Fast
FORWARD
Wednesday March 17,1993 Vol. CXIX, No. 43
Newspaper
the Universit
Southern California
Expect a little surprise later in the day in the form of some sprinkles. The afternoon looks like it will be nice with a high of 72 degrees and the low should chill to 58 degrees.
Inside
USC off to Vegas to battle UNLV
The USC men's basketball team got an unexpected break in their game with UNLV tonight when the Rebels' ). R. Rider was suspended by the university Tuesday night.
Sports, page 20
It’s certainly not bedtime for Gonzo
He's a man with many myths and a lot of mystery. Two authors try their best to unravel one of the most controversial writers and folk heroes of our time
—	Hunter S. Thompson.
Diversions, page 10
New feminism for working women
Today's feminist is no longer the radical of the '60s; she is the working woman and homemaker. Feminists work for equality of opportunity without resorting to bra burning.
Viewpoint, page 4
F.Y.I.
Watch for detours along 110 freeway
As the Harbor Freeway (110) construction continues, CalTrans has closed the northbound exit, as well as the 37th Street underpass to Exposition Boulevard to all pedestrian and vehicular traffic, effective March 16 through April'8. The southbound Harbor Freeway exit at Exposition Boulevard will not be affected at this time.
During this closure alternate exits are available at Martin Luther King and Adams boulevards. Drivers should be alert for any signs on the 110 freeway, southbound or northbound, indicating closure dates and possible detours.
Daurmnan
Lights, camera, action!
Jim Sabo / Dally Trojan
Camille Landau (left) looks at the world through a earners snd sees Tim Atzlnger and Zack Coffin.
New electronic fire alarms to be installed in Webb, Fluor
By lason S. Grant and John Y. Kim
Staff Writers
Following a rash of bulletin board and dryer fires at Webb Tower and Fluor Tower, the university is in the process of installing new safety devices costing roughly $165,000 as a precaution against future incidents in both buildings.
According to Mark Jones, university architect and director of planning, design and construction, the current system, an outdated "Fire Lock" 120-volt system, will remain active while a new, computerized system is being installed.
"There have been no problems with the existing system; it has performed as designed," Jones said.
"Complaints are that the existing system is outdated and
(See Towers, page 13)
URSC outlines goals for 1993-94
By Thomas Kozikowski
Staff Writer
In the wake of elections for leaders of the University Residential Student Community, incoming and outgoing leaders discussed what the organization has accomplished and what it has outlined for the future.
Building a greater sense of involvement — with the students, with the community, and among board members themselves — seemed to be the trend.
"One of the biggest things we did this year was to start up Neighborhood Watch," said Ford Gilmore, a junior majoring in Cin-
ema / Television who will move up from vice president for programming to URSC president.
"That's been very successful, and I see that continuing," he said.
URSC also "started an advocacy petition system, where students can come directly to us" about housing problems, he said.
In programming, Gilmore continued, "We've really been building on our past successes." He dted the Third Annual Semi-Formal Dance — "our best one yet" — and a series of fundraisers for Rebuild L.A.
Gilmore noted that the next fundraiser,
USC Rocks, is coming up on April 24. He described it as "a huge outdoor concert series with local bands and student bands and one headliner."
Funding, Gilmore said, is "really an embodiment of our vision statement — empowering residential students." URSC gives funds to both residential assistants and student groups and, in the past year, it has supported such activities as Diversity Month at Cardinal Gardens, Evening of Soul, and Songfest.
(See URSC, page 6)
Aid applications, eligibility increase
By I
Staff l
ohn Y. Kim
Writer
The Financial Aid Office expects at least 30 percent more aid applications this year, due to requirement changes brought about by the national Higher Education Reauthorization Act.
"We project a 20-percent increase in students who were not eligible before HERA and an overall 30-percent increase of students qualified for federal loans," Thomas said.
HERA, which was signed in the summer of 1992 by former President George Bush, raises the ceiling on federal student loans and lowers the need requirement to make a larger proportion of middle-class students eligible.
"Students are currently applying (for aid) for next fall, and we expect an increase in the number of students who apply," said Catherine Thomas, director of financial aid. "We think there are more students who will take advantage of the federal Parent
Loans for Students and Stafford Loans in ways they haven't before."
The federal changes, though, are expected to have little or no direct effect on the university budget; because the bill affects only federally funded loans, guidelines set by the university will be unchanged.
"We do not expect it to affect tuition, nor the overall university budget," Thomas said. "However, there may be a marginal increase in the number of students who will now be able to remain here (at USC)."
The HERA requirements, which came into effect Feb. 15, have prompted the USC financial aid office to prepare for a larger number of applications this year.
"We are handling more applications now than we ever had in the past four years," Thomas said. "This is only affecting the loan programs, while the federal student grant programs are (See Loans, page 3)
Whatever floats your boat...
Society of Civil Engineers unveils concrete canoe for upcoming race
By Marissa Sifuentes
Staff Writer
In the early 1800s, Lewis and Clark explored the Mississippi in wooden canoes they built from trees along the river.
Now, nearly 200 years later, students from the USC chapter of the Society of Civil Engineers are gathering materials from the urban jungle and building their own canoe — out of concrete.
"They're having a lot of fun doing it," said faculty advisor Henry Koffman. "And it's an example of just what.engineering can provide."
The concrete canoe will be raced on March 26 and 27 against 19 other Southern California schools and some colleges from Arizona. The competition will be held at
California State University, Northridge.
The USC students have been working on their weighty watercraft for about four months. After establishing a design, they ran structural calculations on a computer and finally built a two-person canoe which weighs 210 pounds and measures 14 feet long.
Koffman said the canoe project required a large amount of expertise in engineering, as the students had to work through a great deal of engineering equations.
Actual production of the canoe has taken place in the basement of Kaprielian Hall. And, thankfully, the crew made sure they had a way to move the concrete draft out of (See Canoe, page 12)