Director brings his 4th-dimension sci-fi film to Annenberg
See Performance, page 11
I
U.S. press falls to British standard
Heat is on in L.A., hits record 102
See News, page 9
No. 2-ranked hurdler Porter gets leg up on his competition
See Sports, page 32
trojan
Volume CVIII, Number 52
University of Southern California
Thursday, April 6, 1989
Brigham picked to be president of new senate
By Robin Silberstein
Staff Writer
Tara Brigham, a three-year senator, was elected Student Senate president in a 19-11 runoff victory against Gantry Wilson on Wednesday night, becoming only the fifth woman ever to hold the office.
‘1 want to make the university a better place through the student government," Brigham said.
Wilson then defeated residence halls senator Toni Acevedo and graduate senator J.P. Singh for the office of vice president.
Steven Webber was voted in as the graduate speaker, receiving eight votes to the three earned by opponents Gene Mazzella and Singh.
The new undergraduate speaker is Jill Schultz, who beat Acevedo by only one runoff vote. In the primary round, Acevedo had topped opponents Schultz, Ted Amata, Nicole MacDonald and Brett Spivey.
Two of the four members ofthe executive committee, Schultz and Wilson, belong to the Greek community.
Brigham's stated aims include an increase in awareness of student government, a more balanced legislative agenda (See Election, page 10)
In Brief
From th* Associated Pros
NATION
Animal rights activists set fires at U. of Arizona
TUCSON, Ariz. — A group identifying itself as the Animal Liberation Front claimed responsibility Tuesday for two early morning arson fires that caused an estimated $100,000 damage and may have unleashed a potentially deadly disease.
The group claimed in a letter sent to news organizations that it freed more than 1,000 animals from three research facilities at the University of Arizona and set fire to a diagnostic lab and a converted house near the medical college campus.
INSIDE
Viewpoint....................................... 4
Komix............................................. 6
Security Roundup........................ 6
Performance.................................. 7
Sports.......................................... 32
WEATHER
Today —
Sunny and windy with high in 90s, low in 60s Friday —
Even hotter, fair with high in mid-90s
Abortion sit-ins, rallies divide student opinion
Upcoming court call spurs concern for oft-debated issue
By Bill Swindell
Staff Writer
As the abortion debate heats up because of the recent Operation Rescue sit-ins at local dines and the pro-choice rally planned for Sunday in Washington, D.C., many students called it one of the nation's most divisive issues.
On April 26 the Supreme Court will hear arguments about the Missouri case of Webster vs. Reproductive Health Services. An anti-abortion ruling would weaken the 1973 Roe vs. Wade decision, which legalized abortions in the United States.
Realizing that the Supreme Court is not immune to public pressure, participants in both Operation Rescue sit-ins at local clinics and the pro-choice rally planned for Sunday in Washington, D.C., many students called it one of the nation's most divisive issues.
Some students fear that Roe vs. Wade may be overturned.
'It's my decision, and I don't think they (the courts) should put their view into my life," said Christi-
Housing cost to jump 9.9 % at university
Slated increases in security, price of utilities will fuel hike
By Kyra Phillips
Staff Writer
University housing costs have jumped 9.9 percent to cover a planned increase in security and an upswing in the price of utilities, university officials said Wednesday.
The deadline for students who participated in Priority Period to complete contracts for their housing assignments has been extended to April 14, said David Blackmar, assistant housing director.
The deadline was originally March 24, but was delayed because administrators needed time to determine the anticipated costs of housing, Blackmar said.
Bill Thompson, housing director, said the increase will help fund a security system to cut down on crime and assaults in the university area.
"There will be a couple new additions," Thompson said. "First will be the card access system, where student IDs will activate entrance into the housing facilities."
If doors are left open for more than 15 seconds, an alarm will sound and housing protection will arrive within 10 minutes to see why the door has been kept ajar, Thompson said. Without such an alarm system, it would take an hour for security officers to check the doors while on their routine beat.
Qosed-circuit television will be installed in the entrances of the underground parking structures and in most parking lots outside, Thompson said.
(See Housing, page 9)
na Bradford, a junior majoring in business.
Others agreed with Betty Friedan, journalism professor and author of the The Feminine Mystique, who said Monday at a pro-choice rally that if abortions are made illegal, women could be physically harmed at illegal clinics.
'Tm surprised after so many years of it being legal, they want to try to make it illegal," said Craig Leid-hoim, a junior majoring in electrical engineering. "It is a woman's choice."
Some disputed Friedan's views, calling abortion immoral.
"No, I don't agree with her. More and more people are saying it's wrong," said Clarence dark, a senior majoring in philosophy.
"It's sort of difficult," Clark said. "I don't think it's moral to have an abortion, (even in the case of) rape or incest.
"It might be different as a legal question," he added.
Students' views on abortion usually reflect the public at large, Thom asserted.
"Most of the public feels it is such a difficult choice. This difficulty leads to a more pro-choice stand, "he said.
(See Abortion, page 22)
Israeli official says fellow Palestinians should end intifada
By Rebecca "Shea
Staff Writer
Violence between Israelis and Palestinians on the West Bank must end for the two sides to resolve their differences, an Israeli official on campus said Wednesday.
"Let us create a new atmosphere for talking," said Muhamed Massarwa, Israel's consul general in Atlanta. Massarwa, who is of Palestinian heritage, spoke at 10 a.m. at Topping Student Center.
Palestine wants to be recognized as its own nation, but Israel has refused to do so.
This is partly because Israel does not want to negotiate with the Palestine Liberation Organization, which many Palestinians consider to be representative of their views.
Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir objected to any international peace conference or withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip and the West Bank until intifada ends.
Intifada is the Arabic term for the 15-month-old Palestinian uprising in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip.
The conditions in the Middle East have changed completely since the Palestinian uprising began, Massarwa said.
"The conditions are bad. It's crowded. There is a very low standard of living," he said.
The Bush administration has opposed the Israeli stance that the intifada must end before any can take place.
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