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Volume CIV, Number 62
University of Southern California
Monday, April 18, 1988^
Student claims event staff beat him at free X concert
By Christine Cvr
Staff Writer
A university student was beaten by several event staff security guards at last Thursday night's sold-out X concert in Bovard Auditorium, witnesses said.
Elliot Lucas, a sophomore majoring in English, was allegedly dragged to the north side of the auditorium and beaten by members of the Contemporary Security staff, the event staff hired by the Program Board to secure the concert.
Thom Gaxiola, activities consultant for the Office of Student Activities, is now asking people who witnessed the confrontation between Lucas and
guards to come forward and present their stories to the activities office and University Security.
"The case is by no means dosed," Gaxiola said.
Lucas said Friday that he had been standing in a crowd massed together near the foot of the stage during the concert. At one point the mass of bodies surged forward and pushed him against the chest of a security staff member.
Lucas claimed the guard then shoved him into another guard, and the two dragged him outside.
"1 was holding onto the door, then I held onto an arm as I went down," Lucas said.
Lucas was followed outside by his friend, Jimmy
(Continued on page 18)
Banned Marxist speaks on campus
By Christine Carr
UT ~inr
Duiii writer
Tony Gi Iky son, lead guitarist of the rock group X, plays for a packed Bovard Auditorium during the group's sold-out concert Thursday night. A student claimed he was beaten and kicked by event staff members during the concert attended by 1,400 people.
It's hard to imagine 350 revo lutionary socialists in the Bovarc Administration Building.
But Friday night, room 206 was filled beyond capacity to hear Ernest Mandel, Europe's most well-known Marxist theoretician, give the keynote address at '"68-'88 Lessons for the Left," a conference billed as a
“socialist educational weekend" that was held on campus.
Mandel spoke in the United States for the first time in 20 years, after having been banned from entering the U.S. by the State Department. Mandel was denied entrance after his involvement in French student uprisings that led to massive general strikes in France in 1968.
Mandel said the American activists of the '60s have "made
their peace with bourgeois society" and reintegrated into the mainstream via the explosion of job opportunities in the communication and information industries.
"This is tied to a social phenomenon," he said. "It is not a question of personal guilt.
"The tragedy is that the overwhelming majority of the leaders of these movements are out (Continued on page 7)
Black Student Union wins Songfest
Troy Camp triumphs too, with $5,000 check from annual student musical
By Anh Do
Staff Writer
It seemed to be a show where memories are etched.
In only its second year of participation in the largest student-run college musical in the nation, the Black Student Union — in a lively rendition of "Thanks for the Memories of Oz" — won the Sweepstakes trophy Saturday night at the 35th Annual Songfest held at the Greek Theatre.
Also in keeping with this year's "Thanks for the Memories" theme, the Songfest company presented a $5,000 check to Troy Camp, which aids underprivileged children. That donation erased memories of debts from the last two years, when Songfest deficits prevented any proceeds from going to the camp.
Twelve group entries and more than 400 students participated in this year's event, said Bruce Seidel, the chairman of Songfest.
About 40 students were involved in the BSU production, which also won awards for Best Director and Most Enthusiastic Group.
Set in 1999 in the Emerald City courtroom with a Munchkin jury presiding, BSU's plot centered on the Wizard of Oz, who was on trial for fraud. .
"All the costumes for the cast were handmade except the bon's costume, which we rented. We went bargain-shopping," said Gaila Samtson, director of the BSU entry.
"Most of the groups here tonight rented their cos-
tumes," said Rick Fitzgerald, director of the Alpha Delta Pi and Sigma Phi Epsilon entry. Their "Thanks for the Memories of School Daze" production, which highlighted the traumas experienced by a new kid in school, won first place in the large group category.
The first place award for the small group category was given to the Chi Phi fraternity and their "little sisters" for their rendition of "Thanks for the Memories, King of Rock." Directed by Matt Vasgerdsian, the show featured a competition between the rap group Run DMC and Elvis Presley for the "King of Rock" title.
The small group category was reintroduced in this year's competition after a decade's absence, said Dave Crandall, director of student activities.
A small group is composed of 8-16 members, who perform for two to four minutes, while Large groups, with 16 or more members, perform for four to six minutes.
Actor Ned Beatty was this year's master of ceremonies.
Additional appearances included members of the Songfest AJumni Association, Mr. and Miss USC, James Dennis, vice president of student affairs and Joan Schaefer, the university's dean of women.
The following groups won prizes for their performances:
•	Best Set — "Thanks for the Memories of School Daze," by the Alpha Delta Pi sorority and the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity.
e Best Costume — 'Toying with Memories," by the Trustee and Dean's Scholars.
•	1st runner-up in large groups — 'Toying with Memories," by the Trustee and Deans' Scholars.
•	2nd runner-up — "Thanks for the Memories of the Wild, Wild West," by the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority and the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity.
•	3rd runner-up — "Thanks . . . but Hold the Onions," by the Delta Delta Delta sorority and the Phi Delta Theta fraternity.
Graduation ’88
May ceremonies compressed into hourlong program
By Jordana Bieze
Staff Writer
Following a precedent set last year, commencement ceremonies in May will be somewhat abbreviated compared with past years, university officials said.
This year's commencement, set for May 6 at 11 a.m. in Alumni Park, is expected to last about an hour once President James Zumberge is on the platform, said Ken Servis, university marshall.
Three traditional elements of the ceremony have been eliminated in accordance with a memo released in February 1987 by Cornelius Pings, university provost.
The administration of an oath of office to students in the ROTC and the dosing benediction were stricken from last year's program and will not be included in this year's ceremony, either, said Janet Chaudhuri, assistant provost.
Remarks by Zumberge to introduce the two valedictorians will replace the traditional introduction by the president of the University Alumni Association, Chaudhuri said.
Ken Bacher and Kim Valentine, both of whom have cumulative grade point averages of 4-0, have been selected as this year's valedictorians. Each will give a three-minute speech at the commencement ceremony, Chaudhuri said.
The method of conferring diplomas on graduates
(Continued on page 7)