USC, UCLA protests ask for recognition
By Jason S. Grant
Staff Writer
Following the protest rally over a proposed Chicano studies department on the UCLA campus last week, many questions remain not only for UCLA but for USC as well.
During the event last Tuesday, between 83 and 89 students were arrested on felony vandalism charges resulting from damage to the campus faculty center. Students were protesting the school administration's refusal to create a department of Chicano studies.
UCLA currently has an interdepartmental program in Chicano studies, but USC has not yet officially created any specific program on the subject.
In an era where multiethnic education is becoming increasingly important, students at USC and other universities now desire courses of study that will teach them about
their own heritage as well as those of other cultures.
In late February, members of USC's ME-ChA — Movimento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan — protested at Bovard Auditorium, calling for a Chicano studies program. Among their demands were the implementation of 10 Chicano studies courses between the fall 1993 and spring 1994 semesters and
News Analysis
the creation of a Chicano studies minor by the fall 1993 term. Despite the university's creation of a new Center for Multiethnic and Transnational Studies and the new general education requirement in diversity, no definite course of study in Chicano issues has been established at the university.
“Here at USC, President Sample does not want to hear of (a program). The only person willing to hear us was Dr. Biller of undergraduate affairs," said Jaime Rojas, a sophomore majoring in business and a ME-
ChA coordinator at USC.
The demands MEChA has made here at USC parallel those of the Chicano students at UCLA.
"In the (Daily) Bruin, Chancellor (Charles) Young was quoted as saying that the Chicano studies program was not traditional in an academic sense," said Jim Gatewood, a UCLA junior majoring in East Asian studies with an emphasis in Asian-American Studies.
Rojas also agreed that the USC administration has not been very forthright with the student movement for a Chicano studies program here at USC.
"USC is very conservative and unfortunately there is still some of that old racism lingering," Rojas said.
"(The university) is not as up front as it was 20 or 30 years ago, but they use their view of education as a way to hide their racism," he said.
Many students feel that their respective heritages and cultures are being ignored or even demeaned without official programs (See Chicano, page 2)
Branagh film lives up to all the ‘Ado’
Kenneth Branagh's screen adaptation of Shakespeare's "Much Ado about Nothing" is a lighthearted and lusty romp through the hills of northern Italy. Also stars Denzel Washington.
Diversions, page 5
Trojans advance to NCAA finals
For the second time in three years, the USC men's tennis team reached the NCAA Tournament finals. The No. 1 Trojans, face No. 3 Gerogia in the championship match.
Sports, page 12
The high school memories live on
Why do friendships always seem to die out, fading with the high school letter sweaters, as we enter college? Those special high school relationships should stay with you forever.
Viewpoint, page 4
F.Y.I.
RFK tribute at USC conference
A conference in tribute to the late Senator Robert F. Kennedy will be held at USC on May 22, marking the 25th anniversary of his death.
The conference, partially sponsored by USC, will focus on how the Kennedy legacy can be applied to the current urban crisis in L.A. Keynote speaker Eli Segal, assistant to President Bill Clinton and the director of the Office of National Service, will speak at 9 a.m. at Hancock Auditorium.
Conference panelist include Sens. Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein,
Reps. Maxine Waters and Lucille Roybal-Allard, State Treasurer Kathleen Brown, L.A. City Council members Michael Woo and Mark Ridley-Thomas, County Supervisor Gloria Molina, Assemblywoman Maurguerite Archie-Hudson, Mayor Tom Bradley and County Supervisor Yvonne Brathwaite Burke.
To register, call Les Guthman at (213) 465-8110 ext. 310. The registration fee is $35.
FAST
Forward
Wednesday May 19, 1993 Vol. CXX, No. 2
Vice president of undergraduate affairs to resign
Chicano studies debate hits home
Construction on library detours orientation plans
By Samantha Kerdman
Staff Writer
Although construction for the new Thomas and Dorothy Leavey Library is progressing on schedule, the thousands of new Trojans coming to campus this summer for orientation might be a bit dismayed over the new addition to campus.
Irene Kendall, assistant director of Orientation Programs, said that because the students are usually housed in Bimkrant Residence Hall during the two-day program, there may be complaints from the students and their parents concerning the noise level of the construction of the teaching library and the hours during which it will take place.
The orientation staff has been examining alternative sites for the orientation check-in and other activities.
"The front of College-University and
(See Library, page 3) The Thomas and Dorothy Leavey Library under construction near Birnkrant Residence Hall.
Roy Nwaiuar / Summer Trojan
Robert Biller will resign as vice president of undergraduate affairs and return as a full-time public administration professor next year.
By Tracie Tso
Co-Editor
Robert Biller announced Tuesday he will resign from his position as the vice president of undergraduate affairs, leaving the university leadership without his guidance in matters of undergraduate admissions, financial aid and retention.
Biller said earlier this week he will be leaving his post to return to the classroom as a full-time professor in the School of Public Administration after spending a year on sabbatical.
"It is clear that it is a new time for the university," Biller said. "We have a new leadership forming and I think I can best
serve the university by returning to my base profession, being a professor of public administration."
Biller said he is looking forward to returning to the classroom.
"There really is nothing as electrifying as teaching and scholarship, which the university makes possible. Some find it terrifying — I find it deeply satisfying," he said.
Biller had initially planned to leave the administration last summer, resigning as vice president of external affairs to return to teaching. In August 1992, former Provost Cornelius Pings (See Biller, page 3)