What A Year It Was
USC has had many sports moments, such as the Orange Howl victory and the womens NCCA volleyball title / 32
Student newspaper of the University of Southern California
THURSDAY
May 1,2003
Of interest...
Movie columnist Brett Buckalew says goodbye after two years with a list of his all-timefavorites'/ 9
Calendar 2
Horoscopes • Classifieds 26 Crossword 27
vo). Cyuil, no. 67 www.dailytroJan.com
Lawsuit
against
university
settled
Civil charges against ex-ISD employee also dropped in county court
By KEVIN MERICKEL
Staff Writer
A recent lawsuit filed by Leon Casey Alva against USC and former Information Services Division employee Bob Murphy reached a settlement earlier this month, said Murphys attorney, Eric Hill.
Alva dropped his claims with prejudice and they cannot be brought up again. The settlement was for an undisclosed amount, Hill said.
Alva accused Murphy of sexual harassment, libel, stalking, invasion of privacy and infliction of emotional distress, Hill said.
There were three counts against USC that included negligence, negligent supervision and negligent training, he said.
“Cases that settle this early do so because there is a clear indication of the merits to the parties,” Hill said.
Alva filed his lawsuit against both parties with the Los Angeles County Superior Court in August
Since the lawsuit was filed, USC tried to get Alva to drop the charges, said Kelly Bendell, university general council.
“The lawsuit was voluntarily dismissed and USC paid no money to Alva,” Bendell said.
The university’s e-mail policy includes forbidding the sending of I see Murphy, page 23 I
USC asks company to comply
Student activist group alerts university administration to possible illegal hiring practices by clothier Lands’Ends
Collection," which is an assortment of shirts, jackets, vests, hats and
By PAUL HARTSOCK
Staff Writer
USC Auxiliary Services demanded in a letter Wednesday that clothing distributor Lands’ End cooperate with the Worker Rights Consortium, after Student Coalition Against Labor Exploitation (SCALE) sent a letter
to the department, university officials said.
Tuesday, SCALE brought to .the attention of Auxiliary Services a WRC report alleging that an El Salvador factory that - supplies clothing to Lands' End uses illegal hiring practices.
USC licenses its logo to appear on Lands’ End’s "Alumni
“We’re very serious about the whole area of sweatshops and the relation between vendors and workers,” said Philip Chiaramonte, associate senior vice president
The WRC report alleges that Primo, a factory in San Salvador’s San Bartolo free trade zone, violated the law by denying employment to applicants who were suspected labor union members.
Scott Nova, executive director of the WRC, called the alleged activity “a policy of systematic blacklisting of job applicants who are perceived by the factory to be union members.”'
“Our contract specifically indicates that (the alleged hiring practices) are prohibited,” Chiaramonte said. “Our position is, if they choose not to (cooperate with the WRC), our response will be to not renew their contract with USC. “
I see
, page 23 I
Downtown
redevelopment
Rachel Elias I Daily Trojan
City view. The downtown skyline may change in the coming years as many revitalization projects are put forth. Some argue, however, that the projects may leave out the poor and homeless.
Some lawmakers say that Los Angeles agency is not doing its job properly because it is not allegedly distributingfiinds
By PRATUL THAKER
Contributing Writer
Its residents line the sidewalk in tents. Children roam the streets during night hours. Poverty here is rampant Though Skid Row is a home to some, many downtown Los Angeles business owners believe the area needs to be redeveloped, revitalized and cleared of poverty.
City officials created the Community Redevelopment Agency in 1948 to help fund improvements in undeveloped areas such as Skid Row.
However, the agency is approaching its spending limit of $750 million, established to last until 2010.
Some lawmakers argue the redevelopment agency’s funds are illegally being used to improve already developed areas, favoring rich commercial interests and leaving behind area residents.
On the agency^ list of projects was funding for two
I see Downtown, page 24 I
Factions of American-Indian tribe fight for gaming rights in Los Angeles
Both groups are seeking federal recognition in effort to gain sovereign rights, including those of casino ownership
By PURNIMA MUDNAL
Contributing Writer
Two splinter groups of an American Indian tribe are fighting for future gaming rights in Los Angeles and Orange counties.
Sam Dunlap, tribal secretary for the Gabrieleno/Tongva TYibal Council of the Gabrjeleno/Tongva Nation, who has an office in Santa Monica, wants to set up gaming facilities in Los Angeles County. His group is suing another group of the
Gabrieleno/Tongva tribe that is less interested in opening casinos in the Los Angeles area.
"We are not entertaining casinos at all,” said Anthony Morales, leader of the Gabrieleno Band of Mission Indians in San Gabriel, which is the faction being sued by Dunlaps group.
Before they can win rights to setting up a casino, the two groups of the Gabrieleno-Tongva tribe need to be federally recognized. Getting federal recognition is a crucial step in the I see Casino, page 22 I
“We are not entertaining casinos at alT
ANTHONY MORALES leader Gabrieleno Band of Mission Indians in San Gabriel
Flipping through
■
It’s in a book.
Jin Byun, a junior majoring in international relations, and Liuichi Hara, a senior majoring in international relations, thumb through the 2003 El Rodeo year book at Hahn Plaza.
Finals: Summer Trojan begins publication May 21,2003.