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Volume XCIX, Number 62
University of Southern California
Friday, December 6, 1985
Problems plague libraries
Thefts and lewd conduct reported
By Terr}' Allen
Staff Writer
The university library system has a problem.
Open and unconditional acceptance of not only the student community but also the general public has contributed to what has been called a “steady" upswing of criminal activity in each of the campus's four libraries. Property is being damaged or stolen and some library patrons are afraid to visit the bookshelves at night.
Dean Charles Ritcheson, University Librarian, is concerned with his jurisdiction's lax state of security. He has developed a proposal to confront the problem and has gone to the Student Senate for their endorsement of it.
"Under study" is a plan to enhance patron safety by employing student monitors to check student and faculty identification at the entrance of campus libraries.
"I'm eager to avoid a situation where we exclude those with a serious purpose from using library facilties," Ritcheson said, "but we have to eliminate people who don't have a legitimate reason to be here. My feeling is that the (criminal activity) here comes in large measure from those who have no right to be in the library."
"Right now there's a massive loss of property and an alarming number of affronts to decency," Ritcheson said. "We have people in the stacks showing genitalia. Female students and faculty are
afraid to go back into the stacks at night. That's monstrous."
Ritcheson also said libraries routinely report the loss of typewriters, books and other property. He called such theft steady and alarming.
"Sometimes when I go home at night I see what can only be called street gangs in or around the library," he said. "God knows why they're here. There are a great number of casual visitors coming in off the streets who have no . . . reason to be here. And there's no one to say no."
Despite acknowledging the unsafe environment of the university's libraries, Ritcheson said he has been hesitant to impose strict regulations on library facilities. Student and faculty needs and a commitment to scholarly recipricocity among local college libraries have encouraged a careful consideration of alternatives.
"We have a close relationship with local school libraries," Ritcheson said. "We have a number of serious students from other institutions coming to use our facilties and vice versa. We welcome that kind of thing. Even with ID checks we would extend courtesy to scholars from other universities and colleges. We're not looking to abrogate the laws of hospitality."
Ritcheson said he was also concerned with curtailing the atmosphere of openness and freedom important to a university community.
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'Right now there's a massive loss of property and an alarming number of affronts to decency.' Charles Ritcheson, University Librarian
ABEL ESPtNOZA/DAILY TROJAN
This isn’t Traditions, but students may be “carded” before entering Doheny Library under a new proposal by Dean Charles Ritcheson to cut down on criminal activity in the library.
Two IDs now needed to enter Traditions
By Corii Berg
Staff Writer
To ensure compliance with their legal responsibilities, the management of the campus pub "Traditions" has decided that two forms of identification will need to be presented to enter the establishment.
In addition, individual dining cards will no longer be accepted for payment at the pub unless Dining Services has verified the card holder to be 21.
The new policies should decrease the number of students under 21 entering the pub, said Gene Lawless, director of dining services.
Lawless stressed that the decision to require an additional form of ID was a proactive move, not a reactive one due tc complaints of any sort.
"I think it is important that we ensure that we serve the community we intended to when we first conceived the idea. The fact is, we serve alcohol and therefore our customers need to be at least 21," he said.
"Our purpose (for requiring two IDs) is just to make sure that the individuals we are serving truly are of age. It is just an additional check," said Jerry Mimnaugh, general manager of Commons.
Lawless said that it is too easy to obtain a fake ID in Los Angeles. Getting two corresponding forms of ID is a more difficult task and should discourage most people from trying to enter the pub, he said.
In the fall semester of 1984, 7,500 students at this university were under the age of 21, with many of these students living in university housing.
For this reason, "Traditions" will no longer accept residential dining cards as payment for beverages or food unless Dining Services has cleared the hold placed on the card.
"It is a fact that most people in the residence halls are under age, so we can almost be sure that the people using them are not 21. To knowingly accept the cards would be wrong on our part," Lawless said.
The computer system at the pub has been programmed to refuse dining cards purchased with a residential contract, he said.
Students who are 21 and older and have residential dining cards can go to the Dining Services office in Parking Structure C to have their cards activated. Law'less said the 30-second activation process would enable the cards to be used in the pub.
The Dining Services office has records which include the age of every person living in university-operated residences, and can therefore verify a student's age.
"It is easier for us to deal with the exception in this case than with the majority. I assure that it will be no problem for students to clear the card with us," Lawless said.
(Continued on page 6)
Aloha Bowl package available
By Diane Molinski
Staff Writer
Through university and alumni connections, the Travel Service has come up with a five-day package trip to the Aloha Bowl in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Open to 50 students, the trip begins at 8:40 a.m. Dec. 26 with departure from Los Angeles International Airport. The travelers will return to Los Angeles on Dec. 31.
"Travel Service was offered this already set-up package on Dec. 4. It happened because we just recently established a California Association of University Travel Agents and one
of the Hawaii managers of the tour group was a friend of one of the members of the association," said Ian Thomas, director of Travel Service.
"Also, the owner of the Hawaiian Monarch Hotel is a USC alumnus," Thomas said.
The $569 travel package includes round-trip airfare on Air Hawaii, a lei greeting, round-trip transfers from the airport to the Monarch Hotel, five nights' accomodation, continental breakfast on the first morning, hotel taxes, porterage, roundtrip transfers from the hotel to the Aloha Bowl, and a ticket to the game.
"I hope that all of the students that want to come can. If not, we will open the deal up to the alumni too," Thomas said.
In addition to the travel package, "our service has also come up with 50 available roundtrip flights. We are still looking for hotel space,” Thomas said.
"Well, I think it's great and I would go if I had the money, but I live out of state and would rather go home to spend my vacation with my family and watch us win the game on television," said Kim Colbo, an economics major.
(Continued on page 6)