Maroon

              THE MAROON DECEMBER 10, 2004 VOL. 83, NO. 13 LOYOLA UNIVERSITY NEW ORLEANS Intercultural Center opens its doors By Nicole Waivers Contributing writer For more than 20 years, administrators and students expressed the need for a place specifically dedicated to promoting diversity issues and cultural understanding. After a year of planning, the Center for Intercultural Understanding opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony in the Danna Center lounge Wednesday. "This has been talked about for over 20 years," Walter Harris, provost of Academic Affairs said. "I'm very excited to see it finally happen." Communications Instructor Lisa Martin, interim director of the Center for Intercultural Understanding, expressed her gratitude to all who helped make the center a reality. She also welcomed everyone to come into the office at anytime. "Students should just walk in," she said. "We have what we call Oprah after-the-show-discussions." Martin wants students to feel like they can come to center with any concerns they have. "We've been officially designated as a Safe Zone," she said. "This means students can come in with any concerns they have without fear of reprisal. You're not just talking to some administrator. You're talking to someone who wants to help you." PHOTO COURTESY OF LOYOLA Ranika Sanchez, communications sophomore, works in the center along with Pamela Kauveiyakul, communications/sociology senior, and Pauline Green. English writing senior. "This is a job where you want people to come in," Sanchez said. "You're constantly meeting people." The center has been working with other organizations, such as the Student Government Association and the Social Justice Scholars, to put on programming to increase diversity awareness. It raised $3, 565.95 for its Haitian relief fund. "They're among the poorest people in the word. Haiti is 95 percent Student Government Association President Martina Mills, communications senior, the Rev. Kevin Wildes, S.J., university president and Lisa Martin, communications instructor, officially mark the opening of the Center for Intercultural Understanding. Injured freshman still in recovery By Krystle Robins Contributing writer Alyssa Taylor, political science freshman, remains in a coma at Keesler Medical Center in Biloxi, Miss., after she was injured in a head-on collision with a drunk driver. Taylor, who has been comatose for more than two months, has been showing improvements in her condition. Her family has been keeping friends and family updated on Taylor's conditions through a blog on the Internet, http://www.alyssataylor.blogspot.com/atom.xml. According to the Web site, Taylor's heart rate and blood pressure went down to normal and she is able to breathe on her own. Taylor also had surge.y on Dec. 1 to fuse her right foot back together. She has also had ventriculostomies, a tube to drain the fluid in her head. The doctors have drained all of the fluid that once surrounded her brain. Taylor has had pins removed from her left foot. The doctors are planning to give Taylor another CAT scan on Monday to make sure the fluid has not returned and are also planning to put a shunt in her head. Though the family was unable to be reached, Ann Taylor, Alyssa's mother, told The Sun Herald that the family believes that Alyssa can hear because she sometimes moves her head when her name is called. The family has also set up the Benefit for Alyssa Taylor, a fund that is used for Taylor's medical expenses. The fund is set up at Hancock banks in Mississippi. The family also asks that everyone pray for Alyssa Taylor and her health, according to the blog. Kr\stle Robinson can be reached at klmbins@loYno.edu. Here we come a-wassailing STAFF PHOTO BY GILLIAN DICKER Members of music fraternity Sigma Alpha lota sing Christmas carols in the Orleans Room lounge Tuesday afternoon. Stabbing suspects plead not guilty to September attack Trial dates set for next semester By Michael Nissman Staff writer Gustavo Antonetti, international business freshman, and Joaquin Rosales-Aramburu, criminal justice junior, pleaded not guilty on charges of aggravated battery last week. Antonetti and Rosales- Aramburu, along with Tulane student Eugenio Lacayo were arrested on multiple counts of aggravated battery in late September. Rosales-Aramburu, 22, was arrested Sept. 27 at approximately 9:30 a.m. on the 2800 block of Perdido Street. Antonetti, 20, was arrested the following day at approximately 10:40 a.m. on the same block. The two students will be tried March 1, 2005. In a separate case, communications sophomore Lacayo pleaded not guilty Nov. 25 to one count of aggravatedaggravated battery stemming from the same incident. His case will resume Jan. 25, 2005. Arrest warrants were issued Sept. 24 after New Orleans police positively identified the three individuals as suspects in a Sept. 22 stabbing that left a Loyola student unconscious. According to police, finance senior Michael Lloyd was walking home from a party at about 3:30 a.m. on the 6400 block of Freret Street when he was confronted by several men. The suspects began striking Lloyd in the facc several times, causing him to pass out, according to the police reports. Moments later Lloyd, from Lafayette, La. regained consciousness and was still being attacked as he was lying on the ground just outside of Tulane's Howard-Tilton Memorial Library. Lloyd was stabbed in the ribcage under his arm. He also suffered an orbital fracture above his eye. Lloyd was able to walk to University Police Headquarters, from which he was taken by ambulance to Charity Hospital, police said. He was admitted with a stab wound to the back and facial injuries and was released the following day, police j aid. According to Sgt. Paul Accardo, police had not established a motive for the attack, but are investigating a report that the suspects had an argument with the victim earlier that night when they were thrown out of a party at a private residence near the campus. See CENTER, page 3 See HEARING, page 3 SPORTS s#H Men's basketball team gives Tulane Qh&mL tough conte page 4 mjzjfmm lacks energy and focus k|uV^| of original page 9 WM ■■ iVH OPINION Editorial: UNO Driftwood shut down necessary but not constructive page 7 THIS IS THE LAST MAROON OF THE SEMESTER. HAPPY HOLIDAYS! visit us on the web; maroon.lqynq.edu