Bronze
bomber
USC freshman Klete Keller already has an Olympic medal — and he's hardly competed as a Trojan / 20
S I N C fi 19 12
WEDNESDAY
November 1, 2000
Of interest...
While Cali might not be one of the highly-touted 'swing statesit still packs power at the polls / 4
Student newspaper of the University of Southern California
News Digest 2
Editorial 4 Classifieds 16
Crossword 17
vol. CXXXXI, no. 45
Opinions 4 Supplement S-l 'SComLx	17
Sports	20
www.usc.edu/dt
Trojan Traveler V’s rider is replaced
•	•
spirit
livens
GOP
Student candidate for 46th district hopes to revitalize younger voters and the Republican Party
By REBECCA ZAK
Contributing Writer
R
unning on a concept he calls, "rock 'n' roll republicanism," graduating senior Matt Brown hopes his youthful vitality will energize and refresh voters to turn out and cast a ballot for him in next week’s congressional election.
“The more 1 learn about the political system, the more it motivates me to run for office,’’ said Brown, a senior majoring in business administration who is the Republican nominee for the 46th district “I would love to be in charge, making those decisions to make the world a better place."
If elected, Brown, a former Christian punk rocker, would represent a district that encompasses the area north of 28th Street, downtown Los Angeles and parts of Koreatown and F.ast Los Angeles.
Brown’s motivations for running include upsetting incumbent and UCLA graduate Gill Sedillo, his desire to stick up for the little guy and the looming threat of unemployment after graduation.
“I need a job, I’m a graduating senior,” Brown said, adding that the position of assemblyman would
I see Brown, page 12 I
► A USC professor and alum also take to the campaign trail / S-3
Mascot: Horseman was replaced at Saturday’s football game; reasons for Radpour's removal are disputed
By AMANDA CARACCI
Staff Writer
In the latest development in the ongoing controversy surrounding USC’s mascot, Traveler, its rider was replaced at Saturday’s Homecoming football game, but university officials had conflicting explanations as to who made the decision.
For the first time in five years,
Traveler’s rider was not Ardeshir Radpour but Chuck O’Donnell, the son of Traveler’s owner Pat Saukko.
Michael Jackson, vice president of Student Affairs, refused to comment Tuesday on why Radpour was replaced but said that the university agreed with Saukko’s decision to pass the position of Traveler’s rider to O'Donnell.
“It was a mutual agreement
between Pat Saukko and the university,” Jackson said.
But other university officials had a different perspective on how this transition occurred.
“USC decided (to fire Radpour), Pat Saukko agreed," said Stephen Yamaguchi, university counsel.
Saukko could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
The university and Saukko signed a contract in 1999 stating that USC may use discretion in deciding who will ride the mascot, Yamaguchi said.
“The university is grateful for
his service,” Yamaguchi said. “(Radpour) has represented the university very well.”
Radpour’s sister, Arshia Radpour, agrees with Yamaguchi's sentiments but questions the university’s motives for firing her brother.
Student Affair officials told alumni and other inquisitors that Radpour was replaced due to "performance issues,” Arshia Radpour said.
A complaint was filed by an unnamed source claiming that Ardeshir made offensive gestures at
I	see Mascot, page 2 I
All dressed up
A night out. A
volunteer at the Spirits at Troy
Halloween event — an annual philanthropic activity done through URSC, building governments and other organizations — paints a child’s face at the Radisson hotel booth in Hahn Plaza Tuesday night.
It was one of many events that took place on and around campus for neighborhood children. For details on more
Halloween activities /10
Akensa Coleman I Daily Trojan
Students question Caltrans initiative
Health care remains point of contention in election
Proposition: Initiative would allow privatization of public works projects
By AOINA DIAMOND
Contributing Writer
An initiative that would allow the state to award public works projects to private sector architects and engineers has been met by skepticism from some students, who question whether the privatization of
CAMPAIGN
such projects will resolve the underlying failings of the California Department of Transportation.
Prop. 35 would require a “competitive selection process of award-
ing contracts,” allowing private businesses to compete for highway, railway and other transportation projects in California.
But students said that even if private businesses work on such projects, Caltrans, which lacks manpower. will not improve its efficiency problems.
“Privatization is not necessarily good, especially for vital city services,” said Ryan Sebastian, a senior majoring in planning and develop-
I	see Proposition, page 13 l
By SARAH JIMENEZ
Contributing Writer
With less than a week until the election, health care continues to be one of the main issues that will influence the voting decision of Americans, especially the elderly.
The status of Medicare, financial coverage of prescription drugs and childrens health insurance have been
central issues in the health care platforms of Republican nominee George I see Health, page 10 !
TODAY: Daily Trojan publishes its Election 2000 voters supplement. See Page S-l