Maroon

              THE MAROON VOL. 83, NO. 16 ;n LOYOLA UNIVERSITY NEW ORLEANS FEBRUARY 18, 2005 Play stirs up controversy 'Vagina Monologues' draws packed crowd for V-Day performance By Tara Templeton Staff writer What was supposed to finally be a middle ground to the "Vagina Monologues" controversy, which started last year with the Rev. William Byron, S.J., interim president, turned out to be only a continuation of the dispute. After a cancellation made by Byron and one year of protests, Loyola finally participated in V-day on Monday — The event primarily raises money for charities and focuses on stopping violence against women. The culmination of the V-day activities was a performance of "The Vagina Monologues," which was co-sponsored by the Women Issues Organization and Alpha Psi Omega. Monday's performance was welcomed by a packed house, which consisted of students, faculty and a range of community members. According to English senior and Women's Issues Organization copresident Parisa Memarian, the play raised about $1,600 for Crescent House. The Rev. Kevin Wildes, S.J., university president, said the approval of the on-campus performance of the controversial play was a heavy point of focus within Loyola. While the campus response has been mostly positive, Wildes has received some biting criticism for his decision. On Wednesday, Archbishop Alfred Hughes admonished Wildes for allowing the production to be performed on campus. In an interview with WWL-TV, Hughes called the play "contrary to Catholic teaching" and stated that Wildes' decision to allow it on campus was regrettable. "I would be unfaithful to my charges as archbishop if I did not state publicly that 'The Vagina Monologues' is offensive to sound Catholic teaching," Hughes said. In addition, "The National Review" published an editorial by Kathryn Jean Lopez chastising Wildes for allowing the performance not only at Loyola University New Orleans but also for allowing it to take place at Georgetown University while he was a professor of ethics. Lopez wrote that "The Vagina Monologues" was a "weird, sick little play." "The Vagina Monologues" has been deemed inappropriate by many people because of its graphic language and sexual scenes, particularly in one monologue involving a sexual encounter between a 24-year-old woman and a 16-year-old youth. However, V-day performances of the play have occurred at more than 600 colleges across the country, including Jesuit schools such as Loyola University Chicago, St. Louis University and Fordham University. Although the Loyola Women's Issues Organization first became involved in the V-day program during the fall semester of 2003, production of the play was shut down after Byron advised that the performance not take place and suggested that the organization find another means of fundrais- Residential life hopes to finally move Carrollton residents onto seventh floor Misplaced students await relocation five months after scheduled By Adam Hennessey Staff writer The first real sign of progress may finally be in sight for the residents of Carrollton Hall. The university is hoping to begin moving students from the sixth floor to the newly renovated seventh floor on March 5, four months after the first proposed moving date, according to Robert Reed, residential life director. The seventh floor of the former New Res building originally was to be completed by late October. The completion date has since been pushed back three times, Reed said. The Rev. Kevin Wildes, S.J., university president, explained that in addition to the unexpected problems with the physical construction on Carrollton, the holdup has been the result of the ongoing lawsuit filed by Loyola against MAPP Construction, Inc., Travelers Property and Causality Insurance, Eskew + A Professional Corporation, and Einhorn Yaffes Prescott Architecture and Engineering, P.C., the parties responsible for the dorm's construction flaws. Many of those named in the suit have filed other lawsuits in response, which have resulted in site inspections and hindered the progress of the construction crews, Wildes said. "The pace has been slowed by all of the lawsuits and countersuits and the need for testing. While I understand why the defendants want to do all this testing, I think it could be done in a more expeditious manner," Wildes said. "We have done everything we can to move the litigation forward and move towards a settlement." The university's suit states that the building's design allowed moisture to seep into the walls, leading to the growth of mold and mildew. The completion of the seventh floor's construction does not signal the end of the inconveniences for Carrollton's residents. Many students who signed residential life contracts to live in upperclassmen apartments will never get the opportunity to live there. STAFF PHOTO BY ANN HERMES After several setbacks, the sixth floor residents of Carrollton Hall may finally have a moving date. The seventh floor construction has taken several more months than expected. Harris promises task force will sort out funds By Nicole Waivers Staff writer The university is developing a task force responsible for reviewing and integrating various aspects of Loyola, though some members of the faculty are skeptical about its necessity. Faculty and staff met to discuss the issue at a town hall meeting Tuesday. The task force will function similarly to the University Planning Team and the Standing Council for Academic Planning, which provides reason to question its significance, according to Mary Blue, associate professor of communications. The Year of the Rooster STAFF PHOTO BY ANN HERMES LASO celebrated the Lunar New Year in the Danna Center with food, a fashion show and a dragon dance presented by the Mary Queen of Vietnam Church of New Orleans East. ► See VAGINA, page 3 D See CARROLLTON, page 3 D See TOWN HALL, page 3 SPORTS lg LIFE & TIMES OPINION Bordelon reaches ,'j Loyola graduates 'Vagina Monologues' scoring milestone r / J Put on debut stage controversial yet again page 7 I production page 9 page 4 Established 1923 • "For a Greater Loyola" Online sports extra: http://maroon.loyno.edu/