The Los Angeles Loyolan, Volume 72, Issue 17 - February 15, 1995

Los»Angeles LOYOLAN VOL. 72 • NO. 1 7 LOYOLA MARYMOUNT UNIVERSITY February 1 5, 1 995 Reading by LMU Authors Fills Murphy Hall By James Keane News Editor Loyola Marymount professors Wanda Coleman, Dr. Graciela Limon, and Dr. Gail Wronsky pre¬ sented “A Literary Conversation” before an overflow audience in Murphy Hall at Loyola Marymount last Friday, February 10. The evening included readings by each author from her works, as well as a discussion on the experience of writing from a subcultural or countercultural perspective. The discussion segment included ques¬ tions and comments from the audi¬ ence, and was followed by final readings by each of the three pub¬ lished authors. Dr. Fernando Guerra, Special Assistant to the President for Fac¬ ulty Resources and Chair of the Department of Chicano Studies at LMU, served as moderator for the 2-hour event. Dr. Wronsky began her reading by noting that she considered the main reason for the event to be an opportunity to discuss “who gets to write women’s lives. It is absolutely important that we women write our own lives, our own legislation, ad¬ vertising, and our own literature, and then events like this one won’t be necessary.” Wronsky read from soon-to-be- published poetry as well as from her published work, including ma¬ terial from her recently published book Dear Calamity , Love Belle , a second volume in a collection of cowgirl poetry she co-authored with Molly Bendall. She also read a monologue from one of her dra¬ matic works. Dr. Graciela Limon read a selec¬ tion from her second novel, The Memories of Ana Calderon, the story of a Latina woman who mi¬ grates with her family to America and eventually overcomes numer¬ ous obstacles, including an oppres¬ sive home culture, a foreign and oftentimes hostile nation, and her Photo By Susan Carpendale Photo Courtesy of Public Relations Photo By Bill Freimuth Wanda Coleman, Dr. Graciela Limon, and Dr. Gail Wronsky presented “A Literary Conversation ” in Murphy Hall last Friday. The event included readings by each author as well as a discussion on the experience of writing from a subcultural or countercultural perspective. own early pregnancy and respon¬ sibilities to care for her seven sib¬ lings, to achieve material success in Los Angeles. “Ana Calderon is really a unique character, unlike many woman characters created even by our own male Chicano writers,” Dr. Limon commented. Limon’s reading focused on part of Ana Calderon’s struggle to es¬ cape the oppression of her home life; she noted that Calderon’s fa¬ ther is a representation of the machista prevalent in many Chicano cultures, a machista that views women as being placed on the earth for two reasons: to have babies and to serve. “Woman is considered the custodian of the patriarchal law,” Limon commented. Limon dedicated her reading to all her students who attended the discussion, tracing her inspiration continued on page three Campus Life Yoga Brings Peace of Mind •page 7 Arts & Entertainment Academy Award Nominees Announced •page 17 Perspective Doctor Fosters a Better Future •page 12 Sports Men’s Basketball Splits Home Games •page 22 President’s Day to Be Held February 25 By Josephine De Felice Assistant News Editor On Saturday, February 25, Loyola Marymount University will sponsor its tenth President’s Day “Homecoming for the Mind.” This annual event , a tradition be¬ gun by fomer LMU President Fr. James Loughran, S.J., is intended to give university alumni, parents, and friends the opportunity to re¬ turn to college for a day for discus¬ sions of religious and philosophical topics. The cost of the event is $25.00. The deadline to register is Friday, February 17. President’s Day will include a total of fourteen lectures prepared by LMU faculty volunteers and a general session entitled “Vatican II: The Unfinished Agenda.” Fr. Thomas Rausch, S.J., Chair of Theological Studies, will be the speaker for this session, from 2:45 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and will discuss whether or not the second Vatican Council was incomplete regarding its authority, ecumenism, and in¬ terreligious dialogue, how it has affected the church, and what has transpired since then. Assistant Professors of Theological Studies Dr. Lisette Larson-Miller and Dr. Jeffrey Siker will be commenting in the discussion. Other lectures, ranging from ‘The Law of Criminal Liability and the Functions of Punishment” to “Women in Ancient Drama” are of¬ ten the result of sabbaticals or fac¬ ulty projects. The lectures are se¬ lected to appeal to a broad audi¬ ence. “Many faculty members do¬ nate their time and talents to this day to make it the success that it is,” said Greg Knotts, Alumni Pro¬ grams Manager. “The event is mainly geared to¬ ward alumni,” said Fr. Thomas Buckley, S.J., faculty coordinator for the event. “I have found from the past that alumni are especially interested in topics geared toward philosophy and theology.” The day will begin at 9:30 a.rn. with registration and a continental breakfast. After morning and after¬ noon lectures, punctuated by a lunch for all attendees, the day will conclude with Mass in Sacred Heart at 4: 15 p.m. and a reception in St. Robert’s Auditorium at 5 p.m. “The Homecoming For the Mind” provides an opportunity “to free our¬ selves from the Saturday chores, and especially from shopping, to come back to this campus, and do a little listening, a little thinking, and a little talking,” said Fr. O’Malley in the 1995 President’s Day letter addressed to alumni and friends. President’s Day is coordinated by the LMU Alumni Association Association and the Alumni Rela¬ tions Office. “President’s Day is a great opportunity to bring alumni back to campus and into the class¬ room to continue the education they began as undergraduates,” said Knotts. “Come back to this campus, and do a little listening, a little thinking, a little talking.” — Fr. Thomas P. O’Malley, S.J. Assistant Hired for VP of Student Affairs By Kent Jancarik Assistant News Editor On January 31 5 Patrick J. Naessens began work as the new Assistant to the Vice President for Student Affairs. Naessens, who holds a Master of Arts Degree in College and University Administra¬ tion from Michigan State Univer¬ sity, replaces departed administra¬ tor Jim Johnson. Naessens comes to LMU from the University of the Pacific, where he has served as Assistant Dean of Students since August 1992. In his new capacity, Naessens will fill a number of key administra¬ tive roles. He will serve as a con¬ sultant for all legal matters involv¬ ing students, oversee the judicial process to ensure fair and equi¬ table treatment, provide executive support for the division, and serve as the liaison for the Vice Presi¬ dent. Naessen’s duties also in¬ clude assuming primary duties and responsibilities of the Vice Presi¬ dent for Student Affairs, Dr. Lane Bove, in any absence. Naessens’ initial impression of LMU is that there is more a deep- rooted sense of community here than at other universities. “At LMU, students seem to have a good rela¬ tionship with the faculty and staff. Students have a lot of impact here — their opinions are highly valued,” Naessens commented. As an undergraduate at Central Michigan University, Naessens first became interested in University continued on page four Photo Courtesy of Caroline Photography Patrick J. Naessens, who was recently hired as the assistant to Dr. Lane Rove, Vice President for Student Affairs.