Aaron and the Angels Sing a Hallelujah Chorus

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

I hope that everyone is having a relaxing and peaceful break! Everyone deserves it after all the hard work from last semester!

On this day I would invite all to remember our brothers and sisters for whom Christmas is an especially hard time. Let this understanding guide us and bring us a renewed sense of purpose in our next semester as we work toward equality and justice.

Also (on a somewhat less profound note), as my Christmas gift to you I would like to share this rendition of "Ave Maria" by Aaron Neville. Enjoy.

In Peace.

Ride the Rails

Today marks the first day since Katrina that the St. Charles streetcar runs the entire length of St. Charles. I think this is the first thing that has happened in New Orleans ahead of its promised deadline and quite frankly, I'm excited.

Its still $1.25 and runs until midnight. Oh and remember, the streetcar has the right of way on the roads.

Link.

Stupid people.

As Chad blogged about earlier there was an incident if you will between housing protesters and police earlier today when a decision was made not to allow the protesters inside the council meeting [to decide the fate of the big four projects]. You can watch a video of the scuffle below.



After city council approved unanimously in a 7-0 vote to approve the demolition of the big four projects, B.W. Cooper, St. Bernard, Lafitte and C.J. Peete, Mayor Ray Nagin, who notably was not at the council meeting released a statement supporting the councils decision. According to nola.com he said "The decisions made today were ones of compassion, courage, and commitment to this city,"... "This is an incredible day. You heard lots of pain today. The City Council in its wisdom has come up with a solution that will allow us to move forward, to hold HUD accountable".

Shame on Ray Nagin and the New Orleans city council for the lack of attempt at making any attempt at compromise.

4 Remaining Projects to be Razed

The New Orleans city council voted unanimously to issue a demolition permit for the Lafitte housing complex all four remaining projects in the "big four" this afternoon.  Before the vote, there was a clash between demonstrators and police involving tazers and pepper spray.  WDSU/CNN have a clip with the clash and Quigley that you should check out.

Votes on the remaining projects are upcoming.

Articles:
WDSU
Rawstory

Details are sketchy, so this is all I have to work with at this time.

Brazilian Bishop Performs Hunger Strike

I found this article on the BBC website and to be honest it's the first time I have heard about it. In Brazil Dom Luiz Flavio Cappio had to be hospitalized after performing a hunger strike for 27 days. He was protesting the diversion of the Sao Francisco river citing the detrimental effects to the environment. The Vatican has tried to convince him to cease the strike for the sake of his health, but he refused.

Call the City Council TODAY!

As a New Orleans resident, you have a powerful way to help. Tomorrow, the New Orleans City Council is scheduled to vote on whether or not to permit HUD to carry out its demolitions. Several council members are on the fence, and your voice can influence their vote. Please join us in calling on them to vote against these reckless, premature demolitions and insist on a rebuilding plan that is fair and good for all New Orleanians.

Calling is simple and takes only a few minutes. Here are the key New Orleans City Council members and their offices:

Arnie Fielkow: (504) 658-1060
Cynthia Hedge-Morrell: (504) 658-1040
Shelley Midura: (504) 658-1010

When you call, you can use the script below or write your own.
Once you've called, please let us know by emailing hudhousing@colorofchange.org.

Script: Hello. My name is [Your Name], and I'm calling to urge [Councilperson's Name] to vote against permitting HUD to demolish public housing units in New Orleans. HUD's plans are flawed and unfair and would greatly reduce affordable housing in the city, making the housing crisis worse.

Until HUD creates a plan that provides 1-to-1 replacement of public housing and deals with the current criminal investigation of HUD and the HANO redevelopment plan, there should be no demolitions.

via Bob Payne (via colorofchange.org)

A Christmas prayer for peace

The Christmas season has always been my preferred time to refocus myself on my spirituality. Advent gives me the structure I need to start attending Mass regularly again – four Sundays in a row is a realistic goal for me. Time away from the stresses of life at Loyola (exams, moving, BOLOs…) has lended itself to me as time for quiet reflection. With my parents at work, I’ve got the house all to my self. We don’t get this much downtime often, so try taking advantage of it.

In that spirit, I’d like to share a prayer that LUCAP alum Carlos Navarro (’79) passed on to me today. Its written by Jesuit priest and peace activist John Dear, S.J. and was recently published in the National Catholic Reporter.

Here's an excerpt:

Thank you, God of peace, for announcing the coming of peace on earth and for coming among us to make peace. Thank you for siding with the homeless, the refugee, the marginalized, the immigrant, the outsider, the disenfranchised, the imprisoned, the enemy. Thank you for being good news for the poor and the oppressed.

Read the entire prayer.

Public Housing Myths/Facts

Bill Quigley wrote an excellent fact sheet on the issue of public housing in New Orleans.  All of the myths below are propegated on the NOLA.com message boards.  Answers to the myths here.

MYTHS

• "Federal officials, in partnership with developers, are pushing a plan that will demolish 4500 units of traditional public housing, replacing them with 3343 units of public housing and 900 market rate rental units." Statement in Times-Pic 12.16.2007
  


• If HANO and HUD do not start demolition right away, they will lose their tax credits.
  


• There really is no housing problem, it is just outside agitators who are making it seem like New Orleans has a housing problem.
  


• People do not want to come back to New Orleans. There are hundreds of vacant empty subsidized apartments just waiting for people to move in – no one wants to take them.
  

Congressional Democrats Get Involved in Public Housing

This public housing issue isn't going away as quietly as HANO and HUD would like it to. On Thursday night, it seemed as if there was no way to avoid imminent demolition. But there has been a flurry of activity over the last day:

1. As Rob blogged about yesterday, HANO and the plaintiffs (representing public housing residents) agreed on a deal by which the City Council would decide the fate of three of the housing projects. While this represents an advance for the residents, it probably won't change the end result significantly. At least 3 Council members have decided to vote for redevelopment, with strong support for the 1-for-1 return plan to Lafitte. It would be a significant victory if Lafitte features a 1-for-1 (every family who lived there is accounted for with a new unit) return rate. But the other projects do not have the same sort of redevelopment plans, and the City Council still seems unlikely to force their hands to 1-for-1.


2. The Democratic Leaders in the House and Senate have written to President Bush, urging him to stop the demolition of housing while more of the issues are worked out. This catapults the issue to the national level, which will hopefully put some more coverage on the issue. But it's important to note that even these Dems didn't ask for the residents to be allowed to return immediately; their letter asks for a 60-day moratorium in order to work out a plan for replacing affordable housing. The letter also connects the homeless--in Duncan Plaza, under I-10, and everywhere else--to the lack of affordable housing.
   Congress this year has done a lot of frustrating things, and hasn't accomplished as much as Democrats hoped it would. But reading this letter actually gives me a twinkle of pride that there are actually some politicians left in Congress (not named Barack Obama) who care about the poor and displaced down here. I hope Congress can make some change on this.

Keep reading the blog over break for updates.

HANO halts demolition plans at three public housing sites

I'll just repost the article below.

-----------------------------------------------------------

HANO halts demolition plans at three public housing sites
by Times-Picayune staff writer
Friday December 14, 2007, 11:31 AM

Susan Finch
Staff writer

The Housing Authority of New Orleans agreed in court today not to demolish the C.J. Peete, Lafitte or St. Bernard public housing developments unless the New Orleans City Council approves permits for the work.

The agreement allows HANO to proceed with demolition work, approved in November 2003 by the City Council, at the B.W. Cooper housing development.

Officials with the housing authority and attorneys for demolition opponents, who sued HANO Thursday to stop tear-downs at C.J. Peete, Lafitte and St. Bernard, reached the accommodation after meeting privately with Civil District Court Judge Herbert Cade, who said he would sign an order later today approving the deal.

Plaintiffs argued that the City Council had to approve demolition work at the three housing complexes. HANO had not secured that approval for the three demolition projects.

Attorney Tracie Washington, representing the plaintiffs, said HANO's willingness to halt demolition work pending a City Council review is a first: "We have never (before) been able to get a court to order a stop to demolition."

The City Council is expected to address the demolition matter next week.

The agreement says that any party to the agreement, if dissatisfied, can return to court to seek a modification.

And don't forget to take a look at the comments here.

from NOLA.com comments: Tell Loyola How You Feel about Quigley

As many of you know, Bill Quigley is a noted civil rights attorney and professor at Loyola Law School.  He is providing legal counsel for residents of public housing in New Orleans and has brought numerous cases against HANO and HUD to keep public housing available in the city.

There's a story on NOLA.com about protesters blocking an entrance to a federal building, which is notable, but the interesting part is a comment.  The poster calls for people to call Loyola University and complain that Bill Quigley is "tarnishing the reputation of the institution and it is not appreciated." He continues that "his experiment in Civil Disobedience needs to end. He has crossed the line."   (As a side note, the use of "crossed the line" is funny, considering Quigley is also the legal counsel for the School of the Americas Watch)

View that hilarious comment.

Bill Quigley and the Gillis Long Poverty Law Center that he runs at Loyola Law are some of the best things Loyola has going for it.  Its an example of Loyola holding to its mission of being men and women with and for others. I feel that if Loyola is truly doing its radical mission to take our values of of the ivory tower of education and put them into action in the community, there would be more comments like this one.

I'm going to call Loyola and tell Wildes how I feel about Quigley.  

I'm going to tell him I'm very proud.  

Protestors at HUD office.

Here is a new development in the public housing crisis in New Orleans...sort of. Protestors apparently blocked off the entrance to the HUD offices downtown for a brief period of time. Performing an action that freaked out reporters enough to put it on the very front, and top, of nola.com for a period of time.

Check it out here.

It seems that despite the protests, and despite HUD and HANO's plans for the projects there still is not any reasnonable alternative, besides the 80% cutbacks, to the pre-katrina public housing system. Even the protestors who want the projects restored do not present any reasonable alternative .

I think someone needs to either come up with a plan, or "throw us a bone" here.

Some News on Education

Hey all,
It's late. I was sitting in my Magazine Street watching a funny Youtube of Steve Martin on Charlie Rose, when I cape across a few articles that have some relevance for education: nationally, higher, and locally.

1. Nationally: The NYT had an article today that noted the higher qualifications (SATS, College GPAs) of prospective teachers who took state licensing exams versus the qualifications of the students in the 1990s. The article explains how many of the strongest education systems in Western Europe recruit teachers from generally the highest third of university students, while the U.S. system typically drew students from the bottom third. But promisingly, this trend is changing. While the news is promising, a few questions remain. Do these qualifications have any noticeable effect on teacher quality? Moreover, why have the numbers changed? One would think that non-government agencies like Teach For America have increased the number of highly qualified students who go into teaching (even on a temporary basis).


2. Higher Education: Harvard University made a big news splash yesterday when it greatly expanded its financial aid to allow students with parents making over $120,000 to pay a smaller percentage of tuition, with the money to be replaced by grants. Undergraduates considered more typically middle class, in betwen $60 and 120K, will pay less than 10% of their income. This is part of a growing trend at the most elite (and rich) private colleges in the country, in which universities are allowing low and middle-income students to attend for free without loans, and upper-income students to receive more subsidies. A school with an endowment like Harvard's, which hovers around $30 billion, could allow all of its students to attend for free. This represents another step in opening up the best institutions of education to a wider range of students.


3. Local: New Orleans schools are getting millions of dollars from a coalition of foundations, including the Gates Foundation. This should be great news for schools that were consistently underfunded even before the storm. The T-P has the report, and the official announcement is Thursday morning on Nashville St. Uptown. The money is going to three local nonprofits who help with teacher/administrative recruitment as well as student issues: New Schools for New Orleans, New Leaders for New Schools, and Teach for America's local branch. It's welcome news, and I'd imagine the money will be very well spent considering the credibility of all of the organizations involved.


4. ROCK AND ROLL EDUCATION: In a completely unrelated note, Led Zeppelin reunited this weekend. Everyone watch this clip of them singing 'Good Times, Bad Times' while you celebrate the good times of finals ending.
   

Two rights don't make...

Think a little change can't make a big difference in reducing your carbon footprint? UPS reduced their carbon emissions by over 31,000 TONS by making a simple change to their fleet management software. The software change rerouted UPS trucks to make as few left turns as possible. By favoring right turns, the trucks spend less time idling, waiting for a green arrow or for traffic to break.

Amazing and simple.

Link (via digg)

Homelessness

Hey all,
Finals are busy. Here's an email I received today from Catholic Charities New Orleans that outlines the work they have done within the past month to help the homeless at Duncan Plaza. I found it generally to be a good read. Catholic Charities' care for the homeless and poor in the city present a telling contrast with the drivel posted by some residents on nola.com message boards. The email is below.

Our Response to Homelessness Amen I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.......Matthew 25:40 Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans has provided services to the homeless since its founding in 1727 by the Ursuline Nuns, who provided shelter for widows and orphaned children. 23 years ago, the Catholic Charities CARE Centers were opened, utilizing a holistic approach that addresses the many issues that lie at the root of homelessness. In the two years since Hurricane Katrina, homelessness in New Orleans has escalated due, in large part, to the shortage of affordable housing. However, the causes of homelessness are complex. Many homless people suffer from mental illness or substance abuse. In addition to economic issues, some are fleeing domestic violence. The encampment of homeless individuals and families in Duncan Plaza, steps from New Orleans City Hall, has been the most visible indication of the growing problem, but it is not the only area where the homeless are living. Homeless individuals and families are sleeping along Claiborne Ave. in the shelter of the interstate, in abandoned buildings and in automobiles. UNITY for the Homeless estimates there are 12,000 homeless people in the New Orleans area but the capacity of the collaborative to house the homeless is at 64% of the pre-Katrina level. As winter closes in, and the holidays approach, many in our community have expressed increasing concern for this population. On November 21, 2007, the day before Thanksgiving, Catholic Charities, in partnership with UNITY for the Homeless, deployed a large number of staff in Duncan Plaza to being implementing a new program called Rapid Re-housing, paid for by a grant from the Department of Social Services and Administered through UNITY. The first day, Catholic Charities workers, along with UNITY and five other agencies, were able to place 62 families/individuals in facilities for sheltering. Catholic Charities alone placed 22 families and 4 men in either motels or shelters. Our staff worked into the night providing assistance. The next week, gift cards were purchased for families needing food, and groceries were purchased for those placed in housing. An intact family with three children was quickly screened and housed. The goal is to place that family in one of our residential programs that will help them find the road to self-sufficiency. The quick work that took place that week was made possible by a $792,051 grant to fund the Rapid Re-housing effort. One Catholic Charities intern single-handedly pre-screened 40 people living at Duncan Plaza. Most of these individuals are now being served by our Community Centers. The new infusion of funds and the successful efforts to assist the homeless population in Duncan Plaza is only the latest chapter in a long story of Catholic Charities' work to help the homeless: Our CARE Center Emergency Shelter provided emergency housing for 356 women, families and children CARE Center provided housing assistance for 315 families that consists of help with a deposit and first month's rent and utilities Baronne Street Transitional Housing provided a residential facility for 108 working, intact families, couples without children and single adults Bridges to Self Sufficiency and Beyond Shelter are transitional housing programs that house 16 homeless families Ciara Community Servicecs and Permanent Housing programs provided housing options for 131 mentally ill individuals Our Community Center programs provide employment services for the homeless as well as supportive housing. These two services often give the homeless the support and skills they need to make the transition away from homlessness. Since Katrina, our case managers have assisted more than 45,000 people Second Harvest Food Bank provides 1.5 million pounds of food each month to the hungry in 23 civil parishes. Food is also provided to a number of homeless shelters, including Ozanam Inn. Second Harvest is now providing MREs to those still living on the street. The Hispanic Apostolate Community Services of Catholic Charities, along with St. Joseph Church, the Presentation Sisters, and the Harry Thompson Center established the St. Joseph Rebuild Center at St. Joseph Church on Tulane Ave. in September 2007. The Rebuild Center serves as a day shelter, and provides basic services such as telephone, showers, laundry and legal services for the homeless. About 140 people use these services daily and up to 175 are provided with a meal each day. Catholic Charities sponsored the foundation of the Providence Community Housing initiative, which plans to develop 7,000 units to house 20,000 residents over the next 5 years. Our sister agency, Christopher Homes, provides 1,200 apartments for low-income seniors Operation Helping Hands has gutted the homes of 1,874 families and has rebuilt 48 homes, with more in development The advocacy and homelessness prevention efforts of Catholic Charities since Hurricane Katrina have provided job training, case management and direct assistance through our Community Centers We recognize that Catholic Charities is not the only ministry of the church that responds to homelessness. We are grateful for the work of the St. Vincent de Paul Society and Ozanam Inn, as well as the many other programs and ministries and church parishes that provide services to the homeless population Our mission statement fully explains our commitment to resolving the problem of those in our community who lack housing: Respecting the dignity and potential of each human person, Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans collaborates with the wider community to serve those in need. Impelled by the love and teaching of Jesus Christ, we offer life-giving programs, advocate for the voiceleess, and empower the poor and vulnerable to foster a more just society.

Developments on Public Housing.

After accidentally ending up at a march to Ray Nagin's home this weekend, to protest the crisis of public housing in New Orleans, this article caught my eye on nola.com.

It's interesting to read the comments below the article, including one criticism of Bill Quigley and a suggestion to Bobby Jindal in regards to bringing New Orleans under martial law. I was also intrigued by the mentioning of posters that read "For every housing unit destroyed, a condo will be destroyed" apparently signed by "the angry and the powerless" and if anyone has any more information about that please post it up here (unless its confidential of course).

I'd like to hear what others think on this issue, so leave some comments.

Friday Meeting with Cameron

First, I would like to thank everyone for their presence and support on Monday. It was very powerful to have that many people do dedicated to LUCAP and its mission. Thus, I would like to update you on recent developments regarding LUCAP's move.

Yesterday, Jessica Mueller (CLC coordinator), Rick, Danielle, and I had our promised meeting with Chris Cameron. Our goal was to have Chris promise us a space in the Danna Center post-renovation. Unfortunately, this was not accomplished.

However, we did develop a plan in which we have more of a voice in the decision-making process for student organization space. We decided we need a "space allocation committee" in which all student organizations who currently have a space in the Danna Center will have their leaders represent the needs of the organization and have a say in decisions involving the basement. We are supposed meeting before the Christmas break.

I know this is not the answer we hoped for, but this is as much as we could be have promised to us at the time. I have faith that we can make this agreement work in our favor and develop better ties with other organizations while still having our needs met.

We will be moving into the former New Student Orientation office on December 17th. We do not have to physically move our stuff but just pack it up in boxes. Please, do not even worry about any of this until after finals! Use this time to get the stuff you need to done and de-stress (with a spontaneous dance party, perhaps :) ).

Just a reminder that we will be having our end-of-the-semester pary this Monday at 5. We will also be helping Paige make bracelets to sell for her trip to Uganda!

Thank you for all that you do and I can't wait to see y'all Monday!

Mental Health, Football and

Here are some interesting articles about N.O. from different papers:

1. There's a really good new mental health study highlighted in the NYT, though oddly the T-P did not include it (as far as I can tell). The Columbia University study says that as of September 2007, 46,000 children on the Gulf Coast are struggling with "serious" mental health problems. The children most at risk are not the ones who haven't returned home yet. Instead, the ones most at risk are the ones who have returned to their home but in a very unstable situation. Kids are living with grandparents, cousins, older siblings, or other families instead of the normal family dynamic. They are living everywhere from trailer parks (though not for too much longer) to houses that have only recently been gutted. As Dr. David Ward says at the conclusion, "The fabric of the family has splintered. Who is going to take care of the kids after school, or draw them into becoming musicians?"



2. Onto happier things. This story seems straight out of a Disney movie--and not a mediocre Disney sports movie like The Rookie but a really good one like Miracle or D2. The South Plaquemines Hurricanes will be playing for the Louisiana State title this weekend on the Superdome. To say that the families living in Plaquemines Parish have struggled is a huge understatement. Katrina made landfall in the parish south of New Orleans, and you can imagine the struggles that encompass the community. The Times-Pic has a fairly good article on it, but the New York Times has somehow hit the jackpot in covering this story: they have been following the team since September 2006 in a series by Jere Longman. The details of these stories are so finely picked that you can never forget them: the team's new locker room is their old, flooded gym, untouched since the storm. The team has fathers trying their hardest to raise a kid, go to college, and continue playing in order to maintain their sanity. Everyone down there declared a "mandatory Hurricane evacuation" for the parish, to come to New Orleans this weekend for the game.
   If you have an hour or more to kill during finals, and you want to cry about how amazing sports/people are, read some of these articles.



3. Some highlights from today' Maroon
   
   • An editorial rightfully takes the Debate Commission to task for their "specious reasoning"
   • Jordan Hultine writes a pretty well-balanced, informative look at the loyno.info "blog" on which faculty discuss issues stemming from Pathways. There is one particularly interesting "comment" on the article that delicately addresses the blog-ish characteristics of the .info message board.
     

That's all I've got. Have a good weekend, stay sane through finals.
bob

Break Free!

"But it is what all the downtown bleachers and uptown brownings and Jamaica Whites don't say that they all seem to want most deeply. That is to be something other than poor ad black."

I would suggest, in relation to that quote you take a look at this pdf.

After reading that, next time you are at a grocery store or a wal-mart, take a loot at the ethnic products section and see what you fine.

I'll leave you all with this Tancredo campaign video, you can judge what this means, I don't even need to add my own opinion.

Maroon coverage of Monday's meeting

The online edition of the Maroon is out, and an article covering Monday's LUCAP meeting that focused on LUCAP's potential relocation was featured on the front page.

I think that the article is pretty thorough, though I don't think its title ("LUCAP asked to leave office temporarily: Move suposed to make way for renovations") embodies the controversy of the meeting, or the article. Otherwise, I feel like LUCAP was well-represented.

Unfortunately, the article doesn't end with any conclusion. But that isn't Lauren LaBorde's fault; that was the nature of our meeting. I think she sums it up well in saying "the pervading sentiment among the group seemed to be that of uncertainty."

Let's hope tomorrow's meeting with Chris gives us some direction.

Mental Health in New Orleans

Check out this article on post-Katrina mental health.

LUCAP's final home still uncertain

First, thank you to all the LUCAP and community members who came to our Monday meeting with Chris Cameron regarding our office and the Danna Center revisions. There was a large Freshman presence at the meeting, as there has been at all our events this year (y'all are awesome).

Below is a quick summary of the discussion that unfolded:

Mr. Cameron began with a slideshow of the proposed renovations of the Danna Center. It was full of beautiful visuals showing the renovated spaces around the building. Cameron said that in redesigning the building, the new student center should "reflect the core values of our institution." He explained that the process for renovating the building and assigning space has been entirely fluid and that there is no cohesive plan yet for the building. Cameron emphasized that "its not like there is some evil plan to be sprung on (LUCAP) and no final plans have been made."

Cameron first asked LUCAP what our needs are. Many LUCAP students spoke and explained how our space fosters critical reflection, offers a safe space, provides us with a place for our constant meetings, and has fostered LUCAP's growth. LUCAP said that our dedicated space is critical to our functioning and isn't optional. Afterwards, Cameron summarized our points to ensure nothing was misconstrued. Staff members expressed their dismay with the lack of communication between LUCAP and the administration during the planning process which Cameron will attempt to address by forming a committee to collect student input.

LUCAP stated that it opposes a move to a final space that isn't a space of our own with "four walls and a door." Cameron declined to promise LUCAP a dedicated space as it requested. When LUCAP asked who we could appeal to to secure our space, Cameron could not provide a definite answer beyond himself.

Mr Cameron committed he'd find the answers to our questions and meet with us again on Friday.

LUCAP is scheduled to move to the New Student Orientation office as a temporary space.  The move will occur December 15.  A final space has yet to be determined.

NOLA News from Today's Papers

Hey all. Here are some interesting articles about New Orleans from the last few days of papers:

1. Brad Pitt is starting his project of rebuilding the Ninth Ward with his "Make It Right" project of 100 green houses in the area wiped out during Katrina. It seems like a very good project, that is well funded through Pitt's wealth. For now, in order to raise some awareness, Pitt has installed a "pink city" to symbolize where the houses will be. Take a look at the pic from the T-P, which has the Claiborne Avenue bridge in the background. If you've been in the 9th Ward over the past 2+ years, you have to feel good to see this area at least have a little construction.


2. The NYTimes has an insightful article summarizing the rental shortage in New Orleans, time pegged to the announcement last week that FEMA was clearing out all trailer parks. The money quote here comes when a FEMA spokesman tries to justify the policy of kicking out residents without helping to provide housing:
   

   “We know it’s a tough decision, and that’s not lost on us,” he said, but “more and more housing becomes available every day, that’s a fact. The sooner you begin the process, the better. You want to start early and pick what’s right for your family.” He added: “We’re very sensitive to the fact that this isn’t an easy move. But it’s a necessary move.”

3. The NYT also ran an Arts article about the recent performance of Waiting for Godot in the Gentilly and the Ninth Ward about a month back. Though the article focuses on the artist himself for my tastes, it discusses what was supposed to be a great piece of art done in our city. The article was in the top-10 read at the site most of the weekend, which is good, as many people from around the country were reading and emailing it to their friends. The Times has been giving some very expert, nuanced coverage to relevant issues down here in the past few weeks.


4. Finally, a little more info about flood protection. There were a number of agencies investigating the levee breaches after Katrina, but the independent groups from the University of California and LSU are now alleging that their investigations were purposely disrupted by the Army Corps of Engineers. Read more about it at levees.org, which has nearly single-handedly kept the issue on the agenda.

Try out the comments section below. I'd love to get some discussions going.

That's all for now,
Bob

Important LUCAP meeting Monday: Danna Center Renovations

Just to catch everyone up...

This past Wednesday LUCAP was informed that we would have to move out of our current office by December 15th (or earlier) and move into the old New Student Orientation office along with Christian Life Communities (CLC). We were told that these changes were necessary in order for Danna Center renovations to remain on schedule.

At least three problems are evident in this plan: First, we were given very short notice during a time in the semester that is already extremely busy with finals and other end of the semester preparatons. Secondly, we have not been invited to be a part of the discussion and decision-making with the regard to our needs for spaces. Finally, LUCAP has yet to be given any assurance that we will have our own space in the future in order to operate as we do now.
That said, Chris Cameron, director of Co-Curricular programs, has agreed to meet with us during our meeting time this Monday at 5 in order to discuss these plans with us. I would like to say that LUCAP has not agreed to any course of action and will not do so until after this discussion has taken place and some of our questions are answered. I would like to invite everyone in LUCAP to be a part of this discussion, ESPECIALLY any underclassmen who will be part of LUCAP in the future and will be most effected by these changes.

I realize that these changes came as a surprise to many, and I am sorry for any additional stress that this process has caused. Please, feel free to post a comment on this blog or e-mail me at if you have thoughts or questions on this matter. Thank you for all that you do everyday to help LUCAP and Loyola at large, and I look forward to seeing you all on Monday.