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Volume LXXXVItl, Number 61 University of Southern California	Thursday, May 8, 1980
Student Senate elects chairman
Calls for more interest in campus
Staff photo by Kanneth Lawis
LAST RESPECTS — All flags in federal buildings throughout the country will be flying at half-staff through Friday in honor of the eight American commandos who died in the failed rescue attempt in Iran.
Rick Wacula, a recently-elected student senator from the Row constituency, has been selected by his peers as chairman of the Student Senate for the coming year.
After listening to five candidates state their opinions and answer questions on how they would address the myriad of issues facing the university, senate members Wednesday chose Wacula over Mercedes Marquez on a second ballot run-off election.
"The chairmanship must be a 24-hour job," Wacula told the group before they voted. "The chairman must have the leadership ability to pick the people who will get things done."
He later emphasized the senate should make a concerted effort to attract more student interest in the university's operations. "We're not just going to sit up on the third floor (of the Student Union) and hand out memos. Student government has come a long way in the last few years and we intend to continue that progression."
Cohesion in student government, an effort to abolish special interest factions and apathy was a major theme for all the candidates.
"We have a very trying year ahead of us," Marquez said. "We need to make a commitment to work together. If you're going to help one constituency, you're going to have to help them all."
The academic integrity of the university, which has come under question following alleged improprieties in the speech communications department, also drew criticism.
"Academic integrity doesn't come overnight," said Colette Benton, a senator from the residence halls constituency. "It appears the faculty and admin-
istration don't really care." She added that the implementation of a university honor code, similar to the one at Harvard, would be a step in the right direction.
Ralph Kam, a graduate representative, pointed out that grade inflation must be dealt with for the university to enhance its academic reputation.
"We have to look at how other people look at us," he said. "We should see why the 'average' grade at the university is above 3.0."
During the question and answer session, the candidates for the chairmanship were asked by fellow senators to point out and explain their greatest weakness.
Tim Walker, from the commuter constituency, said he tended to expect too much from people when he delegated authority, while Kam admitted he often worked too hard and spent too much time solving problems.
Benton and Marquez said they tended to place too much trust in people.
"I have a tendency to be too gullible — I assume people are honest," Benton said.
"I want to believe people have the best intentions when sometimes they don't," Marquez added.
Wacula said his greatest weakness was his lack of experience in working with some of (Continued on page 7)
SUFFER FOOD POISONING
3 fraternity members hospitalized
By Scott Brown and Carole Long
Seventeen members of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity suffered food poisoning and three were taken to California Hospital for further treatment after a ham lunch Wednesday.
Four members started feeling queasy at an afternoon baseball game after eating ham sandwiches at the fraternity house.
According to Greg DeLong, resident adviser for the 85-member house, the doctors seemed to agree the fault lav in the quality of the ham, not in the cook's preparation of the food.
The house cook prepares the food for the entire day in the morning, a fraternity member said.
About 5 p.m. the health center was alerted to the situation in the house and sent four doctors and two nurses to treat the ill.
Robert Dole, one of the doctors sent to the house, said
they checked the victims for vital signs and gave them injections for vomiting. "Their food poisoining was of the quick-acting type," he said.
Those taken to the hospital and held under observation were Dave Cordova, Dave Choi
and Whitney Wilkinson. A hospital spokesman said the students were "doing OK."
Robert Dole, one of the doctors at the scene, said some of the victims were apparently very close to a state of shock (Continued on page 5)
First campus draft rally after Vietnam planned as registration decision nears
Two seniors chosen as delegates for convention
By John Lamb
Staff Writer
Two seniors majoring in political science at the university have been chosen as Republican delegates and will support Ronald Reagan at the Republican Convention in Detroit in July.
Leslee Sherrill and Julie Andrews, both 21, will be the youngest delegates traveling to the convention, which begins July 14.
A freshman political science major, Andrew Littlefair, was selected to be an alternate at the convention.
"I'm really pleased about being selected," Sherrill said. "I've been working for Reagan all semester."
Sherrill said she felt Reagan's greatest attribute is his "conservative stand on economic policies.
"I also agree (with Reagan) that we need to build up our defense," she said. "But I don't think we'll be going to war."
When Andrews was told last week she had been selected, she could not believe it.
"I wanted to be a page so I could run errands for the delegates and be able to be on the floor — where the action is," Andrews said.
"I decided to apply for a delegate position, but I didn't think I'd have a chance. I saw that Mike Curb had applied and just about counted myself out.
"When I was informed that I was chosen, I was really surprised," she added.
Andrews said she feels Reagan represents "a very positive, strong leader."
The process of selecting the delegates, Sherrill said, involves filling out applications, having a committee review the applications and then choosing three delegates and three alternates from each congressional district to make up the 168 Republican delegates representing California.
Sherrill said alternates are selected primarily as a safety measure.
"Alternates attend all the same meetings at the convention as the delegates do," Sherrill said. "The only difference is they don't vote
—	that is, unless a delegate becomes sick or for some reason can't vote."
Sherrill and Andrews were in agreement as to why they wanted to become delegates. Both said it would be a "great learning experience on the political process," adding that it would also be an invaluable opportunity to meet people.
"I'm looking forward to talking to other people with other viewpoints," Sherrill said.
"I'm hoping to meet some people who will give me some direction for the rest of my life," Andrews said.
By Craig Gima
Staff Writer
The first antidraft rally at the university since the Vietnam War will be held at 12:30 p.m. today on the Student Activities Center patio.
"There is very little time left. Within the next week or couple of weeks registration will either pass or be defeated. This is a last ditch effort," said Paul Krekorian, cochairman of USC Students Against the Draft, sponsors of the rally.
President Carter's registration' proposal passed out of the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee Wednesday.
"It's hard to say (how many people will show up). If we can get the word out we expect a good turnout," Krekorian said.
Speakers will include Sam Hurst, staff director of the Campaign for Economic Democracy; Mary Saylin/ coordinator of the Coalition Against Registration and the Draft; Alvin Rudi-sill, university chaplain; Jerry Cordon, a Vietnam veteran; and faculty and student representatives.
The group had a teach-in Wednesday that only drew about 15 people. Draft lawyers and an American Civil Liberties Union staff member explained the options available to students when registering.
"It's an opportunity to ask questions and get information. Even I don't really have that much information about the draft," said Mark Swan-(Continued on page 3)
After finishing college, Sherrill plans to go to Boston and work at a political consulting firm. Andrews would like to work at the capitol in Sacramento for a senator or an assemblyman.
"I'd also like to write some legislation at some point," Andrews said.
Although the honor of becoming a delegate is rewarding in itself, those attending the convention must pay their own way.