By Tom Nickell
Psychobiology, the study of the biological bases of behavior, is being offered for the first time as a major to students with interests in psychology and biology.
A double major in the two fields required an additional 32 units that will not be required with the new degree.
Since the announcement of the new biological major, students have been flocking in, said Joseph Kertes, assistant dean of student affairs for the college of Letters, Arts and Sciences.
Rigorous major
The interdisciplinary program is a rigorous major and is designed for the highly qualified and highly motivated undergraduate student.
The curriculum will cover seven courses in psychology; seven courses in biology; basic courses in chemistry, physics and math; and general education requirements. The student
Psychobiology major planned for fall term
will be required to complete 128 units in order to earn his degree.
Students are eligible to apply after completing the freshman year of biology and chemistry. They must have a minimum grade-point average of 3.0.
If the student applies at the end of his sophomore year, he must have a minimum grade average of 3.25 and juniors must have a minimum of 3.5. Kertes said anytime the student’s average falls below 3,0, he will be subject to removal from the program.
Kertes suggested that students take a general education requirement each
semester with the sciences courses to relieve some of the pressure from the science courses.
With a background in psychobiology, the student can pursue any of the following fields: health-related professional schools, graduate study in biology or related fields, graduate study in psychology or related fields and graduate study in psychobiology or the neurosciences.
Psychobiology is a growing field throughout the nation in both undergraduate and graduate schools. Kertes said this new major provides the student with a
background for a number of alternatives in different fields.
Advisory committee An advisory committee has been established to make policies involving any additions or substitutions in the curriculum format and to consider petitions regarding the major.
The committee consists of Ernest G. Greene, associate professor of psychology; Bernard C. Abbott, professor of biology; John Joostan, prehealth science coordinator; and Kertes. The students will be represented by John Spear.
Double advisement Psychobiology majors should have an adviser in both psychology and biology. They should also meet with Kertes once a year for counseling.
Kertes said there are plans to set up social events for psychobiology majors and to run symposiums with experts in the various fields.
Daily |§p Tvojun
Volume LXVIII, Number 127
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, California
Tuesday, May 11,1976
Firemen called to Men’s West, Dental School; find damage
A small burning object set off a fire alarm in the trash chute of Men's Residence West on Monday at 4:30 a.m. The heat and smoke from the object triggered the automatic sprinkler system within the trash chute that extinguished the fire.
Neither the Los Angeles Fire Department nor Campus Security knew what the burning object was.
The firemen returned to the university at 10 a.m. to answer a call at the Dental School after someone in the building smelled smoke.
Packets due Wednesday
\
Registration packets for students who did not receive them in the mail will be available in the Registrar's Office starting today.
Packets with “R” selections for the lottery will be accepted thru Wednesday in Student Administrative Services, room two.
Packets handed in after Wednesday will be accepted on a first-come first-served basis, the deadline for turning in these packets is July 2.
Early fall registration for new and returning students will run from July 6 thru Aug. 2.
The smoke was the result of an overheated ballast in a fluorescent lamp. Ther was no damage or fire.
Three engines answered tbe alarm at Men's West, where most of the more than 300 residents were evacuated until the fire departments saw that there was no further danger.
The sprinkler system within the trash chute extinguished the fire in a matter of minutes with just minor smoke and water damage done to the east side of the building.
The alarm at the residence hall was sounded again at 6 a.m. when Physical Plant employees were working to reengage the alarm.
Truck crash survivors’ conditions unchanged
The conditions of the two survivors of Thursday's truck crash near Banning remained unchanged late Monday afternoon. At the. same time, a plea was made for blood donations for one of the victims.
Theresa Lynn Kincheloe, 22, a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority, and Aleck Nicholas Edwards II, 22, of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, were killed in the early morning crash.
The driver of the truck, Michael James Haufler, 28, is hospitalized in critical condition, and Patricia Ann Tucker, 22, remains in serious condition. Tucker is also a member of Kappa Alpha Theta.
Both are in the intensive care unit of the Desert Hospital in Palm Springs.
Doctors said vital signs for both victims were stable, which is a slight encouragement.
A plea for blood donations was made by Tucker's sorority sisters, who asked that persons who want to donate type 0 negative blood go to the Red Cross Headquarters at 1200 S. Vermont Ave.
Persons giving blood should ask that their donations be credited to Tucker at the Desert Hospital.
More information may be obtained by calling Kathy Hawkins of Kappa Alpha Theta. at 746-8442 or 746-9634.
FORMER HEW HEAD
Senate candidate opposes nuclear restriction
By Peter Fletcher
Staff Writer
Bob Finch was one of the few people in President Nixon’s administration to escape the stigma of Watergate. He sensed the problems of the Nixon administration and got out while it was still possible.
Now Finch is running for the U.S. Senate seat held by John Tunney. He spoke on campus Monday to several classes and in front of Tommy Trojan at noon.
He began by outlining some of his political feelings. Most of the 45-minute talk was devoted to questions.
The Law Center graduate fielded all of the questions with ease. He spent a good deal of the time talking about energy, bilingual education and welfare prorams.
Finch said he opposes Proposition 15 (the nuclear plants initiative) because the United States will need nuclear power in the energy mix of the future so that the country can become less dependent on Arab oil.
He outlined the energy mix that he would like to see by the year 2000. It would be 20% solar, 18-20% nuclear and 50% petroleum, down from the present 80%. He
also said that geotnermal power is a potential part of the mix.
The question of what to do with the plutonium waste from the nuclear plants did not faze Finch. He said that the “state of the art of disposal methods will help us control wastes.”
He favors keeping the Panama Canal while the United States evaluates its position in South and Central America. He felt that having the canal is essential for shipping purposes. He also favors a second canal site.
Since Finch was Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare, there were several questions about welfare and national health insurance.
“Vou can't monitor a federal health system out of Washington," he said. He felt that the present Medicaid system needs improving because it is tied to Social Security. “The two should be separated,” he said.
National gun control legislation is an issue in which Finch feels the federal government shouldn't interfere. Guns should be controlled on the state and local level, he said, with the exception of the Saturday night specials or cheap handguns, which he hopes the federal govern-
ment will outlaw.
“Besides, the biggest computer system the government couldn't register all the guns floating the country,” he'said.
Finch was pleased with the reception he received at the university. He felt that the students' questions from the crowd of about 100 were very provocative.
He has appeared at about 14 other campuses throughout the state. He considers student support very important and he says that he is the only candidate actively going into the student ranks for support.
He is confident that he will win the Republican primary and the general election in November.
“1 think we're clearly in the lead but I don't want to bet the house and farm." he said.
His split with the Nixon administration came about because of what he called constant hassles with the White House staff. He said that he was not allowed access to the President.
If he is elected, he said that he would work to change the welfare system, making it more in line with the people's needs while at the same time cutting out the excesses in the programs.
Robert Finch