at the University Club of California
0, which will go toward the group’s scholarship ct Deborah at (818)
fund, will be accepted. For information, contact 882-2520 or Diane at (310) 822-4639.
HEADLINES
Plucky Ducks. The USC football team faces an Oregon squad coming off a near-upset of UCLA Saturday in Eugene, Ore.	^.12
Equal righto. No matter how bigoted the view, everyone deserves freedom of speech, Viewpoint Writer Scott Bridges says.	A
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FORECAST
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NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
October 21, ltM Vol. CXXXV, No. M
Next international food fair may be last one
Organizations: Health code rules and lack of funding threatens long-running event
By CHRYSTA WILSON
Staff Writer
The International Food Fair next Wednesday may be the last after more than 20 years of existence because of highly enforced health codes and a lack of Program Board funding, International Student Assembly members said.
ISA hosts the fair as a fund-raiser and members say it has been an event
held every semester without any major concerns.
“(But) a year ago, we ran into problems, * said Billy Chen, executive director of ISA and a graduate student in real estate management.
Last spring’s event was almost shut down prior to opening because of a surprise visit from the Los Angeles County health inspector, Chen said. Hie health department reported that the fair was in major violation of health codes, and that without reforming the event, it would have to be shut down. The violations ISA was cited for were not available.
*We were able to work with them so that we could still put on (the event),* Chen said. He said that the fair held last spring was the first that met all health department requirements, such as sell-
ing food underneath a tent.
However, as soon as ISA got over one obstacle, another took its place. This semester, beyond continuing health concerns, the group is facing financial concerns.
Chen said that ISA was told it will no longer receive money from Program Board because the food fair is a fundraising activity. Program Board representatives said that an organization that raises funds cannot receive funding, though ISA has received funds in the past.
Chen said that Program Board told ISA that it will be given funding for this semester’s fair, but will have to fund its own fair next semester.
“Quite frankly, I don’t see us being able to raise the money,” Chen said.
Money is a problem because health codes must be upheld, meaning that more money has to be spent for tents, equipment and sanitation materials, he sail
In past years, ISA spent around $2,000 to put on the food fair, but that total has now doubled due to added costs.
“If we cannot fund-raise on our own, the food fair will have to be canceled," he said.
In order to obtain the financial support, ISA is seeking help from the university and from outside sources.
“We are working hard to get both sponsors and donations,” Chen said.
To help with concerns, ISA has teamed up with the Asian American Student Assembly to help financial
(see Fair, page 2)
“Quite frankly, 1 don’t see us being able to raise the money”
Billy Chen
executive
director
International
Student
Assembly
Figueroa falls
MicttMl Uvtrw I Daily Trojan
It's a gusher. Los Angeles City firefighters attempt to shut off water Thursday after a motorist struck a fire hydrant at the northwest comer of Figueroa Street and Jefferson Boulevard. No one was injured after the 8 a.m. accident.
Students plan day to make a difference
Charity: Participating in national event, campus volunteers help children
By NATALIE DO
Staff Writer
Painted pumpkins, Halloween candy and arts and crafts will fill the Shriners Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles Saturday as USC student volunteers entertain about 60 orthopedic and burn care patients for National Make A Difference Day.
USC organizations including Golden
Key National Honor Society, Mortar Board and Blue Key National Honor Fraternity will be participating in this national community service day to make a difference. USC students will be among the more than 1 million Americans expected to be making a difference Saturday.
Make a Difference Day is devoted to helping others and strengthening relationships in communities. It was founded by USA Weekend magazine and the event has been held on the fourth Saturday of every October for the last seven years. '
“Make A Difference Day is a great way for USC organizations to show that they care about the community,” said Irene Park, director of the Academic
Honors Assembly and a senior majoring in English.
To help USC make Saturday a memorable event, Ralphs supermarket donated pumpkins for the children to paint and Kodak donated disposable cameras.
Although the Volunteer Center does not have a formal project, volunteers from the center are still participating by helping other organizations.
"We decided to filter the volunteers into other projects so that more organizations could be helped with their projects,” said Michelle Blanchette, the volunteer center coordinator and a graduate student in public art studies.
(see Difference, page 2)
Suicides on U.S. colleges almost triple
Report USC’s rate average in national report of third-leading cause of death for young people
By KIMBERLEY WILLIAMS
Staff Writer
Carl Grimm, a student from Grinnell College in Iowa, poisoned himself in his dorm room by swallowing potassium cyanide. Toxic fumes from Grimm’s vomit was so strong that nine people, including four paramedics, needed to be treated.
Suicide among adolescents and young adults have almost tripled in the last 40 years. It is the third leading cause of death for young people 15 to 24 years old, behind unintentional injury and homicide, according to The National Center for Injury Prevention and Control.
USC is no exception. There have already been three suicides reported so fer this year including the death of Jennifer Ong, a 21-year-old USC student, who jumped from the 15th floor of Webb Tower in broad daylight late July. Sue weeks later, Ong’s boyfriend, a USC housing employee, was found dead in his car in Malibu with a self-inflicted gunshot wound in his mouth. And earlier this month, a USC student in the medical assistance program apparently shot herself after she got into a car accident, in what police called a domestic situation with an unidentified male.
These reports, which have generated a great deal of attention on campus, have now put USC’s suicide rate right on the median for college campuses, said Dr. Bernard King, director of the Student Counseling Center.
"The official report from the Public Heath Department states that there is one completed suicide per 10,000 people,” King said. "We have been averaging about three per year, so with about 30,000 students, our suicide rate is about average.”
USC’s suicide rate varies from year to year, according to the Department of Student Affairs, which keeps track of the university’s suicide and death rates. For all of last year, 1997-98, USC saw three university related suicides.
"Most suicides do not occur on campus,” said Dr. Cynthia Cherrey, assistant vice president of Student Affairs.
(see Suicides, page 2)