Newspaper of Ihe University of Southern California
Holiday faire
Jaaon K. HaHmann I Dally Trojan
Glenn Sawada, a junior majoring In art, buy8 a glass box at the Holiday Arts and Crafts Falre.
Webb Tower trash chute blaze adds fuel to concerns
Continuing problems with Access plague housing site
By Kim Smith
Staff Writer
With doors that won't open, ;ates that won't close and a lob-y system that has been completely deactivated, the.Cardinal Gardens complex has become a source of student complaints about the Access system.
Residents said the system has been causing periodic problems since the beginning of the semester.
The'car gates are often jammed, and the doors leading into the lobby are left ajar, while smaller outside gates often do not open at all, residents said. For many of the residents, security is a cause for concern.
"A lot of times the front door is propped open during the day. When the door is not open at night, we have to walk around the block. At that time of night, anything can happen," said Michelle Rayna, Cardinal Gardens
Wednesday December 1,1993 Vol. CXXI, No. 61
Weather
The sun will emerge from behind the morning clouds by midday, accompanied by winds from the north. Today's high will be in the 60s and the low will be in the 40s.
Inside
Old and new lead Women of Troy
Cheryl Miller returns to coach the Women of Troy. Seniors Lisa Leslie and Jualeah Woods will try to add experience to a talented, but untested, group of newcomers.
Sports, page 20
Putting a dome on the homeless
Genesis One is a project near downtown Los Angeles that aims to get the homeless back into society by housing 24 individuals and families in fully-equipped fiberglass domes.
Diversions, page 10
American foreign policy is outdated
American history has proven that the U.S. is more than happy to use its influence in other countries to spread democracy — whether it is asked to or not.
Viewpoint, page 4
Red ribbons for World AIDS Day
The Gay and Lesbian Assembly for Student Support will celebrate International World AIDS Day to increase awareness about AIDS and the HIV virus.
The entire campus is encouraged to show support for AIDS education and awareness by wearing red ribbons which will be distributed throughout the day in front of Tommy Trojan, at Student Union room 409 and at the Student Senate office.
Dr. Dan Bowers, a practicing physician specializing in HIV, will give a presentation entitled, "Everything You Wanted to Know About AIDS, But Were Afraid to Ask" at Seeley G. Mudd room 123 at 7 p.m.
For more information, call (213) 732-9322.
By Nne Ebong
Staff Writer
Sparks flew once again at Webb Tower Monday night as firefighters rushed to extinguish a fire that ignited in the trash chute, said Sgt. Craig Baxley of the Department of Public Safety.
Baxley said firefighters responded to an alarm at the apartment building shortly after 9 p.m. to find the trash bin engulfed in flames.
All students and residents were safely evacuated from the building, Baxley said.
"These fires are a continuing problem that we seem to be having on the USC campus," said Los Angeles City Fire Department Captain Steve Ruda. "Someone could eventually get
By Nik Trendowski
Staff Writer
With the arrest of transient Andres Huang for starting one of the recent fires in Southern California and the crackdown on homeless in Santa Monica, many students who encounter homeless and panhandlers on campus may feel there is a connection between homelessness and crime.
"Since homeless people may be down on their luck sometimes they may view crime as an option," said Peter Dawson, a junior majoring in biology.
Many, too, are unsure of how to respond when confronted with panhandlers.
hurt if this keeps up."
Firefighters extinguished the trash bin blaze and searched the building for other fires, Baxley said.
They then directed their efforts toward removing the smoke that filled the the eighth through the 15th floors, Ruda said.
Fire alarms were reset and the building was deemed safe for reentry by 10:20 p.m., Baxley said.
Ruda said investigators were unable to determine the cause of the fire, but they believed it to be of a suspicious nature.
There have been a total of 13 arson-related fires in university housing this semester, Baxley said.
"You want to be helpful, but you're also afraid that they're pulling a con," said Karee Vo-grin, a senior majoring in English and political science.
Whether the sight of a panhandler disgusts or tugs at the heartstrings, students might do well to rethink their responses.
In this week's issue of Time, an article entitled "Giving the Cold Shoulder" summed up the hostile responses many cities are now taking toward the homeless.
In Madison, Wisconsin, legislation has been enacted to stop "aggressive panhandling." In New York, mayor-elect Rudolph (See Homeless, page 13)
Monday night's blaze marks the fourth arson-related incident reported at Webb Tower since September.
Fire Department officials said their investigation of past arson-related fires at the university this semester has yet to turn up any solid leads, but that they plan to continue their search.
The university has already taken preventive steps toward detering arsonists by limiting access to complex laundry rooms and implementing regulations last month to clear paper from hall bulletin boards.
"Taking down the bulletin boards was in compliance with a new fire code in Los Angeles," said Carol Schmitz, assistant di-(See Fire, page 13)
resident and a sophomore majoring in business.
"It's been happening since the beginning of the semester," she said. "Two times (repairmen) have come out and said it's fixed, then a couple of days later it doesn't work."
"On some days, the car gates just stay open; anyone can come in," said Peter Dawson, a junior majoring in biology. "Having the gates open doesn't seem to be safe."
"It's not like we can't get into the building without Access, but it deters people," said Valaria Bialon, a junior majoring in exercise science.
Jeff Urdahl, director of housing and residence halls, said the car gates are not part of the Access system, but are controlled by outside companies which he could not name.
He said, however, that many of the problems with Access at campus complexes in the last several weeks are due to the work Continental Cablevision (See Gardens, page 3)
Finance director on board’s cutting edge
By Allison Vana
Staff Writer
As the watchdog of monies spent of assemblies and programs at USC, Finance Director Ronald Swain keeps a
PROGRAM PERSPECTIVE
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sharp eye on Program Board's approximate $400,000 budget.
A senior majoring in political science and linguistics, Swain is responsible for over-
seeing the amount of money spent on assemblies and programs at USC.
As finance director, Swain said that his role is to make sure that all money is spent according to Program Board policies, and to help groups lan a budget. Student Senate as an annual budget of around $700,000, of which approximately $400,000 goes to Program Board, he said.
Tne Allocations Board, of which Swain is also a member, determines which group what amounts of money.
(See Swain, page 14)
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Homeless raise Issues of con or confidence