V
Volume XCI Number 4^
(Mtrojan
University of Southern California
Friday, October 30, 1981
University Security hold seminar
Officer discusses defense techniques
By Angie Fernandez
Staff Writer
The rash of criminal activity plaguing the campus has prompted University Security to take certain measures in helping people protect themselves and their property.
One of these measures was a self-defense/crime prevention seminar held Wednesday evening at Harris Plaza residence hall. Officer Carole Steele of University Security addressed a group of students for about 90 minutes on a variety of top-
by outlining the present dilemma centering on the attacks occurring in parking areas. Security is now looking for one or more individuals who have been accosting mostly, but not only, women either leaving or getting into their cars.
Each suspect has usually approached the victim with a question, such as asking for the time or directions. Then the suspects, in most cases armed w'ith a gun or knife, attempted and sometimes succeeded in abducting the victim with the intent of raping her at some Steele opened the seminar other location.
Community relations requires further study
By Laura Rodriguez
Assistant City Editor
Under the organization of the Greater University Parish (GUP), a subcommittee to represent community business and neighborhood concerns for redevelopment is currently being formed.
At the group's meeting at the beginning of October, the parish made a motion to conduct a conference attended by community people to voice their concerns.
An unnamed source present at the meeting said a suggestion was made to extend the boundaries of the parish's neighborhood communication and activities to Slauson Avenue. It was felt that if someone from GUP was from the Slauson area it might encourage the organization's support in that district.
If the boundaries were extended, the group decided that the project w'ould be an expansion of the Hoover Redevelopment Project. Suspicion of property loss would be experienced by thousands of residents from the university to Slauson, they concluded.
However, after listening to a tape recording of the meeting, another source said Rev. Ed Penonzek. chairman of the parish, asked
(Continued on page 14)
Other crimes reported include assault with a deadly weapon, kidnap and attempted kidnap. Most of the crimes have occurred in three areas: the Menlo Street parking lot. Parking Structure B (adjacent to Residence West) and Parking Lot 1 (located in front of the Andrus Gerontology Center).
“These crimes have been happening regularly and in the daytime,” Steele pointed out. “Most people have the attitude of, ‘Well, it won’t happen to me,’ and that’s a tragedy in itself. It usually takes something to happen for people to become aware, and that’s sad because then it’s too late.”
Steele spoke at some length on ways of protection that victims utilize, including jabbing the attacker w'ith a pen. “It doesn’t always work,” Steele said.
People also walk with their keys in hand: “You can rake the attacker across the face, but you'd better be able to run because that's only going to stop them temporarily.”
The whistle is a popular weapon, but unfortunately is not always effective: “You’re probably not going to be heard, even if people are around," the officer said.
Howrever, when the attacker realizes that the whistle may gain attention, he may become nervous and flee.
(Continued on page 6)
Affirmative Action remains committed
By David Wharton
Staff Writer
Affirmative Action at this university is still active, contrary to rumors that recent rule changes enacted and proposed by the Reagan administration have subdued the agency.
“I think that anyone who thinks we are no longer under all of the published laws and regulations (of the 1964 Civil Rights Act) is making a mistake,” said Barbara Pearson, director of the Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity programs at this university.
Pearson’s office monitors the university’s hiring of both faculty and staff to prevent discriminatory hiring policies and procedures. She said the Reagan administration changes are aimed at cutting needless paperwork so important employment issues can be dealt with effectively.
“They (the current administration) are trying to simplify some of the regulations that have been so unmanageable, but we are as much under federal constraints as ever,” she said.
The most noticeable change in Affirmative Action policy has been to pay less attention to universities and colleges employing smaller work forces. Institutions of higher education which do not receive any single grant for more than $1 million from the federal government can submit an abbreviated Affirmative Action report.
“Basically they are trying to get rid of smaller contractors and concentrate on larger contractors who have the majority of the work force,” Pearson said.
Other rule changes have also lessened the amount of paperwork required from colleges and universities. Pearson said last year the extensive studies and reports the university was asked to submit to the Office of Federal Contract Compliance were returned unread by the federal government. A spokesman for the office explained that they had neither the time nor the staff to check the report.
The director stressed that large universities must still comply writh federal hiring regulations and cited an example of the University of Minnesota which, after being found guilty of discrimination, must now submit all faculty hiring decisions for approval by an on-campus Affirmative Action committee and a federal court.	(Continued on page 7)
Staff photo by Andrew Innerarity
ROCK CONCERT — Students were drawn to the sounds of Dark Side of the Moon, a "Breathe, tls and Them, On the Run, and Money" were some of the songs the band played, rock band which played Pink Floyd selections in front of Tommy Trojan Wednesday. For additional photos, please see page 10.