~r
Women should not be underrepresented at the university — page 4.
--------------------
--------------------
z
1
The lowdown on David Hockney, the hottest art ticket in town — page 8.
The men’s and women’s basketball teams sweep California — page 16.
	
Volume CIV, Number 37	University	of	Southern	California	Friday,	March	4,	1988
Farrakhan attacks nation’s education in speech at UCLA
By Kevin Ota
Staff Writer
As several student organizations protested Minister Louis Farrakhan's appearance — some even chanting for his death — at UCLA Thursday night, the controversial black leader lashed out at the American educational system and how it allegedly oppresses blacks.
More than 50 members of USC's Black Student Union joined about 1,500 people at UCLA's Ackerman Grand Ballroom to listen to Farrakhan speak in an event sponsored by the UCLA Black Student Alliance.
Farrakhan's speech culminated more than a week of conflict between UCLA's Black Student Alliance and other campus organizations that wanted the minister barred from campus.
In a candlelight vigil, sponsored by UCLA's Student Coalition Against Racism, members of the Jewish Defense Organization shouted in protest of Farrakhan's appearance just
outside where the minister spoke.
"Who do we want? Farrakhan!" they shouted. "How do we want him? Dead!"
Meanwhile, spokesmen for the Jewish group told the hundreds of people there that 15,000 signatures, which included several UCLA officials, had been collected in a petition that denounced Farrakhan's views.
However, Farrakhan said in his speech, "Black people have never mistreated Jews. We didn't burn any Jews in Germany.
"I wish the Jewish students on the outside would come inside and listen to me. If you haven't heard me you can't know me. . . . After meeting me, people change."
Farrakhan told the audience that America is "slipping" and that the root of its problem is its educational system. He said the American education system ranks 26th in the world.
"Something better is needed," Farrakhan said. "It makes (Continued on page 5)
Members of the International Kung Fu Federation, left, brought their dancing dragon to the campus Thursday as part of the Asian Pacific Heritage Festival. Above. Lung Sheng Yang shows off his artistic talent as part of the day’s events, which showcased the wonders and mysticism of China.
trojan
Iranian students fear for war-torn country
By Shannon Rafferty
Staff Writer
Increased missile attacks throughout cities in Iran and Iraq have escalated the fears, anxieties and anger of international students who have fled and left family members and relatives behind in those war-torn countries.
With little information coming out of their besieged home cities and unable to contact relatives, students are fearing the worst — but hoping for the best.
"Our main concern is the killing of civilians . . . and hospital bombings," said Masi, an Iranian first-year dental student who refused to give her last name. "War I can understand, but why civilians are killed when they ddn't have anything to do with it, I can't. It's just a worthless war."
Masi, who escaped from Iran with her mother, father and two younger sisters five years ago, said she tried calling the Iranian capital city, Tehran, "all last night and the night before to try to get through." But she couldn't reach relatives and friends trapped there.
She expressed anger and disappointment with poor news coverage in the United States. For news of the Iran-Iraq war, she has been forced to turn to European media or to reports from her father, who is in Germany where his plane — destined for Iran — was grounded because of the bombings.
Of several Iranian students interviewed, only one student would give his full name. None of the students were willing to have their pictures taken, saying they were afraid of on-campus reprisals from Iranian students who support the current government.
"I have no idea what's been going on," said Ali Reza Ar-kooph, an Iranian student. "Who's to tell if the reports I've heard are true?"
Being kept in the dark by the lack of information from any of the major networks frustrates the students most.
"It's very scary because there isn't any coverage," said Ali, another Iranian first-year dental student who wouldn't disclose his last name. "The whole thing is a nightmare," he said of the (Continued on page 5)
Student paranoia about AIDS impairs Red Cross blood drive
By Yumi Wilson
Staff Writer
Ten university organizations are trying to collect 535 pints of blood for the American Red Cross in Los Angeles, at a time when students are becoming more afraid to donate, a Red Cross field representative said Thursday.
"Only one percent of 30,000 students donate blood annually," said Mark Dunlap, an American Red Cross field representative. "We'd like to see a 5 to 10 percent participation rate at USC."
In 1987, the Red Cross Blood Services — the largest blood center in Los Angeles — tried to raise 425,000 pints for the Los Angeles and Orange County area but collected only 323,000 pints. The university's drive netted just 490 pints last year.
The Red Cross has set the same regional goal this year, but is even further behind, collecting 10 percent less than it had at this time in 1987.
"We are experiencing a shortage, a lack of participation," Dunlap said. "More and more people are not participating in blood drives."
Dunlap believes the decrease in participation throughout the region has been caused by the growing fear of AIDS-contaminated blood — a fear amplified by sensationalized media coverage. "People are afraid of some of the things
(Continued on page 5)
SCOTT UPSETT / DAILY TROJAN
Rick Yeater, a Navy ROTC midshipman majoring in business, gives blood Thursday.