Daily
Troian
Volume LXXI, Number 10
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, California
Wednesday, February 23, 1977
Optimism expressed for music institute
By Michelle Cabral
Assistant News Editor
Speakers expressed optimism Sunday afternoon for the new Ar nold Schoenberg Institute, which was honored at the university.
The angular-shaped building bearing the late composer's name currently houses Schoenberg’s manuscripts, scores, books and memorabilia. Near the upstairs entrance is a replica of his studio, in which he worked forthe last 17years of his life.
"One of the century 's most distinguished musicians, Schoenberg, perhaps more than any other single man, has been responsible for the qualities that make modem music such challenging fare for the average concert goer," said Elva Kremenliev in her article “Recollections of Schoenberg: A Riddle in 12 Tones" in the Los Angeles Times.
President John R. Hubbard gave an opening speech saying that the new institute would be a place of inspiration for rebels and traditionalists in the music world.
Leonard Stein, director of the institute, said the new building would be a training ground for new music. “It will reflect its own future and will be a living force challenged by changing and lasting values. It will serve scholar and student.” Stein said.
Other speakers for the occasion said the institute was accomplished through hard work and “through sheer tenacity,” as Grant Beglarian. dean of the university's School of Performing Arts, put it.
Along with Stein was Clara Steuermann. archivist of the newr institute. In commenting on the building's future. Steuermann said:
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APPOINTMENT CRITICIZED
Administrator upsets MECHA
By Pat McKean
Staff Writer
The chairman of MECHA, the chicano student organization, said his group is upset with the recent selection of the Student Administrative Services director, labeling the new director a man with “racist tendencies, based on some of the policies he has put forth.”
Anthony Vasquez aimed his criticism at James Jones, who became administrative services director at the end of January after having served as acting director since last summer. Jones had no comment concerning Vasquez’ accusation.
MECHA made its dissatisfaction known at Tuesday’s meeting of the Affirmative Action and Personnel Policies Committee. That committee, according to Barbara Pearson, director of Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employment, is now looking into the questions raised by MECHA and is requesting information from the search committee that screened applications for the directorship and from President John R. Hubbard, who made the final selection.
The director of Student Administrative Services is responsible for admissions, registrations, student financial aid, university testing services and veteran’s affairs.
Vasquez cited three areas in making his accusa-
tion. “Jones supports the institution of racism here at USC through the policies of his office. Admissions, the freshman access program and recruiting of students are areas where there are problems,” Vasquez explained.
He said SAT and ACT score minimums, and grade-point average minimums have been raised for university admissions, which hurts minorities, because the tests have been proved to be biased culturally and linguistically.
Jay Berger, director of admissions, assistance and school relations, claimed that fact was not true. “There have been more applications from all ethnic and racial origins, and we don’t look at that as a basis for admissions,” Berger said.
In reference to the freshman access program, Vasquez said the majority of students admitted were not minorities. But Carol Sezna, assistant coordinator of the program, disputed the charge.
“We have over 200 students in the program, drawn from all aspects of American life,” she said. “The students are very representative of the entire USC student body, and come from all minorities and both sexes.”
Vasquez’ final charge was aimed against recruiting of students. He said recruiters do not go after a good representation of minority students.
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Affirmative action committee votes down inclusion of sexual orientation in policy
By Valerie Nelson
Assistant City Editor
A university committee turned down a proposal to include the words “sexual orientation’’ in USC's nondiscrimination policy, adding it to “race, creed and national origin."
The committee rejected the proposal raised by
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GONE WITH THE WIND—Blustery March days come early to give free flight to Paula Jan's Chinese-style kite on the intramural field. Dt photo by Denis Wolcott.
Donald Knutson, law' professor, by a 9-1 vote. The committee defeated a similar proposal last April.
Gays are currently provided for under existing nondiscrimination policies, said members of the Affirmative Action and Personnel Policies Committee as it reaffirmed its position Tuesday.
“We do not intend to let the matter drop here,” Knutson said. “We will seek avenues of appeal to the university and exhaust the remedies we have within the system.”
Barbara Solomon, committee chairperson, summarized the committee’s feeling by saying, “We feel present policy adequately covers all groups since there is no discrimination on any other basis of job related criteria.”
Referring to the term “sexual orientation,” David H. Malone, dean of humanities, asked “When do we stop adding adjectives?” Persons who received degrees from academically inferior universities and are discriminated against was one example he gave as the next people to apply for policy coverage.
“Anything which is now listed does not go into the personal, private behavior matters, which are matters of choice,” said Barbara Pearson, affirmative action director, “The gays have never been able to say anyone has been discriminated against on these grounds.”
Greg Castillo, chairperson of the Gay Students Union said, “I am dismayed. The decision just reaffirms the university’s stance toward gays as people who aren’t really wanted here.”
Lewis W. Green, an architectural draftsman for the university, was the only member of the committee to support the clause. “We are talking about an issue, not a person’s view of morality, but about being discriminated against. If a person is labeled a moral deviate and not hired by the university — that’s discrimination,” he said.
The question of how the university, as an employer, would know a person’s sexual orientation was raised. “Is it something we should put on an application (for employment)?” asked Hana Fukuda, trade book buyer for the bookstore.
Pearson said she opposed the recommendation because it might lead into a whole spectrum of moral judgment involving issues such as religious beliefs and living arrangements.
“Other areas are a matter of law. As far as homosexuality, we have no moral obligation, and should not encourage or condone it,” said Guy Hubbard, director of auxiliary services.
The personnel office has been instructed that the words “race, sex and national origin” serve as examples for all types of discrimination,” Solomon said.
100,000 signatures— well-wisher * strives for another first
DeVON SMITH
By Shelley Hoose
“Thanks for the memories,” DeVon Smith will say to Bob Hope in a birthday card for Hope’s 75th birthday, for which Smith hopes to collect 100,000 signatures.
Smith, 51, who originated the world’s largest birthday card for the Bicentennial, calls this project the “Bob Hope Anniversary Album,” and it should be ready by May 29, 1978.
He began seeking signatures Monday in front of Tommy Trojan, not realizing it was a holiday. The Los Angeles Times and NBC came to interview him.
In order to better publicize the event, Smith hopes that Queen Elizabeth of England will send her special regards to Bob Hope. “How can he refuse with the good queen signing it?”
Smith has good reason to think Queen Elizabeth will consent because Hope just finished presenting her a huge eight-pound key for her 25th anniversary as queen of England. “The biggest key in the world,” Smith said enthusiastically.
His ultimate goal is a signature from President Jimmy Carter.
His Bicentennial birthday card was 766 feet long, with 21,868 signatures taken from across the nation. Smith proudly displays pictures showing Bob Hope as the first signer, telling how he presented it at the White House on October 14, 1976 for President Gerald Ford to sign.
It took him two years to collect the signatures, beginning in Pennsylvania and ending on the Wrest Coast after he bought a $50 truck to drive across the country.
The Bicentennial card was terrible to handle, he said, so he has changed the format for Bob Hope’s birthday to loose-leaf notebook style, so any organization that wants to participate can mail him signatures to be added to the notebook.
Smith has spent the last 25 years of his life dreaming up new and different things to do. He is famous for numerous “firsts.”
He* is in the Guiness Book of Records for the “world champion hitchhiker,” having hitchhiked to all 49 states on the continent at least twice.
He is always seeking new ideas — “not for me, but for people in other places to have fun with. . .1 always want to reach people. I look for dates.. .celebration dates.”
His future goal is to publish a collection of anecdotes that he has experienced in the last 25 years throughout his travels, another series of “firsts.”
FBCVS
A study of cancer and research at the County-USC Cancer Center mada the debut of this semester's Focus section. See page five.