DPS officers arrest three suspects for recent robberies
Santee shooting raises gun debate
Department of Public Safety officers arrested three suspects Monday night they believe to be connected with a recent rash of robberies targeted mainly at international Asian students in the North University Park area, said Deputy Chief Bob Taylor.
A fourth suspect escaped on foot, and remains at large.
The suspects have been identified as Alejandro Magana, 25; Ronald Guzman, 17; and John Solano, 17, Taylor said. None are USC students. Although the fourth suspect escaped, Taylor said he thinks the three suspects currently in custody will release his identity upon questioning.
They were apprehended at about
7:15 p.m. at 29th Street and Vermont Avenue after a brief car chase that followed the latest in the string of at least half a dozen robberies.
“There was a short vehicle pursuit, which culminated around Adams (Boulevard) and Orchard (Street),” Taylor said.
More than 90 percent of the victims were Asian. Taylor believes the they were targeted them because suspects thought they would be more vulnerable than domestic students.
"The suspects may have believed that since they were not Americans, they may have been intimidated more easily,” he said.
—	Jeff Sklar, Assignment Editor
Reaction: Students consider \ possible causes of violence in San Diego high school
By JULIA MILES
Contributing Writer
Monday’s shooting at Santana high school in the San Diego suburb of Santee is prompting debates about school safety and gun control.
Santee native Clint Whited said he is surprised to see the usually quiet town turned upside down, but the College Republican vice president said stricter gun laws would not prevent such an incident
"It's the world that we live in. people make poor decisions,” said Whited, public policy and management major.
"1 can tell you without hesitation that more gun legislation would not have prevented this tragedy"
However, parents should not allow their children to have access to guns, Whited said, adding that life in the suburban neighborhood is relaxed.
"My brother and his friends are escorted to class now,” he said. “Two students lost their lives—both my little brothers age.”
Mehmet Eker, a graduate student in electrical engineering, lives in Santee and said he was crushed by the incident
"It's a big problem (and] you cannot prevent these things," Eker said, "it's a social problem. (The city is] swamped with news reporters. I used to see those young men going to school every day, (now] everything
has changed.1*
Many said the shooting echoed sentiments from the Columbine incident in 1999.
“1 couldn't believe it happened again." said Gina Huang, a freshmen majoring in business. "I'm actually scared because these high school shootings are becoming more and more common. He's a freshman who probably got picked on; I’m sure he felt out of place and lonely, but there’s no way to prevent thaL’
There have been four high school shootings in southern California in the last decade. In January. Richard Lopez, a 17-year-old Hueneme High School student took Lorena Gonzalez. 17, hostage before Oxnard SWAT team members fatally shot
t see	page 111
Fearless
Freshmen
Most of the freshmen on the USC womens basketball team have made their marks on the squad /16
Student newspaper of the University of Southern California
WEDNESDAY
-♦-
March 7, 2001
Of interest...
With museums, movies and more, Exposition Park is the perfect place to spend time / 7
News Digest 2	Opinions	4
Editorial	4	Lifestyle	7
The Buzz	1	Classifieds	12
Crossword	13	Sports	It
vol. CXXXXII, no. 38 www.usc.edu/dt
Grad
Student
Life
PART 3 Of 4
Senate creates elections investigation task force
Sound of music. The members of the USC Jazz Percussion Ensemble perform at Tommy Trojan as part of Festival de Aztlan kick-off Monday. The month-long celebration is sponsored by the Latino Student Assembly. Events include a comedy night, dance performance and art show. The ninth annual event is meant to educate students about Latino culture. Clear skies helped draw more people to Tuesday's performance.
Graduates call for on-campus housing
Property: GPSS advocates for specially designated space; university residents mostly undergraduates
By BETH COOMBS
SUff Writer
While graduate students make up about 44 percent of the total USC student population, they receive less than 8 percent of the university-owned housing spaces, said Jennifer Vega, president of the Graduate and Professional Student Senate.
More than 200 graduate students who applied to university housing last year were denied space, said Jeff Urdahl, director of housing adminis-. tration. There were others who wanted to live in USC housing, but recognized the lack of space and either
chose not to apply or canceled their applications, Urdahl said.
“We definitely have a number of people (who) we suggest alternative housing to," he said. “We can’t accommodate everyone.”
USC houses 2,831 • freshmen, 3,033 other undergraduates, 312 graduate students and 55 graduate student families. Vega said.
“Every year we receive less and less housing," Vega said. “1 know the university’s goal is to improve undergraduate housing, and I hope they also look into doing that at the graduate level.” Tom Bustamante, social programming chair for GPSS, agreed that graduates need more housing options. He said that while it is great that the university is trying to improve housing for undergraduates, the improvements should be equally focused on the graduate level.
I see OnduatM, page 111
Playing hard
llis important lo do I his now before... wc fortpt the details I hat were inifxirtant thisyear
MICHAEL MATOBA executive director, Program Board
Meeting: Committee will explore ways to improve regulations forfuture races
By KATIE WERNER
Student Senate Writer
Student Senate formed an Elections Investigation Committee at Tuesday night’s meeting, responding to recommendations included in the Judicial Council decision last week.
The purpose of the committee is to “investigate what was wrong (with the election process) and review and
improve it" Michael Matoba, executive director of Program Board, said. Josh Meltzer, director of student advocacy and a junior majoring in public relations, co-authored the proposal with Matoba.
“It is important to do this now before elections come around again next year and we forget the details that were important this year," said Matoba, a senior majoring in business administration.
The proposal passed unanimously. The task force will be made up of two members of the Elections
I see Senate, page 2 I