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Wednesday April 1,1998 Vol.CXXXIHNo.49
Headlines
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USC hosts Titans before big series
The No. 2 USC baseball team would be best served to not look ahead to its weekend series against top-ranked Stanford when it faces No. 17 Cal State Fullerton tonight at Dedeaux Field.
Sports, page 16
Bookstore offers half off everything
April fools! Feeling a bit cheated by this very unkind April Fools' Day joke — you're not alone. For centuries countless people have been subjected to this "holiday" but why does it exist?
Diversions, page 7
Moving out of the parent 'hood
During a recent visit home, Editorial Columnist). Nanda Liljeblad discovered that his parents, contrary to what he nad always thought, actually have the capacity and the desire to live life to the fullest.
Viewpoint, page 4
F.Y.I.
White elephant, dance force info
A white elephant sale will be held at 10 a.m. today at the Andrus Gerontology Center Courtyard. A variety of treasures will be available. Pastries, coffee and punch will also be for sale.
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Information meetings for the Troian Dance Force will be hela at noon and 4 p.m. today in Heritage Hall, room 110.
For more information, call (213) 7404170.
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A lecture on how to get into medical school by improving MCAT scores and personal essays will be given from 6 to 8 p.m. today in Heritage Hall Auditorium, room 101. For more information, sea umnv.mcatmaster.com J • • •
"Hav* you found your soulmate yet?" will be the topic of HEAT, a discussion of the theme from "Good Will Hunting," from 8 to 9:30 p.m. tonight in Annenberg Auditorium.
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Newspaper of the University of Southern California
Political spectrum voices collide
Clinton adviser James Carville, conservative author David Horowitz dash in discussion of character
By Karen Santos
Assistant City Editor
Two political pundits and a journalist butted heads in front of about 200 people on the issue of the importance of character and its role in the political process Tuesday in Annenberg Auditorium.
James Carville, a political consultant who works for President Clinton, debated with conservative author David Horowitz about how Clinton's character impacts his job as leader of the United States. David Brock, a journalist who expressed regret about breaking the story about Arkansas state troopers procuring women for then-Gov. Clinton, also joined the discussion, which was sponsored by the Annenberg School for
Communication.
"(You) must have good judgment," Horowitz said. "Character is a hugely important issue."
"The character issue is different from character," Carville said. "What if someone never had sex with anyone but his wife, never had more t<? drink than one glass of wine at dinner...never had more than nine items in the express lane. Some things mean more to people."
Carville was critical of the thought that a person cannot run for public office if they have committed some wrongs in their personal life.
"We're going down a dangerous road/ he said.
"There are a huge number of questions (about the) character of a man who's incredibly reck-
Ambar Otto / Datty Troian
Panelists David Horowitz (left), David Brock and James Carville engaged in a lively political issues debate Tuesday.
less," Horowitz said. He said that he dislikes "people with immense power who think they live above the rules."
Former Clinton Press Secretary Dee Dee Myers, the
first woman and youngest individual in the position, moderated the discussion and frequently had to control the air time of
(See Panel, page 2)
Student officers add depth to patrolling
By Shashank Bengali
Staff Writer
Department of Public Safety Student Officer Anthony Mora grimaces when he hears the term "ticket Nazi."
"We're just doing our job," said the sophomore majoring in business. "It's not our fault people park illegally."
Derisive nicknames like "ticket Nazi" and "Rent-a-Cop Jr." stick to the approximately 150 student officers like tne trademark bright yellow of their jackets. Issuing parking tickets is the most manifest — and, many students say, vexatious — of the student officers' responsibilities, but DPS officials say
Behind the Badge
WKT lOfS
The Student Law Enforcement Program (SLEP) began at DPS in 1990, at one-sixth its current size. What began then as a group devoted mainly to parking enforcement has grown rapidly in recent years, at the behest of President Steven B. Sample, into the largest student employer on campus.
u They are our constant eyes and ears on the campus, and they have been instrumental in identifying suspicious behavior.
STEVEN WARD DPS chief
they serve a myriad of other purposes.
They are a great asset to our department," said DPS Chief Steven Ward. "They are our constant eyes and ears on the campus, and they have been instrumental in identifying suspicious behavior. They've probably prevented a great many potential crimes just by their presence."
"They take a large burden off of the regular officers," says Officer Sunsay Holifield. "The feeling in the department is that they serve an important purpose and that they do a very good job."
Student officers patrol the campus in groups of usually two or three, 24 hours a day and seven days a week whenever school is m session, equipped with radios to communicate with headquarters. They eam $5.75 per hour to start and may test for a raise.
Their main responsibilities are parking enforcement, bike registration and residence hall security, but sometimes student officers are recruited for security detail or sting operations. In the fall, for example, four student
officers visited the area surrounding the Row in the wake of a series of rapes there to speak to residents and pass out assault-prevention fliers.
"That was the most rewarding thing I've done as an officer," said freshman Jim Dye, a second-semester student officer majoring in psychology.
"But...more than anything, I think we “ are a visual deterrent to serious crimes," he said. "People see us walking around, knowing we can contact officers, and I think they think twice before they try anything."
Perhaps the most significant instance of student officer involvement came last spring when a fire broke out in Troy East Apartments. Ward said they were "fundamental" in putting out the fire and bringing residents to safety.
Student Capt. Tom Mix, a senior majoring in computer science, recalls a sting he participated in as a freshman student officer. Armea with only a pair of binoculars, he positioned himself on the roof of Fluor Tower, looking for a burglar on a university robbery spree. Mix spotted the suspect and led DPS officers to him; the suspect was arrested and convicted on multiple counts of burglary.
"That was a very satisfying feeling, know-(See DPS, page 2)
Reminder, 15 days left to file income taxes
By Jennifer Keiieher
Staff Writer
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April 15 may be when papers are due <?r when midterms are given, but for most of the adult world, it also means that income tax returns are due.
Filling tax returns affects all students applying for financial aid. Parents' and students' income tax forms must be submitted to the financial aid office before April 15, and there are many resources on campus to ease the process.
"When you send it to (the Internal Revenue Service), you should mail us a copy as well," said Catherine Thomas, associate dean of financial aid. Tax returns must be turned into
financial aid no later than May 5, the processing deadline.
Failure to submit tax returns to the financial aid office will affect a student's aid package and may make them eligible
only for a Federal Stafford Loan, Thomas said.
Students who are not required to file must submit a non-filing statement to the financial aid office, Thomas said.
TAX INFORMATION
California State Tin Preparer's Program in downtown Los Angeles (213)661-4930
Los Angelas IRS Office toll-free tax information line (800) 629-1040.
USC Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program will provide on-campus counseling sites. For more information, contact Christine Don, Accounting Society director of special events, at (213) 740-4809.
IRS Taxpayer Help and Education Web Site provides answers to frequently asked questions and gives tips and pointers.
irs.ustr9i.gov/prod/tax_edu/ind9x.html
Most students have to complete the 1040EZ form, which is a one-page paper for single and joint filers with no dependents that asks questions about income.
"It's really simple. It practically does itself/' Thomas said.
Most tax forms and instruction booklets are available in the basement of Doheny Library. For those with complicated tax situations who may need extra help filling out tax forms, the USC Federal Credit Union can refer its members to an account- -ing firm.
Some students said that filing taxes are burdensome. "Right now I'm studying for midterms, and taxes are the least of my
(See Taxes, page 6)