Coroner s Jury Absolves Kappa Sigs of Criminal Intent in Death
Southern
Cal ifornia
DAILY
TROJAN
VOL. LI
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1959
NO. 8
Senate Sets First Meeting
New Committee Positions To Be Disclosed Tonight
Jurors Vote 12-1 To Free of All Criminal Blame
By LARRY FISHER Daily Trojan Editor
Members of SC’s Kappa Sigma fraternity were declared not criminally responsible for the death of pledge Richard Swanson in a dramatic 12 to 1 spilt verdict by a Los Angeles coroner’s jury late yesterday.
Twelve jurors, after debating for more than two hours over the tragic hazing death of the 21-year-old dentistry student, decided that no criminal actions were involved, although they affirmed the coroner’s opinion that Swanson had died after eating a large piece of raw liver in an initiation ritual last September 17.
One Dissenter
ASSC Pres. VVally Karabian will start off the senatorial semester with a radical departure from past precedent when he attempts to appoint a special pres-idental committee responsible to him at tonight’s first Senate meeting.
The new committee will attempt to revise the ASSC constitution ana bylaws.
“This committee will not be a Senate standing committee or even a special one,” he emphasized. “It will first report directly to me and then it will present its revisions to the Senate.”
Karabian expressed the hope that this action will “even result in a new constitution or set of bylaws.”
Committee Appointments
The senatorial agenda will be be highlighted by the announcement and appointment of various committees and committee chairmen.
Vacant chairmanships for Trojan Chest Committee, Forum Committee, Christmas Party Committee, and the positions of International student co-ordinator and elections commissioner will be appointed.
A newly organized committee on campus speakers, composed of two faculty members, two administrators and the Senate Forum chairman will be discussed by the student ligislators.
This new committee will concentrate on bringing prominent speakers to the SC campus.
The members are Dr. James Butler, chairman of the Committee on Cultural Events; Dr. Bruce R. McElderrv, chairman of the Faculty Senate; Dr. Albert S. Raubenheimer, vice presiden, academic affairs; and Francis Tappaan, vice president, student and alumni affairs.
The Senate Forum Chairman will be appointed at tonight’s meeting.
Mike Anderson, chairman of the Orientation Committee, will
give his report to the success of the Troy Days orientation program, and other special committee reports will be given.
★ ★ ★ Karabian Tells Alumni About Troy Elections
The ASSC Senate will start out in a new legislative direction to clean up campus elections and counterbalance the bad name the university has received publicly the past few weeks, ASSC President Wally Karabian told alumni yesterday.
Karabian, a guest at a luncheon meeting of the Board of Counselors of the General Alumni Association at the Los Angeles Athletic Club, spoke briefly before the alumni members.
He did not clarify his opening statements on cleaning up the elections and saving the bad name of the university.
He ended his small talk by inviting the alumni to the Ohio State football game this Friday “for an SC win and an undefeated season.”
Francis D. Tappaan. new vice president in charge of student and alumni affairs, was introduced at the luncheon.
The alumni association, which is now part of the university instead of being a separate corporation, has 9844 paid members, it was reported by John MacFeden, membership committee chairman.
Renewals of memberships increased this year to 4971 from 4694 last year. New memberships dropped to 1203 from 1728, but life memberships increased.
The alumni fund, headed by A. E. Swanson of Kinsburg with Bob Maners as director, brought in $88,000 more last year than in previous campaigns. Twenty per cent of alumni contributed.
INQUEST ACTION—William B. McKessen (right), district attorney for Los Angeles County, questions Kappa Sigma fraternity President Dan Hayes (center) during a Coroner's Inquest into the death of Richard Swanson as the result
Los Angeles Examiner Photo
of a hazing ceremony on Sept. 17. Charles Langhauser, chief inquest deputy (left) listens intently. By a vote of 12-1 the jury cleared seven Kappa Sigs from any criminal intent in the death which aroused a national clamour.
Lariat Dancers Entertain at Intercultural Welcome Event
One of the highlights of the Intercultural Club's welcome party '(slated at 8 p.m. Saturday in the student lounge,) will be a performance by the national dancing group, Westchester Lariats.
The Lariats are directed by Dr. Tillman Hall, SC professor of physical education.
Billed as one of the most talented song and dance groups in the country, the Lariats have toured the nation, performing in person and before the cameras.
The group was organized seven years ago and has appeared many times on television and radio.
Some of its coast-to-coast appearances have been with such well-known artists as Lawrence Welk and Art Linkletter.
Included in the Lariats repertoire are more than 250 numbers
which contain folk, square, soft-shoe and social dance routines.
In addition to this progarm of American entertainment, there will be refreshments and social j dancing until midnight.
The welcome party will offer students the opportunity to make new friends of all nationalities and interests.
There will be a nominal admission fee of 50 cents for nonmembers, and SC students can obtain a season membership covering free admission to all events for $1.50.
The Intercultural Club is presently engaged in a membership drive to achieve a better representation from all countries of the world. The club has for its objective the promotion of fellowship and international understanding.
Membership information may be obtained at the party Saturday night, or at the International Club headquarters, situated in 320 SU.
Warf to Talk At Luncheon
Downey's Zest for Proper Philosophy
Living Provides for Dean s Job
By MARCELLA LEON’ETTI
A man with a zest for living Is the phrase which most adequately describes Dr. Robert J. Downey, the SC graduate who assumed the duties of dean of students this year.
A native Californian and a product of local educational systems. Dr. Downey has this jovial philosophy of life which equips him for his job of supervising and co-ordinating student welfare and activities.
In the educational field for 11 years, Dr. Downey comes to the university from Los Angeles State College where he was head of the men’s physical education department.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for any person interested in young people. I have always hoped to get into a university-
wide administrative position,” Dr. Downey revealed.
Fond of SC
“I ha\c a fondness for SC and my long - time association with the university has been most encouraging. I prefer to be a part of the organizational set-up of a private institution and I enjoy working with the refined caliber of students who are an | integral part of SC college living” he said. x Dr Downey further commented on the exceptional quality of the SC student, who has a type of “sophistication” peculiar to a private institution.
An optimistic spirit prevails In the dean's office, where all student welfare items and prob-
lems are handled. Three major functions are cared for by this office.
Dr. Downey acts as co-ordin-ating agent between Vice Presi-
dent Francis Tappaan and President Norman Topping in matters of student affairs, as a supervisor in the area of student personnel and as a public re-
Photo by Bob Hoigte DEAN OF STUDENTS—Dr. Robert J. Downey, who assumed the duties of the dean of students this year, is a man with a zest for living. Dr. Downey, a former SC graduate, is charged with the task of supervising and co-ordinating student welfare and activities. From his office in 233 SU, the new dean handles all of the students' problems.
lations man in student activities.
One of the major objectives of Dean Downey’s new administration is the complete reorganization of the entire area of student activities into an efficient, effective set-up.
This re-organization includes the enlargement and reduction of some campus offices.
Several new positions, such as the coordinator of special events and manager of student publications, have been created and carry with them some administrative power.
New System Good
Dr. Downey feels that this new administrative reorganization winll facilitate better student - teacher relationships and create an atmosphere of helpfulness which will be of great beneficial value to thé students.
“With this re-organization and further long - range planning, there is inevitable adjustment to the changes which students, faculty and administrators have to make,” he said.
“Anything we are doing is in the interest of the student and intended to improve relationships and communication,” Dr. Downey explained.
The new dean is the great-grandson of one of the city’s first counciimen. He graduated from Washington High School and Pepperdine College. He received his masters degree from SC and his PhD from SC in 19.-S6.
Dr. James C. Warf, associate professor of Chemistry at SC, will discuss “Indonesia Today” at the Faculty Club luncheon in the University Commons dining room at noon today.
Warf has just returned from a two-year stay in Indonesia, where he participates In a University of California project to upgrade the University of Indonesia at Djakarta. In his speech Warf will reoprt on present - day Indonesian culture, language and economic conditions.
During World War II until 1947, Warf worked for the Manhattan Project. He received his doctor’s desree from Iowa State College in 1946.
During 1947-48, he did research in Bern, Switzerland, on a Guggenheim Fellowship. He. joined the SC faculty in 1948.
Dr. Warf will show various aspects of Indonesian life — not about chemistry — but about culture and tradition.
“Indonesia is a land of exciting people and ideas,” he said. “I fell i . love with the country and during today’s lecture. I’d like to share some of my Indonesian experiences with the faculty.”
P.E. Croup Will Hear Talks Today
Earl C. Bolton, vice president in charge of development, and Francis Tappaan, vice president in charge of student and alumni affairs, will speak to two groups of physical education students today at 3:15 in Founders Hall.
As a part of the extended counseling program sponsored by the physical education department for 160 classes and the office of ,the dean of students, Bolton wall speak on “Orientation to SC” in 229 FH and Tappaan will speak on “Success 133 FH.
Probation List On Decrease Says Evans
Eighteen per cent of the undergraduate enrollment — 1665 students — were placed on the probation lists at the end of the 1959 Spring semester.
Of these, 744 were placed on probation as a result of spring semester grades.
David W. Evans, registrar, said that “this is a lower total than existed at this time last year.”
He said that there has been a continuing drop in the number of students placed on probation since the adoption of more stringent probation rules in the fall of 1957, when 2474 students were put on probation.
Tougher Policy
Everything from entrance requirements to academic policies on grades and cinch notices have been getting tougher, he said.
“However, there hav£ been good results with the increased standards,” Evans emphasized. “Higher scholarship seems to prevail each semester and last semester, there were 57 undergraduates carrying 10 to 22 units who received a four point grade average.”
Evans said that higher standards will be"continued and that students will have to work harder in the future to maintain good grades.
Affect Grades
“I wish to emphasize that students must learn to realize that absences will affect their grades,” he said.
The policy now states, that if a student is absent for one entire week of classes, his or her name will be reported to the registrar.
If absences at any time become excessive, the student may be asked to withdraw from the course or, in extreme cases, from the university, he explained.
Dean Talks On Activities
| Three more or these special He was assistant professor of j counsel meetings will follow in (Continued on Page 2). October.
Dr. Robert J. Downey, new dean of students will speak on “The Place of Extra Curricular Activities on Campus” today at a noon luncheon in the Hillel Foundation, 1029 W. 36th st.
Dr. Downey, who took over his duties last July 1, Is In charge of all student welfare and activities on campus. Homecooked Hillel lunches, in < served every Wednesday by the B’nai B’rith women, are available at a cost of 60 cents to Hillel members and 70 cents to j nonmembers.
The one dissenting member on the 13 man jury held that the evidence given at the inquest was “so confused’' that the district attorney should make a further investigation into the case with he aim of fixing a criminal responsibility for the youth’s death.
The charge that the Kappa Sigs attempted to keep ambulance attendants from reaching Swanson, which was one of the main reasons for investigating the possibility of bringing criminal proceedings against the fraternity’s members, was completely invalidated by official testimony at the inquest, however.
Firemen and police officers who were on the scene both denied yesterday that the fraternity’s members had attempted to keep them away from the youth or had. “physically interferred” with their rescue attempts.
The hearing itself was sparked by repeated attacks by Kappa Sigma witnesses against the attenadnts in charge of the ambulance in which Swanson apparently died on his way to Central Receiving Hospital.
Fraternity President Dan Hays told the jury that Swanson gagged and stopped breathing after eating the three and one quarter inch by three quarter inch thick piece of raw liver, but that artificial respiration by lifeguards Lee Lawrence and Roger Jensen, members of the fraternity, succeeded in restoring his respiration.
Resumed Gagging “When the ambulance attendants came, however, they turned him on his back and he started gagging, again,’' Hays said.
Jensen, who is currently employed by Los Angeles County as a lifeguard, later declared that when he warned ambulance attendant Nathan Rubin that the youth would stop breathing if he were turned on his back, Rubin replied ‘Who are you to tell me how to do my job. I’ve been in this business eleven years.’
Jensen pointed out that when a fire department rescue squad resuscitator was placed over Swanson’s mouth after he had been turned on his back by the attendants, the machine simply “clicked” signifying that no air was being transmitted into the stricken student’s lungs.
Still the attendants did not attempt to remove the obstruction, he said.
Jensen represented the U.S. Life Saving Association at a meeting in Australia in 1956’. His speciality was resuscitation.
Heard Clicks
On the stand, Rubin later admitted placing the youth on his back and hearing the warning click of the resuscitator, but he maintained that “the clicking might only have meant that the inhalator was not placed over the lips properly.”
Rubin, and ambulance driver Robert Loven, also admitted that Swanson rode all the way from the 28th st. fraternity house to Central Receiving Hospial “on his back.” He was pronounced dead on arrival.
McKesson, his voice sharp with anger, asked Rubin “if an unconscious man’s tongue doesn’t flop back into the throat and cut off his oxygen when he is lying on his back?”
The attendant, dressed in the blue uniform of Los Angeles’ Emergency Medical squad, admitted this had been his experience in other cases of this type.
No Information Rubin and Loven denied throughout the inquest that any of the fraternity men on the scene had informed them of the cause of Swanson’s choking, however.
Rubin reported that “When I asked what happened,
I just got a lot of chatter and advice. Then I heard someone say that Swanson ‘had sporadic spasms’.”
Hays, Lawrence and Jenson all testified that they Informed Rubin that the youth had “an obstruction in his throat,” as soon as the ambulance arrived at the fraternity.
Hays reported that Swanson had been breathing from four to six minutes after the two lifeguards stopped artificial respiration before the ambulance attendants arrived, even though the chunk of liver was still lodged in his throat.
Warren J. Farlo, a fellow pledge of Swanson’s, said that Hays gave a brief talk before they swallowed the “Later, I saw Dick choking and I started crying and praying to God,” Farlo testified.
No Force
The Kappa Sigs’ attorney, Ames Crawford, asked the 18-year-old pledge if any abuse or force had been applied I to the pledges before the ritual.
“No,” Farlo replied, declaring that if it were possible I he would still want to become a member of Kappa Sigma. Earlier the courtroom was hushed when Dr. Arthur M. Swanson, father of the handsome, blue-eyed pledge who lost his life in the initiation stunt, told the jury that he “had a premonition of disaster” shortly before his son choked to death in the fraternity ritual.
The doctor, himself a dentist, at times wept uncontrollably as he told of the fe*r at their ho^e the night of tV.e hazing stunt.
During the fraternity probationary period, he said, his son,. as a pledge was required to wear a soiled T-shirt which his mother inadvertently sent to a laundry.
“My son was upset when he found the T-shirt was being laundered,” he said. “I told him ‘Maybe we could mess up another.’
“Just before he left the house, he put his hand on my j shoulder and said: Don't worry dad; I’ll make it all right.’”