University of Southern California
Volume LXXI, Number 61	Los	Angeles, Californio	Tuesday, May 77, /977
Daily
Troian
Spanish prof denied tenure; TAs may organize boycott
Strong support from students and department teaching assistants is being generated for a Spanish professor who was recently denied tenure.
Eduardo Font, who specializes in Latin American studies, was denied tenure by the College of Letters. Arts and Sciences for undisclosed reasons. He has voiced an intention to appeal the decision, although no formal statement has been submitted, said David Malone, dean of the humanities division of the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences.
Teaching assistants in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese have met and discussed the tenure denial, said Cesar Terrientes, a TA in the department. A strike was considered at the meeting, he said, but no definite action was taken.
The TAs were shocked when news of the denial reached them. Font is very popular among the students and other department personnel. Terrientes said.
"We feel very close to him at the personal level and his manner of teaching is. in my opinion, excellent." he said.
Terrientes cited close personal attention, student enthusiasm and constantly
full classes as some of Font's strong points.
A letter of support signed by about 100 persons including department TAs, students and many people in his department was sent to Malone's ofTice. In addition. a separate letter was sent to Malone bearing the signatures of a considerable number of graduate and undergraduate students.
Several students have threatened to boycott classes, but no organized plan has been confirmed.
Terrientes speculated that Font’s tenure was denied because of a contractual misunderstanding concerning publishing requirements. Apparently, he said Font was not publishing enough of his own material, although he d id spend lai^ge amounts of time helping other personnel with their articles.
The university’s general policy calls for both excellence and creativity in teaching, and research and publication, as critieria for advancement.
Font is in his sixth year at the university. If he is not awarded tenure, his con-tract will not be renewed after his seventh vear.
Student helps thwart theft attempt by warning Security
By David Black
Forthe second time in almost as many weeks, students have been credited with helping in the arrest of theft suspects.
The latest incident involving bicycle thefts occurred about 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Capt. William Burke of Campus Security said.
Gary Rickerd, a student, told Campus Security officers he observed three male black juveniles in front of Men’s Residence West on 34th Street. One of the youths reportedly had a pair of bolt cut-
ters which he hid across the street on the Intramural Field. Rickerd then reported the incident and officers responded by watching the group from a distance.
The youths were seen loitering around the bicycles in front of the building for several minutes, said Lt. Doug Van Pelt.
One of the youths walked back across the street, retrieved the bolt cutters, and returned to the bicycle racks, possibly with the intention of stealing a bicycle, he said.
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TAKE FIVE — The children stars of Walt Disney's production of the sequel to Escape to Witch Mountain, await the filming of a scene which was shot yesterday at the Museum of Natural History located in Exposition Park across the street from the university. DT photo by Mark Kariya.
Student Senate prepares for ’77-78
The first organizational meeting of the 1977-78 Student Senate Thursday included an orientation on major issues, duties and the role of the Senate, and the opening of nominations for next years sen ate offices.
In a report by Glen Sonnenberg, Student Senate chairman, major issues which the senate faced this year, as well as those which are still in progress, were summarized for the newly elected senate.
The chairman’s report included an informational segment, in which Sonnenberg capsulized the duties and role of the student senator in the university and community, and the role the senator plays in relation to administrative organizations such as the President’s Advisory Council.
‘The biggest problem in student gov-
ernment organizations is continuity,” Sonnenberg said. “We hope to catch the new senators up with the ongoing and past issues of this year, to facilitate smoother operation of the senate next year,” he said.
Another asset of the organizational meeting was the detailed description of the operation of two of the four senate research-action units. The Financial Affairs and Student Affairs committees gave reports, but Academic Affairs and the Programming Unit reports will be given at tomorrow’s meeting.
The 17-member Financial Affairs Committee reported on the actions of the Student Budget Commission, the Resource Management and Planning Committee, involvements* with the President’s Advisory Council and the
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Teacher or campaigner?
By Steven Hawkins
Executive News Editor
He was campaigning, and then again, he wasn't. It all depends on how he struck you during his visit last week. That is, if you saw him.
Former President Gerala R. Ford came to the university for three days to mingle with students in an academic atmosphere. As it was, he spent most of his time answering the same questions, again and again. And when it was all over, those students fortunate enough to have seen him had gained some definite opinions about the nation’s former Chief Executive.
Some thought Ford was campaigning. He did in fact state several times he’s “going to be around in 1980'’ when the next presidential primaries are held. Other students concluded he’s a politician to the very marrow in his bones and comes across as a man on the bandwagon — whether or not he actually is.
Students were impressed by his healthful appearance (he’s 63), his ability to answer almost any question (he discussed everything from entrance quotas for professional schools to neighborhood revitalization) and his very presence at the university.
They were not so happy, however, with the way he responded to some questions — specifically those dealing with former President Richard M. Nixon. Some students marvelled at his charisma. Others said he put them to sleep.
Of course, these were the people who managed to be in the same room as Ford as he met with class after class. They only had to present special tickets at the door to get by legions of Secret Service men and grab seats in auditoriums that quickly filled.
Ford first would make a few introductory comments relating to the group he was with. Then the session was opened to questions from the audience, which ranged in size from 15 to 200 people.
When the sessions ended, what impressions were students left with?
John Lewis, a senior in political science, reacted favorably. “He comes across as a very candid and honest person. Even those people who disagree with him politically go away respecting him
for that,” Lewis said after hearing Ford address an international relations group Friday morning.
“He’s not very flamboyant, but he does come across as being very personable. You identify him as a father,” Lewis said. “He didn’t really try to duck anything. He had a better grasp on the foreign affairs questions than he would have had on internal matters, I believe.”
Phyllis Okumura, a senior in East Asian languages, was impressed by Ford’s persona: “His true self seemed to shine. He had charisma, which I did not think he had.*
Okumura attended the first session on Ford’s agenda last week — a political science group that met Wednesday morning. “He was a very illuminating speaker,” she said. “But he could have elaborated more, especially on Nixon. He was very honest, except when he refused to comment on Nixon.”
Some were very upset with Ford’s presentations.
“I was extremely d isappointed,” said Jack Weber, a sophomore in political science and broadcast journalism. “He ignored the most important question, that aspect of his administration that will most be remembered — his role as the post-Watergate President.
“I felt as if Gerald Ford was running for office and that office was President in 1980. There were a lot of issues I would like to have challenged him on.”
Weber was one of many students impressed by Ford’s appearance. “He looked great,” said Weber, who attended the political science meeting Wednesday morning. “But he didn’t have any kind of charisma. He’s a nice guy and to me it’s amazing that a man with so little charisma could have gotten so far. He must be one hell of a politician behind closed doors.”
Not eveiyone thought the former President was here to campaign for ofTice.
“You have to remember that he’s a politician,” said Bill Roche, a aemui in xusiory and broadcast journalism. “It’s only natural that he seems to some to be campaigning. It’s kind of inbred. In
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Ford sparks reactions