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Volume XCIil, Number 4	University of Southern California	Friday, January 14, 1983
University may sever Idyllwild ties
By Belma Johnson
Investigations Editor
Funds for the Idyllwild School of Music and the Arts may be cut off next year if the popular but unprofitable program does not improve its operation, the Daily Trojan has learned.
If that happens, the fine arts school in the San Jacinto Mountains will hold its last session this summer, according to a university document.
A draft resolution was sent to the school this week to warn of a possible dissolution of its association with the university.
“If a viable plan is not achieved during the Spring of 1983," the document said, “it is the intent of the University to close the ISOMATA program and the Idyllwild Campus following the 1983 Summer Session.”
The proposed resolution must be approved by the Board of Trustees before it becomes the official university position, said George Abdo, President James Zumberge's executive secretary.
The university acquired the picturesque, 205-acre campus in 1964, 14 years after it was established, via a deed-of-gift agreement with the school’s founder Max Krone, a former music professor at the university.
The university assumed more than $400,000 of liabilities under the agreement in exchange for the fine art school’s land and buildings.
Krone's not-for-profit corporation that owned the facility was guaranteed a year’s notice if the university decided
to withdraw or otherwise modify support for the school.
“We’re spending more than the benefits justify,” said Jon Strauss, senior vice president of administration.
He added Thursday that the university expects Idyllwild to provide more cultural enrichment for students on the main campus or more revenue to justify continuation of the program.
“For the 1981-82 fiscal year, Idyllwild had anoperating deficit of 582,528 not including some $75,000 in direct fringe benefit costs and $100,000 in University overhead costs not charged against their accounts,’’ the document said.
Because Idyllwild programs took in $175,000 less than expected last year, the document said, “Idyllwild is currently projected to have an operating deficit of some $250,000 in 1982-83 on a total budget of $1,419,012.”
The document said the deficit exists despite a $125,000 university subsidy. It also said Idyllwild recently projected it would need over $3 million in improvements to stabilize its income.
Fund raising produces less than $50,000 per year for Idyllwild, and fewer students than expected have been attracted to the university as a result of attending Idyllwild.
Strauss added, “Right now there are almost no university students involved.” However, the money to support Idyllwild comes from general university funds to which main campus students contribute.
Strauss said performing arts instruc-
TERMINATION? — The university may divorce itself from the Idyllwild fine arts school because the retreat costs hundreds of thousands of dollars each vear.
tors will be consulted to develop a plan to save the relationship with Idyllwild. He added that the university has been trying for about a year to work out a new operational plan with the school.
In December, Strauss said, the university decided to give the school an ultimatum.
Students from “age 5 to 105” come to the school from all over the western part of the nation, said Buzz Holmes, Idyllwild’s associate director.
The school charges adults about $150 and youth $100 per week tuition for the one- or two-week courses and $120
per week for those who choose to eat and sleep in the school’s facilities. Between 250 and 325 students participate each week, Holmes said.
When asked about the financial state of the school, he said “I have no problem with it.”
He responded to questions about the possible closing of the school, saying, “I think it's only appropriate that Dr Strauss’ office comment on those things.”
Pat Clark, acting director of the school, could not be reached for com-(Continued on page 8)
Renowned professor suffers fatal stroke
By Annette Haddad
Assistant City Editor
Bailey Diffie, an 80-year-old adjunct professor of history and a renowned expert on Latin America and Portuguese history, died at his home Wednesday after suffering a stroke.
Diffie, who had exhibit 3d symptoms of a possible stroke Tuesday while having lunch in the faculty center, taught the History of Brazil course last spring and was described by colleagues as “always joking” and having “a sparkle in his eye.”
He was taken to California Hospital after collapsing, said Sgt. Herman Aviles of Security.
“He said he was dizzy and (felt) a tingling sensation in his extremities,” Aviles said, adding that medical technicians at the scene said the “stroke” could have been attributed to high blood pressure.
When Diffie arrived at the hospital, his blood pressure had decreased, and he was released to the care of his personal physician.
After returning home, however, Diffie suffered a fatal stroke about 1:30 a.m. Wednesday.
Diffie retired in 1968 after almost 40 years as a professor at the City College of New York. He had developed a second career teaching at the University of Washington and the University of Miami after his retirement in 1968. He came to the university in 1970 as a visiting professor.
Mario Rodriguez, a history department colleague and friend of the late professor for about 30 years, said Diffie was a very dynamic man and “as alert as can be.”
“He was a very charismatic man. He took a fancy to the younger members of the department and the younger members of the department took a fancy to him,” Rodriguez said. “He was like a grandfather to everyone.”
Diffie’s interest in his students was always strong, Rodriguez said, and he “added a great deal to the department.”
“He brought us all closer together,” he said. “He did research like a young grad student. He was very valuable for USC to have had for 12 years,” Rodriguez said.
(Continued on page 5)
University delays repairs
By Douglas Lytle
Staff Writer
The university’s deferred maintenance repairs are “close to being out of control,” said Arnold Shafer, the executive director of the faculties management plant.
The deferred maintenance backlog, which this year has been estimated at approximately $18 million, has increased steadily in the past few years due to “inflation and the scope of the deferred maintenance,” Shafer said.
The term is used by university officials to describe annual maintenance on university facilities and buildings needing upkeep work that is "major in scope” but must be deferred until the following year because of budget limitations.
Shafer illustrated the concept with an example that he says is not new to the university. The physical plant maintenance crew will notice that a university building needs paint and water sealing to protect it from the elements.
But because of budget limitations, the painting of the building will be “deferred" until the next year.
However, when the maintenance crew returns a year later, the cost of painting and repairing the exterior damage to the building has increased along
with the severity of the damage itself. Consequently, the maintenance crews cannot keep up with the growing deterioration, and the administration cannot keep up with the growing deferred maintenance debt.
At this time, the adminstra-
tion does not have any “quick fix” solutions to the problem, but Shafer feels that “every year we delay, the problems get worse. It’s all a matter of timing, but it’s our hope that the university will allocate more money to solve the (Continued on page 6)
Security officer put
on 10-day suspension
By Marc Igler
City Editor
University Security placed an officer on a 10-day suspension without pay Thursday for using unnecessary force on a criminal suspect.
Officer John Brand, who has been with University Security for 2 1/2 years, was suspended following an internal investigation of his actions on Nov. 18 when he punched an auto burglary suspect in the stomach.
In a prepared statement. Steven W’ard, chief of University Security, said that Brand did not violate the law when he struck the suspect.
“Reasonable force is lawful in such circumstances,” W'ard
said, "and the abdominal blow has been accepted by some law enforcement agencies as reasonable in certain circumstances when an arrestee cannot be placed in a patrol car otherwise. This tactic is not acceptable to (University Security)."
The incident in question occurred after Brand and another officer caught the suspect following a foot chase near 36th Street and Vermont Avenue. The suspect, who was booked with the LAPD under the name Steven Smith, had been seen breaking into a student’s car.
During the arrest, the suspect attempted to kick one of the officers in the face. Ward said.
(Continued on page 3)