Issue 2
Circulation 3,000
September 6, 1989
Volume 67
Racist Slogans Deface LMU and Westchester
Graffiti Mar LMU Entrance
By J. Anthony Inkel and
Kirk Brustman
Contributors
Racist slurs of graffiti were
reported Monday evening to
the Office of Public Safety by
LMU students. “No niggers’* and
“Westchester KKK” have been
written in white spray paint
along the walls of Manchester
Boulevard across from Westch¬
ester Apartments. In the same
script, in black, is displayed
“white power** on a nearby bus
stop bench. The most obvious
defacements are writings on the
brick structure of the Loyola
Marymount University entrance
sign. Sprayed in red, but cov¬
ered with canvas, is “no niggers
in Westchester" and “keep your
niggers out of Westchester.**
LAPD responded to reports
made by Westchester residents.
Police are suspicions that the
vandalism occurred either Sat¬
urday or Sunday night. Unfor-
tunately, no other information
in relation to the incidents has
surfaced. However, a resident
living in a nearby apartment
complex expressed that “it is
terrible in these days and times**
for problematic actions such as
these to beset the community.
“I am saddened that it has
happened,** was the reaction of
George Morton, Director of Black
Student Services, upon hearing
the news of these events. “But
not surprised considering the
growing tensions,** he added. In
terms of our campus, consider¬
able discussion about race rela¬
tions have been prompted by
the “CSU (Concerned Students
Union) takeover** of the
President’s office last year, ac¬
cording to Morton.
Although there has been no
recent conflict in the commu¬
nity, there have been strains of
racial intolerance in past years.
As an example, Morton referred
to the Howard Beach case in
which two blacks were attacked
by a crowd of whites acting upon
an assumption of mistaken iden¬
tity.
The analysis of Dr, John A.
Davis, Professor of Sociology, is
Spray painted slogans mark the decorative wall near the south entrance to Loyola Marymount University.
that “the entire campus should
be outraged. These are slurs
that pour salt on old wounds.
Whoever wrote on the walls and
benches seeks to divide the
campus and to agitate for un¬
rest.**
Davis continued, “We live
at a time when reason is vital
for harmony and justice. We
are not unaware of increasing
social tension across the coun-
tiy. The days when black people
will roll over in servitude are
gone. We need to find a way to
put off our differences. . . in order
to enable our campus, city and
country to survive. These slurs
represent a carryover from the
old tradition of white supremacy
... a vile and evil notion.**
Щ
Landscaping, Additions Improve
LMU's Westchester Apartments
By Eric Johnston
Senior Writer
Eoyola Marymount University
student residents ofWestch-
ester apartments will have to
face a few inconveniences in the
coming weeks in order to ac¬
commodate some of the land¬
scaping improvements initiated
by the apartments* landlord, Sal
Cecere. The construction work
has been an ongoing job since
the beginning of the summer
and is likely to continue through-
out the fall semester.
Cecere, the owner of the
apartment buildings, told the
Loyolan that the new improve¬
ments include the addition of
new grass, plants and automatic
sprinklers in the front of each
apartment complex, a new grass
parking lot, and brick walkways,
patios and driveways. Cecere
says, “We hope to get the front
landscape started within a
couple of weeks. We have to pull
all of the old plants and install
the sprinklers before we can go
ahead with any more work on
the land.** Currently, the land¬
scape consists of roped-off sec¬
tions of dirt.
The landscaping was put
on temporary hiatus recently
because Cecere’s top two men
were unavailable to work; one
was recently married, the other
on vacation.
Cecere plans to construct
the grass parking lot in front of
the apartments in order to alle¬
viate the parking problem. He
says, “It should fit eight cars
comfortably." The grass to be
used consists of a honeycomb
base which will serve to harden
the ground.
In the future, Cecere hopes
to set up an outside study area
for the students on the complex
grounds, complete with picnic
benches and tables. Cecere was
able to buy the furniture by
collecting the discarded alumi¬
num cans of the students over
the years and recycling the cans
for money. Cecere adds, “I hope
to do more of the same as long
as the students continue to
cooperate."
LMU Senior Gwendolyn
Grasmehr, a two-year resident
of Westchester apartments, is
pleased with the new plans but
hopes that the interior of the
apartments will not be neglected
continued on page 2
Asbestos Found in
Foley Classroom
By Margaret Simonian
Contributor
t is reasonable to say that
A Foley Hall may be occu¬
pied without concern,” says
David Trump, Vice President
of Facilities and Management
This statement was made in
light of the recent discoveiy of
ciystotile, an asbestos-cany-
ing chemical found suspended
above the building's ceiling.
The chemical in Foley,
used commonly in the 50*s
and 60*s for insulation and
fireproofing purposes, con¬
tains 25% asbestos, well be¬
yond the government allow¬
ance of 1% of the material,
recently found to be carcino¬
genic if exposed in concen¬
trated amounts. Construction
converting Foley 210 from a
classroom to a computer labo¬
ratory came to a halt three
weeks ago when an inspection
and examination of samples
from the ceiling revealed the
presence of asbestos. As per
government regulations, let¬
ters were immediately hand-
carried to building occupants,
who were warned not to tam¬
per with the ceiling in any
way.
An abatement firm was
then contracted to remove the
disturbed asbestos. The proc¬
ess, which involved blocking of
the doorways with two layers
of plastic and wrapping the in¬
fected material with plastic,
was resumed last week. The
fact that the asbestos is lo¬
cated above the ceiling leads
Trump to believe that the
room's former occupants were
not directly exposed to the
material. “We think that we’re
dealing with it in a responsible
manner," says Trump, who as¬
sures that the air in the room
will be tested for safety before
the abatement crew leaves
campus. The Regland Con¬
struction Company can then
resume work on the new com¬
puter lab.
A similar situation oc¬
curred last week when the
central plan for construction,
a new University project, was
suspended to allow for the
removal and replacement of
old underground piping made
of transite, another material
containing asbestos. As with
the abatement process in Foley,
says Facilities Planner Linda
_ continued on page 2j
news
ASLMU forms organization
assembly. . . page 2
features
Best bets for lunch suggested
in Edibles . . page 3
opinion _
Baltic States challenge
Perestroika promises. . . page 7
a & e
Rolling Stones reunite in Steel
Wheels . . . page 8
sports
л
Women’s Lightweight Crew
wins national title . . . page 10
Condom Controversy
solved. . . page 2
V
Jello Garden returns from 3 University Parking problem
month hiatus. . . page 5 examined . . . page 7
New Releases from Pogues and
Poi Dog . . . page 8
Brian Berger's major league
wrap-up . . . page 10
J
