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              THE MAROON VOL. 86, NO. 24 WWW.LOYOLAMAROON .COM FRIDAY, MAY 2, 2008 Pope speaks on education Loyola president reflects on the Catholic mission By STEVE HEATH NEWS EDITOR Pope Benedict XVl's address to Catholic educators highlighted the special role of Catholic education in the United States and the importance of maintaining academic freedom. Loyola University President, the Rev. Kevin Wildes, S.J., attended the conference in Washington, D.C., and believes the pope's message confirmed the present course taken at Loyola. Maintaining a Catholic identity can be difficult to attain or even understand, as there are a number of interpretations. As the intellectual and technological environment continues to change, Catholicism - meaning "universal" - also changes. Wildes explained just what it is that makes a Catholic university. Catholic in today's world. "The challenge for us is how HARAZ N. GHANBARI / AP PHOTO Pope Benedict XVI waves as he leaves the Pryzbyla University Center on the campus of Catholic University where he addressed the presidents of American Catholic universities. Wildes appoints new provost By JAUNE JACKSON SENIOR STAFF WRITER Loyola's exterior is not the only thing changing. For the 2008-2009 academic year, the university will have a new provost and three new deans. On April 22, the university announced Edward J. Kvet, who currently serves as dean of the College of Music and Fine Arts, will be the new provost and vice president of academic affairs. Kvet will be replacing Walter Harris, the current provost, who will retire next school year. Kvet said he always wanted to join a university-level faculty and teach music education. He joined the College of Music faculty in 1982, just after completing his doctoral degree in music from the University of Cincinnati. During the 1985-1986 academic year, Kvet was appointed associate dean, but left in 1990 to become the director of the school of music at Central Michigan University. Finally, in 1998, Kvet returned to New Orleans to become dean of the College of Music and Fine Arts at Loyola. "Both my wife and I really liked New Orleans, we were one of those groups ... that were really passionate about the city," Kvet said. In an e-mail to the Maroon, the Rev. Kevin Wildes, S.J., university president, said he is enthusiastic about the future of the university under the direction of Kvet. "I believe that Ed will bring positive leadership for our faculty and our new deans," Wildes said. "He will bring a strong sense of academic excellence and interdisciplinary collaboration that will be important for our faculty and students." Kvet said his chief motivation for being provost is to preserve and expose the university's history. He said the bringing in of three new deans will give Loyola "stability " He hopes to have others, from students to administration, help in recruitment. "1 truly believe that I'm a very inclusive person," Kvet said. "I talk a lot. 1 ask a lot of questions and seek a lot of input." Kvet is very optimistic about the school's struggling enrollment numbers. He said those who were at the university often lose sight of the progress Loyola has made. "I really hope we kind of turn the corner on all of that," Kvet said. Anthony Decuir, associate dean and professor in the College of Music and Fine Arts, will be interim dean when Kvet begins his term as Provost. Although teaching is his first love, Kvet doubts that he will be able to teach full-time the next academic year. "I'd rather guest lecture than teach," Kvet said. "My concern is that if I were teaching a regularly scheduled course, I know just by the rigors of the job I would have to miss a number of classes, and 1 don't think it's fair to the students."Staying safe By JUSTIN TEMPLET ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR While Uptown has historically been considered the ideal neighborhood for New Orleans living, recent events paint a different picture. Although the neighborhood is famous for it's culture, top zoo and massive antebellum homes, the increase in and prominence of violent crime has frightened both students and residents, many of whom are now more reluctant to roam around the neighborhood, particularly after dark and after drinking ... Bad jokes end act By JAUNt JACKSON SENIOR STAFF WRITF:R On Wednesday, Loyola students thought they would be gathereding to enjoy an end of the academic year party. Instead, they witnessed University Police escort Christian Champagne, the popular New Orleans spoken word poet, being off campus. University Programming Board, the College of Humanities and Natural Sciences and the Visual Arts department co-sponsored the "Let's Party, the End is Here" event in the Res Quad started at 3:30, with... see WILDES, page 3 see DEANS, page 3 Dollywood? Suprising |» summer hot spots. |i9J see Life and Times, pg. 6 Read the rest of these stories at www.loyolamaroon.com. Frog Walk at Wgt IPjBSJj Class takes ■Sfofe^ mui *gsS"2 For more Story, Q0 Loyola students (far scan the swamps for wwN.loyolaMnNM.com jean MAROON DIRECTORY: CALENDAR, page 2 | EDITORIAL, page 11 | LIFE & TIMES, page 6 | SPORTS, page 4 | NEWS TIPS: 865-3535