Umvcrsirv of Southern C.tlifornu
TROJAN
VOL. LXIV NO. 50
LOS ANGELES,CALIFORNIA
WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 8, 1971
Cousteau reflects on life
CAPT. JACQUES-YVES COUSTEAU—An audience jammmed Bovard
Auditorium yesterday to hear the famed oceanographer recount his experiences and discuss his views on life. The speech was sponsored by the Sea Grant Program DT photo by Tony Korody.
By ANGELA CURCURU
Campus Editor
The audience overflowed into the two balconies of Bovard Auditorium yesterday noon to hear Capt. Jacques-Yves Cousteau. world-reknowned oceanographer. speak on the “The Ocean's Environment and the Living Sea." He was sponsored by the Sea Grant Program.
But it wasn't until the ques-tion-and-answer session that Cousteau mentioned anything about pollution of the environment. He was more content to recall the experiences that led him to explore the vest undersea vyorld and to reflect upon his life views.
“In the midst of this jungle, which is today's society, man can experience a much greater degree of freedom than he thinks he has." Cousteau said.
“We must consider ourselves and our lives as a relatively rare product—even if there are billions of us. There must be an appreciation of life itself."
Cousteau said that his rise to fame has saddened him in the respect that with it came the end of his private life. He said that none of his actions have been triggered by the desire for money and fame, but from a genuine desire to find satisfaction in his actions.
“I must confess that I don't believe in God." he said. “So there must be something else that motivates me.
“The moment of action is a reward in itself. The full satisfaction is not in the goal or the achievement of the goal, but in the action towards that."
Cousteau said that there is a sort of selfishness in finding
ASSC OK's release of GPAs
By PETER WONG Staff Writer
ASSC Executive Council members will ask for their grade point averages to be submitted to Paul Moore, director of student activities, so that their eligibility to serve on the council may be checked.
The council took the action Tuesday night after brief but bitter debate over a case filed Nov. 30 with the ASSC Student Court by Bob Glushon. freshman representative, and several other students. Glushon had asked that the qualifications of 11 council members be checked.
Though the ASSC Constitution specifies that council members have a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 and be full-time students. the requirements have not been enforced.
Glushon said that since the Student Court had ruled earlier this fall that John McGuinness could not run for the ASSC presidency and Chuck Jones could not be graduate representative because their averages were below 2.5. it seemed to him that the court was the authority to go Ic so that the requirement could be enforced for the 11 council members.
However. Lee Blackman, vice-
Berrigan speech today
Edward LeRoy Long, Jr., vice president of the American Society of Christian Ethics, will discuss “The Harrisburg {Berrigan) Trial” at noon today in Hancock Auditorium.
Long will be speaking on the political implications of the government case against Father Daniel Berrigan.
The sponsor of the Long speech, the Great Issues Forum, will also present Thomas Tull, a retired British diplomat at noon tomorrow in Hancock Auditorium. Tull will discuss “The Problems of Southern Africa.”
president for academic affairs, said that Glushons case made it appear that the 11 council members in question were trying to cover up something. “The idea of going to court makes the council some kind of a scourge."
After further argument. Glushon withdrew a proposed ASSC bylaw to establish a formal procedure on grade checks, and Blackman's substitute motion was passed.
In this, each council member will send a letter to William Hall, the registrar, authorizing him to release a cumulative GPA to Moore. If any of the 11 members are found to be below the constitutional requirement of 2.5. Moore will inform ASSC President Kent Clemence. who will then take executive action. (Individual student consent is necessary for release of information in the registrar's files.)
Ten of the council's 23 members had grade checks in the fall elections: two others had checks before their appoint-
ments as independent representatives.
In other business, the council voted 14-1-3 to ask Clemence to testify at the first open hearing of the elections and eligibility committee of the ASSC constitution convention. The council instructed Clemence to tell committee members that the constitutional grade point requirement should not be included in any new student body constitution.
Council members also voted to inform the convention chairman, Dave Howe, that additional sections to the convention procedures need not be brought to the council for approval. although changes in the original convention procedures would still have to be approved by the council.
Clemence announced that applications for solicitor and three advocates will be due by Friday. Interviews with the candidates will be conducted Mondav and Tuesdav.
accomplishment in one s at* tions. but that it is a sort ot “shared selfishness." The ju'^ tification for any action should come by itself, he said. "If y< . feel like doing it. that should he' enough reason—as long as '& doesn't hurt anyone else."
He said that today's socie’ would be better if people tried to accomplish some sort of sati> faction within themselves. "A world full of happy peopl* would be much better than . world where everybody be lieved in some kind of abstra< ideas or philosophy.' he said
“If something bedazzles mt I want to share it. not give it And this is where his shared selfishness comes in.
Cousteau believes the main cause behind pollution comes from his generation and the generation before and their enthusiasm for exploiting the power made possible through Industrial Revolution. He said it is only recently that man has become aware of his destruction.
“They drew a check on the future generations." he said. “They got the money, but now we have to pay for it.
“The question is. what price are we willing to pay? It would cost the United States $60 billion per year, but if the other nations don't do it also, it would make for a handicap."
Cousteau believes the main obstacle to cleaning up the world's environment is a military one. The stronger the country's industrial powers are. the stronger they believe their military ones to be. he said. He also said the United States is the most advanced country in regard to environmental awareness. Japan is second, and it needs to be because that is the most polluted nation in the world, he said.
When asked what he would do if he could return to the university and start all over again Cousteau said. “At the age <>t 75. I think I d like to begin with medical studies."
Insurance companies harass students
By BARBARA WEGHER
A young man. Jim Johnson, (not his real name) former Cal State Long Beach student, has received ten letters demanding immediate payment for an insurance premium. He contends he doesn t owe the company any money and refuses to pay.
If Johnson stood alone it would be an isolated case. However, a good many Cal State Long Beach students found themselves in a similar situation that Johnson claims to be in The same insurance company is now contacting I SC students.
Johnson maintains that on Oct. 28. 1968. he was driven from his school to the Mayflower Investment Company's (later incorporated into Fidelity Union Life Insurance Com-panv of Dallas. Texas i office by one of its salesmen. San Deop-same r
According to Johnson. Deop-samer confined him to his office for one hour until Johnson signed'a promissory note. A pro-
missory note indicates intention to buy the insurance.
Johnson said that Deopsamer gave him the impression that under the plan, which is only for college graduates. Johnson would not be required to pay for the first two years.
Johnson claims that he neither knew that he had to pay for the first two years or that the first year's payment is actually deferred.
Furthermore Johnson alledges that Deopsamer said a fifth anniversary payment would fully reimburse him for his third, forth, and fifth year payments. The insurance company claims that the anniversary payment would only partially reimburse Johnson.
Johnson said Deopsamer also told him that the paper that he signed would not legally bind him and that he could discuss the matter with his parents before making a final diecision.
Johnson said the Deopsamer said after the first year Johnson could cancel the policy by
merely not making payment on the premiums. Johnson is now being billed for the first year.
Fidelity Union Life has taken Johnson to court charging nonpayment of the first year premium.
In a countersuit filed by Johnson. Fidelity Union Life Insur-
ance among other things is being charged with intentional misrepresentation. The law firm. Goldman. Goldman, and Arnold, who represent Fidelity Union in the case, stated that they are unable to comment on either charges of intentional misrepresentation or the charges of non-payment against Johnson.
Legal briefs claim however, that the Insurance Company denies any such charges
against it.
Johnson's case is being handled through the Long Beach Legal Aid Foundation by Richard Lysle. a USC law student. who himself was contacted by the life insurance company.
In order to aid Lysle in his case and to aid this reporter with the story, we set ourselves up as boy and girlfriend at
Lysle s parents' home on Nov. 22 to experience the sales technique employed to sell the life insurance.
A young-looking man walked into the Lysle home, smiling amicably. He was Dave Moreno. the insurance salesman representing Fidelity Union.
He began by making small talk which had nothing to do with insurance. Moreno then handed us a series of small pamphlets stating the dependability. size, worthiness, etc. of Fidelity Life.
One brochure states. "You’ll earn a fortune but you'll face four financial hazards. Ac-
cording to the brochure. It insurance is designed to aid these crises. If a man shoui* die without it. for example. In wife (again according to ti. pamphet) has “three grim al ternatives of working. acce|»* ing charity, or hasty rema? riage."
Moreno proceeded to illu trate the benefits derived fr«>i a $50,000 policy. With the Esta Plan, which is for college gr duates only, a person receiu $200,000 in the case of accident death.
“You get more than what y< pay in. in fact four times tin total insurance coverage. Moreno said.
But the payments are $72.:>., monthly. Through this plan, however, premium payment is deferred for a year.
“How many students can pay $72.33 monthly? ' asked Lysle.
Moreno stated that not many students could pay that amount so he outlined the $15,000 estate plan which costs $22.34 monthly.
(Continued on page 2)