INSIDE
Winston Justice makes his return to the field after a two-semester suspension. 16
www.dailytrojan.com
Student Newspaper of the University of Southern California Since 1912
August 24, 2005
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Vol. CXLVII, No. 3
Campus cashier dies at age 65
Thirty two-year Hospitality Services veteran Alejandro Najera will be remembered by many as kindhearted.
By PRESTON THYMES
Contributing Writer
Beloved by many of the students and staff he met during the 32 years he worked at the university, Commons staff member Alejandro Najera died suddenly Aug. 12 from a heart attack, two days after his 65th birthday.
"Alex," as he was known to his friends and family, left behind a legacy of warmth and compassion that transcended the Common's registers, where he opened every morning at 6:45 a.m.
Known for his charm and humility, one of Najera’s friends said he was in good spirits and still enjoying life the night before he died.
Najera suffered complications after having kidney surgery in early July, which spread into a severe infection causing massive blood loss.
"He always had a smile and took the time to learn about each one of his customers," said Dawn Mugavero, USC’s human resource director.
Her words echoed the collective sentiment of Najera's co-workers, who couldn't help but smile as they tried to find the words to describe him.
Najera served USC for more (han 32 years in Hospitality Services working all over campus, from a small popcorn stand to the busy daily rush of Commons.
Najera's absence has been felt by many at the university, said Lisa Frey, assistant manager at Commons.
I see Natan, page a
Beating the odd*.
Desiree Campos, director of the Norman Topping Student Aid Fund, received a 4.0 GPA while earn mg a triple maior in political science, arthropod ogy and American studies and ethn*cities.
Jeremy Beecher I Daily Trojan
Emergency. Fire trucks were in front of the Pi Beta Phi house midday Sunday when the bannister of a balcony broke off, sending two to the hospital.
Rail break sends 2 to hospital
Several other Phi fieta Pi
students were treated for various injuries at the scene.
By STEVEN CHEN
Staff Writt'r
A banister at the Pi Beta Phi sorority house collapsed midday Sunday, sending two students to California Hospital Medical Center and injuring several others, according to a Department of Public Safety report.
“Two girls had to be transported. One was in a c-spine — that’s
cervical-spine precautions and one had abdominal pain,” said Capt. Lou Gligorijevic of Fire Station 15. “The remainder were signed out and didn’t have to be transported.”
• USC’s chapter of PiPhi refused to comment on the incident because the sorority is- under orders from both its national chapter and USC’s Panhellenic Council not to speak with the media.
Aimee Anderson, president of
PiPhi, said that she could not comment because it is the nationals’ policy that chapters are not allowed to comment to the press.
"During this time in order to control rumors and gossip, houses are ordered to direct all questions to the Panhellenic Council,” said Sheroum Kim, president of PHC.
Kim said that the policy is enforced by the PHC became the recruitment period is a "sensitive time.” Individual chapters may have similar policies, she added.
Several members of nearby sororities who witnessed the incident also to declined comment because of rush regulations prohibiting members from talking about other houses.
Gligorijevic said that he discussed inspecting the banisters at the PiPhi • house with public safety officials. As of Tuesday afternoon, the banister in front of the house had not been fixed.
♦ Staff Writers J. Christina Huh and James R. Koren contributed to this report.
INDEX
The Brothers Grimm is no real fairy tale. 7
The successful women 's volleyball team looks to fill some big gaps. 16
Chimps aren't the only ones who play copycat 5
News Digest__2	Sports-----18
I'pcoming____2	Clasutinl*....... 12
Opinions.____4	Lifestyle —7
WEATHER
Today: Mostly sunny. High of 80. low of 62
Tomorrow: High 85. low 64.
At the top of her class
lJSCs Desiree Campos, the Norman Topping Student Aid Fund director, will be the first in her family to graduate.
By NANCY ROOmGUa
Staff Writer
She's a mentor. She's an inspiration. She's a success story. And best of all she graduated from
USC
Desiree Campos is the director of the Norman Topping Student Aid
Fund the only student-funded scholarship available in the nation.
"it only takes one person. HI be the first in my family to graduate from a university. I stopped three generations of teenage pregnancies," Campos said That's whal I think is so powerful, you also have the power i see C—i>n Mge • I
Generations project chronicles L.A. history
Projects aims to define and interpret the history of South Los Angeles.
By BONNIE SCHINDLER
Staff Writer
Through a collection of memorabilia. stories and photos, a Southern California Library project is attempting to step beyond the negative ste-
reotypes of South Los Angeles by telling the history of the area through the words of the people who lived it.
Titled, “From Generation to Generation: Making a Life in South Los Angeles, 1940-2005,” the project will record the lives of residents so that visitors to the project can define and interpret the history of South Central for themselves. The materials will be in a database that members of the public can access.
“Generations" is one of eight projects statewide that is funded by the California Council for the Humanities, under its “California Stories: Communities Speak" program launched in April 2003.
"Through the voices of several generations of community members. Generations’ tells the story of the people who live in South L.A., and those who are working together to improve conditions in their neigh-
borhoods," said Michele VVelsing, communications director for the Southern California Library.
The program asks those who work, live or attend school in South Los Angeles, or have in the past, to share their story with the organization. and ultimately the entire region.
Paola Ruvalcaba, who lived in South Los Angeles from 1984 to
I see (fenerations, page • I