Maroon

              THE LOYOLA MAROON VOLUME 67, NO. 19 LOYOLA UNIVERSITY, NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA 70118 MARCH 3, 1989 Irish legislator recounts battle for gay rights By Tim Watson Staff writer In Ireland, the government files most of the lawsuits, but Irish Senator David Norris reversed that procedure when he sued his government 14 years ago to repeal laws prohibiting homosexual relations. Norris, a two-year veteran of the Irish Parliament, spoke to about 35 people last Friday at the Law School. The International Law Society and the Loyola Law School sponsored his visit. Although the Irish Supreme Court eventually ruled against Norris, the European Court of Human Rights agreed last November that laws forbidding homosexual activity between consenting adults violate the European Convention on Human Rights — created after World War II — to which Ireland is a signatory. Ireland agreed to abide by any rulings handed down by Photo by Thorn Scott Last Book Sale — Steven Waguespack, biology junior, browses through titles at the last Loyola Philosophy Club booksale Tuesday on the Danna Center porch. Loyola policy discourages competition between student organizations and university establishments — in this case, the bookstore. Fagin named new Jesuit provincial By Dan O'Byrne Staff writer The Rev. Gerald Fagin, S.J., associate professor of religious studies, will leave Loyola at the end of the spring semester to become Jesuit Provincial for the region covering the 10 states between New Mexico, Tennessee and South Carolina. The Society of Jesus appointed him to the post Feb. 24, but it has not yet made an official statement, Fagin said. Fagin is currently rector of Loyola's Jesuit community and chairman of New Orleans' Jesuit Identity Task Force. In addition to his duties as an associate professor, Fagin serves on the Board of Trustees, the board's executive committee and several other Loyola committees."I think he is a very good theologian who is also a very fine teacher and a good scholar," the Rev. Stephen Duffy, associate professor of religious studies,, said. "He certainly will be missed." "Father Fagin has been a very important person," said Dr. Daniel Sheridan, chairman of the religious studies department.Fagin's departure will leave the religious studies department without any Jesuit faculty members. The Rev. George Griener, S. J., is an assistant professor of religious studies hired temporarily under the Jesuit contingency fund, but he is not in a tenure track position, according to Sheridan. The department will probably begin a "fair and equitable search" in October, taking into consideration the university's commitment to affirmative action, Sheridan said. The department would prefer to fill the position with a Jesuit, but "when Jesuits move up, or move on, or retire, it's very hard to replace them," Sheridan said. Fagin described his new position as one of service for "encouraging and supporting the men and their ministries." As the regional superior, Fagin will SGA debates language requirement By Angela Pulido Staff writer The Student Government Association debated an Academic Affairs Committee recommendation Tuesday that business majors be required to take a foreign language.Senior congressman-at-large Owen "Chip" Curry and law president Martin Tinkler disagreed with the recommendation.The two business majors agreed that taking a foreign language should remain an option and not be m&de a requirement "If someone wants to better themselves by taking a foreign language, that is their prerogative," Tinkler said. "Foreign languages are not essential to business doctrines." Curry said only students concentrating in international business need a foreign language. "I chose Loyola's business school over others precisely because I do not have to take a foreign language," Curry said. Elizabeth Ullo, a member of the SGA academic affairs committee, said that by not taking a foreign language, students limit their opportunities and choices of work. Also supporting the recommendation was business representative Jean Travers. "Foreign languages should be required for everyone. Everything is moving toward a multi-national level, and a student who does not take a foreign language is hindering himself," said Travers, an international business major. A suggestion was made to poll all business students to find out if a majority favors a foreign language requirement.The SGA academic affairs committee must have its recommendations approved by congress and SGA president Jason Caniglia. The suggestions will then be submitted to the Rev. George F. Lundy, S J., senior vice president for academic affairs, for consideration. The committee report also recommended that "Loyola students should possess upon graduation a well-rounded education" and "In addition to a concentrated major, the individual should have alternate concentrations to fall back on." In other business Tuesday, communications sophomore Cathy Baroco and psychology sophomore Kelley Comiskey were elected to Arts and Sciences representative positions. See Norris/page 5 See Fagin/page 7 K| |B— The Maroon will not publish next week because of midterm exams. Publication will resume on Thursday, March 16.