Two mechanics tune up in today’s Performance
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Volume C, Number 8
University of Southern California
Tuesday, January 21, 1986
Graduate assistants' tuition benefits will now be taxable
By Sigal Kletzky
Staff Writer
Effective Jan. 1, 1986, tuition benefits received by research and teaching assistants will be taxable, as a result of Congress' refusal to extend the previous tax exemption law.
In the past, the law required graduate students to pay taxes from their stipends, but not from their tuition remission. However, because of the current mood in Congress to reduce as many tax deductions as possible, the bill was not extended, and it consequently expired on Dec. 31, 1985.
"I want to emphasize that we believe that legislation will pass by June to continue protection of the law," said Marilyn Baker, an associate dean in the Graduate School, but she added that, in the event that the law is not extended, the effects may be "very serious."	.
Baker explained that graduate students who are serving as TAs or research assistants wall have to add the amount of tuition remission they receive into their taxable income. Their taxes may even double, depending on their total earnings and the number of units taken, she said.
Although Baker said she believes there are enough congressmen who support the exception, she is asking graduate students to send letters to their California senators, Alan Cranston and Pete Wilson, urging them to re-enact the tax-exemption law.
Graduate students who are extremely concerned may also increase the amount witheld from their stipends, so that when taxes are due in 1987, they will pay less. Baker said, however, "We don't recommend this, because we believe the law will change."
Exemption will be granted only if the services completed b\' the students meet degree requirements. In this case, graduate assistant stipends will be considered scholarships.
Baker said, "The university will be appointing a committee. . .of students and faculty, to see what is the best approach in case the law is not re-enacted." In addition, the committee will be determining what tuition remission qualifies for the scholarship exception.
Baker advised concerned students to talk to tax consultants, saying the university "is hesitant to give general tax advice, because each case is unique."
Students may also contact the payroll department to find out the exact amount of money they will owe under the new law. Baker estimated the taxable percentage of total earnings at beween 13 and 16 percent.
ONLY LA PUBLIC APPEARANCE
Tutu will appear at Doheny
By Jackie McClam
Staff Writer
Bishop Desmond Tutu will make his only public appearance in Los Angeles when he speaks on campus today at noon.
Tutu's appearance, which will take place outside Doheny Library, is being sponsored by the School of Religion, the Office of the President, and the Program Board / Student Senate.
Tutu will speak on topics such as peace, family and unity and will also talk about the unique role a major academic institution can play in the continuing and increasing controversy over apartheid, said Michael Palmieri, chairman of the Program Board.
Don Miller, director of the School of Religion, and Pauline Ng, president of the Student Senate, are scheduled to introduce Tutu.
"We aren't expecting any trouble as far as security is concerned . . . maybe a few protestors," said William May, associate professor in the School of Religion.
University Security said it does not anticipate any problems and is giving the event the same attention any other on-campus speaker would receive.
"We are making the usual, appropriate arrangements for campus speakers," said Sgt. Michael
(Continued on page 6)
BISHOP DESMOND TUTU
Investment ethics questioned
By Richard Hatem
Assistant City Editor
The recently formed Committee for Social Responsibility, created to review ethics in university investments, is gearing up for a first meeting.
The committee, which is com-
posed of 12 members, including two students, was formed in accordance with a memorandum set forth by the Commission on University Policy Regarding Investment In Companies Doing Business In South Africa.
According to the memoran-
TV host joins fight to help lab animals
By Daisy
Staff Writer
Ridgway
Bob Barker, the host of television's "Price is Right" and spokesman for the Coalition to Save USC Primates, announced last Monday that the coalition is launching a campaign to force the university to establish a facility that will provide a natural habitat for about 100 of the university's research monkeys.
The announcement came three days after the Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation unanimously rejected a university proposal that requested that the Los Angeles Zoo permanently house the primates.
The animals are being used in university studies of histoplasmosis, a disease that can result in human blindness.
,rWe are opposed to what we ___________________
have described as an unholy alii ance between the biomedical research (profession) and the zoo.
We don't want them allied with zoos. That's not the purpose of the zoo," Barker said of the tenets of the coalition, which is composed of 28 animal rights organizations.
Barker, who is a member of the Society Against Vivisection, the American Humane Society and other animal rights organizations, said that James Hadaway, general manager of parks and recreation, rejected the university's proposal because Hadaway "felt strongly that it was not the zoo's responsibility to care for the animals, but that it was the responsibility of the researchers involved to provide proper housing for their experimental primates."
Dr. Robert Benedict, assistant vice president of health affairs at the university, said, "Number one, we are in compliance with all of the animal health regulation provisions."
Benedict cited as one example of the university's compliance the university's passage of an unannounced animal safety inspection on Dec. 11. The inspection was of the vivaria department, which is responsible for the handling of live animals used for education and research puposes.
"Naturally, we're disappointed (about the commission's rejection of the proposal), as are all of the animal rights organizations who support us," Benedict said.
"We're now trying to catch our breath and get back on track, and it
will be in full accord with the recently enacted Dole-Brown Bill," Benedict said. The bill requires provisions for a good psychological environment for primates.
"What that means," Benedict continued, "is not yet clear. When the U.S. Department of Agriculture, in consultation with the National Institute of Health, defines how that bill should be implemented, USC will comply fully and promptly."
In a press release issued by the Society Against Vivisection, Barker said, "These long-suffering creatures must be freed from the tiny cages on the USC campus, and relocated in a facility that provides a more natural environment, at a site other than the zoo".
"Simply because USC was not allowed to house these poor animals at the zoo is no excuse for the university to sentence them to a life of
misery in tiny cages/' Barker said.
Judy Strieker, president of the Society Against Vivisection, the founding organization of The Coalition To Save The USC Primates, urged concerned citizens to write to President James Zumberge and to express hope
_ that USC will immediately begin
construction of a natural habitat
for its research primates.
"They can well afford to build a facility on campus, or on another site," Barker said.
Barker said that officials of the university have admitted that the primates in question would live better-adjusted lives in a more natural habitat and that it is no longer necessary to keep the primates in the small cages on campus that they have lived in for eight years or more.
During his appearance before the parks and recreation commissioners, Benedict mentioned economy and security as two of the reasons why USC wishes to house its primates at the Los Angeles Zoo.
The coalition said that, with S325 million in federal grants, the university should be able to provide decent habitats for the primates.
But Benedict replied, "Nonsense. Absolute nonsense."
"The problem here is one of security. We cannot put animals engaged in research (in the wrong environment). We would be jeopardizing a large amount of extensive research," Benedict said.
The university is supported by over twenty animal rights organizations, almost half of which are nationally focused.
'Simply because USC was not allowed to house these poor animals at the zoo is no excuse for the university to sentence them to a life of misery in tiny cages,' — Bob Barker
dum, the committee will develop a framework for determining response and action on particular ethical issues as they arise.
The committee will evaluate all university holdings, not merely those that relate to South Africa and the issue of apartheid.
The committee was appointed by President James Zumberge in mid-December of last year, said George Abdo, assistant to the president.
Abraham Lowenthal, professor of international relations, was appointed chairman by the committee, Abdo said.
Lowenthal could not be reached for comment on Monday, but Lyn Hutton, senior vice president for administration and an ex officio member of the committee, said he may call the first meeting at any time.
However, Hutton said, he may be waiting for background information on university holdings currently being prepared by the treasurer's office.
The university treasurer works closely with the committee, but because Hutton, the former treasurer, has recently been promoted to senior vice president for administration, there may be a slight delay in acquainting the new treasurer with the committee and getting the treasurer's report to the committee.
"The information should be available in a week to ten days," Hutton said, but she stressed that the final decision on a first meeting is up to Lowenthal.
Information compiled by the treasurer's office regarding South Africa will include such facts as whether specific companies are signatories to the Sullivan principles, which regulate fair employment practices for blacks.