While Americans and Loyola students prepared to cast their votes in Tuesday's election, the College Republicans were getting ready for a visit from David Horowitz, a well-known conservative speaker, author and civil rights activist.
Horowitz will be speaking in Mundelein Center auditorium on Thursday, Nov. 9. He is an advocate of the concept of academic freedom, and he has proposed that universities nationwide adopt the Student Bill of Rights. This bill (as posted on www.studentsforacademicfreedom.org) states that "The freedom to teach and to learn depend[s] upon the creation of appropriate condition and opportunities on the campus. This means that no political, ideological or religious orthodoxy should be imposed on professor, researcher or student through the hiring, tenure or termination or through the grading system or through the control of the classroom or any other administrative means."
Horowitz began this movement in spring 2003 with the formation of Students for Academic Freedom (SAF). SAF was formed to "stand up for the rights of students to get a professional education and to be free from political harassment in university classrooms," according the Web site. There are currently 182 SAF chapters across the country.
"America has world-class universities in the areas of medical, engineering and the like, but if you look at liberal arts education it's appalling," Horowitz said. "They are less intellectually free and large parts of the curricula are appalling from the point of view of academic standards."
Horowitz pointed out that an exception should be made because Loyola is a Jesuit Catholic university where students know they will be taught Catholic doctrine. In areas like women's studies, black world studies and peace studies, he finds the teachings to be indoctrinations.
"No course is academic if the texts are entirely one-sided," Horowitz said. "In a women's studies program they teach left-wing propaganda because they don't teach non-feminist or conservative feminist point of views. Women's studies is a legitimate study that should be studied from all angles, but you're learning the propaganda of one side under the pretense that it's academic."
Another example Horowitz spoke about was social justice, a concept that is commonly addressed at Loyola.
"Social justice is a left-wing idea," Horowitz said. "For example, the distribution of income in society is unjust. That's a controversial issue. It is legitimate to study it, but if you're promoting social justice you're promoting socialism because that's what social justice is."
"A lot of students are apprehensive to admit they're conservative because they're afraid they'll be ostracized in their classes by professors or students," senior Lazslo Varju, president of the College Republicans, said. "A lot of professors bring their own political viewpoints into the classroom."
Horowitz's campus visit and $5,000 speaking honorarium was facilitated by the College Republicans with help from the Young America's Foundation and the Student Activities Fund.
"I hope [Horowitz's] speech will inspire conservative students to stand up for what they believe in," Varju said. "I also hope the message sticks with everybody, liberal and conservative, that academic freedom is the free exchange of ideas that should be happening at a university."
Horowitz said he draws on his undergraduate college experiences in the late 1950s at Columbia University as a model for academic freedom.
"I was a Marxist and my teachers would have been anti-communist I presume, but it never came into the classroom," Horowitz said. "I was never harassed because of my beliefs."
There are dissenting opinions, however, on the issue of whether or not professors should bring their political opinions into classrooms.
"Politics are a part of life. Professors have personal experiences and knowledge that contribute to their opinions," sophomore Mark Arnold said. "They should be able to talk about that. At this age, students are trying to find themselves and professors play a role in that by saying, 'You can make up your own mind, but here's what I think and why.'"
In a study of 32 elite universities done by the Center for Study of Popular Culture, the Democrat to Republican ratio of professors was found to be 10:1. Though Horowitz said he sees the issue of academic freedom as a nonpartisan one, he did say that liberal students suffer the most because they are not challenged by their professors.
"The conservative kids are challenged all the time," Horowitz said. "They know if they open their mouths to say what they think they have to be able to defend themselves."
Horowitz's latest book, "The Professors: The 101 Most Dangerous Academics in America," argues that left-wing radicals dominate the field of higher education and these professors advocate their own political biases in the classroom.
"On the whole there are more people on the left in academics than in any other profession," philosophy professor Hugh Miller said. "I don't believe you can infer that professors are teaching political preferences though."
A statement on the American Association of University Professors' Web site says, "The AAUP has sharply criticized the so-called Academic Bill of Rights as unnecessary and almost certain to compromise academic freedom rather than defend it."
However, the College Republicans are hoping to shed more light on an issue that they feel greatly affects the more than 375 members of their Facebook group as conservative students at Loyola.
"It's important for Mr. Horowitz to speak here so that students can see that there is more than one perspective," sophomore Justine Perry, secretary of the College Republicans, said. "I hope professors come so they can wake up and see how they are because a lot of conservative students are afraid to speak up in class."
Horowitz will be discussing the issue of academic freedom beginning at 7 p.m. in Mundelein Center auditorium. This event will be free to all students and faculty with a Loyola ID.
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Indebted students testify at the Department of State hearings 10/18/06
Shortly after finishing several years of college and receiving that hard-earned diploma, a bill arrives. It's time to start putting your college education to work by forking over the cash to pay back your student loans. On Thursday, Oct. 5, students had a chance to testify about the hardships of student debt in front of officials from the United States Department of Education.
The Department of Education was represented by a panel in response to a report given by the commission on the future of higher education. The department's secretary, Margaret Spelling, formed the commission to develop a strategy to address the nation's postsecondary education needs. The field hearing entitled "Negotiated Rulemaking Process," was held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Rubloff Auditorium at 25 E. Pearson on Loyola's Water Tower campus.
Financial aid administrators, lenders, students, student advocates and representatives from both private and public colleges attended the event to testify about student loan issues. In addition to the Chicago events, similar hearings will occur or have already occurred in Berkeley, Cal; Orlando, Fla; and Washington, D.C.
"Our goal is to have student input," University of Illinois-Chicago student Trevor Montgomery said. "We want to raise the student debt issue by giving personal stories of how this is affecting lives."
Montgomery helped to organize the student representation at the event, as president of the Student Lobbying Association at UIC and a senior facing $15,000 in loan debt. He wanted to show the Department of Education officials that students do know and care about what is happening with student loans on the federal level. The United States Student Association or USSA also worked to bring students from the Midwest area to Chicago to testify.
"Four hundred thousand people turn away from higher education every year because of the cost," USSA representative Jessica Pierce said.
The USSA and students providing testimony urged the panel to consider a five-point plan. This plan was developed by students and members of the lending industry in a unique coalition. The plan addresses limiting student loan repayment based on income, taking family size into account in loan repayment plans, canceling student debt after 20 years of good faith payment, suspending interest on loans during times of economic hardship and simplifying the process to apply for the economic hardship program.
Though not many students were aware of the Department of Education's presence on Water Tower campus that day, Loyola was represented by two members of the United Student Government.
USG president, senior Atheni Asihel, and college of arts and sciences representative, junior Grace Serino, were among the nearly twenty students who testifed before the department officials.
Seino and Asihel told their own personal stories and encouraged the panel to adopt the five-point plan to help students manage their debt after graduation.
"We wanted to try to show the Department of Education the student side of the issue to make them understand what a huge problem student debt is," biology major Serino said.
Serino plans to attend medical school after she graduates from Loyola. She will have to take out even more loans to pay for her continuing education adding to the $40,000 she has already borrowed to pay for her undergraduate degree.
The theme for students at the event was S.O.S., or Save Our Students. A group of enthusiastic students from Minnesota, Illinois, Wisconsin and Missouri posed for pictures before the press conference, advocating that paying back student loan debt is no day at the beach. The students sported the USSA's bright red shirts that proclaimed, "I'm drowning in student debt!" and urged the Department of Education to "Save Me Now!" The group signed inflatable beach toys and floatation devices that will travel across the country with the USSA representatives.
According to Chris Lindstrom, who is part of the Student Public Interest Research Group Higher Education Project, ultimately the findings from these hearings will be reported back to the Department of Education. The panel will make a recommendation about whether or not another committee will be formed to analyze student loan issues and recommend an internal solution to the department. The USSA hopes that the department will adopt the proposed five point plan to ease the burden of student loan debt.
"Students need to afford loans now more than ever," Montgomery said. "[Department of Education] needs to increase grant aid, make loans more affordable and they need to recognize that higher education is a right that everyone should have."
The Department of Education was represented by a panel in response to a report given by the commission on the future of higher education. The department's secretary, Margaret Spelling, formed the commission to develop a strategy to address the nation's postsecondary education needs. The field hearing entitled "Negotiated Rulemaking Process," was held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Rubloff Auditorium at 25 E. Pearson on Loyola's Water Tower campus.
Financial aid administrators, lenders, students, student advocates and representatives from both private and public colleges attended the event to testify about student loan issues. In addition to the Chicago events, similar hearings will occur or have already occurred in Berkeley, Cal; Orlando, Fla; and Washington, D.C.
"Our goal is to have student input," University of Illinois-Chicago student Trevor Montgomery said. "We want to raise the student debt issue by giving personal stories of how this is affecting lives."
Montgomery helped to organize the student representation at the event, as president of the Student Lobbying Association at UIC and a senior facing $15,000 in loan debt. He wanted to show the Department of Education officials that students do know and care about what is happening with student loans on the federal level. The United States Student Association or USSA also worked to bring students from the Midwest area to Chicago to testify.
"Four hundred thousand people turn away from higher education every year because of the cost," USSA representative Jessica Pierce said.
The USSA and students providing testimony urged the panel to consider a five-point plan. This plan was developed by students and members of the lending industry in a unique coalition. The plan addresses limiting student loan repayment based on income, taking family size into account in loan repayment plans, canceling student debt after 20 years of good faith payment, suspending interest on loans during times of economic hardship and simplifying the process to apply for the economic hardship program.
Though not many students were aware of the Department of Education's presence on Water Tower campus that day, Loyola was represented by two members of the United Student Government.
USG president, senior Atheni Asihel, and college of arts and sciences representative, junior Grace Serino, were among the nearly twenty students who testifed before the department officials.
Seino and Asihel told their own personal stories and encouraged the panel to adopt the five-point plan to help students manage their debt after graduation.
"We wanted to try to show the Department of Education the student side of the issue to make them understand what a huge problem student debt is," biology major Serino said.
Serino plans to attend medical school after she graduates from Loyola. She will have to take out even more loans to pay for her continuing education adding to the $40,000 she has already borrowed to pay for her undergraduate degree.
The theme for students at the event was S.O.S., or Save Our Students. A group of enthusiastic students from Minnesota, Illinois, Wisconsin and Missouri posed for pictures before the press conference, advocating that paying back student loan debt is no day at the beach. The students sported the USSA's bright red shirts that proclaimed, "I'm drowning in student debt!" and urged the Department of Education to "Save Me Now!" The group signed inflatable beach toys and floatation devices that will travel across the country with the USSA representatives.
According to Chris Lindstrom, who is part of the Student Public Interest Research Group Higher Education Project, ultimately the findings from these hearings will be reported back to the Department of Education. The panel will make a recommendation about whether or not another committee will be formed to analyze student loan issues and recommend an internal solution to the department. The USSA hopes that the department will adopt the proposed five point plan to ease the burden of student loan debt.
"Students need to afford loans now more than ever," Montgomery said. "[Department of Education] needs to increase grant aid, make loans more affordable and they need to recognize that higher education is a right that everyone should have."
Shoddy shuttles? 9/27/06
Freshman Alex Gerage weighs his chances of getting on the next shuttle as he waits toward the end of a line that spans the length of the building at 25 E. Pearson on Loyola's Water Tower campus.
"There's times in the day when it can get overcrowded," Gerage said. "The worst part is not being able to get on to the first shuttle."
Loyola provides shuttle buses for students traveling between the Lake Shore and Water Tower campuses. Changes have been made recently to the shuttle schedules to accommodate the students living in Baumhart Hall, the new residence hall on Water Tower campus, as well as the rest of the student population that utilizes the service. While students appreciate and frequently make use of the shuttles, there are still concerns over whether or not the shuttle could still be improved to serve student needs.
"I love the shuttle," sophomore Mary Murray, a Baumhart resident, said. "It's only Loyola people, it's always safe and it's nonstop."
Murray said the time she saves by taking the shuttle allows her to get more sleep, an accomplishment that most college students can relate to.
Each student has his or her own preference when it comes to transportation between Loyola's two campuses. A distaste for public transportation is a reason many students use the shuttle service.
"I would much rather wait in line for the shuttle than take the el," senior Kristen Cucklick, who works and attends classes downtown, said.
With the new developments of the Water Tower campus, the transportation department, which is a part of business services, re-evaluated the services provided by Royal American Charter Lines. Loyola outsources its transportation needs to Royal American. The decision was made to extend the hours of service in the morning starting with a 7 a.m. shuttle leaving the downtown campus and ending with two midnight shuttles leaving both campuses.
"The changes were made for students who may have night class on either campus, who are studying with friends at the libraries or playing intramurals," Rev. Richard Salmi, S.J., vice president of student affairs, said.
But with ever-expanding lines and waiting times, some students feel that more changes could be made.
"Every 15 to 20 minutes is good, but that doesn't cut it for a line of 100 people," sophomore Alex Polk said. "They could run more frequently during rush periods like when classes are letting out."
"Sometimes the shuttles are way off the clock," sophomore Maria Bazo said.
Drivers are capable of changing the clocks via cell phone from the road. This control is in place to accommodate traffic jams and weather conditions, which inevitably create delays for the shuttle buses. Unfortunately, drivers do not always utilize this function to keep students up-to-date.
About $400,000 from the Student Activities Fund is spent per semester for the shuttles. The money for this fund comes from a $560 student fee, which is applied to each student's account. Therefore, students directly pay for the cost of the shuttle. So where can students turn to voice their concerns about the service that their money funds?
There is a feedback section on the transportation Web site. Currently, there is no feedback option for the shuttle service. Additionally, the surveys are closed for the sections pertaining to van rental, 8-RIDE and shuttle bus rentals, all services that are provided by Royal American. Tim Mcguriman, associate vice president of business services, promised to address this problem through Royal American. Students may also phone in to business services if they have difficulties.
Students are also encouraged to voice their concerns to United Student Government.
"Students can always e-mail me at swells3@luc.edu or give me a call," senior Steve Wells, USG's vice president of student affairs for the Water Tower campus, said. Wells has set up a subcommittee which will address student concerns about the shuttles. The committee plans to look at Loyola's contract with Royal American to figure out what changes can be made to better accommodate students.
"The only way to get the shuttles running more frequently is to either increase student activities fees or reallocate the money," Wells said.
Salmi and Laura Bulgarelli, the manager of business services, both emphasized student input regarding suggested changes in the shuttle service are always welcome. Changes must be practical and feasible considering the money allocated from the Student Activities Fund.
"The fund does not make it possible for the shuttle to be the primary source of transportation for students," Bulgarelli said. "People need to keep in mind that we have expanded services. It's not that we are ignoring demand, but students need to develop their own transportation plans accordingly."
While the shuttle's non-stop trip between campuses is helpful, students, USG and the administration are working to improve shuttle services. Until more adjustments are made or more funds are allocated, students will just have to weigh their chances, much like Gerage, who happened make it onto the first shuttle that day.
"There's times in the day when it can get overcrowded," Gerage said. "The worst part is not being able to get on to the first shuttle."
Loyola provides shuttle buses for students traveling between the Lake Shore and Water Tower campuses. Changes have been made recently to the shuttle schedules to accommodate the students living in Baumhart Hall, the new residence hall on Water Tower campus, as well as the rest of the student population that utilizes the service. While students appreciate and frequently make use of the shuttles, there are still concerns over whether or not the shuttle could still be improved to serve student needs.
"I love the shuttle," sophomore Mary Murray, a Baumhart resident, said. "It's only Loyola people, it's always safe and it's nonstop."
Murray said the time she saves by taking the shuttle allows her to get more sleep, an accomplishment that most college students can relate to.
Each student has his or her own preference when it comes to transportation between Loyola's two campuses. A distaste for public transportation is a reason many students use the shuttle service.
"I would much rather wait in line for the shuttle than take the el," senior Kristen Cucklick, who works and attends classes downtown, said.
With the new developments of the Water Tower campus, the transportation department, which is a part of business services, re-evaluated the services provided by Royal American Charter Lines. Loyola outsources its transportation needs to Royal American. The decision was made to extend the hours of service in the morning starting with a 7 a.m. shuttle leaving the downtown campus and ending with two midnight shuttles leaving both campuses.
"The changes were made for students who may have night class on either campus, who are studying with friends at the libraries or playing intramurals," Rev. Richard Salmi, S.J., vice president of student affairs, said.
But with ever-expanding lines and waiting times, some students feel that more changes could be made.
"Every 15 to 20 minutes is good, but that doesn't cut it for a line of 100 people," sophomore Alex Polk said. "They could run more frequently during rush periods like when classes are letting out."
"Sometimes the shuttles are way off the clock," sophomore Maria Bazo said.
Drivers are capable of changing the clocks via cell phone from the road. This control is in place to accommodate traffic jams and weather conditions, which inevitably create delays for the shuttle buses. Unfortunately, drivers do not always utilize this function to keep students up-to-date.
About $400,000 from the Student Activities Fund is spent per semester for the shuttles. The money for this fund comes from a $560 student fee, which is applied to each student's account. Therefore, students directly pay for the cost of the shuttle. So where can students turn to voice their concerns about the service that their money funds?
There is a feedback section on the transportation Web site. Currently, there is no feedback option for the shuttle service. Additionally, the surveys are closed for the sections pertaining to van rental, 8-RIDE and shuttle bus rentals, all services that are provided by Royal American. Tim Mcguriman, associate vice president of business services, promised to address this problem through Royal American. Students may also phone in to business services if they have difficulties.
Students are also encouraged to voice their concerns to United Student Government.
"Students can always e-mail me at swells3@luc.edu or give me a call," senior Steve Wells, USG's vice president of student affairs for the Water Tower campus, said. Wells has set up a subcommittee which will address student concerns about the shuttles. The committee plans to look at Loyola's contract with Royal American to figure out what changes can be made to better accommodate students.
"The only way to get the shuttles running more frequently is to either increase student activities fees or reallocate the money," Wells said.
Salmi and Laura Bulgarelli, the manager of business services, both emphasized student input regarding suggested changes in the shuttle service are always welcome. Changes must be practical and feasible considering the money allocated from the Student Activities Fund.
"The fund does not make it possible for the shuttle to be the primary source of transportation for students," Bulgarelli said. "People need to keep in mind that we have expanded services. It's not that we are ignoring demand, but students need to develop their own transportation plans accordingly."
While the shuttle's non-stop trip between campuses is helpful, students, USG and the administration are working to improve shuttle services. Until more adjustments are made or more funds are allocated, students will just have to weigh their chances, much like Gerage, who happened make it onto the first shuttle that day.
Sexual education group receives official status 9/20/06
Students searching for more resources regarding their reproductive health now have a place to turn.
At the end of the school year, College Advocates of Reproductive Education (CARE) was granted the status of an official university organization. The group, which unofficially began in the spring of 2005, has been attempting to gain university recognition since January of 2006. This status was granted after the group's mission statement was approved by Dean of Students Jane Neufeld and Student Life Director Clifford Golz.
"By having official group status, it gives more clout and credence to the idea that yes, students here are concerned about these issues," junior member Greg Stuart said. Now CARE is able to pass out fliers, receive university funding and set up tables on campus.
Before gaining this status, CARE initiated a lot of debate on campus by handing out more than 300 latex condoms under the Loyola el stop last October.
CARE was originally denied its official status because of the group's past affiliation with Planned Parenthood, a national women's health clinic that provides resources and information on reproductive an d sexual health. As an off-campus group, CARE had worked with Planned Parenthood in educating Loyola students about being sexually active. Planned Parenthood's position on birth control and abortion goes against the teachings of the Catholic Church. CARE has ended the affiliation and now holds no position on the issue of abortion and will not focus on birth control issues or contraception on campus.
"We have actually been working very closely with the administration and we're getting great support," junior Katie Kramer, CARE president, said.
The group's constitution and mission statement were written with the help of the retired director of the Gannon Center for Women and Leadership, Sister Carolyn Farrell. Sister Farrell, Kramer and senior Christine Olin, CARE's vice president, worked to make sure everything the group proposed was in line with the teachings of the Catholic Church.
Their mission statement asserts that their goal as an organization is "to work with the health center to provide students with the information necessary for personal reproductive health." CARE also aims to "educate and engage the Loyola community in a dialogue about issues regarding reproductive health."
Regarding the university's decision about CARE and its plans for STI/HIV education at Loyola, Vice President of Student Affairs Rev. Richard J. Salmi, S.J. said, "I think we would be remiss if we didn't educate students about what the psychological and emotional consequences are if one chooses to be sexually active."
Like all emerging organizations, CARE is on probationary status. Kramer and Olin are working very closely with Neufeld and Salmi to make sure all of CARE's planned activities and statements are in compliance with the rules set forth for student organizations by Loyola as a Jesuit Catholic university.
"While we do respect and recognize that this is a Catholic university which abides by the teaching of the Catholic Church, we also recognize that many students either don't agree with or abide by that. We are here to fill in the gaps in information, resources and education," Olin said.
The organization plans to accomplish a lot in its first year as an official organization. The main goal is to work with the Wellness Center to improve the STI and HIV testing provided at the Doyle Center on campus by making the testing more frequent to meet the demand of Loyola students. The organization also plans to inform students of other resources offered by the Wellness Center such as pregnancy tests and unbiased, nonjudgmental counseling for students who have been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection or HIV. There are also plans in the works to cooperate with other student organizations such as the Feminist Forum, the Sexual Assault Awareness Group, and the Pro-Life University Students to combine resources and organize volunteer activities for members.
CARE has already started benefiting from its new official status. The organization had 90 official members at the start of the new academic year. At the organization fair, 115 students signed up to receive e-mails regarding CARE's meetings this year.
"It's really satisfying to know that we're finally being heard and being given a voice and an opportunity," Kramer said.
The next meeting for the organization will be in the basement of Centennial Forum Student Union Wednesday, Sept. 20 at 7 p.m. If you are interested in CARE, all are welcome to attend or you can e-mail to President Katie Kramer at kkrame3@luc.edu or Vice President Christine Olin at colin@luc.edu.
At the end of the school year, College Advocates of Reproductive Education (CARE) was granted the status of an official university organization. The group, which unofficially began in the spring of 2005, has been attempting to gain university recognition since January of 2006. This status was granted after the group's mission statement was approved by Dean of Students Jane Neufeld and Student Life Director Clifford Golz.
"By having official group status, it gives more clout and credence to the idea that yes, students here are concerned about these issues," junior member Greg Stuart said. Now CARE is able to pass out fliers, receive university funding and set up tables on campus.
Before gaining this status, CARE initiated a lot of debate on campus by handing out more than 300 latex condoms under the Loyola el stop last October.
CARE was originally denied its official status because of the group's past affiliation with Planned Parenthood, a national women's health clinic that provides resources and information on reproductive an d sexual health. As an off-campus group, CARE had worked with Planned Parenthood in educating Loyola students about being sexually active. Planned Parenthood's position on birth control and abortion goes against the teachings of the Catholic Church. CARE has ended the affiliation and now holds no position on the issue of abortion and will not focus on birth control issues or contraception on campus.
"We have actually been working very closely with the administration and we're getting great support," junior Katie Kramer, CARE president, said.
The group's constitution and mission statement were written with the help of the retired director of the Gannon Center for Women and Leadership, Sister Carolyn Farrell. Sister Farrell, Kramer and senior Christine Olin, CARE's vice president, worked to make sure everything the group proposed was in line with the teachings of the Catholic Church.
Their mission statement asserts that their goal as an organization is "to work with the health center to provide students with the information necessary for personal reproductive health." CARE also aims to "educate and engage the Loyola community in a dialogue about issues regarding reproductive health."
Regarding the university's decision about CARE and its plans for STI/HIV education at Loyola, Vice President of Student Affairs Rev. Richard J. Salmi, S.J. said, "I think we would be remiss if we didn't educate students about what the psychological and emotional consequences are if one chooses to be sexually active."
Like all emerging organizations, CARE is on probationary status. Kramer and Olin are working very closely with Neufeld and Salmi to make sure all of CARE's planned activities and statements are in compliance with the rules set forth for student organizations by Loyola as a Jesuit Catholic university.
"While we do respect and recognize that this is a Catholic university which abides by the teaching of the Catholic Church, we also recognize that many students either don't agree with or abide by that. We are here to fill in the gaps in information, resources and education," Olin said.
The organization plans to accomplish a lot in its first year as an official organization. The main goal is to work with the Wellness Center to improve the STI and HIV testing provided at the Doyle Center on campus by making the testing more frequent to meet the demand of Loyola students. The organization also plans to inform students of other resources offered by the Wellness Center such as pregnancy tests and unbiased, nonjudgmental counseling for students who have been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection or HIV. There are also plans in the works to cooperate with other student organizations such as the Feminist Forum, the Sexual Assault Awareness Group, and the Pro-Life University Students to combine resources and organize volunteer activities for members.
CARE has already started benefiting from its new official status. The organization had 90 official members at the start of the new academic year. At the organization fair, 115 students signed up to receive e-mails regarding CARE's meetings this year.
"It's really satisfying to know that we're finally being heard and being given a voice and an opportunity," Kramer said.
The next meeting for the organization will be in the basement of Centennial Forum Student Union Wednesday, Sept. 20 at 7 p.m. If you are interested in CARE, all are welcome to attend or you can e-mail to President Katie Kramer at kkrame3@luc.edu or Vice President Christine Olin at colin@luc.edu.
Rest in Peace, Mate 9/13/06
In Loving Memory of Steve Irwin
Steve Irwin, commonly known as the Crocodile Hunter, passed away Monday, Sept. 4. Irwin was most famous for his Animal Planet show, "Crocodile Hunter." The adventurous Australian entertained television audiences with his encounters with crocodiles and other wild animals. He was also known for his common interjections of "Crikey!" and "What a beauty!"
"I was really upset," senior Hilary Shaffer said. "Steve Irwin did a lot for the animal community. He was a bold guy. There weren't many people like him."
As news spread through the Loyola community, Facebook groups such as "Crikey: A Testament to the Late and Great Steve Irwin" and "Sept. 4: Punch a Stingray in the Stomach Day" were created in his honor. Irwin, a man who seemed fearless and invincible, was killed while filming an animal in its natural habitat. Shockingly, a crocodile was not the cause of Irwin's untimely demise.
In a freak accident, the Crocodile Hunter was killed by a stingray barb that punctured his chest. Heroically, Irwin was able to remove the barb from his chest before he lost consciousness.
"Initially, I wanted to wipe out the whole species of stingrays, but then I figured it's better than the Crocodile Hunter just getting old," freshman Matt Ruggirello said.
Irwin leaves behind his wife Terri and their two young children, Bindi, 8, and Bob, 3. He will be mourned and remembered by children and adults alike who watched in awe as he worked with some of nature's most dangerous animals. He used his love of animals to teach millions about the importance of conserving nature and the respect everyone should have for all of nature's creatures.
"Hopefully, Steven Irwin is wrestling crocodiles in the clouds," Shaffer said
Steve Irwin, commonly known as the Crocodile Hunter, passed away Monday, Sept. 4. Irwin was most famous for his Animal Planet show, "Crocodile Hunter." The adventurous Australian entertained television audiences with his encounters with crocodiles and other wild animals. He was also known for his common interjections of "Crikey!" and "What a beauty!"
"I was really upset," senior Hilary Shaffer said. "Steve Irwin did a lot for the animal community. He was a bold guy. There weren't many people like him."
As news spread through the Loyola community, Facebook groups such as "Crikey: A Testament to the Late and Great Steve Irwin" and "Sept. 4: Punch a Stingray in the Stomach Day" were created in his honor. Irwin, a man who seemed fearless and invincible, was killed while filming an animal in its natural habitat. Shockingly, a crocodile was not the cause of Irwin's untimely demise.
In a freak accident, the Crocodile Hunter was killed by a stingray barb that punctured his chest. Heroically, Irwin was able to remove the barb from his chest before he lost consciousness.
"Initially, I wanted to wipe out the whole species of stingrays, but then I figured it's better than the Crocodile Hunter just getting old," freshman Matt Ruggirello said.
Irwin leaves behind his wife Terri and their two young children, Bindi, 8, and Bob, 3. He will be mourned and remembered by children and adults alike who watched in awe as he worked with some of nature's most dangerous animals. He used his love of animals to teach millions about the importance of conserving nature and the respect everyone should have for all of nature's creatures.
"Hopefully, Steven Irwin is wrestling crocodiles in the clouds," Shaffer said
Volunteers, students teach English to immigrants 4/26/07
Loyola senior Amy Lueck and Pawel Kawula, Chicago resident and Polish immigrant, are hunched over a Newsweek article on the discovery of a new fish fossil, which supports Darwin's theory of evolution. On Sheridan Road, just north of Carmen's pizzeria in the headquarters of Loyola Community Literacy Center, the two meet every Thursday and work together to improve Kawula's English skills such as pronunciation, vocabulary, reading and writing.
"Is this fish still alive?" Lueck said.
"Yes," Kawula said. "No, wait. I'm kidding. It was like 275 million years old."
"Maybe he was just that old," Lueck said.
"Maybe he went to sleep," Kawula said.
With a mixture of humor and hard work, the pair finishes the article. Lueck guides Kawula through words he doesn't know by asking him to sound them out. She also asks him to define certain words in the text and quizzes him to test his comprehension of the article. Next, Kawula writes sentences responding to the article.
LCLC has been a model of Jesuit values at work in the community since its opening in 1992. Students lead by giving back to the community, while experiencing the cultures of the people they are helping.
"More than anything else at Loyola, this has ingrained Jesuit values," senior Jeremy Elston said. "We're helping real people in need in Rogers Park with hands-on real life work."
Students can volunteer at the center or receive course credit for tutoring in the English department or in the honors program. At present, there are about 40 volunteers and about 15 for-credit students; most work one or two nights a week.
"Students at the center are motivated to serve others," said Professor Jackie Heckman, the current director of the LCLC. "It changes their lives to see that someone else now has a better chance in society because of what they've done."
After an orientation session, the students are paired with a learner and develop their own plan for teaching English as a second language. The students recieve advice, feedback and suggestions from Manager Dan O'Malley and Assistant Manager Andrew Bonvicini.
"At the beginning of the semester, a tutor assesses the immediate needs and interests of the learner," Bonvicini, an English graduate student and past tutor explained. It works as a collaborative partnership. The principle lessons I learned from tutoring were patience and sacrifice. Someone is depending on you to be here. You realize that the world is not always about you, which is an important Jesuit value."
The diversity of the Rogers Park community is represented at LCLC. Bonvicini estimated that the center has participants from Poland, Guatemala, Somalia, Vietnam, China, Bulgaria, Mexico, Ethiopia, Taiwan and Latvia.
"It's a really cool experience because you're helping someone and learning about the culture of the people you're helping," freshman volunteer Amelia Pisapia said.
Tutoring at LCLC is a way for students to be a part of the community while giving their time to help others.
"It's important for us to have contact with the community that we live in," senior Tess Paige said. "It helps Rogers Park merge with the Loyola community. It also teaches you a lot about yourself at the same time."
Many people come to LCLC looking for help with their English skills.
"We offer this service free to the community," Bonvicine said. "Learners don't pay a dime. They might not be able to afford it otherwise."
In the future, Bonvicini and Heckman hope to see the center expand to accommodate more tutors and more learners. They also have hopes to improve the computer facilities of the center to better enable learners and tutors to use the Internet during their sessions. These improvements are contingent upon funding, which is provided by the College of Arts and Sciences and donations.
Kawula and Lueck will wrap up their night together by telling each other stories about the weekend. The two have worked together since the fall. Telling stories is part of their friendship as well as a way of improving Kawula's English skills.
"I can communicate easily because of her," Kawula said as he and Lueck took a break from work. "I don't have to take anyone with me to translate. I want to learn."
"Is this fish still alive?" Lueck said.
"Yes," Kawula said. "No, wait. I'm kidding. It was like 275 million years old."
"Maybe he was just that old," Lueck said.
"Maybe he went to sleep," Kawula said.
With a mixture of humor and hard work, the pair finishes the article. Lueck guides Kawula through words he doesn't know by asking him to sound them out. She also asks him to define certain words in the text and quizzes him to test his comprehension of the article. Next, Kawula writes sentences responding to the article.
LCLC has been a model of Jesuit values at work in the community since its opening in 1992. Students lead by giving back to the community, while experiencing the cultures of the people they are helping.
"More than anything else at Loyola, this has ingrained Jesuit values," senior Jeremy Elston said. "We're helping real people in need in Rogers Park with hands-on real life work."
Students can volunteer at the center or receive course credit for tutoring in the English department or in the honors program. At present, there are about 40 volunteers and about 15 for-credit students; most work one or two nights a week.
"Students at the center are motivated to serve others," said Professor Jackie Heckman, the current director of the LCLC. "It changes their lives to see that someone else now has a better chance in society because of what they've done."
After an orientation session, the students are paired with a learner and develop their own plan for teaching English as a second language. The students recieve advice, feedback and suggestions from Manager Dan O'Malley and Assistant Manager Andrew Bonvicini.
"At the beginning of the semester, a tutor assesses the immediate needs and interests of the learner," Bonvicini, an English graduate student and past tutor explained. It works as a collaborative partnership. The principle lessons I learned from tutoring were patience and sacrifice. Someone is depending on you to be here. You realize that the world is not always about you, which is an important Jesuit value."
The diversity of the Rogers Park community is represented at LCLC. Bonvicini estimated that the center has participants from Poland, Guatemala, Somalia, Vietnam, China, Bulgaria, Mexico, Ethiopia, Taiwan and Latvia.
"It's a really cool experience because you're helping someone and learning about the culture of the people you're helping," freshman volunteer Amelia Pisapia said.
Tutoring at LCLC is a way for students to be a part of the community while giving their time to help others.
"It's important for us to have contact with the community that we live in," senior Tess Paige said. "It helps Rogers Park merge with the Loyola community. It also teaches you a lot about yourself at the same time."
Many people come to LCLC looking for help with their English skills.
"We offer this service free to the community," Bonvicine said. "Learners don't pay a dime. They might not be able to afford it otherwise."
In the future, Bonvicini and Heckman hope to see the center expand to accommodate more tutors and more learners. They also have hopes to improve the computer facilities of the center to better enable learners and tutors to use the Internet during their sessions. These improvements are contingent upon funding, which is provided by the College of Arts and Sciences and donations.
Kawula and Lueck will wrap up their night together by telling each other stories about the weekend. The two have worked together since the fall. Telling stories is part of their friendship as well as a way of improving Kawula's English skills.
"I can communicate easily because of her," Kawula said as he and Lueck took a break from work. "I don't have to take anyone with me to translate. I want to learn."
Obama talks politics, future 4/12/07
The Gentile Center opened its doors to Senator Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and the city of Chicago on April 10 as it hosted a town hall meeting with the senator.
Obama came to Loyola to participate in an open forum where his constituents asked questions ranging in topic from student loan cuts to the issue of bringing troops home from Iraq.
Obama took the stage in front of a crowd of more than 2,000 people. He made a brief speech before opening the floor to questions.
He poked fun at his position as the 98th senator of seniority in the Senate, having only been in office 16 months since his election in November of 2004.
Obama talked about the disappointments he has already met in the Senate, such as the lack of dialogue and real debate about issues because of distinct divides beween Republicans and Democrats. He also said that his own party had an inability to be independent of the White House and its agenda.
Obama addressed projects he has been involved with since taking office, including getting more assistance for veterans, reducing America's dependence on foreign oil and working to get American troops out of Iraq. Obama then fielded questions from the audience.
A Chicago resident who asked about the role of the United States in stopping genocide, particularly in the Darfur region of Sudan. Obama announced that he will be visiting Darfur in August. He discussed sanctions proposed against the Sudanese, the aid needed for displaced and terrorized citizens and the need for the United Nations troops to replace the poorly supplied troops of the African Union.
He emphasized that failed states such as Sudan are a threat to American national security, and that the United States needs to be involved in forming a solution to these problems.
"The United States has to be serious about providing everything from boots to Blackhawks," Obama said
Freshmen Oliver Miller said he felt that the senator demonstrated a comprehensive knowledge on a wide range of issues, especially Darfur.
"I was impressed by his knowledge about the genocide," Miller said. "It definitely puts the president on the hot seat to step up and address the issue."
A teacher in Chicago public school system asked Obama why the Democrats were not opposing Republicans more strongly and forcing debate on controversial issues. Obama explained that this was not a partisan speech, and he is still a Democrat. He explained the difficulty of getting things done along the party lines while the executive branch and Congress are controlled by the Republican party.
A high school student asked about a bill that Obama introduced to help victims of Hurricane Katrina. Obama's bill would help low-income families with children by giving them more tax breaks. Obama criticized what he saw as the deplorable response to the crisis and the shameful state of New Orleans even now, seven months after the hurricane.
When asked if Obama would run for president in 2008, the crowd applauded. As a rising star of the Democratic party and the only African American in the Senate, this question has been posed to Obama many times.
He laughed off the suggestion by explaining, "You know, I just got my new job and I like it," Obama said. "I mean, look how much fun George Bush is having."
Ginger Williams, a Chicago resident and member of Military Families Speak Out whose son is serving in Iraq, thanked Obama for his support for veterans and bringing troops home. She asked Obama about a plan proposed by Sen. John Murtha (D-Penn.) concerning the withdrawal of American soldiers from Iraq.
Obama stated his support for bringing soldiers home as soon as possible, but he would not commit to a timetable for withdrawal. Obama visited Iraq in January of this year, and spoke about the consensus he saw among Iraqi officials and peace activists who wanted the withdrawal of U.S. troops, but said that a dangerous situation may arise if troops are withdrawn too quickly.
He suggested incorporating aspects of Murtha's plan, such as includes stationing troops around the Middle East for additional protection against the threat of civil war.
He admitted that there is no easy answer to this situation.
"I am certain that a too rapid withdrawal will result in the complete collapse of Iraq," Obama said. "There is no military solution to the problem. There is only a political solution. We cannot have a stable Iraqi government in the middle of a civil war."
Senior Matt Johnson asked Obama why he voted for increased spending on Iraq and why youths should continue to vote for Democrats.
"To answer the specific questions about my voting, I'm not going to leave 130,000 young people not much older than you sitting in the middle of Fallujah without body armor," Obama said.
He addressed the difficult situation he and other members of Congress face. Even though they may not believe in the war, he said, they must make sure that American soldiers and the problems in Iraq are taken care of, Obama said.
In a crowd full of college students, it was only a matter of time before someone brought up the student loan cuts e recently made by the federal government.
Freshmen Jesse Kadjo asked what the government is doing to help students afford college in the wake of these detractions.
He asserted that even though it was necessary for students to get a college degree to compete in the job market today and in future, the only way to change the assistance students get from the government would be to change the priorities of the Senate and the president.
He then addressed the problem with universities and high tuition. He called on Loyola's President, the Rev. Michael J. Garanzini S.J., by saying, "Father, we have got to find a way to keep tuition down."
Loyola students in the audience responded to this statement with another round of applause. "I asked about it because it applies to all of us and it's a growing problem," Kadjo said. "This was my chance to ask someone who could do something about it."
he next question came from a veteran of the Air Force and police force who asked about Obama's stance on energy and the environment.
"Climate change is real, it is here," Obama said.
Obama said he believes that our dependence on foreign oil is a threat to our economy and our national security, but that there is technology available to alleviate the problem.
Obama gave the example of a car that can run 500 miles on one gallon of gas. The government has yet to give incentives to the auto industry to promote the advancement of technology that will better our environment.
The final question addressed to Obama was posed by Katie Hogan, a graduate student at Loyola and the granddaughter of immigrants. Hogan said she supported the thousands of immigrants who marched, at different locations across the country, Monday, April 10, in support of a Senate bill that is currently struggling through Congress. One stipulation of the bill would provide a pathway to citizenship for the more than11 million illegal immigrants living in the United States.
"There has to be a pathway to citizenship for those who are already here," Obama said. "We want those people out of the shadows, paying taxes, subject to the same rules and regulations and protections as everybody."
He emphasized that the bill is not an amnesty bill because illegal immigrants must go through a lengthy process and meet certain criteria before they attain U. S. citizenship. Obama said there needs to be compromise on this issue between both parties.
As Obama closed the questions, he received a standing ovation from the audience. He shook hands and took pictures with attendees before answering press questions.
"[Obama] really made me rethink where I stand as a Republican," junior Kelly Wittig said.
Phil Hale, vice president of public affairs and sponsor of Inside Government, said the event was a success, citing the impressive turn out of the community as well as Loyola students.
"I hope that this inspires people to get involved like Obama said," Hale said. "There are millions of ways to affect public policies and the political process."
Obama came to Loyola to participate in an open forum where his constituents asked questions ranging in topic from student loan cuts to the issue of bringing troops home from Iraq.
Obama took the stage in front of a crowd of more than 2,000 people. He made a brief speech before opening the floor to questions.
He poked fun at his position as the 98th senator of seniority in the Senate, having only been in office 16 months since his election in November of 2004.
Obama talked about the disappointments he has already met in the Senate, such as the lack of dialogue and real debate about issues because of distinct divides beween Republicans and Democrats. He also said that his own party had an inability to be independent of the White House and its agenda.
Obama addressed projects he has been involved with since taking office, including getting more assistance for veterans, reducing America's dependence on foreign oil and working to get American troops out of Iraq. Obama then fielded questions from the audience.
A Chicago resident who asked about the role of the United States in stopping genocide, particularly in the Darfur region of Sudan. Obama announced that he will be visiting Darfur in August. He discussed sanctions proposed against the Sudanese, the aid needed for displaced and terrorized citizens and the need for the United Nations troops to replace the poorly supplied troops of the African Union.
He emphasized that failed states such as Sudan are a threat to American national security, and that the United States needs to be involved in forming a solution to these problems.
"The United States has to be serious about providing everything from boots to Blackhawks," Obama said
Freshmen Oliver Miller said he felt that the senator demonstrated a comprehensive knowledge on a wide range of issues, especially Darfur.
"I was impressed by his knowledge about the genocide," Miller said. "It definitely puts the president on the hot seat to step up and address the issue."
A teacher in Chicago public school system asked Obama why the Democrats were not opposing Republicans more strongly and forcing debate on controversial issues. Obama explained that this was not a partisan speech, and he is still a Democrat. He explained the difficulty of getting things done along the party lines while the executive branch and Congress are controlled by the Republican party.
A high school student asked about a bill that Obama introduced to help victims of Hurricane Katrina. Obama's bill would help low-income families with children by giving them more tax breaks. Obama criticized what he saw as the deplorable response to the crisis and the shameful state of New Orleans even now, seven months after the hurricane.
When asked if Obama would run for president in 2008, the crowd applauded. As a rising star of the Democratic party and the only African American in the Senate, this question has been posed to Obama many times.
He laughed off the suggestion by explaining, "You know, I just got my new job and I like it," Obama said. "I mean, look how much fun George Bush is having."
Ginger Williams, a Chicago resident and member of Military Families Speak Out whose son is serving in Iraq, thanked Obama for his support for veterans and bringing troops home. She asked Obama about a plan proposed by Sen. John Murtha (D-Penn.) concerning the withdrawal of American soldiers from Iraq.
Obama stated his support for bringing soldiers home as soon as possible, but he would not commit to a timetable for withdrawal. Obama visited Iraq in January of this year, and spoke about the consensus he saw among Iraqi officials and peace activists who wanted the withdrawal of U.S. troops, but said that a dangerous situation may arise if troops are withdrawn too quickly.
He suggested incorporating aspects of Murtha's plan, such as includes stationing troops around the Middle East for additional protection against the threat of civil war.
He admitted that there is no easy answer to this situation.
"I am certain that a too rapid withdrawal will result in the complete collapse of Iraq," Obama said. "There is no military solution to the problem. There is only a political solution. We cannot have a stable Iraqi government in the middle of a civil war."
Senior Matt Johnson asked Obama why he voted for increased spending on Iraq and why youths should continue to vote for Democrats.
"To answer the specific questions about my voting, I'm not going to leave 130,000 young people not much older than you sitting in the middle of Fallujah without body armor," Obama said.
He addressed the difficult situation he and other members of Congress face. Even though they may not believe in the war, he said, they must make sure that American soldiers and the problems in Iraq are taken care of, Obama said.
In a crowd full of college students, it was only a matter of time before someone brought up the student loan cuts e recently made by the federal government.
Freshmen Jesse Kadjo asked what the government is doing to help students afford college in the wake of these detractions.
He asserted that even though it was necessary for students to get a college degree to compete in the job market today and in future, the only way to change the assistance students get from the government would be to change the priorities of the Senate and the president.
He then addressed the problem with universities and high tuition. He called on Loyola's President, the Rev. Michael J. Garanzini S.J., by saying, "Father, we have got to find a way to keep tuition down."
Loyola students in the audience responded to this statement with another round of applause. "I asked about it because it applies to all of us and it's a growing problem," Kadjo said. "This was my chance to ask someone who could do something about it."
he next question came from a veteran of the Air Force and police force who asked about Obama's stance on energy and the environment.
"Climate change is real, it is here," Obama said.
Obama said he believes that our dependence on foreign oil is a threat to our economy and our national security, but that there is technology available to alleviate the problem.
Obama gave the example of a car that can run 500 miles on one gallon of gas. The government has yet to give incentives to the auto industry to promote the advancement of technology that will better our environment.
The final question addressed to Obama was posed by Katie Hogan, a graduate student at Loyola and the granddaughter of immigrants. Hogan said she supported the thousands of immigrants who marched, at different locations across the country, Monday, April 10, in support of a Senate bill that is currently struggling through Congress. One stipulation of the bill would provide a pathway to citizenship for the more than11 million illegal immigrants living in the United States.
"There has to be a pathway to citizenship for those who are already here," Obama said. "We want those people out of the shadows, paying taxes, subject to the same rules and regulations and protections as everybody."
He emphasized that the bill is not an amnesty bill because illegal immigrants must go through a lengthy process and meet certain criteria before they attain U. S. citizenship. Obama said there needs to be compromise on this issue between both parties.
As Obama closed the questions, he received a standing ovation from the audience. He shook hands and took pictures with attendees before answering press questions.
"[Obama] really made me rethink where I stand as a Republican," junior Kelly Wittig said.
Phil Hale, vice president of public affairs and sponsor of Inside Government, said the event was a success, citing the impressive turn out of the community as well as Loyola students.
"I hope that this inspires people to get involved like Obama said," Hale said. "There are millions of ways to affect public policies and the political process."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)