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Volume XCVII, Number 30	University of Southern California	Monday, October 15, 1984
RAYMOND LAM
Procrastination - students hoping to turn in their UCLA and Notre Dame lottery coupons Friday were confronted with a two hour wait.
Saudi anniversary celebrated
By Rebecca Esquibel
Staff Writer
The Saudi Arabian students from this university held a lavish dinner and art exhibit at the University Hilton Thursday night to celebrate the 53rd anniversary of the unification of their country.
Saudi Arabia was unified in 1932 by the late King Abdul Aziz al Saud when he united the various Arab tribes into a single government.
"Our country has given us everything to help us gain our proper place in the world. It is our duty to do something back," said Said Zahrani, the student who organized the event. "We are also trying to educate Americans about our culture, religion and history, to tell people the true picture."
Zahrani created most of the artwork, pencil drawings and paintings of Saudi Arabian people and symbols that were exhibited.
Also on display were Saudi Arabian artifacts, including gold inlaid plates, brass, copper and silver tea services, brass camels and beautiful native costumes, which were loaned to the group by the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Information.
The event was paid for entirely by Saudi students.
"This was very personal to us. (A message) from us to your country," Zahrani said.
Many administrators attended the celebra-
tion, including Joan Schaefer, dean of women; Richard Biller, executive vice provost; and Kristine Dillon, vice president of student affairs. There were also many faculty and staff members present.
After the exhibit, dinner and live entertainment by an Arabian band were provided. There was also a showing of a film on Saudi Arabia.
Zahrani said many Americans have misconceptions about his country because the media has not been fair to the Saudi Arabians and misunderstands them.
"The picture of our country and people is being distorted by people who don't understand, especially the media," he said. "The media wasn't fair and didn't show the true picture of our people."
Zahrani said his nation has made vast improvements in recent years in the fields of architecture, medical aid and education. The film showed modem Saudi cites, vast agricultural developments, and Saudi children learning English to help them when they enter the job market.
In a speech preceding the film, Zahrani said, "Now all Saudis commemorate their pride in their nation and their role in the interdependent world. Through the stability of our country our people have made tremendous progess toward establishing Saudi Arabia as a strong and prosperous nation."
SAID ZAHRANI
Liberal arts education
By Karen Castro
Assistant City Editor
A liberal arts education is critical for the maintenance and continuity of society, said Vartan Gregorian, head of the New York Public Library, during his address at the annual meeting of the Association of Graduate Liberal Studies Program Friday.
Rapid industrialization of technology is a key to the demand for liberal arts studies, he said.
"We all know that technological change is proceeding and that we must have sufficient education capabilities to support the corresponding changes that technology will bring."
Gregorian, a former provost at the University of Pennsylvania, said an information revolution is approaching, but there are not enough people to leam and interpret this information.
"We face an unprecedented explosion of information and knowledge. We are moving rapidly to the dawn of an informa-
tion revolution that may parallel an industrial revolution in its impact. We are told that the total amount of collected information doubles every five years. On the other hand, the ratio of youths to available information is decreasing all the time."
Gregorian's speech topic, "Who Needs a Liberal Arts Education?" paralleled the theme of a three-day seminar sponsored by the liberal studies association, "Purpose in Liberal Education: Now and in the Future."
It is the job of colleges and universities to educate people in the liberal arts, he said.
"One of the greatest challenges facing modern society and civilization is how to transform information into knowledge and how to transmit this knowledge to our people," he said.
"Our universities and colleges, more than ever, have the fundamental, social and historical task to give us not training alone, but education as well."
necessary
Gregorian, who is from Iran, stressed the importance of a total liberal arts education, as opposed to just training in a specific field.
"Any school that devotes itself totally to saleable skills, especially in a time of high unemployment, by sending young men and women into the world armed only with a narrow range of skills is like sending a lamb (Continued on page 5)
Night flyer
By Ted Carroll
Staff Writer
It's close to midnight at Los Angeles International Airport, and something is lurking in the dark.
The midnight flyer to San Francisco departs daily for $30 one way. Waiting to board at LAX are a special mix of students, oddballs, and long distance lovers.
BSU plans to demonstrate against Reagan-Bush team
By Aaron Van Curen
Staff Writer
The Black Student Union plans to demonstrate against the Reagan administration during today's appearance of Vice President George Bush, announced BSU President Bernard Walker.
"We want to show our presence with posters and banners, and we want a good show of students. But we don't want it to get out of hand," Walker said.
"We want to demonstrate support for someone other than Reagan."
Walker said that Movimiento Estudahtil Chicano de Atzlan may also participate in the demonstration. However, MEChA member Fabian Amador said he was unaware of any planned demonstration.
John Blanton, chairman of USC Students for Mondale-Ferraro, said his organization has planned no activities on campus during the Bush speech.
The BSU hopes to have 50 to 100 students appear at the demonstration. Walker said he wants the group to make its presence known, but not to disrupt the Vice President's speech by heckling or chant-•ing.
Walker said the group plans to hold a "classy demonstration."
Following the speech, Walker says the BSU wants to hold a press conference to express their views on the election.
The BSU has discussed the demonstration with John Hanson, executive director of Campus Life. Hanson said that Hahn Plaza, in front of the Student Union, has been designated for the demonstration, because it is within the media's line of sight, but far enough away to prevent disruption of speech.
"If, at some point, individuals wish to leave the demonstration and go to the speech, they can walk over there," Hanson said. "But any disruption will be a violation of university policy."
Hanson said that signs and banners are "quiet demonstrations" and will be allowed in the area of the address.
USC Students for Mondale-Ferraro has chosen not to do anything regarding Bush's appearance, Blanton said. "We are concentrating on welcoming our candidate on Wednesday."
Democratic candidates Walter Mondale and Geraldine Ferraro plan to appear in Southern California on Wednesday.
"There was a bit of debate. But we thought it over, and the vast majority agreed that (not responding to Bush's appearance) is the proper and classy thing to do," Blanton said.
carries students, crazies
The half-hour to two hour wait in line is a perfect opportunity to talk with fellow travelers. The feeling is similar to budget train travel in Europe: lots of students, and people representing almost every fad and ethnic group. •
Students seem to use the midnight flyer the most, and it is not uncommon to find Bruins to argue with. And there will most
likely be someone who is attractive and dying for conversation to break up the boredom.
There are also the crazies. One man has been standing in line for two hours playing Huey Lewis over and over on his cassette player, all the while having the grandest conversation with himself as he stares off into
space.
(Continued on page 7)