Daily w Trojan
Volume LXXII, Number 34
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, California
Monday, November 7, 1977
<&(/&
crime in the streets
and on campus
By David Hall
Surrounding Community
As the USC campus complex has developed, its surrounding neighborhood has kept pace. Recently, the University Hilton opened directly across from the campus. The University and its many special needs were given careful consideration in the design of the 261-room. 11-story hotel. Meeting and conference rooms, luxurious accommodations, and five spots for dining and entertainment are available for the enjoyment of USC faculty, students, staff members and visitors. University Village, a $12.5 million shopping center ivas opened in the fall of 1975. Situated on a 15-acre site immediately adjoining the campus, the Village will include more than 100 shops, many keyed to student business, selling everything from books to bicycles. In September 1976. two University-owned apartment complexes were completed adjacent to the campus housing nearly 1000 students. In addition, four smaller apartment units.Law House, and German House are available to students. Many are specifically geared to the student lifestyle offering carious recreational and academic facilities. Students will benefit greatly from the continuing development of the USC campus and surrounding neighborhood.	—	A university promotional bulletin
The whole story?
At 4:40 a.m. on Oct. 21, Gary Ross was awakened by a noise in his 34th Street apartment. The noise, as it turned out. was made by a prowler, who escaped when he realized Ross was awake.
Between the hours of 1:45 and 3:22 a.m. three houses on the Row, Birnkrant Residence Hall and Watt Hall had been burglarized. The Row burglaries, according to police, probably were committed by the same person who has been hitting the Row repeatedly this year.
After a petty theft later that morning, a janitor was held up at gunpoint by two men in a parking lot next to Men’s Residence West. The pair escaped with $80. The robbery took place at 3:13 p.m.
And three hours later. Elizabeth Gafarian, a part-time employee at the university, was the victim of a purse-snatcher while walking to her car after work.
In a span of less than 16 hours, nine crimes were committed. All but one — the petty theft — were felonies. And none of the culprits were caught.
All the victims were either students or staff at USC.
Just what kind of a community is the university a part of?
The university and surrounding area is part of the Los Angeles Police Department’s Southwest Division, which for the past three years has held the number-one spot in crime for Los Angeles. County.
(continued on page 2)
Prevention called student responsibility
By Mike Simpson
Assistant City Editor
Take a predominantly poor neighborhood and add an affluent college community. Blend the two ingredients and what do you get? One of the highest crime areas in Los Angeles.
‘This is not an area you'd want to live in ordinarily.” said Lt. James Williamson of the Los Angeles Police Department’s Southwest Division. Williamson works with the division's Team 3. which is assigned to the university area. “It is a marginal area, which means it’s close to being a slum,” he said.
“The neighborhood includes lower class families, transients.
ex-cons and problem people . . . Crime and violence are more of a way of life here than in other places.”
As far as danger to students is concerned. Williamson said the area is safer than some believe and more dangerous than others fear. 'This isn't a jungle per se, but if you pretend that there is no danger of occurrence of crime in the area, then you’re in big trouble,” he said.
Crime prevention must start with the student himself, according to Williamson. “Many students who come to the university have lived lives completely free from the type of jeopardy faced in this area. The student can pro-
tect himself best by being aware of potential dangers and by being careful.”
Crimes committed most often against students fall into five categories: automobile burglary, automobile theft, bicycle theft, petty theft and violent crime.
Theft from motor vehicles Automobile burglaries, which occur more than any other crime in the area, include stolen tape decks, radio equipment and anything of value that might have been left in the car or trunk. Williamson said it’s ' unbelievably easy” to break into a car, so if anything of value is visible,
(continued on page 8)