Wednesday March 4,1998 Vol. CXXXIII, No. 36
Headlines
Turner fights back against injury bug
Despite missing games after being hurt during each of the last two seasons, USC forward Jarvis Turner has returned to have productive years both times and is an important part of the Trojans' future.
Sports, page 16
From 'Fargo' to the 'Lebowski'
From the makers of one of the most talked about films of last year, "Fargo," the Coen brothers' new film, "The Big Lebowski," starring Jeff Bridges and John Goodman, opens Friday.
Diversions, page 7
Crime rates drop, fear rates stay level
Though crime rates in Los Angeles have dropped markedly in recent years, many of us still live in fear. Editorial Columnist Christian Cooper wonders why this trend continues to exist.
Viewpoint, page 4
Newspaper of the University of Southern California
f
Work begins on Popovich Hall
By Christine Frey Staff Writer
The construction of Popovich Hall, which began this week, will close Parking Lot E and the north entrance to the Faculty Center. Officials said the construction is causing minimal interference with buildings in the area.
The Town and Gown Precinct will become the site of the Marshall School of Business' Master of Business Administration program when Popovich Hall is completed in the summer of 1999. Lewis Hall, which will house the School of Urban Planning and Develop-ment, will also be located there.
Popovich and Lewis halls will be built on Parking Lot E. However, the loss should not have a negative affect on campus parking, said Brian d'Autremont, director of Transportation Services.
The parking lot, which can hold up to 60 cars, usually has only 15 to 20 parked there at a time, d'Autremont said.
Transportation Services has saved spaces in Parking Structure X to accommodate those drivers who will no longer be able use Lot E.
The lot was scheduled to close March 2. However, it has not yet been fenced, d'Autremont said. Transportation Services is still selling day passes for the lot, but
officials recommend that drivers use PSX.
D'Autremont said that there have not been any problems with the closing of Lot E.
"I think it's gone smoothly," he said.
Because of the construction, the Faculty Center, which serves about 300 to 600 customers a day, will not be accessible from its north entrance. Patrons must use the south entrance at Downey Way, officials at Facilities Planning and Management said.
• Oscar Mendoza, program director of the Faculty Center, said he does not think the construction will interfere excessively with business and antici-
pates a maximum loss of 10 to 20 percent.
"1 hope that business won't suffer," ne said. "Unfortunately, that's progress."
Mendoza added that business at the Faculty Center might improve once the new buildings are completed, as they will bring more people to the area, Popovich and Lewis halls will
f>rovide classroom, office and ounge space. Popovich Hall will cost $18.6 million, and the proposed cost for Lewis Hall is $10.6 million, facilities management officials said.
The construction of the two buildings is part of the universi-
(See Popovich, page 3)
Scholarships strengthen university overall
By Nada El Sawy
Staff Writer
The competitive scholarship program at USC has served to encourage some of the top scholars in the country to attend the university, and it has also played a part in shaping the university as a whole.
"We're letting people know that this is a great academic school," said Eleanor Hoppe, director of academic recogni-
tion programs.
The Trustee award full' Presidential
Scholarships tuition, tne Scholarships
award half tuition, and the Deans' scholarships award $6,000 a year. They are all a part of the competitive program.
Prospective scholars have to apply by the deadline, which was last December. Selected students are then invited by each school to interview for a Presidential or Trustee scholarship during the Preview program. Deans' scholars are selected by eacn school without an interview.
The program has continued to evolve since the Trustee Scholarship was first created in 1963. Not only have the numbers increased, from a mere nine to hundreds, the academic
Lawyers' panel, RFK Jr. speech
The USC National Lawyers' Guild will present a panel discussion, "Los Angeles, Urban Education ana the Law: Equal Opportunity for All?" at 12:40 p.m. today in the Law Center, room 101.
• ••
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will be speaking at 7 p.m. tonight in Bovard Auditorium on "Our Environmental Destiny." Free tickets can be picked up in Student Union, room B-5, or at the door.
For more information, call Jenny Chavez at (213) 740-5656.
• ••
The Annenberg School for Communication will be holding a forum titled "News as Entertainment / Entertainment as News." Four sessions will be held from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the Annenberg Auditorium.
A city hall meeting will also be held for Angelenos to voice their opinions of local media coverage.
28th Street residents praise Greek housing
By Meegan Bozorgzadegan and Jenny Goldberg-Aden
Staff Writers
Greek students living in sorority and fraternity houses praise the experience, but they still have a few complaints.
Living in a sorority house on 28th Street is like "living with 100 of your best friends," said Lindsey Blenkhom, a sophomore majoring in broadcast
Housing, part 2
journalism and political science. She lives in the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority house, and like many other sorority house inhabitants, finds it to be a fun, enjoyable experience.
The advantages of living in a sorority house include having prepared meals, trash service, security and a large living space.
"I love living in the house," said Lisa Boya, a sophomore majoring in education and a member of Alpha Chi Omega. "It's a great experience that you only get to do while you're m college."
"Greek housing is the best option," said Marisa Zanfini, a sophomore majoring in health promotion and disease prevention and a member of Delta Gamma.
Interfratemity Council President Dennis Rodgers said that he is very much in favor of living in a house because it provides a good atmosphere, and it is convenient and in the middle of all the action.
"It's great," he said. "There's always someone to help you out.
"Living at Lambda Chi is a four-year vacation," Cosgrove said. "Four years of living with unique people from all walks of life. It's non-stop entertainment."
While living in the house has many advantages, some sorority members said there are drawbacks.
Zanfini said she does not like how far the Row is from campus and thinks the rule prohibiting males from being on the second floor of the house should be eliminated.
"We should do away with the rule 'no boys on the second
(See Housing, page 3)
Class of 1998 to start graduation planning
By Jennifer Prosser
Staff Wnter
Every spring, seniors hope that everything will go smoothly and that they will find a job after graduation. But with the demands of classes, work and deadlines for internships or graduate programs hanging above their heads, many are apt to forget a few things.
An activity fair named the "Salute to Class of 1998" last week helped seniors identify details they should be working out, such as deadlines for graduation announcements (March 20), information about class rings and hotel reservations for family members, but where should students go on campus now to finalize plans for a graduation that goes off without a hitch?
"First and foremost, I encourage all students to visit their department advisers to make sure all outstanding degree requirements are met," said Carlos Gutierrez, director of communications in the degree progress department. "They should double-check to make sure they are meeting all the requirements they need to grad-
uate."
Students also should verify their addresses and the correct spelling of their names, Gutierrez said, by checking with the verifications office or through the OASIS web site.
A pamphlet for seniors, with instructions for seating and parking at commencement and information on renting caps and gowns, is being offered in the Degree Progress office.
Students in need of career guidance, however, can visit the Career Center for help with their resumes, research on companies and mock interviews. Janette Brown, assistant director of recruiting, suggests that seniors looking for jobs take advantage of the center's resume referral service and open interviews with recruiters as soon as possible.
"Students are already missing out," said Brown, who added that these interviews will wrap up in mid-April and that students' resumes need to be filed with the center three weeks before the interview. Students who have taken business, communications or public adminis-
(See Graduation, page 3)
Jaaslca Namakkal / Daily Trojan
Scholarship candidates (left to right), Sarah Neiss from San Diego, Erica Fan from Topeka and Carmel Heckel from Los Alamitos await their interviews Tuesday.
caliber of the students has gone up as well, said Joseph Allen, dean of Admissions and
(See Scholarship, page 3)
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