Workshop focuses on developing narratives
Seven weeks of classes led by performance artist centers on Asian-American stories.
By CHRIS BLOOM
Contributing Writer
In an effort to better represent stories of Asian-Americans, a local performance artist is offering an autobiography workshop for students, culminating in a performance by each student at the end.
The first meeting for "My Own Story" was held Thursday, Feb. 24. The seven-week workshop teaches students how to shape their personal experiences into narrative pieces, helping them to express their views The workshop, run by performance artist AJex Luu, includes exercises in writing and storytelling. Luu has performed his one-man show, 'Three Lives," at theaters across the nation.
Geared toward Asian-Americans, the workshop aims to allow Asian-American students to tell their personal stories.
"(Asian-Americans') stories are rarely told correctly through the media because they are either stereotyped, underrepresented, misrepresented or forgotten. I'm there to get them to write personal stories," Luu said.
The first “My Own Story” workshop at USC was run last spring and primarily sponsored by Asian Pacific American Student Services. This year, the primary sponsors are the Asian American Writers Workshop and the Asian Pacific American Student Assembly, an entity of Program Board.
While last spring was the first workshop at USC, Luu has
I see Workshop page 3 :
Senate pushes for fee raise
President W. Joe DeMiero drafts proposal that calls for raise of student programming fee from $59 to $76 a semester.
By ALEXA HYLAND
Stuff Writer
Student Senate is currently facing a roadblock in its effort to raise the student programming fee by $34 a year, an increase of more than 25 percent.
Senate recently learned after talking to Michael Jackson, vice president of Student Affairs, that the programming fee cannot be raised by more than the rate of the tuition increase.
Student Senate Pretfdent W. Joe DeMiero proposed an increase of the student programming fee in a January report that suggested a raise of the
fee from $59 per semester to $76, bringing the total cost of the student programming fee to $152 a year.
The current cap on the programming fee raise is 4.9 percent to ensure that the fee can only be raised as much proportionally as the hike in tuition for that year, said Heather Larabee, director of Student Affairs.
The proposed 28.81 percent increase exceeds the cap, which has prompted Student Senate to re-evalu-ate its fee proposal.
Under the cap, the most the student programming fee could be raised would be to $62 per semester — an increase of $3 per semester.
DeMiero and the Student Programming Fee Control Board began discussing the proposal for a change in the student programming fee in November 2004 by sending out questionnaires to student organizations that receive Student Senate funding.
“Control Board wants to take a look at the most efficient use of money,” said Tessie Shih, Student Senate vice president.
DeMiero and the Student Programming Fee Control Board want to look at how much of an increase would be needed to sufficiently fund activities such as more sports tournaments, Shih said.
DeMiero did not return multiple messages.
The last time Student Senate dis-
cussed a raise in the programming fee of a similar amount was in spring of 1999 when Senate discussed raising the fee by as much as $20 more per semester, but the proposition resulted in a $2 increase.
The last time the student programming fee was raised was in the fall of 2002 when it went up by $2.50 per semester.
If the student programming fee were increased to $76 a semester as proposed by the initial draft, then Student Senate would have $2.28 million from the student programming fee alone for fund allocations for the 2005-2006 fiscal year, compared to the $1.77 million the current programming fee generates.
The draft allocated an increase in
I see Senate, page 3 I
March 1, 2005	Vol. CXI.VI. No. 32
INDEX
These 'ladies 'need to work on their communication. 5
News Digest.......2 Lifestyle------5
Opinions.............4 Sports---------12
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Fraternity dedicates library to revolutionary
Alpha Rho Chi fraternity renovates it library in honor of architect Pierre Koenig.
By CHRISTINA HUH
Contributing Writer
The Alpha Rho Chi co-ed fraternity dedicated its house library Monday to Pierre Koenig, a world famous architect and a key figure in an architectural modern movement in the United States during the 1960s.
The front room library was renovated in memory of Koenig, also a distinguished professor at the architecture school and ’52 USC graduate. He died April 2004 at the age of 78.
Last year’s pledge class was given the responsibility of designing the Pierre Koenig Library. The house members began renovating the front library last semester.
"Everything we put in the room reflected his style," said Christine Phung, a second year student studying architecture, was part of last fall’s pledge class that planned the room.
About 30 students, alumni and Koenig’s friends attended the dedication.
His wife, Gloria Koenig and Robert
H.	Timme, the dean of the USC School of Architecture, were also in attendance.
Alpha Rho Chi is a social and professional fraternity centered around architecture students.
The blue and pastel yellow of the walls were colors often seen in Koenig's books, Phung said. The room also featured can lighting and modern
A permanent dedication. Alumni, students and friends of famed architect Pierre Koenig gather for the dedication of a library in his honor, located in his former fraternity house, Alpha Rho Chi. Koenig graduated from USC in 1952.
furniture, which includes two Eames couches donated by Koenig to the fraternity before he died. There is also a photo display system on the walls that showcase Koenig's houses.
“It's a modern library in a Victorian house,” said Alberto Lopez, a fourth year architecture student and president of the fraternity.
Henry Hsu I Daily Troian
Picture perfect. Gloria Koenig, wife of architect Pierre Koenig, looks at photographs hanging in a library dedicated in his honor Monday night.
One of the biggest challenges the students faced was "maintaining the integrity of the house,” he said. The Alpha Rho Chi house was built in 1892 for James H. Shankland, who established the Los Angeles Bar Association.
Alpha Rho Chi members applied for landmark status for the house in 1992, said Erin Williams, a fifth year architecture student.
“The house is Victorian, exactly the opposite of Pierre," said Doug Noble, an associate architecture processor and facility adviser of the fraternity.
The members had to learn “to live with the imperfections" found in the room, such as uneven walls and windowsills because they were not allowed to change the house structure or it would lose its historical significance, Lopez said.
“It was a real challenge to rehabilitate the library." he said.
"The placing of modern elements in a 100-year old house would've pleased Pierre greatly. It's an honest approach
at showcasing mid-century modern style in the 20th century," said Michael EUars. '00 graduate and president of the Alpha Rho Chi Alumni Association.
The alumni association funded most of the project, which cost about $3,000, Lopez said.
“This is just like home. I always hated these couches. They weren’t comfortable,” joked Randall Koenig, '76 graduate and Pierre Koenig’s son. after the library was revealed.
Admission to the library will be limited to fraternity members.
“It's kind of one of the benefits of being a member of Alpha Rho Chi,” Lopez said.
Koenig was a member of the fraternity while he was a student at USC.
In 1950, while he still was a student, he also built his first house, Koentg House No. 1. in Glendale.
He is best known as one of the leaders of the modern architectural movement in the United States.
“He kind of was one of the forefa-
l see Dedication, page 3 I