wmv.dailytrojan.com
September 21, 2005
Vol. CXI. VII, No. 21
'Student Newspaper of the University of Southern California Since 1912
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Docidodty download. USC onginaMy used Napster as its file-sharing service but recently decided to switch to Ruckus, a newty created system
Labor watch
groups urge USC to change
Two USC groups believe that the current factory-monitor group is not transparent.
By ROCIO ZAMORA
Contributing Writer
USC Watch and the Student Coalition Against Labor Exploitation are pressuring USC to switch factory-monitoring firms for companies USC does business with.
The groups said that they believe the current monitor, the Fair Labor Association, is not transparent in its dealings and want USC to switch to the Worker Rights Consortium.
The WRC is a nonprofit factory monitor aimed at protecting basic worker rights.
So far, more than 140 colleges and universities have affiliated themselves with the WRC, including all of the University of California campuses.
Marvin Vargas, a former USC student and founder of USC Watch, said that Trojan merchandise is made in factories where organizations such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the National Labor Committee have found serious violations of human rights.
“'SC needs to be not only a good academic institution but a socially responsible one,” Vargas said.
USC Watch, a new organization aimed at stopping sweatshop exploitation by the university, proposed a new "Sweat Free USC Initiative.”
Besides pressuring USC to change to the WRC, the campaign aims to persuade USC to pay a living wage, buy products from factories with good human rights records and disclose the terms of the secret Nike contract
Elizabeth Kennedy, director of trademarks and bcens-ing at USC and a FLA board member, said that she does not understand where the accusations against Nike are coming from.
“Nike’s responsibility (with worker’s rights) has come so far, though they didn’t handle the issue responsibly in the beginning," she said. “Just recently they disclosed all their factory locations. I don't know of any other company that would do that”
Vargas said that the contract USC has with Nike has been kept secret, and both entities refuse to disclose the
I see Watch page 10 I
“SC needs to be not only a good academic institution, butasocially responsible one. ”
♦
MARVIN VARGAS founder USC Watch
WEATHER
Today: Partly cloudy/wind. High of 78, low of 61.
Tomorrow: Mostly sunny.
ISD switches Internet file-sharing programs
Only 300 to 400 students subscribed to the Napster service, so USC switched.
By JACQUELINE LIE
SUffWnter
Information Services Division is replacing Napster with Ruckus as USCs subscription-based legal tile-sharing service starting Thursday.
"Were intrigued by the services and possibilities Ruckus hu to offer the USC community,” said Kay Ferdinandsen, director of special projects at ISD.
USC terminated its partnership with Napster because the company wanted an upfront payment from USC upon renegotiation this school year, she said.
Between 300 to 400 students subscribed to Napster last year, she said.
Since Napster was the original music sharing service. Ferdinandsen said that ISD thought it would be a pretty solid investment
"We've never had that kind of capability at USC where we can download songs and movies legally." Ferdinandsen said ‘It would be nice for students to be able to, on a Sunday night, watch a movie without having to leave their dorm rooms. It's an experiment to see what works and what doesn't and well just have to see how it goes.”
But students did not respond weU. and USC did not come dose to meeting their target quota. Ferdinandsen said.
"We decided it was not an appro pnate use of educational funds."
i see Ihicfcas page II
INSIDE
Jessica Gysin waits her turn to make an impact with the Women of Troy. 16
IINDEX
Senate revamps rankings
Senate Course Guide ranks USC professors on a scale of one to 10 in five categories.
By JOSHUA SHARP
Contributing Writer
The Student Sertate’s "most popular resource” is deeply flawed and currently undergoing a facelift said Dina Bartoloni, Student Senate’s director of academic affairs who helps moderate the Web site.
The site, www.senatecourseguide. com, says its mission is "to provide a service for students to evaluate their
past and present professors at the University of Southern California."
But professors, students and even the Web site's own moderators have concerns with various aspects of it. Fixing it is “a major priority," Bartoloni said.
The Web site allows computer users to rank USC professors on a scale of one to 10 in five categories and also lets users leave text reviews. It also hosts a “Top Ten” section listing the highest-rated and lowest-rated professors in each category.
The most-recommended professors, in descending order, are; Gene Bickers, Julie Albright Xiu-Zhi Wu and Mark
Redekopp, with Robert Roussey and	A.* I.
Angus McColl tied for the fifth position	yUlCR
on the list according to the site.	Flirt
“I think it’s very nice that... I would	I HI/1
be mentioned on the site, but I take it	—♦
with a grain of salt, because I know it's	j^e top
not a scientific survey,” said Bickers, a	f0ur most-
professor of physics and astronomy.	recommended
“I think it's exciting," said Albright	professors on
a lecturer who teaches social psychol-	www. senate
ogy classes at USC and is number two	courseguide.
on the Web site's Top Ten list "(But) it com are would seem to me that sites like this are	Gene Bickers,
going to attract... people who are either	Julie Albright,
very happy or very (upset).”	Xiu-Zhi Wu
“I take pride in my work and the	and Mark
i see Professors, page 111	Redekopp.
Papa Cristo's, a five-minute drive from USC, offers amazing Greek fare. 7
A ward shows shouldn t just apply to Hollywood 4
News Digest_____2	Sports.-------
Upcoming..._____2	Classifieds—12
Opinions.________4	Lifestyle ___—7
Katherine Beck i Daily Trojan
Spreading his knowledge. Gene Bickers, a professor of physics and astronomy, teaches a student during his office hours. Bickers was rated the No. 1 professor on www.senatecourseguide.com and was recently appointed to the position of assistant academic provost.
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