No. 2 Huskies hold off USC
Sports, page 16
PC is empathy, not oppression
Viewpoint, page 4
‘Strictly’ is bad business
Life / Arts, page 7
or
JL_J
trojan
Volume CXVI, Number 48
University of Southern California
Monday, November 11, 1991
Parking Center late again
The morning begins once again, here in The City
By Paul Malcolm
Staff Writer
There are no names in this story, no quotes from individuals or even a simple focus. Because this story isn' about a specific person or a specific event.
It's about a city.
Early in the morning, ominous slates of gray sheet metal and bars that secure the wholesale and retail shops of downtown Los Angeles are rolled up as thousands of bargain hunters flock to the city blocks around 11th and Los Angeles streets.
Though most people who come are primarily concerned with striking the perfect deal on items from steam irons to high-fashion clothing, the result of their gathering is an intoxicating mixture of smells, sights and sounds.
In this section of downtown on any day of the week, the music of the city from the heavy beat of rap and hip hop, to the spice and flavor of the ma-riachi band and the mysterious sounds of Persian flutes and symbols can be heard.
The smell of hot dogs wrapped in bacon cooking alongside onions and green peppers blend with the scents of French and Italian cooking.
From a mesh of foreign words and languages come snippets of the recognizable and flashes of the exotic.
"We'll get the leather jackets later," a man says to his friend. "Let's work a week, make some money and come back."
Barkers boom out sales pitches that flow between languages with ease.
"T-shirts, t-shirts, two for five dollars . . . Camisas! Camisas! Borracho, borracho," one yells, his shoulders and arms covered with examples of what's inside.
Some have said this is a sign of the new Babel, the Los Angeles of Ridley Scott's "Blade Runner," a city doomed > to destruct.
Though it may seem to be chaos and disorder, people meet, deals are made and life goes on.
WEATHER
TODAY:
Mostly sunny, 71/85
TOMORROW:
Mostly sunny, 58/71
By Kay Delgado
Staff Writer
The opening of the newly constructed University Parking Center, located near Jefferson Boulevard and Hope Street across the Harbor Freeway from the campus, has been delayed for the third time this year.
The center, slated to open Nov. 1, is awaiting final inspection and approval from the city of Los Angeles Building Department before it can be opened, said Carl Levredge, director of parking management.
The $24.5-million center was scheduled to open on three previous dates, but has been halted by numerous inspections that have uncovered problems.
The latest inspection revealed that several of the structure's sprinkler heads were covered with paint, Levredge said.
The facility could open any time between now and late January, he said.
"It's like building a house," Levredge said Thursday. "You can't move in until you get the keys. Facilities Management is handling it. The inspector will be back (See Parking, page 2)
Victor Li / Daily Trojan
Construction worker Jeff Merrick works to finish the May Co. Parking Structure.
Grant Fenmore / Daily Trojan
Construction delays have been plaguing the still-empty May Co. parking structure.
Magic called a great boost in HIV awareness
By Julie Yamamoto
Staff Writer
Magic Johnson, who announced Thursday that he tested positive for the HIV virus, may prove to be the most valuable player in health education by increasing campus awareness and demand for HIV testing, said Paula Swinford, director of the university's health education program.
"In a matter of seconds he did more for health education than I think I did in a year," Swinford said. "He's already made a big step by distinguishing between being HIV-anti-body positive and having AIDS. They're not the same thing."
Following Johnson's announcement, requests have doubled for anonymous HIV testing, which costs $20 at the university's Health Center, said Ann Hickey, a university health educator.
"Already our demand has completely gone through the roof," Hickey said. "We're in a crisis-management situation. (The interest) is short term; it may even last through the end of (this) week. It will probably go back down again within two weeks, but that's still seven to 10 requests a day for testing."
The Health Center currently maintains seven volunteer counselors to meet this testing load, Hickey said. A new contingent of counselors will be chosen in January.
Johnson's announcement has spurred student interest in health-education resources that have been available on a consistent basis. But Hickey said this is a mixed blessing.
"It's a high price to pay for someone like Magic Johnson to be HIV-positive, and now all of a sudden it's a big issue,"
(See Magic, page 6)
Card stunts fold up for Saturday
Low attendance the cause
By Nicole Simonsen
Staff Writer
The planned reintroduction of card stunts was cancelled Saturday due to low student attendance at the football game against the University of Washington.
The stunts were cancelled six minutes before halftime, said Chris McElduff, card stunts chairman for the Trojan Knights service organization.
"There just weren't enough students to do the stunts," said McElduff, who added that the stunts may be performed at the UCLA game. "We made the decision based on that."
Joe Stapley, a university yell leader, was surprised at the low student attendance.
"This was the lowest number of students in the student
(See Stunts, page 6)