The Los Angeles Loyolan, Volume 90, Issue 45 - April 26, 2012

THUR FRI SAT SUN л» %■!)< 4С» 61*- 54° 63* -55° 65*- 56" 66°- 57° ESTABLISHED 1921 April 26,2012 Volume 90, Issue 45 Your Home. Your Voice. Your News. Loyola Marymount University www.laloyolan.com Peace activist Sicilia visits LMU Jon Rou | LMU Photo Poet and peace activist Javier Sicilia (center of front row) processes with students, faculty and community members from Sacred Heart Chapel to St. Rob's Auditorium yesterday. Crosses and images of those who lost their lives as a result of drug-related conflict in Mexico were carried by the attendees during the march. To see more photos from the event, visit the Loyolan's Facebook. Javier Sicilia speaks about peaceful means of combating drug cartel violence in Mexico. By Weston Finfer Web Editor How do you explain a govemmentally- provoked massacre responsible for the death of 60,000 innocent lives? Or more importantly, how do you prevent the continuation of such atrocities? Poet and peace activist Javier Sicilia visited LMU yesterday to share his views on the current drug cartel violence plaguing Mexico. Approximately two hundred students, faculty and community members were in attendance for Sicilia’s testimony for peaceful protest in his quest to end the detrimental “War on Drugs.” A processional was led from Sacred Heart Chapel to St. Rob’s Auditorium in which attendees canted crosses and images of those deceased as a result of cartel activity, responding “presente” to each name called out that the war extinguished from physical presence, but not erased from memoiy. English professor Ruben Martinez curated a panel consisting of LMU Spanish professor Alicia Paitnoy and LMU English professor Sarah Maclay, along with junior political science and urban studies double major Nestor Pimienta, as they relayed stories and sentiments of their- ties with Mexico, concluding with Sicilia’s call for an end to the violence. He emphasized the shared responsibility both the U.S. and Mexico have in the ongoing struggle for peace. On the United States’ responsibility, Sicilia said, as translated by an interpreter, “What I do hope [from] the people in the U.S. and the government, especially in the coming elections, is to have a consciousness to be aware of the pain that my country is suffering. And for that pain, the U.S. has a great responsibility. They’re behind the consumption of drugs in the U.S. and the reality of the weapons sold to See Activist | Page 2 Study abroad acceptance rate dips Increased competitiveness cited as reason for enforcing caps due to “record” applications to program. By Kevin O'Keeffe Managing Editor Hundreds of students apply to study abroad at LMU every year, but this year saw a record number of applicants to the programs. While the deep pool of applicants indicates a growing interest in studying abroad, the extra level of competition meant more students were denied for the Fall 2012 semester. “Our office was able to accept 85 [percent] of the Fall 2012 study abroad applications,” said Director of Study Abroad Jack Hobson. Those students who won’t be able to study abroad in the fall reacted with a mixture of disappointment and frustration. “I was bummed,” said sophomore business management major Lauren Flinn, who applied to and was denied from the London program. One of only two cities where there currently is an official LMU-sponsored semester programs, London is competitive due to the number of internships offered. “There are a tight number of internship seats available, so what’s available is available,” said Hobson. “In Bonn, [however], it’s on-site capacity. ... That location can only take a certain number of LMU students at one time.” See Study Abroad | Page 4 Parking meetings elicit varied responses University neighbors and staff continue to debate die issue of parking at meetings. By Casey Kidwell Asst. News Editor The buzz has yet to die down. The parking debate regarding the recently established fees continued during two seperate events this past week. On Thursday, April 19, the LMU Neighborhood Advisory Committee met in a heated debate about the effects the costs have on LMU’s surrounding neighbors. About 20 audience members faced a board of nine people ranging from students to LMU Chief of the Department of Public Safety, Hampton Cantrell. For an hour and a half, Clarence Griffin, LMU director of Community and Local Government Relations, responded to numerous complaints from the Westchester residents in the audience about the vents on top ofU-Hall, students jumping the fence to get on campus, off-campus parties and mainly the repercussions of the parking fees. Nate Kaplan, a representative from Los Angeles Councilman Bill Rosendahl’s office and member of the board said, “There’s already students parking on residential streets. We’re concerned [the fees] will spike staff and students parking on residential streets.” The fees Kaplan is talking about were officially revealed via an email sent out by LMU President David W. Burcham on March 6. Beginning Fall 2012, visitors will be charged either $2 per twenty minutes or the daily maximum of $10 for parking. Students, faculty and staff, however, will not be charged until the spring semester. Students will be charged $670 a year and faculty $696 a year See Parking | Page 6 Abbey Nelson | Loyolan ASLMU President and Vice President sworn in Junior business marketing major Bryan Ruiz (left) and junior sociology major Vincent Caserio (center) were sworn into office as ASLMU president and vice president respectively by President David W. Burcham at yesterday's Crimson and Blue awards ceremony. For a list of the Crimson and Blue award winners, see Page 2. SO THEY THINK THEY CAN DANCE Index Classifieds f) A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN l A&E, Page 1 0 Two LMU senior dance majors are set to perform in the American College Dance Festival. m ,-m — Opinion . 7 A&E . 10 Sports . 1 6 The next issue of the Loyolan will lx* primed on May 3. 2012. Rtchers Colin Welmon and Trevor Megill lead the Lions despite their statuses as freshmen. Sports, Page 1 6