The Los Angeles Loyolan, Volume 71, Issue 2 - September 01, 1993

L o s • A n g e 1 e s LOYOLAN VOL. 71 *N0.2 LOYOLA MARYMOUNT UNIVERSITY September 1, 1993 Peace Corps To Help with Inner City Tutoring Service Organization Pilot Program Successful; Interest, Participation Soar Photo Courtesy of Public Relations Peace^Corps Acting Chief of Domestic Operations Barbara Busch and LMU President Thomas P. O'Malley, Щ designed documents on August 4 to inaugurate a social service program. By Damon Garcia Assistant News Editor oyola Marymount University and the Peace Corps have for¬ malized an inner-city service part¬ nership in which the volunteers will earn an MBA at LMU in exchange for service at Nickerson Gardens in South-Central in Los Angeles. Reverend Thomas P. O’Malley, S.J., president of LMU, and Bar¬ bara Busch, Acting Chief of Do¬ mestic Operations for the Peace Corps, signed a memorandum of cooperation on August 4 at the Bird Nest. “I think this is one of the most significant programs we are going to undertake in the next few years," said Father O’ Malley. “The most useful thing we cen cle is to develop thinkers and people who love to learn. With this program we will do just that." The Corps volunteers, who en¬ rolled at Loyola Marymount, will implement the skills they learned while abroad. The grassroots ap¬ proach to problem-solving is in¬ tended to empower the community residents through small business start-ups, youth work, health coun¬ seling, and community intervention. The Peace Corps Fellows/ USA program is a partnership between the Peace Corps, the private sec¬ tor, universities, and local commu¬ nities; The Fellows program began in 1985 and encompasses 22 uni¬ versities across the United States, which exchange scholarships and reduce tuition to volunteers seek¬ ing a master’s degree in areas such as education and public health. The national program services communities on Native American reservations in the southwest, rural Georgia and the Mississippi area, inner city New York and San Fran¬ cisco, and along the United States/ Mexico border in Texas and New Mexico. The local program is supervised by the staff of Nickerson Gardens, which is the largest public housing development in Southern Califor¬ nia, and Dr. Dave Boje, associate professor of management at Loyola Marymount. Dr. Boje serves as campus coor¬ dinator of the program and has worked with the residents of Nickerson Gardens for the past two and a half years. In that time, he assisted resi¬ dents during their transition to a Resident Managing Corporation in which residents themselves take over the management of the com¬ plex. “The volunteers have had a tre¬ mendous amount of experience,” Boje said. “But it’s not only the ex¬ perience, B%thehumility. Theyhave had to survive in another country with another culture where they are not in control. “They have had to work with no resources and still get things done. They have gone through the hard knocks they will go through [at Nickerson Gardens].” Students returning from the Peace Corps are currently being interviewed for 1 2 unpaid positions at Nickerson Gardens. Boje said that students could begin working there by next spring. The Loyola Marymount program isthe first such program to focus on community de> 'opment. \ rking in conjunction with the Ре, з Corps is Sursum Corda. Jor rigano, president of the ser- vic« rganization, explained “It’s a Jut< ig program as well as a Big iBrother/ Big Sister counseling pro¬ gram. We did it last year in phases to test it out. It was relatively suc¬ cessful. This year we’re going full blast. We have funding from EPIC and are working on EPIC credit right now.” right now.” “I’m proud that we pioneered the program in Nickerson Gardens," he continued. “It’s good to get LMU students involved in a program that allows youth to know what college life is about. The goal is to help and motivate them to do well if} school because education is the key. щ “We are doing an info night on September 28 for anyone inter¬ ested. We have around 16 mem¬ bers from Sursum Corda going , but anyone can go down. Ifs not the more the merrier as much as the more to make a difference.” Family Weekend To Highlight LMU Parents to Experience Spirit through Seminars, Athletics Annual Mass of the Holy Spirit Celebrates New Year By Lynn Segas News Editor "The parents are coming! I On October 1 ,2, and 3, Loyola Marymount University will host its Second Annual Family Weekend. The purpose of Family Weekend is to give parents the opportunity to visit LMU and participate in a vari¬ ety of educational, social and spiri¬ tual evehts with their students, fac¬ ulty, and other LMU families. Melany Nunez, Development As¬ sociate for Parent Relations, said, “Several years ago, LMU had a parents' day, which was created simply to get parents more involved in the Loyola Marymount University Community. However, when Fr. O’Malley came into office, many parents wondered why, with such a close- knit community, we did not have a parents’ weekend.” “So, last year was the first time we tried a parents’ weekend. From that experience, we learned that we needed to include the students to a much greater extent because parents want to come to something that their students are involved in,” shecontinued. “Lisa Piumetti helped to select the student committee which has been working closely with the parent committee to plan this event.” Nunez elaborated, “The week¬ end is highlighting the academic side of Loyola Marymount more with deans' addresses and faculty presentations. " However, we are also spotlight¬ ing the athletic programs and ASLMU is sponsoring a Casino Night forstudents and parents alike to enjoy.” The LMU Parents’ Association, University Relations, Student Life, ASLMU and other departments are all working together to plan three consecutive days of events and activities that highlight the students, faculty and staff that make attend¬ ing LMU a unique experience. Parents will be able to enjoy women’s volleyball and men’s soc¬ cer games, special receptions, model lectures by professors and administrators, laboratory tours, Casino Night and a special Mass and brunch on Sunday. Nunez commented, “ Residence halls, service groups, fraternities, sororities and all other clubs and organizations are asked to partici¬ pate by inviting and encouraging their parents to attend.” She continued, "Service Organi¬ zations will be asked to help staff the event and all clubs and organi¬ zations will be able to sponsor tables during Casino Night.” She continued, "It would be a good way to make the organization more visible, and also have a great time. : |p is only with student participa¬ tion and involvment that this week¬ end will be a success. Last tirine, parents wanted to see more stu¬ dents," she expressed. The campus community is also invited to participate in the week¬ end activities. A schedule will be distributed at Thursday's Student Assembly Meeting in ASLMU at Convocation Hour. Formore information, please call the Development Office at x851 25. By Lynn Segas News Editor Bie annua) Mass of the Holy Spirit will be celebrated in Sa¬ cred Heart Chapel on Thursday September9, at Convocation Hour. “Because we are a Catholic institu¬ tion, we gather together to ask for God’s blessing forthe coming year,” said Fr. Wayne Negrete, coordina¬ tor of the Liturgy. Mass of the Holy Spirit is a tradi¬ tional mass that takes place at all Catholic institutions within the first few weeks of school. Negrete com¬ mented on the effects of this mass on the community: “It encourages the various groups within the com¬ munity to come together in prayer to thank God for all the gifts that we have received.” He continues, "We ask for the guidance and inspiration of the Holy Spirit for our personal, spiritual and academic development." Chris Schroeder, sophomore, said, “The Mass of the Holy Spirit is a tradition that reaches outside our community. It is a wonderful expe¬ rience to join with other Catholic institutions, who espouse the same beliefs, to give glory and praise to God.” “This year, the Liturgy is being planned by representatives of the Loyola Marymount University com¬ munity, including those from the Faculty Senate and ASLMU,” he continued. Rev. Thomas P. O’Malley, SJ., will preside at the Mass. O'Malley explained the importance of the mass: "We gather together to ask for guidance and inspiration from the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is one who draws us in, one who illuminates, one who is connected to creativity, a divine person, one who encourages, one who helps us as we sow the seed and bring it to harvest.” “Again this year, the goal of the music is to create an uplifting and multicultural experience,” Negrete explained. The traditional procession from St. Robert’s Auditorium to the Chapel will continue. Many groups will be included in the procession, including all of the service organi¬ zations, Greeks, Sisters, Vice Presi¬ dents and Deans. The Service Or¬ ganizations will also serve as ush¬ ers during the mass.