Maroon

              THE MAROON VOL. 83, NO. 1 FRIDAY. AUGUST 27. 2004 THE FACE OF A HAPPIER FUTURE AT LOYOLA? jgfhjgfh New president the Rev. Kevin Wildes, S.J., steps into the ring By Katie Ide Chief copy editor Newly-appointed university president the Rev. Kevin Wildes, S.J., plans to do a lot of listening and learning in months ahead in order to bolster his plan for providing students, faculty and staff with a stronger Loyola. In his convocation address Monday, Wildes said he would work to make sure that the university's goals for greater academic achievement and recognition are instituted. "I will be working with the vice presidents and the leadership of the faculty, staff and students to develop resources, streamline decision-making and act on opportunities to continually improve the life and work of the university," he said. Wildes, who arrived in New Orleans in July, said that he would need some time to get acclimated to his new job before making any major decisions. However, he added that he had already begun working with the vice presidents to establish a university-wide strategic plan. According to Wildes, the plan will help to define "what we hope to do, how it relates to our mission, how we will finance it, how we will support it with facilities and when we hope to achieve it." The main focus of the plan will be the "We didn't lose our dream or our commitment to educating last year, and I hope that Father Wildes will see that." -NANCY DUPONT, FACULTY SENATE CHAIRPERSON, on Loyola's ambitions despite last year's controversy. university's mission e f educating the whole student, and that it will help the university to reaffirm its accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools in 2005. "I think such planning is essential to the university's dream of achieving greater national recognition," Wildes said. He also plans to establish Marquette Fellowships, which will support faculty research projects. Additionally, he would like to find ways to facilitate communication on a campus-wide basis. Wildes will hold a town hall meeting to discuss the changes at greater length in November, after he has had a chance to settle in. Wildes, who taught at Georgetown University for more than 10 years before taking his post at Loyola, said that he would like to work closely with the students this year. He is already living in Biever Hall and mentioned that he would like to teach a course in the spring. Wildes said that he hoped these choices would enhance his experience as president "1 think it's a great thing to do as a priest. It makes you available to people," Wildes said Web cams will help lower telephone bills By Joe Rosemeyer Editor in chief This year's students have the opportunity to be the first college students in the Louisiana and among the first nationally to participate in an Internet-based video messaging service. VidMe Communications, LLC, is offering the downloadable program to students in the residence halls and their families back home for just $6.99 per month. "Parents like to keep in touch, especially with first-year students," said Robert Reed, director of residential life. "This is rather inexpensiveinexpensive — less than long-distance — and the residents can use it with other Loyola students and possibly friends at other schools." Reed said a representative for VidMe who formerly worked at Loyola approached James Eiseman, vice president of student affairs, and Vicki McNeil, associate vice president of student affairs, this summer about the program. Eventually the company gave a presentation to the Residential Life staff and Information Technology personnel. According to Reed, IT and Res Life saw the benefits of the program and decided to get involved once issues with the university's bandwidth had been worked out. Reed then collaborated with Carol Knight in the Loyola Bookstore to purchase around 300 web cams for students to purchase, ranging in price from $24.99 to $99.95. The bookstore also purchased inexpensive microphones, because some of the less pricey camera models don't have built-in mikes. The Webcam Pro by Labtec costs just $29.99, and its system See WILDES, page 2 See WEBCAMS, page 3