Elections suspended for fairness inquiry
By LAURINDA KEYS News Editor
The results of the ASSC primary elections are being suspended and the runoff elections will be postponed indefinitely, Daniel Nowak, acting vice-president for student affairs, announced yesterday.
Nowak released a statement in which he said he will establish a board to be headed by Robert Mannes, dean for student life, and to include two other faculty members to examine the question of fairness in the elections.
Nowak said his action was based on written and oral statements he had received regarding the fairness of the election procedures and formal letters of appeal to him pertaining to specific actions of the Student Court that related to the outcome of the primary.
"The university has stated on numerous occasions that it is not our policy, and then only with reservation, to become involved with the partisan issues of student elections,’' he stated. “However, it is the responsibil-;*^.of the university to maintain j iigh level of fairness in all dL livities; in this case, those that govern student body procedures.”
Joel Rosenzweig, ASSC vice-president for programs, said he agreed Nowak had done the right thing but thought students should make up the board.
Lee Blackman. ASSC vice-president for academic affairs, who brought cases to the Student Court in opposition to Michael Lance Trope and Kent Clemence, said. “Under the circumstances I agree, and I admire the vice-president’s willingness to put equity above possible reaction. It has to be an unbiased body and the only way to be sure of that is to have administration and faculty members serve on it. The students are too involved at this point to look at it objectively.”
‘Constitutional crisis’ ASSC president and candidate for senior representative, Kent Clemence. said the action has “thrown the ASSC into a constitutional crisis.”
After hearing the decision. Trope, candidate for vice-president for programs, said, “If they’re going to fuck us up we might as well take the whole constitution with us.”
James Booker, a write-in candidate for senior representative, said he was one of those who appealed. He said the court's
VP search starts
“Our concern is with quality and not with time.” said Frances Feldman, a social work professor and member of the committee to name a new student affairs vice-president.
The committee’s first meeting April 14, proved to be a planning session. It was decided that the group would meet weekly on Mondays until a decision was made.
‘ He were given an extensive charge,” said Feldman. The immediate problem is to decide on what qualifications the new vice-president will need in order to fill the job. Names of potential candidates for the office have not as of yet been mentioned.
The committee is currently looking for sources such as students and various universities to gain advice on what these qualifications should be. Feldman feels that although necessary, “this is a slow process.”
The committee would welcome any and all suggestions from the Daily Trojan readers as to qualifications and possible candidates to be considered for the job.
Reporters to speak on fraudulent claims
Los Angeles Times reporters Bob Rawitch and George Reasons, authors of a series of articles exposing frauds in many cases of loan distribution for earthquake victims, will speak at noon today in Student Activities Center 206 on the “Role of Investigative Reporting in Los Angeles."
The discussion is sponsored by Sigma Delta Chi, professional journalism society.
In their study of earthquake loan distribution. Rawitch and Reasons found that the Small Business Administration handed out more than $200 million to earthquake victims last year, but a large share of the money went to people who didn’t deserve it.
More than half of the $211 million was disbursed in grants of up to $2,500 for each borrower. The grants, authorized under the “forgiveness clause” in the disaster law, allowed homeowners to borrow up to $2,500 but repay only $500. The SBA, submerged with loan applications, threw its procedures and safeguards out the window, and allowed thousands of fraudulent claims to go through.
A Times survey of 30 landowners in the earthquake area showed that homeowners:
•	Were given funds to repair damage not caused by the earthquake.
•	Frequently got more money than they needed to repair damage.
•	Used funds to remodel their homes in violation of SBA policy.
•	Did their own work when their loans were based on a contractor doing it. Some pocketed the difference.
It was also found that the SBA sometimes gave money for replacing personal property without any proof of loss and that the SBA violated its own policies by granting funds for replacement of unauthorized items such as trees and art work.
Also, it was found that the “forgiveness clause” spurred thousands, aided by contractors, to file for claims which they otherwise would have paid for out of their own pockets. In addition, many others padded their claims to get their homes remodeled at taxpayer expense.
The SBA’s incompetence in administering the funds has caused more then 40.000 needy people to go without financial assistance, the study found.
Reasons and Rawitch spent 10 weeks on this study. They interviewed more than 100 homeowners, contractors. SBA appraisers and officials, mortgage holders and other government officials.
Their report also involved comprehensive checks of various sources ranging from the county tax assessor to the public records of the SBA.
decision not to count write-in votes was unfair because write-in candidates were not aware that such a decision was being considered or that such a case was being heard.
“The only reason the write-in votes were thrown out was because I was beating (Kent) Clemence,” Booker said. “The only reason it came to court was to get me out of the way.”
Steven Knowles, chief justice, explained the court’s decision by saying that the court construed a qualified write-in candidate as one who filed a petition. paid a fee by the deadline and attended a candidates’ meeting, all requirements for official candidates.
“Admittedly it’s a technicality,” he said. “We can’t consider the intent, but what the law says itself.
“This happens every- time the court is involved in political disputes. If we had decided another way, we wouldn't have been accused of being politically motivated. But that’s unjust. It
would preclude the possibility of making a decision.”
Knowles justifies court
In justifying the court’s fairness, Knowles said that the court decided against Craig Clemence when he appealed hisdisqualifi-cation as a candidate for Associated Men Students president.
“Those who accuse the court of being one-sided and in cooperation with Kent Clemence should look at all the deliberations of the court, not just those that hurt them politically. We hurt everyone politically,” Knowles said.
As far as the write-in candidates attending the hearing, Knowles said the court has the right, not the duty, to have interested parties present. “Then there is the question of who is an interested party. Mickey Mouse received write-in votes. Are we to invite Walt Disney Productions to attend?” Knowles said.
In the case brought to the court by Trope, the court decided in
his favor; to consider the ballots cast for Jack McNamara void, as McNamara had requested. But others argued that even if McNamara had not wanted to run. his votes should have been counted in the percentages which determine whether Trope had sufficent votes to be declared the winner.
Rosenzweig was attempting yesterday to get a quorum of the ASSC Executive Council together to appoint new elections commissioners. Mary Ann Galante, Pat Nolan and Gardner Beale, the former commissioners. resigned Friday morning in protest over the court's decisions.
A quorum was not obtained so not only were election commissioners not appointed but the budget of the food subcommittee of the International Student Week was not approved. Rosenzweig said if this was not done by today, the international week would not be able to continue.
(Continued on page 6)
University of Southern California
DAILY f§ TROJAN
VOL. LXIV NO. 106 LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA TUESDAY, APRIL 18, 1972
Life group still working
By RICHARD SIMON
Staff Writer
Student government and university judicial processes are two ofthe chief topics now being examined by the Student Life Commission.
Alvin Rudisill, university chaplain and chairman of the commission, recently released a progress report on the group’s activities.
The commission was appointed by President John Hubbard last September “to examine all the dynamics of student life in terms of expectations. problems, needs and interests.”
Hubbard outlined two questions to be emphasized by the commission: “Are students being effectively served in terms of their present needs, interests and problems?” And. “What changes need to be instituted to provide exemplary services and student life at USC?”
Several drafts of reports have been completed by the commission, includingan analysis ofthe nature of education today and preliminary recommendations on International Students and services, campus ministry and orientation programs.
Rudisill expects final drafts on many of the reports, such as the student government and judicial question, by May 1.
During the first three months of the commission’s organization, members were primarily concerned with orienting themselves to student life by reading professional literature about student personnel, hearing special presentations and observing various campus activities.
The Office of Institutional Studies conducted research on students’ attitudes and sociological desires for the commission. The office is in the process of creating a data bank on students, Rudisill said, which will include information on commuter students, sophomores and freshmen. A questionnaire for students living in apartments was circulated last month to supplement the student life information.
In addition to examining pro-
grams on other campuses, members of the commission have interviewed more than 100 individuals.
Committees have branched out from the commission to study the residence halls, fraternities and sororities, minority affairs and financial aid.
Zina Razavi, a research assistant, was hired by the university to study postbaccalaureate student life and the different facets of graduate education.
Dr. Stephen Frankel, assistant professor of psychology, has been analyzing advisement procedures and other areas of
informal student-faculty interaction.
The agenda for the commission in the next two months includes studies of publications, admission and registration.
Students are invited to attend the Student Life Commission meeting today at noon in Religious Center 205A.
Concert set
The USC wind orchestra, conducted by William Schaefer, will give a classical concert on the steps of Bovard at noon today.
Nazi speech cancelled due to security risks
By RICH WISEMAN City Editor
The scheduled April 26 Bovard appearance of Joe Tommasi, lieutenant in the National Socialist White People’s (Nazi) Party, has been cancelled due to security risks, it was announced Friday.
The decision to cancel the Nazi’s speech had been reached by President John Hubbard. However, at a meeting Friday between Dan Nowak, acting vice president of student affairs, and Kathy Fleming, coordinator of the Forum for Student Awareness, the sponsoring group, Fleming decided to cancel the appearance herself.
“It would be bad for the university to use their arbitrary policy for the first time to cancel a speaker,” said Fleming in explaining her decision. “I didn’t want to see that happen.’’
Tommasi said he was not surprised that he had been cancelled “It’s too bad. though,” he added.
“It means that a large group of individuals who have misconceptions about us will continue to have them. The ignorance of democracy continues.”
Fleming said that Nowak produced a report on Tommasi revealing that disruption had followed each of Tommasi’s five speaking appearances this year. Tommasi denied any disturbances at his talks and added that he has been scheduled to speak to classes at California State University at Long Beach. Cal Poly Pomona. Mount San Antonio College and Citrus Junior College.
The administration reportedly would have permitted Tommasi to speak in a classroom setting. But the administration felt the timing was wrong for him to speak in a large auditorium because of the recent publicity the Nazis have received locally, and the anticipated opposition from the militant Jewish Defense League.
The text of Fleming’s statement read, in part: “Although it is the goal ofthe Forum for Student Awareness to provide an opportunity for the exposure of all current issues, it is felt that an academic format cannot be maintained in this instance.
Fleming said she hopes Tommasi might be allowed to appear next semester. Tommasi said he would be willing to speak at any time.
Tommasi is still scheduled to appear on Kevin Avery’s KUSC Rapline, April 27 at 7:30 p.m.