Maroon

              THE MAROOS WWW.LOYOLAMAROON.COM  FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2008 VOL. 86, NO. 16  Spring budget student-minded j. u By LEE HUDSON THE MAROON With Loyola students in mind, the Student Government Association implemented new programs in its budget this spring. This semester's total reviUreviUenue is $142,300, with $18,300 for internal operations. "I am proud because it is the least amount of the budget to ever go back to SGA for internal operations," said SGA president Elliot Sanchez, philosophy senior. "Everything in the budget is intentional because it is based on the things we value." This smaller budget was created with the intent that students will directly benefit from it. "This is a student-centered Charges dropped for cap gun trio By KATIE URBASZEWSKI ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR A state judge has dropped the charges against former Loyola students John White, Mohamed Diakite and Chukweumeka Anigbo. The three students were arrested and charged for attempted armed robbery last October after threatening Uptown students with a fake gun as a prank. The charges were dismissed on the condition that the students would be placed on the Diversion program. Diversion dismisses the charges for first-time offenders only if the defendant agrees to participate in an education program. It's an option if the defendant qualifies and the judge decides to offer it. "It's an excellent outcome," Diakite's attorney, Raleigh Ohlmeyer, said. The students appeared before the Board of Review, a collection of staff, faculty members and students, after the state proceedings. For privacy reasons, the board does not disclose the events of the hearing. However, the Student Handbook states that during a hearing, the person who filed the police report reads it aloud to the board, and the student offers a plea. Students are not allowed to have an attorney present, but can have an adviser, staff member or parent. The student is allowed to make a statement. The board talks with the student, deliberates and votes. Each vote — whether from student, faculty or staff — is worth the same. Students may appeal cases if there appears to be a bias, new evidence towards the case, disregard for rights or an inappropriate sanction. The Board of Appeals is separate from the Board of Review, but the structure is the same. The Appeals Board is comprised of different students, faculty and staff than the Board of Review. Instead of a hearing, students submit a written appeal. An attorney is still not allowed. Chris Cameron, director of Co-curricular Activities, said the main purpose of student hearings is to talk with the student and see what he or she learned. Still, sanctions can range from a "slap on the wrist" to a recommendation for expulsion, Cameron said. "The Board of Review hears cases that affect the entire university community," he said. 'The nature of this case involved not just Loyola students but also our faculty, staff, neighbors in the surrounding area and concerned parents. Assuring a safe and open environment to pursue our academic interests, both on and off campus, is a responsibility of the entire community." Katie Urbaszewski can be reached at ceurbasz@lovno.edu. RACHEL STRASSEI/THE MAROON A member of the Mardi Gras Indians shows off his plumage to a clapping, foot-stomping crowd in the Peace Quad on Jan. 29. The tribe performed during the Window. MAN WITH THE PLAN An architect from Kell Munoz Architects presents Loyola with the most concrete rendering of the Master Plan to date By ROSIE DAO SENIOR STAFF WRITER Kell Munoz Architects, Inc. unveiled a presentation of its "Master Plan" for Loyola's 1.7 million square-foot campus in an open forum on Jan. 24. Following the Munoz draft presented in May 2007 to the Board of Trustees, the presentation's purpose was to act as a briefing and update of the ongoing plans. wh Steve Tillotson, an architect for Munoz since 1988, has surveyed the land- '■ scape and structures since last spring. He represented the firm and provided the audience a more detailed blueprint of proposed additions and demolitions to struc- | tures on campus. The decision-making process began with a meeting among Munoz architects, various deans and see PLAN, page 4 see BUDGET, page 3 | BATTER UP wmra Baseball season begins 1181 see SPORTS, page 5 LOVDLMMHOON.OOM MAROON DIRECTORY: CALENDAR, page 2 | EDITORIAL, page 10 | LIFE & TIMES, page 6 | SPOTS, page 5 | NEWS TIPS: 865-3535