INDEX
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The return of Desmond Reed and a strong freshmen class bolster running game. 16
Hezbollah cannot be taken at face value. 4
News Digest.......2 Lifestyle..............7
Upcoming..........2 Gassifieds.......12
Opinions.............4 Sports...............16
WEATHER
Today: Sunny. High of 88, low of 68.
Tomorrow: Mostly sunny. High of 83, low of 65.
Muslim student groups to merge
Two on-campus Muslim organizations might combine into unified group.
By JOHN LEGITT1N0 and JACKIE SULLIVAN
Staff Writers
Two Muslim student groups. One president of both. One university.
These statistics describe the status of Muslim student advocacy at USC, barring a proposed merger that would bring the Muslim Student Union and Muslim Student Association together into one big group at semester’s end, said sophomore Zeyad Sherif Ali, both groups’ president.
Unsure yet of all the implications that would result from the merger, Ali said the two groups plan to hold cosponsored events this semester, simultaneously gauging group members’ reactions before any official convergence will take place.
The first of these, a welcome-back barbecue, is the beginning of what Ali describes as an exciting semester ahead, with numerous social and educational opportunities slated.
“Oftentimes, new students are confused as to why there are two separate groups on campus,” he said. “Basically, we’re all out to do the same thing, which is to support Muslims and promote Islamic beliefs, so there is really no reason why we’re not just one big group. I can only speculate but in my opinion, I don’t think a merger will be a big deal and I’ve only heard positive things about the idea.”
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Student Newspaper of the University of Southern California Since 1912
.dailytrojan.com
August 24, 2006
INSIDE
New CW network is featured in part three of the fall TV preview guide. 7
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Vol. CXLX, No. 4
Dean to step down in spring
Steevens Alconcel I Daily Trojan
New life. David Kolber (left), a junior majoring in business and co-rush chair for the Zeta Beta Tau fraternity, with Alex Dam, a junior majoring in business and on the executive board, are two members who moved into the former Pi Kappa Phi fraternity house after Pi Kapp's charter was revoked.
Fraternity finds new home on Row
Zeta Beta Tau fraternity moved into the former Pi Kappa Phi house over the past weekend.
By CATHERINE LYONS
Staff Writer
It’s out with the old and in with the new on The Row as Zeta Beta Tau moved into the former Pi Kappa Phi house last Saturday.
USC Pi Kappa Phi’s charter was revoked in February after repeatedly violating a mutual risk reduction agreement.
For ZBT, that meant a prime piece of real estate was up on the market.
With the help of Dr. Harold A. Davidson, executive trustee of the USC chapter of ZBT and national president-elect of the fraternity, ZBT negotiated a lease with the national PiKapp organization.
“ZBT and Pi Kappa Phi have a good working relationship and they hope to continue it,” Davidson said.
Although several other fraternities were
vying for the same house, ZBT won out, a result Davidson attributes to their strong numbers and presence on campus.
“It’s my understanding that there was a number of other houses that were looking at facilities on The Row. It’s very tough and competitive to find a good location on The Row,” Davidson said. “My guess (for why PiKapp chose us) is the fact that we’re a large house and a substantial group and we certainly had a need for housing. They felt that we are a substantial group and we could fill the house and occupy it.”
After leasing their former house on Portland Street from Theta Chi fraternity for the past 14 years, ZBT was ready and more than willing to move to a new, more convenient spot.
That new spot is the corner of 28th Street and University Avenue; the direct center of The Row.
“This is a prime location — it couldn’t be more ideal. For recruitment purposes, it’s ideal,” said Ryan Appel, a senior majoring in business administration and president of ZBT. “Before, we had a hard time recruiting students off The Row. It’s easier to make our presence known now than when we were on Portland Street.”
Besides the attraction of their new home, ZBT likely would have been forced out of their old house in the near future.
“Theta Chi was our landlord, (they have) a presence and they are expecting to occupy it sometime soon,” Davidson said.
Appel said the new location already has had an impact on ZBT’s rush numbers.
When on Portland Street, the house usually saw about 80 interested students come through the doors. Since the move, those numbers have doubled to an estimated 160 students who showed up Monday night for their open house.
Those new students saw a drastically different fraternity house from what stood at the end of last semester.
With the cooperation and donations of the national PiKapp organization, ZBT parents and alumni, several structural and cosmetic renovations were made to the building.
“It’s night-and-day different. There was a long checklist of repairs, including: new carpet, new tile, the exterior was painted, a lot of cosmetic things,” Appel said. “There were plumbing and
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Geoffrey Cowan will remain at the school as a newly appointed honorary chair within the department.
By CARLEY DRYDEN
Staff Writer
Geoffrey Cowan announced Monday that he will step down as dean of the Annenberg School for Communication next spring and will be appointed the holder of the Annenberg Family Chair in Communication Leadership, a recently created position by the Annenberg
Foundation.
“It’s been an incredibly enriching time for me but at this stage in my life I want to take on different challenges,” said Cowan about stepping down.
Cowan, who will have held the position for more than 10 years when he steps down in June, is proud of the chair that was created.
“It is particularly nice because it represents three generations of
Annenberg,” he said.
The chair is part of a $6 million gift from the Annenberg Foundation, including trustees Leonore r Annenberg, Wallis owan Annenberg, Lauren Bon, Charles Annenberg Weingarten and Gregory Annenberg Weingarten, to honor Cowan and to also fund numerous research projects and
activities under Cowan’s leadership. These projects will collaborate to form the Center on Communication Leadership.
“With this new program it will be possible to address important issues I may not have been able to as dean,” Cowan said about the center.
Cowan said there were no hard feelings or complicated issues surrounding his election to step down.
“At many top universities there are term limits for the dean, like 12 years,” he said. “The term reflects doing a
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