Fraternities’ data service downed
By scon MARTIN DALE
Staff Writer
Seven university-owned fraternity houses were without telephone, Internet or cable television services for several days as USC introduced its own voice and data lines to the houses.
The upgrades — expected to be functioning within the next few days
—	will feature ResNet Ethernet lines Tor each student, new “764-" telephone numbers and USC cable televisioa
“We've still got a little bit of debugging to take care of," said Jeff I see Service. page 3 I
FRIDAY
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August 31, 2001
Of interest...
Editorial writer Brendan Loy examines USC's recent track record on student rights / 4
News Digest	2	Calendar	2
Roundup	4	Opinions	4
Sports extra	7	Classifieds	12
Crossword	13	Lifestyle	16
vol. CXIIV. no, 4 ww*.dailytrojan,corTi
Students support cell phone restrictions
Organization: Recruitment events more structured, less draining for would-be members looking for sense of belonging
By DENISE OSHODI
Contributing Writer
Fifty years ago, college women who wanted to join a sorority had to spend nearly 10 hours a day to find a house that would accept them—creating the process commonly called Rush.
But now, getting Greek letters focuses more on excitement and less on stressful schedules, said Melissa Loper, the vice president of recruitment for Panhellenic Council, USC’s largest governing body for sororities.
“Recruitment is a more accurate name,” Loper said, referring to the formal name of the five-day selection process that began Thursday afternoon.
“Sororities are actively pursuing new members, without interfering with school work during the week and making the experience less nerve-racking."
Interfraternity Council began its recruitment process Monday and will offer bids — invitations to new members — Sunday night.
Several changes for this year’s sorority and fraternity rush are designed to improve the Greek system’s reputation with the university, students and rushees.
Some students may have been disappointed with the missing of the traditional fraternity parties the week
l see Rush, page 3 I
“Recruitment is a more accurate name. Sorority members are actively pursuing new members, without interfering with school work during the week and making the process less nerve-racking —♦—-MELISSA LOPER vice president of recruitment Panhellenic Council
Making money. Luke McCabe, a freshman majoring in business administration, performs for his friends.
Randall Yong i Daily Troian
Paying it forward
One enterprising freshman findsa national corporation to pay his tuition bill and raise his profile
By KATIE FLYNN
Staff Writer
A free college education and a whole lot of fame is what freshman Luke McCabe got when he set out to find a corporation to foot his tuition bill.
The crafty idea began with McCabe’s trip to Los Angeles last summer. He and his friend Chris Barrett traveled from their Ocean Park, N.J. homes to visit three colleges in southern California. The pair soon found the schools of their
dreams and the high price tags that went with them.
With a short budget and big desires, the two set out to find some way to make money fast. They found their inspiration watching television. Tiger Woods appeared on a program sporting a baseball cap with a Nike label, and the light bulbs clicked on for Luke and Chris.
"We thought ‘Hey, if Tiger Woods can get all this money being sponsored, why can’t we?” McCabe said.
The boys created a Web page featuring photographs of themselves wearing shirts and caps labeled
“Place your add here." Some photos showed them eating breakfast with a caption of "We will eat your cereal," or carrying a surfboard while smiling and waving—perfect for companies trying to attract the youth market,
A publicist the two interned for was so amused with the idea, she notified friends in the media. Within hours, radio stations, newspapers and television programs from around the country called to find out exactly who would offer to sell advertising space on their own bodies. Their Web site received nearly a mil-
I S6€ McCabe page S I
SAN JOSE
Coliseum I 3:30 p.m. I Saturday
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MU TROW
Student newspaper of the University of Southern California
Freshmen get ready for rush of
Mason Poo* I My Trojan
Call me. Cellular phone booths peddle to student buyers.
Carson
Palmer
We thought 'Hey, if Tiger Woods can get all this money being sponsored, then why can ’t we?" LUKE MCCABE, freshman being sponsored by First USA
By SARAH REA
Contributing Writer
Take a look at Trousdale Parkway in the center of campus and find students who snap open their cellular phones at the first sound of that catchy little ring. While walking and talking poses little threat, lawmakers are taking more steps to ward off the threat of car accidents involving cell phones.
In June. New York became the first state to ban the use of handheld cellular phones while operating a vehicle. And while California has not banned the use of cellular phones completely, many companies are prohibiting their employees from talking on the phone while driving without a hands-free device.
SCIENCE & TECH
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While many students say they often use their phone while driving, they said they would support a law that would prohibit using a handheld cell phone-in the car.
Such a law would “definitely be a step in the right direction," said Patrick Moorse, a sophomore majoring in biomedical engineering.
“The law is one that needs td’be passed in every city," said Bridget Hembree, a junior majoring in archi-
tecture. “A huge percentage of accidents are caused by distracted drivers on cell phones."
In March of 2000, attorney Jane Wagner was driving while conducting business with colleagues via cell phone when she hit something. Wagner assumed it was a deer — only to learn the next morning that the obstacle had been 15-year-old Naeun Yoon, now dead. Now, with Wagners law firm fending off a $30 million lawsuit, the government has decided to take action.
Tiffani Chen, a sophomore majoring in business administration, cited her own driving ability as a reason for restrictions.
"I personally keep a cell phone in my car." she said, “And I know that I’m I see Technology, page 3 I