The Los Angeles Loyolan, Volume 77, Issue 3 - September 16, 1998

Alleged sexual Hunger Strike to Save Wetlands Assault Reported on Campus ■ Environment: Man’s 16th consecu¬ tive day of hunger ends. By Jasmine Marshall News Editor At approximately 5:30 a.m. on Sept. 13, a female student walked into the Public Safety office and reported to officers that she had been sexually assaulted by a male student in her room in Desmond Hall. The alleged event took place at approximately 2:30 a m., according to Chief Raymond Hilyar, head of LMIFs depart¬ ment of public safety. “The alleged victim was a walk in. She was escorted by a friend and reported the alleged incident to officers,” Hilyar said. After officers took the alleged victim’s report, “their tried to make her comfortable, and then contacted the L.A.P.D.,” Hilyar said. “All units, and myself were able to respond within 15 minutes.” Upon the L.A.P.D.’s arrival, the alleged perpetrator was taken into police custody from his dormitory, Rosecrans Hall. “The decision whether or not to take a suspect into police cus¬ tody is based upon whether the alleged crime is a felony, which in this case it would be,” Hilyar said. However, Hilyar stressed that the incident is still under investigation, and in no way should the alleged perpetrator be considered guilty. The Pacific Division of the L.A.P.D. is currently in charge of the investigation of the case. Detective Terrie Illsley, head of the investigation, said the case is being classified as a sexual assault. “We were notified of the crime by LMlTs department of public safety at approximate¬ ly 6:45 a.m.,” she said. “The alleged perpetrator was arrest¬ ed at 8:00 a.m. and booked at 9:15 here at the Pacific Division. Because he is a minor, he was then transferred into the custody of juvenile hall.” Sexual Assault: page 4 INDEX News i Features 5 Arts- & Entertainment 1 0 Perspectives 12 Classified 17 Sports 20 0 n t h e We V_L by Daniel Wolowicz Editor in Chief For fifteen days, beginning August 31, Paul King fasted in protest of the urban develop¬ ment of the Ballona wetlands. His platform was the corner of Jefferson and Lincoln Boulevard, where two bus benches not only served as the head of his bed, but sheltered his only sustenance — water. King’s comer on the intersec¬ tion is what may be considered the epicenter of an embroiled battle between environmental¬ ists and an army of investment banks, real estate developers and three of the top players in the entertainment industry. “I’m a nonviolent person, but I believe in direct action,” said King, whose shoulder-length hair, growing beard and dark I sunglasses gave him a prophetic I appearance. King’s one-man crusade con¬ tinues to add pressure to the Play a Capital development of Playa Vista, the 1,087-acre pro¬ ject that borders Marina del Rey. “I came into contact with the protest when I was a petition canvasser for the Sierra Club. I realized then that something more definitive needed to take place.” King added that his strike is further motivated by a childhood experience: a wooded area near his Texas home had been destroyed, leaving him frustrated and helpless. DENISE ESPINOZA / LOYOtAN Local enviornmentalists take over Paul King's 15 day hunger strike against wetland development. Although there are currently eighty-one environmentalist groups protesting the develop¬ ment of the land, King acted on his own accord. His fast came to an end Monday when he decided Low Student Turnout for Ballot that he would better serve his cause if he began to eat and pool his strength. “I realized a few days ago that I was reaching a point that Ballona : page 4 ■ Budget Ballot: Less students allocate funds than in previous years. by Sharon King Staff Writer Club Fest reigned over RegentOs Terrace and the Lair Patio last week as students allocated funds to clubs of their choice in the Budget Ballot. Students allocated a total of $8,816, which will be distrib¬ uted to a number of clubs reg¬ istered with ASLMU and Student Life. Last semesterOs victors; Na Kolea and Isang Bansa, came first and second again, receiving sums of $688 and $506, respectively. Fraternity Sigma Phi Epsilon was third totaling $417, and the Del Rey Players and Rowing Association were a close fourth and fifth. The unprecedented Rowing Assoc, total of $312 will come as a welcome surprise to members who lost: their boat house last semester. The number of students allocating their $10 funds to the select few beneficiaries totaled 881, which was a slight decrease from last semester. This may come as a disappoint¬ ment to the newly appointed ASLMU cabinet, who decided to upstage their predecessors and create a Club Fest atmos¬ phere around the event during RON QUAN/LOYOLAN Students cast their votes on the lair patio last week during budget ballot. coiivo hour last Thursday and during lunch on Friday. However, there were plenty who turned out for the festivi¬ ties, as ASLMU president Lysandra Sapp stated, “We were really pleased with the turnout. DJ Fest worked great and we were really pleased people got involved.” A number of students who missed last weekOs ballot have voiced concern over the timing and distinct lack of pub¬ licity surrounding the Budget Ballot, stating that it was far too early in the term and many new students were unaware it was taking place. Sapp defends the timing, saying “it was no differ ant from any other year. It is written in the constitution that it has to take place two weeks into the term.” “The timing of Budget Ballot was fine, but publicity for the event wasn’t sufficient,” said Jane San Buenaventura, president of Isang Bansa and a senior political science major. “A lot of the freshmen were oblivious to the whole idea of what Budget Ballot is about. The sign-up table wasn’t very visible, there was no sign or explanation.” Sapp admitted that ASLMU has experienced difficulties in communication recently because the university has minimized their outlets, limit- Ballot: page 2 30 Computers, Printers Stolen by Megan Crowley Managing Editor: Every year, things are stolen from LMU, but last week there was a little more than an average break-in. Approximately 18 computers and eight printers were stolen from Hilton and Sullivan last Thursday and Friday, but it is not known if the perpetra- tor(s) are the same in the two crimes. Approximately twenty computers were stolen from two separate locations in the Hilton business center at 5:00 a.m. on Sept. 10. The perpe- trator(s) broke the small glass window above the door in order to enter the building. One brand new computers was stolen from Dr. John Wholihan, Dean of the College of Business Administration, and another brand new computer from his secretary. Approximately 9- 10 other computers and 7-10 printers were stolen from the office of Dr. Allen Gray, Associate Professor of Finance/CIS and Computer Lab Director of Foley Computer Lab. The exact number of stolen computers is not known since inventory has not been completed. The estimated price of the stolen computers and printers from the Hilton building alone was Sports _ Women’s Volleyball off to record start. Page 20 Features _ __ Artistic styles and contro¬ versy converge in Picasso exhibit. Page 5 A&E New exhibit on cocaine at Laband art exhibit. PdgelO September 16,1998 L, © у о l a м л к у Ц о и n щ Universit -у .• . Volume 77, No. 3