Daily fg| Trojan
University of Southern California
Volume LXX, Number 5	Los Angeles, California	Friday, September 24, 1976
Coed kidnap attempted
An 18-year-old female student was confronted at gunpoint Thursday morning in an attempted kidnapping in front of the University Hilton. She was not harmed.
The student, whose name was not released by police, was studying in her car, which was parked in a restricted zone at the entrance to the hotel on Figueroa Street.
Sgt. Lawrence Townsend of the Los Angeles Police Department’s Southwest Division said the woman was approached at about 10 a.m. by a black male between 18 and 20 years old.
“Don't you know you can't park here?” he asked. Police said she responded, “I know I shouldn't be here.” She then rolled up her window and locked the door.
About 15 minutes passed and the man returned, the student reported to the LAPD. In the meantime, the woman had rolled down her w indow.
The man reached into the car, unlocked the door and, with gun in hand, told the woman to move over because they “were going for a ride.”
A scuffle followed and the student grabbed the gun and ran into the street. The gun was described as an automatic-type weapon, w'hich has a clip in the handle.
A witness told police that he saw the man casually leave the car and walk through the hotel parking lot.
The assailant, who was not apprehended. was described as being of slight build, rough complexion and weighing 150 pounds. He was wearing a green Army-style fatigue jacket and a blue knit cap with an emblem sewn on.
Townsend said, “Students must realize that this is not the first time such a thing has occurred in Los Angeles and should take extra precautions.”
CRAMMING—Certainly not this student, who appears to be listening to soft music while trying to forget that his first test is next week. DT photo by Scott Kennedy.
Director accused of stifling unionization
BY PATTI WOLF
Staff Writer
Custodians here have accused Arnold F. Shafer, executive director of university facilities, of offering plant employees, including custodians, up to $100 if they would oppose efforts of a custodial group to form a union.
Shafer denied this and all other charges against him and his plant supervisors. He labeled the reports “ridiculous propaganda.”
Francisco Gutierrez. legal adviser of the Pro-Union Committee, composed of custodians, said Shafer had been giving dinners and luncheons to Physical Plant employees. Gutierrez said Shafer was strongly presenting the view that a union would not be in the employees best interest.
The legal adviser said gardeners employed in the plant received pay raises last month and that the increase “is attributed directly to the union issue.”
Through Gutierrez, two committee members who only speak Spanish, Pedro Figueroa and Enrique Grajeda, said custodial supervisors have been harassing, insulting and challenging custodians who support the unionization drive during working hours.
Reports of incidents involving two supervisors, called group leaders at the Physical Plant, have been sent to Shafer. Her-nan Dias was accused of insulting and humiliating Figueroa during work. Alfonso Vallejo was accused of physically abusing and challenging and unnamed custodian to fight.
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Shafer said he received letters from the Pro-Union Committee in which accusations against group leaders were made. The director said the leaders were “not guilty.” There was no action taken against the men because they were provoked into the situation,” he said. Shafer also said he did not know specifically how the group leaders were provoked.
He said the accusations were an attempt by the committee to ‘discredit management.”
The director admitted he held meetings with a total of 60 employees in groups of 15 or 20. “I
told them that they don’t need a union because they have sensitive management,” Shafer said.
Eleven custodians, feeling that management was insensitive and unresponsive, formed the Pro-Union Committee in June 1976. Their goal was to become members of Teamster Local 208.
Custodians who began the current unionization drive want to ally with the Teamsters because demands the employees have made have not been met, said Carlos Soto, a custodiaji and member of the committee.
The committee’s major demand is a set pay raise of at least 6%. Shafer said custodial pay raises are made on a merit basis.
Gutierrez said, “The pay increase depends on how well the custodian gets along with his group leader.”
Custodians are now classified on the lowest pay-grade level. All employees at the university are ranked on a scale from one to 12. Pay and benefits are accorded differently at each level. Custodians are ranked at level one.
Levels six to 12 include professional, managerial and supervisorial positions. The lower levels include secretarial personnel, clerks, food service workers and technicians.
The custodians would like less power for the group leaders. Group leaders can virtually fire workers, Gutierrez said. “The leaders make recommendations to Shafer and about 90% of those recommendations are followed,” he said.
Preferential treatment for in-house job transfers has also
been requested by the committee. Gutierrez cited an example where a custodian currently working at the university was denied a plumber’s position.
Gutierrez said the man had passed the plumbing test yet was denied the job because he did not have a plumbing license. No mention of a license was made on the notification sent out advising of the opening, he said.
Shafer said the man was not denied the job for personal reasons. “He did not meet the
necessary qualifications,” Shafer said.
A plumbing license is not required to fill a plumbing position, he said.
The director said the university encourages in-house transfers. “We place job openings on employee bulletin boards,” Shafer said. He added that nonskilled employees are encouraged to try for skilled positions.
(continued on page 10)
FLY ME?—British stewardesses were on campus Thursday to offer students weary from the first week of classes a glimmer of hope—namely details of possible vocations. DT photo by Mike Ito.
Dole cancels speech
Robert Dole, the Republican vice-presidential candidate, isn’t coming to Political Science 100 today as scheduled and Larry Berg, professor of political science, isn’t happy about it.
Dole was supposed to address and answer the questions of 400 to 500 students in a special period that Berg had set up.
Dole’s administrative assistant informed Berg on Thursday that the senator wouldn’t be able to make his appearance because he would be -meeting with a small group of Jewish leaders.
“Quite frankly, I feel he didn’t want to face a good intellectual battle,” Berg said. “It’s' much
nicer to meet with a small group of leaders and have a cup of coffee.
“I don’t want to be vindictive. I want to point out to my students that he didn’t want to do battle with them. When you have a commitment you keep it. If you don’t you lose it.
“In the old days when you had the chance to address a group, you did, because that is where the votes were. Now you meet with small groups of leaders all over the country.”
Berg said he will use the class period to discuss the nature of politics.
Rhodes open to women
Women are now eligible to compete in the Rhodes Scholarship program, which for the past 73 years only allowed males to compete for the scholarships to Oxford University.
“The program is a great opportunity for intellectually exciting women and it is excellent for them to be given this chance,” said Joan M. Schaefer, dean of women.
Applicants will be judged on the basis of four criteria: literary and scholastic attainments; fondness for and success in sports; truth, courage, devotion to study, sympathy for and protection of the weak, kindliness, unselfishness and fellowship, and
moral force of character and instincts to lead.
The scholarship was set up by Cecil Rhodes in his will. The scholarship provides for two years at Oxford with all educational, travel and maintenance expenses paid for.
Rhodes scholars	are
selected for their potential over a lifetime. The program seeks scholars who are more than intellectual, but are also physically fit and involved in some type of athletic program.
Seniors who are interested, unmarried and have excellent academic and extracurricular records may obtain more information by calling 746-5529 or 746-6390.