Irish, not Bruins real ’SC archrival
Viewpoint, page 4
Kasdan gives L.A. a break
Life / Arts, page 11
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Volume CXVII, Number 2
University of Southern California
Wednesday, January 15, 1992
Continuance sought in Nichols case
Blood test results are inconclusive
By Oscar C. Villalon
Staff Writer
Blood test results that could have identified Richard Nichols in two rapes, including one involving a university student, proved inconclusive last week, forcing the prosecution to ask for a continuance so that DNA test results could be included in the trial.
"I predict if we get the continuance, we'll know by (the trial) if we have enough evidence to continue or not (with
the Nichols' case)," said Deputy District Attorney Marc Debbaudt, the Nichols case prosecutor.
Debbaudt said he thought Nichols' attorney, Frank Duncan, may reject the plea for a continuance at a preliminary hearing scheduled for Thursday so that Nichols may receive a speedy trial.
However, Duncan said he would go along with the continuance because he is certain that the results of the DNA test will clear Nichols.
Nichols has been held in the County Jail without bail since his Oct. 8 arrest.
If a continuance is granted, Debbaudt expects the DNA test results by mid-February. It took nearly a month for the blood test results to come back, said Southwest LAPD Detective Gil Freese, the investigating officer in charge of the Nichols case.
Freese added that the length of time it took for the test results to come back was "normal."
It takes three to six months for DNA test results, but prosecutors can know within 30 days if they can eliminate a sus-
pect from responsibility for a crime, Freese said.
"The tests let you know by then if you're on the right track,” he said.
Nichols, 25, pleaded innocent on Oct.
10	to 10 counts of rape, two counts of forced copulation, eight counts of robbery and one count of kidnapping in two separate incidents. On Oct. 4, he allegedly kidnapped a 24-year-old university student at the intersection of Flower and 38th streets and raped her.
Nichols is also suspected of kidnapping two women, one a juvenile, on Sept. 26 (See Nichols, page 2)
Raveling keynote speaker at King’s remembrance
By Oma Zadeh
Staff Writer
George Raveling, head coach of USC men's basketball team and who served as a security guard for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in his march on Washington, D.C in 1964, will be the keynote speaker at the university's eleventh-an-nual celebration of King's birthday today at noon.
"I became indirectly associated with Martin Luther King because at the conclusion of his speech in Washington, I asked for his prepared copy of the speech," Raveling said.
Barbara Bramwell-Hutchin-son, chairperson of the Martin Luther King committee, said the program includes people who knew, worked for or have been inspired by King.
"In 1964, Raveling was with King at the march on Washington," Bramwell-Hutchin-
George Raveling
son said. "He was standing behind King while he was giving his speech."
Kay Allen, associate director of Fisher Gallery, said Rav-eling was chosen as the keynote speaker for reasons other than his involvement with King in Washington and his possession of the original hand-written copy of King's speech.
"Raveling is an inspiration-
al figure on campus, and his aspirations are never ending," Allen said.
Raveling said his speech will elaborate on King's fundamental message of having a dream and turning that dream into a reality.
"Growth is born out of dreams," Raveling said. "King's messages are centered around self-reliance which will touch a common core with the audience."
Alvin Rudisill, university chaplain who will be giving an invocation before Ravel-ing's speech, has been supportive of the program since its birth 11 years ago, Bram-well-Hutchinson said.
"The Martin Luther King birthday celebration started informally and unofficially and has since become a part of the campus culture," Rudisill said.
(See March, page 5)
No profit in War
By J. Martin McOmber
Staff Writer
It was a war of computer chips and laser beams.
Everyday during the Gulf War, television news showed pictures of Patriot missiles streaking over Saudi Arabia, Stealth fighters delivering their "smart bombs" in Iraqi territory and American soldiers donning night-vision glasses and advancing into Kuwait atop space-age tanks.
The war was a proving ground for a parade of high-technology weapon systems developed in the last two decades. By most accounts, the success of the new weapons ended a long-running debate about their effectiveness and reliablitity in warfare.
Uihji*
The new weapons of the Gulf War represented years of intense research and development by armies of engineers.
The high profile of this advanced technology might have provided a buost to the engineering program at the university, attracting both students and research money. But one year (See War, page 2)
War to be commemorated throughout Southland / 2
Vandalism charges dropped
Student Conduct weighs possible disciplinary action
By Ray Delgado
Staff Writer
Criminal charges have been dropped against six university students arrested for vandalizing the UCLA campus, but the paint isn't dry yet — the Office of Student Conduct may still take disciplinary action against them.
The students, who include three resident advisors and a student senator, reached a settlement with UCLA officials, agreeing to repay approximately $3,000 in repair costs. Additionally, three of the students agreed to write letters of apology to the Daily Bruin and the Daily Trojan, and have already apologized to the vice chancellor at UCLA.
But while the dispute between the students and UCLA has been settled, the possible actions that Student Conduct could take remain a mystery.
"Last I heard, (Student Conduct) was going to put us through the system," said Michael Beatrice,
a resident advisor at Parkside Apartments. "They haven't said they wouldn't yet."
Valerie Paton, assistant dean of Student Affairs, would not comment on possible disciplinary action, citing student privacy rights.
She did say that the Trojan Squires will face a hearing later this month about possible involvement in the vandalism. Five of the six students arrested for vandalism are members of the service organization.
Student senator Joaquin Madrigal is confident that the university won't take disciplinary action and refuses to acknowledge his role in the event.
"I was arrested and when I went to court (the case) was dismissed, so as far as I'm concerned, it is over," he said. "So far as lessons and punishments go, I don't feel that they are warranted anymore.
"I never admitted guilt," he said. "It's not a concern anymore for me to admit anything."
The alleged vandals were arrested in the early morning November 15 after a UCLA employee re-
(See UCLA, page 3)
Pumpin’ iron
Paul Howard Daily Trojan
Vic Berwin and Scott Dodd, second year !aw students, are among many who use the Lyon Center. See story page 3.