Maroon

              THE MAROON mmmm m mrnmmm■*——— Loyola University New Orleans VOL. 82, NO. 19 FRIDAY, MARCH 19, 2004 MAROON.LOYNO.EDU Haiti panel focuses on conflict for independence By Sarah Castagnetta Contributing writer "Imagine trying to live in the United States on $1,400 a year." — ANGEL PARHAM, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF SOCIOLOGY, on economic strife that an average Hatian family faces. Haiti is celebrating its bicentennial anniversary of independence with political strife. After President Jean-Bertrand Aristide fled the country on Feb. 29, Haitian independence flew out the door. According to Assistant Professor Angel Parham of the sociology department and Charles Renee', both of whom were presenters at Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and Amnesty International's "Haiti: Current Actions and Current Actors" on Tuesday night, Haitian independence was lost long before Aristide's flight in February. Renee', founder of several Haitian organizations in New Orleans, says that the Haitian masses have been subjected to civil struggles since Haiti secured independence from France in 1804. "It's two oligarchies — the light-skinned elite and the dark-skinned generals — that both want the power," Renee' said. "It's unnecessary though. Light-skinned or dark-skinned — we are all black." According to Parham, the recent struggles of Haiti can be traced back most directly to the May 2000 legislative elections, when a controversy erupted over ten Senate seats. Although Aristide was not president at the time, the 10 seats were all for men of his own party — the Lavalas Family. "Some people wanted a run-off and some people opposed it. As a result, oppositional parties boycotted the November 2000 elections," Parham said. Family Weekend nets biggest crowd so far By Thomas Slack Staff writer Parents, siblings descend on campus for a brief glimpse of Loyola life This year's Family Weekend was the largest in Loyola history, according to Alumni and Parent Relations. The three-day event drew more than 780 family members from 34 states and two foreign countries to campus. The most popular and well-attended event was on Sunday morning, a sold-out Jazz Brunch in the St. Charles Room. The event fell on the weekend of March 12 to 14, coinciding with New Orleans' St. Patrick's parades and festivals. Lan Sander, a Loyola parent from Los Angeles, went to Friday's parade with his family. "I thought it was a lot of fun," he said, "as did my family." Sander also went to class with his son on Friday. "I like the size of the classes and the individual attention that he was able to get," Sander said. Parents John and Donna Linyard, from Lafayette, who had attended the Parents Weekend twice before, said they like the friendly atmosphere of Loyola's comparatively small campus. Sander said he also appreciated the opportunity to meet with deans on Friday. Parents were invited to attend special sessions, where they learned about the changing needs of college students and some of the strategies that Loyola is using to enhance student engagement with their school work and to improve the quality of the student who leaves Loyola. Organizers also included events designed for students' younger siblings who might want to visit their older brother or sister away at college. On Saturday, young children were invited to attend Wolfpup Story Hour to hear storyteller Johnette Downing tell tales "with Louisiana spice." Afterward, they were invited to get their faces painted in a St. Patrick's Day themed event. Older and younger siblings also got a chance to bond at the Sibling Olympics Saturday afternoon. Local students' families enjoyed the weekend as well. Donna Vance, whose son STAFF PHOTO BY ANN HERMES Drama communications junior Ashley Minnick, second from left, enjoys the Jazz Brunch in the Orleans Room with her sister Kate, mother Linda and father John, during Family Weekend. Two Jesuits considered for president By Adam Hennessey Staff writer The presidential search committee has narrowed its list of candidates for Loyola's presidency to two men, according to committee chairman the Rev. James Bradley, SJ. The Rev. Kevin Wildes, S.J., and the Rev. Robert Niehoff, S.J., are being considered for the top position at Loyola. Wildes is associate dean and associate professor of philosophy at Georgetown University. His research is primarily rooted in bioethics. He is also a member of the Loyola University Board of Trustees. Niehoff is associate provost and vice president for Planning and Budget at the University of San Francisco. His research is in leadership roles, organizational development, finance and private school education. Bradley said that both candidates already visited Loyola and passed the first step of the selection process. The second step involves returning to the university for a more intimate look. Town hall forums have been planned for faculty, staff and students to meet the candidates, Bradley said. He said that forums allow those at the university to interview the candidates, and the candidates to interview the people at Loyola. Wildes was scheduled to participate in a forum yesterday in Nunemaker Auditorium. Niehoff's forum is scheduled for Tuesday, at 12:30 p.m., also in Nunemaker. The goal of the search committee is to have a president approved by the Board of Trustees by the end of the academic year. NIEHOFF University of San Francisco WILDES Georgetown University Famous music figures debate downloading By Naomi King Assistant news editor Thomas Dolby, writer of "She Blinded Me with Science" and entrepreneur of Dolby Surround Sound, argued at a debate on music piracy Tuesday night that people have a moral obligation to respect and not steal the intellectual property of a musician. Dolby advocated the view stressing copyrights and intellectual property laws, while John Barlow, former Grateful Dead lyricist and founder of Electronic Frontier Foundation, argued the view that emphasizes freedom of sharing information and a need for a new economic model for intellectual property. "The term intellectual property is an oxymoron," Barlow said. "We STAFF PHOTO BY ANN HERMES Thomas Dolby argues against Internet music piracy in Nunemaker Hall Tueday night. Dolby said that it was a "moral imperative" to not download. NORML chartering stalled By Lan Bui Assistant news editor Students trying to charter a pot legalization group on campus have just more than two weeks to get their paperwork in order with the Student Government Association to become an officially recognized club. Leaders of Loyola's potential chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws say they've received significant student support and are poised to become the largest student group on campus, but the organization remained unchartered after Tuesday evening's congress meeting. The deadline for any campus organization to be chartered this semester is April 1. NORML opposes marijuana prohibition and lobbies Congress and state legislatures to reform marijuana policies. Loyola's NORML chapter will join over 110 chapters nationwide, and some 2(X) to 215 students have already expressed an interest in joining. Arts and sciences representatives See HAITI, Page 2 See WEEKEND, Page 3 See SEARCH, Page 3 See DOWNLOADING, Page 2 See NORML, Page 3 ym Women left out of jjSp tournament,  Makjvar? No love. When the men are awayy the women...hold out! Go online to maroon.loyno.edu for our SGA endorsements. Look for a special election issue Monday morning. TODAY'S FORECAST o partly cloudy high 71 low 54