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NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
April 14, 1M9
Vol. CXXXVI, No. M
Christopher to speak at commencement
Graduation: Choice of former U.S. Secretary of State, alumnus does not excite most seniors
By JEANNE KLEIN
SUff Writer
Warren M. Christopher, former U.S. Secretary of State, will deliver the commencement address at this year’s graduation ceremony on May 14.
Christopher, who served as the 63rd Secretary of State from 1993 to 1997, will also be presented with an honoraiy doctorate of human letters at the ceremony.
“Being Secretary of State is to take pait in history’s relay race,” Christopher said after retiring from the position.
Christopher chaired the independent commission on the Los Angeles Police Department in 1991. Formed after the Rodney King incident, it is known as the Christopher Commission, famous for proposing notable reforms.
President Jimmy Carter awarded Christopher in 1977 the Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest non-mili-tary honor.
Christopher is a USC alumnus who earned his bachelor's degree, magna cum laude, in 1945. In 1949, he earned his law degree from Stanford University.
Some seniors said they were indifferent about the announcement.
‘I really don't care who speaks,” said
Allan Scruggs, a senior majoring in biomedical engineering. They’re all going to say the same thing anyway. It’s just a matter of a name, so it doesn’t matter to me. I just want the diploma.”
Others said they hope Christopher will provide original, useful information in his speech.
“I don’t know what relevant things hell have to say to us,” said Dave Sandler, a senior majoring in aerospace engineering. “I’m hopeful he’ll have some perspective to give us that would be beyond the general blah that we hear aD the time.” Others said that they had hoped for a speaker with more recent political activity.
‘Sure, he did a lot in the Gulf War and the Christopher Commission, but what has he done for us lately?” said Mark Redekopp, a senior majoring in
computer engineering-computer science.
The decision of who will speak is ultimately up to President Steven B. Sample, said Anne WestfaD, his executive assistant
“(Sample) issued an invitation based on a list of possible (speakers), which comes from a variety of sources — both from inside and outside of the USC community," Westfall said.
USC alumni, students, professors and trustees are among those who nominate possible speakers, said Westfall, who would not reveal the other nominees.
Honorary degrees will also be presented to philanthropists Jon Huntsman Sr. and Flora L Thornton, who donated $25 million to the School of Music in March, as well as civil rights activist Rosa Parks.
Commencement will be held at 8:30 a.m. in Alumni Park.
Christopher
Shoppers’ paradise
Picking and choosing. Karolynn Bayaca, a senior majoring in biomedical engineering (left), Lori Chan, a junior majoring in biomedical and biochemical engineering, and Stacey Rivera, a senior majoring in exercise science, look at items for sale Tuesday.
Campus affairs confirmation postponed
Meeting: Some senators say nominee does not have enough knowledge about university activities
By JENNIFER MEDINA
Student Senate Writer
After a half-hour debate about her qualifications, Student Senate voted to postpone the confirmation of Sherry Elihu, who the president, vice president and chief of staff appointed director of campus affairs last week.
Many Senate members said they were
concerned that Elihu, a junior majoring in business, did not have enough experience dealing with on-campus issues. The vote will give Elihu this week to learn more about Senate and allow senators more time to make their decision.
"I only go after things I am passionate about and this is definitely something I am passionate about,* Elihu said. *1 have always been very interested in things on campus and inquired about them. I will use my outside experience to help me in this position.*
Elihu was originally appointed assistant director of campus affairs. Emma Graglia, a sophomore majoring in public policy and management, was originally appointed for the director position. However, Graglia withdrew her nomina-
tion last Monday after deciding she would not be able to commit enough time to Senate.
In her presentation to Senate, Elihu said she would work closely with Graglia, who will now serve as assistant director of campus affairs.
*1 want to redefine the position by aggressively attacking the issue at hand and creating new ones,’ she said. *1 want to work on issues like the 24-hour commuter lounge with (Graglia).*
Dana Parker, a commuter senator and a sophomore majoring in public policy and management, asked Elihu about her knowledge of the cultural assemblies of Program Board, and Elihu said she was not clear on their role.
I see Senate, page SI
Writer says racism fought with revolution
Speech: Former Black Panther Amiri Baraka advises creating counterforce to those in power
By KIMBERLY TABA
Staff Writer
To overcome racism, there needs to be a revolution: an organization of an entire counterforce to the culture in power, said poet, playwright and former Black Panther Amiri Baraka on Tuesday night in Bing Theatre.
Baraka proposed the creation of alternative movie theaters, newspapers and other media to provide a Amiri Baraka voice for oppressed minorities to about 100 people.
‘All you college students out there, instead of going out and becoming the new editor of Hustler, you should be going out and starting opposing structures,” Baraka said.
Between scenes from two of Baraka’s plays, he fielded questions from both the* audience and David Brancaocio, host of radio station KUSCs ‘Marketplace.’
The first question-and-answer session mainly focused on racism in today’s society, as Brancaccio noted that the issues of racism raised in the scene from “The Great Goodness of Life: A Coon Show," written in 1969, are still relevant 30 years later.
‘Even though at the time we thought we could destroy racism in a few weeks, now it’s painfully clear that this will take a revolution of the entire people,’ Baraka said.
He quoted statistics indicating that 73 percent of the drivers stopped by police on the New Jersey Turnpike were Mack, though blacks make up only 10 to 12 percent of the population in that area.
“It seems inordinately high,* Baraka said. He added in a more lighthearted tone, "When there’s a black and a white in the car together, and they’re smiling, (the officer thinks), ‘Oh, there must be something wrong, let’s stop the car.”
The Great Goodness of Life,* directed by Ben Guillory, follows a black postal worker accused of harboring a murderer. Baraka describes it as showing the “black petty bourgeoisie’ who are caught between their black cultural history and the rich white professional world.
“It’s tbe question of submission,' Baraka said. “Whose side are you on? (It’s) not whether you were raised in the ghettos or the rich hills."
l see tpMek. page 141