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Faculty and staff embark on silent retreat
“For a greater Loyola”
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Vol.91, No.12
Friday, January 18, 2013
Loyola makes budget resolutions By HASANI GRAYSON Senior Staff Writer
Following a meeting by the university’s board of trustees, Loyola plans to raise the cost of tuition and housing to help balance the budget for the next academic year. For the 2013-14 academic year, room and board will increase 4.8 percent, tuition will increase 4.9 percent and there will be no increase in salary for professors. University president the Rev. Kevin Wildes, S.J.,said that the overall economic climate factored into Loyola’s decision “As we all know, we are in an economically challenged time across the nation,” he said in an email to university staff on Dec. 7. “Those challenges have had a palpable impact on both Loyola and on budgets of colleges and universities nationwide.” Wildes further explained that lower than expected enrollment numbers were taken into consideration when planning next year’s budget. Loyola was not able to attain the freshman enrollment numbers it had projected and experienced a dip in their sophomore retention rate. “The realities have resulted in a shortfall of around $7 million in our projected budget for 20132014,” Wildes said. The approved budget for the upcoming year is based upon a
projected freshman enrollment of 875 first year students, 130 transfer students and a sophomore retention rate of 75 percent. Wildes said these projected enrollment numbers are conservative and that the university should be able to achieve them. With the budgetary concerns affecting faculty members as well, Wildes acknowledged in his email that these circumstances were not ideal. But, he did say the budget for next year would see an increase in one important area. “I do want to note that thebudget does have built into it increases in other forms of faculty/ staff compensation, including a university contribution of approximating $230,000 in health care coverage,” he said. Though the university is having financial difficulties, Wildes concluded his email by thanking the staff for their understanding and said he’s ready to help overcome the difficulty of the situation. “I look forward to working together on these challenges moving forward,” he said. “I am confident that we will be able to meet these challenges as we have done in the past.”
Convocation focuses on higher education issues
BALANCING THE BUDGET
for the 2013 - 2014 academic year
THE ENROLLMENT NUMBERS
875 first year students 130 transfer students 75% sophomore retention
By ERIC KNOEPFLER Campus Editor
THE CHANGES
+4.9% on TUITION +4.8% on ROOM BOARD and
+ 0% on Professors’ SALARIES
Hasani Grayson can be reached at hkgrayso@loyno.edu
GRAPHIC BY SUSANA ARAMBURU/ STAFF DESIGNER
Gun rights change at state level By LESLIE GAMBONI City Editor As a result of voters’ support, Amendment Two has been passed in Louisiana resulting in extended protections on gun rights. The passing of Amendment Two protects gun rights by requiring “strict scrutiny” on any restriction relating to Louisiana citizens’ ability to the use and their ownership of guns that may be proposed. Tommy Screen, director of governmental relations for Loyola, worked with lobbyists to try to defeat the bill leading up to the vote. Loyola University did not support the bill. “The current bill wasn’t aimed at higher education, it was a broader attack on gun restrictions in the state. However, with this amendment there isn’t certainty in what a judge would decide,” Screen said. According to Screen, if the amendment were to be used to
CITY
challenge the restriction of guns on college campuses in Louisiana,
“
However, with this amendment there isn’t certainty in what a judge would decide Tommy Screen
director of governmental relations
the decision would be left to a judge. “Why give a judge the opportunity to allow guns on campus?” Screen said. Like Loyola, Tulane opposed the passing of the bill, Michael Strecker, director of public relations at Tulane University said.
page 4 LIFE & TIMES
Super Bowl will bring millions to city
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Apocalypse theory debunked
“Like our public counterparts, we remain concerned that the amendment now makes it easier for lawsuits that could weaken our ability to prohibit concealed weapons on our campuses and might increase the possibility of more violence on campus,” Strecker said. M. Isabel Medina, professor of law at Loyola, spoke out against Amendment Two before it was upheld. Medina said she opposed the amendment because the Louisiana Constitution already had strict protection for a person’s right to bear arms. “The previous constitutional provision recognized, however, that reasonable regulation of weapons might be necessary to protect the community and, thus, it allowed for banning of concealed weapons,” Medina said. “This provision was particularly important to allow the legislature to ban concealed weapons in certain sensitive buildings like courthouses, hospitals and
EDITORIAL
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The threat to private rights is significant...
schools.” Additionally, Medina said she felt Amendment Two was “not necessary” because the U.S. Constitution protects a citizen’s right to bear arms. Screen said he does not believe that any challenges will be made to the gun policies of private university campuses, although he recognizes that there is always a possibility. “There are only 10 private colleges in the state. A legislator is not going to likely risk his political capital to affect a small number,” Screen said. According to Captain Roger Pinac of university police, only a commissioned law enforcement officer may posses a gun or weapon on a university campus. “First and foremost, as a private land owner we have the right to have our own policy on our campus,” Screen said. Leslie Gamboni can be reached at legambon@loyno.edu
INDEX Crime Watch City Sports Life & Times Puzzles Religion Editorial Opinion
University President the Rev. Kevin Wildes, S.J., addressed faculty and staff about the importance of a Jesuit education in a technologically advanced world and presented the Dux Academicus award at the President’s Convocation on Jan. 11. The annual President’s Convocation serves as an opportunity to award faculty and staff various honors and grants for their service to the Loyola community. Along with these distinctions, Wildes spoke on issues facing the university. Among the awards given were those honoring faculty members who have reached 25 years in service at Loyola. This year, seven faculty members were recognized. Recipients were awarded a gift of their choice, with a few requesting money be donated elsewhere. Marquette Fellowships were awarded to nine faculty members. Marquette Fellowships are awarded to faculty selected by Wildes and Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Marc Manganaro. Recipients were awarded stipends of $9,500 to support full-time research or creative work relative to their field over the summer. Ignatian Fellowships and University Senate awards were given out before the main honor of the night, the Dux Academicus Award. The award recognizes a faculty member who demonstrates the ability to impart the knowledge and wisdom of the liberal arts and sciences or the professions to students in a manner consistent with the distinctive philosophy of Loyola as a Jesuit university. This year’s Dux Academicus was awarded to Patricia Dorn, Ph.D. of biological sciences. “Known as an innovative teacher with a commitment to learning about and developing new approaches to learning has led her to be an active participant in interacting with other educators on campus,” Manganaro said. Many of Dorn’s students
see WILDES, page 11
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