0
trojan
Volume XCI Number 60
L_J
University of Southern California
Friday April 16, 1982
This program was initiated ‘‘because we're to meet our committment to students to provide need-based financial aid,” Strauss said. ‘‘We have no other source of funds.”
The university loans would carry a 6.5 percent current interest rate, plus a 3.5 deferred interest rate for a total 10 percent rate. Repayment would begin six years after graduation. Strauss said, however, that all other sources of loan funds would be used before loans from the endowments are granted.
All graduate students would be hurt financially by Reagan’s proposed cuts because they would be excluded from the Guaranteed Student Loan program. Although the university graduate aid program has not been completed yet, graduate students who are full research or teaching assistants will receive full tuition remission for up to 12 units next year.
The Treasury Department oversees the endowments. Strauss said, but they are managed bv external investment (Continued on poge 5)
Student senators elect new president, officers
There was not much suspense Wednesday during the Student Senate election for president — there was only one candidate.
When the newly elected senators filed into the meeting, there were four candidates on the ballot, but all of them withdrew except Dan Dunmoyer. a residence hall senator.
Andrew Littlefair, this year's president of the senate, announced the new president after the last candidate. Patty Minor, withdrew for personal reasons.
“Well, I guess Dan is the new president," Littlefair said. “Congratulations.”
Two votes for undergraduate vice president and undergraduate representitive were taken at the meeting.
Peyton Fisher, last year's chairman of the Academic Affairs Task Force, was elected undergraduate vice president over Gigi Fairchild, a newly elected residence hall senator.
Fairchild went on to win the undergraduate representitive position over Mark Decker and Lupe Valdez, new student community senators.
There was no election for graduate vice president, as Danny Dellicompagni was the only canidate.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND PROTECTION ACT PASSED IN CALIFORNIA
Battered women's legal options increasing in 1980s
Endowment fund may fill fall ’82 financial aid void
$4 million in surpluses, unrestricted gifts could help meet student needs
By Alan Grossman
Staff Writer
The president of a local law clinic said Wednesday that the legal options available to women who have been battered in domestic situations have increased since 1980, but added that most women are not aware of these new alternatives.
Laura Weinroth of the non-profit Battered Women’s Legal Counseling Clinic made the remarks in a lecture at the Davidson Conference Center sponsored by the National Organization for Women.
Weinroth said domestic violence is a “more insidious” crime than rape because it is less talked about and thus less reported to authorities.
She cited a report compiled by Murray Strauss of the University of New Hampshire which found that violence in the home is less reported than rape or incest, and that 50 percent of all women involved in a relationship in the United States would be battered at least once.
Until 1980, it was legally considered “OK" in California for a husband to beat his wife, or a boyfriend to beat his girlfriend, Weinroth said.
“The California Legislature finally realized in
1980	that assault and battery cases in domestic situations were not being treated under the law,” she said. “It passed the Domestic Violence and Protection Act which applies equally to married couples and cohabitants, regardless of gender, and can be applied to any situation.”
Under this law, California courts may grant restraining orders to keep an attacker out of the household if just cause is shown, Weinroth said.
She said the law provides a woman immediate help by forcing the male to leave their shared
residence for 15 days so that the victim has a chance to relocate.
The lawyer added that a court will grant the woman custody of the children for at least three months. She also said that a bill pending in the State Assembly would extend this period to one year.
“One of the most notorious threats in domestic violence is that the man will say that he’ll take the kids away and the woman will never see them again,” Weinroth said.
The Domestic Violence and Protection Act also calls for the attacker to pay the victim restitution if she incurred hotel or motel bills in attempts to flee.
Weinroth said that although the measure makes mate-beating a felony, which means the police can arrest on probable cause, the Los Angeles Police Department does not want to get involved in family disputes.
“In cases of domestic violence, the LAPD wants to hear the victim say ‘I want him arrested,’ and this is why I’m co-counsel in a suit against the LAPD for not enforcing the law,” Weinroth said.
She added that she felt the police should at least file a crime report and have the victim sign it.
When asked why she thought many battered women do not leave their mate at the first sign of violence, Weinroth said societal mores are to blame.
“Society has taught women that it’s their responsibility to make the relationship work and that they have the responsibility to raise the children. Part of this job is to keep the house together so there is both a male and female role model for children of both sexes,” she said.
LAURA WEINROTH
By Laura Castaneda
Staff Writer
The university may fill the financial aid void caused by President Reagan's proposed budget cuts with the previously untouched endowment fund.
Jon Strauss, senior vice president of Administration, announced early this month that up to $4 million of university endowment funds may be used next year for a university loan
program.
The university will increase its total financial aid budget next year by S6.5 million while also trying to close a $10 million budget gap. This will be done, in part, by the use of these endowments.
Endowments are funds given to the university through gifts. “The monies also came from years where we (the university) ran in financial surpluses,” Strauss said.
In the past, the monies were not to be touched because they were to be invested. However. Strauss said that of the $150 million of total endowment funds, $12 million are not restricted by the donor and not specifically set aside to be invested. These unrestricted funds are to be used for the loan program.
“We’re now investing in students rather than commercial interests,” Strauss said.
BANG THE DRUMS QUICKLY —Students passing by Bovard Auditorium Wednesday were treated to the sights and sounds of traditional African music. This group of musicians performed as part of the African Student Association's week-long festivities celebrating African culture._
Staff photo by Rich Levine