Newspaper of the University of Southern California
Headlines
College guide touts USC libraries, spirit
By Ron Ognar
Staff Writer
Trojans like their sports teams and their libraries, according to the Princeton Review "Guide to the Best 310 Colleges 1997 Edition."
The annually updated report, which is based on multiple-choice surveys from current college students at 310 schools across the nation, ranked USC students 18th for how much they like their libraries and 4th for their ability to "pack the stadium."
Most students said they agreed with the positive portrayal of USC's libraries and school spirit.
"My friends at other schools don't turn out for games like USC students," said John Dudkowski, a freshman majoring in cinema. "At USC we're still turning out to games
because we know we're the best. We just haven't proven it yet."
y goon
said Christine Mereditn, a se
"We have a pretty good library system,"
majoring in biomedical and electrical engineering "Not just Leavey—the science and engineering libraries are pretty good also. I've never had a problem finding anything."
However, some students disagreed with the portrayal of USC students as spirited.
"Trojan fans are not terribly spirited," Meredith said. "Generally, we don't pack the Coliseum."
Other students agreed that Leavey Library is modern and easy to use but expressed frustration with Doheny Library.
"In Doheny, to find a book is like going through a maze," said Phil Ruder, a fresh-
(See Review, page 2)
A Snapshot of the University
Strengths
•	Great libraries
•	Students "pack the stadium"
•	Faculty are accessible
•	Campus is safe
•	Diverse student body
Weakness
•	Little interaction between students from different ethnic groups
•From the Princeton Review'* “Guide to the Best 310 College* 1997 Edition,’ bated on interview* with about 200 USC Muilent*
Study identifies potentially hazardous foods
Filmmaker Ichaso tells 'Sugar' story
Cuban-born director Leon Ichaso talks with film editor Scott Foundas about his latest film "Bitter Sugar," his career thus far, the state of contemporary Cuban politics and whatever else comes to mind.
Diversions, page 5
USC fails to hold on to 17-point lead
The USC football team, up by 17 points early in the fourth quarter, failed to hold off UCLA in a 48-41 doubleovertime loss Saturday at the Rose Bowl in front of 80,644 spectators.
Sports, page 12
Sights and sounds make a zoo of L.A.
Los Angeles is not the serene home many Trojans once knew, but editorial writer Chris G. Denina finds strange parallels between L.A. ana his boyhood town's neighbor, Marine World.
Viewpoint, page 4
Latino scholarship; Interactive forum
The Latino Forum scholarship deadline is Dec. 2. Completed applications can be dropped off with Elvira Vazquez, at Montgomery Ross Fisher Room 221, or Dolores Diaz-Sotelo, at Student Union Room 203.
• • •
The Communication Alumni Association will be holding a panel discussion on "Communication on the Web" on Monday, Dec. 2, in Annenberg Room 205. The event will highlight industry professionals from NBC Interactive, Columbia TriStar, rVision/BigGun Project and Hollywood Online.
Reservations are necessary. Tickets are $10 for CAA members and $15 for USC students. The deadline to RSVP is Wednesday, Nov. 27.
The reception will begin at 6 p.m., and the panel discussion will begin at 7 p.m.
For reservations or more information, call Sheryl Rothmuller at (818)840-3642.
By Stacy Matros
Staff Writer
The Environmental Protection Agency has released a list of 12 foods that contain the highest amount of contaminants, based on research done by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Health & Medicine
More than half of all existing pesticides can be found in these 12 crops. The crops have been classified by the EPA as having probable human carcinogens, nervous system poisons and
endocrine poisons.
The first five of the listed foods, in order of the highest amount of pesticide contained, are strawberries, bell peppers, spinach, cherries (U.S.) and peaches. Other foods on the list include celery, apples and es.
e EPA recommends replacing these foods in one's diet with alternatives that contain equal vitamin content. To fill the Food and Drug Administration requirement for vitamin C, for example, you can substitute oranges for strawberries.
Pesticides found in foods have been known to cause cancer, along with problems in the
reproductive organs, the immune system and the nervous system.
Even when purchasing organic foods, the specific food substitutions should be made, according to the study.
Organic foods, as the FDA defines them, may not contain pesticide levels more than 5 percent higher than action-level standards.
The pesticide counts for organic foods have been found to be higher than their makers claim. Some counts are even higher than those of foods from "non-organic" sources, according to the National Organic Standards Board.
The NOSB has found that some organic food growers falsely claim to be selling organic products, which has raised concern among consumers as well as consumer affairs groups.
However, the problem is not restricted to the growers' ethics. Other issues such as ground pollution, water pollution and pesticide drift contribute to organic ftxui contamination Lawmakers also get into the picture.
President Clinton signed a bill in August that allowed for less strict controls on pesticide levels in fiHtd, as it had been shown that the risk of harming children is small.
By Courtney Adams
Staff Writer
The body of USC film school raduate Ron Custer, for whom amily and friends had searched since he was deemed missing last month, was discovered Nov. 16, 200 yards behind his Brentwood apartment.
According to the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office, the body was in an “advanced state of decomposition." The cause of death is unknown, a coroner's office official said. FBI officials are investigating the case because Custer's body was found on the federally-operated Veterans Affairs grounds.
Friends and family shared excerpts from Custer's comic writing and anecdotes about him at Thursday's memorial service held at the USC Religious Center Memorial Chapel.
"The mood at the memorial was somber but inspiring," said David Webber, Custer's thesis adviser. "He was kind of a shy guy; many said it took a memorial to wish you knew him better. Everybody had a story that was funny; he was kind of a character. I was surprised—a guy who didn't come to the front very often but touched so many peo-
Courtaay of Dorothy Manard Alumnus Ron Custer
pie."
"He had the strongest Boston accent I've ever heard," said David Howard, director of the graduate screenwriting program. "He was a sweet guy with a great sense of humor."
Custer graduated from the cinema-television school's screenwriting program in 1995. He was given a divisional honor for his senior thesis, Howard said.
"His was one of the very best. We don't give (the distinction)
(See Custer, page 3)
Quiet after the storm
Troy Witt / Daily Trojan
Associate Athletic Director Daryl Gross consoles Delon Washington Saturday, after UCLA rallied 17 points in the fourth quarter and won in overtime. See Sports, page 12.
Monday
November 25,1996 Vol. CXXIX, No. 61
Family, friends recall alum's wit
Memorial service held for Ron Custer; body found after month-long search