Maroon

              THE MAROON A Loyola Tradition Since 1923 "For a greater LoyolaM hjyuftrhjftnh jugfjn hdfhft RELOCATED: Marquette offices move to Thomas Hall By KRISTEN DIAZ Staff Writer The renovation of Thomas Hall was completed earlier this month, concluding Phase I of the facilities master plan the university implemented last year that involves the construction of certain areas of the school. The facilities master plan stated that the renovation of Thomas Hall was meant to improve student retention and recruitment by housing existing administrative offices in one place. It had a budget of $14.5 million for improvements, which was the largest budget of all the projects in Phase I of the master plan, including the added levels in the West Road Garage and improvements on Loyola Avenue. This budget covered architectural fees, furniture, updates to the heating and coolinginfrastructure, as well as other matters necessary for the improvements. Thomas Hall is also pending LEED certification, showing that the hall was built to be green and sustainable. The points gained throughout the planning and construction of the hall will be rewarded based on the sustainability of the building through construction, design and operations within the hall. Thomas Hall will be the new home for the offices of Admissions and Enrollment, Enrollment Management, Scholarships and Financial Aid, Student Records, Student Finance and the Bursars Office, which were all previously located in Marquette Hall. This move will help facilitate the creation of more classroom space in Marquette Hall. Despite the budget, there were some unexpected complications with the aged infrastructure of the building, which caused minor setbacks. Programs in the environment offered fall 2011 The three environmental programs are interaiciplinary By KRISTEN HIMMELBERG Staff Writer In trying to keep up with changes in the environment, Loyola will offer a new degree program with three different majors called "The Program in the Environment" starting this fall. Spearheaded by Paul Barnes, director of Loyola's environmental studies program and a biology professor, the program will offer a Bachelor of Science in environmental science with a concentration in the biological sciences, a* Bachelor of Arts in environmental studies with a concentration in the humanities, and a Bachelor of Arts in environmental studies with a concentration in the social sciences. The nearly 20-year-old environmental studies minor will continue to be offered. The program has been in the works for over five years and culminated with the approval of the new majors this past spring, Barnes said. The program will be interdisciplinary so students can take relevant classes in different fields of study that each focus on some aspect of environmental issues. Though they are all interdisciplinary, each individual major will have a different focus. "The BS in Environmental Science will focus more on the sciences: biology, chemistry and natural sciences. The BA in Environmental Studies will be broader, including sociology and other social sciences into the curriculum," said Luis Miron, dean of the College of Social Sciences. Margaret Sands, environmental studies senior, has been working on an environmental studies major for the past four years, creating her own curriculum with the classes offered for the minor. "Environmental studies at Loyola offers students a unique opportunity to learn about current issues while living in an environmental hot spot," Sands said in an email. "New Orleans is one of the best real-world environmental case studies available, and we are lucky to have the chance to work and study here for a greener future." Sands said she also thinks that, because the program is interdisciplinary, it allows students to apply what they learn academically to different areas of need through different approaches. Environmental change has Austrian economics program denied Master's program did not get approval from Academic Affairs committee By JAMIE FUTRAL Staff Writer Strong opinions and much discussion led the Standing Council for Academic Planning to reject the College of Business' proposal for a masters degree program. The College of Business proposed an Austrian economics master's program to the Standing Council for Academic Planning, a committee within the provosts office that oversees changes in academic programs, during the committee's March 22 meeting. The committee rejected the proposal several meetings later due to disagreements about the programs funding and consequences of its approval. Bill Barnett and Dan D'Amico, economics professors for the College of Business, initially proposed the masters program to the committee. According to D'Amico, the master's program was designed to take advantage of the expertise and public reputations of the economics faculty. It was also intended to promote student successsomething the College of Business takes pride in, D'Amico said. Reasons for rejection include the program's initial budget and funding plan. Barnett said in the initial proposal that the College of Business would raise $9 million to endow the program. A representative from the Stranding Council for Academic Planning was not available to comment. Maria Cuadra, business senior and president of the Economics Club, said she believes this new program would have benefited both the undergraduate and graduate programs. "Master's students would be able to become members of the Economics Club and consistently expose their working papers and research topics on panels. Undergraduate students interested in this discipline will have the opportunity to be actively involved in these research processes," Cuadra said. According to D'Amico, Austrian economics incorporates human factors such as uncertainty, ignorance, morality, culture and faith. D'Amico also stressed that Austrian economics emphasizes see THOMAS, page 4 see PROGRAM, page 5 see MASTER'S, page 4 MAROON DIRECTORY; CRIME WATCH, page 2 I SPORTS, page 6 I LIFE AND TIMES, page 7 I EDITORIAL, page 10 I NEWS TIPS: 865 3535 JL IHats1Hats off to the hats exhibit mil"' • 'n"'xon^ourt seepoQe7