Making a living. Saundra Smith searches for cans and bottles in a trash can outside of Ralphs on Vermont Avenue. Redeeming recyclables for cash Is a living for some.
Rummaging for a living
For some homeless, recycling cans and bottles is the only way to make a living.
By SETH MEYER and JONATHAN STROUD
Staff Writers
Students see it all the time: Someone with a grocery cart or baby stroller, picking through trash cans and dumpsters, carefully separating plastic from aluminum, clear glass from brown glass, recyclable from non-recyclable.
While some might see bottle collectors with their carts noisily rattling by as an unwanted distraction on campus, for those who depend on bottle collecting to survive, it is one of the few ways they said they could m«ke an honest living.
Meet Red, a regular bottle collector.
Sporting a baby carriage filled to the brim with clustered families of recyclables and a pair of grungy Nikes tied to the side, Red said he was in between "normal” jobs. For him, collecting bottles is a way to maintain his sanity.
“It’s a part-time thing to keep my mind going,” Red said. "That’s why 1 come out at night. Daytime, I’m trying to find a steady job. In the meantime, I’m not going to sit there and wait for my auntie’s phone to ring.”
Forty-two-year-old Red said that despite how people perceived the normal “basket-pusher,” a rather diverse group can be found search-ing'for cans.
“Earlier today, I saw someone who looked like my grandmother
going through the cans.l see families out here sometimes. I’ve even seen students walking up to their apartments with bags," he said.
Consumers pay the California Refund Value every time a beverage container is purchased. According to the California Department of Conservation, containers weighing less than 24 ounces yield four cents. Those more than 24 ounces are worth eight cents.
The amount of money a collector makes varies depending on the day and time, Red said.
“The average person pushing a basket, on a good day, and I’m talking about an all-day load, you might make no higher than $50,” he said. “On a bad day, you might make no higher than $20."
I see Bottles, page 6 I
Web site offers food discounts
New York-based company caters to 300 universities across the country.
By LAURA SIMURDA
Staff Writer
Looking for a cheap way to eat this semester?
Next week on campus might provide an opportunity. Campusfood. com, a Web site working to bring USC students a large variety of food from local restaurants at discounted prices, will be holding a special promotion in recognition of the beginning of the spring semester at USC.
"Not only are we providing the convenience of ordering from home, but you can save money."
ILISE ROSE
Spokeswoman
Campusfood.com
Between Jan. 17 and 20, students will be able to order pizzas from Papa John’s at discounted prices.
Campusfood.com offers students a wide range of options, from Indian to Chinese to Italian food. Yet, out of all the choices, students tend to like pizza the best, said spokeswoman Ilise Rose.
Students simply go online to order the food, often with special deals or promotions and without any extra costs or hassles.
“I definitely think that the food discounts are the best part," Rose said.
I see Food, page 3 I
WEATHER
Today:
Partly cloudy. High
66,	low 45.
Tomorrow:
Sunny. High
67,	low 48.
East coast D) style comes to Los Angeles to train students. 7
LA. residents should slow down on the road — and in life. 4
New* Digest--------2 Lifestyle---~1
Opinions.—.........~4 Sports-------------
INDEX
www.dailytrnjan.com
January 13, 2005
Vol. CXL VI, No. 2
Campus clubs seek
exposure at fair
Student Newspaper of the University of Southern California Since 1912
Semi-annual event allows students to explore activities beyond their majors.
By SARAH FILUS *
^Staff Writer
Trousdale Parkway was lined with representatives from a diverse showing of campus groups on Wednesday for USC's semi-annual involvement fair.
All % tables allotted for the event were tilled with organizations, including the Associated Students of Biomedical Engineering, Black Women Investing and the Fashion Industry Association.
Although no official count was taken, at least 1,000 students attended the fair, said Heather Larabee, director of campus activities and coordinator of the event.
The purpose of the fair was “to provide student organizations an opportunity to showcase themselves, attract new members and advertise events to the entire campus community,” Larabee said.
Several new organizations were represented at this involvement fair.
Democracy Matters, for example, is a nationwide group that opened a chapter on USC last semester, said member Meredith Shulte, who answered questions at the organization’s table.
“We’re trying to get our name out more because we just got started," Shulte said.
Students at the table for Africa USC had the same agenda.
“We just need as much exposure as possible," said Sarah Williams, a junior majoring in computer science and French.
W'illiams said that people interested in African culture probably do not even know that Africa USC exists.
Ciroups cited anywhere from 20 to 100 students signing up to receive more information or to be added to e-maii lists.
But there was a general consensus most of the students who sign the lists at involvement fairs never actually make it to club meetings.
The involvement fair is especially targeted at new students, Larabee said.
Olivia Everett, a freshman majoring in cinema-television critical studies, searched the fair for organizations involving the entertainment industry because she said she wants to be more involved with the school.
Allyson Schoolcraft, a junior specializing in stage management, said she has attended several fairs in the past and that she came to this one “just to see what’s out there and see how I can get involved outside of my major.”
Educational, philanthropic, religious, sports or entertainment, there . was a little something for almost everyone.
“The involvement fair is a great way to kick off a semester for those who are interested in getting involved in meeting others with the same interests as them," said Phil Chung, a junior majoring in psychology who sat at the Delta Delta Sigma table.
This was the second involvement fair this school year and was smaller than the fall fair, Larabee said. She attributes this to the larger number of fall admits and the push to fill the spots of graduated seniors.
“It was a successful fair,” she said. “I’m just glad it stopped raining.”
moves to try and recruit members for the USC Dance Club.