Volume CV, Number 54
University of Southern California
Wednesday. November 18. 1987
JOAN FRANK / DAILY TROJAN
BMOC — Alpha Chi Omega contest will raise funds to fight cystic fibrosis.
‘Big Man on Campus’ contest to help charity
By Michael Lambert
Staff Writer
A sorority is holding an election to determine who the university's "Big Man on Campus" is, and it will help a charity in the process.
For 25 cents per vote, or five votes for $1, Alpha Chi Omega will let students vote for the person they think is the university's Big Man on Campus.
Carrie Chase, who along with Juliet Kaz and Lisa Matus helped organize -the event, said all of the money made from the event will go toward the fight against cystic fibrosis.
"Since this is the first year that we have run the contest," Chase said, "We don't expect to make a whole lot of money." She added that they hope to hold the event every year and expect to raise more money in coming years as the event becomes more popular.
The election runs until Thursday, and Chase said they hope to run an advertisement in the Daily Trojan next week to announce the winner, who will receive two cases of Corona Extra beer. In addition, Chase said they are trying to order a personalized license plate that says "USCBMOC" to present to the winner.
Chase said even though the event is Greek-sponsored, anyone can participate.
"It's not just for Greeks, it's for everyone," she said.
" When asked why they chose to do the event now. Chase said this seemed like the best time because of Troy Week and Thanksgiving.
"We felt like this was the best time to do it," she said, "right before Thanksgiving and the UCLA game."
She said response so far has been better than expected. Some fraternity members are even sending pledges over to vote for them, she said.
"One guy has over a hundred votes just from sending pledges in his fraternity over to vote for him," she said.
The front-runners right now, she said, are Richie Cole, Eric Close, Rodney Peete, Brad Lagonarsino and Ted, "The Chi Phi Dog."
"If you want other people to win," she said, "you better vote quick."
Councilman discusses role of press in politics
Alatorre cites media’s power
By Brad Bowlin
Staff Writer
The media has become a major force in the American political scene, able to deify or destroy politicians and others in the public spotlight, a Los Angeles city councilman said Tuesday night.
Richard Alatorre, who represents the 14th District, discussed the role of the media in political campaigns Tuesday with about 40 students in Joseph Cerrell's political science class. Political Parties, Campaigns and Elections.
"The media can break you, or they can make you," Alatorre said after a brief introduction by his son, Darrell, a student in the class.
The councilman pointed to several recent incidents in which negative media coverage has injured a political figure's career, including former Colorado Sen. Gary Hart and Supreme Court Justice nominee Douglas Ginsburg.
Hart likely would have won the Democratic presidential nomination and probably would have won the election, said Alatorre, who received a master's degree in public administration from the university in 1967.
"Unfortunately, he challenged the media, and they broke him," he said. "History will only show that he never made it."
Ginsburg also made a mistake and paid for it, Alatorre said. The judge removed himself from consideration for the Supreme Court nomination after he admitted smoking marijuana years ago.
"I could stand here and give countless examples
of what the media has done and what it hasn't done." Alatorre said.
The councilman said Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley' ts a prime example of someone who has enjoyed a good relationship with the press but has come under fire recently.
(Continued on page 4)
DAJLV TROJAN
RICHARD ALATORRE
Accelerated erosion poses threat for coastline of Southern California
By Stacy Stringer
Staff Writer
The Southern California coastline may be without any of its beaches in the future, according to research performed by Douglas Sherman, an assistant professor of geography at the university's College of Letters, Arts and Sciences.
Beaches in California and around the world have always been subject to the forces of waves and wind, which are intensified by storms that cause erosion of the shoreline. A relentless rise in sea level, triggered by global warming trends that melt the polar ice caps, has
begun to expedite erosion of coastal shores and is becoming a concern to coastal citizens, Sherman said.
By identifying endangered beaches early, Sherman believes most of them can be saved and reclaimed as recreational resources. The loss of sand begins so slowlv that no one reallv no-
of storms ac-process. Sherman
tices until a celerate the said.
"As global sea level rises. Cal ifomians are going to have to choose between preserving their world-famous beaches and protecting valuable beach-front properties.'' Sherman said
(Continued on page 3)
Engineers tutor local students
Society of Black Engineers volunteers time
By Tommy Li
Assistant Copy Editor
Although engineering majors are often stereoty-pically cast as "studious" types who never have time for anything but their studies, some members of the National Society of Black Engineers have shown that's not true by their participation in a student-tutoring program.
"All-city Math Tutoring Day," a program that the NSBE began in March 1986, provides assistance for students in Los Angeles junior and senior high schools, said Phillip McKibbins, president of the NSBE.
This semester, about 15 NSBE members have volunteered four hours of their time each second and fourth Saturday of the month to tutor students who need help in math areas ranging from basic arithmetic to calculus, he said.
"If s a way of giving something back to our community," said McKibbins, who is one of the tutors.
The tutoring sessions take place at Von KleinS-
mid Center, rooms 101-111 between noon and 4 p.m., and an average of 10 to 15 students attend these sessions, he said.
"We try to maintain a one-on-one tutoring relationship," McKibbins said.
"We try to come up with different ways of solving problems so we can help students become more flexible" with their math skills, he said.
Although the program ends when the school year is over, the NSBE's involvement with tutoring does not end.
In a joint effort with the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers, the NSBE provides tutors for students who need help in math during the summer.
The summer program, called the "Minority Engineering Program," began in 1982, McKibbins said. It provides services to students everv Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
McKibbins said one of the program's goals next semester is to provide tutoring services every Saturday.
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7	p.m. Traditions and The Grill win be open to
21	years of age.