Maroon

              The MAROON Vol. 65, No. 22  Loyola University, New Orleans, Louisiana 70118  March 27,1987 Urine testing invades privacy, educators say By Alicia Clemens Assistant News Editor Urine testing school teachers for drug use will not solve children's drug problems and would be a gross invasion of personal privacy, said Dr. Philip Dynia, political science chairman. Dynia responded to Attorney General Edwin Mcese's support of urine testing by saying the testing was a "violation of the Fourth Amendment" and "degrading and insulting to teachcrs who arc subjected to the test." Meesc announced last week that the Justice Department viewed freedom from drugs as a valid condition of employment for school teachers. "Mccsc's picture of the impressionable child teetering on the fence, waiting to be swayed for good or bad by his teachcr is ridiculous," Dynia said. Although this kind of idea is typical of Mecse, Dynia said, it should not be allowed. "I have no problem with teachers being fired bccause their personal habits interfere with their jobs;' Dynia said. "I am against prosecuting teachers for something they do in the privacy of their home that has no effect on their performance at school." Massive education campaigns against drug use and celebrity sponsorship of anti-drug programs will do more help than drug testing, Dynia said. Kay Lestellc, an English teacher at Grace King High School in Metairie, agreed. "I wouldn't fight a drug-testing program," Lestcllc said, "but I feel that urine testing is a slap in the face for teachers. It would make me feel untrusted." Dancing in the sheets Otis Day and the Knights performed at the "world's largest toga party" last Friday at the TGIF in the quad in honor of Greek Week. Revelers included Missy McCook, public relations senior, and Mary Casente, advertising senior, and an Animal House fan (top left) who refused to be identified. 1 MIJ Photo by Christina Getrost Photo by Mary Degnan Photo by Mary Degnan Money woes just a rumor, union president says By Mary CafTrey Editor in Chief Rumors that the Loyola Union has no money are not true, according to the organization's president. The union is operating with about $5,000 less than originally anticipated, said Wade Marionneaux, union president. However, the union is not in debt and all events that have been contracted for the rest of the semester will be paid for, he said. Marionneaux said last year's executive board used a budget surplus to write a large purchase order to cover anticipated printing costs for this year. Later, the union decided to switch to another printing company after taking bids during the summer. The union wrote new purchase orders for services with the new company, but never cancelled the old purchase order, Marionneaux explained. He said this money was put into a special project account and he hoped it could be used for programming this semester. But Marionneaux learned recently that if the union cancelled the purchase order from last year, the money would go back to the university, not into the union's account. He said the university has a rule that any unused money from university accounts must go back to the university's general fund. As a result, all the union's remaining money for the 1986- 87 has been combined into one budget. This single budget will be used for the rest of the semester instead of the separate committee budgets that are usually used, Marionneaux said. The union typically reallocates its remaining funds at this time of year, but this year the executive board decided to create one fund, he said. "For the beginning of the year [the committee system] is necessary," Marionneaux said. "When you come down to two months left, it's not nearly as pertinent."He added that none of the union's committees are actually over budget. The Ideas and Issues Committee is still wailing for funds from the Student Government Association, and the Cinematic Arts Committee will replenish its budget from ticket sales, Marionneaux said. "Right now we're OK bccause we know what we've got," he said. University funding cuts haven't helped the union's money situation, he added. The union plays an important role in improving the retention rate, Marionneaux said, and with the university's commitment to improving retention, giving the union the money it needs is crucial. Marionneaux also said he believes union board members should receive compensation for their work. This year, the union's board has had seven departures, including three secretaries. Marionneaux pointed out that the SGA president receives a full tuition remission while the union president receives no compensation. Stephanie Quade, coordinator for program and commuter services and the union's adviser, said she wasn't sure that compensating union officers would be the best thing for the organization. "1 think it would really change the union if we started paying our officers," she said. "At this point in time, I think the volunteer model is really the way to go." Quade said the reason behind the seven departures was simply a lack of time. "Students thought they would have more time than they actually did," she said. Funding cuts have had both good and bad effects, she said. "It encouraged us to look to other organizations for funding. I think it made us a better organization," she said. But Quade added that more money is needed to fund larger programs. "We've had more success with our bigger programs," she said. She pointed out that events such as homecoming and popular movies have drawn large numbers of students. See Drug Testing/ page 7