Excellent Gesser
Washington State quarterback Jason Gesser is Pullman's prize possession, rewriting the Cougar record book / 20
s i x c I - I ‘J I 2
DAILY TROJAN
Student newspaper of the University of Southern California
THURSDAY
October 3, 2002
Of interest...
As Los Angeles finds a new police chief, there is still hope for a new and improved force / 4
News Digest	2	Roundup	2
Opinions	4	Lifestyle	7
Horoscopes	7	Classifieds	16
Crossword	17	Sports	20
vol. CXLVII, no. 27 www.dailytrojan.com
Donation meant to move rail off ground
Initiative: USC gives money to keep transit line from going into Exposition Park
By REBECCA TEGAN
Contributing Writer
USC donated $300,000 to amend a November ballot initiative that proposes building a light-rail line from downtown Los Angeles, through Exposition Park and USC and ending in Santa Monica.
The university gave the money to keep the rail line underground. The tunnel, projected to cost $75 million to $100 million, would go under Flower Street, Exposition Boulevard and through to Vermont Avenue.
The initiative is Proposition 51, or the Traffic Congestion Relief and Safe School Bus Act It would provide new, fuel-efficient buses to school districts and reduce traffic problems throughout California.
USC and other organizations such as an Indian gaming casino in Indio, Calif., became involved with the Sacramento-based Planning and Conservation League when it needed a way to raise funds for the initiative.
“We reached out to different organizations with a unique interest in the projects to find solution to specific concerns," said Bart Reed, executive director of the Transit Coalition and Friends for Exposition Light Rail, a consumer-focused nonprofit advocacy group based in Sylmar, Calif., that deals with transportation to I see Tunnel, page 15 I
Election ends without results
Senate: Commission finishes counting votes, dealing with complaints, but not announcing winner until Monday
By ROBB FERRIS
Staff Writer
Student Senates special election for a commuter senator concluded Wednesday as members of the Elections Commission finished counting votes and assessing com-
plaints, though results will not be announced until 3:30 p.m. Monday.
One complaint was issued during the election, though the Elections Code does not permit commissioners to comment on the complaints nature.
The results will not be announced
until Monday to give the Elections Commission enough time to settle complaints and verify the results, said Chris Ward and Annie Mullaly, codirectors of elections and recruitment
The commuter senator special election was the first of two elections that were scheduled for this semester.
Both elections came unexpectedly, and there was not much of an existing structure to work with, Ward said.
“When we signed up for this job, we figured we had a whole semester to plan for one big election in the spring,” Ward said. “Then we found out we had not one but two events we had to organize for which there were no precedents.”
Senate adviser Laura Kawano found evidence of similar election taking place in 1996, where a special election was held to fill a vacant I see Election, page 3 I
Reflections of dance
Practice.
Cast members of “Blood Wedding," a performance of the USC School of Theatre, rehearse their steps. The assistant director looks on.
Elizabeth Khun I Daily Trojan
USCard discretionary usage extended to Coliseum, Arena
Service: Registers near student section feature cashless system at games
By SHERRY ANNE RUBIANO
Staff Writer
Students can now use their USCard discretionary accounts to purchase food and drinks, excluding alcoholic beverages, at select vendors at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and Los Angeles Sports Arena during home football and basketball games.
The program, which began at the Sept. 28 home football game, was implemented to make purchasing easier for students, said Brenda DeLong, director of USCard Services.
“The launch of this and the interest of this is to complement the student (discretionary) program,” she said.
More than 50 percent of the stu-	IlCPoPfl
dent population has a discretionary	UdwdIU
account, she added.	I
At the Sept. 28 football game, two	UodgC
permanent concession stands near	—♦—
tunnels 23 and 28 by the student	Students can
seating section were equipped with	now use ^eir
registers that swiped USCards. Signs	USCard's
announcing that students could use	discretionary
their discretionary accounts	were	account at the
posted on these stands.	Los Angeles
Sales were just short of $1,000	Memorial
from students using their cards at	Coliseum
these vendors, said Ron	and	the
Lederkramer, assistant general man- Los Angeles ager and director of finance for the	Sports Arena
Coliseum and the Sports Arena.	for
“As long as it’s accepted by the	concessions,
students, we will continue it," said	Alcohol cannot
Steve Lopes, senior associate athlet-	be purchased
ic director. “1 think it will catch on."	with the card.
The program may be expanded	however
in the future, Lederkramer said.
I see USCard, page 13 !
Male commitment issues a myth
Study: Annenberg findings refute the stereotype that males are noncommital
By ADAM EARNHART
Contributing Writer
So, you’ve refrained from having a serious relationship with “that special girl" because you're afraid of commitment?
You might want to find a better excuse. A new study by a USC com-municatiori professor finds that men are just as willing to commit to a relationship as women are, challenging the myth that some men are afflicted with “commitment-phobia.”
Annenberg School for Communication professor Lynn Mille conducted the study. It was briefly mentioned in the October issue of Cosmopolitan magazine.
Clint Whited, a senior majoring in public policy and management,
I see Commitment, page 15 I
Rachel Elias I Daily Trojan
Chilling. Sophomores Eric Wolfe and Sarah Gardner relax together after a long and exhausting day.