USC benefits from Pac-10 collapse
Despite dropping their last two games by large margins, the USC men's basketball team is still alive for second place in the Pac-10 and a possible NCAA Tournament berth in March.
Sports, page 16
Coffeehouse offers smiles in the dark
What can a penniless, earless student do on a Friday night? The Chesire Cat offers free pie, music and conversation. Staff writer David Mendenhall offers an insight to the alternative coffeehouse on campus.
Diversions, page 7
Finding heroes on the family tree
Parents, grandparents and other family members represent real life heroes—mistakes and all. Editorial writer Sarita D. Jackson uses her grandmother as a point of inspiration for her life today
Viewpoint, page 4
F.Y.I.
Lemer to speak, Greek night
Michael Lemer, winner of a MacArthur Prize Fellowship for contributions to public health and founder of the Commonweal Institute, will speak at two events this week.
He will speak today from noon to 1 p.m. at the Norris Cancer Center, in the Tower 7th Floor Conference Center.
Lemer will also speak at a presentation over lunch on Wednesday from noon to 1:15 p.m. in the University Religious Center, room 108.
For more information or for reservations, call (213) 740-6110.
• ••
USC Athletics will host a "Greek Night" at the baseball game versus Pepperdine University tonight at 7 p.m. at Dedeaux Field.
All Greeks wearing their letters get free admission to the game. There will be Greek food, music and dancing.
For more information, call the athletic marketing department at (213) 740-4170,
1
Janitors return to work
By Evelyn Lau
Assistant City Editor
About 60 janitors who participated in a six-day strike last week made an unconditional request to return to work Monday morning, after demonstrating their anger toward ServiceMaster for alleged unfair labor practices.
The janitors' return to work Monday from their tactical strike is no indication of a concession, Local 399 officials said.
"They returned to work ... with the day shift," said Henry Lacher, director of ServiceMaster. He said he expects all janitors to report to their assigned shifts throughout the day and evening.
Janitors from the University Park Campus and the Norris Cancer Center walked off their jobs last Tuesday evening, in protest of alleged unfair labor practices committed by subcontractor ServiceMaster in the workers' attempt to unionize. The protest resulted in 12 arrests of workers and stu-
dents during a Thursday demonstration. All have been released.
"There was no agreement, but workers came back really energized about what they've accomplished," said Eddie Iny, Local 399 organizer. "They're really unified and are willing to fight for the union."
"Anything ServiceMaster does to threaten or intimidate them, they have demonstrated that they can walk off," Iny said. "They've also vowed to take their fight back to the workplace and will continue protesting in the streets. They're going to be vigilant about workers' treatment and will respond quickly."
Lacher said he supports workers' rights.
"We encourage ... their freedom to unionize," Lacher said.
ServiceMaster custodial departments at the University Park Campus and the NCC were able to provide continued service during the strike. ServiceMaster replaced striking workers "at a 50 percent rate and (See Janitors, page 2)
There was no agreement, but workers Came back really erter-
gized...
die
Thatcher tickets now
available
By Jason S. Grant Staff Writer
A lottery will be held today at 10 a.m. in the Student Union B-4 conference room for students who wish to attend the previously sold-out lecture by former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.
Student Body President Dave Gabler, University President Steven B. Sample and several other university officials were able to obtain the release of 140 tickets to the event in order to accommodate students who felt cheated after the event sold out two weeks ago.
Students will reach into a box filled with the numbers 1 to 500. Those who pick a number between 1 and 140 will begranted the right to purchase a ticket for $5. Those who pick any other number can return to the end of line and—if there are still tickets available—make another selection from the box.
(See Tickets, page 2)
Ebonics forum focuses on parent's role
activist and author, Jacinto Rhines Jr.
Rhines felt there was a "wholesale apathy" towards education. He describes a conversation with a teacher who was happy to graduate students with a ninth grade reading level.
Rhines also said schools need to be more sensitive in dealing with parents who do not speak standardized English.
Director of the Black Alumni Program Layne Bordenave said the primary focus should be on teaching phonics and teaching children now to read. Teachers are not doing this, she said.
"Ebonics—-I understand and feel—is a part of life, and it is our culture and heritage ... but if the school does not teach them to read, where will (students) hear standard English?" she asked.
"We can't let the education system off the hook," Rhines said. "Parents who are not edu-(See Ebonics, page 3)
By Olivia Hemaratanatom
Staff Writer
Over 20 people attended the Association of Black Students in Pre-Law Education’s roundtable on Ebonics Monday night at the Norman Topping Student Center, voicing tneir opinions on the "African Language System," the school system and African American education.
Although parents and teachers' responsibilities are important in an African American child's education, poverty and abuse are also issues that effect their education, participants said.
The association hosted the event during Black History Month to provide members an opportunity to benefit from discussing Ebonics, Association of Black Students president Tiffany Allison said.
The discussion began with a Angi* Chan / Daily Trojan poem about Ebonics written in Jacinto Rhines Jr. started the roundtable with a poem.	Ebonics, read by poet, teacher,
Awards at Shrine will close student parking
By Angie Chen
Staff Writer
Stars and singers in upcoming events like the Soul Train Music Awards and the Academy Awards at the Shrine Auditorium attract Trojans, but the inconveniences of parking and traffic consistently accompany the events.
On March 24, Parking Structure D will be primarily used as guest parking for the Academy Awards. Students will receive a free guest pass for the lot that can be used on another day. Traffic problems on Jefferson Boulevard are also anticipated.
Dawn Mugavero, associate director of Transportation Services, said the university is typically asked to provide parking for special events at the Shrine by organizing committees.
"We're asked if we can pro-
vide parking," Mugavero said. "On Saturday (events), we open up parking to them."
Tne auditorium will host the Soul Train Music Awards at 3:30 p.m. on March 7 and the Academy Awards at 4 p.m. on March 24. The Shrine Auditorium held the Screen Actors Guild Awards Saturday. For guests parking at USC facilities, Mugavero said Transportation Services charges a special event daily ticket of $10.
"It's not a permit st) much as a daily ticket," Mugavero said. "(The price) depends on the rate, but it's generally $10, and we primarily use Parking Structure D."
Revenue generated from special event parking goes to Transportation	Services,
Mugavero said.
According to a memorandum issued from Transportation
(See Parking, page 10)
Affected Parking Structures
		Parking will also be available
		in Parking Lot 1, located
		behind Dedeaux Field
Shrine Auditorium h	
	
Jefferson Boulevard
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Shaltay Knapp / Dally Trojan