Newspaper of the University of Southern California
Annla Lahatto / Dally Trojan
Traveler IV's memorial was revealed as a senior prank Wednesday.
Skull and Dagger pulls off dead horse prank
By Derick Dahilig
Staff Wnlcr
Every year since 1913 the Skull and Dagger Society, the oldest honor society at USC has pulled a prank on the students and faculty of the university. This year's
frank was a staged memorial service for raveler IV and tne unveiling of Traveler V in Hahn Plaza Wednesday afternoon.
"The purpose was to have fun," said Dave Gaoler, outgoing student body president and a senior majoring in business. "It was supposed to be a prank. We were making sure that we enjoyed ourselves as seniors. No harm was done."
"The idea was only conceived last week," said Brock Harris, a senior majorin;
ajoring
ductea
in filmic writing. "We were just inductei into the club. Every time after the Skull and Dagger class is selected they pull a prank. So it was our turn."
Some students said they were unaware that the memorial service was a prank and expressed their sadness at the alleged death of the university's mascot before they found out the death was a hoax.
"I'm saddened by it," said Robert
Woolley, a senior majoring in political science. "It was a shock when 1 first heard (of Traveler's death). He represented a tradition. He was a sign of victory for the university. I don't know if it's appropriate to bring out Traveler V, but it's a nice way of closing for Traveler IV and a nice way of introducing Traveler V as our new mascot."
"I think it's sad," Katie Sullivan, a sophomore majoring in business administration, said before the noon event took place. "He was our mascot. He represented USC. That's a pretty important part of USC and to the athletic program."
Kristine Dillon, associate vice president of Student Affairs, led the student body in a moment of silence, then Gabler introduced the trailer to bring in Traveler V. When the trailer pulled up, Skull and Dagger members brought out a donkey wearing a sign saying "Don't You Feel Like an Ass?" along with the statement ^Traveler IV lives!" in small print.
After students discovered the service and death was a prank, many agreed it was all in good fun.
(See Prank, page 12)
Kemp to speak at ceremony
By Courtney Adams
Staff Writer
Former congressman and Republican vice presidential candidate Jack Kemp will deliver this year's commencement address on Mav 9.
Kemp was a congressman for nine terms in Buffalo, N.Y., and ran for vice president in 1996 with Republican nominee Bob Dole. He is the co-director and co-founder of Empower America, a public policy and advocacy organization. He also served as secretary of Housing and Urban Development for four years in the Bush administration.
Prior to his political career, Kemp played 14 years of professional football, serving as captain of the San Diego Chargers from 1960 to 1962 and captain of tne Buffalo Bills in 1964 and 1965.
Kemp will receive an honorary doctor of laws degree, one of five honorary degrees to be given at the commencement ceremony.
Tony Pham, a graduating doctoral student, described a qualified speaker as one who "gives advice on how to step out into the working world, has a successful career in leadership, has integrity and is diverse so people have something that they can identify with—someone who's credible."
"(Kemp is) a motivator; he's been through the whole thing of getting people motivated," Pham said. "As quarterback of the Chargers, he had to get people excited to win. As a candidate, he was motivating people again."
Many students said an ideal commencement speaker would be one who could relate to all of the graduates. "Someone who can relate to the entire student body," said Tracey Smith, a junior majoring in business. "Graduation is for the students. (The speaker and message) should be tailored to the students at the graduation."
Some students were somewhat disappointed.
Kaia Harts, a junior majoring in exercise science, said she believes Kemp will cater more to the business, finance, political science and public policy students. "Do you
(See Kemp, page 12)
Student almost deported by new law
Thursday April 17,1997 Vol.CXXXNo.60
Headlines
Dedeaux's legend continues to live
The impact that former USC baseball coach Rod Dedeaux had on the sport of collegiate baseball can still be felt by coaches across the country, despite the fact that he has not coached in 11 years.
Sports, page 20
'Grease' not as slick as it used to be
The Los Angeles production of "Grease" is tired, overdone and should be put to sleep. Staff writer Andrea Parker explains why she feels the cast of the play should stop trying to fit in.
Diversions, page 7
Begging for more than simple cash
Often we are accosted on the street by a homeless person who demands change or food, but editorial writer Kimo Koshi argues that these panhandlers deserve to be treated with decency.
Viewpoint, page 4
F.Y.I.
Author lecture, health care talk
Author Lynneclaire Dennis will discuss her near-death experience in a hot-air balloon ride over the Alps at 7:30 p.m. at The Bodhi Tree bookstore, 8585 Melrose Avenue, West Hollywood.
For more information, call Jean D'Arcy at (310) 659-1733. • •• *
Elyn Saks' Mental Health Law class will be holding a panel discussion today on Community Heath Services for the Next Century" from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. in room 1 of the Law School.
For more information, call Elyn Saks at the USC Law School at (213) 740-7572.
• ••
Jewish Outdoor Experiences will be taking students on a horseback trail ride and picnic dinner through Griffith Park on Sunday in honor of Earth Day.
There are a limited about of spaces available. For more information, call (213) 747-9135.
By Arda Hamalian
Staff Writer
A new immigration law almost caused a USC student to be deported and has caused concerns and confusion among many international students ana immigrants.
Donald Vega, a junior majoring in jazz performance, faced deportation earlier this year due to the "Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigration Responsibility Act of 1996," which was signed by President Clinton on Sept. 30,1996.
The new law is similar to stricter state immigration laws passed recently ana focuses on immigrants who are in the country without permission, said Los Angeles immigration attorney Adam Green.
Immigrants face much more severe consequences under the new law, Green said.
According to one of the law’s new provisions, any illegal noncitizen who remains in the
United States unlawfully between six months to one year after April 1,1997, will be barred from returning to the country for three years. Any non-citizen who stays in the country for over a year after April 1 will be barred for 10 years.
Vega came to the United States in 1989 with his parents, seeking political asylum from his native country,
Nicaragua.
Vega was able to avoid deportation because he was "grandfathered" by the old immigration law.
The old law said if an non-citizen was here seven years, was a good citizen and would undergo extreme hardship if deported, the non-citizen could go to the
immigration office and become eligible to suspend the deportation, Green said.
However, the new law states that a non-citizen must have been in the United States for 10 years, and their deportation would have to cause a severe and unusual hardship to an American citizen in order to be considered for suspension, he said.
The bill is concerned with an immigrant's status, not the person's visa, said Dixon Johnson, executive director of International Services. A visa is necessary for a erson to enter the United tates. However, status deals with how long an non-citizen is permitted to oe in the United
States, he said.
If an non-citizen is in the country as an international student, the student's school determines his or her status according to how long it will take them to earn their degree.
If an international student drops out of school without the permission of the international office or fails to take a full course load, the student's visa will be void and he or she will be considered illegal, Green said.
"The provisions are not good," Vega said. "Not only for me, but for every immigrant in the United States. We will see people hurting."
"Most people come here for a new life—for freedom," Vega said. "Something must have been wrong with their countries that caused them to flee."
Vega also said he was surprised by the support of thp jazz community as well as the attention he got from the media.
"The Wall Street lournal, New (See Vega, page 13)
siotts are not good. Not only for me, but for every immigrant in the United States.
DONALD VEGA junior