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Volume XCVIII. Number 12
University of Southern California
Monday, January 28, 1985
By Lisa Lapin	the booth last semester, received a credit card from
Staff Wnter	every company, including Visa.
When most students open their wallets, all they	“Many companies now view students more fa-
can reveal is an ID card, driver's license and maybe	vorably as credit risks. They believe that if they get
a health club card — none of that shiny plastic	them young, they will remain good customers,"
owned by those in the working world.	said Meredith Naples, vice president of the Phila-
Credit cards and credit ratings may seem out of	delphia-based CCCC.
reach to college students, but there are signs that	“We're very high on college accounts as poten-
times are changing. '	tial growth accounts/' said Gerry McMahon, se-
Banks, gas companies, department stores and	nior manager of credit operations for The
even major credit card corporations are seeing ad-	Broadway's two million accounts. “We believe that
vantages in recruiting college students.	students on local campuses will remain in the area
Twice a week, the College Credit Card Corpora-	and continue to shop with us.''
tion sets up a table on campus where, for 20 min- Mobil Oil solicits college seniors by direct mail, utes of form filling, students can apply for credit	as they have for the last 15 years. “Most students
with five different companies — and stand a good	want to establish credit and use the cards as such,"
chance of getting a card.	said a Mobil Oil spokesman.
Companies recruiting through CCCC at this uni-	Students should begin building credit as soon as
versity include Sears, Roebuck and Co., Saks Fifth	possible, starting small with a savings or checking
Avenue, Zales, The Broadway, Visa / Mastercard.	account and working their way up to a major credit
“We have a 90 percent acceptance rate," said	card, said Marla Kaplan, associate director of Bank-
Tod Spalding, the CCCC regional manager as-	card Holders of America — a non-profit organiza-
signed here. He receives about 200 applicants a	tion which advises consumers of their credit rights,
day at his table, and any junior, senior or graduate	“The first thing to do is not to run out and get a
student holding a bank account may apply.	Visa or Mastercard," she said, stressing that stu-
Chris Siegler, an undergraduate who applied at	(Continued	on	page	3)
Senate G.E. survey shows no surprises
Suspicions
confirmed
By Carol Ann Coates
Assistant City Editor
A Student Senate survey on the status of the general education program was released last week, but the results came as no surprise to the university administration.
"USC General Education: A View from the Student" was released on Jan. 23 and submitted to the General Education Com-mitee, said Michael Reilly, chairman of the senate's academic affairs research action unit.
Allan Casson, chairman of the General Education Committee, said the results of the survey "came as no surprise."
Casson said the senate's report confirmed the commitee's awareness of the courses that have inflated grades and the courses that are considered good by students.
The survey was conducted by the senate Nov. 5 through Nov.
9	and the sample was limited to students that passed by Tommy Trojan during the lunch hour that week.
Students were asked to indicate their class standing, major, and grade point average and to answer several questions on which general education classes are the best, worst, hardest, easiest and what changes, if any, would they make.
Tommy Trojan was chosen as the location for the survey because it is the "most public spot" on campus, said Wally Bobkiewicz, a senate member who authored the survey.
Bobkiewicz said the survey was not a scientific one, but he believed it to be representatively
accurate, although only 478 students were interviewed.
"The bias built-in to the survey is not counterproductive," said Karen Segal, coordinator of the general education program.
The survey was intended to provide "a general indication of how a number of students felt about general education courses," said Mike Singer, senate president.
Singer said he felt the number of students surveyed was a significant percentage of the student population.
Casson commended the senate for its effort, but said he was sorry a survey could not have been done on a larger selection of students.
He wishes that student surveys could be handed out in every class asking them if the class met their expectations, but some teachers would resent this interference.
The College of Letters, Arts and Sciences had commissioned three outside sources from the University of Pittsburgh, the University of Texas at Austin, and Washington University in St. Louis during the fall to examine the general education program as a whole, Segal said.
The outside sources "wondered about the large number of courses in the (general education) program," Casson said.
But Casson stressed that as a result of the outside examiners' report, the general education committee will attempt to revise the program over the next two years.
Segal said the committee wants "general education to be as good as it can be made" and is deeply interested in revision of the program.
The Freshman Writing Program is one course that has re-(Continued on page 2)
Pooh delights children at party in his honor
Credit company recruits students; 90 percent of applicants accepted
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By Leslie Ann White
Staff Writer
The eyes of approximately 60 children sparkled with delight Friday afternoon when Winnie the Pooh appeared at the Anna Bing Arnold Child Care Center for its annual Pooh birthday party.
When Winnie entered the room, which was decorated with pink and yellow streamers and balloons, there were smiles and giggles among all the children. One little boy even cried at the sight of Winnie, who appeared to stand about five feet tall.
As he entered, the children and teachers began to sing "Happy Birthday" to him while Antoinette Bunkley, senior secretary at the child care center, placed Winnie's birthday crown on top of the bumblebee and "hunny" jar on his head.
Many teachers, and even a few parents, were there with their cameras to capture Winnie as he wiggled his nose and belly, and kissed the children.
After singing "Happy Birthday," the children sat in their tiny chairs at their tiny tables and ate Winnie's favorite snacks which they prepared for him, such as rabbit salad, honey balls, carrot sticks, pink lemonade and, of course, birthday cake.
While the children ate, Winnie took a break — no doubt to search for honey and his other favorite treats, as usual.
Winnie, who is now 103 years old, came back from his short break to eager children who rushed over to him to feel his fur.
Then, in small groups, the children presented Winnie with birthday songs and poems, one group at a time, as Winnie sat and enjoyed them.
After the presentations, the children gave Winnie a birthday book which they compiled, and in which they included birthday drawings for him. The children also gave Winnie two tiny Trojan T-shirts.
Winnie then signed the child center's guest book with a pen in his mouth, instead of in his paws.
But before he left, the children gave him their goodbye hugs.
(Continued on page 7)
USC PERIODICALS
After many years of requests, Winnie the Pooh showed up at the university Child Care Center to help celebrate his own birthday. Needless to say, the children were thrilled.