Seventy-Fifth Year of Publication
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Volume Cll, Number 52
University of Southern California
1912 — 1986
Thursday, November 13, 1986
Proposal creates two options for computer science majors
PETER ZAKHARY DAILY TROJAN
Kyle Henderson sang and played the guitar to a group of students in front of Tommy Trojan at yesterday’s noontime concert.
By Lori Grange
Staff Writer
Students interested in computer science may soon get to choose one of two routes to pursue that degree, if university officials decide to instigate a plan they are currently discussing.
Administrators in the School of Engineering and the computer science department are "looking into” a plan to allow computer science majors the opportunity to receive their undergraduate degrees from the School of Engineering, according to Clarke Howatt, associate dean for students and alumni affairs for the engineering school.
The undergraduate degree currently is offered only by the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences.
"Students would have their choice of tracks, so they could get either an engineering or LAS background with their computer science degree," Howatt said.
If developed, the track may be available by fall of 1988, according to George Bekey, chairman of the computer science department.
"The new track would be primarily for those interested in de-
Officials expect to raise funds
By Aaron Curtiss
Assistant City Editor
Running a campaign is big business.
The university's massive "Campaign for USC," which university officials hope will raise over S557 million by 1990, has an operating budget for this year of $1,058,070 because, according to campaign managers, "you have to spend money to raise money."
According to Roger Olson, senior vice president of university relations and operator of the campaign, the returns of the campaign will make the initial investment look like "small change."
"I don't know anybody who would give me that kind of cash. . .if I couldn't guarantee a return on the campaign," Olson said. "It was a very, very good investment," he said. Olson said the campaign has already raised S219 million since it began in July 1984.
The university went into the public phase of the campaign at the end of September and it has raised over $12 million since university president James
Zumberge called the plan "audacious" during his state of the university address.
The good investment may be even better as much of the operating costs of the campaign are coming in under budget, Olson said.
Although the university budgeted $442,320 for the kick-off celebration weekend, which included a series of "donor cultivation" events on Sept. 27, Olson said that the number fell to $297,000 before the event and may even be lower.
"It wasn't anything like ($442,320), but I can't give you an accurate figure, because we haven't paid the bills yet," Olson said.
Since the celebration, the university has used high-impact advertising techniques that include a high-gloss book, which cost about $80,000, explaining the campaign.
The university also has promoted itself using a 30-second commercial during televised football games. The clip was taken from a 20-minute video presentation of the university that was shown dur-
(Continued on page 2)
Current resident adviser to fill vacancy at Promenade Towers
By Trellis Huahn
Staff Writer
A new resident adviser has been assigned to Promenade Towers, replacing Robert Cobb, who was promoted to head resident at Pardee Tower, said Logan Hazen, director of Resident Student Development.
The name of the replacement has not yet been released, but Hazen said that she is currently an RA. Hazen said the Housing Services Office wanted an experienced person to fill the position.
There are two RAs at Promenade Towers. The new RA will join Sherry Thompson, and is awaiting a new room assignment before moving in and officially taking the position.
Both of the RA rooms have been on the same side of the apartment building, but housing prefers to have RA rooms on opposite sides of the building so the RAs can watch both sides of the building.
Housing is currently trying to find a vacant room facing the pool and courtyard area. Hazen said a
suitable room is expected to become available by this weekend.
Negotiations for the new room, being handled by the university and Promenade management, are currently at a standstill due to an absence of employees at the apartment building this week, Hazen said.
There are currently 204 students living at Promenade after being placed there at the beginning of the year due to a shortage of university housing on or near campus.
The university negotiated a special short-term deal with Promenade.
Promenade rents and sells unfurnished spaces, however the university furnished the apartments the students moved into.
Hazen said the arrangement is profitable to all parties. Promenade is making a profit by renting to temporary' tenants, and students are able to have affordable, comfortable housing.
(Continued on page 11)
signing computers, who usually major in electrical engineering," he said.
The idea for the option was developed after administrators realized the existing track was discouraging some students from pursuing a computer science degree, Howatt said.
While many computer science majors are satisfied with a general education background, others have expressed an interest in a degree from the School of Engineering, he said.
"My understanding is that when the program was created, the faculty in computer science was very interested that students be able to take background material in a variety of areas, so that an interest in computer science might be integrated into these areas," Howatt said.
The arrangement of the computer science department is another reason for the
consideration of the new track, he said.
Course requirements for computer science majors are- determined and degrees given by the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, but all other facets of the department are administered by the School of Engineering.
This system may have deterred some students from majoring in computer science, Howatt said.
"When some students realize the degree comes from LAS, they will move toward engineering," he said. "Also, I see some high school students interested in computer science but they want an engineering degree."
The system also has caused confusion for many students, said Amy Yung, student affairs assistant for the computer science department.
"A lot of the time students don't know which requirements (Continued on page 11)
Former student charged of conspiring to sell drugs
By Pablo Lopez
Staff Writer
The lawyer for a former university student convicted of maliciously tampering with grades, said his client "may Ijave been set up" by Drug Enforcement Administration agents on his alleged cocaine rap.
Maury Kommor, the lawyer who is representing Mehrdad Amini in a U.S. District Court in Louisville, Ky., said he is flying to Los Angeles this weekend to do his own investigating.
Amini, who was convicted in August for illegally changing students' grades in exchange for cash, was sentenced in September to two years in prison. He now awaits a preliminary trial on Jan. 5 for conspiracy to possess cocaine with the intent to distribute, said Alexander Taft, assistant U.S. attorney in Louisville.
But Kommor said, in a telephone interview from Louisville, Amini may be a victim of circumstances. "We believe he might have been entrapped," Kommor said.
According to U.S. District Court records in Los Angeles, a grand jury from the U.S. District Court in Kentucky charged Amini and two co-defendants with one count of "unlawful and knowingly" conspiring together to possess cocaine with the intent to distribute.
The records named Navid Ahmadi, 30, and Mahmoud Malekaf-zali, 28, as the co-defendants. Ahmadi and Malekafzali, who also goes by the name of Malekaszaci, pleaded guilty in December 1985 in a U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, and both defendants received 36 months probation. It was not known at press time if Ahmadi or Malekafzali were university students.
Kommor said he believes Amini was "singled out" because Amini sits in Jefferson County Jail in Louisville while his accomplices are free on probation.
"We have serious doubts and some problems with the case," said Kommor, of Cantor, Anderson and Burdy, a Louisville law firm. "We believe Amini is innocent of the charges and that's why I'm flying out to Los Angeles to do my own investigating."
But Amini was also charged with a second count by the grand jury. Records show Amini tried to distribute two kilograms of cocaine to an undercover agent employed by the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Taft said that although he had not reviewed the case in months, Amini may be facing a maximum of 30 years in prison.
Amini was transferred to Louisville a month ago from the California Institute for Men in Chino, where he was serving his two-year sentence for his involvement in the grade scandal.
A former university employee, Darryl Gillard, who worked in the Office of Registration and Records, was also convicted of changing grades in exchange for cash, but will testify against Amini when Amini's trial for cocaine possession begins.
Gillard is currently not in custody as part of a plea bargain arrangement with the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office. In exchange for his testimony, Gillard's sentence will not exceed two years, said Stephen Plafker, a deputy district attorney.
In his defense, Amini said when he was apprehended that all he was carrying was a Wall Street Journal and his wallet. He said he was set up by an acquaintance who accompanied him on the plane. Amini said the DEA agents found the cocaine in his
luggage