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Volume C, Number 26
University of Southern California
Friday, February 14, 1986
Harris Plaza residents discuss options
National award Mortar Board
honors Seltser Forum focuses on housing program's survival and relocation for excellence
By Gerhard Taeubel
Staff Writer
Before an appreciative class of students yesterday, the university chapter of Mortar Board presented Barry Seltser, an associate professor of religion, with its Faculty of the Month award.
Terry Seip, a professor of history, also received the same award on Monday.
As students applauded, Seltser accepted his award, saying, "This was really unexpected." Later, Seltser said he was "certainly thrilled" to receive the honor.
Mortar Board, the national senior honor society, presents the award as a way of recognizing outstanding faculty, excellence in teaching and professorial committment to students.
As well as participating in the Marks Hall Faculty-in-Residence Program for two years, an experience he says has been a "highlight" of his career, Seltser is a member of both Peer Review Board and residence hall government. He is also director of graduate studies for the School of Religion and a faculty representative to the Norman Topping Student Aid Fund.
Seltser said he involves him-(Continued on page 2)
By Katherine Dyar
Staff Writer
Harris Plaza residents had a chance to voice their concerns about the closing of their building and the future of their special interest housing with representatives from the housing and residential life offices in a forum held Thursday afternoon at King Hall.
About 20 Harris Plaza residents met with David Blackmar, assistant director of housing services, and Kim West, asssistant director of residential life, to discuss their housing options, now that Harris Plaza has been deemed seismologicallv unsafe for university students to live in.
A group of Harris residents, led by Stacey Gong-Wong and Ahsen Ahmed, hastily organized the forum to ask Blackmar and West about the alternatives available to them since the decision to close Harris came only a week ago, after its residents had already participated in priority period for special interest housing.
Blackmar said the application deadline for Harris Plaza residents and those students who want to move into the building next fall has been extended to Wednesday, Feb. 19.
Blackmar stated that the housing office was notified of the decision to close Harris Plaza last Thursday, and relayed that information to the residents in a memorandum the next day. Since then, Blackmar and Bill Thompson, director of housing services, have been working with Harris Plaza residents to find a place to house them.
The options that the 101 displaced students will have are to either make five new choices on their applications and go through the regular housing selection; turn in their priority applications for a $50 refund, or move as a smaller group to Kerckhoff Apartments; where they would be provided with half of one floor, Blackmar said.
The residents were originally given an option to live in Centennial Apartments, Blackmar said, but the response from manv Harris Plaza residents was so negative that they switched the choice to Kerckhoff, which is considered a more popular building.
Harris residents noted that one problem with Kerckhoff was that a fewer number of spaces would be available for students interested in the self-directed housing program.
Nazneen Cooper, a Harris resident, suggested that their program would be willing to move into Family Student Housing if spaces were made available for regular housing. Blackmar and West both empha-
sized, however, that no decision has been reached on that proposal.
When several residents suggested that the university administration had made the decision to close the building without considering how they would be affected, Blackmar responded: "Thank goodness that they were willing to make a decision based on safety instead of money. I would have a guilty conscience . . .if we went for the bucks and kept people in there."
West said the most important factor now is that the residents "need to insure that the program survives next year," until the housing office and residential life can work with members of the program to find a new building for next year. "We clearly have a commitment to special interest housing."
West said no final decision has been made on what will be done with the Harris building in the future, but Blackmar added that it will definitely not be used as a student residence.
Cinema professor dies of unidentified illness
Terry Cahalan, a cinema professor since 1981, died in Los Angeles last Tuesday of an unidentified illness.
Cahalan, 36, fell ill last semester and was unable to continue teaching. He taught cinema 290, a beginning production course, and cinema 413, a filmic writing course.
A memorial service will be held for Cahalan at noon next Tuesday in the George Lucas Building, Rm 108.
Cahalan graduated from the Cinema School in 1977. As a student, he wrote and directed "The Preparatory," which won the Student Academy Award in 1976.
A representative of Cahalan's colleagues in the Cinema School wrote of Cahalan, "In the short number of years he was with us, he has, through his talent, wit and spirit, managed to win the respect and love of fellow writers, students and faculty."
He is survived by his parents and three brothers.
Islamic Student Center seminar canceled when safety of event threatened by protests
By Amy Mednick
Staff Writer
The university administration yesterday canceled a seminar sponsored by the Islamic Student Center scheduled for Saturday because of complaints and warnings that the Iranian community was planning to protest the event.
"We're stopping the event because we do not believe we can adequately insure the safety of those present, including the people who said they want to protest it," said David Crandall, director of the Office of Student Activities.
Because the three organizations planning the protest are working independently, and all disagree with the group sponsoring the event, Crandall was concerned that there was potential for disruption.
At the meeting, originally scheduled to be held in Hancock Auditorium, Crandall said they planned to show a videotape of a speech by the Ayatollah Kho-meni's representative to the United Nations.
The Islamic Student Center, a Cal State Los Angeles organization, was unavailable for comment about the event.
"Our decision has nothing to do with the content or any qualities of the persons sponsoring the event," Crandall said.
The Movement for the Na-
tional Independence of Iran sent a letter to President Zumberge dated Feb. 10, protesting the event. The letter stated that the Iranian community is "mad that the university could become a staging ground for politics of a regime that is hated," said Said Djabbari, who is on the executive council for the movement.
The meeting, titled "Future of the Middle East," was spon-
'It has created a lot of havoc in the Iranian community...'
sored by the Islamic Student Center "as a front for the supporters and elements of the Khomeni regime to 'consolidate the aims of the revolution' in America," according to the letter Djabbari sent to Zumberge.
"It has created a lot of havoc in the Iranian community. Most of these people are anti-Kho-meni so the people (organizations) decided to protest it," said Djabbari.
Crandall said he had been working in student activities at various universities for nine years and never had to cancel an event for this reason before. "It's not something we take lightiy," he said.
"I find the whole thing stomach-churning because of my firm belief in our constitutional freedom," said Crandall. " Although I believe we are making the right decision, I resent that we have to (cancel the seminar) in this case."
"It's worth exploring some situations where we can allow (such meetings) to happen peaceably. I'd like us to be able to meet and talk about these things," he said.
The three groups independently planning to stage protests were the Movement for the National Independence of Iran, the Constitutional Council of Iranians and the National Movement to the Iranian Resistance, said Djabbari.
Djabbari said he was very surprised that the event was canceled, and said he will come to the university with other organizers to inform those that had planned to attend that the event was canceled.
No DT Monday or Tuesday
Because of the Presidents' Birthday holiday, there will be no Daily Trojan on Feb. 17 and 18. The DT will resume publication next Wednesday.
JOAN FRANK DAILY TROJAN
A rainy day in Southern California forces unprepared students to be resourceful and seek shelter any way they can. Unfortunately, the weatherman promises rain throughout Valentine's Day.