trojan
Volume XCIV, Number 19	University of Southern California	Friday, September 30, 1983
Families leave Century, ease overcrowding
Early thunderstorm
delays construction
By Jennifer Cray
Staff Writer
The rainy season jumped to an early start this year when a thunderstorm drenched the campus Thursday, temporarily interrupting construction of the university mall project and making travel across campus difficult for everyone.
Projects involving the pouring of concrete and bricklaying had to be postponed. A construction crew was scheduled to pour concrete on University Avenue between the School of Accounting and Bridge Hall, but due to the unseasonable rain, approximately 35 construction workers went home. The cement pouring was rescheduled for today, weather permitting.
But not all construction workers went home. Some maintenance crews and electricians stayed on Thursday despite the rain.
Meanwhile, construction plans are still “running way ahead of schedule," said Thomas Coffin, university architect. He noted that the project's April deadline takes into account a delay of up to 30 days due to rain.
The weather isn't expected to delay progress on the new cinema-television center or North Complex dining facility, since both buildings have roofs in place. Coffin said.
Although some construction was temporarily halted, classes were not and students walking to class had to be careful. The wet weather and unfinished construction combined to turn the center of campus into muddy streets of puddles and makeshift plywood bridges.
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HEIDI EMERSON/DAILY TROJAN
Machinery sits abandoned in mud as an early thunderstorm delays construction of the university mall.
Move brings smiles, tears
Students get permanent housing: community apartments completed
Community residents and students at Century Apartments have developed a special relationship over the years they were neighbors in the complex, one which has ended, much to the displeasure of some'.
Diane Wittry, who lived her first two years in Century and spent the last two years as a resident adviser there, said the students were always on good terms writh the community.
She said the students used to sponsor an Easter egg hunt as well as a Halloween party each year for the children in the community. They would also take the kids on camping trips.
Over Thanksgiving, the women of the community would cook Thanksgiving dinner for the students who couldn't go home for the holidays. And a couple of years ago the manager, Tom Donald, started up a Big Brother program for the kids.
"The students always respected the community," said Karlin McCullen, a resident adviser in the complex. "They kept their party noise to a minimum and their stereos turned down.
"It's too bad the community has to leave, because it was a great experience for the students to see that there are good community people out there."
Damian Steptoe, who has lived the past five years in Century, said he doesn't mind moving, but he doesn't want to leave. He said his family was supposed to have moved out as far back as June but the housing office kept delaying its move.
Steptoe, who is one of the community children, said he always got along well with the students. He said they never gave him a hard time and he (Continued on page 6)
HEIDI EMERSON/DAILY TROJAN Students living at Century Apartments will soon take over 16 apartments to be vacated by community families.
By Joann Gekko
Staff Writer
Student residents in university-owned Century Apartments have been forced to live in overcrowded spaces the past four weeks, and in some cases, four students have been put in a one-bedroom apartment.
The problem began when non-student residents, who were supposed to give up their apartments to students, could not be relocated because construction of their new' residences had not been completed. As a result, the residents, who occupied 16 apartments, had to remain in the apartments intended for students, forcing the students to live in overcrowded student apartments.
Students were told the situation would last no more than two weeks. However, four weeks have passed and many students still find themselves in overcrowded conditions.
Approximately 50 students who were sold housing con-
Police captain to tell students how not to be a crime victim
By Cornell Barnard
Staff Writer
Whenever a crowd gathers, whether it is on campus during the Olympics, at complex-wide events or at shopping malls, some individuals within this group will not have your best interests at heart.
Capt. Stan McGarry of the Los Angeles Police Department will be the Security and Safety NETwork's guest speaker today as he addresses the behavior of
people who prey off the unsuspecting. McGarry's speech will instruct students how to protect themselves from con artists.
The second installment in the NETwork lecture series, subtitled "50 Minutes of Knowledge for a Lifetime of Awareness," will begin at 1 p.m. in the Student Activities Center, Room 203.
According to McGarry, there are literally thousands of bunco
schemes and confidence games perpetrated against citizens in all walks of life. The average victim frequently overestimates his abilities, believing he's too smart to be taken. Victims have a tendency to underestimate the con artist, who is generally quite bright and is excellent at acting out schemes. Con artists are good salesmen.
Most con games work because they rely on our weaknesses as
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tracts at Century Apartments are still being temporarily housed in single- and doublebedroom apartments already occupied by other students.
David Blackmar, director of housing, said that if the construction of the new apartment for non-students had been completed by the start of fall classes, there would not have been any problems.
The university had promised to facilitate the construction of 300 government-subsidized apartments which would house low-income families in the community. But the summer carpenter's strike postponed the completion of the units scheduled for late August.
The final inspection of these new apartments, Western Gardens and Normandie Villa, was scheduled for Thursday and if they meet dty standards, community families will be moved out of Century within a week.
But students could be moving out of their temporary housing spaces within two weeks if the new facilities built for the nonstudent residents pass the city's housing inspection, said William Thompson, director of housing and residence halls.
Thompson was optimistic that the facility would pass inspection and be ready for tenancy today.
"They should pass, and if they do they'll open up tomorrow and the families can start moving in this Friday and this weekend," said Thompson.
One resident -adviser at Century said students are upset by the uncertainty of when they wall be moving out of their overcrowded apartments and into permanent housing.
“I've had more roommate (Continued on page 6)