Loyola University • New Orleans • Volume 94 • Issue 20
Protesting on the Dock of the Bay
M THE MAROON
MARCH 4, 2016
Flying Away LINDA HEXTER / The Maroon
Pierce Nordone (left), environmental science junior, Tom Whelan (middle), economics sophomore and Peter Herrick (right), political science junior enjoy an afternoon at the Fly. Proposed plans for construction threaten the Fly and its ability to remain open to the public.
Carrollton Boosters' plans to take over the Fly for their sports complex have many people looking for ways to save their favorite park By Rebeca Trejo rdtrejo@loyno.edu @rtrejo_maroon
Students might lose their favorite picnic spot if the Audubon Commission moves forward with the development of a new multi-purpose complex at the Fly. News about a $4 million signed agreement between the Audubon Commission and Carrollton Boosters gained the attention of park visitors when the nonprofit tried to remove an old bathroom building
from the site’s footprint. As soon as the construction plan made headlines, opponents of the proposed complex created an activism page on Facebook called “Save the Fly” to provide community members with information about the proposed 2.5-acre development. When District B City Councilwoman LaToya Cantrell discussed the project's details with her community development committee, she expressed serious concerns about the small public demonstration involved in discussing the use
of the land. According to Katie Smith, director of public relations at the Audubon Nature Institute, the Carrollton Boosters project, funded by individuals such as New Orleans Saints and Pelicans owner Tom Benson, New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees and other corporations, has been placed on hold until they are able to come up with ways to improve the development plan. “Our number one goal is to create a rewarding experience for all families in New Orleans,” Smith said.
“We are meeting with community groups to develop the best plan to balance green space and recreation for children in the area.” Smith said that the commission voted on the commercial entity agreement with Carrollton Boosters on April 30, 2015 during an open meeting. She added that the best way for the community to learn about Audubon projects is to attend public Audubon Commission meetings. While the Audubon Commission did hold a public meeting about
the development, Jeffrey Thomas, local attorney and resident of the Carrollton neighborhood, said that there should have been more of an active effort to get public opinion on the matter. “A public meeting with 24 commissioners that is put in a small notice in the paper is not the same as being more deliberate and purposeful with public participation,” Thomas said.
See THE FLY, page 4
Students and faculty come together to honor Jon Altschul By Gage Counts rgcounts@loyno.edu @countsingsheep
Colleagues, students, family and friends gathered in Roussel Hall on Monday, Feb. 29 to reflect on the life and legacy of Jon Altschul, associate professor of philosophy, who died last week. During the opening remarks, the Rev. Kevin Wildes, S.J., university president, said that Jon was a great grace to anyone who knew him. “He was a grace we didn't earn or merit. We should take the time to be grateful for the time he spent in our lives,” Wildes said. Altschul began teaching at Loyola in 2009, after obtaining his doctorate in philosophy from the University of California at Santa Barbara the same year. In his time at Loyola, he earned his tenure, became a member and then chairman of the faculty senate and started his own program, Philosopher Kids, which taught philosophy to children in nearby schools.
Kevin O'Sullivan, A'14, helped start Philosopher Kids with Altschul and is still involved with the program. “He was excited and passionate about getting philosophy to children in an accessible way,” O'Sullivan said. “He named it Philosopher Kids and this semester marks our second full year of the program.” To Jessica DeBold, A'14, Philosopher Kids was about more than teaching philosophy to children. It wasn't just for the kids, it was also for his students. He wanted us to learn how to affect children's lives. He hoped we could change the questions they asked and how they would come to question the world. He met with his students and alumni to prep for the classes, but also to have a meaningful relationship with us,” DeBold said. “It really is amazing to think about how much he cared about us and this program.” The focus of his research was in the area of epistemology and philosophy of the mind. He also helped organize the Southern Epistemology Conference, held at Loyola last
semester. Bruce Bower, Tulane philosophy professor, said he admired Altschul's knowledge. “He had tremendous intellectual rigor,” Bower said. “It's a pity that he won't be able to talk about it anymore.” Altschul was elected as the Chairman of the faculty senate in 2014. Under his stewardship, the senate was involved in several important issues. Maria Calzada, dean of the College of Humanities and Natural Sciences, said Altschul's stewardship guided the senate through several important issues. “His work in the faculty senate has been described as masterful. He was always well-prepared, thoughtful and fair,” Calzada said. Mark Gossiaux, associate professor of philosophy, said at the memorial service that Altschul had a great way of talking to people. “One of the things that I will always remember about Jon is that he was a great listener. When you talked to Jon, he would make you feel
that you were important, that you had something of great value to say that he really wanted to understand. If only we could all listen to each other like that,” Gossiaux said. Fallon Chaisson, mass communication freshman, reflected on her time as one of his students. “I was with him for a semester and a half, and the thing I remember about him, and thing that he taught me, was to never feel burdened by helping someone else, because it will pay off in the end," Chaisson said. She also said that he would sometimes take the class outside during busy parts of the semester to take a break from philosophy. “I think that he was more focused on making sure that yes, we knew philosophy, but also that we were growing as people, too,” Chaisson said. Chaisson said that she thinks everyone who interacted with Altschul had similar memories. “Everyone has said the same things about him, and that just shows how true it all is. There are no
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inconsistencies in what people say about him,” Chaisson said. Constance Mui, chairwoman of the philosophy department, said Altschul was more than just a remarkable professor and colleague. “Jon will be remembered as a gifted teacher, scholar and faculty leader,” Mui said. “To many of us, he will be remembered as a loyal friend and the quintessential good guy.”
Courtesy of Loyola University