Daily W Troian
University of Southern California
Volume LXVI, Number 15
Los Angeles, California
Friday, October 5, 1973
Group Begins Study On Tuition Problem
RENT INCREASE—Residents ofthe Married Students' Complex have set up a committee with the office of auxiliary services to study the problem created by the recent $10 to $30 rent increase. DT photo by Audrey Chan.
Married Students Ponder Rent Hike
BY KEVIN McKENNA
Assistant City Editor
In a time of conflict and confrontation, there are apparently some matters that can stilll be resolved by peaceful negotiations.
A committee studying rent increases at the Married Students’ Housing complex is expected to report its findings next week three months after a controversial rent hike at the facility.
Although there were some strong sentiments involved in the situation, both sides in the negotiations insist the matter is being resolved in an atmosphere of good w ill and good faith.
AFTER THE across the board increases, which raised rents an average of $10 to $30 a month, some students continued to pay the original rent because they felt the new rates did not reflect a corresponding increase in costs.
But instead of a rent strike or picketing in the streets, complex residents set up a committee with the office of auxiliary services, which oversees the university’s food and housing operations, to study the problem.
The university, for its part, has not threatened to evict residents who have not paid the new rates, but is likewise awaiting the result of the committee negotiations.
The committee is carrying out a detailed accounting of costs at the complex, and based on its findings will recommend a new' rate which will reflect costs—which could mean an increase, a
decrease, or no change at all.
UNDER THE current rates, which went into effect on July 1, a studio apartment costs $125 a month. One-bedroom apartments cost $160 a month, and two-bedroom apartments cost $190.
The groundwork for a set-, tlement is now been laid, and the details should be completed and an announcement made public soon, probably within the next week.
Although both sides refuse to discuss the details of the negotiations, they insist they have encountered no major problems so far and characterized the entire atmosphere of the proceedings as one of good faith.
Parking Lot To Hon or Permits
BY ELLEN NORMAN
Joe’s Auto Park, a parking lot on South Figueroa Street, will honor student parking permits on a temporary basis beginning Monday.
John Lechner. director of Campus Security and Parking, said that use of the lot bordered by West 35th Street and Exposition Boulevard, should “temporarily alleviate parking problems and distance factors.”
The parking lot, which is leased from the city by Joe Lumer, will honor student parking permits on a one
BY MICHELE DRAKE
Editor
A commission to report to the University Council on tuition and fees met for the first time Thursday to define objectives and begin studying the possiblitv of a tuition hike for the 1974-75 academic year.
“If tuition must be raised again, we would like to consider a long-range possibility of tying it to an index, such as the consumer price index or family income,” said Colin McLeod, director of financial services and a member of the commission.
The commission, w hich is to present a preliminary report to the council regarding tuition Oct. 15 and a final recommendation by Nov. 19. is made up of 10 faculty and stafff members, and nine students.
Only three students, however, were present at Thursday’s meeting.
“I DON’T think there are any preconceived notions as to what this commission will do regarding tuition,” said Alan Rowe, associate dean of businesss administration.
Rowe said the comparatively large number of students on the commission is an attempt to achieve as wide a representation as possible so that the recommendations made will be equitable to everyone.
Universities across the nation are in a financial crunch now and there’s every indication that this situation is not going to turn around, McLeod said.
•WE HAVE DIRECTIONS from the Board of Trustees that we will not and should not run a deficit operation,” he said. USC, incidentally, is one of the few large, private universities now still operating in the black.
The university is facing uncontrollable increases, McLeod continued. Furthermore, it has no reserve fund at the present time to fall back on if a major financial crisis were to occur.
“The real problem is inflation,” he said, “and we re stuck with it.”
The largest item of expense is faculty and staff salaries, he explained. If these are not raised. USC will continue at its present high rate of turnover and lose its good professors.
UNCONTROLLABLE increases McLeod cited as facing the university for the coming year were building maintenance, utilities, staff benefits and group health insurance.
“We might make a concerted effort to cut down on the use of utilities, for example,” McLeod said, “but the
rate increase makes any savings impossible.
Salaries and the imposed rate increases would amount to an increase, therefore, of from $5 to $7 miUion dollars over this year's university budget of $118 million. McLeod said.
Tuition now amounts to about 40%.
“WE WANT to study innovative proposals so this increase need not be met entirely by tuition.” Rowe said.
The commission set its next meeting for Thursday at 2:30 p.m. in the Faculty Center in an attempt to find a time more convenient for the student members.
Those students who did no", attend Thursday’s meeting may contact Mel Henry, a commission member, at the Gerontology	Center,
746-5158. for information.
Cut in Federal Aid Feared by Director
BY PETER WONG
Managing Editor
Although university-controlled student aid funds are at their highest level ever—nearly double that of last year—the director of the Student Aid Office fears that changes in federal programs may cause USC to lose such funds next year.
About $9.7 million is controlled by the university for student aid this year, compared with $5.7 million last year.
BUT PAMELA Walbom, director of the Student Aid Office, said most of the $44 million increase came from federal student-aid programs—and that if the Nixon administration were suc-
successful in its proposed changes, USC stands to lose a great deal of that increase.
“We are greatly concern^ * about the Nixon administration's proposed changes,” she said. “We would haave no resources to help those affected by the
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No I)T Monday
No Daily Trojan will be published Monday. However, classes will meet as scheduled dispite the fact that Oct. 8 had been listed ass a university holiday in the Schedule of Classes.
Columbus Day is one of two holidays that were taken off the university calendar.
month trial basis Lechner said that “Lumer is losing money on the lot. drawing only 100 cars per day. Students with permits may tell their friends who do not have them about the 504 Per day parking rate.”
LECHNER STRESSED the fact that the parking lot “is a temporary outlet, but must not be a permanent sol-
ution.” He continued, “But if enough students do take advantage of the additional parking, it may be worth the educational funds to try to negotiate a figure in order to lease this land.”
Lechner said that the land is now’ owned by the Hilton Hotel, which could break ground this week if its bid is accepted. “The parking area
deal could fall through in
two weeks, leaving parking Lot 1 as the students’ only alternative.” Lechner said.
LOT 1 IS LOCATED on the far corner of campus at Jefferson Boulevard and Vermont Avenue. “If students think Lot 1 is too far away, then there will be no permanent parking solution,”
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