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Volume XCVII, Number 24	University of Southern California	Friday, October 5, 1984
Ex-financial aid director says staff’s resistance to change made him quit
By Steven Church, Staff Writer
Resistance to changes in the Office of Financial Aid by some of its officers caused Fred Hessinger to quit as director in July, he said Thursday.
When asked whether it was more accurate to say he left because he believed he could no longer be effective, or because someone else believed he could no longer be effective, Hessinger said, "1 would stand on the last statement."
"If a staff won't accept the changes a director is implementing, then either the staff member or the director has to leave," Hessinger said.
Michael Halloran, dean of the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid, declined to comment when asked if Hessinger was pressured to leave.
The changes Hessinger implemented when he arrived in January 1983 had to do mainly with "quality service in a timely manner," Hessinger said.
Many officers resisted these changes because "he was a computer person and we were people persons," said a financial aid officer who asked not to be identified.
"Most of the conflicts centered around (Hessinger)," the officer said. "He was getting pressure from the top and bottom."
Between January and August of 1984, five other officers also quit.
"A couple of staff members left because I changed their job roles. I certainly think that
had I stayed, more would have left also," Hessinger said.
Halloran and Cecilia Vielma, acting director of financial aid, said Wednesday that the problems of those still waiting for aid packaging developed this summer when Hessinger left.
"The whole process started late and I have to bear some responsibility for that," Hessinger said.
"When I left, it was working four times faster than at that time last year," he said. Hessinger added that the automated systems could easily have allowed those students who applied for aid as early as Jan.l to receive their letters of confirmation prior to Sept. 4.
But Halloran said, "I don't think we have enough data collected that would give you a look at processing speed. If we were four times as fast, we would not be behind."
Hessinger said if he was still director of financial aid, the system would eventually be more streamlined and efficient.
"When I left I was trying to rework the entire Financial Aid Office," Hessinger said. "I was in the process of doubling the number of counselors.
"When I arrived, we had eight terminals with three people who had access to them; when I left, we had 40 terminals with 40 people who had access to them," he said.
Halloran, however, said this was inaccurate and indicated there are "about 20 terminals and
20	people with access."
Dining hall space may be rented out to students
By Rebecca Esquibel
Staff Writer
With the pub issue still undecided, an administrative committee has determined that the second floor of the Frank L. King Olympic Hall of Champions (West Dining Hall) will probably be used as a rental facility for campus organizations.
It was decided last year that the first floor of the building would be used for a type of dining hall, with a variety of food
shops and a large seating area.
During a meeting Sept. 28 — attended by John Hanson, executive director of Campus Life, Gene Lawless, director of Food Services and representatives from the Pub Advisory Committee — the fate of the second floor was decided.
The committee, which was formed to determine what will be done with the southern two-thirds of the second floor, is headed by James Dennis, vice
Two new students receive fraternity’s annual awards
By Tom Fitzsimmons
Staff Writer
The Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity presented its second annual "outstanding all-around incoming student" scholarship award to freshman Benton Lamson at a ceremony Monday night.
The runner-up award went to James Bates, a transfer student from Glendale Community College.
The main scholarship was $300, while the runner-up scholarship was $100. Both Lamson and Bates received plaques along with their award money.
Lamson, 18, was also one of 200 students nationwide who received the Josten's Foundation award of $500. He graduated from Wilson High School in Long Beach with a 4.0 grade point average and a Scholastic Aptitude Test score of 1110.
Lamson said he will use $110 of his scholarship money for air fare to the USC-Stanford football game, and will use the rest of the money to buy textbooks next semester.
Brian Pallasch, scholarship chairman for Lambda Chi Alpha, said the awards were based on high school and community involvement, and grade point average.
Unlike scholarships handed by outside contributions, this scholarship was funded by the fraternity's general operations fund. Pallasch said for the student "the scholarship provides money; for us, it's what we want to do to honor the students."
The scholarships are not limited to members of Lambda Chi Alpha or the Greek system. Neither award winner is a member of a fraternity.
The awards were presented by Sylvia Manning, vice provost.
"I was very much impressed when I discovered that not only were they giving the scholarship, but that they were funding it themselves," Manning said.
Applications for the scholarships were sent out to 3,000 entering male students. Lambda Chi Alpha received 175 responses, interviewed 68 students and chose the award winners from 10 finalists, Pallasch said.
Pallasch said the reason for the scholarship is to show students the importance of fraternity life and academics. He said Lambda Chi Alpha has the highest grade point average among the university's fraternities, with an overall grade point average of 3.07.
president of student affairs. Hanson, who is in charge of investigating the possible uses of the area, said it is "prime space for programming."
Though planning, remodeling and cost evaluation has not begun for the area, Hanson said he
and Food Services administrators have agreed to open the facility by second semester.
"Our (time) will be tight, but it is worth working for," Hanson said.
Hanson said part of the second floor will be remodeled to
have fewer walls so the area will be flexible and can be used for a variety of activities.
Hanson said the area will probably be available for rent by student groups for exercise classes, meetings, movies and (Continued on page 2)
Court upholds liquor store law
By James Jones
Staff Writer
In a victory for community organizations that want to cut down on crime, a Superior Court judge has upheld an ordinance restricting the number of liquor stores in South-Central Los Angeles.
The ordinance was passed by the Los Angeles City Council in March and became law a month later. The law was challenged by an association of liquor store owners as an unconstitutional use of the city's zoning laws. The Superior Court, however, upheld the ordinance.
One of the community groups instrumental in bringing the issue to city hall was the South-Central Organizing Committee, which had fought for the ordinance for more than 15 months.
"It was a major victory for us," said Grace Trejo, chairwoman of the SCOC. "It was the only fair way to control crime which appears at these stores."
The ordinance requires new owners of liquor stores — and some present owners — to obtain conditional use permits from the City Planning Commission.
A public hearing is required for anyone who wishes to build a new liquor store or make changes to an existing store. The hearing's purpose is to see if the store will have an adverse effect on the community.
Trejo said the organization drummed up significant support from some key city officials, in-
cluding Mayor Tom Bradley and City Attorney Ira Reiner, and state Attorney General John Van de Kamp, to help put pressure on the City Council. The final vote by the City Council was unanimous.
In the six months since the law was enacted, two locations
where crime was prevalent — the comer of 39th Street and Normandie Avenue and Payton Deli ard Liquor at Adams Boulevard and Kenwood Avenue — have since become quiet, she said.
"The SCOC will be monitor-(Continued on page 2)