Southern California Fires
Ventura County
INSIDE
"24“ director always wanted to attend USC
Student Newspaper of the University of Southern California Since 1912
Tuesd^Ck lol*'2S. 20Q3
Vol CXLIV. No. 44
Ramadan is a month of deep concentration and
I
fasting, which ends with a feast and gift exchanges.
By JESSICA FITZPATRICK
Contributing Writer
In honor of Ramadan, the Muslim Student Association is invit ing Muslim students to free dinners at the International Residential College at Parkside throughout the next month to break their fast and discuss the holiday.
Dinner will be provided for 18 out of the 30 nights of Ramadan, beginning at about 5:15 p.m. and tastiog approximately two hours, uid Karim Vidham, treasurer ol MSA and a sophomore engineering Aajor,^ •>
The month of Ramadan began Monday «t dawn.
During Ramadan, Muslims con centrate on their faith with intensive worship and contemplation until the first day of the next month, when a celebration Called Eid ul-Fitr, the fast-breaking feast, begins and gifts are exchanged.
Throughout Ramadan, Muslims are forbidden to eat, drink, smoke or I see Ita—Jan, page 11
CourtMy of MichMl Buckner
Rolling Mat*. At the Simi Valley fire Sunday evening, Culver City firefighters take a short break and look onto a mountain engulfed in flames. This Are has
consumed almost 350,000 acres since It began Thursday.
Gov. Davis asks for help; President Bush declares %
“major disaster" area By JULIE KUO
Suff Writer
At press time, 10 wildfires burning throughout the Southern California region had killed at least 15 people and destroyed 1,500 homes, making it the deadliest fire outbreak in California in more than a decade.
In response to the fires, President George W. Bush declared Los Angeles, Ventura, San Bernardino and San Diego counties “major disaster” areas, CBS2.com reported.
People who died in the fires ignored warnings to leave dangerous areas and did not evacuate in time, I see FIvm, page 3 I
The Santa Ana winds that help the fires spread began to calm Monday.
Coverage: 90,000 acres
Structure* lost: 12 Fatalities: 0
Grant aids colon cancer
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research
At least 15 people were killed in the fires.
More than 1,500 homes were destroyed.
Fires hit about 430,000 acres.
USC cancer researchers receive money for one of largest colon cancer studies
Map- Wildfires have devastated four counties in the Southland
By SUMAYYA AHMAD
Contributing Writer
The National Cancer Institute has granted $15 million to USC researchers as part of an extensive international study on colon cancer.
Researchers at the USC/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Institute received the funds as part of a 10-year study with the USC Consortium, a group of researchers from USC and other institutions.
About 15,000 patients are currently registered with the study, making it one of the largest colon cancer research efforts in the world.
"The CFR (Cooperative Family Registries) represents the single largest study in the worid on the causes, prevention and clinical management of colorectal cancer. In my opinion, it has the best chance of providing critically needed information within the next 5 to 10 years,*
- t aeefteoearefc page S i
Officials comment on
fall 2002 in favor of nearly400 “margin-	would say that Berkeleys practices are
ally qualified” students with SAT I	completely justified. Selecting students
scores below 1000, according to a draft	for cftllege admission is not a science; it
analysis compiled by UC Regent John	relies on myriad factors and should not
Moores.	'	be reduced to just a question of test
After the Los Angeles Times pub- scores."	^
lished an article about the statistics,	Brunold noted the value USC
the integrity of the university’s admis- places on subjective characteristics of Sion policies was called into question,	an applicant such as the factors of per-
Brunold defended Moores’ obliga-	sonal resumes, essays, leadership, section as a regent to monitor the admis-	ice, involvement, personal accomplish-
sions process.	ments and recommendation letters.
"The Board of Regents has every	These considerations supplement
right tq scrutinize the admission	factors such as test scores, grades and
review practices used at thek campus-	course work, he said
es," Brunold uid. "However, based on	"Each applicant is considered indi-
what I know about the UC's compre- vidually on the basis of performance, henuve admission review process, 1	’ iseeIUMnImm,page 111
UC Berkeleys admission of students with low SAT scores may be justifiable
By KRISTIN MAYER
Contributing Writer
Despite a recent controversy raised by the University of California Board of Regents, UC Berkeley was justified in removing the focus from SAT I scores in its admission process, uid Timothy Brunold, senior associate director of admissions at USC
Thirty-two hundred applicants with SAT I scores above 1400 were denied admission to UC Berkeley for