Anthrax scares continue
Crime: Department of Public Safety officials spend hours investigating as many as three false alarms daily
By SPENCER MORGAN
Staff Writer
About two to three anthrax scares are reported to the Department of Public Safety each day, and though officials treat each instance as a real threat, all calls have been false alarms. With the recent rash of reports,
even the sight of common white powder frightens people and prompts them to call the police.
DPS Deputy Chief Bob Taylor estimates 18 to 24 “suspicious circumstances calls" so far this month, in which people reported a substance they thought could have been anthrax.
When DPS receives a call for a suspicious powder, officers go to the scene and try to determine if the substance is benign. If they cannot officers surround the area and call Safety and Risk Management to test the substance. Risk management agents, wearing hazard material
suits and respirators, can quickly determine the nature of the powder.
“Many of these instances tend to happen in restrooms for some reason,” said Bill Regensburger. director of emergency planning at USC.
So far the suspicious powders reported around campus have been determined to be soap, talcum powder, baby powder, plaster dust and other harmless substances.
In one instance a caller was concerned about a white powder in the womens bathroom in a building on campus. The substance was found on a changing table. Officers quickly
determined it was baby powder.
In another case this week, a girl called from a sorority house with concerns about a white powdery substance on she found on her hands. Officers found that it was a cornstarch used on magazines to prevent them from sticking.
“Its been a little bit frustrating for us, but we do respond as if it is a real problem," Regensburger said, adding that the main risk is in mailed packages and envelopes.
Regensburger hopes people calm down, as risk management l see Anthrax page 2 I
Religious learning needed, some say
Forum: Community leaders ask for increased interfaith dialogue for understanding
Student newspaper of the University of Southern California
I WEDNESDAY
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October 31, 2001
Of interest...
Editorial Columnist Minal Hasan urges continued support to traditional charities / 4
News Digest	2	Roundup	2
Opinions	4	Lifestyle	5
The Buzz	8	Classifieds	10
Crossword	11	Sports	12
vol. CXUV, no. 45 www.datlytrojan.coni
other spooky characters return to the spotlight for Halloween. Take a look and the creepy, bloody and frightening flicks. / 5
Hungry no more.
Students eat Thai food from the Thai Student Association booth at the International Students' Assembly International Food Fair at von KieinSmid Center
Tuesday afternoon. Nearly a dozen student groups served up food from all over the world. The assembly collected nearly 2,000 cans instead of charging for the food. All cans will be donated to local food pantries.
By VINAY CHARI
Contributing Writar
A lack of interfaith dialogue contributed to the cause of the Sept 11 attacks, Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders said in a forum at the School of Social Work Tuesday.
“Had we done this type of thing 10 years ago, even five years ago, perhaps we wouldn’t be in this situation," said the Rev. Alexei Smith, director of the Office of Ecumenical and Interreligious Affairs of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
Smith also discussed an interfaith group to which he belongs, called Bridging Los Angeles, where people of different religions examine each other’s faiths, even reading each other’s religious texts.
Emphasizing that each religion has its special strengths and weakness, USC Hillel Director Rabbi Jonathan Klein discussed the importance of religious diversity.
Most people are born into a religion and raised with it making religion “less about free will and more about predetermination," Klein said.
People of different faiths would trust each other more if they kept this in mind, he said.
Klein warned against attempts to bring people of different faiths together merely to discuss their religious differences. It would be better to start interfaith encounters with social activities and build from there, he said.
I see Forum page • I
Freddie,
Eating culture
Military policy will still eliminate gays, lesbians from serving in war
“It's difficult to... process someone out when they 're serving in a remote area."
STEVE RALLS communications coordinator Servicemen's Legal Defense Network
Regulation: Enforcement of don’t ask, dont tell' policy difficult to determine
By VINAY CHARI
Contributing Writer
The U.S. military is maintaining its official policy against known gay and lesbian service members, but the realities of the war on terrorism may make enforcement difficult
Last month, the Department of Defense authorized the Armed Forces branches to issue “stop loss orders" suspending some administrative excuses for discharging members. The department has not given branches
authority to suspend the “don’t ask, don’t tell" policy that governs the status of gay and lesbian personnel.
As a practical matter, “it’s difficult to administratively process someone out when they’re serving in a remote area," said Steve Ralls, communications coordinator of the Servicemen’s Legal Defense Network.
The military may also hesitate to discharge gays and lesbians who possess skills in short supply, such as fluency in Arabic, he said.
Even in wartime, gay and lesbian personnel incur significant risks of discharge. The “don't ask, don't tell" policy prohibits soldiers from being asked about their orientation “unless
I	see Military. page • I
Shots ready for new flu season
By NATALIE VERDUGO
Contributing Writer
With the flu season fast approaching, students are taking the necessary precautions by receiving the updated influenza vaccine before they travel during winter break.
More than 1,500 students are expected to receive free flu vaccinations this year at USC, and the majority will be vaccinated within the next two months.
University health officials warn students to take the necessary precautions and receive the updated vaccination before they begin traveling during holiday breaks.
“It's best to get the flu shot before Thanksgiving and Christmas, in early
HEALTH & MEDICINE
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November," said Robert Holbrook, USC Pharmacy director. “The flu generally starts spreading and gets most serious during fall break."
In southern California, influenza usually occurs from about November until April, with activity peaking between late December and early March. The optimal time for vaccination is during October and November.
I	see Medicine, page 7 I
Where To
Free flu vaccines available:
Hahn Plaza today il a.m. to 2 p.m.
University Pharmacy Monday-Fnday from 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.
University Health Center Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.