The Los Angeles Loyolan, Volume 76, Issue 18 - February 18, 1998

OVUU^XitO get a helping hand Features, Page 14 Coast rocker Matthew Men’s volleyball defeats USG in five games Sports, Page 16 Homecoming Demolition Derby. . . ASLMU President Ryan Eisberg takes his turn in the a Santa Clara Car-Bashing,” an event sponsored by the ASLMU and the athletic department, Friday night. Those who participated paid for the chance to swing a sledgehammer at the car, which was painted in Santa Clara team colors, as part of the 1998 Homecoming celebration. Public Safety, LARD Stress Alcohol Prevention at Ball University Prepares to Celebrate Charter Day by Roy Rufo Jr. Asst. News Editor The annual ASLMU-sponsored Charter Ball will be held Friday at the Alumni Gym and University Pool from 8p.m. -12a.m. This year, ASLMU is expecting a turnout of 2,500 to 3,000 stu¬ dents at the Hollywood-themed event. A limousine sponsored by ASLMU will be taking its laps around University Circle, taking students to the ball where star- struck glamour will greet its guests. One of the university’s most antici¬ pated events is a celebration of Loyola Marymount University’s Charter Day; the university received its original char- “It seems like [Charter Ball] is one of the only events that applies to all the students in a social way.” — Mia Villanueva First Year Student, Film Production ■ Event: Extra pre¬ cautions being taken to ensure safety of students. by Christina Thomas Asst. News Editor and Dan Newton Staff Writer More ambulances were called during last year’s Charter Ball in response to alcohol-related emergencies than in the history of the INDEX News Perspective 6 Arts & Entertainment 10 Features 14 Sports 16 Classified 18 On the Web: ■ ■ ; ' Www.lmaedu/'itiiaft/'loplan event. In response to last year’s occurrences, LMU’s department of public safety and L.A.P.D. are preparing to deal with more alcohol relat¬ ed problems at Charter Ball this Friday. “If somebody is unfortu¬ nate enough to drink too much on their own,” said public safety chief Raymond Hilyar, “the EMT’s will be there to help deal with it.” Campus security is plan¬ ning to take special precau¬ tions during Charter Ball to prevent excessive drinking. “We won’t allow backpacks into the event, we will ask people who are wearing big overcoats to open them up so we can be sure they’re not bringing in alcohol,” Hilyar noted. “Also, people will have to display positive ID to enter the beer garden.” Upon admittance to the beer gar¬ den, students will be issued wristbands signifying that they are of legal drinking age. When asked about what precautions were going to be taken at Friday’s Charter Ball, Emergency Medical Response Team member, Martin Dekort said, “we’re going to have six EMTs at the Charter Ball, so if anything happens they , will be able to respond immediately. The local paramedics will be alerted that there is an event going on, so they’ll be more prepared for any emergen¬ cies.” Alcohol Use on Campus 70% 0jf students have three or fewer drinks a week (on average) 49^ of students have used alcohol once a month or less W.5% of students have not had alcohol in the past year from the Core Drug and Alcohol Survey, March 1996 DON ZACHARIAS / LOYOLAN Hilyar and the depart¬ ment of public safety plans to assist the EMTs. “If the serv¬ er at the beer garden thinks someone has had to much, they will be allowed to cut them off. If we see somebody who has had too much to drink, we’ll deal with them,” Hilyar explained. “We won’t let them drive home. If they’re too drunk, we’ll get them a taxi and have some¬ body go with them.” Hilyar is also planning to deal with alcohol related vio¬ lence. “Fighting is something that the university has no tolerance for. The university will just not condone it.” He explained that depending on certain circumstances, par¬ ticipation in a fight could be grounds for expulsion. When asked about LMU’s efforts to prevent alcohol abuse, Hilyar responded, “The campus is always inter¬ ested in alcohol rights and is always encouraging students to have a good time without drinking. The best preventa¬ tive measure is alcohol edu¬ cation.” When a minor is caught in possession of alcohol on cam¬ pus, consequences can be serious. After the alcohol is confiscated and disposed of, the incident is reported to the office of student affairs. Hilyar says that if a student is caught acting inappropri¬ ately after having too much to drink, “their sanction could be expulsion. We don’t just take the alcohol away and send them home.” ter from the state of California on Feb. 26, 1918. The annual ball was originated by university President Thomas P. O’Malley S.J., who received his first term as presi¬ dent of LMU in July of 1991. The inau¬ gural ball that he proposed is now known as the Charter Ball. “I’m confident about it. It’s an event that draws students from every fraternity, sorority, and organiza¬ tion,” explained O’Malley. He expressed that the ball is a perfect representation of the university’s diversity. This year the planning of the Charter Ball has gone smoothly, according to ASLMU President Ryan Eisberg. ‘There was more thought given in deciding the theme, ‘Hollywood Nights’,” Eisberg added. Mia Villanueva, a first- year film major, said, “I expect some unity among the school because of the events planned by ASLMU. It seems like it’s one of the only events that applies to all the stu¬ dents in a social way.” What makes this year’s Charter Ball significant is that it will be one of the last major events held in Alumni Gym before it faces its destruction due to the con¬ struction of the new health and fitness center, with work on the project slated to begin this summer. Alcohol will be served to students over the age of 21 at the extravaganza in spite of reported alcohol related incidents Charter Day: page 2