One student, six others left homeless after blaze
By Gordon Gary
Staff Writer
An arsonist's fire at a Vic-torian-style home on Adams Boulevard last Sunday left at least six people — one of them a university student — homeless. The fire was the third one set at the home in two weeks.
Mike Molinski, a resident at the house, said the fire occurred at about 5:20 a.m. Sunday.
Molinski's brothers, Bill and Dan, were also staying at the house at the time of the fire. Bill is a law student at the university, and Dan, who lives in Phoenix, Ariz., was visiting.
"Dan woke all of us up when he noticed the heat. If it had been two minutes later, we would have all been dead," Molinski said.
On the morning of Aug. 16, someone set some gasoline on fire around the back wall of the building, causing minor damage to the outside wall. On the morning of Aug. 27, somebody climbed over the back wall of the house, broke in and ignited some lighter fluid in the living room, Molinski said.
The fire completely destroyed the roof of the house, as well as many of the residents' possessions. Damage was estimated at $50,000, according to a story in the Los Angeles Times.
Police said no suspect has been arrested in the arson investigation.
Another arson fire was set at Promenade Towers downtown, where about 280 students are staying because of a housing shortage closer to the university.
Camille Carr, complex manager at Promenade, said some paper was set on fire on the first floor of the complex in a
corridor near the lobby. A female suspect was arrested shortly afterward.
"The fire was put under control immediately by our security staff, even before the fire department arrived," Carr said. She added that the blaze only caused minor damage to some carpeting and some paint on an elevator. She estimated the damage at about $100.
Carr said that there was some "disgruntlement" among residents when university students moved into the complex, but said she didn't think there was any connection between the angry
Tom Woodall / Daily Trojan
An arson fire was set in Promenade Towers, where university students are now living.
residents and the fire.
Dr. Logan Hazen, director of resident student development at the Office of Residential Life, said that housing services placed approximately 280 students in Promenade Towers and several others live there of their own accord.
Volume Cll, Number 2	University of Southern California	Wednesday, September 3, 1986
Senate candidate Ed Zschau addresses students at new GOP House opening
Senate hopeful praises 'Republican philosophy'
By Kirsten Levingston
Staff Writer
Fraternity members find housing after June fire
By Bryon Okada
Staff Writer
Seventy-Fifth Year of Publication
(M% trojan
1912 — 1986
Republican Congressman Ed Zschau commended the Trojan College Republicans yesterday at the opening of the GOP House, saying it represents "the Republican philosophy at work."
"It is inspiring to see what is taking place here," Zschau said of the creation of the house which will serve as the campus' Republican headquarters.
"The GOP House is not just a place where (university Republicans) can gather and work in this campaign," said Zschau, who is currently running against Democratic Sen. Alan Cranston for the California seat in the U.S. Senate.
"It's also an example of the way in which the Republican philosophy can be implemented and create opportunity for people to achieve (their objectives)," Zschau told the crowd of about 75 that gathered for the opening.
The Trojan College Republicans decided to lease the GOP House after they were denied office space by the university, said Sheri Lee Roe, the president of the group.
Citing a report in the New York Times which said that 32 percent of young people today consider themselves Republican, Roe estimated that approximately 10,000 students on campus identify with the party.
"Denial of office space here at USC stifles any serious attempt of organization and recruitment of these students," Roe said.
The GOP House currently houses seven students and will play a significant role in the upcoming election on Nov. 4, she said.
"We want to put out the word that college Republicans at USC want to help our candidates," Roe said.
She stressed that student volunteers "do nuny things for candidates," including advance work, phone banking, envelope stuffing, and interning in candidates' offices.
"In the 1986 fall campaign the Republicans are going to do an outstanding job," Zschau said.
He characterized the Republican candidates, dubbed "Team '86," as a unified group with a "winning message that appeals to a broad cross section of the people of California."
Zschau was joined in the opening-day ceremonies by the Republican candidate for State Controller, Bill Campbell.
Campbell attributed the rise in Republican support to the Reagan administration.
"Twelve years ago they wrote off the Republican party," he said, "and here we are today with the
Guri Dhaliwai / Daily Trojan
Republican Senate candidate Ed Zschau speaks at the opening ceremonies of the Trojan College Republicans’ GOP House.
majority of students here on campus identifying with the Republican party."
"Ronald Reagan put that leadership that provided hope in America once again and hope in ourselves," Campbell said. "Our hope now is in the young people that we have here today."
Zschau and Campbell marked the official opening of the GOP House by cutting a red, white, and blue ribbon attached to the house's front door.
The GOP House has received donations of furniture and housing items from organizations throughout the county as well as from private individuals, Roe said.
In addition. Republican leaders throughout the state have sent autographed pictures which adorn the walls of the house.
One of the pictures that came in read, "The future is yours, go get 'em/' Roe said. "This is very inspiring to us because we believe that."
A fire caused members of the Sigma Alpha Mu house to seek temporary housing.
Members of the Sigma Alpha Mu fraternity have moved temporarily info both a new house and university housing this semester because the basement and first floor of their house on the Row was seriously damaged in an electrical fire June 29.
Don D'adesky, president of the fraternity, said that the fire department speculated that faulty wiring in the basement was the cause of the blaze.
Members of Sigma Alpha Mu have obtained alternate housing from the university until the house can be renovated, D'adesky said.
A house on Severance Street has been provided for about 12 of the fraternity members. Twenty-five others have been placed in university housing, D'adesky said. He said that all the members of the fraternity have been accomodated.
D'adesky said the university would pay about $250,000 for the rebuilding of the house, though the fire only caused $60,000 damage. The remainder of the money will be used for the renovation of the rest of the house.
"Once they're going for it, they'll do it," D'adesky said of the university.
The county health department determined that the undamaged portions of the house needed renovation. They described the house as "uninhabitable," said Marc Grossmann, a member of the fraternity.
"There's a lot wrong with this house that was wrong before," Grossmann said.
D'adesky said the repairs for the university-owned house are scheduled to be completed by the end of December, though Grossmann said he thought that was unlikely.
(Continued on page 18)