I> N S : 1 i D : E j	/f	1 —	1	A					*		
	i viewpoint		performance		sports	
	The university must take a strong role in the fight to end illiteracy. See page 4.		r Twenty-first international Animation Tournee begins this weekend. See page 11.		Flashback to 1982: USC shuts out Oklahoma, 12-0. See page 28.	
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Volume CVII, Number 7
University of Southern California
Thursday, September 15, 1988
Arson suspected in blaze
$40,000 in damages estimated
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By Chris Eftychiou
Staff Writer
PETER ZAKHARY / DAILY TROJAN
PETER ZAKHARY / DAILY TROJAN
A firefighter (left photo) surveys the fire damage to a house at 2642 Ellendale Place Tuesday afternoon. Fire department officials suspect arson may have started the fire, which began at approximately 10:30 p.m. Monday night. The blaze caused an estimated $40,000 damage to the structure.
A fire believed to be caused by arson scorched the upper level of a vacant building on Ellendale Place Tuesday night, with flames coming within 25 feet of non-university apartments occupied by students.
The blaze, which began at about 10:30 p.m., took firefighters about 30 minutes to put out.
Eight fire engines and two hook-and-ladder units arrived at the scene, and a group of about 150 onlookers watched firefighters use chainsaws, ladders and firehoses to extinguish the blaze.
The building, located at 2642 Ellendale Place, was probably
the target of arsonists, said Fire Chief Tom Wilson.
A witness provided the fire
department with a description of “four or five young kids who came out of the building about an hour before the fire," Wilson said.
No arrests have been made.
Fire officials found matches and combustibles inside the building. The fire caused an estimated $40,000 in damage but no injuries, the chief said.
Flames initially appeared on the south side of the three-story wooden house. A ring of fire danced around an upper-level window frame, where smoke billowed profusely from the house.
The fire spread from the third floor to the roof, while firefighters fought the blaze from inside the building.
Flames crept along the steep-pitched roof, about 15 feet from Trojan Terrace, a largely stu-(See Fire, page 3)
Student groups, affairs office square off over dance regulation
New computer fee charged
By Jeordan Legon
Staff Writer
A rule that would allow only college students to attend USC dances sparked disagreement Wednesday between student groups and officials from the Office of Student Affairs.
More than 50 members of various campus groups met with administrators in the Black Student Union office in the Student Union Building to air concerns over the rule, which officials have yet to enforce.
If enforced, the rule would require students to show identification from their respective colleges in order to be admitted to on-campus dances.
"It's insane to let only university students go," said LacTrung Ha, adviser of Asian Assembly.
"I can understand the university trying to keep people safe, but that policy is just not fair," said Helen Sanchez, a member of Latino Students Assembly.
The subject of allowing only college students to attend on-(See Meeting, page 5)
Mandatory lab fee surprises many engineering students
By Jeordan Legon
Staff Writer
Engineering students have been charged an additional $50 this semester to help fund their school's computer labs, regardless of whether they are enrolled in computer courses.
The fee has been implemented to balance the cost of running the undergraduate labs. Previously, students enrolled in engineering computer courses were charged $70 per class, officials said.
The unexpected fee surprised and angered some of the estimated 4,000 students, but pleased oth-
ers, who will save money because of the change.
"I think it's OK because . . . they used to charge us $70 for each computer class. Now it's a flat fee which is reasonable," said Mohammed Zaki, a sophomore engineering major.
But some students disagreed, saying they had no prior knowledge of the charge.
"It was a big surprise. It suddenly just popped up on my fee bill. I wasn't going to argue it or nothing though because ... it's a big institution and you're not going to fight them for $50," said Bill Ulmer, a freshman majoring in aerospace engineering.
"They just charged it to me. I don't even really know what it's for. I think it's an access fee to use the computers. I don't like it though. They should
(See Charge, page 5)
Prejudice, fear hinders black student progress
By Cynthia Lin
Staff Writer
At USC, where their enrollment hovers just above 4 percent, black students often must deal with social roadblocks in trying to assimilate into university life.
"Being a black student here is almost a shock when coming from a high school that is predominantly black," said Mark Forte, chair of the Black Student Assembly.
Although the university has taken some steps to address black student concerns, these measures are late in coming, Forte said. Racism exists at USC because social interaction
is not encouraged, he said.
"(Black students) alienate themselves due to fear of rejection and of getting hurt. . . Sometimes the university can be hostile to black students," he said.
There have been instances when police or University Security stopped black students and questioned their status as university students, even when (See Blacks, page 7)
Students camp out to buy permits
By Sabrina Thomas
Staff Writer
More than 40 frustrated students spent the night outside the Parking Operations office Tuesday, hoping to purchase remaining permits after losing in last week's parking lottery.
"I was here from 6:30 p.m. to 8:45 a.m. this morning," said Braden Powers, a sophomore majoring in cinema. "And I didn't even get what I wanted."
'It's a pain that we had to do this, especially since I'm a senior," said Rachel Hsu, a business major. "Some people live in Troy Hall and they're buying tickets for Kerckhoff Apartments, which is two blocks away."
Students sporting sleeping bags and lawn chairs camped (See Parking, page 10)
JAMES SU / DAILY TROJAN
Many of these students who didn’t receive a parking space through the lottery system waited in line overnight for a chance to buy a permit. Several did not receive spaces near their residences.