Michael L. Jackson, vice president of Student
Paying respects
Affairs, speaks at a memorial service for Siddhartha Basu. Basu died Jan. 22, 2005, of injuries he received in a fall from Pardee Tower. He was a freshman majoring in business administration. Jackson accompanied Basu’s body to his home in India after his death The service was held at Grouhd Zero coffeehouse next to a plaque dedicated to Basu. The message, written by Basu's mother, feads, "A friends guy who will always be a Trojan, loved by all who knew him. He will be missed."
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Student Newspaper of the University of Southern California Since 1912
January 20, 2006
INSIDE
Women's basketball will take on UCLA Saturday at the Sports Arena. 8
Vol. CXL VIII, No. 7
Dream. Wes Holland, manager of USCs Academic Record Services, leads the Bovard Auditorium audience in singing "Lift Every Voice and Sing."
USC remembers King
More than 800 people came to the event, held in Bovard Auditorium Thursday.
By ARCHANA PRAKASH
Staff Writer
USC’s 25th Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration Thursday afternoon looked back on the life of the civil rights leader while addressing contemporary issues of race and prejudice that blacks have yet to overcome.
More than 800 people from the USC community, as well as several classes from Los Angeles-area elementary schools, attended the event held in Bovard Auditorium to celebrate the reverend through song.
dance and discussion.
"Through celebrating Dr. King’s life we wanted to ask people to keep open minds, to listen and take what is said to heart," said Cynthia Brass, president of the Black Staff and Faculty Caucus, which organized the event.
The celebration centered on a keynote presentation given by USC law professors Jody Armour and Ronald Caret, titled "Race, Rap and Redemption." They discussed the issue of black incarceration and the stereotypes that pervade the criminal justice system.
"We believe that rap and hip-hop provide a way of engaging .issues of civil rights, equality, oppression, materialism and violence,” Caret said. "These are the same issues that
Dr. King addressed in his struggle. They are alive in this art form so many of us listen to and perform and engage in."
Armour opened the comments by asking, “Should we pour some liquor for Stanley "Tookie" Williams?" using the example of the recently executed Crips gang founder as a starting point for a discussion of the current state of black civil rights.
"The tragic fact is that a grossly disproportionate number of inmates are African-American,” Armour said. “The single-most pressing issue is incarceration. But speaking in broader terms, this issue serves as a springboard for a discussion of criminal and racial justice, as well as redemption."
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Two USC students express interest in Muslim sorority
Gamma Gamma Chi, the nation’s first Muslim sorority, was founded in April.
By T0REY VAN 00T
Staff Writer
Sisterhood, service, social awareness, educational development. The goals of Camma Camma Chi mirror many values upheld by existing Greek organizations. What sets Gamma Gamma Chi apart is that it is based on Islamic principles.
In the next few months, the sorority will likely open its first chapter — at the University of Kentucky — marking a milestone in the history of the Greek system. Two USC students have submitted membership inquiries to the organization.
The national sorority, a private nonprofit organization, was founded in April 2005 by Althia Collins and her daughter, Imani Abdul-Haqq, who wanted to join a sorority.
Most existing sororities are Christian-based, and although many Christian and Muslim values overlap, Abdul-Haqq wanted to find an opportunity for sisterhood that corresponded more with her religious and personal beliefs, Collins said.'
They conducted market research, working with Muslim student associations across the country to look into developing a Muslim-based sorority and received "enthusiastic response," Collins said.
Collins described Gamma Gamma Chi as an “opportunity to bridge the gap between Muslims and non-Muslims" and said she hopes the sorority can promote sisterhood, help members establish a large network, provide Muslim women
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Bobby Lee kicks off heritage festival
Quick
Facts
—♦— The Asian Pacific American Heritage Festival runs through February.
Film screenings and discussions are planned
Lee performed at USC four years ago, opening for Jay Mohr on McCarthy Quad.
By JUSTINA LY
SUff Writer
The Asian Pacific American Student Assembly kicked off its annual heritage festival Wednesday night with a comedy show starring comedian Bobby Lee from MADtv.
The festival, which runs throughout January and February, celebrates Asian Pacific American heritage with events such as discussion panels,
presentations and movie screenings. The theme for this year's festival is “United Colors of APA."
The corfledy show, held at Bovard Auditorium, was co-sponsored by the USC Program Board Special Events Committee and the Korean Student Association.
Lee performed in front of a capacity crowd, where he made jokes on topics including race, dating and his tumultuous relationship with his parents.
Lee, a cast member of the com-edy-sketch show MADtv for five seasons, has performed at USC in the past. He opened for comedian Jay
Mohr in fall 2002 in McCarthy Quad as part of Welcome Weeli festivities.
Lee said it was not difficult for him to break into the entertainment business despite his ethnicity.
"When I went to auditions." I was excited to walk into the room because I knew I was different. There would be many white guys and I was the one Asian." Lee said.
Despite all of his success on television. Lee said he is willing to per form in front of audiences of all kinds. He said he enjoyed performing for the students who attended the comedy show.
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WEATHER *
Today: Sunny High of M. low of 44 Tomorrow: Sunny. High 6& low 44.
INDEX
“Blood Simple," “Glengarry Glen Boss'and other movie* ignored by Hollywood. S
Dating at USC' has gone the way of the dinosaurs. 4
Non Durst_________2	Classifieds---- •
Opinions..........4	fro«word-----------T
Lifestyle_________t	Sports-------------§