volume Ixv, number 78
friday, february 23, 1973
Daily mf Trojan
university of southern californit los angeles, californic
ENGINEER TOMMY—Tommy Trojan has been wearing an engineer's cap and holding a slide rule since Tuesday to mark Engineer's Week. Activities have included a chariot race, a rock group performance and the crowning of the Engineering Queen. Tommy will return to his usual self Monday. DT photo by Michael Sedano.
Critics agree that ■ reviewer’s job is to inform, not destroy
By Kari Granville
Three well-known entertainment critics in the Los Angeles area agreed Thursday that the critic’s function is not defined by his ability to destroy something, but is defined by his ability to be informative.
David Sheehan, critic for KNXT-CBS; Mary Murphy, television critic for the Los Angeles Times; and Raoul Gripenwaldt, entertainment editor for the Santa Monica Evening Outlook, stressed the fact that the purpose of their jobs is not to destroy works of art and entertainment.
The critics’ comments came during a panel discussion and question-and-answer session on the nature of critical writing held at noon in the Student Activities Center. The discussion was sponsored by Theta Sigma Phi, Women in Communications.
The panel explained how critical writing has a different function from entertainment writing.
Entertainment writing, said Murphy, deals with the background of an actor or director. It delves into the person himself and the writer does not inject his opinion.
On the other side, a critic tries to see ifthe director’s wishes have been fulfilled, or attempts to see how much an actor puts into his role. The critic is objective and “acts as part of the audience,” said Murphy.
The panel members also said that it is impossible to tell how much effect their reviews have on the success of a movie.
Sheehan pointed out that many movies he has criticized badly became great box-office successes. The example he used was The Poseidan Adventure.
But all three critics said their reviews do matter to the studios that make the movies. They are often offered walk-on parts in movies, trips to go on shooting locations and invitations to lunch.
This is where the element of integrity comes into the critic’s job. said the panel members.
“One thing in this job. and to stay in it is to have a degree of integrity," said Gripenwaldt. He added that virtue is necessary in building a good reputation.
The critics also discussed the tw'o schools of thought concerning the background of the critic.
Sheehan, a former actor and director of the Theater for Now group, said that a critic who has actually worked in the theater can “fully relate to the problems and potentials of the theater and films.”
There are not many critics who have actually worked as an entertainer, said Sheehan. “If I can do it, I can criticize it," he said.
However. Murphy said she believes that the farther a critic is from the workings of motion pictures and the theater, the more objective he is likely to be.
Many questions raised by the audience concerned the amount of censorship imposed on them by their editors, or in Sheehan's case, his producer.
Sheehan said he is "absolutely amazed” that no one in his
(Continued on page 2)
Tuition hike generates adverse reaction; students submit petition
By Al Flores
associate editor
After tuition was recently raised for the fifth time in five consecutive years, bringing the new total up to $2,700 annually. Bill King had no trouble getting signatures for his petition.
King, a junior in mathematics, and 14 other members of the Student Aid Advisory Committee (a student organization that advises on student aid policy), decided to circulate a petition to demonstrate to the university the adverse reaction of students to the increase.
“Nothing has ever been presented to the administration to show that students are concerned about the rise in tuition,” King explained. “We don’t want tuition to be raised and we’d like to think this petition can influence the administration to not raise tuition in the future.”
The committee, which obtained signatures during registration week and through the first week of Drop and Add. has not tallied the number of signatures it collected. However, after counting the signatures, the petition will be submitted to President John Hubbard.
“Since I’ve been here tuition has increased from about $65 a unit to the new $90 figure—that’s almost 507c,” said King. “What we’re hoping from this is a decrease in the rate and percentage of tuition increases.” Though the Student Aid Advisory Committee is the only group approaching the administration on the matter, it is no secret that most students are concerned about the hike.
“The increase is going to be hell,” said Dale Winogura, a sophomore in Cinema. “I’m sure my Dad will be able to afford another $240, but if it keeps going up each year I think three years will be all I can afford. Really. I don’t see how the increase will do anything except drive students away.”
Ruben Gomez, a freshman in business, said: “Economically, the increase means I will have to work to help my parents pay my tuition. I have no financial aid. As for future increases, I don’t know how they’ll affect me. I’ll worry about that situation when it comes.” But even if a student does have financial aid, his chances of getting the customary percentage increase in aid that usually accompanies increases in tuition are slight.
(Continued on page 3)
Harris Plaza women’s residence will close for major repairs during summer
By Bettye Wells
associate editor
Harris Plaza, a dormitory for women over the age of 21, will be closed at least five weeks this summer for major repairs, said Anthony Lazzaro, associate vice-president for business affairs.
Repairs to be made this summer include enclosing the stair wells (to meet city regulations), painting, installing better lighting and generally, upgrading the building to meet university standards.
The residence, located at 847 Exposition Blvd., may be closed for the whole summer. Work is scheduled to begin July 1 if the crews have access to the building for the entire summer. If not, construction will be delayed until Aug. 1.
Much of the work scheduled to be completed falls into a category Lazzaro calls “deferred maintenance,” repairs that have been delayed. “This is an ongoing process in all our buildings,” he said.
Lazzaro said that other maintenance work may be
needed. His current estimate of the cost of renovation is $60,000.
The construction work will not affect fall residency in the building, said Lazzaro.
Guy Hubbard, director of auxiliary services, said that summer housing will be available to current residents of the building if desired, but Harris Plaza will not be one of the facilities available.
Harris Plaza last underwent major repairs 12 years ago, but routine maintenance has continued since then.
Students were somewhat alarmed Thursday when they went to the Grill to purchase their usual hamburgers and f-ri£^C	hrinn	French fries. The fries, it seems, were a glowing canary
IV-70	*'	yellow'. Food service representatives traced the phenome-
non to an i'^proper amount of food coloring injected by
UllJ burprise	thesupplier. Bell Brand.Inc. But Bonnie Gates, supervisor,
Ken Bridges, university food service director (center); and Jose Martinez, of food service, never could decide whether the fries were flourescent. DT photo by Danny Alaimo.