Freshman survey indicates student stereotypes changing
By Richard Meese
Stall' Writer
Remember the concept of the average USC student
—	the one with the pullover sweater, new Porsche and preference for dining at Pelino's?
This stereotype is no longer true, according to the university's Freshman Survey for Fall. 1976. The survey. compiled by Veronica Tincher, head of Information Services, suggests that a typical student wears T-shirts, drives a Volkswagon Bug and spends a lot of time bombarding his palate with Big Macs.
According to the survey, 58% of the freshmen w ho entered USCthis fall come from familiesthat earn less than $20,000 a year. This would tend to discredit the concept of rich young students comprising a majority of the campus community.
In fact, those women who came here looking for rich husbands will be sorely disappointed to note that less than 1 1% of the male students attending the university have parents who earn more than $50,000 a year.
A comparison with the median income of Los Angeles, residents (about $15,000 annually) shows that USC students actually fall below the average in in-
come levels.
The report further suggests that more than 70% ofthe students at the university are receiving some sort of financial aid. whether it isa loan.scholarshiporgrant.
Why is USC attracting students from the lower economic levels and not the higher income students?
“I'm merely speculating," Tincher said. “But I think it's because a lot of the very wealthy parents would rather send their son or daughter to a UC (University of California) campus where it is about $3,000 cheaper a year. They figure that they can buy the kid a car and still come out way ahead. The lower-income students are more impressed w ith the image of the university.” The freshman survey has been used for three years and was implemented to accomplish two major goals.
“One was to present an accurate picture of each freshman class and what their needs are,” Tincher said. "The other w'as to give us a data base to help monitor students as they go through. We wanted to find out why some students stay and others leave.”
The report also showed a definite increase in the number of students pursuing careers in architecture, engineering and physical sciences. A loss of interest
was noted in biology, education and the health sciences.
Graeme Morland, a professor in the Department of Architecture and Fine Arts, indicated that the increase will not result in any significant problems for his department.
“I think it's wonderful,” Morland said. “We have an extensive screening program we use to get the best possible students. The increase in applicants just means there w'ill be more qualified people applying.”
Morland does not plan to expand the department in the near future. It is now running at a saturation level, he said.
"We do plan to create alternate plans in conjunction with other departments to help us with the overflow.” he said.
The architecture department’s screening process has resulted in only half of the applicants from across the country being admitted.
“Unfortunately, only 65% of those we accept end up showing up. We are currently mounting a large campaign to correct this problem.”
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Daily ip Troian
Volume LXXl, Number 11
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, California
Thursday, February 24, 1977
Chemistry TAs will support recommendations to strike
By Mike Simpson
Staff Writer
Chemistry teaching assistants voted Friday to endorse recommendations of the Council of Teaching Assistants to strike if necessary and to repeat their demands for a salary increase to the Board of Trustees.
The council originally requested an 18% increase but the increase request was lowered to 15% by the President's Ad-vlsory Council, and was provisionally granted at 6% by a vote ofthe Finance and Budget Committee of the Board of Trustees.
In response to the cut in their requested salary increase, coupled with the feeling that they aren't being taken seriously, TAs are holding departmental meetings to show their support and discuss possible action.
At the chemistry meeting. 65 of 72 TAs voted fora preliminary strike. They also voted unanimously to support the recommendations ofthe Council of Teaching Assistants.
Stephen Li. a chemistry department representative on the council, said since no one in the budgetary hierarchy seemed to care about the welfare ofthe TAs. they are trying to show the Board of Trustees that they have legitimate complaints and should be treated seriously.
"This meeting should be an indication
that our financial problem* are real, our support is strong and our recommendations must be respected,' he said.
The council found that between 19’<0 and 1975. the accumulative inflation rate for Los Angeles was 44.9%. while salaries during that period increased 36.6% for faculty and 11% for TAs.
Li said that in response to these findings the council has formulated a schedule for 1977-78 increases for TA stipends.
“The increase we are asking for would bring TA stipends up to a level comparable to that wrhich we would have received with the previous salary percentage increases of faculty members.” he said. “However, this increase would represent less than one half of one percent of the total budget of the university."
The recommendations of the council have been sent to the Board of Trustees with a request for a response by March 4, In the meantime, other departmental meetings are tentatively planned. Li said.
Rick Blevins, a graduate student and TA in German, said a tally is being taken of TA support so they can do a little “muscle-flexing." Blevins said living on the present pay of $3,500 a year is impossible, so if the requested increase is rejected, the chances are good that action w'ill be taken.
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Police investigate apparently accidental death of baby girl
Los Angeles Police are investigating the apparently accidental death of a baby girl who was discovered lying on the floor of an apartment in the Married Students Housing Complex late Wednesday morning.
The victim, Raniah Alfozan. would have been a year old today.
A babysitter w ho said she was staying w ith the child and two other infants in the apartment told investigators she was in the kitchen when she heard a thump from the main room where the children were playing.
The woman told police she ran into the room and found the infant unconscious on
the floor.
She then called her husband, who was attending class, officials said. The babysitter's husband arrived at the scene and brought the baby to the Student Health Center, where she was pronounced dead on arrival at 11:50 a.m. Health center officials then notified Campus Security and the Los Angeles County Coroner's office.
Rich Parker, an investigator for LAPD s Juvenile Division, said the death appeared accidental. An autopsy will be performed today or Friday to determine the exact cause of death, an official in the coroner's office said.
SINGING IN THE RAIN — The university chapter of the Umbrella Corps marches to the tune of raindrops. Because of the water shortage, this is
one time Los Angeles residents probably welcome the dark skies and slippery roads. DT photo by Paul Rodriguez.
Academic adviser provides help beyond regular counseling hours
By David Rosenbaum
StafT Writer
So you’re a‘third-week freshman and you've already changed your major three times. Your mother wantsyouto become a doctor, your father wants you to become a lawyer. . .and you w'ant to become an actor. What do you do?
“A lot of people are hiding in closets, knowing deep dow n inside what they want to do. but afraid of making their own choices,” said Andy Strenk, academic adviser for the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences (LAS).
“Many students feel obligated to their parents for their financial support and have conflicting dreams and goals. They want a career entailing prestige, leisure time, power. . .many students haven't really sat down and thought about what is important to them.”
Strenk helps these people solve their academic quandaries by offering to advise them at their residence halls, fraternities or sororities or campus-area apartments on evenings or weekends.
"Evening advisement reaches people who would never set foot in an office," he said. “Talking in his dorm, with feet prop-
ped up, beer in hand, a student will more readily open up. In the office, he often will tell you what he thinks you expect to hear. But in his room, there are none of the office accoutrements — phones, secretaries — to distract him.”
On evenings from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. — “although frequently until 12 or 1 a.m.”— and weekends when he is available. Strenk counsels students about problems relating to academics, course requirements, incomplete grades and scholarships.
“I also get every kind of personal problem,” he said. “Usually there isa personal hang up impinging upon an academic one.”
The advisement program is low key and less bureaucratized than other such services. Strenk said.
Evening advisement may also save the student from standing in longlinesduring preregistration at the LAS ofTice. he said.
Strenk. a former swimmer with a degree in history, has no educational background in counseling. But after studying abroad to obtain his master's degree, he returned here and was asked by Norman R.
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