Newspaper of the University of Southern California
____
Thursday April 6,1995 Vol. CXXIV, No. 51
Headlines
Lewis returns: no ‘bones’ about it
Mountain comes to campus
Students who can't get to the mountains to rock climb were pleasantly surprised Wednesday when the mountains came to Alumni Park.
The JanSport Mountain Tour brought a fake mountain to the center of campus as part of a nationwide tour of college campuses.
Students who missed the mountain-climbing experience on Wednesday will have another chance to climb the structure today.
' — from staff reports
Biosphereans to speak today
Two participants in the Biosphere II project will speak today from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in Watt Hall Room 1 as part of the Guest Space Architect Lecture Series. Taber McCallum, manager for systems analysis ana Jane Poynter, manager for agriculture, livestock and nutrition will speak.
•	• •
The entry deadline is Friday for the Sunkyong Group of Korea's Global Leaders ot Tomorrow essay contest. Registered undergraduate and graduate students in the areas of business, government or law, science and journalism are invited to enter. Three essays in each area will be chosen as winners. First prize winners receive $2,500 plus a one-week trip to Korea. The second-and third-place prizes are $1,000 and $500. Materials are available at most finandal aid or student activities offices, or call (212) 906-8138.
Union upset with USC hiring policies
University plans contract talks at end of June
By Susan Deemer
Staff Writer
Summer may have a dual meaning at USC. For students it means a much-needed break, a summer job or more of the same. But for USC's members of the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees Union Local
11,	who work in Dining Services, summer means unemployment, a loss of medical benefits and three months of hardship.
"We want to be treated like human beings," said Charles Brooks, 50, a cook who has worked at USC's Dining Services for close to 11 years. "We got a job and we (shouldn't)
have to worry about every year in the summer time. Every summer (there's) something on your mind — what are we gonna do?"
The union's contract with the university comes up for negotiation June 30. Local 11 President Maria Elena Durazo requested in March that the university begin negotiations with its 320 union employees before summer break, but said the university did not want to start while students were still at school. Michael Gratz, director of Dining Services, said the university was adhering to the requirements of the contract and therefore could not begin negotiations until April 1.
Supervisors employed by USC Dining Services are hired for the full school year, paid annually, and maintain their medi-:al benefits, unlike their Local 11 employees.
As many as one-third of Dining Services employees find themselves without a job and medical benefits or unemployment insurance benefits for the duration of the summer break.
"They're really not (considered) out of work," said Susan Schroeder, spokesperson for The Employment Development Department of California. "People who are normally off during certain periods are not eligible for unemployment benefits."
"We just need to get a little more security where we can work year-round," Brooks said. "During the summertime (we) shouldn't have to worry about taking care of (our) families because that puts a lot of tension on your mind, it's really bad, school's out and people (get) worried."
Durazo said the university claims it wants to improve relations with the community and
sets goals for itself but in reality it is ignoring its own employees who live in the community.
"USC could be a model which really genuinely contributes to the community or it could be a model that contributes to the poverty," Durazo said.
The Local 11 employees are worried that many of them will be out of work for the summer.
"(In) 1994, USC . . . for the first time, in the biggest way that we've ever seen, lets go — lays off — a significant number of workers, close to a third, close to 90 workers," Durazo said.
The university replaced union employees with outside cleaning and maitenance contractors who Durazo said accumulated a total of 11,000 hours of work at $5 an hour without medical benefits.
"It is the university's intent to (See Union, page 15)
Friedan to talk media
Betty Friedan and a number of community leaders will host a forum on campus Friday to discuss the media's role in the backlash against women.
The event, titled "Feminism, the Media and the New Right," will take place in Town and Gown from 8:30 to 12:30 p.m. Interested students who did not previously reserve spaces at the conference may still join in. A $5 fee includes a continental breakfast.
Guests will include entertainer Steve Allen, L.A. Supervisor Gloria Molina, L.A. Weekly editor Susan Horton, actress Shelly Winters, School of Journalism professors Jack Langguth and Madeleine Stoner ana others.
1995 valedictorian surprised by award
By Joyce Tai
Staff Writer
Michael J. Banks came to USC because he didn't want to be lost as a person. As this year's valedictorian, Banks will achieve that goal one last time as one of the most prominent students at Commencement.
Banks, who has a 3.979 grade point average, is double majoring in physics and East Asian languages and cultures. He is also a Trustee Scholar, an honor which includes a full-tuition scholarship to USC.
"Being selected as a Trustee Scholar was not the primary reason I attened USC. The reason was I wanted to go to a university with a strong program, not necessarily the best," Banks
said. "I wanted to go somewhere where I wouldn't be lost as a person, where the people are friendly, and I found that quality at USC."
Still, Banks said he didn't expect to be valedictorian.
"I thought I was going to be one of the salutatorians,'' Banks said. "I was surprised when the school selected me as the valedictorian."
He is fluent in Japanese and spends his summers working and interning at different science labs all over the country.
During his stay at USC, Banks has not only excelled in his academic career but has also been highly involved in many campus organizations and commu-nity-service groups.
Some of the activities he was involved with included Songfest, Dean's Advisory Board and Trojan Victory Fellowship. For his senior year, he was selected as a member of Mortar Board, the senior honor society at USC.
"There have been a lot of things on my plate this semester," he said.
Although Banks will be graduating in fewer than five weeks, he is not wasting any time planning what he will be doing after graduation.
In addition to his on-campus activities, Banks has also been busily planning his wedding. Banks will get married one week after graduation.
As for the future, Banks will
be entering a doctorate program at the University of Rochester.
"Hopefully with a doctorate degree in physics, I'll be able to find a job as a teacher, since it is the most highly competitive job," he said.
One of the responsibilities of being the valedictorian is to give the valedictory address at Commencement on May 12.
When asked what he will address in the speech, Banks said, "I asked my fiance for advice and one of the main things she said was to please don't quote Winona Ryder in her monologue from 'Reality Bites.' I told her she had nothing to worry about."
Chris Guigliano had 25 kills and Jason Mulholland had 21 as the USC men's volleyball team dropped UC Irvine, 11-15, 15-8, 15-1, 15-3, at the North Gym on Wednesday night.
Sports, page 24
Holding a bomb over their heads
As the Cold War defrosts, more information about America's military buildup and covert operations comes forth. Nicholas Gleiter questions the still strong military-industrial complex.
Viewpoint, page 4
Stavan Hyde / Dally Trojan
—	from staff reports
French-loved funnyman Jerry Lewis makes an American screen comeback with "Funny Bones," a new film with a deceptive name. Constantine Nasr reviews Lewis' venture beyond his standard slapstick for a more heartfelt portrayal.
Diversions, page 9
Men’s volleyball defeats UC Irvine