Maroon

              the Maroon VOL. 82, NO. 9 èhgrehreds hredh MAROON.LOYNO.EDU Loyola student falls prey to carjackers By Katie Ide and Earl Descant Assistant news editors A Loyola student witnessed an off-campus carjacking on Nov. 2, according to a campus e-mail from University Police. The student's sister, who was driving the student's vehicle, stopped at the intersection of Freret Street and Jefferson Avenue to drop off the student's friend, the e-mail said. As the student was walking her friend home, a black man got into the passenger side of the car and said, "Get out of the car before I blow your head off," while pointing a gun at her head. University police said the victim got out of the car and the suspect drove off. Univeristy Police Chief Patrick Bailey rfefused to give further information to The Maroon. Violent crime has hit several Loyola students in recent weeks. According to other 8.0.L.0. emails, five students were robbed at gunpoint in two separate incidents during one night. A police report said that an unknown person stole a student's wallet out of a room on the second floor Bobet Hall. Another report said that a student's bicycle had been stolen from the racks outside of Monroe Hall, just one of many bike thefts that take place on campus throughout the year. Chief Bailey said that, in order to avoid potentially dangerous criminal situations, students must stay alert. "You have to learn to think like a criminal," he said. "You have to learn from others who have been victims of crime to avoid crime." Bailey said that the most effective way to avoid being a carjacking victim is to keep the doors and windows of the car locked at all times. "Look around. If something doesn't look right, keep going," Police nab alleged masturbator By Joe Rosemeyer News editor Loyola police apprehended a man Wednesday night believed to have been masturbating in the Monroe Library. A group of four students was working on an advertising project on the first floor near the rear of the library when they noticed a man who they said kept staring at them from a row of computers. "I got up to use my cell phone in the corner, and 1 could clearly see in the window's reflection that he was watching me," communications senior Desha Beamer said. Beamer said that around 11:10 p.m. she could see that the man was looking at pornography and noticed his hand moving under the desk. Communications senior Jaime Pollet said that when she also got up to use her phone around 11:30 p.m., she noticed that the man watched her, then got comfortable, reclined and unzipped his pants. "I didn't want to see what I assumed would be there," Pollett said. The students reported the man to library staff, who called University Police. Two officers escorted the man out of the library around 11:45 p.m., and the students said they were told that he was taken to UP headquarters for questioning. "He looked like a clean-cut nerd," Beamer said. She described him as a middle-aged white man with brown hair and brown eyes. Communications junior Jessica Bertucci was working at the library's main desk when the man was escorted out. She said he was short, balding and wore a green polo shirt. "He didn't look like he was ashamed," Bertucci said. "He kind of freaked me out." The Internet browser on the computer that the man had been using showed multiple porn sites, mostly related to foot fetishes. The students said they didn't feel their safety was in jeopardy overall, but the incident was nonetheless disturbing. "I'm feeling a little violated," Pollet said. UP would not comment on the event pending an investigation. This is not the first time there have been complaints of a man masturbating in the library. Police have not yet said whether they believe those past incidents are related to the same man apprehended Wednesday night. Historic gubernatorial race remains tight By Joe Rosemeyer News editor The historic gubernatorial runoff Saturday remains a se race. Historic, because for the first time in Louisiana history, either a woman or an East Indian. American will hold the state's highest office. Close, b because according to the latest WWL-TV poll, B Democrat Kathleen Babineaux Blanco and ■ Republican Bobby Jindal were in a dead heat with i 44 percent and 45 percent of viewer support, | respectively. Jindal and Blanco fought over health care coverage during a debate Wednesday night, one of the more prominent issues during the race. Blanco accused Jindal of letting 65,000 people mw lose their medical coverage during his time as head of Louisiana's health department, but Jindal said that he W made sure that more children received medical help than r his predecessors. Several prominent local Democrats have crossed party lines to endorse Jindal, including New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin and Jefferson Parish Sheriff Harry Lee, as well as several black political groups. Blanco gained support from several state Democrats such as Attorney General Richard leyouo anu i_i. uov.-eien ivuicii Lununeu. Jindal and Blanco have both promised to bring better-payin jobs to the state and focused on developing Louisiana's econom during their campaigns. The candidates haven't differed on their stances that keeping Louisiana's graduates in the state is a key to growth and development. But Wednesday night's debate brought out a disagreement over gay adoption rights. Blanco said she . would leave it to the courts to decide whether gay J couples should be able to adopt a child, but Jindal said, I "I think it's important for a child to have a mother and \ father at home." Blanco grew up in rural Arcadia and stressed her ties to agriculture as proof that she understands Louisiana's farmers. She's served as lieutenant governor under Republican Gov. Mike Foster, and as a mother, shi stressed that she would focus on education and health ca if elected. Jindal is the son of Indian immigrants and would be the firsi non-white governor since Reconstruction if he takes the most votes Saturday. Jindal's supporters say that he's a fresh gf face in Louisiana politics, and Jindal said he thinks he's gained such cross-party support because Louisiana voters "want a governor that will attract better paying jobs" to the state. •Their positions ori major issues, p. 3 See CARJACKING, Page 3 Sports women take home regional cross country title, p. 4 Opinion J3L Music pirates! Take them out!, p. 6 Life & Times W mma "Subtext" - Loyola student plays with film dialogue, p. 9