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Volume XCIV, Number 33	___University of Southern California_Thursday, October 20, 1983
Zumberge’s decision
By Catalina Camia
Staff Writer
Rail project opposed
Authorities cite impracticality, lack of funding
By Joann Galardy
Assistant City Editor
Plans to implement a 9.6-mile rail system between the university and UCLA during the Olympic Games have met opposition from transit authorities and the university's dean of architecture.
The proposed rail system, called the "Olympic Express” by its supporters, was termed costly and impractical by officials from the Los Angeles County Transportation Commission and the Southern California Rapid Transit District.
A report by the officials said, "The problems created (by the proposed rail system) are too great and the relatively small number of passengers that could be served by the train require an excessive expenditure of seriously limited funds, funds which could be better utilized to finance the necessary bus system."
The sponsors of the project, Mark Hall and Richard Thompson of the American Institute of Architects (ALA), claim the rail system would ease traffic congestion by serving as a carrier for Olympic spectators between the two Olympic Village sites — UCLA and the university. The proposed system would run along the railroad tracks on Exposition Boulevard.
The university has not formulated an official position on the project although Robert Harris, dean of the university's school of architecture, served on an investigative committee for the ALA.
Harris concurs with the findings of the report saying, "I originally saw the project as something interesting and exciting, but now I see it as a project with a lot of problems."
Jon Strauss, senior vice president of administration, said, "President (James) Zumberge and his advisers have studied the issue and found it to be interesting. I think we would lend our moral support to the pro-
ject, but if that support involved lending money to the project, I think the answer would be no."
The biggest problem faced by the project is a lack of funding. Because the dty has refused to fund the project, which has an estimated cost of $6.8 million, the project's organizers, Hall and Thompson, are being forced to solicit contributions from private donors.
Ideally, 50 percent of the funding would be raised through private donations while the remaining 50 percent would be generated by revenue once the rail system is operational, Hall said.
"Funding for the project will be 80 percent of the battle," said Steven Parks, a public affairs aide for the transportation department. "Money is tight and people are hesitant to donate to something that might not come off."
The train would start at the university and make stops at Dorsey High School on Jefferson Boulevard, Baldwin Hills and Westwood Boulevard. The rail would end near UCLA.
Hall remains confident funds will be raised and the final plan will be approved.
"The final approval will rest with the transportation department, but it seems logical to (the organizers) that it will be a straightforward situation," he said.
The RTD does not see the issue in such uncomplicated terms, citing two major problems with the proposed rail system. "We don't feel there is a great need for transportation between the two sights (the university and UCLA)," said Mark Littman, a spokesman for RTD. "Secondly, a rail system would cost a lot more than transporting by bus."
Parks estimates that carrying the same passenger load over the same distance by bus would cost about $1.9 million — substantially less than the rail system's $6.8 million estimated cost.
"We never did visualize the train as a substitute for buses," Hall said. "The largest number of people will travel to and from the games by car, with buses (Continued on page 2)
CHRIS ISLEIB/DAILY TROJAN
Students and faculty have been forced to park in the Menlo lots. Lee Kincaide of university parking security talks with a student in the off-campus lot.
Students, staff forced to park in 'dangerous' off-campus lots
By David Jefferson
Staff Writer
Approximately 700 students and faculty with university parking permits are being forced to park in off-campus lots because of a shortage of parking spaces on campus.
Parking permits were issued to about 4,588 people this semester but there are only 3,888 parking spaces on campus.
Those people with permits who do not arrive at the school early enough to find parking on campus have to park in one of the six lots used by the university off campus: the four Menlo lots located on the comer of Exposition Boulevard and Vermont Avenue, an area University Security has called "dangerous," the lot across the
street from the Shrine Auditor- ___
ium on Jefferson Boulevard and Joe's Parking next to the University Hilton on Figueroa Street.
Carl Levredge, director of parking operations, attributed the shortage of parking spaces to an increase in student enrollment this year.
"As enrollment goes up, so does the need for parking. We have so many permit holders, but we've never had to turn anyone away from parking on campus or in one of the off-campus lots," he said.
"We have so many permit holders, but we've never had to turn anyone away from parking on campus or in one of the off-campus lots."
Levredge pointed out that parking stucture D is scheduled to be completed this spring and the extra spaces should alleviate the parking problems. Once the structure is complete, 1,350 new parking spaces will be added to those already on campus.
He added that 70 spaces along the lower two ramps of the structure are already being used, and within the next two weeks, more spaces on the first and second levels will be opened. ^=====^^ However, Levredge noted, since the entire structure will not be finished until the end of the school year, most students will not have the opportunity to park there until next fall.
Until then, many commuters will have to continue parking in one of the off-campus lots used by the university, he said.
The area around the Menlo parking lots, where students are often diverted to, is considered unsafe by students. Recently, University Security warned students to stay away from the area around the Menlo parking lots because it was "dangerous."
Levredge said these lots are manned and patrolled during all hours of operation by university security and are connected to the campus by the university's tram system. But Levredge conceded the off-campus lots have sometimes inconven-
(Continued on page 3)
Senate chief clarifies
DOUGLAS BURTON/DAILY TROJAN
A future(?) Trojan pauses for a moment at Silver Graduate Fountain as she tests the waters of the university.
Student Senate President Bill Lilia, attempting to clarify President James Zumberge's decision last week to scrap further changes in student football seating, said he believes the decision was based primarily on the philosophical notion that football seating "should not be used as bait to increase alumni donations."
Later, Lilia in a statement read before the Senate Wednesday, said "misunderstanding and confusion" about the decision existed in the university community.
Lilia said the administration decided that "intangibles," such as school spirit and pride that is fostered in students by college football, are more important than donations. •
The administration originally had proposed moving 1,500 student seats to make room for "special" alumni donors who gave the university $12,000 or more.
Economics
He dismissed the notion that the seating plan was scrapped because alumni simply weren't interested in the seats.
He said that although the "demand by the Trojan Family for these seats may not have been as great as expected," he maintained: "I believe that the university could have sold these packages to our alumni and supporters at some price that would have resulted in a hefty profit. That is the simple economics of the issue."
(Continued on page 13)