Changes planned for premed advisement
By BRIAN ROBINETTE
A proposed interim plan for premedi-cal advisement will be presented to John Cantelon, dean of the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, tomorrow dv Norman Fertig, dean for advisement.
Fertig declined to comment on the details of the proposed premed program. However, one premed student reported that Fertig told him the proposed change in the advisement procedure was to be part of a massive reconstruction of the LAS advisement procedure.
The plan, which calls for a restructuring of the premed advisement program, was prompted by the resignation of the chairman of the premedical advisory program, Edwin (Bud ) Perkins, an assistant professor of biology.
An ad hoc committee of nine premeds. some of whom were members of Alpha Epsilon Delta, an international premed honor society, met with Dean Fertig during a closed-door meeting Monday afternoon to discuss the proposed plans.
Although the press was not invited, students who were present at the meeting revealed some of the proposals, which included:
•	Another faculty member to assume the chairmanship of the Premedical Advisory Committee, beginning in spring semester. 1972. The chairman would then spend regularly scheduled hours in the LAS advisement office.
•	The addition of other qualified staff personnel to ensure smooth assembly and processing of letters of recommendation and application procedures of junior premeds.
•	A comprehensive, long-range permanent plan is forthcoming.
The resignation of Perkins has triggered speculation and controversy. Several of his premed students and associates, who wish to remain anonymous, insist he was pressured by the Biological Sciences Department to resign due to his lack of tenure at USC.
Bernard Abbott, chairman of the Biological Sciences Department, was not available for comment on the matter.
Another student said that he felt the prime factor for the resignation was the lack of funds. The funds donated by the LAS advisement office and the Biological Sciences Department, he said, are not enough to cover travel expenses, supplies and clerical help.
“Perkins would like the university committed so that they will give more help and money to continue operating.” said the student. “The university could not meet this.”
Perkins, said the student, just couldn't handle the 40 hours per week he devoted to premed advisement and still teach and counsel biology students.
Perkins has been unavailable for comment since his resignation.
“It was a mixture of unfortunate circumstances and professional commitments,” said Diane Isonaka, Perkins' secretary.
Ms. Isonaka disavowed any knowledge of departmental pressures forcing Perkins to resign.
“Dr. Perkins has in no way any trouble with either LAS or the Biology De-
partment,” she said.
Despite his resignation. Perkins said he will continue to handle the 192 senior premeds personally.
All of the premeds interviewed expressed their belief that if funds were available and Perkins' tenure was not in jeopardy, that he would return.
“What we want is a centralized counseling and secretarial service,” said another student, who, like others asked that his name be withheld.
Perkins recently was awarded a Justin Dart Award for Innovative Teaching for the establishment of the Biology Semester. He had served as premed advisor since spring, 1970.
The premeds claim widespread support for Perkins among their fellow students. As proof, they said a petition is being circulated to reinstate Perkins and to reassure him of the funds and security they feel are necessary to continue Perkins' program.
University of Southern California
DAILY ® TROJAN
VOL. LXIV NO. 62
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
Wednesday, January 12, 1972
oomnnmoNAL convention
Government plan offered
CONVENTION DISSENTER—Randy Goodwin, a delegate to the ASSC constitutional convention, disagrees with the report presented again by the convention's judiciary committee Tuesday. DT photo by Tony Korody.
By PETER WONG Staff Writer
A plan for student government that emphasizes better management of student programs rather than student representation was formally presented to the ASSC constitutional convention Tuesday by a convention committee.
Convention delegates, however, nearly forced the committee on the judiciary to redo all its work because of a dispute over advance notice for open hearings the committee has held. The committee submitted its final report to the convention Thursday.
The convention is expected to decide on a basic plan for student government Thursday at 4 p.m. in the Student Activities Center, with the executive, legislative and judicial branches to be set in a new student body constitution. The rest of the proposed constitution should then fall into place
CACC director to resign
By MIKE WILLIAMS
Patrice Edwards, executive director of the Community Action Coordinating Council (CACC), announced yesterday that she will resign her post at the end of this semester.
“I’m graduating in June but I think the CACC would benefit from the new director taking over early in the spring." she said.
“It takes about a semester to get a good feel for the or-
Rock group to play at noon
“Grok Rock,” a new duet featuring an organ and drums, will play at a free noon concert today at the Student Activities Center Patio.
The novelty of the group is that the organist is capable of duplicating a wide range of sounds not usually heard on an organ.
ganization. Spring is the best time to start because the summer then gives you time to prepare for the following year.”
Ms. Edwards said that applications for the vacated post could be picked up in Student Union 312-F beginning Thursday, Jan. 13, and must be returned by Tuesday, Jan. 18.
Applicants will be interviewed following the semester break.
The CACC was created in 1167 to coordinate the increasing number of community-oriented student projects forming at that time.
During its first few years the organization went through a rapid expansion as it developed its basic structure of projects, but recently it has been concentrating on a consolidation of its activities.
“We don't want to stagnate,” Ms. Edwards said. “We ll be looking for someone with a definite direction in mind for the CACC.”
At present, 15 community projects are involved in the organization, all offering services needed by the community and also, in a sense, needed by the students.
CACC offers its participants the opportunity to go as far as they can in a nonacademic context.
Familiarity with the workings of the organization will be a necessary requirement of the new director, but this will not limit applicants to upperclassmen. Ms. Edwards said. She mentioned that her predecessor, Dan Smith, first assumed the office when he was a freshman.
Ms. Edwards will remain with the CACC in the capacity of advisor during the spring.
Until the appointment of the new director, Bruce Mitchell, current deputy director, will serve as interim director.
in time to meet the convention’s Feb. 8 deadline.
Reports of six other convention committees will be submitted to the convention before Jan. 20. Each committee will be required to hold at least one open hearing for the general student body.
The revenue committee, under Gary Wayland. will hold an open hearing today at 3 p.m. in the Student Activities Center to explore ways of financing the government established by the new constitution if it is passed by the students.
At the convention Tuesday, Dan Smith, chairman of the committee on the executive and legislative branches, presented a plan for a nine-member board of directors to manage student programs. However, the plan is dependent on the adoption of a plan for university governance, in which students are integrated into the decisionmaking process of the university, sometime this year.
The elected members of the board of directors—president, vice-president, executive secretary. treasurer, and solicitor general—would serve one-year terms starting May 1. Whether these officials will be elected individually or as a team will probably be left to the convention to decide, although the committee has suggested the team approach.
The chairmen of four councils — the Academic Affairs. Community Action, Executive Affairs, and University Programs Coordinating Councils— will be elected from their respective councils for two-year terms, and they will sit on the board of directors. The councils will plan and execute student programs.
One nonvoting board member will be the director of the association, a full-time employee to be paid from the student budget for a four-year term.
The board will meet at least twice a month, with seven of the nine voting members necessary for a quorum. Budget, personnel and written policy
matters will require a seven-ninths majority vote for passage: other matters will require only a simple majority.
The convention will not vote on any plans until Thursday, since delegates have asked for time to study the plan.
Meanwhile, the convention came close to forcing its committee on the judiciary, headed by Marshall Oldman, to hold new open hearings and redo its work.
George Millburn, a convention delegate, presented a motion that would have required all convention committees to publicize their open hearings in advance through the Daily Trojan. He said that since the judiciary committee did not give advance notice for its hearings, the committee should hold new hearings and draft another report.
Both Millburn and Randy Goodwin. another delegate, complained that since the judiciary committee did not publicize its open hearings through the Daily Trojan, they and other students were not able to present their proposals and views on the judiciary.
The convention voted 13-7-6 in favor of Millburn's motion, but since it did not win a two-thirds majority, it failed to
pass.
WHA votes open hours
The Women's Halls Association voted Monday night to declare 24-hour visitation in the women’s dorms as of Jan. 19. Laura Kotsiris, WHA president, was to present a resolution to Robert Mannes, dean of student life, yesterday and face sheets concerning the resolution were to be distributed in the women residents’ mailboxes last night.
However, a special emergency meeting was called for tonight, at which the resolution will be reconsidered.