Newspaper of the University of Southern California
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Former USC student runs for Congress
By Eric Yahnker
Staff Writer
Peter Mathews, former USC doctoral candidate, is running for U.S. Congress for the 38tn District on theDemocratic ballot.
Mathews plans to make history with a vision of a society based on ethics, spiritual principles, justice and opportunity.
Mathews was a doctoral candidate at USC in the political sci-
ence department six years ago. Mathews left his Ph.D. program to run for the State Assembly in 1990.
He has been an associate professor of American Government and International Relations at Cypress College for the past nine years.
"The focus of my campaign is to tap the idealism of the American youth and inspire them to make a difference in this political system," Mathews said. "If we don't tap the idealism of youth, we can't rebuild our country."
Mathews is the only Indian-American to win a major party's
nomination in the past 34 years.
"It is very exciting to be a role-model to not only the Indian-American youth, but to all American youth,” Mathews said.
Mathews' campaign has gained support from several groups, which have raised about $250,000. Mathews believes this endorsement sum leads all Democratic challengers in California.
"What drives this campaign is hope and optimism of the heart," Mathews said. "Half the battle is knowing you can make history, the rest is actually pulling through."
Mathews' stance on crime issues has earned him an endorsement from the Peace Officers' Research Association of California, an organization representing 39,000 police officers, deputy sheriffs and public safety officers.
"I support the crime bill 100 percent," Mathews said. "We should have more police on the streets, but we also need community-based police who know the children and the families in the area, and are an integral part of the community."
Mathews also supports funding for after-school programs (See Mathews, page 3)
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people of Bosnia-Herzegovina have become martyrs for the promise of peace in the 21st century.
-Marc Salvatierra iewpoint, Page 4
Charging for the goal
Regina Tao / Dally Trojan
Shawn Walters was named Sports Illustrated's Offensive Player of the Week for his game against Baylor. See story on page 16.
Thursday
September 29,1994 Vol. CXXIII, No. 20
Sunny: 84°
It's going to be cooler and a bit cloudier than yesterday. The high will be in the 80s, and the low will be in the 60s.
Senate strives to avert election woes
Amendment to clarify role of Judical Council passes, 12-3
By Laura Lanchester
Staff Writer
Student Senate, in an attempt to avoid last year's election woes, held its weekly meeting with a new proposal and a few apprehensions.
Senator Kari Cutler/Chisholm introduced an amendment coauthored by himself and Senator Mario Del Pero concerning the Judicial Council's purpose and powers.
"The special election is coming up," Cutler/Chisholm said. "History tells us that there are always complaints at every election. Let's clarify the rules before the election begins."
The amendment redefined the JC's original and final jurisdiction over constitutional matters. In the cases of the removal of executive officers and senators and the decisions of the elections committee, however, the final appeal is heard by the senate.
A 15-minute debate on the amendment ensued. After last
year's controversial election, some senators were still wary of the JC's role.
Senators expressed concerns that the amendment limited the power of the JC and gave the legislative body too much judicial power. The power has always existed, however, and the amendment merely set a specific 2/3 vote of the senate to overturn a JC decision.
The amendment passed, 12-3, in a vote by secret ballot.
"It was good to see that the senate was able to debate \n a professional, courteous manner that resulted in a well-supported consensus," Cutler/Chisnolm said.
Senate President Jimmy Move changed gears by presenting the first Student and Faculty Monthly Awards to Dr. Vernon Broussard, associate professor of education, and Jason Lupei, a senior majoring in broadcast journalism ana visual anthropology.
"It's the responsibility of the senate to ensure people who give outstanding service are recognized," Moye said. "I am pleased to say these were two excellent choices. We'll keep this up for the rest of the year."
Broussard has been with USC since 1977, and was Associate (See Senate, page 3)
Student loans are not without risk
Try to laugh aloud during lunch
The witty improvisational group Commedus Interruptus makes audiences laugh out loud every Friday with lunch time performances in the park in front of Doheny Library.
Diversions, page 10
Pollack far from an ordinary putter
Though an excellent golfer, Kris Pollack has distinguished himself at USC more for his talents on the offensive line, finding comfort at left guard that he had been missing.
Sports, page 20
Haiti resolve must not change
By Catherine Mitchell
Staff Writer
Some USC students need a lot of financial assistance to pay their tuition, but they also pose a risk for the financial institutions that lend money.
"Our students borrow a lot, but pay it back," said Cathy Thomas, associate dean of admissions and financial aid.
The default rate on loans for USC students is about 3.7 percent, in comparison to other universities, which have as high as a 25 percent default rate, Thomas said.
About 60 percent of USC students receive $150 million in aid annually through loans, scholarships, grants and work-study, Thomas said.
"Probably all (financial aid recipients) are receiving federal loans," she said.
While most students repay their loans, Thomas said, there are two categories of students who do not pay back loans.
There are those who decide they don't feel like paying them back and others who lose contact with the financial institution, she said.
When a student has a financial problem, first he should call the lender responsible for his loan and find out what options, such as a forbearance, exist, Thomas said.
A forbearance allows a borrower to refrain from paying on a loan for a certain period of time.
By communicating with his lender, a student can avoid problems and take advantage of other opportunities offered by the lending institution.
Some students go to graduate school not knowing they can defer their loans until they finish their schooling, she said
"Financial aid administrators are trying to look at ways to make it easier to report to lenders about school status so that students don't go into technical default," Thomas said.
Other changes made in financial aid disbursal, such as the mandatory entrance and exit interviews, have made a difference, (See Loans, page 13)
From holding human rights abusers accountable to making sure Gen. Raoul Cedras steps down, the U.S. must not waffle on its initial stance with Haiti. Failure to do so could lead to another Somalia-style debacle.
Viewpoint, page 5