Newspaper of the University of Southern California
Wednesday May 15,19%
Vol. CXXVIII, No. 1
Headlines
USC wins second straight Six-Pac
The Trojan baseball team clinched its second consecutive Pac-10 Southern Division crown at Arizona State and then swept UCLA last weekend. USC will face Washington this weekend.
Sports, page 16 *
When everything's just plain beachy
Ever wonder what the Southern California coast's famous beaches were all about? Get the lowdown on sun, surf, sand and social scenes with our formal introduction to summer.
Diversions, page 8
Result of tax repeal may affect students
Though politicians are striving to eliminate the 1993 gas tax increase, assistant editorial director Christian Cooper points out that the negative consequences of doing so may outweigh its benefits.
Viewpoint, page 4
F.Y.I.
Rentals on-line, in-line skating
Students seeking an apartment can find information on the internet through Rent.Net, a free, easy-to-use service. More than 400,000 units at every price level are represented in both the U.S. and Canada.
The company has listings in almost every U.S. state and focuses primarily on the Los Angeles area. The web site is at http://www. rent.net and the e-mail address is mail@rent.net.
• • •
The world's top in-line skaters will be performing at the Third Annual People Magazine In-Line Skating Spectacular.
The event will be held at the Manhattan Beach Pier on Sunday, May 19 beginning at 11:00 am.
Clinics for in-line skaters will be offered at no charge and skates and protective
S?ar will be provided for ose who do not have them.
Class of '96 receives fond farewell
By Victoria Manley
Si,iff Writer
USC held its 113th Commencement Ceremony, honoring and hosting an estimated 35,000 relatives and friends of over 9,000 graduates in Alumni Park Friday.
The two-hour ceremony highlighted commencement speaker John Harold Johnson, publisher and founder of Ebony magazine, and a valedictory speech by Kemal Demirciler, who graduated with a 4.0 GPA in electrical engineering. Rabbi Susan Laemmle, director of the USC Hillel Jewish Center and interim director of Campus Ministry, delivered the invocation,
President Steven B. Sample conferred 4,934 bachelor's degrees, 3,655 master's degrees and 764 doctorates. In total, there were 9,353 graduates at the ceremony.
"We have great confidence that you will contribute in many great ways...to our world," Sample said in his remarks. "Congratulations on a job well done."
Johnson, who also received an honorary degree in Doctor of Laws, delivered a half-hour speech about entrepreneurship and taking the initiative to suc-
ceed.
"You really have to do the things you are afraid to do," he said. "You look for opportunities to start something new, ...and then you do it."
Johnson shared with the congregation his trials of becomin a success as a publisher an entrepreneur, ana fed graduates with words of advice on "succeeding against the odds in the 21st century."
"Don’t ever be discouraged when no one thinks (you have) a good idea except you," Johnson said. "In life, when everyone turns you down, you've got to do it yourself."
In his speech, Johnson shared anecdotes of his years growing up in Arkansas and the life lessons he has learned since. Today, he is chairman and CEO of the Johnson Publishing Co. Inc., the largest black-owned publishing company in the world with a readership of 11 million. In late 1995, Johnson created Ebony South-Africa of which he serves as editor and publisher.
Johnson also discussed his autobiography, Succeeding Against the Odds, released in 1989, which chronicles his life from Arkansas to the present day, as the head of a corporation
Seniors give victory signs in
that has yearly sales of $316 million.
His final words of advice for the graduates was to always strive for perfection, and continue to push themselves.
"You just can't brag about your college degree. You just can't send and fax your resumes all over the place," he said. "Whatever field you go into, do it so well that they can't make it without you, and you'll live a better life."
Demirciler spoke of the roadblocks he suffered in coming to
Brandon Hancock / Summer Troian
conquest of their college years.
USC more than 10 years ago.
Demirciler was forced to postpone attending USC after he suffered a diving accident in 1985 that severely injured his spinal cord, leaving him with no use of his legs and limited use of his arms.
"Today, I truly see the importance of education," he said.
Four honorary degrees were given by Sample toward the end of the ceremony. The recipients were: Per-lngvar Branemark, Doctor of Science; John Harold
(See Commencement, page 3)
Graduation a family affair
Brandan Hancock / Summer Trojan
Family spirit ran high at ceremonies.
By Rad Probst
Staff Writer
Graduation is a time to celebrate an achievement, reflect on the past, and look toward the future, which recent commencement exercises held at USC proved to be true.
Family, friends, staff, faculty and students gathered in an overflowing Alumni Park to listen to President Steven B. Sample salute the recent graduates and guide them into the working world. John Johnson, CEO of Ebony magazine, gave a moving speech about his childhood, which many guests found to be inspirational.
Tony Gallippi was very "impressed with what (Johnson] had to say."
"What he went through with all the odds against him, it was moving," said Gallippi, who was there to watch his son, Tony Gallippi Jr. receive his doctorate in electrical engineering.
"The achievement my son has accomplished is great and I know he'll go straight to the top. That's the advantage of graduating from USC," Gallippi said.
Tracy Anderson attended the ceremony to watch her sister, Jenn Anderson, go through commencement.
"With USC being situated in L.A. and all the different people that [Jenn] was able to meet, she's sure to have a prosperous future," Anderson said. "The exposure she has received with such excellent programs is phenomenal."
Not only was graduation a time for families to be proud of their brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, cousins, nieces and nephews, and moms and dads, but it was also an opportunity for the graduates themselves to be proud of what they have achieved.
Kelly Chang, who received her degree in dental hygiene, was already looking to the future.
"1 may come back to USC for more schooling but right now I'm focusing on passing my board exam," Chang said.
Chang also commented on the advantages of graduating from USC, adding that "the connections I've made have been very helpful and the traditions that come along witn a USC degree are great."
Senator speaks on drug sentencing, prison costs
By Karen Santos
Staff Writer
California Senator Pro Tempore Bill Lockyer spoke on campus Wednesday May 8 to a group of students about his support of decreasing sentences for minor drug offenses and reforming state sentencing policies for otner crimes.
Lockyer focused on the unequal amounts spent on prisons that house minor offenders and suggested that changes be made for incarcerating them.
"Last year was the first year that we spent more on prisons than on nigher learning," he said. "There is a great deal of
voter belief in longer penalties ... there's less crime now, but public anxiety is up."
Lockyer said that he would like to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana and would like to prevent making small crimes felonies. He said he also wants treatment and education programs available for those found guilty of drug possession.
"(The state) has filled its prisons with low-level drug dealers," he said. "(The state) should try spending more time on demand rather than supply."
He said that the current sentencing system is too complicated and it "becomes very politi-
cal” when lawmakers who want to appear tough on crime push legislation that would yield long sentences for small crimes.
"I see no constitutional infirmity (in the three strikes law)," he said. "It may show some lack of disciplined spending," he said, commenting that with this policy the crime that puts a criminal in jail permanently can be a small offense like petty theft.
Lockyer's lecture was part of the Distinguished Lecture Series, a string of talks by prominent politicians, includii
for-candidate
ling
andic
P
Michael Dukakis.
"(Lockyer) is probably the
second most powerful politician in California (after Gov. Pete Wilson),'' said Viktoria Stamison, assistant director of the Jesse Unruh Institute of Politics, which sponsored the lecture,
Stamison said that Lockyer spoke about criminal justice reform because of the prevailing public sentiment in California.
The Jesse Unruh Institute of Politics is a campus organization that aims to "bring leaders and expose students to leaders in an effort to inspire them to get into
[•olitics," Stamison said. The nstitute also aims to achieve this goal through internships offered to students of all majors.