DM TROJAN
Student newspaper of the University of Southern California
THURSDAY
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March 21, 2002
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vol. CVL, no. 42 www.dailytrojan.com
Moving On Up
Sam Clancy’s illustrious career
as a Trojan has come to an end, but the NBA beckons and the senior says he has regrets / 24
i
Anthrax hoax surfaces
Scare: A letter received at a local media association contained white powder that tested negative for the disease
By KRISTEN BABIRACKI
Contributing Writer
The California Chicano News Media Association, located a block south of USC, was the victim of an anthrax scare when an employee opened a hate letter and white powder fell out onto her hand on March 11. Officials determined that the substance was not hazardous.
The employee, the assistant to the executive director of CCNMA, opened the letter addressed to a person who does not exist at about 3 p.m., said Julio Moran, the executive director of CCNMA and journalism professor at USC. The employee did not notice the powder until she was photocopying the letter and the powder fell out onto her hand, her pants and the copy machine.
The letter referred to “spic turds” and made derogatory remarks about Latinas. It also warned of powder in the envelope.
“We didn’t take it that seriously," Moran said. “But I decided to be careful and have the substance examined."
Felecia Brothers, project assistant for reliable resources at CCNMA, chose to leave the building immediately after she heard the news, she said. She saw two officers from the Department of Public Safety in the I see Anthrax, page 17 !
"We didn't take it that seriously. But I decided to be careful and have the substance examined"
JULIO
MORAN
professor
Millions could
benefit Ph.D.
programs
Academics: A massive fund-raising initiative is underway to improve the quality of graduate students, schools
Sound of music
Music notes. Cellist John Oshita, a graduate student majoring in performance, and pianist Ayako Tsuruta recite a piece at the United University Church during the Thornton School of Music’s weekly Music at Noon series.
By RENEE HASLETT
Staff Writer
USC has embarked on a $100 million fund-raising campaign to improve its doctorate programs and make them some of the best in the country.
It is important to a major research university to bring the best Ph.D. students who are the “leaders of tomorrow," said Joseph Hellige, vice provost of academic programs.
Although the initiative is about money, the real excitement is in the prospect of creating a premier Ph.D program, Hellige said.
A high priority is to take the most promising Ph.D. programs and raise them to be the best in their respective areas, he added. An evaluation of every program is underway and should be completed in six or seven years.
“We are looking for excellence to build on," Hellige said.
USC President Steven B. Sample announced the fundraising initiative in a speech at the opening of the International Residential College at Parkside Feb. 27.
“This is a wonderful idea,” said Sarah Pratt, dean of the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences administration. “It will trickle down across the university."
A higher quality program will result in better teaching assistants for undergraduates and faculty will have the opportunity to work with promising students, she said.
While the fund-raising goal is set at $100 million, $5 million a year will be used from USC’s general fund to finance these improvements, Hellige said.
Eventually, the completed fund raising will generate about $5 million a year in interest, which will be used for the programs, he said.
Currently $12 million is available, which generates about $600,000 a year, but is $4.4 million short of the goal, he said.
The fund-raising money would be used to hire great faculty and bring in the best students through essentially “merit scholarships," he said.
I see Campaign, page 17 I
“This is a wonderful idea. It will trickle down across the university’ —♦— JOSEPH HELLIGE vice provost academic programs
Class projects create new downtown image
Community: Student teams from different disciplines collaborate on architectural and technological reimagining of district
By KENNETH BASIN
Staff Writer
A student stops at Broadway and Ninth Street and sees an old plaque. He pulls out his Palm Pilot, and plugs it in. The plaque can interface with his Palm Pilot and he can download maps and information about Los Angeles. He can even take a phone tour of the redesigned buildings and downtown.
The historic district is now at his fingertips.
This new face of Los Angeles is being designed in the I see Downtown, page 19 I
Discretionary rids fee, minimum balance
Senate: Administrators, students agree to eliminate mandatory payments
By ROBB FERRIS
Student Seriate Writer
Students Will no longer have to pay the $5 transaction fee each semester for discretionary accounts, and discretionary accounts will be set up for students automatically, said Brenda DeLong, director of USCard services.
The most common complaint among students regarding discretionary accounts was the adminis-
tration of the semesterly fee, DeLong said.
USCard Services, a division of Business Services, conducts a survey of students through its Web site, which has played an integral role in the elimination of the $5 fee and $20 minimum deposit.
“The one thing we knew students did not like was that fee,” DeLong said. “That was heard loud and clear.”
Last Spring, Student Senate members approached DeLong, who expressed an interest in changing the policy regarding the fee students had to pay.
The fee did not cover expenses
incurred by discretionary services, but in fact was intended to cover expenses incurred through the distribution of USCards, said Edward Rhodes, director of campus affairs for Student Senate and a senior majoring in business administration. SCampus requires every student to carry a USCard, but only the students who opened discretionary accounts were charged the fee because it was the most convenient way to charge students, Rhodes said.
“Basically, Student Senate's position was, why should approximately 45 percent of the student body have to pay for something that everyone I see USCard. page 17 I
Farewell
Fees
No $5 semesterly transaction fee
No $20 minimum balance