@m% trojan
Volume CV, Number 48	University of Southern California	Tuesday. November 10, 1987
PETER ZAKMAHY OAA.Y TROJAN
MIRROR IMAGE — Part of the Los Angeles skyline takes on a new look from the walls of a mirrored high rise downtown.
Experts fault choices
Media blamed for fall of candidates
By Julia Kirkendall
Staff Writer
After a string of confessions on the part of public figures regarding past indiscretions — most notably Supreme Court nominee Douglas Ginsburg's admission to marijuana use — some university experts feel that unimportant issues are preoccupying the press and pubhc "1 think it's nonsense." said Larry Berg, director of the Institute of Politics and Government, regarding the recent uproar surrounding Ginsburg's confession.
"1 think it takes attention away from what should be the real issues ... it illustrates the media's infatuation with the trrviaL he said.
Berg said that there were many reasons for the Senate to reject Ginsburg without his past use of marijuana being considered
"If the public is so interested in the ethics of politics, they should take a look at their own ethics." he said.
The recent string of admissions on the part of such presidential candidates as former Arizona Gov. Bruce Babbitt and Sen. Albert Gore (D-Tenn.) were an attempt to beat the press to the punch "They figured that some jerk was gonna come along and charge them with it." Berg said. These figures spoke up because they- would rather reveal incriminating information themselves before it b disclosed by the press.
(Camtmmed am pmge 61
Pre-game vandalism isn’t considered funny
By Stacy Stringer
Staff Writer
To ward off any potential Bruin vandalism during Troy Week, the week preceeding the UCLA football game, University Security and Physical Plant are "beefing up" patrols to protect the campus and Tommy Trojan.
In previous years, Tommv Trojan has been the primary focus of numerous Bruin pranks.
For the past 31 years. Physical Plant has wrapped Tommy in five six layers of plastic to insulate the mascot trom any damage. 1 tie statue will be wrapped up again next week and guarded 24 hours a day by members of the Trojan Knights.
"Most damage happens at night," said Sam Lee, assistant director of physical plant.
Recently, Tommy Trojan was also sprayed with a special chemical
(Continued on page 8)
KATY SMTTH
COMING SOON — To ward off potential vandalism, Tommy Trojan dons layers of plastic and tape during Troy Week. The statue is traditionally a prime target for UCLA vandals.
USC students: Ginsburg ousted for wrong reason
By Michael Cary
Staff Writer
Two days after Judge Douglas Ginsburg asked President Ronald Reagan to withdraw his nomination for the U.S. Supreme Court, a majority of university students feel that Ginsburg's admitted marijuana use should not have disqualified him as a nominee.
Ginsburg asked President Reagan to withdraw his nomination to the court Saturday in response to further questions about his private life.
In a random survey, 60 students were asked the question, "Should Ginsburg's admission that he smoked marijuana have affected his nomination as a Supreme Court Justice?" Of the students polled, 63 percent thought Ginsburg's past actions were not substantive reasons to affect his nomination. The remaining 37 percent
(Continued on page 5)
Robert Dole presidential favorite of the Trojan College Republicans
By Yamil Berard
Staff Writer
In a poll conducted last week by the Trojan College Republicans, their members said they support Robert Dole for the party's presidential ticket.
The majority of the forty members polled said they supported Dole for the presidential ticket after viewing a videotaped debate featuring the six nominees: George Bush, Robert Dole, Jack Kemp, Pete du Pont, Alexander Haig and Pat Robertson.
Although George Bush led the debate and Dole came in last in the category of overall presentation. Dole received the most supportive votes.
The group viewing the two-hour tape initally sympathized with Robert Dole although they admitted he performed most poorly, said Zorast Driver, president of the Trojan College Republicans.
This preference was not a reflection on Dole's ability in the debate — it confirmed the individual group's leniency toward Dole, he said
"The people who support Dole watched the videotape and still support Dole even though many people said they liked the way Bush answered questions," Driver said.
In order to simplify their choices, surveyors were given an outline of categories to judge the candidates by. Driver said. Appearance, presence-potse. domestic issues, foreign policy, economic issues, and best responses were among the decisive factors in answ-ering the three questions: "Who did the best tonight? Who did the worst’ and Who do you support for president?
"It was hard to distinguish who rated the highest in each category. They (categories) were sunpty used as a framework or guide to go by to answer the questions well There was no individual consensus," Driver said.
Comments included statements supporting Kemp's economic pobcv while others Dole's stand on poverty issues.
Nationwide. Bush leads the Republican i race with Dole and Kemp following. Driver said.