More than 50 sex offenders now live in the neighborhoods surrounding Loyola and Tulane Universities.

Since Louisiana law requires that anyone convicted of a sex offense crime must register with the state police, the names and addresses of convicted sex offenders are part of a statewide police data base available on the Internet at www.lasocpr.lsp.org/socpr.

However, the offender does not have to register if the judge waives the requirement according to NOPD police Lt. Paul Accardo.

Also available on the data base are photographs of the convicted sex offenders and the crimes that brought about their convictions.

According to Irma S. Parker, a judge in Maryland, the reason for the registration process is “not to stigmatize or shame sex offenders. Rather, the registration provisions are tailored to protect the public, requiring registrants to supply basic information to apprise law enforcement officials about an offender residing or working in an area.”

Some Loyola students said the registration requirement is a good idea but some doubted the law’s ability to improve safety.

Carly St. Romain, freshman English writing major, said “Registration was fine, but they (sex offenders) are still going to be out there. What can you really do?”

Althia Picciola, sociology freshman, said that the university should do more in the way of educating people about the dangers of the city.

“I know girls who have walked alone through the French Quarter to St. Charles Avenue,” she said. “That isn’t safe.”

Picciola also said that the university should make devices such as mace sprays available on campus.

Both women agreed that though registration allows people and especially parents to know who is in the neighborhood, and that people have a right to know this. “But sex offenders have rights too,” said Picciola.

Patty Richards, English junior, recalled an incident about a year ago that occurred on Freret Street in which two women were robbed and sexually assaulted. Richards said that this incident occurred near her home.

“Yeah, I think it (registration) is a good idea,” she said.

Acknowledging the controversy surrounding the registration issue, Audry Herbert, mathematics junior, said, “I don’t find it (registration) inappropriate. I think it’s within line, considering the conviction.”

Mathew Smith, sophomore mathematics major, also believes that the registration process is less than perfect.

“It’s a good idea, but poorly executed,” he said. It forces [sex offenders] to go door to door to humiliate themselves in front of all of their future neighbors.”

WDSU-TV Channel 6 recently aired a story about this same issue. The story aired on the 10 o’clock news on Wed., Feb. 19.