USC scores 11 times to beat the Gauchos for 13th victory /12
Reagan’s impact is historic / 4
Chapman sweeps Grammys /10
Watch Your Step!
A Caribbean daredevil walks on broken beer bottles Wednesday.
Volume CVIII, Number 28	University of Southern California	Thursday, February 23, 1989
trojan
2 students robbed at gunpoint
By Tara Sheehy
Staff Writer
Two students were assaulted and robbed at gunpoint Tuesday night as they walked to their car near the southwest corner of 35th Street and Vermont Avenue, security said.
The incident marks the ninth armed robbery on or near campus reported to University Security this semester, surpassing the seven armed robberies reported last fall.
The victims in Tuesday's incident, a man and woman, were approached from behind at 10:34 p.m. by two men between 25 and 30 years old, said Sgt. John Lewis of security.
As they confronted the students from behind, the men shouted questions at them, Lewis said, but the students tried to ignore them.
The robbers revealed a handgun, striking the male victim in the head with the gun. The other man pushed the woman to the ground and both were robbed, Lewis said.
The victims said they heard a car engine start nearby, indicating a get-away car may have been waiting, Lewis said.
The male student sustained a two-inch cut on the right side of his forehead. He was treated by an emergency medical techni-(See Robbery, page 6)
Grammy fans trek to Shrine, pay homage
By Jeordan Legon
Staff Writer
About 300 screaming fans gathered outside the Shrine Auditorium on Wednesday night, hoping to catch a glimpse of famous recording artists on their way to the Grammy Awards.
"This is the first time I've done anything like this," said Mike Green, an undeclared freshman. "I'm living right across the street so I thought, 'I might as well go.' " "I've seen a lot of gorgeous women, too," Green said. "I'm just clapping. I can't see who any of these people are," said Alex Fragen, a sophomore majoring in psychology. "But it's pretty exciting being here."
Students' cars towed to make way for Shrine parking. See page 3.
Among the stars the crowd recognized were Samantha Fox, John Stamos and Debbie Gib&on, who each received applause and cheers.
In many instances, the stretch limousines carrying the stars stirred up the crowd more than the passengers.
Spectators also enjoyed watching the stars' fashion parade.
"I'm getting some fashion tips," said Caroline King, a freshman majoring in communications. "Some of the girls have cute dresses on."
Television cameras added to the excitement — but not everyone admired the music stars.
A man calling himself Bob Bible held a red 10-foot sign that said, "Read the Bible."
"I'm trying to tell these people to get off the music kick and read the Bible," he explained.
One group held up bedsheets with writing on them,
(See Grammys, page 13)
Union Carbide decision criticized by professor
Disaster payment is unfair to survivors, Meshkati says
By Kaci Anderson
Staff Writer
As Union Carbide Corp. prepares to pay $470 million to the Indian government for a 1984 chemical leak that killed thousands, a professor condemned the settlement Wednesday, warning that similar disasters can be averted only if industries focus on human safety.
The company agreed last Tuesday to pay the settlement by March 31.
Two thousand people suffocated instantly and 200,000 were permanently injured Dec. 3, 1984, when Union Carbide's pesticide plant in Bhopal, India, allowed a toxic chemical to leak into the air.
Najmedin Meshkati, assistant professor of human factors and safety and systems management, said the sum "is an injustice" to the Indian people because an average of one person has died each day since the incident, bringing the death toll to more than 3,500.
"Only $12,000 per victim is not enough money. If the accident had been in the United States, they would have had to pay $1 million per each one of those fatalities," said Meshkati, who speculated that "converging forces" pressured the
two sides to come to an agreement.
"The Indian government is going up for election within the next two years," he said. "This looming spector of Bhopal would have been a major liability, because the government passed a law to be the guardian of all the plaintiffs. Even last December, the fourth anniversary, there were major riots and demonstrations in the city because they haven't received any money after four years."
Meshkati said Union Carbide wanted to rush the settlement to become a streamlined company. By being cleared of the lawsuit, the company has no liability that threatens to drain its resources, and is prepared for a'takeover.
"Just look at their share in the New York Stock Exchange, which jumped $2 immediately after the settlement — they want a takeover," he said.
Meshkati, who has done four years of extensive research on Bhopal, said some of his findings will be published in August by the International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics, which deals with human engineering.
He blamed the disaster on human safety problems, including a lack of employee training, no organizational support and poorly controlled room design. TTiese human factors are especially prevalent (See Carbide, page 13)
In Brief
STATE
LOCAL
Activists climb crane, defend animal rights
BERKELEY, Calif. (AP) — Six activists demonstrated their concerns about animal rights and the environment Wednesday by camping atop a 10-story crane on the University of California campus.
The protesters, who climbed the yellow crane Tuesday, have vowed not to leave until construction of an animal lab is halted.
34 charged, 5 arrested for hiding drug money
(AP) — Thirty-four people who allegedly laundered more than $500 million in cocaine profits through several downtown jewelry stores to get the money back to Colombia were charged Wednesday in a pair of complaints filed in U.S. District Court.
Five people named in one of the complaints were arrested.
WEATHER
INSIDE
Today —
Mostly sunny with lows in upper 50s Friday — Partly cloudy with high in mid-70s
Viewpoint............... Komix...................... Security Roundup. Performance.. Sports.
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