Is affirmative action at work at USC?
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Volume XCVIII, Number 51
University of Southern California
Tuesday, March 26, 1985
Congressional hearing held to discuss civil rights law
By James Jones
Assistant City Editor
A congressional hearing was held at Kinsey Auditorium in Exposition Park Friday to discuss the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1985, an upcoming legislative measure that insures that federal civil rights laws apply to the entire institution receiving funds.
If passed, the bill would restore civil rights levels back to what they were before the controversial and restrictive Supreme Court decision in the 1984 Grove City College v. Bell.
In that case, the Court ruled that only the specific programs that are receiving federal funding — like a student aid program in a college — is protected from discrimination. Once the programs are determined, the rest of the university would be free to discriminate against women, disabled people, minorities and the elderly.
"When the law becomes absurd, people lose respect for the law. The provisions of the Civil Rights Restoration Act must become — once again — the law of the land," said Mary Bergen, legislative director of the California Federation of Teachers.
Friday's discussion centered around the four pieces of law which give the government power to stop institutions receiving federal dollars from discriminating on the basis of sex, race, disability and age.
The laws are the Title VT section of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975.
Specifically, under Title IX, the women's athletic programs at the university are severely hamj. > jd, but could be aided by the Civil Rights Restoration Act.
Vima Canson, regional director of the T”est Coast Region NAACP, said "There is no doubt black people, other
minorities, the poor, women, the disabled and the aged are under siege from an insensitive administration."
"The idea of letting offending parties maintain all their benefits in other programs, in capital improvement, in tax-exempt grants for the institution while one small part of the overall programs is charged with discrimination is a mockery of any kind of justice and certainly far from the Congressional intent of the measures now threatened."
Renee Campbell, a member of the National Board of the Girls Club of America, said, "Without the protection of a strong Title IX prohibiting sex discrimination in education, we will be turning back the calendar to the time when a girl or young woman could be denied access to a higher math class because it was filled by interested young men."
In essence, H.R. 700 establishes a precedence for federal dollars not being used to subsidize discrimination.
According to a release from Rep. Augustus Hawkins (D-Calif.), sponsor of the bill, the federal government allows young girls to be put on waiting lists for advanced high school courses until all the boys who want to enroll have had a chance to do so.
"We are looking to return, with the
H.R. 700 civil rights law, back to the level prior to the Grove City decision," Hawki said.
Numerous groups representing the groups claiming to be discriminated against, who gave statements of support for the bill, included members of the NAACP, American Association of University Women, Girls Club of America, California Federation of Teachers and the Mexican-American Legal Defense and Education Fund.
The hearing was being held by the House Committee on Education and Labor and the Judiciary Subcommittee on Civil and Constitutional Rights.
Wally George draws full house on campus
Conservative 'Hot Seat' host debates radical revolutionary
Life of trustee Ernest Hahn devoted to philanthropies
By Aaron Van Curen
Assistant City Editor
Nearly every issue of debate in today's society came up in a noontime entertainment program in Bovard Auditorium Monday afternoon that was billed by its sponsors as a debate.
Wally George, an Orange County' talk show host and radical conservative, and Norm Lubow, a representative of the DRUGS religion and a radical revolutionary, participated in an hour and a half discussion that wandered aimlessly from homosexuality, to President Reagan, to the Bible, to the death penalty, to child abuse, to Jane Fonda, to illegal aliens, to bilingualism and on through a host of other unrelated subjects.
The event was sponsored by the Program Board, which paid George $1,300 including $200 from Lubow.
Scott Evers, chairman of the
Program Board, estimated that nearly 1,900 people watched the program in the packed auditorium, and estimated about 400 people could not find seats.
The crowd began lining up for the show an hour before it began. The group in line was primarily male, many of whom wore Greek sweatshirts.
One of the first students in line said, "I'm here for a laugh." Another said, "I've been waiting a long time to see him."
Michael Frese, the director of the Program Board's speakers committee, introduced the participants. He referred to Lubow as Norm "The-Bible-is-the-work-of-the-Devil" Lubow, and then brought out George by asking who would like to start the "WallylWally’Wally!" chant.
George came on stage and declared, "I've been touring all over the United States. This is (Continued on page 6)
Extremists Wally George and Norm Lubow squared off before a capacity audience in Bovard Auditorium Monday. Photo essay on page 8.
By Lisa Lapin
Staff Writer
According to its bylaws, the Board of Trustees primary responsibilities are to exercise final authority over all university matters and to establish policies to guide the president and the administration in day-to-day decision making. Included in these responsibilities are the tasks of fundraising, preserving academic principles, and insuring sound fiscal policy.
When selecting a trustee, the administration seeks a person of respect and stature in his business and profession. A trustee should also have a strong interest in education and be committed to the unique characteristics of a private institution of higher education.
In 1981, Ernest Hahn was named to the Board of Trustees in light of these qualifications and responsibilities. Hahn — perhaps best known for his shopping centers and the plaza in front of Tommy Trojan that bears his name — is just one of the 36 "power brokers" who decides the ultimate fate of the university.
The following is a profile of Hahn, his accomplishments and his feelings about the university.
Calling from a phone booth in the California Club, fresh from getting a haircut and on his way to getting a bowl of soup, trustee Ernest Hahn took a few minutes
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