LeVar gets down as crowd gets up at tribute to ‘Roots’
By Tom Rosa
Managing Editor
“It's been said that you worry about having gotten too much too soon.” a reporter said to I,eVar Burton.
The black actor pulled back and asked the reporter. “Where did you hear that lie?”
Burton'sanswer was not voiced in egotism, but in assurance that his sudden rise to fame because of his role in the television series Roots was something he not only could handle — but love.
The 19-year-old junior in drama was the recipient of even more fame Wednesday in a “Tribute to Roots" in Alumni Park sponsored by the Associated Black Students of Southern California. President John R. Hubbard and the University Bookstore.
A crowd of about 4.000 came to see Burton, numerous other members from the Roots cast and Alex Haley, author of the bestselling book.
Karen Posnick. a member ofthe black student group, said the tribute’s purpose was not only to
recognize the achievements of Roots but to acknowledge the growing role of Third World people, women and historically oppressed people in modern American society.
She said the tribute also showed that the black student group is a viable part of the university.
Surrounding the platform in front of Doheny Library where the special guests sat were dignitaries from the university, politicians, entertainment personalities and other invited guests.
Burton was visibly excited by the tribute and constantly exchanged gestures and smiles with friends in the audience, especially with a group of drama students sitting back in the crowd.
“This day has great historical significance in the life ofthe university,” said Thomas Kilgore, special assistant to the president. Kilgore and James Appleton, vice-president for Student Affairs, represented the university in Hubbard's absence.
Appleton presented Burton with the Univer-
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Second attempted rape in less than week reported to Security
By David Black
Assistant City Kditor
The second attempted rape in less than a week — involving the same suspect, the robbery of a student about Five minutes later and a car theft were reported Tuesday night. Campus Security did not believe the incidents were related.
The victim, a student living in the College-University Residence Hall, said she decided to walk from her room to the Campus Shops complex on Vermont Avenue at about 9 p.m., according to Campus Security records.
The woman said she noticed a black male watching her while he stood near Parking Structure C, located in front of the residence hall.
The man followed her as she walked westbound between Doheny Library and the Von KleinSmid Center. Campus Security said. The woman said she then lost sight of the man.
Moments later she noticed him walking westbound about 50 feet ahead of her as she started walking across Parking Lot K, the large parking area just south of Cromwell Field. She said the man was watching her over his shoulder.
The man slowed his walking pace, and by the time the two were on the west side of the lot, they were within a few feet of each other, the woman said. The man then reportedly asked her, “Do you want to buy some whites?” Officers said the ques-
tion was an apparent reference to drugs.
The woman told officers she refused, whereupon the man grabbed her right arm. The suspect then made an obscene suggestion, while the woman tried to pull away unsuccessfully, the report said.
The man began to unzip his trousers while continuing to make obscene remarks, the report said.
The woman said she finally broke away and ran to the nearby Church of Latter-Day Saints on West 36th Street to summon aid.
A witness inside the church told officers he saw the man loitering outside the building, look-(continued on page 2)
ALEX HALEY
ACTRESS OLIVIA COLE
University of Southern California
Volume LXXI, Number 21	Los	Angeles, California	Thursday, March 10, 1977
Health group revived following lifeless year
By John Hughes
Staff Writer
“The fairest thing you can say about SHAC (the Student Health Advisory’ Committee) is that it was resuscitated today,” said Addie L. Klotz, executive director of Student Health and Counseling Services.
Klotz, who made her comment after Wednesday’s meeting of the committee, said “SHAC has been very active until thisyear.”
This year the committee lost three of its four officers and the continuity needed for it to be effective, Klotz said.
An election of interim officers to complete thissemesterwill be held at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Student Health Center.
The committee acts as an advisory’ group for an executive board composed of three health center representatives and the four committee officers. The executive board advises Klotz.
Steve Hirsch, committee chairman and a graduate student in public administration, said that any student who has paid his health service fee can become a committee member.
“We want input. We don't care if it is positive or negative,” Hirsch said. “This is the only organization where the student input is listened to.”
“We are known nationally for having a really strong student input in our operation.” Klotz
said. ‘“I want it that way.”
The Self-Help Cold Clinic and the legal services office are two examples of programs prompted by the committee. Klotz said.
Beginning in two or three weeks, the health center will offer optometric services on a pay-for-service basis. Examinations will be $12 and the cost of glasses will range from $32 to$53 depending on whether a new frame is purchased and the type of frame.
The addition of optometry to the services available to students is another example of the committee's work, Klotz said.
Hirsch said the committee is working on several projects. One of these is an improvement of services for students at the Rancho Los Amigos campus.
Students at Rancho Los Amigos pay the same fee. Hirsch said. In an attempt to improve their ability to utilize the health center, the committee is working on setting up both a toll-free telephone connection between the campuses and a free shuttle system.
“We are looking at our fee plan,” Hirsch said, “looking at whether a person should pay the present fee or on a pay-for-service basis.”
Hirsch said the committee s weekly Wednesday meetings are an open forum for students.
LEVAR BURTON
Daily
Trojan
BOOKWORM — A bookstore patron smiles as she prepares to purchase four copies of the bestselling Roots. In conjunction with the "Tribute to Roots," the book was on sale for $ 10 Wednesday only. Employees couldn't immediately estimate just how many copies were sold, but this person did her part. DT photo by Paul Rodriguez. (Other Roots photos on this page by Denis Wolcott and Patty Cox.j