Surveys predict increase in job opportunities, for upcoming grads
Students at the university planning to graduate this spring will have a much better chance in the job market than graduating seniors did last year according to the results of three nationwide surveys.
The improving job prospects were attributed to the increasing confidence in the nation’s economy on the part of business and industry.
“At USC. there was an 18% increase in job placements last year, however those were only jobs that were reported back to the university,” said Gregory Hayes, director of the Career Resource Development Center.
The survey results showed that employers will be putting heavy emphasis on graduates with career-related work experience, an article in the Chronicle of Higher Education stated.
“By far the most employable majors among next June’s graduates, all three surveys agreed, are those in engineering
and computer science,” the article said.
The survey said those fields are also among those offering the highest salaries.
The surveys were taken at Michigan State University, Northwestern University and by the College Placement Council.
The council reported a 27% increase in openings for engineers at all degree levels this year.
“Computer science majors who graduate next June can expect 257r more offers than last June's graduates received,” said Frank S. Endicott of Northwestern University..
In comparing increases in the Consumer Price Index with increases in the average starting salaries offered to recent graduates, John D. Shingleton, director of placement at Michigan State University, said the engineering and accounting fields were those that best kept up with the rise in inflation and cost of living.
The council found, however, that new graduates in the humanities and education fields were among the least sought-after by employers.
“Were it not for a projected 23% increase in hiring by the federal government. . .liberal-arts graduates would face a 1% decrease in the number of jobs available this year,” Hayes said.
"The government is one of the largest employers of graduates in the nontechnical fields,” the council said.
The report also said that starting salaries offered to humanities majors over the last 10 years had increased an average of 4.4%, far below the level in the Consumer Price Index.
“The key word, however, is still competition. and to keep the job seeker optimistic, even though the figures may look good on paper, you’ve got to remember there is an increasing number of students graduating each year.” Hayes said.
Daily if Trojan
Volume LXXII, Number 62
University of Southern California
i
Los Angeles, California
Wednesday, January 11, 1978
Students on housing waiting list may be assigned within 2 weeks
PRISON VIEW — It may seem like a cold and barren yard for inmates, but this view is really of the United University Church as seen from the Music Faculty Memorial Building. DT photo by Mark Kariya.
A total of480 students have yet to be assigned housing, according to the Residential Assignment Office. The students are expected to be assigned within the next two weeks.
“The worst housing situation in years,” as Hans Reichl, director of residential life, termed it earlier in the year, will be resolved with the assignment.
When the new semester began In September, 1,200 students were on the waiting list. The difficulties in housing assignments were attributed to the record enrollment this year of over 25,000 students and the unusually high proportion of new students from outside areas.
Sharon Kettler, coordinator of residential assignment, said the conditions were alleviated because of the number of students that graduate, transfer or drop out. According to Reichl, the occupancy rate each spring semester decreases to around 98%
A number of students who had been assigned in September have applied to transfer to another residential facility. Kettler said 90% of these requests are for Cardinal Gardens or Troy Hall apartments. The requests are usually for one-bedroom or single-room apartments. According to Kettler, the office will only be able to fill 35 to 40 of these requests.
Kettler said assignments are made by placing the applicants in categories of freshmen, up-
perclassmen, dormitory applicants and apartment applicants. Within these categories, applications are then considered on a first-come, first-served basis. Kettler said freshmen living outside a 20-mile radius are given first priority, then transfer students from out of state
The Residential Assignment Office has been accepting applications for next year since the fall. Current students may pick
up applications at the Auxiliary Services Building. Resident students will go through a separate procedure.
Reichl said during the summer, when assignments are confirmed. the policy is to continue down the waiting list. If the office cannot contact a student because of a wrong address or phone number, the next person on the list will be contacted.
Faulty roofs leak in rain, minor damage reported
Roof leaks in university buildings have resulted from recent storms that hit Southern California.
Leaks have occurred in both old and new buildings, including the dining room in Birnkrant Residence Hall and the Grill The leaks have not caused any appreciable damage, said Russell Salmen. associate director of the Physical Plant.
However, the rains did cause the ceiling of a room in Harris Plaza to come loose. The ceiling was pulled down to prevent it from falling.
When roof leaks are discovered, Operations and Maintenance personnel attempt to make temporary repairs, said GordonJohnson. assistant director of the Physical Plant.
Most roofs here are difficult to repair because they are made of rock, he said. Operations and Maintenance workers have to dig under the roofs to find the fractures.
Some damages are discovered after the rains. Johnson said. Some buildings will probably need plaster repair, but Johnson does not expect any major damage.
In the past, the university has had problems with flooding in low spots on campus, such as the corner of 34th Street and McClintock Avenue. The storm drains in that area were modified by the city two years ago to prevent flooding. The recent rains have been their first
(continued on page 2)
Pinball wizards flip over their pastime
By Jim Saenz
Staff Writer
He is carefully eyeing the rolling object. Suddenly he hits it — what a save! With intricate measurements and skillful flipperwork. he has once again regained control of the ball. Carefully he passes the ball from one flipper to the other. He shoots, giving the machine a little shake and —Click — he has racked up another free game.
The art of pinball is a unique skill that can be acquired by many through practice, patience and, most importantly, a hefty supply of quarters.
For many students on campus, pinball has become almost an even day ritual, whether to relieve tension from an exam, an exhausting day or simply to curb pinball hunger.
Skill is developed through experience on the machine. However, the more you play, the more you pay. One student in the dorms claimed to have poured in over $200 in quarters last year.
Pinbailers may fall victim to the simple theory that psychologists refer to as partial reinforcement. Pinbailers call it addiction.
Pinball popularity has grown in the past few years to a point where the more serious competition seems to prevail in the residence halls.
One example is evident as students in Marks Tower and Trojan Hall live under the golden rules of pinball etiquette.
There are two main rules in pinball etiquette. One is simply not to disturb a fellow player while the ball is in play. The other is to let fellow pinbailers participate whenever there is an open spot.
The major characteristic that distinguishes the residence halls' machines from those in the Student Activities Center and University Village is the beating the units take; a factor that was not included in the golden rules.
Another factor is to shake the machine in a certain way yet prevent it from tilting. This maneuver has saved many a ball from "draining" down the sides.
Loyal pinbailers have also developed their own vocabulary with the machines and. at times, even talk to it. Included with “drain" are other phrases such as museum piece, rock ball, trampoline effect, creepy crawler and drain pattern.
______________(continued on page 2)