*Knoth most successful prez in fundraising

As the shock of Knoth’s resignation begins to settle in, the question still remains: what is his legacy?

Or will there even be one to remember?

As students come and go, very few know the details of the 20 plus year stay of former president the Rev. James Carter, S.J. And honestly there is no real reason why today’s students should remember.

But Knoth’s tenure will probably be remembered as one of style and money and even forced progress.

In his eight years, he helped bring to campus the Monroe Library, the New Residence Hall, the renovations of Biever Hall, the Palm Court and the West Road garage. No one can argue the fact that he has brought change to campus.

But how did he do this?

Knoth was one of the best fundraisers that this university has seen. Does anyone remember when we had to hear him speak to our parents during new student orientation?

This man knew what he was doing, and he was selling Loyola to our parents just like he sold Loyola to thousands of alumni and donors across the country.

While one can say that all of the improvements on campus were caused by him or were even his responsibility, he was very famous for his ability to raise money to make these improvements.

Regardless of the outcome of Knoth’s current problems, he will be remembered at Loyola as a president who if nothing else was a southern politician in a Jesuit collar.

*Advocates promote First Amendment

The Loyola campus has been rocked – no, shaken, by the suggestion that a chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws be chartered at Loyola. NORML is a nonprofit, public-interest lobby group that provides a voice for Americans who oppose marijuana prohibition.

Some support it, others are appalled by the idea, and the rest are not saying much at all.

If NORML is an unusual group supporting an illegal cause, it may indeed cause some controversy for Loyola to become a pioneer campus with a NORML chapter.

So what’s wrong with being a pioneer?

It has been pointed out that NORML, which states on its Web site that it represents “the interests of the tens of millions of Americans who smoke marijuana responsibly,” is committing an illegal act by advocating an illegal activity.

But NORML is advocating a process called “decriminalization.” It supports the removal of all criminal penalties for the private possession and responsible use of marijuana by adults.

Rather than trying to promote an illegal activity, NORML is trying to change that activity from illegality to legality.

When students on college campuses in the 1960s marched for civil rights, they too were trying to change something they felt was unfair. They were actually committing an illegal act by protesting what they felt were discriminating laws.

It’s frightening to think what may have happened if they had been cowed by the fact that they were fighting for something that was illegal.

While there is no comparison between the oppression of a people and the right to use a drug, the process of change is comparable.

When a person feels something is unfair, shouldn’t that person fight to change it?

By allowing NORML on Loyola’s campus, we will not be advocating marijuana, but supporting the right of all American citizens to work to change something that some may deem unfair.

As Loyola’s ad campaign says, “after all, the people who are bold enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.”