SDSU beats USC, 71-64
Sports, page 20
AIDS awareness is essential
Viewpoint, page 4
Nude models in art class
Life / Arts, page 10
on
C_J
trojan
Volume CXVI, Number 61
University of Southern California
Wednesday, December 4, 1991
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Conversation on cordless phones may not be private
By Joel Connable
Staff Writer
There are somewhere between one and five million people in the Unitec States who tune into personal conver sations being conducted every day on cordless telephones, said Kirk Kleinschmidt, assistant managing edi tor at QST Magazine.
Kleinschmidt's magazine is a journal directed at amateur radio owners and operators.
“It's extremely easy to listen to people's cordless telephone calls over any scanner bought at Radio Shack," Kleinschmidt said. "All they have to do is tune into the 46-49 megahertz band on any scanner, and they can listen to your personal life, and it's all legal."
Cordless phones are not the only devices that can be monitored by scanner. Home baby monitors, car phones, air phones, train phones and even fast food restaurant employees can easily be heard by any scanning enthusiast willing to spend between $65 and $2,000.
Scanners made their debut in the late '60s, said Tom Kneitel, editor of Popular Communications, another amateur radio magazine. They offer a wide range of listening subjects, from police and fire departments, to the most private conversations in people's homes.
"People are interested in what is happening in other people's lives," Kneitel said, "It's the same reason why people watch soap operas, but this is real life, and certainly a lot more interesting than what is on a television program."
Caiifomia and New York are the only states with laws making it illegal to listen to cordless phone conversations, but many think they are unenforceable.
Lawyers argue that these scanner buffs are nothing more than peeping toms, but Kneitel disagrees.
"Some people say that it's a terrible type of voyeurism," said Kneitel. "It's
(See Tapping, page 14)
WEATHER
TODAY:
Sunny, 50/69
TOMORROW:
Partly cloudy, 52
2/71
A lawsuit that cost dearly
SECURITY
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UNDER
FIRE
$600,000 settlement raises questions on security tactics
WEDNESDAY
• Expensive lawsuits have been filed against University Security since the early 1980s, several of which are still pending.
THURSDAY
* A detailed account of one case against security that took 8 years to settle, Also, allegations that one officer involved has been the source of costly problems for the University>
R I
D A Y
* A former officer, blasts the department's handling of a case that resulted in an extensive lawsuit. Also, what security is doing to prevent lawsuits and what others think can be done.
Editor's note — This is the first article in a three-part series looking at lawsuits directed at University Security and their impact on the department and the people involved.
By Robert Moran
Staff Writer
As the heavy roar of a passing truck rumbles through the office of Masoud Farajpour, one has to lean toward the soft-spoken graduate student to hear exactly what he has to say.
Farajpour works for the university at its East Library building on Hope Street next to the USC Parking Center. A flurry of last-minute construction on the new parking structure makes a loud racket.
But he has an air of calm about him, despite the din of his noisy neighbors. The only apparent clue to the turmoil he has suffered is the way he draws his right arm, bent at the elbow, close to his chest.
Farajpour says that one afternoon in the summer of 1983, two University Secu-
rity officers beat and choked him to unconsciousness and severely injured his right shoulder. He sued the university and security officers Rory Cochran and Russell Thyret.
This past summer, the university quietly agreed to pay Farajpour $600,000 in an out-of-court settlement.
Recalling the eight-year course of events that eventually led to the settlement, Farajpour blasted university administrators for their handling of his case.
"They were trying to keep an image at any price," Farajpour said.
According to Farajpour, top university officials — including former University President James Zumberge — ignored his repeated pleas to investigate the onginal 1983 beating.
Farajpour claims that Cochran nearly ran him down with a patrol car in 1984 and repeatedly harassed him until this year.
(See Security, page 6)
Hancock Auditorium ravaged by vandals
Kris Chun / Daily Trojan
Vandalism caused university officials to close Hancock Auditorium Tuesday.
By Glen Justice
City Editor
Vandals, possibly from UCLA, caused an estimated $39,000 in damage to Hancock Auditorium over the weekend, spray painting walls, ripping auditorium seats and vandalizing two Steinway pianos, security officials said.
The keys on each piano were spray painted and one piano had paint and other liquid dumped inside it, amounting to $30,000 in damage, said Sgt. John Lewis of University Security.
In addition, approximately 80 chairs were slashed and the walls were graffi-tied, accounting for the other $9,000 in damage.
Among the graffiti in blue spray paint on the walls was "UCLA #1," "Merry X-Mass" and "Fuck USC assholes," Lewis said.
"I'm appalled, shocked, numb," said Peter Wolff, concert manager for the auditorium. "We are in the process of renting a piano so concerts can continue."
(See Vandals, page 3)
USC student formally charged with rape, sexual battery by DA
By Joel Connable
Staff Writer
Ryan Willson, a 22-year-old university student who was arrested last month in connection with the attempted rape of a 19-year-old student, was formally charged this week
with rape and felony sexual battery, Los Angeles Police Department officials said.
Willson allegedly met the victim at the 502 Club, located in University Village, and the two went for a motorcycle ride. The at-
tack allegedly took place on top of Parking Structure A, Detective Gil Freese said.
"After the alleged rape occurred, Willson was identified by the victim and other friends who had (See Rape, page 3)
Director’s post axed because of budget cuts
By Ray Delgado
Staff Writer
The results of tough university budget problems were felt in middle management last week when the position occupied by Don Wilson, associate director of USCard and Auxiliary Services, was eliminated.
The move is exepected to affect Auxiliary Services at the university, which includes the bookstore, USCard, Housing, Parking and Dining Services.
Wilson's duties — which include overseeing the copy center, USCard and marketing for auxiliary services — will be distributed among the other auxiliaries.
USCard is expected to be headed by Pat Oliver, currently an executive director in business affairs, and the copy center will be operated by the University Bookstore manager, according to a source who asked not to be identified.
The marketing department for Auxiliary Services will be taken over by Don Mask, the acting head of Auxiliary Services, according to sources.
Wilson said that Mask approached him last week with the decision to eliminate his position, citing budgetary reasons.
"The university is going through some financial problems, and if this is what is best for the university, I support the decision, regardless of what happens to me," Wilson said.
(See Wilson, page 3)