Students return to construction

By Lizzy Hadley ehadley@my.loyno.edu

As students return to school this semester, they’re being greeted by two large construction sites.

e construction in progress includes the Chapel of St. Ignatius and the Gayle and Tom Benson Jesuit Center, and a new residence building that will sit where Mercy Hall once was.

e chapel, which Loyola began constructing in the summer of 2022, has had several delays. As this new semester begins, little progress has been made.

Simultaneously, the university announced and began the construction of the new residential hall.

University spokesperson, Rachel Hoormann, said some issues that prevented the continuation of the chapel construction included coordinating with subcontractors and procuring materials to get ahead of any supply chain issues.

As well as installing underground services like power and chilled water, and creating the frame for pouring the foundation.

Hoorman said the lack of construction workers was due to concrete having to be set.

“ is was more complicated than for other construction projects due to the circular shape. It takes time for concrete to set, so there were periods while it was setting where there was less visible activity on the site,” said Hoorman. e construction of the new residence hall does not interfere with existing projects, Hoorman said. She added that there are di erent project managers and construction rms for each project. e new residence hall will have bene ts to student life as well by o ering the opportunity to renovate older halls and provide an apartment style living while still remaining on campus, which are in high demand, she said. projects – the new residence hall

Hoormann also said that the chapel is on track to be completed in late spring of 2024, as past university interim president Justin Da ron told the Loyola community earlier this year.

Hoorman said the impact of the dorm construction will be minimal with regard to campus operations, andthat construction will primarily occur on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. but there may be some work on Saturdays.

Both of these new buildings o er chances to help bene t students' experience at Loyola, Hoorman said.

“ e chapel will become the hub for spiritual life on campus and will be an inspirational space for people of all faith traditions,” Hoormann said.

“I hope that my legacy here is that we have expanded diversity, that we have maintained inclusivity here,” he said.

Marketing and nance junior Ari Jackson was among the students who were left upset by this news.

Jackson said Perry held an important role in making her experience as a person of color at Loyola better.

“Being at Loyola, black students and multicultural students, we don’t have that many people that look like us in admin and professors that we can rely on and who relate to us just on being a minority here,” she said. “Just having [Perry’s] face and knowing that he is here for us and the students has made, in my experience, me feel more open in spaces that I take up.”

Jackson said Loyola won’t be the same for her without Perry. She began tearing up speaking about his departure.

“He really advocated for us and what we needed, especially for being a minority on campus,” she said. “He was basically an outlet for us.”

Perry said his relationship with students is something he cherishes and will bring with him to e Broad Institute.

“I’m de nitely bringing all of the things my students have given me because it’ll always remind me that Loyola is always a home for me,” he said.

Jackson said this news was even more devastating after the ring of Scott Heath, the head of the African American studies program, last semester.

See PERRY, page 3

Students return to renovated dorm halls

Over the summer, Loyola began renovating existing dorm buildings while beginning the construction of the new dorm hall where Mercy Hall once sat.

According to a post by @loyola_nola on Instagram, these renovations include repairs to the lobby and elevators in Biever, Francis, and Cabra Halls, new paint and in Biever, vertical plumbing pipers and new sinks and vanity cabinets in Buddig, improvements to shower basins and new resilient ooring in all rooms in Francis, new laundry facility and storage areas and a music practice room in Cabra, and window replacements on the 3rd and 4th oors of Founders.

e post also said all ve residence halls were pressure washed.

SSO changes for students

Loyola’s Single Sign On portal was moved over the summer, according to an email sent by Director of Client Services

Paula Saurage-Ruiz.

SSO now moved to Microsoft Single Sign On, which allows students to make groups of their most used apps for easier access, according to Saurage-Ruiz. Saurage-Ruiz said if any assistance is needed to contact support@loyno.edu.

Tuition dues extended until September

e Financial Aid o ce will be holding o on late charges until September.

On July 31st, they sent out an email saying they are aware that families are having trouble viewing their nancial aid on their accounts. 431 students have been identi ed having issues with getting the aid.

Originally, the Director of Student Financial Services Mary Musso said everything will be resolved by Aug. 9, though problems remained. On Aug. 10, Musso sent an email informing tuition dues have been extended to hold o until the rst week of September due to these issues.

Email aid@loyno.edu if you have any questions.

Dean of Libraries says goodbye

Dean of Libraries Deborah Prosser has ended her tenure at Loyola to pursue a position as Director of the Hunt Library at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, according to an email sent to faculty by university president Xavier Cole.

Dean Michael Capella will serve as the interim dean of libraries while the university begins the search for a new leader of Monroe Library, the email read.