Wednesday December 3,1997 Vol. CXXXII, No. 64
Headlines
Runnin' Rebels down USC, 82-72
After taking a slim 66-65 lead with 6:46 left in the game, the Trojans were outscored, 16-5, the rest of the way as the USC men's basketball team fell to UNLV Tuesday night at the Sports Arena.
Sports, page 16
Students should try to make 'Rent'
"Rent," which is playing at the Ahmanson Theatre, nas attracted a younger, more energetic audience to theater
Performances. Staff Writer u M. Tran explains what the fuss is all about.
Diversions, page 7
For politics, not personal belief
Posturing for candidacy in the 2000 race for the presidency, Gov. Pete Wilson has taken a position against benefits for gay partners just to garner votes, states Editorial Columnist Evan Busch.
Viewpoint, page 4
Bradbury signing, historical lecture
Author Ray Bradbury will sign his new book, "Driving Blind," a collection of short stories, at the USC Bookstore first floor at noon today.
• • •
Doyce B. Nunis Jr., a USC history professor, will present the first of his three-part series on California history today in the Oasis Center, at 4005 Crenshaw Blvd.
The free event will be on the second floor of Robinson-May building in Baldwin Hills.
For more information, call (213)740-4751.
• • •
Orientation for any student interested in USC guest relations staff or tour guide positions will be at 5 p.m. totlay and Thursday in the Admissions Center.
For more information, call (213) 740-6605.
• ••
A free seminar on "Getting into Medical School and the MCAT" will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. today in Heritage Hall Auditorium, room 110.
Newspaper of the University of Southern California
Legislative changes affect loans
By Phillip A. Moreno
Staff Writer
Congress recently passed a bill that will increase funding for higher education by $3.2 billion for the next fiscal year. The bill comes after more than two months of negotiations and cuts in grant and loan programs.
The most significant increase in federal funding — $900 million — went to the Pell Grant program, the largest increase the program has received in 20 years. The Nov. 17 vote, approved by a majority in both tne Senate and House of Representatives, will increase the grant program by $7.3 billion in 1998.
"The increase in federal funding will allow us to have $2 million more in Pell Grant money,"
said Catherine Thomas, associate dean of Financial Aid.
About 30 percent of students enrolled in USC have a Pell Grant, Thomas said.
Along with the Pell Grant increase, the Income Protec-	,
tion Allowances not independent, we
formula (IPA), « ,, ,,
snouldn t see any
« Since so many of our students are
earned more than $1,750, the excess money would be counted toward college expenses. That money would then be subtracted from a stu-
used to deter mine financial aid eligibility, was also modified.
The IPA, income the government will not consider when determining a student's financial aid award, has also been increased. In the past, if a dependent student
huge effects....
CATHERINE THOMAS associate dean, financial aid
'Mr. Spock' talks on film industry, Star Trek success
dent's total financial aid award.
The new modifications will increase the dependent limit to $2,200, and $4,250 for independent students, and will ultimately lead to more financial aid for those students who meet the qualifications. "Since so many of our students are not independent, we shouldn't see any huge effects in
financial aid awards," Thomas said.
"Any money that I can get to help me with paying my college expenses is good," said Michael Sabin, a junior majoring in exercise science.
State Senator Diane Watson, whose district covers the area surrounding USC, was pleased with the increase in federal money, said Charles Stewart, Watson's chief deputy.
"(Watson) believes the opportunity to auality higher education should be made available to all of those qualified without regard to financial need," Stewart said. "(Watson) is also delighted that students of her district at USC will benefit from the increase in Pell Grants. She hopes this will ensure continued
(See Legislation, page 3)
By Jennifer Kelleher
Staff Writer
Leonard Nimoy, famous for his Star Trek character Mr. Spock, focused on his perspectives and experiences as an actor, director and producer at the semester's final Tuesdays®Annenberg presentation for a full crowd in Annenberg Auditorium Tuesday.
Nimoy became an icon over the years as the popular television show branched off into syndication and, later, a series of six feature films. He directed "Star Trek III: The Search for Spock" and "Star Trek IV: The Voy Home."
"I was concerned about carrying both jobs of director and actor," said Nimoy, who also portrayed Spock while directing Star Trek III."
Aside from his work with Star Trek, some of Nimoy's directorial credits include "Three Men and a Baby," starring Tom Selleck, and "Funny About Love," starring Gene Wilder.
"We decided to lighten it up a bit," said Nimoy about the fourth Star Trek movie, which focused on time travel. "The first ones were kind of depressing."
"Star Trek IV," which also cen-
voyage
tered around the rescue of the humpback whale, is the highest grossing of the Star Trek films to date, he said. It had a budget of about $26 million.
Nimoy said that with "Star Trek IV' he wanted to make a film about space travel to the 21st century He thought about a storyline that concerned some-
thing from the
that
presen would benefit the future.
The plight of endangered humpback whales interests Nimoy, he said.
"There's a lot of mystery, a lot of romance behind them," he said. "They're charismatic, benign, and their signing is quite fascinating.
"If signing stopped, what effect will it have in the 23rd century?" he asked, explaining why humpback whale communication became the basis of the movie. He also presented video footage of humorous outtakes during the filming of "Star Trek IV," and discussed the creation of special effects in the movie.
Tnere was also a video showing how filmmakers made whale models and filmed certain scenes in an excavated tank below the Paramount Studios parking lot in Los Angeles. Nimoy also said that a lot of
whale shots were taken off the coast of Hawaii.
"The first time 1 directed a Star Trek film, I was surprised that the cast wasn't enthusiastic about the film," Nimoy said. "It took me a while to prove to the cast that 1 was serious about the work."
Students, faculty, alumni and staff attended the free event,
which was open to the public, to hear the entertainer.
"I've been a Star Trek fan for a long time," said Tim Johnston, a sopnomore majoring in aerospace engineering. "I wanted a cnance to see Spock up close and personal.''
Derek Johnson, a freshman
(See Spock, page 2)
GPSS sponsors food and toy collection
By Angela Sperber
Staff Writer
The Graduate and Professional Student Senate (GPSS) is co-sponsoring a food and toy drive on campus, which began Nov. 10 and will run through Dec. 10.
"I think while tne toy and food drive is a small effort, it's symbolic of the graduate students' desire to reach out to the larger USC community and those outside the university," said Lewis Lester, an external liaison with GPSS who coordinates student outreach activities.
Each of the 66 departments has a represen-
tative collecting the food and toys. Food and toy
office, Leavey Library
ngt s na
toys ea in the GPSS the Health
containers have been place and
Sciences office.
In the last two years, the philanthropic event has not been as successful as it was in previous years. Oftentimes, the drive’s success depends on the representatives promoting the charity in eacn department, Lester said.
"This year has some very committed people working, so we're expecting a better turnout, especially from graduate students," Lester said.
"I think that food and toy drives are a
Ki
reat way to help out the needy," said Lana raus, a freshman majoring in political science who said she plans to make a donation. "This type of charity is better than donating money, because with money you don't always Know what it's all going toward."
GPSS is also in the process of planning an upcoming penny drive. Each department will try to collect as many pennies as it can. The winning department gets 50 percent of all the pennies earned to donate to their own charity. The other departments get to choose where the remaining pennies will go.
Angla Chan / Daily Trojan
Leonard Nimoy discusses Hollywood film industry at the Annenberg School for Communication Tuesday evening.