Volume XCIII, Number 2
trojan
University of Southern California	Wednesday, June 1, 1983
BROADWAY HIT—Student discounts of 50 percent are now available for Dreamgirls at the Shubert Theater in Century City. All unsold seats, except from Saturday Night performances, are available at the box office two hours before curtain. Sales are on a cash basis only and a valid student body card is required. Dreamgirls was a winner of six 1982 Tony awards.
USC, China study earthquakes
We may learn life-saving lessons about earthquake prediction from the People’s Republic of China (PRC), according to a China-born seismologist at the University of Southern California.
“Of late, China has many more major earthquakes than we do, and she therefore has more opportunities to study earthquake warning signals,” explains Professor of Geological Sciences Ta-liang Teng.
Dr. Teng, who is fluent in several Chinese dialects, has been observing the China’s earthquake-prediction investigations in visits to that nation at least once a year since 1978.
Shortly after he began those visits, he and USC became a party to a joint venture in earthquake-prediction research under the US-PRC Agreement on Cooperation in Science and Technology (negotiated by the Carter Administration).
“In accordance with the seismology protocol of that agreement,” Teng notes, “USC is receiving funds from the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Geological Survey to assist in the investigations conducted by two institutes of the PRC State Seismologi-cal Bureau.
In return for America’s contribtuion of equipment and expertise, says Teng, China is sharing her seismic data and findings.
“My colleagues and I at USC are helping China set up a network of seismometers— recording the time, place, and magnitude of each quake—similar to USC’s Los Angeles Basin Seismic Network.
“We’re additionally helping China establish something similar to USC’s Strong Motion Network, which consists of about 100 stations in the greater Los Angeles area that
monitor the ground acceleration accompanying a quake.
“Earthquake acceleration is the key factor in structural damage, so we’re trying to learn what types of areas are most acceleration-prone and why. We believe such knowledge will help structural engineers design buildings with sufficient earthquake safeguards.”
The strong motion seismographs are being placed in the vicinity of Beijing in what seismologists call a “parking array.” The seismographs will be capable of being quickly redeployed if a large-magnitude temblor occurs elsewhere, so they will at least be able to register the large aftershocks.
China produces more seismic data than we do, not only because she has more major earthquakes but also because she enlists more manpower in seismic research.
“She has as many as 30,000 people working in this field,” Teng reports, “whereas the United States doesn’t have 5 percent of that number.
“China also enlists tens of thousands of amateur observers for seimic studies. For example, citizens are asked to report errac-tic behavior of wild and domestic animals, because such phenomena are considered by the Chinese to be useful as earthquake precursors (warning signals).”
Obviously, earthquake prediction in China, as elsewhere, has a long way to go before it becomes an established scientific procedure. But, as the old Chinese saying goes, a journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. And Teng believes the US-PRC study is a step of considerable magnitude.
Redevelopment project expanded
The Community Redevelopment Agency this week approved the awarding of a low-bid contract to Sully-Miller Contracting Company for public improvements work within the newly-created Hoover Redevelopment Project Expansion Area.
The expanded redevelopment area, approved by the City Council on May 11, adds approximately 406 acres to the Hoover Redevelopment Project. The original Hoover project surrounds the university. The expanded area encompases the Los Angeles Coliseum and Sports Arena area, the California Museum of Science and Industry and Exposition Park.
This will be the first agency-sponsored renewal activity to get underway in this community since the Los Angeles City Council designated it as a redevelopment project. However, a commercial and residential rehabilitation program has been conducted in the area
for the past year.
The low-bid contract, in the amount of $81,73.76, calls for reconstruction of defective sidewalks, curbs, driveways amd installation of wheelchair access ramps, street trees and tree wells. The agency has budgeted $100,000 for the work.
The work, which will require approximately 60 days to complete, will take place along Vermont Avenue between Adams and Jefferson Blvds.
“Additional work will be added to^the contract to more closely approximate the $100,000 budget,” stated CRA Board Chainqan Howard Nishimura.
Revitalization activities within the expanded area will include residential and commercial rehabilitation; new housing for all income groups; new commercial development, street improvements and other public amenities; additional parking facilities’ and development of better traffic circulation patterns.
Travel Service offers trips, travel guide
The Travel Service is sponsoring the Adventure Travel program this summer for all students, faculty and staff.
The Adventure Travel program offers wilderness vacations at budget prices for the campus community. This summer, trips will include backpacks, bike trips, photo workshops and car camps, and an expedition to Alaska. The trips usually includes leaders, meals and equipment.
These trips offer inexpensive alternatives to expensive vacations and a chance to escape the urban world, usually on self-propelled outings into the wilderness. Most trips are open to beginners who are in really good shape. Trips are filled on a first come-first served basis.
The Adventure Travel program schedule of trips: Sequioa/Dome Land Backpack - $20	June 11-12
Yosemite Photographic Workshop - $35	June 17-19
Santa Monica Evening Bike and Pub Tour - $00 June 21 Fourth of July Sequoia National Park Backpack - $25July 1-4 Pt. Lobos/Big Sur Photo Workshop - $45	July 22-24
Alaska Backpack Expedition - $1,349	July 14-27
The Travel Service is also distributing The Boarding Pass, a budget travel guide for students interested in inexpensive travel to Europe.
The Borading Pass has been prepared by students and Travel Service staff who have traveled extensively throughout Europe; the guide covers information on cheap flights to Europe, as well as a comprehensive rundown on tours, railpasses and budget accomodations. There is also information about visas, passports, insurance, etc.
Information on the Adventure Travel program, or any travel related information is available at the Travel Service in STU 301.