Maroon

              MAROON Vol. 60, No. 21 Loyola University, New Orleans March 19,1982 Edwards: New Federalism may bring 'chaos' By Cynlhia Hite Maroon Copy Editor President Reagan's New Federalism will not become a reality during the lifetime of Edwin Edwards, predicted the former Louisiana governor Tuesday while speaking on "The New Federalism Proposals" at Loyola. "1 do not think it [New Federalism] is going to happen," he said, citing resistance from the states and Congress as the reasons behind his conclusion. As Edwards sees it, both rich and poor states will resist New Federalism. Poor states "don't think they can assume the burdens," and rich states "think it's going to create a bigger influx of the poor" into their state. There will also be "great opposition from members of Congress who feel this is a national problem and are concerned that the states will not handle the problem correctly," Edwards said. Reagan described New Federalism in his State of the Union address as a 10- year plan to transfer $47 billion worth of federal programs to state control with enough tax resources to keep them afloat. By 1984 the federal government plans to assume the full cost of Medicaid, while the states will foot the entire bill for welfare and food stamps with the help of grants from a federally funded "grass-roots trust fund," according to Reagan. Edwards said New Federalism would adversely affect students who rely on federal grants. "In increased numbers, young people who depend on that kind of stipend to get through college are going to have to drop out. It has in my judgment one of the most serious long-range consequences." Edwards finds that Reagan's proposals have "some serious deficiencies as far as the state of Louisiana is concerned." He assessed this state as relatively wealthy when compared to Arkansas and Mississippi and having a more liberal attitude to the poor than Texas, which Edwards said "has a more conservative approach to that phase of government." Edwards anticipates a surge of people coming into the state from three sides "seeking the better benefits that undeniably will be available in Louisiana." He noted that Louisiana is now suffering from the highest unemployment this state has known since World War II with 200,000 out of work. "Fourteen thousand people lost their jobs in the last 30 days," he said. "I'm for the idea of federalism," Edwards affirmed. "1 continually believe that states generally can handle their problems better than the national government can at more reasonable cost." But Edwards said serious studies must be made before shifting programs from the federal government to the states or the result will be "utter chaos." Edwards also talked about the 1983 gubernatorial election. "My interest in life is to serve as governor, and I would like to be the first person ever elected to governor three times in a state. It's kind of a goal for me." Edwards said jokingly his previous goal was to be the first Cajun Catholic elected governor. Edwards' speech was a part of the Brendon F. Brown Memorial Lecture Series and was sponsored by the Student Bar Association. Edwin Edwards —Photo by Cynthia Hite Priest says inmates are 'fine guys and gals9 Last in a three-part series By Karen Schroeter Maroon Assistant News Editor When most people , think of prisoners, their minds fill with images of Humphrey Bogart, Edward G. Robinson, and James Cagney playing tough, cold, cruel people. Many also believe that all prisoners are like that. "They are human beings in a very painful situation," the Rev. John Payne, S.J., said about the prisoners of St. Bernard Parish Prison. "The inmates in prison are really fine guys and gals," the Rev. Hilton Rivett, S.J., director of Archdiocesan Prison Apost'olate, said. He added, "but they have not had the breaks." Masses in the prisons are not the structured affairs performed in Holy Name Church on Sundays. The Rev. Thomas Clancy, S.J., chaplain at the Community Correctional Center, celebrates a "special prison liturgy . . . It's a longer service, with more singing," Clancy said. "They like to hear the popular kind of religion. They need self-esteem, to hear that God loves them." The music is one of the most important parts of the services in the prisons. "They love to sing, have a good time in church," Clancy said. "It's a very joyful congregation." The Rev. Kenneth Buddendorf, S.J., and the Rev. Thomas Mulcrone, S.J., also celebrate the Mass in New Orleans prisons. While some would be afraid to go to the prisons, the Jesuits are not. The prisoners can sense if a person is there to help them or if the person is simply going to be "smug, self righteous," Payne said. "Let them see a link — that they are not freaks, which is an image they can have of themselves locked up." The problems with the prisons then are not the people inside the buildings but the buildings an'd their running. The Rev. Anthony Fromhart, S.J., now with Campus Ministry, is the former main chaplain for Jefferson Correctional Center. During the three years he worked at the correctional center, Fromhart learned about the many problems and shortages of the prison. There was only one psychiatrist who "worked two-and-a-half days per week, no counselors, and one really fine lady who was a social worker there for a year, until her grant ran out," Fromhart said. "Security is the main emphasis. "There must be something wrong but it continues," Fromhart said. "There's something in man that wants it to continue." He noted that 75 percent of those who go to prison will return. "It seems to me that all of the problems of society funnel into prison. What is there, is poverty, mental problems, instability, retardation," Fromhart said. "The injustice of the system is the poorer the person, usually the longer the stay. If you know someone, you may not even have to go; money still talks very loudly." The big problem for the prisoners is LU plans new loan program for fall By Karen Schroeter Maroon Assistant News Editor Loyola University has developed a unique loan program for students cut off by the Reagan student loan cuts. The loan, which will be available for the 1982 fall semester, will offer a 14 percent interest rate with no collateral, no pre-payment penalty, no origination fee, and no need for an established credit rating, according to University Relations. It will be available to all students, regardless of income. "People who qualify for workstudy and grants will still get them," said Dr. E. P. Seybold, director of Scholarships and Financial Aid. "It's not intended to take the place of someone's grant. If you lose $300 from your grant, you won't be able to come and borrow that amount from the program." The program was designed for the students who have "intellectual need" but who have been cut from the student loan program. The students who will benefit from the new loan plan are those being dropped from the Guaranteed Student Loan program by the Reagan budget cuts. Loyola is also increasing its budgeted scholarship aid from $1.45 million to more than $2 million to meet the demands of students on grants and workstudy affected by the federal cuts, according to University Relations. Loyola started working on the program during the summer with the Bank of New Orleans Student Loans office. Loyola will pay the portion of interest not charged to the borrower. A student who wishes to apply for this loan can borrow as much as $16,000 for the four years he spends in college. During the foui years that student would start to pay back the loan with low monthly payments of between $50 and $200. The loans are renewable at the same interest rate. Each year the interest rate will be adjusted for the new applicants depending upon the current prime interest rate but will not be the same amount as the prime rate. See Inmates/page 2