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viewpoint
The politics of the Row changes needed for security not pledges. See page 3.
sports
Despite problems, tailback Aaron Emanuel refuses to give up. See page 20.
viewpoint
A personal story of a heinous jaywalker who broke his mother’s heart. See page 5.
Volume CVII, Number 65
University of Southern California
Monday, December 12,1988
Finals stress
Officials say cheating not worth risking
By Nola Sarkisian
Staff Writer
With the arrival of final exams, students are often tempted to cheat on exams and plagiarize term papers in their quest for high marks, but the penalties for cheat-ing are not worth the risk. Student Conduct officials said.
‘There's lots of stress around this time, and students don’t think of the ramifications of their actions," said Dave Quimette, assistant director of Student Conduct
‘They should be willing to talk out their problems with a professor rather than freak out and get suspended or expelled,” Quimette said.
Depending on the severity of the infraction, students who are caught cheating or plagiarizing will meet with the instructor, receive a sanction or possibly meet with a review panel, he said.
If a hearing is scheduled, the accused student will receive a decision that he may accept or appeal. Usually, the punishment will entail immediate failure of the course and occasional suspensions or expulsions for the first offense.
Quimette said 36 cases of cheating have been reported from June 1 through the fall semester. The violations include buying a paper through research assistance, using notes during an exam and copying homework.
Of the various modes of cheating, most infractions involve students using their notes when they (See Cheating, page 8)
SUNDOWN
MATT COBLEIGH / DAILY TROJAN
As the sun begins to set, it’s rays are forced to fight their way through the water of the fountain near the Allen Hancock Foundation building.
Transcript system breached due to misuse of passwords
By Yamil Berard
Staff Wrilcr
A security breach in the university’s transcript system occurred this semester because of a flaw in the IBM computer system, said Howard Saperston, university registrar.
Described by Saperston as the most serious transcript interference since the 1985 grade scandal, a built-in flaw in the IBM communications design allowed an unidentified person illegal access into transcripts, the Daily Trojan has learned.
The computer problem permits viewing “windows” to occur at intervals when accessed users do not properly log off, Saperston aid. Unattended terminals with
the display window left on-line leaves the IBM transcript records vulnerable to anyone who would like to look at student information.
"The analogy (of this) is like you get out of your car and, by mistake, leave your keys in it. If anyone decides to take your car and leave, it’s possible,” said Richard Kaplan, vice provost for academic computing.
Although no alterations were made by the person because the (See Fraud, page 13)
Campus, community safety a concern to students, poll says
By Jake Wirtschafter and Andrew Reichwald
For the Daily Trojan
Students at the university are worried about their safety, according to a Daily Trojan poll that asked more than 400 students about their sense of personal security on campus and the surrounding community.
More than 58 percent of students polled said there are insufficient security measures on campus and in the neighborhood, and the fear level among students rises significantly after dark.
The poll also found that one of six students has been a victim of crime on campus and one of seven has been a crime victim in the surrounding area.
Of the 422 students polled, 52 percent of males surveyed and two-thirds of the females said security measures were inadequate.
(See Poll, page 6)
Power outage hits campus
Earthquake damage blamed for Friday morning blackout
By Bryan Culp
SlalT Writer
More than 30 percent of the campus suffered an electrical shortage last Friday morning as a result of damage caused by the Dec. 3 earthquake. Physical Plant officials said.
Students were evacuated from early Friday classes as workers tried to repair power lines.
The power failure occurred when water leaked into a manhole vault containing electrical wiring and short-circuited one of the three service lines that supply power to the campus, said Duane Hickling, director of Physical Plant.
The blackout affected Parkside Apartments, Taper Hall of Humanities, Grace Ford Salvatori Hall, Seaver Science Center. Heritage Hall, the Student Health Center and parts of the Seeley G. Mudd Building.
Students also complained of a gas leak in Cardinal Gardens Apartments, where Physical Plant workers repaired a broken gas line Saturday.
Electricity was temporarily restored by 6 p.m. Friday. Hickling said. Power was shut off Saturday to
(See Blackout, page 7)
Ticket fund theft was ‘inevitable’ Student Senate’s ex-treasurer says
By Bryan Culp
St afi* Writer
Although the Student Senate is investigating how more than $4,000 was stolen from a fund for discount movie tickets, the senate's former treasurer said last Friday the theft was “inevitable.”
“That $4,000 figure is a complete shock,” said Amy Curtis, former senate treasurer and a graduate student in accounting.
“I knew that a problem was inevitable when that many people have access to that much money,” said Curtis, who resigned from her position Nov. 30.
The Los Angeles Police Department and University Security have been notified of the theft said Hanh Cao, chairwoman for senate public relations.
Senate members are monitoring the transactions of people involved in ticket sales, Cao said.
Senators said last Wednesday that they suspect the tickets and cash were stolen by someone involved with senate operations.
However, Curtis maintained the money was lost by error.
Curtis, who first heard of the missing money in a Daily Trojan article, attributed the theft to an accounting or computer error.
“I don't believe it was stolen ” she said. “I think it is something like an accounting error.
“It could be as simple as sending a check to the bank and they read it wrong.”
But she did say some of the money could have been taken “here or there.”
“There was a cash box and too many people had access to it—a million work-study students and all the senators," Curtis said.
“I don't think it’s the treasurer’s job to look out for the cash box,” she said. “It was never really part of my job. I didn’t realize it needed supervision."
(See Theft, page 12)