Maroon

              The MAROON Vol. 64, No. 2 Loyola University, New Orleans, Louisiana 70118 August 30,1985 PKT supporters to face suspension By Rene Sanchez Managing Editor Any Loyola student who in any way supports the former Pi Kappa Theta fraternity on campus will be suspended for at least a semester, Vincent P. Knipfing, vice president for Student Affairs, announced Tuesday. Knipfing's suspension threat came after a series of events this past weekend at an off-campus rush party for Pi Beta Kappa, apparently a new name used by former members of PKT. PKT, or PBK, apparently came on campus to encourage freshmen students in Biever Hall to attend the party, Knipfing said. The group's "little sisters" knocked on dorm room doors and invited students to attend the party, which was only two blocks from campus on Cromwell Street, he said. "Again they're coming on campus and violating the university's sanclions,"sanclions," Knipfing said. "That's my major concern." PKT was permanently banned from campus by Knipfing in December 1984 for a "continuing record of irresponsible action." In February, The Rev. James C. Carter, S.J., university president, set a policy that threatened to deny Loyola-funded financial aid from students who in any way identified themselves with PKT, but no student's financial aid was revoked. About seven reports pertaining to three incidents at, or after, Saturday's rush party will be filed in the Office of Student Affairs, Knipfing said. Two freshmen were involved in a fight outside of the party, and other intoxicated freshmen had to be helped back to the dorms, he said. In addition, garbage cans were emptied in a dorm hall and a student was caught wearing a PKT jersey, Knipfing said. PKT had no comment on the incidents or Knipfing's response. The weekend fiasco came only three weeks after Knipfing received a letter from the president of PKT informing Student Affairs that the group would never again conduct formal actvity on campus. During the summer, Knipfing sent a letter to all students associated with PKT informing them that any further association would mean immediateimmediate suspension. After receiving the response from the PKT president, Knipfing said he considered the matter settled. "Unfortunately, their word lasted only three weeks," he said. The suspension threat was initially issued only to those students known to have been associated with PKT, and advised them to cease supporting the "goals, programs, identity and activity" of PKT on campus. But on Monday night, that policy was expanded. Knipfing held a mandatory meeting with all male freshmen living in the dorms. At that meeting, he warned students to stay away from PKT or choose to risk semester-long suspension from the university. "Any activity on this campus associated with that group or with 'PKT' or their new name which they have adopted to try to cover their identity — PBK — will be considered a "They're not going to play name switch with me every week and think the game starts over. It doesn't.'" „ . —Knipfing Snake's alive! Betty, a 75 pound burmese python from the Audubon Zoo, rests across the shoulders of Loyola Union member John Allen. Betty was on campus Aug. 23 to promote the Union's zoo cruise. —Photo by John McCusker LU withdrawal policy toughens getting out By Mary Caffrey Staff writer The new withdrawal policy approved by the Loyola Deans' Council last spring is now in effect, causing more serious academic consequences for students who drop a course late in the semester. Two major changes were announced last March in a letter from Dr. Robert A. Preston, vice president for Academic Affairs. First, both the instructor and the adviser must approve the withdrawal. Second, the Unauthorized Withdrawal grade has been discontinued and replaced with a Withdraw Failing grade. This means that students who are failing a course beyond the administrative period cannot withdraw without having an F figured into their grade point average. During the administrative period, which lasts until a week after mid-terms, a student can withdraw from a course and receive a grade of W regardless of whether they are passing or failing. "The Deans' Council wanted to make withdrawing from a course an academic procedure, not just an administrative one," said Dr. Bobs Tusa, university registrar and Dean's Council member  Tusa said that prior to the changes, a student might simply stop coming to class. If the class was large enough and the instructor did not take attendance, the student might not be missed for several weeks, Tusa said. "There were also a lot more UW grades than the university felt appropriate," she said. "When students transfered, especially to the LSU system, a Loyola UW usually became an F anyway." The Fall 1983 semester was studied by the Deans' Council prior to the policy change. During that semester 30 percent of the Arts and Sciences and Business Administration students processed some kind of withdrawal activity. Approximately one-half of these students withdrew after midterms.Tusa said the length of the administrative withdrawal period remains unchanged. "We will still give students a chance to see their mid-term grades before making their decision," she said. The period for this semester ends Oct. 23, 1985. Tusa said the registrar has made a great effort to inform students of the changes. "Blown-up copies of Dr. Preston's letter have been placed in the Deans' offices and in the registrar, and copies have been posted on blue paper and put in faculty mailboxes." See PKT/page 4