Maroon

              THE MAROON WWW.LOYOLAMAROON.COM FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2008 VOL. 86, NO. 18 A baby story Loyola's maternity leave policy has female faculty members finding themselves having to juggle work and family By JORDAN HULTINE SENIOR STAFF WRITER A new study released Monday suggests that pregnant women are working more before they give birth and returning to work earlier afterward. The U.S. Census Bureau study, which compares today's statistics against data from 1961, reports dramatic changes in how women balance their careers and motherhood. The bureau also cites increased cooperation between pregnant women and their employers to meet the demands of both motherhood and working. New mothers and mothers-to-be at Loyola are in the same boat, struggling to find the perfect balance. Sara Butler, associate professor of history and a new mom, said she finds it difficult to take full advantage of maternity leave. As the only medieval specialist in her department, she continues to work with three thesis students while on leave. She's also participating in search committees for new faculty, which she juggles with other administrative work. "The common curriculum review is requiring us to put together new syllabi for all our common curriculum courses by the end of February, or our classes will not be included in the next Bulletin," Butler said. "Obviously even though I am on leave, I have to do this, and I do not get Play returns for fourth year Proceeds will go to aid battered women By ROSIE DAO SENIOR STAFF WRITER Alpha Psi Omega, the theater honorary fraternity, and the Women's Issues Organization will host the Vagina Monologues on March 4. Every Valentine's Day since Loyola's first Vagina Monologues performance in 2(K)5, an all-female cast has put on the show, which features monologues of real-life women. As part of the national V-Day campaign, all the funds raised will go to the New Orleans Metropolitan Battered Women's Association. In 2007, organizers donated about $3,000 to aid women and children, said Erin Slimak. theater senior and producing agent for the play. The monologues have overcome challenges over the years. According to Maroon archives, conflict arose over whether the play contradicted Loyola's Catholic traditions. In 2(X)4, the Rev. William Byron. S.J., interim president, cancelled the production. After a year of protesting, Vday returned to campus in 2005 and raised funds for Crescent House — a battered women and children's shelter in New Orleans — with support from the Rev. Kevin Wildes, S.J., university president.Gabriela Rivera, mass communication sophomore and copresidentcopresident of the Women's Issues Organization, is directing this year's production. Rivera said the organization was founded on the idea of improving the status of women at Loyola and on a global scale. "We have committed ourselves to the Jesuit ideal of social justice and work for the equality of women in every sphere of life." she said. "We create a comfortable environment for discussing important issues affecting the lives of women." The organization also actively participates in the planning of Take Back the Night and publishes Loyola's feminist zine "The Wandering Womb." Rivera said she hopes the Student government elections postponed SGA blames inadequate publicity By LEE HUDSON THE MAROON The Student Government Association has postponed its elections — originally slated for March 3 and 4 — due to a lack of students interested in running for positions. Comnxissioner of elections Antoinette Spillers, political science senior, said not many people attended last week's informational elections meetings. SGA could not have held the elections because positions were still open. According to mass communication senior Summer Zeimetz, SGA communications director, the meetings' poor attendance was the result of inadequate publicity. SGA added three additional meetings to its election timetable — one for Feb. 27 and two on Feb. 28. SGA hopes increasing the number of informational meetings will give students more time in deciding whether they NEW ELECTIONS TIMELINE INTENT OF CANDIDACY FORMS DUE Feb. 29 at 5 p.m. POSTING OF CANDIDATES March 2 at 5 p.m. ACTIVE CAMPAIGNING BEGINS March 3 at Midnight DEBATES March 6 at 12:30 p.m. GENERAL ELECTIONS BEGIN March 10 and 11 RUNOFF ELECTIONS March 13 and 14 want to run for a position. "This is an extension of our administration's mission to bring in more students who are not affiliated with SGA," said SGA president Elliot Sanchez, GUITAR HERDES ROCK OUT ALEX WOODWARD / THE MAROON Sophomores Persis Randolph, music performance, and Walter Nolen-Schmidt, general music, rock the library at MEISA and the department of Music Industry Studies' "Guitar Hero" Competition. see SGA, page 2 see BABY, page 5 see V-DAY, page 2 hghg FRESH PRINCE HRI OF LOYOLA I IFF c TIMFC nn A loyol*«*x».o«. MAROON DIRECTORY: CALENDAR, page 2 | EDITORIAL, page 14 | LIFE & TIMES, page 6 | SPORTS, page 10 | NEWS TIPS: 865-3535