Council delays ASSC elections
The ASSC Executive Council voted yesterday to postpone general elections until after the student body votes on the new Associated Students of the University of Southern California constitution.
the council set the referendum date for the new constitution for March 17 and general elections for April '20 and *21. Run-off elections will be held April 27 and 28.
In a meeting Tuesday, the council voted to suspend the elections to accommodate the possible approval of the constitution. The council instructed the Election Commission to change the general election date, but the commission refused to make the changes.
Council members wanted the ASUSC constitution to be voted on before the general elections because six positions that now exist would be eliminated un-
der the new constitution if it were approved. Voting on the constitution before the general elections, the council argued, would prevent candidates from spending their time and money on gaining an office that would be eliminated.
Charlene Bandurrage. election commissioner, held that the election process had begun and it could not be interrupted. She claimed that the council did not have the authority to instruct the commission to change the election dates.
Miss Bandurraga cited the election code as giving her specific authority to determine the dates of the election.
To insure the council s ability to instruct the election commission, a resolution altering the association by-laws and the election code was presented by Mark Spitzer, independent representa-
tive. The resolution was passed by a 10-1 vote.
The by-law change reads: “The Ex-exutive Council by two-thirds vote may supersede or suspend these by-laws in part or total." This permits the council to overrule election code and assure its authority over the election commission.
Three changes in the election code were approved in the resolution. The election code reads, “It shall be the duty of the elections commissioner to . . . choose an appropriate date for elections authorized in the ASSC Constitution." The resolution added, “as directed and approved by the Executive Council.”
An addition listed the commissioner's duty to “be responsible for all procedures and actions of the election process to the ASSC Executive Council.
The section of the code that specified that the spring election shall be held late in March was removed to permit the elections to be held in April.
The motion to set the specific dates for the elections was presented by Stan DiOrio. graduate representative, and passed by a 12 to 1 vote.
When asked if the commission would cooperate with the council’s actions. Miss Bandurraga said simply, “It doesn't appear as though we have any choice."
Members of the council seemed to agree that changing the election code and by-laws was an unfortunate method of assuring cooperation of the election commission. “But we were backed against the wall." said one member, summarizing the council's feeling.
University of Southern California
DAILY • TROJAN
VOL. LXII
NO. 82
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
FRIDAY, MARCH 5, 1971
HUBY NEWTON
Photo by Bruce Bolinger
NOON-TIME CONCERT
Angela Masson's repaired statue of Christ was again placed in the Student Activities Center patio today after being dumped in the back of the Operations and Maintenance building Monday. In the background is the rock group "Sky" who appeared yesterday noon.
Cut in graduate funds feared
USC would lose about $200,000 in the state-financed graduate fellowship program if Gov. Ronald Reagan's proposed budget for 1971-72 is passed by the state legislature.
The proposed California budget would eliminate $1 million in new graduate fellowships and directly affect graduate schools at USC. Stanford and the Claremont Graduate College. The graduate program was created in 1965 to prepare graduates for teaching in California's educational system, but Gov. Reagan claims a surplus of teachers has been established.
Dr. Charles Mayo, dean of the USC Graduate School, said that the graduate fellowship cuts would have considerable impact.
He also disagreed with the governor that quality faculty in all academic areas has been achieved. Mayo believes that state assistance is vital to graduate study in private schools because it relieves the financial burden on public schools.
Mayo said that USC presently has 150 state-supported graduate students. The $213,444 in state funds that supports these students is higher than any other institution.
Mayo claimed that the state budget cut came at a bad time because of the rapid reduction in federal assistance. He fears that these cutbacks in federal and state aid could produce a severe shortage of college faculty in the next decade.
The Los Angeles Times reported that the State Scholarship and Loan Commission has received almost twice as many applications than are rewarded. But the program is dependent upon the upcoming budget, therefore all the applicants’ fellowships are in jeopardy.
“If the program were to be killed or reduced drastically, the university would have no way to pick these students up." Mayo said.
The proposed budget is awaiting action by the California state legislature.
Panther talk off
By RICH WISEMAN News Editor The proposed appearance of Huey Newton, Black Panther minister of defense, on campus next week was indefinitely postponed for security reasons yesterday by the Central Committee of the Panther party.
Joe Conner, a committee member of the Great Issues Forum, the sponsoring group, received a call from the committee headquarters in Oakland informing him of the cancellation of the planned March 10 appearance. One informed source on the committee said there was still hopes that Newton may appear. He said calls would be made to the Panther headquarters.
William McCoard. Great Issues Forum faculty adviser. Henry Blackburn, the Black Students Union chairman and Panthers' representatives had met numerous times concerning Newton's appearance. The main concern expressed was security precautions. It is reported that the Panthers wanted to come to USC with guns. This was immediately unacceptable to the university.
It was finally agreed that the Panthers would not come armed, that the university would not call in LAPD officers to monitor the appearance with the exception of one plain-clothesman and that the security police, along with student monitors, would provide the security manpower.
Apparently. the Panthers were not satisfied with the arrangement.
Among the details of the appearance were:
—that Newton would receive $1,500 and airfare for himself and two aides —that he would speak at 4 p.m. at Cromwell Field —that Blackburn would chair the meeting —that questions would be taken from the audience on cards
—that the Panthers would solicit no funds.
Securing the appearance of Newton was largely the work of Mike Gray, forum committee member, who conceived the idea last semester while enrolled in Urban Semester. After negotiations began, it was thought that a black member might achieve better success, so Frank Simanca was appoint-
ed chief negotiator.
Newton founded the Black Panthers with Bobby Seale in 1966. Originally named the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense. the group was formed to implement a ten-point program for revolutionary reform, including the controversial point that the black community defend and police itself.
The Panthers initiated a policy of arming themselves, although no incident was ever recorded of them actually interfering with police.
Then, in 1967. Newton had a shootout with police. Newton said that police recognized him and stopped his car. They then
harassed and shot him. prompting him to shoot back and kill one of the officers. Police reported Newton drew his gun first.
Newton was tried for second-degree murder, but was convicted of manslaughter and given a six to 15 year sentence. He became a martyr to some blacks who considered him a political prisoner. He was the subject of the internationally known slogan “Free Huey."
The California Appeals Court threw out his conviction in May of last year. He will be free until March 12 when the state will try him for manslaughter in the same case.
Rock opera set for March 30
By SANDY BANDUCCI
“Tommy." the story of deaf, dumb and blind boy's amazing journey to fame as a pin-ball wizard, which first appeared on record as a rock opera by The Who. is making a second appearance, this time as a full-scale multimedia production in Bovard Auditorium.
The world's second production of the rock opera is under the direction of Joel Rosenzweig. a senior drama major, and will be presented March 30 to April 3. Admission is free to all USC students.
As the story begins. Mr. Walker, played by Allan Hubbs, returns home to find his wife's lover. Robert Jaffe. in the house. In a rage of passion. Mr. Walker kills the lover with an iron mirror. Tommy, played by Michael Cantor, sees and hears this struggle which has a psychosomatic affect on him. He becomes deaf, dumb and blind. Tommy then goes on an incredible journey and soon becomes a pin-ball wizard.
“The most flip idea of the show is that from this point, until the end of the show, the audience will be asked to focus their attention on more than one or two visual images at one time." Rosenzweig said. “They will be asked to listen to what is played and sung. This will prove that we can think and will be the great excitement of the show."
“Tommy" was first performed at the Metropolitan Opera by the rock musical group The Who. The idea for the USC production first came about in October when Rosenzweig took his plan to the Drama Department. It was suggested that the production could be included in the Festival of the Arts until the ASSC offered a grant of $2,065 for the production.
Since the initial planning of “Tommy" began in November, there has been one major set-back. The delay in the construction of a performing arts theater forced the cast to settle for Bovard Auditorium which has been booked since last April. Finally after much persuading and pleading. Rosenzweig was able to get five days for the show and six rehearsal days in the auditorium.
A multilevel stage has been completed by designer Butch Eddy. Sal Trapani, choreographer, has been conducting the cast in sensitivity training, and the cast has been rehearsing every night for three hours.
According to Rosenzweig. the story of the opera will be told in such a wav as to present a question of religious conflict. “Is Tommy a saint, a religious figure or a Christlike being?"
The production has been blocked to the album except for two dance sequences. The film for the background has been completed with special effects being added later. Robert Easton has chore-
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