Visitation: ASSC tries again
MHA submits altered open house proposal
By ANDY MILLER
SoCal Editor
A reworded MHA proposal was submitted to Dean of Students Paul Bloland yesterday, less than a month after the rejection of a combined MHA-WHA proposal.
Fred Minnes, MHA president, handed the revised document to Dean Bloland yesterday morning. Yesterday afternoon the ASSC Executive Council unanimously passed a motion supporting visitation rights in the men's halls.
The new proposal calls for visitation rights only in the men's dorms, with the same specified time limits, rules and regulations of the original proposal.
The major part of the proposal is the two-page, four-point preamble, which explains the benefits of an open house program to the men residents and the university.
A major weakness of the rejected proposal, and consequently a major reason for its rejection, was the sentence Dr. Topping referred to in his explanation to the ASSC Executive Committee.
The president said he had not been convinced that visitation would improve “relationships between students and faculty, students and administrators, and students and fellow students.”
The proposal requests weekly visitation rights Fridays from 7 p.m.-midnight. and Saturdays and Sundays
from noon to 5 p.m.
Also, if approved, each house would have the option each month to exclude, by a majority vote, any or all of the time segments available for open house.
Both the host and the guest would have to register in a book located in the lobby, and then the guest would bo escorted to the host's room by the host.
“Because all the girls in the women's residence halls were not overwhelmingly in favor of the open house and because the vast majority of the letters received by the university in opposition to the open house proposal were objecting to open house in the women's halls." Minnes said, “tne WHA has withdrawn their proposal and the MHA has submitted a new proposal asking for open house in the men's residence halls only.
“Careless wording in the preamble of the joint MHA-WHA proposal may have helped to elicit many of the more emotional objections from parents and alumni.
“This, however, does not detract from the merits of the program. The benefits of open house in the mein s residence halls have been explicitly
set forth in the new preamble,” he said.
‘‘Because the open house question was thoroughly researched by both students and administrators during the fall semester, a prompt response should be forthcoming,” Minnes said.
The first point stressed in the rewritten proposal is that the MHA believes the “university plays an important role not only in the intellectual growth of the student, but in his overall development as well. Open house on a regular basis in the residence halls has definite value in promoting maturity a.nd acceptance of responsibility by residents.”
The second point stresses that open house would create new group responsibilities since each house unit would have to vote on visitation hours.
Third, the proposal would benefit both students and the university because it would help to instill in the residents a sense of pride in their surroundings, the proposal claims.
The fourth reason says visitation would enhance dorm life and thus encourage men to live in dorms.
TOPPING'S LETTER
Thank you for your February 6, 1968. letter on behalf of the ASSC Executive Council. I share with you your concern for student life in the residence halls.
A principle reason why the open house proposal was not approved is that I was not persuaded it is an effective way, in the words of the proposal, to improve “relationships between students and fellow students.”
There is no question that students living on campus did not have a “comfortable and informal atmosphere” to promote fellowship during the time when the Grill and cafeteria were being remodeled. Soon, the new Student Activities Center and related facilities will be open. Furthermore, we have contracted the same architect who redesigned the Grill; he has toured the residence halls with us and is now considering changes for improvements in the downstairs lounges and recreation spaces to make them more attractive and provide the residents a more congenial living arrangement. It is these factors that I believe will promote the objectives of the Women’s and Men’s Halls Associations better than room visitation.
As you may know, the university solicited the opinion of parents of students in the residence halls. An additional reason for not accepting the proposal was the response from these parents, who, in the vast majority, were very opposed to it. Moreover, we received a strong negative reaction from many loyal alumni of the university who are members of various alumni organizations; these former USC students have the best interests of their alma mater at heart and work constantly for the university’s betterment.
Also, many hall residents, particularly women, commented to me personally that the proposal would constitute an invasion of privacy and a real inconvenience to them.
Sincerely,
Norman Topping
Council will fight for student rights
By STAN METZLER Editor
The ASSC Executive Council reacted to President Topping s explanation of his visitation veto yesterday with a generally militant attitude towards what they considered the administration's pervasive attitude of hostility toward student rights.
The council, which had previously scheduled a briefing with President Topping and his staff next Monday, spent most of its meeting discussing the issues they should discuss at that time.
The council began rather routinely with reports from the two vice-presidents, but quickly reached its emotional level after Fred Minnes, MHA president, reported that his organization had submitted a reworded open house proposal through the Dean of Students Office.
ASSC President Marty Foley then
University of Southern California
DAILY • TROJAN
VOL. LIX
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1968
72
NO. 8
Experimental College continues; course registration begins today
The history of rock and roll, one of the most popular courses offered by the Experimental College in the fall semester, will meet tonight at 7 in 129 Founders Hall. The class, meeting for the first time this semester, will discuss “The Heart of the Blues.”
Registration for other Experimental College classes, ranging from the study of Herman Melville to billiards. will also begin today. Tables will be set up in front of the Student Union for students and teachers wrho either want to take a course or teach one. Registration will continue through Feb. 23.
Last semester approximately 600
people w’ere enrolled in 26 classes, with many attending several classes.
Several courses from last semester will continue this semester, and a few new classes have already been proposed. Students and professors are invited to suggest courses in which they are interested.
Anyone wishing to teach a course is requested to contact the Student Activities Office in the YWCA by Tuesday, Feb. 13.
Eleven classes, in addition to the history of rock and roll, have been proposed for the Experimental College for this semester.
Leadership workshop, a team teaching class, is being organized by
TO GIVE 2 PLAYS
Students to act in Trojan Tribute
The Drama Department’s Festival Theatre Company will perform in the Music Center Saturday as part of Trojan Tribute, an evening of student and alumni talent presentations saluting the university.
Featured will be an excerpt from “Eye Witness: A Report of an Assassination,” directed by Prof. Janet Bolton, who also adapted the play from the book “Twenty Days.”
The Festival Theatre Company received rave reviews for its second straight year of performances at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival last summer.
The company is presently preparing for an unprecedented third summer appearance in Scotland, and has also been invited to the Holland Festival, where they will present Jean Cocteau's “The Bull on the Roof. ’
The company will preview “The Bull on the Roof” at Trojan Tribute.
Other student contributions to the 8:30 p.m. affair will include the University Wind Orchestra, conducted by Robert Wojciak and the Chamber Singers, conducted by Dr. Charles Hirt.
The alumni attraction will be Carol Neblett, a soprano soloist with the P^oger Wagner Chorale, who will sing both classical and popular tunes.
Michael Thomas, outstanding pianist, and Laurence Lesser, winner of the Tchaikovsky International Competition in Moscow for his cello playing r/il! also perform.
The Trojan Tribute program, emceed by Ralph Edwards, will focus on the honoring of five outstanding alumni.
Dr. Robert Dockson, dean of the School of Business Administration, will receive the Asa V. Call Achievement Award, given to the alumnus who has brought the most honor to USC.
Frank Gifford, former All-American and sports commentator for CBS, and Stephen Bilheimer, civic leader and chairman of the board at Silverwoods. will be cited for outstanding service to USC and the Alumni Association.
Awards of Merit for worthy achievement will go to Dr. Helen Eastman Martin, professor of medicine, and Reginald McKenzie, president of Aero-Jet General Corp.
A few tickets are still available to faeulty members and students at prices ranging from $3 to $25, at the Alumni House, 634 Childs Way.
Paul Moore, director of student activities, and will meet Wednesdays at 4:15 p.m.
New morality, continuing from last semester, is being taught by Dr. Wesley Robb, professor of religion.
Psychic phenomena, continuing from last semester, is being taught by Terry Tang at 10:30 a.m. on Saturdays in VKC 206.
Ken Kates’ class in billiards will be held on Monday or Tuesday evenings.
Prof. Larry Press, of the School of Business Administration, will teach search for a life style, a new course.
Television production, instructed by Bob Wynne, is a new class which will meet Friday afternoons in the
television studios of Hancock.
Dr. Leo Buscaglia, assistant professor of education, will continue his course on love.
Dr. Robert Mannes, associate professor of mechanical engineering, will teach Old and New Testament again this semester.
Melville—a study in alienation will be taught by Mary Griffin on Tuesday afternoons.
Mark Savit’s class in violence and values in American society will continue from last semester.
Mysticism and the Tibetan Book of the Dead will be taught by Dan Steffens and Steve Supplin at 4:00 p.m. Tuesdays at Norman Rose's Bookstore on Hoover Boulevard near 32nd Street.
lold the council he had received an explanation of the original visitation veto from Dr. Topping. He said the president doubted the strong feeling cf the council conveyed in its request for the explanation last week and wanted Foley to take a sense of the council to affirm these feelings.
“If we had to pass this thing again, we would do it,” A1 Levine, senior class president, commented.
“And if we have to get into a fight or a war, we'll meet him on his own ground.”
Convinced by similar comments around the table (as well as a later vote supporting Minnes’ second proposal), Folen then proceeded to read President Topping’s reply to last week's request.
In his explanation. Dr. Topping said he had vetoed the proposal because he was not convinced it would be an effective means of improving campus relationships, the Grill and planned dormitory improvements would greatly add to the campus social atmosphere and many parents, alumni and women students had voiced their opposition either personally or in letters.
Norm Wilky, vice-president of student activities, objected to the president's reasoning immediately on two grounds.
“First of all, why can't students do what they want as long as there are no negative results.” Wilky asked, “whether the administration thinks it would be effective or n^c.
“And secondly. I question whether it is valid to even solicit the opinion of parents. The university is asking, ‘How do you want us to hold your children's hands,’ and I find that obnoxious."
The council members, who plan to question Dr. Topping further on the proposal at the Monday meeting, also questioned the president's actual awareness of student feelings.
“The vast majority of the men we call administrators at this university have no concept of student problems here,” one member said.
“At this meeting we have to tell him how the students feel,” another commented, “and I intend to tell him how I feel too.
“The time for smoothness of presentation, unfortunately, was over the last time we met.”
State property tax system archaic teacher tells Phi Delta Phi lunch
Jim Penrod in “The Bull on the Roof”
“I do not blame a specific individual for our property tax conditions today, but I feel that the entire system is archaic,” Bryan Stevens, a San Marino high school teacher and head of Property Assessment Re-evaluation, said yesterday.
He spoke in Marks Hall at a noon luncheon sponsored by Phi Delta Phi, professional legal fraternity.
“The best way to change the county and state systems is to circulate a petition calling for the repeal of the property tax. Another way to have the taxes made fairer for the public can be explained by using the governor’s property in Malibu as an example,” he said.
“We discovered that Reagan owned 40 acres in this area. The land was assessed at $4,000. A nearby, comparable piece of property, which is now owned by Marlon Brando, was assessed at $56,000, showing a discrepancy in the rate of taxation.”
The process for determining the assessed value of a piece of property is to determine the fair market value of the property and multiply it by
25	percent. This figure is then multiplied by the tax rate.
Following this procedure, Stevens said, Reagan’s property should be worth $16,000. But in comparison with the assessment of Brando’s property, Stevens said, the figures are way out of proportion.
“I filed an application with the Assessment Appeals Board, which was established to receive property owners complaints about their property taxes,” Stevens said.
“It is almost impossible for homeowners to receive a reduction in their rates. There is great expense in hiding an attorney and an appraiser to handle the case. In 1967, of the 17,000 cases appealed, only 556 were granted
reductions.
“A large number of the people w'ho received reductions owned large amounts of land and could afford the services of an attorney and an appraiser.
“My application to appear before the board was filed last Sept. 23. On Oct. 8, I received a notice to appear on Oct. 13. I then had five days to fully prepare my case.
“I received a continuance until Nov. 2, when I was granted a formal hearing for late January.”
Stevens said he learned that the Board of Supervisors had been contacted and was told that the case would be impossible to defend under current circumstances.
“So on Dec. 8, they passed a ruling stating that the rules of evidence in a condemnation case would prevail,” he said.
“There were seven days of hear-
ings beginning on Jan. 24, but we ran into trouble because of the newly-instituted rules.”
During the hearing, Stevens attempted to show that the taxes assessed in that area were widely varied. thus supporting the contention that his property tax was unfair.
Also because of certain recent property sales, Stevens hoped to show that a land boom was going on in this area and that, because of this, Reagan's property was not assessed at its true value.
“A property purchase by Bob Hope, for example, was eliminated because he bought the property -to fill out the lines of his own property.’ Every other sale was ruled out by some technicality,” he said.
“Even Brando’s property was eliminated because it was purchased on a trust deed.”
USC, UCLA to clash
in 8th Pancake Bowl
The city is at stake.
Also a full stomach and a pair of Honda 90 motorcycles.
With the football season over, the International House of Pancakes has announced the final athletic classic of the season — the Pancake Bowl.
Set for Feb. 27, the bowl will match a team of five Trojan men and their dates with ten Bruin adversaries at the Hollywood House of Pancakes.
The team that demonstrates the most gluttony will win the city of Los Angeles.
Any male students interested in joining the USC contingent should contact the Daily Trojan Office, 428 Student Union (2203), or the House of Pancakes (273-8500), this week.
Among the prizes offered in the eighth annual intercollegiate competition are a pair of Hondas to the to;> guy-girl team in the Southern California region and a set of 20-inch color television sets in the national contest.
The L.A. Pancake Bowl, one of five inter-city rivalries in the United States, has been w’on by the Bruins for the last two years.