Maroon

              THE MAROON WWW.LOYOLAMAROON.COM VOL. 86, NO. 6 FRIDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2007 TRIPLE JEOPARDY Three Loyola students may face decades behind bars for attempted armed robbery By RAMON ANTONIO VARGAS EDITOR IN CHIEF In the wake of what the Times-Picayune called "a misguided hoax," a puzzled Loyola community is trying to move on as three students face multiple counts of attempted armed robbery.After 20 years as a sociologist specializing in crime research, Loyola vice provost and sociology professor George Capowich said he's "probably" never seen anything like the criminal prank police accuse Chukwuemeka Anigbo, Mohamed Diakite and John A. White of committing. Several pedestrians strolling in Uptown neighborhoods told police finance junior Anigbo, management freshman Diakite, and biology freshman White of demanding money FN MORE Learn the specific charges being brought against the trio, p. 3 ON THIS Read all the articles that preceded this one STORY: at mm.loyoiamaroon.coni. from them as they brandished pistols from the window of a black Nissan Altima with Texas license plates. Police, after they arrested the trio in the early morning hours of Oct. 4 on charges of attempted armed robberies they are accused of committing on Oct. 3, discovered the guns they used were toys. When it came time to take their victims' wallets or purses, reports show they turned the opportunity down and sped away in laughter. According to Capowich, the legal definition of an act classified as attempted robbery requires only that the stick-up crew create "fear." "It doesn't matter if it was a toy gun in terms of the legal definition of how to rob someone," Capowich said. "To them, it was a prank, but they weren't giving thought to the fear that they placed in people." Criminal justice professor Dee W. Harper added, "Attempted robbery with a cap gun gets you in the same amount of trouble with the law as with a real one." And for what is being called a prank played out at the tip of what was either a cap or air pistol, three Loyola students could spend between five and "Young people, even intelligent ones, for a variety of reasons don't think about the future" - George Capowich, sociology professor John A. White Faces years of prison time if convicted Mohamed Diakite Booked for attempted armed robbery Nightclub stabbing leads to arrest of Tulane football player By RAMON ANTONIO VARGAS EDITOR IN CHIEF In just 12 hours, Ray Boudreaux went from being a respected student athlete at Tulane University to being the prime suspect in the attempted murder of five people. At 6 p.m. on Sept. 15, he strapped on a helmet and marched onto the Superdome turf as a kick returner and reserve running back in the Green Wave's football game against the University of Houston. His team lost 34-10 that night, but senior Boudreaux still had plenty to be proud of. He had earned a spot four times in Conference USA's honor roll for his performance as a social science major. He had scored two touchdowns in Division I football. His play that night warranted distinction from coach Bob Toledo as "special teams player of the week," an honor that meant he'd be a team captain for next week's game. But instead, police say, Boudreaux, an Abbeville native, went to Utopia nightclub on Bourbon Street with a friend later that night and got into a fight with four men and one woman for unclear reasons. HIP REPLACEMENTS Updates supposed to bring 'pop' to Danna Center By TARA TEMPLETON SENIOR STAFF WRITER While Tulane University completed a $44 million student center this spring, plans to renovate the Danna Center will cost almost 15 times less than that, according to vice president of Student Affairs Marcia "Cissy" Petty. With estimated costs at around $3 million, Petty said Loyola will see more impact than Tulane's $44 million project. Moreover, Chris Cameron, director of co-curricular programs, said that Loyola will get more than what Tulane has, because their Lavin-Bernick Center lacks warmth, color and art, and the Danna Center will be bright and colorful and will "pop." Cameron and Petty both said they want the Danna Center to be a welcoming place for students to hang out. "It's time, it's past time," Petty said about the renovations, adding that the students deserve more. She said this project would provide momentummomentum for other instances of deferred maintenance around campus. "I think it is important, as it plays such a role in the life of everyone - students, faculty and staff," the Rev. Kevin Wildes, S.J., university president, said. Henry Munoz, architect with the Kell Munoz firm and designer of the Danna Center plan, said he volunteered to design the plan. "It is a very important building because it is the center of campus life and culture," he said. Munoz provided his services as a donation to Loyola, especially the students. TRADING SPACES The Danna Center got a face-lift over the summer with the removal of the "cheese grater" grilles and a fresh coat of paint. This is the first of several phases for renovating the stu- Chukwuemeka Anigbo Arrested Oct. 4 by NOPD COURTESY OF TAKASHI HORISAKI Loyola alum Takashi Horisaki installs his New Orleans-inspired piece in New York. For the full story, see page 2 TYLER KAUFMAN / THE MAROON The Danna Center is set to undergo a cosmetic overhaul via a plan crafted by the architectural firm Kell Munoz. see CRIME, page 3 see TULANE, page 4 see REVAMP, page 5 A LOYOLA TRADITION SINCE 1923 • "TOR THR LOYOLA" ==^H ■Willl'fßl IDart2^^k COMING lIP IN THE SERIES: PART 3 PART 4 Loyola's new j Master Plan Master Plan j analysis MAROON DIRECTORY: CALENDAR, page 2 \ EDITORIAL, page 10 | LIFE & TIMES, page 6 | SPORTS, page 8 | NEWS TIPS: 865-3535