Newspaper of the University of Southern California
Headlines
Open up, they're climbing in
The USC men's basketball team now finds a few more fans jumping on the bandwagon after sweeping the Bay Area schools and ending the week with a share of the Pacific 10 Conference lead.
Sports, page 16
Aid deadlines around the corner
It's almost more dreaded than finals week, scarier than your worst hair day. Staff writer Alyson Beck takes a look at how to prevent financial aid nightmares by simply making deadlines.
Diversions, page 7
Buyers, beware of useless products
Though many inventions advertised on television are unnecessary and excessive, editorial writer Bryan McAdams points out how American consumers still fall prey to clever promotions.
Viewpoint, page 4
Domestic abuse, Mortar Board
In order to raise awareness about domestic violence, Alpha Chi Omega will have a booth in front of Tommy Trojan Tuesday through Thursday, Feb. 11-13, from noon to 2 p.m. in celebration of their "Have a Heart Week.''
Purchase a heart pin for $1 to support the cause. All proceeds go to battered women's shelters.
For more information, or to help out, call Michelle Brown at (213) 747-4144.
•	• •
. Mortar Board Senior Honor Society invites all outstanding juniors and continuing seniors to consider membership for the 1997-1998 academic year.
Mortar Board honors academic excellence (minimum 3.3 GPA), leadership and service. Information sheets are available in Student Union, room 201.
Deadline for return of applications is Friday, Feb. 14 at 5 p.m.
Tuesday
Februaiy 11,1997 Vol. CXXX, No. 22
Software
navigates
degrees
By Megan Monroe
Staff Writer
USC will be the first university in the United States later this spring to use a new software program to enable students to check on their degree progress.
The Degree Navigator is a new program under development by the university to provide course requirements and information relevant to specific student cases. This program maps out progress in a specific field of study using a collection of island-shaped graphics to represent courses and tneir requirements.
The Office of Academic Records and Registrar will be able to determine a more accurate date of implementation in four to six weeks when they receive the prototype for the program.
"(The Degree Navigator is) a tool to help students get the most out of the uni-
(See Navigator, page 2)
Panel
Tickets for Thatcher sold out
discusses
elections
By Karen Santos
Assignment Editor
Former campaign managers from Republican and Democratic parties headed up a career panel Monday, speaking about candidates' credibility and campaign issues, and informing students on how to get jobs in campaigning.
The panel, sponsored by the Student Advisory Committee of the Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics, included Dan Schnur, who worked on Pete Wilson's
5;ubernatorial campaign, and ennifer Steen, campaign manager for Congresswoman Jane Harman (D) of the South Bay.
'This is to show (students) (See Campaign, page 3)
By Kamron Barron
Assignment Editor
Though the former prime minister of Great Britain, Margaret Thatcher, will not be speaking in Bovard Auditorium until Feb. 26, student tickets for the lecture were sold out within a few hours of their availability.
Of the 1,542 seats available in Bovard, only the second balcony, which seats approximately 380 people, was made available to students for the President's Distinguished Lecture Series, said Craig Springer, program specialist for the Office of Student Activities. The orchestra pit and first balcony seats were already sold to various departments, deans and university-affiliated organizations, he said.
Though a ticket office employee said that 200 tickets were made available to students at $5 each, the event sold out on Feb.
3.
Various departments and deans were given the opportunity to purchase $30 tickets "a few weeks” ahead of students,
Springer said.
The event, which will cost between $40,000 and $50,000, is being paid for with funds from Building on Excellence, President Steven B. Sample's university fundraising campaign, Springer said.
"It's important for people to remember that no tuition funds were used and there were no programming funds used for this program," Springer said.
Fifty to 75 of the tickets are reserved for guests of a dinner party hosted by Sample. The rest of the seats were taken by University Advancement, various departments and deans, Springer said.
Duke Blackwood, director of development for USC Associates, which is a part of University Advancement that raises funds for all areas of the university, said USC Spectrum sent invitations to members of USC Associates. USC Spectrum distributed the tickets, Blackwood said.
There are six levels of donations required to become a USC
Associate, USC Associates officials said. If the donor is under the age of 30, the annual membership donation is $1,000; if the donor is 31 to 35 years old, the annual donation is $1,500; if the donor is over .35, the annual donation is $2,500. The donor can also opt for an additional pledge package that spans over five years at $25,000, $50,000 or $100,000.
USC Associates officials were unable to cite the exact number of tickets they sold.
Signs posted at the ticket office last week stated tickets may become available after Feb.
4,	but as of Monday, no tickets are now available or expected to become available.
"Our boss was going to notify us by a phone call, but we never got any in," said a ticket office employee.
Springer said he was not able to explain where these extra tickets might come from. Ticket office officials could not be reached for comment.
"I'm really disappointed. I (Set 7h:tchf r, page 2)
Bead me up, Mardi
Angle Chan / Dally Tro|an
Student Tina Vartanian makes Mardi Gras beads for a store in West Hollywood.
Local eatery to close due to lack of business
By Jennifer Arrache
Staff Writer
Whether you are craving a midday snack, in need of a pack of cigarettes or looking for a Frencn bistro this side or Fairfax Avenue, Au Rendez-Vous is an option that will satisfy your yearnings.
However, Au Rendez-Vous' relationship with the Trojan family will soon come to an end when the home of the croissant sandwich closes its doors in the next few months, said Abdul Ziane, owner of Au Rendez-Vous.
Au Rendez-Vous, located in the shopping center on the corner of Figueroa and 30th streets, once enjoyed a flourishing business due to a high level of student patronage. Over the last
two years, business has noticeably declined, and Ziane blames this on USC.
Due to the university's strict regulations against weeknight parties on the Row, Ziane said ne has noticed a decline in business. Zip's Market, Carmel's and the Green Burrito all have folded. "The fraternities and sororities used to have parties any night of the week, and then they used to eat out at night. But now, USC won't ever let them have
Earties," Ziane said. "So every-ody goes away from the campus and now my business must close."
Some upperclassmen remember the days when USC supported a more festive night life, and several agree that Au Rendez-(See Closure, page 2)
Doan La / Dally Trojan
Au Rendez-Vous, located In the shopping center on 30th end Figueroa streets, is closing in a few months.