Thursday December 8,1994 Vol. CXXIII, No. 66
Sunny: 66°
Expect a cool and sunny afternoon. The high should reach the mid-60s. The overnight low will chill to the upper 40s,
Headlines
Student actor battles odds
Being a working actor is tough. Being disabled is tougher. But theatre major Scott Cheek proves that being a disabled actor is a challenge that he can live up to.
Diversions, page 7
Tall tales from USC’s 7-footers
Being 7-feet tall tends to set people apart. David Crouse and Kirk Homenick know this well as they get asked the most dubious of questions, like, "Do you guys play basketball?"
Sports, page 16
Dope is not just for dopes
Steve Yawitz believes the continued condemnation of marijuana may be a government ploy to legislate morality along the lines of Newt Gingricn-style family values.
Viewpoint, page 4
SCquoth
“(Pete) Wilson is afraid of medicinal marijuana as well as regular marijuana.”
NORML activist Jim Roscnfteld Viewpoint, Page 4
Newspaper of the University of Southern California
Santa’s little helpers
Courtciy of Sigma Alpha Epallon Fratarnlty
Sigma Alpha Epsilon In conjunction with the Los Angeles Fire Department are holding a drive to collect toys for needy children In the surrounding community. Toys will be collected at the SAE house until Dec. 11.
USC requests summary judgment in Stanley case
Ex-basketball coach suing university for sexual discrimination
By David Lipin
Staff Writer
The university will be requesting a summary judgment in the case of Marianne Stanley vs. USC during a pre-trial hearing scheduled for Monday, Dec. 12.
Stanley, the former USC women's basketball coach, filed her $8 million sex discrimination lawsuit against the university and Athletic Director Mike Garrett on Aug. 5, 1993, after failed contract negotiations. Her four-year employment contract was terminated in June.
If the judge grants summary judgment, it would mean the university would prevail, eliminating the need for a trial, which is presently scheduled to begin in U.S. District Court on Jan.24, 1995, said Bob Lane of University Legal Counsel.
Lane said the motion was filed because no new facts supporting Stanley's claims have been introduced since the preliminary injunction was filed in the case.
Flla photo
Marianne Stanley
In addition to the financial damages, Stanley, who is presently employed by Stanford University, is requesting a reinstatement to her previous position.
In her lawsuit, she alleges that the university discriminated against her by paying her (See Stanley, page 2)
County-USC refutes charge of lax conduct
By Jennifer Erdmann
Staff Writer
County-USC Medical Center refuted a recent LA Weekly article that claimed the hospital suffered from a high rate of tuberculosis among hospital workers and lax TB procedures at the hospital.
The article said that County-USC workers are getting TB at "startling” rates. It also accused the hospital of acting too slowly in dealing with the problem even after numerous citations and reported that the hospital had inadequate facilities for dealing with TB patients.
"County-USC does have TB policy in place and does have TB standards," said County-USC spokesperson Harvey Kern.
There has been no rise in TB among hospital workers, Kern said, adding that the article made untrue claims about the extent of the disease and about hospital policy.
"The article uses false statistics and makes false accusations," Kern said. "The county even cites cases that did not happen at USC."
According to the Weekly, unsafe tuberculosis procedures are a problem at many California hospitals. The article cited a letter written by nurses at Harbor-UCLA saying that they did not believe they had enough protection from TB, and gave the rate of TB infections among employees at San Francisco General.
The article also claimed there were numerous nurses and doctors who said USC-County standards were not up to par.
However, Kern said, "One of these people isn't even a USC employee."
The Weekly stated that workers were contracting TB from patients and questioned the effectiveness of the hospital to protect its employees from the disease.
"We do have a patient population with TB, but we take all necessary steps," Kern said. "Same as all other hospitals."
USC-County had five employees, out of 500, that tested positive for TB exposure since January, Kern said. This number represents exposure rate to TB; it does not mean these people have the disease.
According to the Weekly, 22 workers tested positive for TB since January.
"These statistics are completely incorrect," Kern said. "Not one of the cases can be attributed to an inside source."
The article included citations from the California Occupational Safety and Health Administration to the hospital regarding inadequate isolation of suspected TB patients, insufficient employee testing and deficient training of emergency room staff.
Cal-OSHA said they nave no specific citations for TB, but said the hospital might (See Hospital, page 3)
Faulty lamination plagues USCard holders
Office offers to replace deteriorating cards, promises future improvements
By Eric Yahnker
Staff Writer
Faulty lamination processes have been blamed for the premature destruction of many new USCards, but the office is allowing some customers the option of replacement at no charge.
Tim Kerne, manager of USCard Services, said from about mid-August to mid-September of this year, the USCards were not laminated at a hot
enough temperature, causing them to fall apart prematurely.
Although USCard Services does not advertise it, faculty, staff, and students are eligible for a replacement card at no charge if the card was made during that period and is frayed or tattered, or the magnetic strip is inoperable. Kerne said.
He expressed disappointment about the cards' short longevity.
"We had a problem, but I do not want to place the blame on
any particular staff member," Kerne said. "I take full responsibility."
Bob Glembine, an undeclared sophomore, said he noticed that USCards from previous years were still in good condition while his has been relaminated four times, going on five.
"The cards are made really crappy," Glembine said. "I even keep it in my wallet, and it still falls apart."
Kemc said USCard Services
has been working to remedy the problem.
"Up to this point, (USCard) customer service estimates that they have replaced an average of 50 cards a week, beginning in mid- to late September,'' he said.
All other cases of damaged cards will be considered by the USCard staff, but holders will most likely have to pay a $5 replacement fee, Kemc said.
(See USCard, page 3)