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TUESDAY, MARCH 20, 2007
MARCHING ON»~
FIFTH-SEEDED USC TOOK DOWN FOURTH-SEEDED TEXAS, 87-68,
ON SUNDAY 24
Riding the wave »
Winners of nine out of their last 12, USC baseball welcomes Pepperdine to town
SPORTS, PAGE 22
LIFESTYLE, PAGE 13
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Football player Clay Matthews Jr. and group members apologize for their ‘joke.’
DPS reports gang fight at Superior
Suspects in March 7 confrontation were allegedly members of Harpys gang.
By NANCY CHEN
Daily Troian
Members of a notoriously dangerous Los Angeles gang allegedly confronted members of another gang across the street from campus at Superior Market on March 7, USC Department of Public Safety officers said.
Though the incident shines light on the continuing presence of gang activity here, particularly a 14 percent rise in gang-related crimes in Los Angeles in 2006, Los Angles
Police Department officers and gang experts say students are not at great risk to gang crimes.
A Superior loss-prevention officer reported to DPS officers that three suspects approached two other possible gang members inside the store around 7 p.m.
“It’s Harpys Gang right here,” one of the three suspects reportedly said.
The loss prevention officer said the five men then fought.
“It seems that it was more than just a verbal confrontation; the report would lead me to believe that they were physically fighting," said DPS Capt David Carlisle.
Tile loss-prevention officer and
his partner said they saw one of the men pull out a knife. It is unclear which group the man belonged to.
Security officers told the suspects, who ranged in age from 14 to 35 years old, to leave the scene. The men left by the time DPS officers arrived, DPS officers said.
“No one was injured, no one stayed around to be a victim of an assault,” Carlisle said.
The alleged members of Harpys Gang were seen leaving the area in an older model dark blue or black laguar sedan.
Harpys Gang has been around for a few decades and centers close to USC, said Malcolm Klein, a pro-
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Provost announces plans to triple doctoral studies funds
Fellowships are aimed at increasing prestige, affordability of programs.
By AMANDA SPRINGER
Daily Troian
The USC Graduate School will triple its doctorate fellowship funding for the next school year About 100 fellowships will provide full tuition and a $28,000 stipend toward doctoral-study costs, said Jean Morrison, vice provost for graduate programs
The increase comes amid efforts to attract high-caliber students from a more diverse background and advance USC's academic standing. Morrison said.
Richard Tithecott, assistant dean of the USC Graduate School, said the central goal of the program is “to achieve excellence and strength through diversity."
“VVe hope that more and more of the outstanding Ph 1). students who come to USC increase the number of students from un-
der-represented groups,” he said Money is often an obstacle tor prospective students, Morrison said.
For many, it may be the deciding factor
“Funding wras a crucial factor in my decision," said doctoral candidate Michael Robinson “I think that’s the case with everyone ”
Because the doctorate program is such an independent project. Robinson said, the choice of university often isn't the most important factor
He said the guaranteed funding allowed him to research without the pressure of financial difficulties
“At (other schools) my stipend would have been lower, and I would have had to teach more classes with more students." he said
Offering more fellowships will allow even more talented students to come to thc university without worrying about money, Tithecott said
“Nobodv gets rich in graduate school," Morrison said “Ph I)
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By ELIZABETH GELI
Daily Troian
USC football player Clay Matthews Jr. and his teammates will not be punished by die university for their involvement in the "White Nation" Facebook group, according to the Los Angeles Times.
The controversy first reported in the Daily Trojan before spring break garnered national attention and prompted discussion on the limitations of jokes, racism and Facebook privacy
"I le’s done what he anild to apologize," cciach Pete Carroll said about Matthews to die limes. "I tltink he’s taken all the right steps for anybody diat it offended. Aijd there was never any intent of that a t all.”
The inside joke started when running backs coach and special teams coordinator Todd McNair jokingly referred to a group of Caucasian players on the kick-off team as “White Nation.”
"I made the name. The White Nation," McNair said to the Times. 'Just playfully, man."
Clay Matthews jr.. a linebacker, created the Facebook group whose majors included teammates David Buehler, Brian (’ashing, Dan Deckas and Dallas Sartz.
“This group Ls not for the faint of heart," read the groups description. “All members are athletes of Cauca-
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STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SINCE 1912 I VOL. 160, NO. 1 I WWW.DAILYTROJAN.COM
josnua ay i Daily Trojan
Students not soldiers | Several students marched Monday from Tommy Trojan to the Armed Forces Recruiting Center in University Village to protest the war in Iraq on the fourth anniversary of the Iraq invasion.
«‘WIFE’ SWAP
CHRIS ROCK, STAR OF ‘I THINK I LOVE MY WIFE,’ TAKES A COMEDIC
9 APPROACH TO A FRENCH CLASSIC
White Nation group makes national news
« Middle East meets West
The 22nd Israel Film Festival brings the best of international »cinema to Los Angeles through Thursday.
war anniversary
Four years | Few students protest on Iraq