Maroon

              LOYOLA MAROON VOL. XLV ,oyola University, New Orleans, La., Friday. January 31, 1969 No. 13 Science Complex move-in completed Departments are expected to finish moving into the $5.2 million Science Complex • today, according to Ray Witham, coordinator of the campus wide move- into the new building. The move-in was begin after classes ended last semester. The Departments of Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Computer Science will be provided permanent quarters in the building. The Departments of Modern Foreign Languages, Political Science, Classical Studies, Psychology, and Sociology and the Institute of Politics will be housed there temporarily. The move-in went "surprisingly smooth" said Witham. Some departments were a little reluctant to leave their old quarters, he said, but seemed quite pleased with the new offices after they had made the move. Although the building is not yet completely finished, classes are being held in many of the rooms. "We had at least one chalkboard installed in each room so classes could be held," said Witham. He said there was no need to keep the building closed until it was entirely complete since most of the classrooms were usable when classes began last Monday. The entire interior of the complex should be completed within a month, said Mrs. Mary Mykolyk, director of technical planning. There are many small delays such as late arriving material, and unacceptable workmanship which must be tended to before completion, she said. A strike by one of the labor unions could also delay the completion of the building, she added. Mrs. Mykolyk said the 450-seat amphitheater, which was running behind schedule in December, will probably be finished last. The' exterior of the complex is expected to be completed for commencement exercises in May, according to Mrs. Mykolyk. The outside of the building has to be coated with a special seal which looks like white paint and the landscaping has to be done, she explained. Trees and shrubs must be planted, gates must be put up, and outdoor furniture and benches must be set up, she said. The only problem with the move-in seems to be curious students, explained Witham. "We would rather students ride the elevators than walk" until the interior of the building is complete, he said. The elevators located in the center of the building are for student use, FINALLY COMPLETE (ALMOST)-The course may be the same as last semester, but the place sure is different. The Science Complex, under Witham said, and since work is still being done on or near the stairway, students are being asked to use the elevators not the stairs. The 180,000-square foot complex doubles Loyola's classroom space. It construction since the spring of 1967, was finished recently, but move-in operation are still underway. See accompanying story. contains 16 scientifically up-to-date labs, eight each for chemistry and physics. Major portions of the complex will be dedicated to three Loyola benefactors."A 92,441 square-foot area that will house chemistry classrooms, laboratories and offices will be known as the Percival Stern Chemistry Section, named for a New Orleans philanthropist and business and civic leader. The entire physics department, some 72,630 square feet, will be named the McLaughlin Physics Section after the late Misses Mary ann and Elizabeth McLaughlin, life-long residents of New Orleans. A pledge of $1 million to Loyola's Campaign for Excellence was made by the Percival Stern Foundation in July of last year. Shortly afterward Loyola was named the beneficiary of a bequest of about $1 million in stocks, bonds and other holdings in the estate of the late Misses McLaughlin. The two sisters were members of Holy Name parish and friends of several of Loyola's Jesuit priests. Academic situation hit in report Change in policies urged By GARY ATKINS (Maroon Desk Editor) A report criticizing various Loyola academic policies and suggesting ways to improve the university's academic atmosphere has been issued by the Student Council academics committee. "Too often," the report says, "students at Loyola simply have to memorize or have a superficial understanding of concepts." The report, part of a departmental evaluation being made by the academics committee, goes on to make several general and concrete proposals. Among themare: the abolishment of the limited cuts rule for upperclassmen and second semester freshmen, a call for Submits report on LU academics more experimentation and more attempts to make courses interesting, optional final exams,more inter-department and inter-college cooperation, the creation of student-faculty committees to evaluate each department, more "open forum" courses and more short quizzes to increase a student's "daily participation" in the classroom. Discussing the limited cuts rule, the report says that the regulation ignores both "the meaning of a grade and the maturing process of a young adult." The cuts rule, the report says, implies that "class attendance is necessarily and universally a factor in the attainment of that knowledge" which is supposed to be reflected by the grade. "If a student can accomplish the attainmentofknowledgeandthe objectives of the course in a manner other than regular class attendance," the report says, "then it is his right to do so" if his grade is going to "be the measure of how much knowledge he has achieved in the subject by the time the grade" is given. The report also says that "several features of Loyola tend to severely stunt the maturing process of its students" and that the cuts rule is one of them. One of the bases for the rule, the report says, is that forcing students to come to class prevents them from missing too many classes. However, as well as representing an "insult to the mature students," it prevents the less mature student from learning to be responsible on his own. By learning on his own and by his own decision that he must attend class, the student "has undergone a small maturing process and learned a hard lesson that he can benefit from," the report says. "How has his immaturity been helped by forcing him to come to class?" the report asks. "It has not been helped;it has been stagnated, accomodated for. What is worse, it has been concealed. The cuts rule is like an apron around Mother Loyola's waist for the less mature to hide under." Discussing the call for more experimentation and attempts to make courses interesting, the report says that "since classroom enrollment at Loyola is relatively small, experimental breaks with tradition and routine could open the door to improved teaching methods." "Teachers must usetheir imagination to present the course in such a way that the classroom is a center of intellectual curiosity and learning, not a crusty cell where students come, take notes, yawn and leave," it says. "Students must want to come to class; they must want to learn," the report says. "The key is imagination—on the part of teacher and student. Every student and every teacher must stand in constant awareness of the high and low points of his course and department and should not hesitate to voice their opinions." The report also suggests that teachers make final exams optional "wherever possible." The exam proposal is tied in with a recommendation that teachers give numerous short quizzesduring the semester, dropping one or two of the lowest grades, to increase the student's "daily participation" and daily study. "It is a proven fact," the report says, "that students who study day by day will retain more of what they learn than students who cram for a final exam." By increasing daily participation, "students would be encouraged to spread out theirstudiesoverthe semester and hence learn more." "If a student has .done well during the entire semester, why should he have to take an exam?" the report asks. "The idea is to provide a strong incentive for daily study with the result that Loyola will turn out students who learn and remember more of what they learn." The report also recommends that the colleges and departments cooperate more, especially when the fields are closely related and instructors can "find common ground for discussion in many of their courses." As an example, the report says that "political science, economics, history, sociology, journalism, etc., are all closely related" and could increase their cooperation. Increased cooperation between the departments and colleges would "serve to integrate the college education and make it more meaningful." Additionally, the report suggests that departments institute more "open forum type courses" in which "the student and instructor would simply agree on a subject they wish to research and discuss, receive permission from the department chairman," and receive credit for the course. Also, the report suggests that each department set up a student-faculty committee which would "evaluate teachers, textbooks, courses and all academic affairs of the department which affect the student." These department committees would serve as a liaison between the department chairman and the students, the report says, as well as providing "a sounding board for the needs of the department to the administration of Loyola. "The committees would prepare reports to the department chairman and university president at least twice per semester. "If the academic atmosphere of Loyola is to be improved," the report says, "then it must be done on a course and classroom level. This committee could be invaluable if it sustains a constant search for departmental improvements on these two levels." Finally, the report urges more informality in the classroom, suggesting that "teachers and students should exert a concerted effort to get to know and communicatewitheach other—teachers by extending an invitation to every student to come into his office and hash out whatever need be; students by never hesitating to ask a teacher for help in areas where he needs it." The chairman of the academics committee, Billy Guste, said that the purpose of the report—to get students to think of ways to improve Loyola—could be fulfilled even if none of the things discussed in it were adopted, though he would like to see everything in it accomplished. However, he said that "under the present system, there is no real way to follow through"tohavethe recommendations adopted, except by individual action. Guste said copies of the report would be given to the Student Council. The Very Rev. President Homer R. Jolley, S.J.; the Rev. Thomas H. Clancy, S.J., vice-president for academic affairs; and the Rev. Bernard A. Tonnar, S.J., dean of the College of Arts and Sciences were also given copies. Father Clancy said that though he "admired the spirit of the report," he did not agree with all parts of it such as the optional finals and universal unlimited cuts. He said he would probably favor a system allowing each teacher to decide. "The proposals are for the faculty more than me," he said. He said he might send copies of the report around to various faculty members. Father Jolley said that he "was very glad that students have started digging into things like this" and said he hopes to encourage joint participation from students, faculty and administration to study questions raised in the committee report. BILLY GUSTE TANKING UP—A group of prospective Greeks live it up at a recent Beggars beer stag. The party, like those of the other social frats, are part of the current rush season for Loyola men. CFE extension may be needed By ED ANDERSON (Maroon Editor) The university's Campaign for Excellence (CFE) may have to be extended beyond its original three year timetable, since financial progress has not been what was originally expected, said a university official in a recent interview. John L. Eckholdt, vice-president for business and finance, stressed however, that this was his opinion only, and that no official word of an extension has come from campaign coordinators. He said that in major development programs, extensions are frequently granted as they are necessary to the success of the program. Don Ross, vice-president for public relationsand development, when contacted by phone for comment, said he could not comment on Eckholdt's statement at the present. CFE may have to be extended Eckholdt said that he feels the chances the CFE will meet its $11.9 million goal by December, 1969 or early 1970 are "possible, but not probable." Yet, he said that the campaign could reach its goal at any time, depending on the "cultivation and contribution of some big donors." He added, "We hope that during this final year (of the campaign) these people (potential big donors) will come through." The first phase of the CFE began in February, 1967, with a three year goal of $11.9 million. To date, the campaign total stands at a little less than $5.6 million, or slightly less than 50 per cent of the total. According to Eckholdt and Vice-President for Public Relations and Development Donald K. Ross, the campaign should have roughly 75 per cent of the total, since two-thirds of the CFE's first phase is over. Eckholdt said that, the next phase of construction the CFE has to face is the erection of the proposed new $2.4 million Law School Building. However, he said there has been no definite official date set as to when construction will begin. He added: "Loyola has applied for a Title II federal grant for graduate development for the new law school. The grant would cover 50 per cent of the construction costs, or approximately $1.2 million. We can't begin construction until we get an okay on the Title II grant. If construction begins before the grant is approved, then we will lose out on the entire amount of the grant. "The final plans have been approved since last November. The main obstacle to the start of construction on the Law School is the approval of the grant." Eckholdt said the university "is hoping for a site visit from the grant authorities sometime in the spring semester." He added that he and other CFE officials feel the grant's approval may come after the visit, sometime between the beginning of the government's new fiscal year on July 1, 1969, and Dec. 31,1969. He said that after the grant is approved, bids on Ihe job will go out to interested parties. Eckholdt said he feels that construction will start shortly thereafter and that the new building should be finished by September, 1971. Concerning construction, Eckholdt said that the newly completed Science Complex is now operational to the point where classes can be held in the building. He said that "substantial completion" of the complex will be attained "between 30 to 45 days after the January 27 completion date." He said that the building will be completely finished by the summer. The new $5.2 million building houses the chemistry, physics, math and computer science departments. Temporarily, other departments, such as sociology, modern languages and psychology, will also be located in the Science Complex. With the completion of the Science Complex, Eckholdt said, departments and offices, especially those in Marquette Hall, will be shuffled around in a ''checkerboard-typeof arrangement." He said this is due to the allocation of space in the complex. Some of the offices that will be affected by construction and relocation are: the public relations office, the vice-president for public relations and development's office, the office of the dean of the College of Art sand Sciences, the registrar's office and the admissions office. Other long range plans of the CFE include a multi-purpose liberal arts building "that will house all the departments not permanently included in the science complex," said Eckholdt. However, he said plans for this building are "just in the embryonic stage." He said that plans will also be drawn up on the proposed renovation of Bobet Hall, "between now and October." JOHN ECKHOLDT Council named to advise dean of law school Appointment of an advisory council for the Loyola University School of Law has been announced by the Very Rev. President Homer R. Jolley, S.J. The council is composed of 27 jurists and attorneys from New Orleans and other cities. Purpose of the body, according to Father Jolley, is "to provide advice and assistance to the law dean in a relationship similar to that between the Board of Regents and the President of the university." He said areas of activity will include career counseling, student relations, student and faculty recruiting, library acquisitions, scholarships, placement, and liaison with bar associations and other professional groups. "Among the council's most important functions will be that of providing another link between the law school and the community, helping the school to be attuned to social and professional needs," said the president. Loyola's law school, largest under Catholic auspices in the southeastern United States, has an enrollment of 512 students, biggest in its 55-year history. Antonio E. Papale is dean.