Volume XCII, Number 47
trojan
University of Southern California
Thursday, November 11, 1982
VANCE PETERSON
‘Honest differences’ with administration pressure Vance Peterson to resign
By Ellen Plotkin
Staff Writer
Vance Peterson, executive director of university relations, Wednesday announced his resignation effective immediately but will carry out projects in progress until Dec. 31, 1982.
Peterson gave President James Zumberge and Cornelius Pings, provost and senior vice president for university relations, a letter of resignation last Friday.
In the Nov. 5 letter to Pings, Peterson stated his reasons for leaving the university.
“I believe you...are aware...of some key differences I have with the present senior administration over the role and function of communications and external relations for the university.
“These are honest differences over style, emphasis, direction and organization which I believe should be respected," Peterson wrote.
Martha Harris, director of the university news service, was appointed acting directorof public relations by Pings, Wednesday. She will continue her duties with the news service.
“Martha Harris will take over the day-to-day administration,” Peterson said.
“I want some time to finish several projects. I will be around (the university) until December 31.”
Peterson began work at the university in October 1977, serving as director of academic relations.
“I was recruited to USC by Zohrab A. Kaprielian. who was then executive vice president in 1977, and was given the charge of more forcefully articulating the academic work of the university,” Peterson said.
He said that for the most part, the university's academic image has been improved, but there is room for “more improvement.”
Peterson would not comment further on that subject.
He said he looks back with pride and satisfaction on what has been accomplished during the years that he has been at the university.
He cited the accomplishments of the news service, the Public Information Council, the Faculty Scholarship Directory and the Trojan Family.
Pings said that Peterson’s resignation was not a "surprise.”
“It's his decision,” Pings said. “He may have been uncomfortable and wanted to move.”
In a press release issued Wednesday, Peterson said. “I believe it is in the best interests of the university, as well as my own, to resign and to turn the day-to-day administration of university relations over to someone else.”
Pings said a replacement will be announced sometime before Dec. 31.
“We will pause briefly to review our public relations and communications needs and will shortly begin the search for a replacement,” Pings said.
Peterson said he is “95 percent sure" of what he wants to do once he officially leaves the university.
“I plan to continue my professional work in the field of institutional advancement, and will announce details of my future plans in the days ahead.”
He said he will leave the university with a “deep sense of personal satisfaction and pride.”
In his letter to Pings, Peterson said, “1 know that you, and whomever you choose as my successor, will strive to further advance the gains that have been made.”
Campus crime decreases says new security report
By Alan Grossman
Assistant City Editor
So far this year, the number of crimes against persons at the university has dropped 42 percent from last year, and overall crime has declined 4 percent, according to an in-house report that University Security completed Wednesday.
But the number of crimes against property has risen by 3 percent. Steven Ward, chief of University Security, attributed the increase to cases involving property valued at less than S200 (petty theft).
The statistics are based on figures spanning the period of January to October 1981. and that same period this year.
Sgt. Art Blair said there were 212 reported cases of crime against people during this 10 month period in 1981, but only 122 reported incidents this year.
He said security handled 2,141 reports during that period as opposed to 2,054 to date. Blair added that so far in 1982, the department has filed 1,932 reports of property crime, but only received 1.876 calls of this nature in 1981.
Ward cited four reasons why he believed the number of reported
crimes in general, and especially crimes against people, has dropped from that of 1981.
He said that better coverage of the university and the surrounding area by his force and community security departments, crime awareness on the part of students, faculty and staff; an enlarged crime prevention program by security; and the “daily boxscore,” in the Daily Trojan all contributed to the decrease.
“It’s a combination of these things,” he said. “We can take part of the credit, but not all of it.”
Ward said that more patrol cars are covering the university community this year, and are being aided by the increased deployment of security personnel for the University Hilton and Mt. St. Mary's College.
“We have more cars out there than ever; the Hilton security staff has enlarged, as has Mt. St. Mary's; and the RTD are becoming more involved in working bus crimes." Ward said.
“The overall result is that there’s more pressure (on the criminal element) because I think there is a visible deterrent out there." he- said.
Ward also said that he believed more people are being cautious because of crime awareness.
“It tends to show this as people are using the escort service, tram use is up, and they are traveling more in groups,” he said.
He said the increased awareness is a result of his department’s larger emphasis on crime prevention programs, and this semester’s Daily Trojan security coverage.
“We have more crime prevention programs this fall than in the past-we’re reaching more people. Plus, we’ve never had this kind of (Continued on page 3)
Senator decides not to resign from post
Gigi Fairchild, dormitory senator and undergraduate representative for the Student Senate, has announced that she will not resign from her post.
“My emotional attachment to the senate got in the picture,” she said, explaining why she chose not to resign.
Fairchild handed Dan Dunmoyer, Student Senate president, a letter of resignation last Wednesday. She later told Dunmoyer that she would make a final decision by last Sunday.
Fairchild told the Daily Trojan Thursday that her reasons for resigning were "mostly personal."
“I knew how many hours senate would take up,” she said prior to her change of mind. “I re-evaluated my time,” she said. The decision “came down to one of priority.”
“Originally, last week, time conflicts came to a head. I took what seemed the simplest and most logical way out,” she said. “I tried to ignore the emotional aspect."
Dunmoyer said he found out on Sunday that Fairchild would not resign. “I was very glad to hear it,” he said.
Fairchild said she talked with Dunmoyer in late October regarding changes she wanted to see in the Student Senate. “I wanted more direction, a new method of working on issues,” she said.
One request, she said, was for a meeting with senators that would be closed to the press. “I just wanted a meeting where we could talk without media pressure." That meeting took place on Sunday.
Dunmoyer was quick to point out that Fairchild gave no ultimatums.
Staff photo by Jessica Friedheim
LOOKING FOR A WAY OUT OF THE RAIN — This student, eyeing the Bookstore, obviously feels her umbrella
is not enough. For more rain art, see page 2.
Staff photo by Jon Soo Hoo