Maroon

              THE MAROON r liMi» iri*7i f  VOL. 81, NO. 22 Loyola University New Orleans [ FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2003 [ "For a greater Loyola" Court of Review censures SGA By Lola Thelin Staff writer For the first time in four years, the Student Government Association revised its constitution last fall. The vote to change the constitution passed, and it went under the advisement of the Court of Review. A couple of weeks later, the Court of Review decided that the referendum had not been conducted properly due to the lack of an available roster for Feb. 24. The Court of Review and all of SGA was called into executive session and censured. According to a former SGA member, the Court of Review decided to let the constitution stay because meetings about the new SGA offices had began. If the Court of Review had ruled that the constitution had been illegally passed, then SGA would have had to go through the intention of candidacy process and primary again. The constitution can be revised every year, especially the election code. This past year the GPA requirements for president and vicepresident were slightly altered. The president and vice-president need at least a '3.000 GPA at the time of filing the Intention of Candidacy Form. They must maintain at least a 2.500 GPA throughout their term of office. Prior to the adoption of the new constitution, the original GPA requirements to run were 2.500 and to maintain a 2.000 for both executive positions. Other changes were made in Article IV: Membership, Article VI: Composition of Branches, Article VII: Powers, Article XI: Vacancies, Article XII: Resignation, Tulane student still missing, but police continue the search Hope slowly slipping away for Houk family as police find no leads By Jill Scahill Staff writer It has been more than a month since Tulane freshman Jeremy Houk was reported missing. Houk, 18, was last seen in the early hours of March 1 leaving an off-campus party on Zimple Street. Within days of his disappearance, his family flew in from his hometown of Seattle, Wash, to help with the search conducted by Tulane and New Orleans police. Those dealing with the case were hoping that once classes resumed, Jeremy would show up, but he did not. After two more weeks, Houk's family held a press conference on March 21, offering a $25,000 reward for any information that might help in finding their son. The case is now also being investigated by the FBI, the harbor police, levee board police and sheriffs' offices in nearby parishes. Houk's family and friends and even "It's rare that guys disappear, and without any trace of Jeremy [Houk], it just doesn't seem like things are going to end up okay," - ANNAGARVEY, JUNIOR COMMUNICATIONS MAJOR, on Jeremy Houk's disappearance firefighters from Seattle have posted fliers in a 1.5-mile radius of Tulane's campus, as well as in the French Quarter, hoping that someone knows where Houk might be. The effort has not garnered a positive lead or one trace of Houk, according to Tulane University President Scott Cowen. Houk's wallet, money and belongings were all left behind and there has been no activity in his bank account. With no credible leads or any positive signs, Houk's family and friends are beginning to lose hope. Houk's mother Gina Marie Lindsey told ABC-26 reporters she was going to have to start accepting the reality that her child is "no longer around and [she] will never see him again." Tulane students, as well as Loyola students, are frightened and mystified by the Houk disappearance. Anna Garvey, junior communications major, said that the outcome of this case could not be positive at this point. "It's rare that guys disappear, and without any trace of Jeremy (Houk), it just doesn't seem like things are going to end up okay," Garvey said. "It makes me a little more nervous about my friends' safety, especially if they're by themselves." WATER WARRIORS STAFF PHOTO BY GILLIAN DICKER Joshua Gipp (left), biology sophomore, and Natasha Irving (right), philosophy sophomore, cool off by having a water fight during Loyolapalooza in the Peace Quad last Friday. Iraqi-Americans split on support of war in Iraq Minimal U.S. presence in Iraq after war key according to Wajeeh By Earl Descant Assistant News Editor Set up a democratic government and then leave quickly. This is the course of action that Ernad Wajeeh, an Iraqi-American and professor at the University of New Orleans, said that the United States should take in Iraq. "Yes, we support our men and women in uniform, out of compassion and love for our children," Wajeeh said. "But we as a country are divided on this war." Wajeeh, who is the president of the National Association of Arab-Americans, spoke to a handful of students Monday night to give insight into the war in Iraq from an Arab perspective. Wajeeh presented the war and the events that led up to it against the rich backdrop of Saddam Hussein's rise to power, as well as the Iraqi government's changing relationship with the United States. Wajeeh, like many Iraqis, is quick to denounce Saddam. "He is no saint, definitely a criminal," Wajeeh said. "I myself was jailed in 1971.1 was going to the movies and was arrested for telling a stupid joke against the government." Wajeeh had a relative in the government and was quickly released unharmed, but he witnessed the torturous interrogations going on inside the jail. Professors strive for discourse Faculty and students discuss chartering of civil engagement organization By lan Morrison and Sara Lezama Staff writers Roger White says he thinks Loyola may harbor the means for civil discourse. Last Thursday, White, associate professor of political science in City College, and an ad hoc committee, which represented various student organizations such as the College Republicans, the College Democrats, Amnesty International, the Loyola Community Action Progam and the Loyola Forensic Society, met to discuss strategies to charter an organization called "Loyola Society for Civil Engagement." Attendees agreed to explore a charter committee, to approach the Student Government Association for debate funds and brainstorm on future topics. "I will only be a facilitator, not the czar of civil discourse on campus. That is not my ambition," White said. "I think that the prime ambition of academic discourse is to encourage students to actually think for themselves." Some faculty members say they view their burden of responsibility in the classroom as a potential catalyst to student socio/political thought, via a platform of academic freedom. According to Kenneth Keulman, professor of religious studies, if a Catholic university does not have authentic academic freedom, then it cannot truly consider itself a university. "If it is going to do something to prohibit the research or the teaching of faculty, then it simply cannot be credible," Keulman said. The American Association of University Professors is a watchdog group that makes sure universities follow certain basic protocols in terms of academic freedoms and any number of other issues. See SGA, Page 3 See IRAQ, Page 2 See FACULTY, Page 2 ugtygu