Weekend wins for both hoops
Sports, page 28
weather
Mg
New school plan is not a solution
Viewpoint, page 3
trojan
Volume CXI, Number 22
University of Southern California
Monday, February 12, 1990
In Brief
Gray whales have yet to arrive to give birth in Baja’s bays
MEXICO CITY — Thousands of gray whales that normally swim to the warm bays of Baja, Calif., to give birth have failed to show up so far this season, and authorities said Friday they don’t know why.
"This is the first time this has happened," said Graciela de la Garza, head of conservation for the Department of Ecology and Urban Development.
Speculation about the reason for the whales’ disappearance range from the effects of last year’s Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska to a new, cold water current in the Pacific near Mexico’s western peninsula.
Last year, about 2,000 gray whales migrated to Baja, giving birth to about 1,000 calves before returning to Arctic waters, said Luis Fleischer, head of the Fisheries Department’s gray whale program.
This year only 12 to 20 have arrived.
Orange harvest better than previously thought
WASHINGTON — Orange harvest prospects have improved from a month ago, but production is still down sharply from last season because of widespread freeze damage in late December, the Agriculture Department said Friday.
The new estimate of 169 million boxes was based on Feb. 1 indications and is up seven percent from the January forecast of fewer than 158 million boxes.
Even so, the damaged crops are expected to be down 19 percent from 209 million boxes in 1988-89. Most of the reduction was because of a decline in the Florida crop.
Teenage boys face suit for cutting-edge graffiti
TORRANCE, Calif. — Shopping mall owners are suing seven teenage boys for $50,000, claiming they used glass cutters to etch graffiti into windows and mirrors.
The lawsuit was filed by owners of the Del Amo Fashion Center last week in Torrance Superior Court.
A lawyer for The Torrance Co., which owns the center, said he will try to collect damages from the boys’ parents, under a provision of the state Civil Code that makes parents liable for their children's misdeeds. From the Aeeodated Pn§»
Index
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Security Roundup
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Dynamic diversity
Atom Tmi / Daffy Trojan
Darren Beck, a junior majoring in anthropology, la one of the resident advisers at College - University Residence Hall who has organized ‘Strength through Diversity’ month. The program includes lectures, social excursions and other activities.
Divestment activists may sue university
By Katie Sweeney
Staff Writer
The USC Coalition for Divestment is conferring with two lawyers about the possibility of suing the university for its actions during last Wednesday's divestment rally, a coalition spokesperson said Friday.
Harry Brighouse, a graduate student in philosophy, said the coalition has not hired counsel, but the lawyers are looking over videotapes of the rally free of charge and advising the group on what action to take.
"We haven't decided on any particular action yet," said Michele Milner, a second-year law student, at a press conference held Friday. Milner said the coalition will either act "internally through the system or go externally and demand the trustees don't act this way again through an outside lawsuit."
The coalition was upset with University Security's actions at the rally, saying the violence was unprovoked.
"We did not act violently. We intended only to deliver a letter," said Jason Metter, a freshman majoring in political science who said Security officers strudk him several times in the stomach, back and chest. "This is a blatant breach of students' right of expression."
Lt. Michael Kennedy of Security, who attended the press conference, said afterward that it was not appropriate for him to comment on the matter.
Steven Ward, executive director of Security, could not be reached for comment Friday.
Members of the coalition blamed the trustees for Wednesday's violence.
"The blame lies with the president's office and
(See Divest, page 18)
LA disabled games need
volunteers
By Christa Hohmann
Staff Writer
USC Spirits in Action, the sponsors of daylong games for the physically and mentally disabled of Los Angeles, is looking for volunteers to help coordinate the events and promote the abilities of the participants.
The event will return to Cromwell Athletic Field on March 3 for the second year of track events and entertainment.
The event is organized by university students with the help of Student Senate and the Program Board.
Volunteers will meet for the first time Tuesday in Topping Student Center to begin preparing for the event.
More than 300 volunteers have already signed up, said Damien Korb, Spirits in Action general event chairman and a senior majoring in psycho-biology. Almost 200 athletes are expected to participate, about 100 more than last year, Korb said.V.
"The 300 volunteer sign-ups for the event is really something to be proud of/' he said. '"Many more people are showing interest this year and getting involved.
Each volunteer will be assigned to an athlete or to assist with the events, providing support to the athletes and cheer-(See Spirits, page 11)
Get smart
Academic Awareness Week helps students to broaden their minds
By Christa Hohmann
Staff Writer
Academic Awareness Week, which begins today, will sport a chess tournament and a poetry reading as well as other events geared to broaden the mind.
A study-a-thon is set to run three days in College Library where students may sign in and out as they accumulate hours.
The program is sponsored by the Academic Honors Assembly, a division of Program Board.
"We hope to promote the intellectu-alization of students," said Damien Korb, member of the horfOrs assembly and a senior majoring in psychobiology. "We are trying to reach people outside the academic realm ana show them the importance of academia."
The assembly was founded three years ago and has been sponsoring events such as "Speakouts" about various university departments and policies.
"Basically there are two reasons we are holding the awareness week," said Sheree Roxas-Chua, coordinator of the
week and a senior majoring in business.
"First, there is such a diversity of honor societies. This is a good way for all of us to meet each other and exchange ideas. Secondly, it allows the societies to organize and sponsor an event. It is great publicity. Many societies have already had an increase in their active involvement," she said.
Each event, which is sponsored by a different honor society, is open to all students and university employees.
The highlights of the week will include an academic awareness forum featuring Carol Sawyer from the School of Public Administration and a poetry reading by English professors David St. John and Carol Muske.
Other events include a teaching assistant student forum featuring a panel of TAs discussing student issues. There will also be a paper airplane contest, an egg drop contest and a professor appreciation service wjxere students can commend their favorite faculty or administrator.
(See Academic, page 12)
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