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The film classic "Hunchback of Notre Dame" was filmed in the tower of Mudd Hall of Philosophy during Ihe I930«,
About time: The USC men’8 basketball team snapped a 10-game losing streak and defeated UC1A 91-79, ut the Sports Arena.
Homeless and hopeless: The glitter of l-os Angeles draws many to a city lhat can't feed them.	4
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NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Jenuery 1), 2000 Vol. CXXXIX, No. 3
Senate betters relationship with students
Government: Outside office hours one of many goals organization has met; looking to fulfill all soon
By MEREDITH COOPER
Student Semite Writer
When the current Student Senate took office last April, it brought with it a list of goals and promises. Thus far, Senate has fulfilled many of its goals and some are still in progress, but the most important accomplishment has been improving the organization's relationship with the student body, many Senate members said.
"The biggest thing I think we've done so fur is restore the confidence of the student body in it's government," said Adam Levine, Senate chief of stnff and a senior mujoring in creative writing und biomedical engineering. "We’ve put u huge effort into finding out what they think und whut they want."
Senate's accomplishments to this point were outlined in its Mid-Year Report, which was issued in mid-December to about 100 administrators, 75 members of the Student Senate Alumni Association and some trustees of the university. The booklet wus paid for entirely by a donation from Pertusati University Bookstore and not from student funds, Levine said.
Among Tyler Kelley und Cat Goddard’s promises when they ran for Sennte president and vice president, respectively, last April was increusing student-body outreach through programs such us holding office hours by Tommy Trojan and attending meetings of every student organizution.
Senate has followed through with its outreach goal, which has proven to be one of the accomplishments of which Senate members are most proud. Their outside office hours are held Wednesdays between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. in Huhn Plaza.
“Right now, we’re getting 20 or more students to come to our booth every week, and that's huge," said Kelley, Senate president and a senior majoring in political science and international relations.
The outside office hours are a part of Senate’s Student Voice program, which ulso includes a web site, Trojan opinion polls to be administered in February and questions on teacher evaluation forms.
“The Student Voice web page has given us productive feedback,” Kelly said. “We’ve had about 300 hits on just one issue, and even though there are ubout 15,000 students on this campus, we’re getting feedback
I see Senete, page 12 I
Derailed1 ^kateboarders can n°
longer use corner area
Deterrent: (Skatestoppersf at popular off-campus locale force relocation to Exposition Park
By CLAIRE LUNA
Editor in Chief
Pleasing many students and staff und sending skuteboarders elsewhere, the university has installed plastic fastening devices at Hoover Street and Jefferson Boulevard to discourage skaters from using the area for doing tricks such as “riding the rail."
Using fastening devices a San Diego police officer designed called “skatestoppers,” placed about 18 inches apart on the planters, Department of Public Safety and Facilities and Maintenance officials have forced the skateboarders to relocate, most of them to Exposition Park, said DPS Deputy Chief Bob Taylor.
The plastic bands are about one and a half inches
wide and two inches long and were installed at an undisclosed cost during the week preceding New Year’s Day.
Following complaints of harassment and injury from those who use the walkway that connects the campus with the Row and other housing, DPS worked with Facilities and Maintenance to find ways to deter skateboarders from using the area.
“We were concerned about the safety of students, staff and faculty who use that walkway," Taylor said.”We expect that there will probably be some expression of gratitude from a lot of people because they won’t have to run the guuntlet anymore."
Though signs were installed with the cooperation of the City of Los Angeles last semester advising people that skating was prohibited in the area, skateboarders continued to use the curbs and planters for tricks and vandalized the signs, Taylor said. The location is so popular that it has been advertised in skateboarding publications as well as on web sites as a good place to learn tricks.
Before relocating, some skaters attempted to find
I see Skete, page 14 I
“...(People) won't have to run the gauntlet anymore."
Bob Taylor
deputy chief DPS
Borrowers should prepare now to avoid future loan default
Money: Internet sites, programs exist to aid the 65 percent who get financial aid at USC
By KIMBERLY TABA
Assignment Editor
Seniors looking forward to May graduation and freshmen, sophomores and juniors trying to get through the semester have another thing to worry about — loans.
Upon graduation, most students enter the real world of financial independence. But with a regular job and salary comes monthly expenses, including the start of loan payments.
“While students know that they have tuition, rent, food and other expenses now, their parents often help to pay," said Guy Hunter, senior associate director of financial aid. “But what they don’t realize is that when you get a job, rent is on you, utilities are on you...cleaning bills (for suits)...It’s hard for students to realize these are things they have to factor in.”
Sixty-five percent of USC students receive financial aid, which includes grants that do not need to be repaid and loans which are paid back after graduation. Before receiving any financial aid package, freshmen must go to entrance counseling with USC lenders which educates them on paying loans.
“Students think, ‘I need to get this degree, whatever it takes,’ so when they are offered money they take it without thinking,” Hunter said.
But Hunter warns students not to take the full amount offered them unless they actually need it. Each year, before school starts and students receive financial aid packages, they should set a budget and based on that, apply the financial aid and see if there is too little, just enough or too much, Hunter said.
“Usually what we offer is what they take, but usually what we offer them (is too much),” he said.
“(The financial aid office tries) to limit the amount of loans in student packages so they are not burdened when they come out (by giving more grant money),” Hunter said. “I think we do a fairly good job.”
A good sign at the entrance counseling meetings is that students are asking intelligent questions, Hunter said. Another positive sign is that the loan default rate is 5 percent, which is lower
than in recent years.
“It doesn’t mean that they aren’t in trouble,” Hunter said. “Just that students that graduated here are pretty responsible.”
The financial aid office is currently working with Chase Manhattan on a default prevention program to try to determine the reasons students default so they can help the students before they run into trouble.
Some students are not concerned about having trouble paying off loans.
“I’m confident that I’ll be working one way or another,” said Cary Farnsworth, an junior majoring in music vocal performance. “(USC) has a pretty good support network if you do get into trouble...But the school does as much as they can to prevent that.” Others are more worried.
I see Money, page 12 I
A column appearing every Thursday that examines student finance
Malt Giedllnskl I Daily Tro/.in
Serenity sens skaters. Devices on the planters at Hoover Street and Jefferson Boulevard have successfully deterred skateboarders.
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