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Volume XCIV, Number 12	University of Southern California	Wednesday, September 21, 1983
Religious forces seek students
By Kari-Lyn Osaki
Staff Writer
On the Row, where scads of fraternities and sororities reside, lies Maranatha Campus Minis-teries, a group of Christian students committed more to Bible readings than the Greek lifestyle most students associate with that legendary avenue. And although Maranatha sits at the end of 28th Street, seemingly removed from student life, its location symbolizes the role of religious organizations on campus: outsiders, but a force to be reckoned with nonetheless.
About 25 religious groups (there are 45 sororities and fraternities) on campus vie for students, said A1 Rudisill, university chaplain.
Sometimes the groups' members can be seen in front of Tommy Trojan, behind small tables displaying neatly placed brochures. Other times, the more vocal members, with Bibles in hand, can be seen — and heard — preaching their religious beliefs to passing students.
At a university where the Greek lifestyle is predominant and pledge pins, not gold crosses or Stars of David, are common sights, it would seem a difficult task to recruit students. Yet leaders of the organizations remain undaunted.
Prevalent among the religious groups was the idea of giving students the option to accept religion as an integral part of their life.
(Continued on page 9)
JERRY HOLDEN/D All Y TROJAN
The Maranatha Christian Center is only one of several religious groups at the university.
Climbing college costs renew ROTC popularity
Scholarship enrollment aids students, increases on campus
Skill Level Exams require students to prove ability
By Mark Lowe
Assistant Qty Editor
A year after the college of letters, arts and sciences' decision to require its students to demonstrate their competency in foreign language, language proficiency has become a source of anxiety for university students.
The requirement, known as the Skill Level Examination, forces students to take a proficiency test at the end of their last semester in a foreign language class to demonstrate their ability to read and speak the language.
Students once accustomed to breezing through Spanish just to fulfill the language requirement now have a new hurdle to scale — the proficiency test.
Among students' worries are uncertainties about who must take the test, how the test affects their grade in the class — since it is incorporated into their final exam — and what the consequences are if they fail the test.
"I think there's a lot of contradiction in the Spanish department," said Sue Marketto, a communications major and member of a third semester Spanish class, who, initially, mistakenly believed she did not have to take the test. "I thought (the test) was a new requirement for incoming freshmen."
Other students in the class said they were apprehensive about the exam and what it would mean to their grades and credit requirements, and none was sure who had to take the test to satisfy the LAS language requirement.
"I heard you had to speak before a board of people," said Mike Nvmal, a sophomore in sports information. "That seems pretty intimidating to me."
"If I had to do it over, I'd take the Spanish placement test and do really badly so I'd have to (leam Spanish from) the beginning,” said Jeff Tilem, a political science major.
Nanette Cunningham, a sophomore in communications, said she heard that students who do not pass the skill level exam lose credit for their third semester of foreign language, and must repeat the course to satisfy the requirement.
But staff and faculty working with the various language departments — all of which must administer a proficiency test — moved to calm the fears of students over the exam.
"It seems to me if the work you're doing in the class is leading to proficiency on the types of tasks you are going to do on the skill level exam, then your performance on the skill level exam should be no
(Continued on page 2)
By Jeffrey Tylicki
Assistant Qty Editor
With college costs skyrocketing and the anti-establishment attitudes of the '60s and early '70s a distant memory, military Reserve Officer Training Corps programs at universities nationwide are enjoying a renewed popularity among students, campus ROTC officials say.
This semester about 500 cadets and midshipmen will be part of the Air Force, Army, and Navy ROTC units at the university. Most of these students are on scholarships from the military that cover all tuition, fees, books and a S100 per month stipend for each student to spend as he likes.
In return for scholarships, ROTC students agree to serve four years active duty in the military. Those not on scholarships, known as the college program, are expected to serve three years active duty.
The enrollment figures in both the Navy and Air Force programs, on campus since the mid-'40s, have steadily increased in the past few' years and appear to have leveled off this semester. The Navy ROTC office reports 231 midshipmen this year, and an estimated 190 cadets will make up the Air
Force ROTC unit. Similar figures were reported about the same time last year.
Army ROTC, only on campus since 1981, has grown from seven cadets in the first class to 74 cadets this semester. Compared with last year, the Army has 28 more students in the program.
Officers said these students represent a full cross-section of social, economic, and minority strata, including more than 50 women.
“The military is becoming more accepted and recognized by society in general," said Major Scott Beaty, marine officer instructor in the Navy ROTC.
'Tor a period of time, (involvement with any traditional institution) was the thing 'not to do,' " explained Lt. Col. Richard Knapp of the Army ROTC. "The students entering (college) now grew up after the 60”s and 70's."
Air Force ROTC Col. Marty Fricks noted, "There is a greater acceptance of the ROTC programs because of the time and distance from the unpopular Vietnam war. I think we're seeing a return of civilians to a more traditional respect of the military."
A new w»ave of patriotism and conservatism has also contributed to the upswing of interest
and enrollment in ROTC.
"You can tell students are more conservative today," said Matt Faletti, a senior in the Navy ROTC. "For example, look how everyone is wearing their hair short today."
Faletti added that he was also offered a scholarship at the ROTC program at UC Berkeley, but decided to come to the university because of its reputation as a more conservative school.
The qualities recruiters look for in potential ROTC scholarship candidates include high grades in high school, participating in athletics, and extracurricular leadership activities, such as student government.
Beaty said scholarships can be awarded to students after they enter the ROTC, but that very few join the program later than their freshman year.
Officers in ROTC said it was difficult to pin down a specific reason students decide to enlist in the programs. While they agreed money was definitely an incentive, they felt young men and 'women are in the program for more than just a free education.
"There are many primary motivating factors," Beaty said. "Some w'ant to fly, some want (Continued on page 7)
MAGGIE MELANSON/DAILY TROJAN Air Force ROTC cadets Mike Dickey, left, and Jocelyn Tenorio are two of the 500 students enrolled in the university's military pro-1 grams.