University of Southern California
Volume LXXIII, Number 2 Los Angeles, California Wednesday, February 8. 1978
Few colleges utilize university’s semester system, survey reveals
By Gail Asayama
Staff Writer
Only 7% of 2.422 collegiate institutions are currently using the traditional semester calendar similar to that of USC’s according to an article that appeared in a recent edition of the Chronicle of Higher Education.
The most widely-used calendar is currently the “early-semester” system stated the survey, which was conducted by Loyd . C. Oleson, registrar of Doane College. The quarter system is used by the second-largest number of institutions.
The early semester calendar was introduced to the Student Senate and members of various student organizations on Jan. 9. Under the proposed calendar, classes would begin the third week of August and finish two weeks before Christmas vacation. The first week of January would be reserved for registration. Spring semester classes would conclude in early May.
No decision was made on the proposal, which was incomplete at that time, according to Bill Dauster, chairman of the Student Senate. Craig Settles, a student senator, chaired the meeting and is now refining the proposal with particular attention of the economic effects of the revision.
Such a proposal must be pas-
sed by the Presidential Advisory Council Commission and then by the Board of Trustees before it may be enacted.
The Board of Trustees last received a proposal for a calendar revision in November, 1974. The board rejected it on the basis that it would be economically harmful to the university as transfer students would find it difficult to enroll because of overlapping semesters.
New data has also been released by the Resource Management and Planninjg Committee. The schools on which the university depends for transfer students have made sufficient changes so that a revision will actually aid in increasing applications, the committee’s report said.
Settles pointed out that if an early-semester calendar would be adopted, finals would finish before Christmas vacation and graduate students would get a slight jump on other students as far as the job market is concerned.
Citing the statistics from the Chronicle of Higher Education, Dauster said, “The university is falling behind the trend.” Besides noting the economic and convenience considerations, Dauster said he believes adopting an early-semester calendar . will have academic advantages,
as a semester would no longer be separated by long vacation gaps and more information could be retained. But unlike the quarter system, an early semester wouid not result in a shorter number of class hours for each course.
Settles is gathering information from the junior colleges from which the university draws most of its transfer students and he has found that there are alternatives for transfer students. At some junior colleges students would be able to arrange their finals so that enrollment at the university would be possible.
Settles will take the proposal to the Student Senate meeting on Feb. 15.
Oleson said in the article the changes in calendars originally occured when colleges and universities tried to make more economical use of their facilities and conserve energy, in view of the harshness of winter. He said some calendars are particularly vulnerable to the energy problem.
Ten years ago, 839^ of the country’s colleges and universities operated on the traditional semester calendar. The new calendar systems now used are the early-semester, the quarter system, the 4-1-4 system, and the trimester calendars.
Ticket office revamped; director resigns
A reorganization of the Ticket Office resulted last week in the resignation of Edward Partridge, director of the Ticket Office and game management.
The Office of Business Affairs, directed by Anthony Lazarro, initiated the move, which resulted in the formation of two new management positions to replace the one held by Partridge.
One position was given to the athletic department, which will now be in charge of policy, priorities and direction of ticket sales. The other position, designated as office manager, will handle the distribution of tickets.
Partridge became director of ticket sales in June, 1976. “They were a difficult two years that involved a lot of pressure from students, administration and alumni, but that was to be expected," said Partridge. “When I heard about the opening in 1976 for associate director at USC, I
jumped at the opportunity.” “I do feel badly about leaving USC. It’s not something I liked to have happen.	,
“When Lazarro divided my job into two, he gave the most meaningful part of my job to the athletic department. That left me with a lesser paying job and not too much to do.”
Partridge stated several factors that brought about the reorganization of ticket sales.
“First of all, several changes in 1976 were made in the Coliseum which resulted in fewer seats and reshuffling of seating locations for students, faculty and USC donors. The Cardinal and Gold Associates (a group comprised of major contributors to the athletic program) generated a lot of pressure toward wanting better seats. These kinds of things, combined with pressure from the athletic department, created a great deal of concern.”
(continued on page 2 )
THE WET LOOK — The flags of Von KleinSmid Center were out, umbrellas were up and the rain was pouring down Tuesday as the university sloshed its way through the start of the new semester. DT photo by Sue Adams.
Labor commission questions security force hiring policy
A spokesman from the California Labor Standards Enforcement Commission yesterday said the university security force may be exercising illegal labor practices.
Those hired by Campus Security without sufficient police or security officer training are often sent to receive training at Rio Hondo Police Academy.
James Bowie, chief of Campus Security, said that while a new security officer attends the academy he must pay for his tuition and supplies (including ammunition) and. if the classes cause him to be late to work, he must compensate the time at the end of his shift.
The university does not pay the security officer any wages while he is attending classes from the academy, Bowie said.
Jim Gordon, State Deputy Labor Commissioner, said such practices, if they occur, are illegal. "There is a problem here," he said. "We (the Labor Commissioner's office) have to look into the whole thing first.”
Gordon said that security officers at a private university must be compensated for mandatory training as well as supplies by the employer. The employee should also be paid wages for hours spent at the academy, he said. At a public university, labor law requirements are not the same.
Since Gordon wasn’t certain if the university qualified as a private institution, he would not categorically state that it is violating any labor laws.
Bowie said Campus Security has required the training in question for about the last three and one-half years. He also said that he didn’t realize such practices were illegal and that he will look into the matter.
TRAINING PROGRAM STRENUOUS
Highway Patrol offers secure job opportunities to women
By Shari Cookson
“Just last week we were going about 70 mph in fast pursuit,” said Pamela Myers, 25, a state traffic officer.
“Suddenly the guy we were chasing made a fast right. • We couldn’t make the turn. The wheels on our patrol car locked and we hit a lightpost. No one was hurt. Now that I look back on it, it was really exciting — certainly not the kind of thing that most people ever experience.”
Women are able 1o earn from $1,200 to $1,500 a month as officers with the California Highway Patrol.
The current eligibility list for women applying to become state traffic officers is virtually depleted, while a substantial number of men are still available.
The Highway Patrol initiated a pilot program for women in 1974. Only 16 women remain out of the original graduating class of 40
“Lots of women decided to go on to something else or get married,’' Meyers said. “But the classmates I correspond with, all love their work. It’s full of challenge and surprise. One night, I was drinking coffee in the patrol car when, suddenly, someone shot at me. Fortunately, they missed. It turned out that I was right in the middle of a gang fight."
Other people dropped out because of the physical strain. While Meyers admits that the work is more
strenuous for women than for men, she also said that the best shot in her class, which included men, was a woman.
A state traffic officer must be from,20-31 years of age, 5' 6" to 6' 6" in height and in good enough physical condition to meet the qualifications. The agility test consists of several maneuvers including running and scaling walls.
“It's not that hard, but you’ve got to be ready for it,” Meyers said. “I practiced by carrying a 70-pound bag of sand through an obstacle course.”
The next stage after meeting the basic qualifications and the agility test is training at the academy in Sacramento. During this time, trainees learn how to handle a gun, the laws of arrest, high-speed driving and how to use mace.
"Being at the academy brings a sense of comradeship.” Meyers said. If you’re down, someone will always come around and cheer you up."
The Highway Patrol makes accommodations for those attending school. Applicants choose to work a 40-hour-a-week shift during the day, evening or early morning, and are able to fit classes around their schedule.
For those who feel the 40-hour workload would be
too much, a program is offered that pays a student a full salary. With this program, the student only has to work part time (20 hours a week). The other 20 hours are for attending classes.
To qualify for the program, applicants must meet all the height, age and agility requirements, attend the 21-week training period and have three years of college with a B ^verage.
Meyers said that most of the women who have decided to become part of the highway patrol had no prior police background. “They got into it because it sounded like something different. Besides, the pay is really great."
Meyers admitted, however, that most of the time the job is anything but glamorous. She usually spends her time issuing tickets, investigating accidents and pulling over drunk drivers.
"But the potential for excitement is there, and that's what you hold on to," she said. "I remember once when I pulled over some guy on a routine drunk driving charge. He had a bunch of radios, scanners and walkie-talkies in the back of his car. He couldn't account for where he got them. It turned out he had stolen them. The ordinary turned out to be unordinary."