Editor:

I have a few thoughts on Loyola offering bus tours of the devastated areas of the city. I understood the educational standpoint: They allowed people to see just how bad the damage was and how slow progress was taking place. I also understood the view that many think seeing all the devastation will encourage those not affected to donate time, money and supplies to the relief effort, and for those that did, I applaud you.However, as a Hurricane Katrina victim, I was disgusted by the tours, and I can guarantee that many other victims of the storm felt the same way. I lived in Chalmette, which is located in St. Bernard Parish, right outside the Ninth Ward; and it was one of the hardest hit areas. My parish was completely destroyed; every building suffered substantial damage, and many lives were lost. My house had roughly 16 to 18 feet of water and was located in the Murphy Oil Spill. In order to go into my home and try to salvage anything, I had to wear a full hazard suit: knee-high boots, gloves, goggles, mask and hat, and I could not stay in the house long. Put yourself in this position: I walked out my house, dressed in this manner, holding a ruined item I retrieved from my bedroom from my late aunt, and as I stood there crying, a tour passed and people aboard snapped pictures of the scene. Do you know what that felt like? I do, and it felt terrible. I felt like an animal in a zoo. My ruined home, possessions and parish should not have been put on display as if it were some sort of freak show. What happened in these devastated neighborhoods in New Orleans that people go driving through was very real and personal. Victims had a hard time coping with the sights they saw when they returned to their homes, and having unwelcome strangers drive passed and snap pictures only made the experience worse. The misery and heartache of the victims should not have been put on parade for anyone who just wanted to see. For the curious, watch the news, look at pictures, but please have respect and stay out of our neighborhoods while we go back to assess our damage and try to start rebuilding our lives.

Marcy Mason, History Junior.

Editor:

I am writing today to respond to a comment made by ProfessorRobert Thomas. A story, dated Jan. 13, appeared in The Maroon about students, parents and teachers touring the devastated areas in New Orleans. In this article, Professor Thomas made the comment that he disagreed with the City Council about tours of the devastated areas and stated, “I think we need to get every tourist in America down there.” I, as one of the many people affected by Hurricane Katrina, have to disagree with this statement. I lived in St. Bernard Parish with my family for all of my life. I believe that the tours are despicable with the exception of tours that are either for educational purposes or for informational purpose – for example showing the government officials the devastation left after Hurricane Katrina. I, unlike Professor Thomas, agree with the City Council because I feel that people, when traveling in the area with the tours, are trampling on people’s lives and memories of their homes and businesses that were completely destroyed. I can tell you that when I went “home” to St. Bernard Parish for the first time, my heart was literally torn out. I felt so helpless when I looked at the places that I knew and loved that were completely destroyed. As stated before, I believe that the City Council should continue its ban against tours in the areas east of the Industrial Canal.

Amanda M. PiacunElementary education junior

Editor:

Students have been packing the Orleans Room for lunch and dinner. Many have been frustrated by the understaffed and undersupplied Dining Services. Freshmen will soon grow tired of the on-campus options, and some will decide against purchasing a meal plan next year. But they might not have a choice.An ad-hoc committee of university officials has submitted a proposal to University President the Rev. Kevin Wildes, S.J., and the Board of Directors to require all residents, freshmen and upper-classmen alike, except Carrollton Hall apartment residents, to purchase at least the 50-block or $900 Wolf Bucks meal plan, effective Spring II. There were no students on this committee.The reasoning is that this would give the university leveraging power with Sodexho. Director of Student Activities Chris Cameron described it as “a $50,000 decision,” which is only a small percentage of the projected budgetary shortfall. He also said Sodexho might give $500,000 toward the renovation of the Underground. This would not cover the costs completely, however, and the dedicated donation would have to go through many layers of approval.The university could use the money, but so could many of the students, who would be taken advantage of if this proposal takes effect. Almost all of the students I talked to about this possibility opposed it. Of the students I talked to, 63 percent said they buy one meal or less per day on campus. Many of them wouldn’t change their eating habits, and several commented that it would be a waste of their money, which some of them couldn’t afford.While the requirement might net Dining Services additional revenue, some residents would choose to move off campus, losing money for Residential Life – 13 percent of the students I polled said they would move off campus, and 53 percent said the requirement would affect their housing decision somewhat.Most of the students who were not upset by the proposal would purchase a meal plan anyway. Currently, 24 percent of residents do not have a meal plan. Why risk angering many of them, possibly causing some to move off campus, canceling out any extra income the university would be making? Why risk hurting student retention, by placing one more burden on our already inconvenienced students? Let us choose. Keep us happy – relatively speaking.

André BreauxSGA College of Arts and Sciences Representative