By Gary Maloney
Staff Writer
Assurances that the proposed levels of teaching assistant compensation for 1977-78 will be increased were received by representatives ofthe university’s TAs when they met Thursday with top-ranking administrators.
Last month, the finance committee of the Board of Trustees gave the TAs a 6% salary increase and a salary adjustment pool of$30,000. The TAs requested an 18% across-the-board increase of TA stipends plus the 6% inflationary' increase.
While disallowing the possibility of complete fulfillment of the TA request, the administrators sympathized with the TAs and agreed that an increase was necessary’, said John Marburger. dean of the College of Letters. Arts and Sciences. Also representing the administration were Zohrab A. Kaprelian, executive vice-president, and Harold von Hofe, dean of the Graduate School.
“Two significant things are happening, and were clear from the meeting,” Marburger said. “First, there is the recogni-
TA compensation increase assured by administrators
tion by both administrators and TAs that there is an inequity, and this must be made up. Then, once an adequate salary base is established for the TAs and faculty, their increases may be coupled, as the Board of Trustees chose to do this year.”
Marburger said that to alleviate the inequity, Kaprelian said the adjustment pool of $30,000 would be increased. However, because the financial position ofthe university for next year is uncertain now, Kaprelian was reluctant to estimate the amount of the increase, he said.
“It is my own conviction by Kaprelian’s presentation, that the increase in the adjustment pool will be substantial,” Marburger said. “There was no hostility of any kind at this from the TAs, but there was a feeling of frustration, at not receiving an
immediate answer.”
On the possibility of a strike, Marburger said, “I think a strike would be a serious mistake strategically for the TAs. They have impressed the administration simply by organizing and expressing themselves in an articulate way. We have touched base with them. To strike or threaten to strike would jeopardize their position,” he said.
“A strike should not be considered until the TAs find out how much the adjustment pool is going to be, and this is many months off. A strike would make it more difficult for those administrators working to increase the adjustment pool,” Marburger said.
Rick Blevins, a German TA and a spokesman for the TA group, said Kaprelian made it clear that neither he, Mar-
burger nor von Hofe were against the TA increase, but that the Board of Trustees had been the stumbling block to stipend and admustment pool increases.
“Kaprelian was very cooperative, and said that we were the easiest group to deal with, as our requests involve less than one-half of 1% of the total budget,” Blevins said. “No huge jumps were going to be made, Kaprelian said, but when the fiscal reports come in there will be an excellent chance forthe improvement of the adjustment pool.”
On the possibility of a strike, Blevins hinted that, without some increase in TA benefits for next year, a strike was probable. but that a vote of university TAs would be necessary for work stoppage to occur.
“In the first place, there’s not one TA who wants a strike — everybody’s looking for an out. The majority of the TA representatives, however, feel pushed by their constituencies to take some concrete actions. Nobody wants to hurt the stature of the university,” Blevins said. In the proposed charter for the Council
(continued on page 2)
Daily w Trojan
Volume LXXI, Number 23
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, California
Monday, March 14, 1977
A LITTLE BIT COUNTRY — A landscaped area between Student Administrative Services and Hancock
Foundation provides some leafy, countrified respite from concrete and smog. DT photo by Denis Wolcott.
New procedures established to handle discrimination complaints
By Elizabeth Thompson
StafT Writer
New procedures for handling student complaints about discrimination by other students, student organizations and university offices have been established by the OfTice of Affirmative Action.
The procedures are based upon those established for the processing of faculty and staff grievances, said Barbara Pearson, director of Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employment.
Paul Moore, director of Student Activities, said that inthe past all complaints about discrimination were handled informally, with the student carrying his grievance to a dean of one of the schools or the dean of student life.
The new procedures, he said, were developed to fulfill the requirements for processing students’ grievances about discrimination on the basis of sex. as set forth in Title IX of the Education Amendment of 1972.
“We took the opportunity to develop procedures not only related to sex. as required by Title IX, but also racial discrimination,” Moore said.
Complaints about discrimination will now be processed through two different procedures, depending upon whether the complaint is against a
student or a student organization, or against a university ofTice, department, faculty orstaff member.
Charges against students or student organizations should be filed with James R. Appleton, vice-president for Student Affairs. If Appleton finds reason to believe discrimination has occurred, he will discuss with the organization the actions it can take to end it.
As an alternative, students may choose to have their grievances heard by a Student Hearing Committee composed of members ofthe University Judicial Council and a staff member appointed by Appleton.
Complaints against university offices, departments and personnel should be made in writing to the appropriate office or department. The chairman, faculty or staff member in charge ofthe office or department will then talk with the student in an attempt to resolve the problem.
If the student is dissatisfied with these informal procedures he can appeal to a Joint Hearing Panel composed of students, faculty and staff members appointed by the President’s Advisory7 Council After reviewing the case, the panel will recommend possible courses of action to the student and the appropriate department.
Labor board calls for Security unification vote
By David Black
Assistant City Editor
Campus Security officers, disgruntled with working conditions, have been directedto holda vote aimed atdecidingwhetherthey want to be represented by a newly formed association, an official of the National Labor Relations Board said Friday.
The directive was made Tuesday after consideration of requests by members of both sides in the issue, said Louis A. Gordon, assistant regional director for the labor board’s region 31.
The order was issued by Abraham Siegel, the region’s director, Gordon said. The vote will be held sometime within 30 days of the directive’s issuance.
Patrol officers will be the only Campus Security employees allowed to vote, Gordon said. Campus Security’s director, chief, captain, lieutenants and sergeants are prohibited from voting, he said.
Charles Robb, president of the Security Officers Assn., said the association seeks to be the bargaining agent to represent the officers.
Attorneys representing the university had sought to block approval of the decision, Gordon said.
The attorneys claimed the association had indirect ties with a local union, he said. “But no evidence was found to substantiate their claims,” Gordon said. Such ties are imp roper under labor board rules.
Both sides have the right to appeal the directive, but no appeal has been made yet, Gordon said.
John Lechner, director of Campus Security and university spokesman, said a possible appeal was “under consideration.” Lechner refused to comment further.
One association member, who asked not to be identified, said he was encouraged with the directive.
“We want to be treated as professionals by the university, and thus in turn, we’ll show them we are professionals,” he said.
“As things stand now, the university won’t give us the authority to make sure the students are protected,” the member said.
Gordon said he had no idea when an exact date forthe vote would be set, but speculated the action won’t be made for at least another two weeks.
Goal set for blood drive
The USC Blood Program, Board is sponsoring a blood drive March 21-25 from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on the second floor of the Student Activities Center. Students, faculty, and staff are welcome to donate. The goal of the group is 1,000 pints.
Donors may make appointments this week from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Tommy Trojan and at the cornerof University Avenue and 28th Street. Donations may also be made without an appointment.
Anyone from age 17 to 66, who is in good health and weighs at least 110 pounds, may donate.
“Volunteer blood is very important.” said Mike Green, chairman ofthe Blood Program Board. “It’s a lot healthier than the blood found in commercial banks. The incidence of
hepatitis in commercial blood is 10 times greater than with volunteer blood,” he said.	t
The Blood Program Board, composed of several campus groups, is providing the organization and manpower for the drive. The Red Cross will process the blood and distribute it to hospitals. At least 1.500 pints of blood are used per day in Los Angeles and Orange Counties.
Green said more faculty' and staff blood donations are needed to reach the goal. “They are the ones that use the USC blood bank the most,” he said.
A trophy will be given to the student organization that gets the greatest percentage of its members to donate.
More information may be obtained by calling the Student Health Center at 746-5344.