Newspaper of the University of Southern California
Is the media the major factor in the current process of women's marginalization, or are women themselves partly to blame? Writers argue both sides of the open societal question.
Viewpoint, page 4
Actress to read Ida B. Wells’
Tuesday April 18,1995 Vol. CXXIV, No. 59
Open your mind in Santa Monica
Greek organizations win service awards
By Chris Holman
Staff Writer
The Interfratemity Council and Panhellenic Council won the Community Service Award and Interfratemalism Award at the Western Regional Greek Conference in San Francisco,
USC was one of 90 Greek systems from the western region that competed for the awards last week.
"We have won awards before, but I think these place us where we want to be," IFC President Brad Haas said.
"Now, we want to move towards winning scholarship in the future."
USC won the lnterfraterna-lism Award for a series of 16 events in which every chapter participated. They included the Greek chapter of Creating Attitudes for a Rape-free Environment, Diversity Encouragement Council, and all-Row symposium.
USC won the Community Service Award for the 'SC Stars Program, which honors scholars at Vermont Elemen-(See Greeks, page 2)
Kelly Kagan / Dally Tro|an
A youngster enjoys a day in the sun near the center of campus.
Lolling in the sun
At the Mt. SAC Relays in Walnut, Calif., USC's Balasz Kiss broke a NCAA record in the hammer throw at 257 feet, 5 inches. Kiss bested the mark of 257-1, set by Oregon's Ken Flax in 1986.
Sports, page 24
Explorations of empowerment
Actress Starletta Dupois will portray Ida B. Wells in a reading of Endesha Mae Holland's "Miss Ida B. Wells," a one-act, one-character play about the journalist and social reformer who campaigned against lynch-ings. The reading will take t place today at noon, with a reception at 11 a.m., in the foyer of Kerckhoff Hall, 734 W. Adams.
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Noted Chicano artist Frank Romero will speak today at 2 p.m. in Harris Hall 101. Romero was a cofounder of Los 4, the first Chicano collective to have a major museum exhibit, eee
United We Stand America will sponsor a debate on "Is a Third Party Good for America?" today at 7 p.m. in Davidson Conference Center Room 1. Debate teams will be judged by a panel of prominent members of the community.
With a variety of exhibits ranging from exhumed chickens to astrological crime patterns, the Santa Monica Museum of Art hosts some of the more bizarre works in the area. Kei-sha Thomas offers a quick tour of the highlights.
Diversions, page 9
Kiss this NCAA record goodbye
Trustees select new chairman
By Sara K. Goo
Staff Writer
After a long life in the corporate world and a resume that would inspire any college student, Malcolm Currie has retired himself to the more leisurely life as the newly elected chair of USC's Board of Trustees.
"I think that all of us who have benefited from society should give back to society in some way," Currie said of his new position. "Having retired from active duty, so to speak, as CEO of a corporation, I'm spending some time in my life giving back."
Currie said he hopes the board continues to actively and openly guide the university toward its goals: promoting academic prestige of the university without compromising athletics, graduating students and furthering the image of the university.
One important distinction Currie hoped to make was to focus on quality teaching at the university, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a bal ance between teaching and research.
Currie began his professional career after receiving a B.A. and a Ph.D. from UC Berkeley and later taught at the university level. He began working for Hughes Aircraft in 1954 as a scientist and then moved his way up to CEO. He simultaneously held the third highest post in the Department of Defense as undersecretary of defense for research and engineering.
Currie has served on the Board of Trustees since 1989, but his initial experience with USC began while he was at Hughes.
"A good bit of leadership at Hughes came from USC (graduates) — mostly from engineer-(See Currie, page 2)
Sample praises USC, student leaders
Hundreds gather in administration boardroom; president highlights fundraising, strategic plan
By Christian Cooper
Staff Writer
Approximately 200 USC undergrads, administrators and graduate students gathered in the administration boardroom Monday at a reception designed to recognize some of USC's student leaders and promote the university.
President Steven B. Sample opened with a speech outlining some of USC's goals and achievements.
A sheet titled "USC Trojan Pride" listed 19 "terrific talking points of the University of Southern California to share with your friends." Sample highlighted points such as the recent addition of USC's eighth Rhodes Scholar, Desmond Koh.
"He took my electromagnetic theory class, which probably helped him get the scholarship," Sample quipped.
Sample went on to talk about this year's freshman class, which had an average SAT
“USC’s capital fundraising campaign hopes to raise over$l billion by the year 2000.” — Steven B. Sample
of 1102 and an average high school GPA of 3.6.
"Most of them were in the upper 17 percent of their class," Sample said. "This year, USC is well above 96 percent in terms of freshman selectivity . . . this is the best freshman class USC has ever had."
Sample also said over 1,000 more applications have come in to USC than last year. The average SAT score of those who have
already been accepted is 1160, with a GPA of around 3.75.
Graduation rates have also improved at USC.
"The graduation rate for this year's senior class is expected to be around 70 percent," he said. "When I came here, the rate was around 53 percent ... we were among the lowest of competing private universities."
Sample gave kudos to several student organizations. He cited the Student Senate's Community Service fund, and Senate President Jimmy Moye. He honored the Interfratemity Council and Panhellenic Council for strengthening relations between the Greeks and administration. He recognized Mortar Board and JEP for their contributions to the community.
The issue of the tuition increase was brought up by Sample. He cited an article in the USC Chronicle, in which USC was ranked 21st of the 27 private universities of the American Association of Universities in cost of tuition.
"This is one study in which we want to be near the bottom," Sample said.
(See Leaders, page 3)
USC expands abroad
Oaxaca, Mexico chosen as new site for overseas study program
By Joyce Tai
Staff Writer
Starting next spring, students will be able to visit Oaxaca, Mexico, in USC's newest overseas studies program.
The new undergraduate program will be operated in conjunction with and sponsored by the Univerity of Pennslyvania.
Although Mexico may seem too close to the United States to be a fascinating place to study, in fact, no other national border
separates two worldviews more radically different from each other, said Gary Rhodes, program coordinator in the Office of Overseas Studies.
"Oaxaca was chosen for its retention of its pre-Hispanic and colonial heritage," Rhodes said. "It's not going back a million years, but it gives students a clear picture of the past."
An hour and a half from Oaxaca, students can find villages where Spanish is rarely spoken and people live much as they did 300 years ago.
Approximately 20 students will bv selected to participate in this semester-long program. In order to apply, students need to have a minimum GPA of 3.0 and
(See Oaxaca, page 2)