Student Senate alarmed over increasing crime
New plans aimed at increasing campus security
By Marc Igler
Staff Writer
The Student Senate, noticeably alarmed during recent weeks by the rise in crime in the university area, is preparing a number of plans aimed at increasing security measures on campus.
The senate is scheduled to propose a resolution today calling for the expansion of the University Security’s budget by $100,000 to $200,000.
The budget increase will be earmarked for an additional five to 10 security officers, said Carl Levredge, director of University Security and Parking Operations. Levredge added that 12 new officers, who recently graduated from the university’s training center,
will join the security force Monday.
Chief Steven Ward of University Security said an increase in manpower is vital to a reduction in crime: “I’m not say-
affairs research action unit of approval, which might take
the senate, said the resolution will, in addition, recommend that University Security officers be given the status of peace officers.
some time.
The resolution, which Howard said has a “broad base of support within the university' administration,” will also rec-
7 feel, and I think the senate as a whole feels, that the crime problem around campus has reached epidemic proportions. The crime problem has not been given a high enough priority within the administration. Financial resources haven’t been adequately devoted’
ing that an increase in the security force will prevent crime in general, but it definitely will help move that crime away from the university. The criminals will go elsewhere.”
Bryan Howard, chairman of the environmental and external
Staff photo by Jon SooHoo
HEART ATTACK VICTIM — This man is aided by paramedics after suffering a heart attack which is the major killer of Americans each year. Although high cholesterol amounts in the body are thought to bring about heart disease, it has not yet been proven that lowering the amount of cholesterol brings about significant change. See story on page 7.
Sun to heat pools
Solar panels will cut costs
By Barry Sloan
Staff Writer
In a measure designed to save about $40,000 per year, the university will install a solar heating system to heat the new Olympic pools and possibly the shower facilities in the student recreational center.
“The concept is to install as many as 400 solar heating panels on Parking Structure B, adjacent to the Olympic facility, at an estimated cost of $750,000,” said Anthony Lazarro. vice president of Business Affairs.
Construction on the pools, to be located on the Intramural Field, will begin in January 1982 and is expected to take a year to complete. After the 1984 Olym-
pic Games, a building will be erected above the outdoor swimming pool as part of a proposed student recreation center. The diving pool will be converted to a swimming facility, but will remain outdoors.
The solar heating system will supplement the standard gas and electric systems for the two pools, being funded by the McDonald’s Corporation, Lazarro said. Solar heating is not self-suf-ficient because on cloudy days, the panels cannot collect enough energy to completely heat the pools, he explained.
Nonetheless, solar heating saves energy whenever it can be used, and the pool
“As it stands now, a security officer cannot stop a person off-campus even if he has probable cause. A peace officer can,” said Howard, author of the resolution. But, he added, this measure will require the California State Legislature’s
ommend a doubling of the university Escort Service’s budget which is currently $16,000.
“I feel, and I think the senate as a whole feels, that the crime problem around campus has reached epidemic proportions.
The crime problem has not been given a high enough priority within the administration. Financial resources haven’t been adequately devoted,” Howard said.
The resolution's author and the senate's task force on security have also been preparing what they call a “comprehensive proposal” on improvements to be made in student security. He said the proposal will be ready for senate consideration Nov. 4.
The proposal, in preparation for over two weeks, will center on a “web of transportation.” Under the proposal, a network of security paths will be identified on and off-campus, which will, the senate hopes, (Continued on page 16)
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University of Southern California Wednesday, October 28, 1981
Security deals with crime wave; adds officers, informs students
By Mitchell Rossi
Staff Writer
Officer Carole Steele of University Security spelled out the significance of this year’s increased crime rate: “We are in the middle of L.A., we have to face it.”
Rape has decreased but attempts have gone up, the officer said: “As of the end of September, 10 attempts (have been) reported to us compared to none last year (at this time).
“That sounds like a startling statistic, but one of the things we have been doing over the past year is going out there and telling people how it happens, what it is, how to report it; we have raised the conscience levels (of the students).”
To combat the wave of crime that has swelled since Sept. 20, the security force has been increased: “They are out there and they know what they are ooking for now,” Steele said
of University Security officers.
"They are out there concentrating in (certain) areas but we don’t want to leave other areas out.”
The increased crime is reflected by the rash of rapes, kidnappings and attempts of these violent crimes during* the past few weeks.
“These guys are working mostly during the daytime,” she said of the two suspects who are linked with at least 12 reports of assaults, most of which have occurred during the late morning and early afternoon hours. Students either going to or coming from their cars have been the victims.
To make students more aware of this problem, security has spread information on the suspects and has posted composite drawings of them around campus.
Security is also reacftig by upgrading the education of
parking attendants, enabling them to handle certain situations. Classes offered by security officers will show attendants exactly how to best report crimes and emergencies.
"They are in prime locations,” said Gloria Payne, assistant director of Parking Operations. “Hopefully, we are going to get them educated in being another set of eyes and ears for security — certainly not to get involved in any way with any security function or not to ask them to act as security officers — but to be out there. They’re visible.
“It is wise (for students) to approach the parking attendant to request an escort to their cars,” the assistant director said. “He is more than happy to assist them. They are not security officers .. . but they certainly are there to make someone think twice.”
(Continued on page 11)
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for itself within eight to 10
years, the vice president noted. The savings from the system are calculated at $40,000 during the first year, almost $46,000 the second year and larger amounts each following year — assuming natural gas prices continue to increase at a 15-percent rate, Lazarro said.
University officials based these figures on the outdoor facilities, but Thomas Coffin, campus architect, said the solar panels will be much more efficient in an indoor environment, where 50 percent or more heat could be saved. Thus, the system may be expanded to heat the shower facilities as well.
Unlike the funding for the pools’ standard heating system (which is included in the McDonald’s grant), money for the solar heating plan must come from university
sources. President James H. Zumberge and Michael Radock, vice president of Development and University Relations, will lead the fund-raising drive for the solar heating system. Lazarro said.
Although the university has approved plans for a solar heating system for the pool facilities, both Coffin and Lazarro said the method is not yet feasible for other campus structures.
The solar heating concept fits well into the swimming pool situation because it can easily heat water, but in most buildings, the major portions of the electrical and gas bill go toward space heating and air conditioning, Coffin said.
“With the ensrsy situation as it is, we look to solar energy for everything we do, but it doesn’t pencil out just
yet financially,” he noted. “We would put it on every building if we could convert it, but there isn’t a system that is economically feasible.”
Lazarro said other facilities might require 15 to 16 years before the solar heating systems pay for themselves.
“Solar heating—as it relates to a pool and as it relates to a place to put the panels — is the right thing. If we could get support (funding) for it, however, we could consider it for any building.”
The vice president said the university may look into a program for using solar energy to heat a dormitory with high hot-water demands, such as Wsbb Tower, but added that such a plan would also require additional funding to make it financially advantageous.