viewpoint
Juveniles deserve the death penalty for heinous crimes. See page 5.
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trojan
Volume CVII, Number 6	University	of	Southern	California	Wednesday,	September	14,	1988
The politics of sorority Rush: not always something for everyone. See page 11.
Should USC change its
Crime down locally; gang violence climbs
Recruitment of black students falls below university’s standard
By Cynthia Lin
Staff Writer
Despite successes of black students at universities nationwide, the lack of black student representation reflects problems in local recruitment and deeper social problems of blacks "'fitting in" at universities.
“I'm not quite sure any institution of higher education in this country is doing enough to recruit black students," said Pamela Porter, director of the department for black students. "Clearly the numbers don't show it.
"We're not admitting enough, we're not graduating enough and not enough are going on to graduate school."
Poor recruitment figures The U.S. Census Bureau reported that from 1976 to 1985, the proportion of black high school graduates going on to college fell from 34 percent to
26.1 percent.
According to Robert Biller, dean of admissions, financial aid, and registration and records, the black undergraduate enrollment at USC fell from 8 to 4 percent over the last 10 years.
The national decline in black high school graduates entering college has prompted many universities to revive efforts at recruiting black students.
"We've got to find a way to make the education system work for inner-city residents," Porter said. "What you're talking about is ethnic residents because inner-city is just a
(See Recruitment, page 9)
'There has been a recent upsurge of gang activity in the Ellendale area.'
—	Sgt. John Lewis, security officer
public administration, is a resident of Ellendale West Apartments at 2633 Ellendale Place.
"There's always glass all over the place and I see people hanging out in groups on the street when I come home late at night," Pendleton said. "Sometimes you'll see police questioning people or arresting somebody and putting them in the backs of their cars."
Despite the dramatic increase in gang- ' related crimes, crime is down for USC and the surrounding area, LAPD's Southwest Division. This area is bordered by the Santa Monica Freeway on the north, the Harbor Freeway on the east, La Brea Street on the west and Vernon Avenue on the south.
According to the police department's overall Southwest crime statistics, the homicide rate is down by 30 percent and robbery is down by 14.5 percent.
"There's definitely an overall crime decrease, and we're real proud of it," Shat-tuck said. "However, the numbers are still intolerable and we're taking steps to bring them down even further."
Some of these steps include gang suppression task forces and gang education (See Gangs, page 7)
Bell tower renovation proposed by senate
By Lisa Ginther
Staff Writer
By Carole Cleveland
Staff Writer
To make it a "living AIDS memorial," the Program Board and the Gay and Lesbian Assembly for Student Support are planning to restore the bell tower in Mudd Hall of Philosophy, Program Board members said.
"I think it would be a great step for USC," said Brett Spivey, executive assistant of Program Board. "It's a way to bring the subject of AIDS to the university community."
(See Chimes, page 7)
JAMES SU / DAILY TROJAN
The Program Board and the Gay and Lesbian Assembly for Student Support are planning to restore Mudd Hall’s chimes, which have been inactive and weathering for the past 20 years.
Students at Embassy Residential College experience parking crunch because of Los Angeles’ plan to construct a park on the comer of Ninth Street and Grand Avenue.
University eases parking crunch
Additional spaces leased from private company for Embassy residents
By Anh Do
Assistant City Editor
As a result of the parking crunch caused by the city's plans to build a park at Ninth Street and Grand Avenue, the university has leased 25 more spaces from a private parking company for students at Embassy Residential College, adding to 200 spaces already secured.
"We've been working rather steadfast this past month to come up with the best possible location and the best possible accommodation as we can," said Carl Lev-redge, director of university Parking Operations.
The university pays a private parking firm $65 per month for each of the 225 spaces, Levredge said. In contrast, he said, students pay $118.25 for parking each semester.
Still, students say they are frustrated by the city's takeover of parking spaces. Space in the lot where Embassy residents
(See Embassy, page 10)
Although overall crime has decreased in South Central Los Angeles, statistics for all gang-related incidents in the area surrounding the university are up 27.5 percent this year, police said.
According to figures released by the Los Angeles Police Department, gang-re-lated homicides are up 72.7 percent over last year's totals, with incidents of gang rapes skyrocketing from two in 1987 to 12 this year, a 600 percent increase, said Phil Shattuck, a spokesman for the LAPD.
In contrast, gang-related robberies are down by 15 percent, he said.
"There has been a recent upsurge of gang activity in the Ellendale area," said Sgt. John Lewis of University Security. "The two main gangs we're dealing with there are Hispanic — the Harpies and the Dead Enders."
Greater gang visibility in the university area has sparked an increase in the number of crimes reported.
"Vehicular theft is always a big problem," Lewis said. "There are also problems with graffiti in that area, but attacks on people are not real common. But if you happen to be one of the unlucky few who do get assaulted, you're probably not going to be too impressed with that statement."
However, university students remain uncomfortable about gang activity, especially those living in apartments just north of the university.
Brian Pendleton, a junior majoring in