Maroon

              THE MAROON VOL. 83, NO. 15 LOYOLA UNIVERSITY NEW ORLEANS FEBRUARY 4, 2005 Searching  for Support STAFF GRAPHIC BY DANIEL MONTEVERDE Administration says Loyola is too tuition-dependant By Sarah Castagnetta Staff writer In a world of high debt and low revenue, the Loyola administration has managed to hold on to a sturdy and healthy financial position. According to the Rev. Kevin Wildes, S.J., university president, Loyola enjoys a good bond rating, which is a government evaluation of the university's credit, a low debt service, which is a principal and interest payments on bonds, and a strong endowment, similar to a savings account for the university — the core principal is deposited and the earnings are distributed or withdrawn. "We're playing out of our strengths with the bond rating, the debt service and the endowment," Wildes said. "We're in a healthy position, but it can always be improved." Loyola's tuition-dependency is one of the first items on the administration's list to be fixed. Loyola has centered around two strategies for lowering tuitiondependency, according to Rhonda Cartwright, vice president of budget and finance. The first strategy is to seek out alternative revenue sources. The university also plans to conduct program reviews of both academic and non-academic programs. There are three possible ways for Loyola to develop alternative revenue sources: partnership funding, fundraising and facility marketing. According to Wildes, partnership funding is when "the government says, 'Hey, that sounds like a good idea. We'd like to be involved in that,' such as when the government gave [LoyolaJ $350,000 to build the Boggs Center." Thomas Screen, assistant to the president and government relations, will also have a hand in partnership funding. "The new position, Tommy Screen, can develop funding sources such as philanthropy and government grants and thereby lower our tuitiondependency," Cartwright said. Fundraising is another possible alternative revenue source. "The single best way we can lessen tutition-dependency is fundraising," Wildes said. Wildes plans to visit all 20 of the alumni clubs scattered throughout the United States before the end of the semester in an effort to make and maintain contact with potential fundraising donors. Wildes said marketing out Loyola's facilities is the third alternative revenue source. Marketing out the facilities includes allowing spaces to be rented out for private use. Product placement is another possible way to market the facilities, such as allowing Loyola to be shown in a film or TV show. As for reviewing academic and non-academic programs, Wildes said that no formal plans are in place. "Basically it's looking at how we are using our resources and whether we are using them well," Wildes said. The program reviews would target programs that are no longer efficient and allocate the money from the inefficient program to a program that is efficient but not adequately financed. "For example, several years ago, Loyola had a school of pharmacy," Wildes said. "But it was closed because it wasn't going to get any better. The whole point is that if you can move resources, you can help out somewhere else." According to Cartwright, program reviews could also "produce or identify additional revenue sources." Tuition-dependency is a problem for universities because of its dependence on student enrollment. As of July, tuition comprises 71 percent of Loyola's operating budget, which goes toward expenses like salaries and benefits, debt service, utilities and insurance. The other 29 percent derives from auxiliaries, gift and other revenues and income from the unrestricted endowment. Auxiliaries, such as resident hall income and Allocations Committee budget increased for the semester By Anita Oubre Staff writer Even with a budget of $70,610.43, nearly $20,000 more than last semester's budget, the Student Government Association's Allocations Committee still left some organizations feeling empty-handed when it posted its initial allocations Jan. 24. Three Alpha Kappa Alpha sisters studied the board outside the SGA office to find that the organization's request was cut in half from $5,583.02 to $2,068.02. "We will have to do more fundraising this year as we do not want any of our service programs to be affected by this outcome," said Megan Redman, sociology senior and Alpha Kappa Alpha member. The time consuming process of budget allocations is a challenge for the SGA each year. SGA vice president Michelle Clarke, sociology junior, said the committee tries to be fair by taking into consideration the needs and wants of every organization. The process begins early with the president and treasurer of each student organization receiving an invitation to a series of meetings in which the pre-allocation process is explained. During these meetings, organization representatives are given a timeline as well as a budget handbook to prevent any confusion. Each organization is required to submit a budget packet for the year as well as a letter of intent. The appropriation committee comes up with initial allocations that are then posted. If there is a discrepancy, an appeal can be made to the committee; Jesuit educator challenges students to end injustices By Nicole Waivers Staff writer The Rev. Dean Brackley, S.J., has suffered threats, attacks and the death of peers during his time as a theology and ethics professor at the Universidad Centroamericana in El Salvador. Like many Jesuits, Brackley found it difficult to spread the Jesuit ideals of justice and social criticism in Central America. "The government propaganda was overwhelming," Brackley said. "I had government agents in my class, and the students did not want to be seen with the Jesuits." Last Tuesday in Nunemaker Auditorium, Brackley spoke about the importance of upholding the Jesuit values despite persecution in a lecture entitled "The Challenge of the Christian and Jesuit University Today." Brackley said that an important aspect of Christian universities is to prepare students to help change an unjust world and not grow comfortable with it. An educator for more than 20 years, Brackley allows his students to question and analyze the government, but the people of El Salvador are not given such privileges. "In Central America if you openly challenge the companies who are polluting the river, you could be found floating in the river the next morning," he said. Brackley believes that the government will alter the truth to fulfill its goals, so people should scrutinize all the facts they're given to determine what is really real. "Ignacio Ellacuria, the martyred president of UCA, used to insist that the principle subject of study of the university was 'la realidad national,' the national reality," Brackley said. All the facts, Brackley suggested, are learned in universities. "But, education seeks wisdom," Brackley said, urging the Jesuit community to teach students to think beyond what is learned in textbooks. "Let us study obscure insects and obscure authors. But let that all be part of a collective quest to understand how life and well-being are threatened and how they can STAFF PHOTO BY ANN HERMES The Rev. Dean Brackley, S.J., spoke to students at Nunemaker Auditorium last Tuesday. Brackley has taught at the Universidad Centroamericana since 1989. D• See BUDGET, page 3 D See ALLOCATIONS, page 2 D See JUSTICE, page 2 Established 1923 • "For a Greater Loyola" MlHilMli BM Till Wii HYMP.IQU