Debaters fight internal strife, go on without DeBross
Speech prof named interim leader	Loss of coach called ‘devastating’
By Steve Stem
Staff Writer
The Department of Communication Arts and Sciences has appointed a faculty member to temporarily oversee debate squad operations until a permanent replacement can be found, following John DeBross' Feb. 19 resignation as squad director.
DeBross resigned amidst a university investigation into course credits he had slated to give varsity football players for classes they had not attended.
June Shoup, chairman of the department, appointed Edward M. Bodaken last Wednesday "to administer all phases of the forensics program," including its budget, for the remainder of the spring semester.
Bodaken, 40, is an associate professor and vice chairman for the department. He came to the university in 1970 after receiving a Ph.D in communications from Michigan State University. A native of Des Moines, Iowa, he directed the forensics program at Iowa State University from 1963 to 1967.
Bodaken said he probably would not continue as squad director beyond the end of the academic year, even if asked, because he prefers undergraduate research and education. “My future is not in forensics," he said.
Shoup said the department is "currently conducting a national search for a person to assume the directorship of the forensics program." She said that the squad has compiled a list of possible
candidates and has given it to the search committee for review.
Bodaken's appointment as squad overseer is intended to fill the leadership vacuum created by DeBross' resignation, Shoup said.
"I was very happy to see Bodaken come in," said Lee Garrison, assistant squad director. "He's a very reassuring type of person — very straightforward."
Garrison said the squad needs somebody like Bodaken to lift the squad's morale, which had plummeted when DeBross left.
The squad gained national prominence during the 16 years that DeBross directed it. In the annual National Sweepstakes competition, in which points are awarded for taking first through third in any forensic event at all tournaments in the country, the squad took first place six times and placed in the top five four additional times.
In the National Debate Tournament, competition is limited to no more than two teams per school, with two students to a team. Qualification for the national tournament is based on a squad's overall record or successful participation in regional debate tournaments.
Although the university debate squad has qualified more teams — 39 in all — than any other school in the nation, it has never taken first place. However, it has placed second four times, third six
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By Roger Gray
Staff Writer
Debate squad members said Thursday they were "disappointed" and "devastated" by the forced resignation of John DeBross, head coach, but the team has survived relatively intact and will finish the forensic season.
"A lot of people are disillusioned," said Kelli Sager, the debate squad captain. "Many are not certain they want to. continue (next fall)."
Sager said she and at least one other squad member were considering leaving the university next semester because of DeBross' resignation, but she would continue to debate this semester.
"I'm debating for Prof. DeBross w'hether or not he's here," Sager said.
If she leaves the university, Sager said she would go "wherever DeBross can get another coaching job."
"A lot of us debate for John DeBross, not USC," said Jeff Arrington, a debate squad member.
Sager said the squad had suffered a lot of "internal problems" since the investigation into DeBross' conduct began, citing the future loss of Lee Garrison, the assistant coach, and animosity toward Eiline Kingsley, a debating coach.
Kingsley asked to be relieved of her duties with the debate team last week. Many debaters were angry because they felt she betrayed the team and gave information to administration officials investigating DeBross.
Team morale dropped further when funding problems forced the team to miss a debate in Arizona. A few debaters financed their own way, hoping to be reimbursed, but most were unable to take the chance the university would not repay them.
The team will compete today in their first debate since DeBross resigned, and most members seemed happy to get on with the debate and forget about other things, at least for a day.
Intensely loyal to their ex-coach, team members said DeBross was "more like a dad than a coach," and repeatedly spoke of his resignation like the death of a loved one.
"DeBross — he was always so accessible," said David Ellis, almost as a eulogy. "Sometimes I would sit down to talk to him about things other than debate: personal problems, financial problems... sometimes we would sit and talk for hours."
"It's like when your father dies — who do you turn to?" Ellis asked.
Not only was DeBross a father-figure and counselor to the squad, but he gave the squad a sense of direction, one debater said.
Squad members said they were frustrated by their apparent inability to affect university handling of the misconduct investigation.
"Any way you can, express our feelings of frustration," Ellis said.
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Athletic adviser will announce resignation
By Richard Bonin
Associate Investigations Editor The athletic department's academic adviser, Jeff Birren, will announce his resignation this morning, sources revealed.
Richard Perry, athletic director, suspended Birren Feb. 15 for his role in advising 34 football players to enroll in speech communication classes that they did not have to attend.
John DeBross, debate team coach since 1963, taught the classes. He was forced to resign three weeks ago in part for attempting to give football players credit for the classes.
Birren, who became the academic adviser in 1977, was not available for comment.
Before Perry suspended Birren, Perry said, "Action against Mr. Birren is under consideration now. Mr. Birren's behavior anchor involvement in this matter is seriously being considered. From the data we gather, our response could run from reprimand to suspension." He also said Birren could be fired or asked to resign, depending on the extent of Birren's involvement..
Two days later, Birren was temporarily suspended.
One source said the athletic department had been "dragging
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Volume LXXXVIII, Number 23 University of Southern California Friday March 7, 1980
PRESIDENTIAL SEARCH
Trustees call story ‘inaccurate’
By Susan Pedersen
Assistant City Editor
Information on potential university presidential candidates revealed in a Los Attgeles Times article Thursday may be inaccurate, according to university and Board of Trustee sources.
William Johnston, Los Angeles Superintendent of Schools, was reported as active-
ly seeking the presidency as well as making a favorable impression with Board of Trustee members.
However, many sources said that they had heard nothing of Johnston's interest until the publication of the Times article.
J. Robert Fluor, chairman of the board, said that Johnston was on one of the lists of potential candidates, but he was not on the primary list.
The Times article also said that James L. McGaugh, executive vice chancellor of the University of California at Irvine, is being considered for the presidency by trustees.
Fluor said that he was not sure that this was true, noting that McGaugh was on the better list and had already participated in some of the early stages of the search but withdrew before becoming a candidate.
He was also unable to confirm that Johnston was being considered by the selection committee as a potential candidate.
When contacted, Johnston would neither confirm nor deny the reports of his interest in the candidacy. On the other hand, McGaugh indicated that (Continued on page 6)
SIGNS OF SPRING — Jim Strickland (left) and Dane Hillyard bask in the sunshine, as shadows are cast on the wall of Von KleinSmid Center, and enjoy a respite from the recent rains.
Stadium alterations may delay printing of tickets
In an attempt to protect university interests, Richard H. Perry, director of athletics, expressed concern that renovations in the Coliseum would not be completed in time for the printing of tickets for the 1980 football season.
The renovations were proposed by the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Commission in anticipation of the Oakland Raiders' move to Los Angeles.
Last week, the commission announced the Raiders were officially coming to Los Angeles. They also discussed plans for renovations of the Coliseum that must be completed before the Raiders arrive. Robert Bennet, architect for the commission, presented plans for construction of new press suites, as well as other changes.
Perry, who attended the meeting and talked to several commissioners, said he was trying to make sure the commission did not overlook the interests of the university.
"We just have to make sure that the Coliseum Commission doesn't get so enamored with the coming of the Oakland Raiders that they forget they have two other tenants," he said.
Perry said he had no objections to the actual renovation, but since the construction of the new suites change the configuration of the stadium, work must be completed soon or the university will not
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