nicknamed "Louisiana's First Lady" during her tenure in Congress. Hill described Boggs' transition from Louisiana representative to ambassador to the Vatican as going "from Bourbon Street to across the street from the Circus Maximus." Boggs said she initially said no to former President Bill Clinton's request for her to be ambassador, but eventually agreed to think about it. The next morning, she went to The Court of Two Sisters for brunch. Raisa Gorbachev, wife of the former Russian president. was also eating, and many cameras were there. "Of course you'd think they're there for her, but no. the president had announced me as ambassador." Boggs said. Boggs is the only woman and the only Southerner to hold the position. Of the many stories Boggs told, the one of meeting John F. Kennedy brought the biggest smile to her lace. One evening her husband told her he'd met a man who was getting over hepatitis. Boggs also had hepatitis at the time. Her husband invited the man to dinner because he and Boggs would be able to eat the same things. She said she got to know Jack Kennedy over a pot of Southern blackeyed peas. BOGGS Served as ambassador to the Vatican HILL Confessed her admiration for Boggs See BIN LADEN, Page 3 See VENDORS, Page 3 ~ Loyola track season ,m