University of Southern California
DAILY • TROJAN
VOL. LIX
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1967

NO. 52
KA decision angers Judicial chief justice
SEEING THE LIGHT PROVED TIME-CONSUMING FOR ARCHITECTURE STUDENTS
Monday night all they saw was soap and water as they washed their work away
NO PUCKERING UP
The fate of student wall mural: Painted, seen by dean, erased
By MARK YASCHE
Above the floor a huge pair of red lips were puckered. The inscription underneath read, “Perhaps the thing is to eat flowers and not be afraid." On either' side a giant peace symbol and an enormous eyeball were painted. On the surrounding walls were painted a variety of symbols, slogans and poems.
The work was an attempt by architecture students to brighten what they considered an ugly room. The students asked their instructors, took a vote of the class members, and even used removable paint with the idea that the decoration would be removed at the end of the semester.
Because they were the only class using the room, the students thought no one would object. They forgot to ask Crombie Taylor.
Taylor, associate dean of the School of Architecture, was in Chicago when the room was painted three weeks ago.
When he returned to the campus last week, he was shocked' and disappointed at what he termed the “vandalism done to the basic design room.”
In a memo to John Gilchrist, an associate professor of architecture, Taylor said, “Such behavior on the part of the students is not acceptable to the faculty or the student body as a whole. Such vandalism cculd result in dismissal from the university of the students involved if the problem has to be dealt with in a lormal manner.’’
Taylor further asked for “the students who defaced the room to return it to its former condition immediately to avoid any formal notice having to be taken.”
The memo was posted on a door in the room and almost immediately the students began to object.
One of the involved students was standing next to an inscription which read. “We have made a commitment and considered the alternatives."
“If we felt a need for an action like this (painting the room), with the idea that we weren't infringing on others, we felt we had a right.”
He also attacked Taylor’s description of the painting as vandalism, pointing out that the students
used removable paint they purchased with their own money.
He also said, “One of the provisions was that the paint would be removed at the end of the semester when another class had to use the room.’’
One of the organizers of the painting spree said, "The thing which strikes me most is that this situation is the epitome of the student - faculty - administration conflict which so hinders the success of many large universities.
"The students, acting responsibly, took a vote and acted. The faculty approved, but were hesitant to give official approval.
“In the long run, however, some removed member of the administration makes the final decision.”
One of the instructors of the class involved in the painting said, “He (Taylor) has as much right to object as we do. The dean has the responsibility of keeping order in the plant and he thinks this (prohibiting the students from painting the room) will help keep it.”
There appear to be mixed feelings among the faculty regarding the art work. Most agreed that the idea is right, but also agree that Taylor was justified in calling for the removal of the work.
Samuel Hurst, dean of the School of Architecture, said that the students’ art work “is a healthy atti-ude toward the desire to do something.”
He added, however, that there are often better ways to do things.
“I think the more natural way to do that thing is on paper,” he said.
"I don’t think that spontaneous creation done in a good spirit is necessarily wrong. It becomes wrong when permanent damage is done,” he said.
Another instructor of the class involved said, “I don’t think any instructor disagrees with what the students aid. If I iiad any real objections, I would have said so."
He added, however, that Taylor had every right to object, just as the students have the right to object to Taylor's action.
Still another professor said, “I think it’s great. This is an expres-
sion of their ideas, and everyone has to express himself.”
As for Taylor, he took a quieter attitude and asked that no publicity be given. “You'll only be hurting the student," he said.
Any publicity, he said, will necessitate formal notice, which could result in dismissal of the guilty students.
His secretary summed up the dean's attitude, saying, “As far as we are concerned, this thing doesn't exist. It’s being taken care of.”
And it was taken care of. Monday night the painters returned to the scene with more paint but a different purpose.
As a stereo boomed out the popular music of Ana'y Warhol, the students went to work.
Off came the red lips.
Off came the giant eyeball.
Off came the slogans, poems, and pictures.
Off came everything, and on went the paint.
By 11 p.m. the room was once again white and gray.
On the blackboard one sign remained, symbolizing the students’ opinion of the room. It read “Certified 100 Percent Sterile."
By MIKE PARDRID(iE
The Kappa Alpha Order breathes new life today and, as a result, Mike Silverstein, chief justice of the IFC Judicial, is angry.
Silverstein's feelings were aroused Friday when the Student Behavior Committee changed the IFC Judicial’s indefinite suspension of the KAs to limited suspension and a $3,000 fine.
“I don’t know what their rationale was in changing our decision," Silverstein said.
“Both university and state laws are explicit enough to say that you just don’t haze, so I don’t see why they changed it.”
IFC's ruling suspended the fraternity indefinitely and prohibited all undergraduate members and pledges from any Kappa Alpha activity during the remainder of their college years.
In other words, the Judicial kicked the current KA house off the Row for violation of the hazing code.
As it stands now, the Kappa Alpha Order exists per se, but may not engage in any activity as a fraternity, nor participate in the Interfraternity Council and its activities until June 30, 1968.
GOD AND INDIANA -READ IT IN DT
If (iod really does play defensive end for Indiana, you’ll find out in the Daily Trojan Rose Bowl Souvenir Edition to go on sale Dee. 13 on campus.
The price of the 32-page tabloid special, which will feature special coverage of the Jan. 1 classic, will be 10 cents.
The fraternity, however, may appear before the IFC Judicial at any time before that date to show cause why the suspension should be lifted.
As Dean of Men Daniel Nowak said earlier, the Student Behavior Committee’s action is much less harsh than the penalty imposed upon the KAs earlier this year.
Silverstein is concerned not only with the retraction of what he considers a just penalty, but also with the image of the IFC Judicial in the future.
“It's almost like a paternal image. The university slaps a fraternity on the hand and then says go on your way,’’ Silverstein said.
Dr. A .T. Polin, professor of busi-
ness and chairman of the Committee on Student Behavior, was contacted at his R.edondo Beach home and asked to discuss his commitee’s ruling.
“Our position was to hear the case and make a decision. We felt the IFC decision was punitive and in no way would help the situation,” he said.
“Our decision includes remedial steps which we feel will help more than closing down the house would. And we think that is much more constructive.
“Granted, the KAs have a dismal record the past few years, but to throw them off campus wouldn’t help. All you ve done then is to put the situation away for a while.”
BENEFITS OF COLD BLOOD
To lengthen life, cool it, prof to tell Senate
ARCHITECTURE STUDENTS RELUCTANTLY REMOVE MURAL The spontaneous designs were deemed unsuitable
If human body temperatures could be reduced by just three degrees, the average man might live 20 years longer. a USC research biologist said in a statement to be delivered before a U.S. Senate committee today.
Dr. Bernard Strehler, who heads research into the biological aspects of aging at the Rossmoor-Cortese Institute of Retirement and Aging, said it has been established that coldblooded animals age more slowly at reduced body temperature.
Dr. Strehler was to deliver his testimony before Sen. Harrison Williams’ (D-N.J.j Special Senate Committee on Aging.
“We do no know whether this rule applies to warm-blooded animals such as ourselves, but if it does, the effect of reducing our body temperatures from 98.6 degrees to 95.6 degrees would be to add about 20 years to the average life expectancy,” Dr. Strehler said.
“It certainly seems that a modest investment in the effect of longevity on altered body temperatures in mammals would be more than wise.”
Stressing the need for funding and support for accelerated basic biological research into aging, he recommended immediate establishment of a National Institute for Aging Research and the setting up of a Study Section on the Biology of Aging within the National Institutes of Health.
He also called for an initial appropriation of $6 million per year.
Drugs that reduce body temperature already have been developed, he said.
“Of course, we do not know what the side effects of lowering body temperature by three degrees might be,” he said, “but this change is well
within the range of fluctuations we have all experienced.”
Dr. Strehler is a graduate of Johns Hopkins University, has taught at the University of Chicago and the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, Mass., and is presently a professor in biological sciences at USC. He is also directing research at the Rossmoor-Cortese Institute.
He is the author and co-author of more than 80 scientific articles, as well as several books, including “Time. Cells and Aging.”
DT TO HOLD MEETING AT NOON
AH staff members of the Daily Trojan are required to attend the meeting at noon today in the City Room.
The meeting has been called by the Journalism Council to distribute a questionnaire regarding candidates for the spring semester’s Daily Trojan editor.
The questionnaire may be completed by all salaried staff members, journalism students who work on the paper as a class laboratory and volunteers whose names have appeared in the staff box this year.
Seniors in good academic standing at the university have until 11:30 a.m. today to submit their applications for the editorship in 423 Student Union.
The Journalism Council will meet next Monday to consider the applications and make their recommendation to President Topping, who appoints the editor.
MEXICAN-AMERICANS
Better education important to future
DOMINICK RUBALCAVA Mexican-American student
By JACK CHAPPELL Editorial Director
(This is the second of a two-part study) “There has to be a realignment in the manner in which the Mexican-American is treated, particularly in the area of education. Teachers have to be re-educated, and administrators must be trained to communicate with the parents of Mexican-American children without being authoritarian or adopting a superior attitude,” Dominick Rubalcava, a Mexican-American USC student, said in an interview yesterday.
Rubalcava described himself as an atypical Mexican-American. This is primarily because he has grown up without many of the environmental problems that face the majority of Mexican-Americans. Rubalcava is also atypical because he a'ttends USC, a privilege few Mexican-Americans have.
“Special classes, when needed, should be implemented during elementary and high school to enable the Mexican-American child to achieve parity with the Anglo child,” Rubalcava said. This has to last throughout the educational experience of the child, from kindergarten through high school. There has to
be a recognition of the needs and difference of the Mexican-American culture. This special presentation must avoid the traditional stereotypes associated with the Mexican-American
society.
“There is a definte problem. It all stems from the Latin society’s stress on different objectives as opposed tp the Anglo society’s stress on personal achievement and success,” he said.
“The Latin family has not historically stressed education, therefore, because the cultural attitude is different, the environment is different. Mexican-Americans usually achieve things through a group or family effort. Because of the collective effort approach characterizing Mexican-Americans, dependence upon the individual has rarely been required.
“There is a definite Mexican-American hostility toward being forced to abandon culture, language and social values to achieve equality with the Anglo, and this is the prerogative we’ve been given.
“The problem, as I see it, is that the Mexican-Americans have been subjected, harassed and exploited by the Anglo. Because of this suppression, there has been a lack of adapta-
tion to the American society.
“From what I’ve seen of the federal poverty programs, the Negro has been receiving the majority of attention and the majority of the money. This has created resentment and a feeling of frustration on the part of Mexican-Americans.
“The federally funded programs could be a valuable tool in relieving the problems associated with the Mexican-Americans. Successes of the Head Start program are examples.
“I’ve seen a change even in the parents of children who are involved in the Head Start project. Many parents have gone back to high school to get their diplomas. Many have become interested in furthering their own education as well as their childrens’.
“A real change that I’ve seen in the last few years has been the unification of various Mexican-American organizations. The recent election of Dr. Julian Nava to the Los Angeles Board of Education marks the first time the majority of Mexican-Americans have united behind a Mexican-American candidate for anything.”
Rubalcava said tfiat there are many things the university could do to decrease the prob-
lems faced by Mexican-Americans. There are two separate areas of concern here, he said.
One area is the participation of the university directly in the Mexican-American community, the other is the education of students who will have future connections with the Mexican-Americans.
UCLA has a plan by which they admit on scholarship promising Mexican-American students who may not have the required high school grades. “This would be a step in the right direction, and it is a step the university could take,” Rubalcava said.
“There would have to be an additional allocation of money besides just tuition before it could really work, however. The financial burden of being a student here, not just tuition, but keeping up with the rest of the students, would make it even more difficult for the Mexican-American attending USC without the additional money.”
Aside from the university’s direct involvement with the Mexican-American community, Rubalcava said the university could expand ita role in the education of regular students.
(Continued on Page 2)