^____
Daily w Trojan
University of Southern California
Volume LXVII, No. 42
Los Angeles, California
Friday, November 15, 1974
Religious bias charged in coed's failure to graduate
BY JOCELYN WARFIELI)
The president of the Medical Center’s Student Nursing Association was not allowed to graduate last week because of her religion, students at the USC-UCLA County Medical Center are charging.
The student. Carla Kolker. was kept from graduating due to an unsatisfactory grade from her senior nursing instructor. Daphne Ford.
Kolker said she received a failing grade because Ford was prejudiced against the 22-year-old senior on the basis of her Jewish faith
“She was totally prejudiced in her clinical performance evaluations," Kolker said. “1 was doing B work on my ward projects and getting fails.
"She thought 1 was evil and the Devil because I'm Jewish. She told me and my class that I am unfit to be a nurse because I don’t believe in Christ.
“I think part ofthe reason she thinks this is because I'm also a fighter.” she said. "Miss Ford believes in possession and thinks it is evil to protest "
Kolker has been a student at the Medical Center for more than two years. She has been president ofthe campus' branch ofthe Student Nurses Association of California, a statewide organization of over 7.000 members, for a year and a half.
“Our organization has gone through a lot in the last four months fighting for student rights. Since I'm president. I'm the most active and Miss Ford
Journalism School awaits new director
The status of the selection of a new director ofthe School of Journalism is in question because Edward K. Bassett, the man offered the job. has failed to accept.
Bassett was recommended for the directorship in May by a special journalism search committee, but an offer for promotion by his present employer, the University of Kansas, has apparently left him undecided.
Bassett presently holds the title of dean ofthe School of Journalism at Kansas. He was offered a promotion to the position ofvice chancellor in the field of academic administration. The position ofvice chancellor is synonymous to that of a USC vice-president.
“I have been in communication with Bassett, and I think he’s interested in our offer, but he has yet to come to a definitive decision.” said John E. Cantelon. vice-president for undergraduate studies and dean of the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences.
“I don't think the issue is salary (reportedly USC has offered him more money), but rather what he wants to do with his career.” Cantelon said. "He doesn’t know whether he wants to go to the higher realm of education, or stick to his profession.”
At any rate, a decision will have to be made soon, because Cantelon said he will request a new search to be started if Bassett doesn't accept by the end ofthe year.
Bassett's recommendation came on the basis of his strong administrative abilities. During his term as Kansas’ dean of journalism, he built the school into one ofthe nation's largest and most respected.
He would replace Theodore E. Kruglak. who resigned as director of USC's School of Journalism in order to devote more time to teaching.
probably considers me rebellious.” Kolker said.
School policy prohibits Ford from replying to Kolkers accusations. Anthony Trippy. director of public relations, said that although Kolker has decided to make her situation a public issue the school's policy is not to discuss a student's academic performance.
"We can’t selectively discuss her situation without discussing her academic performance,” he said.
Kolker was informed of her failing status a week before last week’s graduation.
“Students are usually told they won’t graduate halfway through their senior semesters.” she said. “It seems sort of funny that they couldn't tell me sooner.”
On the Monday prior to graduation, Kolker s situation was reviewed at a special meeting of the school's promotions committee. a faculty group which evaluates challenged grades.
“It s a bunch of faculty judging grades given by other faculty members.” Kolker asserted. “Students were not allowed to speak on this board or in my defense.
“Also, most students are given a week to prepare for such a meeting. I was given only one and a half hours.”
The committee decided not to allow Kolker to graduate due to her grade, but it has since made provisions for a special six-week condensation ofthe eight-week course, in which she will be reevaluated.
Kolker said the issue of Ford's alleged prejudice was not discussed by the committee.
“They completely ignored my accusations every time I brought the question up.” she said.
“Carla had the right to try and get her grade repealed, and she executed it very effectively.”
fcontinued on page 3)
A ONE AND A TWO—Arthur C. Bartner directed the USC Concert Band Wednesday night in Bovard Auditorium at the 3rd Annual All-University Band Night. A standing-room-only audience listened to the Trojan Marching Band, the Jazz Ensemble and the Wind Orchestra.
Health Dept, probes food poisoning case
County Health Department officials are investigating an incident in which two students developed symptoms of food poisoning after eating in Birnkrant Dining Hall Sunday night. The results of the tests on the suspected food will not be available for at least three days.
Two freshmen residents of Marks Hall became sick after eating taquitos. The Health Department was scheduled to send representatives to the cafeteria Wednesday to pick up samples of the food for inspection.
The samples will be put under incubation, and after three to seven days, they will be inspected for harmful bacteria.
Kenneth Bridges, director of food service, said 120 to 130 orders of taquitos were served Sunday, and if the university is at fault, it is likely there would have been many more cases of
food poisoning reported.
“It isn't the type of product that lends itsell to food poisoning. It may have been something that was caused by the handling ofthe manufacturer.” he said.
Frozen taquitos are sent to the cafeterias and all the cooks do is fry them. Bridges said no food that is susceptible to spoiling is left at room temperature for any considerable length of time.
If the food samples are found to be bad. the Health Department will return and conduct a thorough investigation of the cafeteria facilities and preparation procedures.
Bridges said there have been few cases of food poisoning in past years, and after one incident was reported earlier this semester, the Health Department investigated and found that the university wasn’t at fault.
Researchers at Med School in continual
quest for cures, cash
(In the second of a three-part series on funding forthe Health Sciences Campus, Focus looks at private donations and their contribution toicard medical reasearch.)
BY LINDA CIRIGLIANO
Assistant City Kditor
While a large part of the funding for the school of Medicine’s research comes from the federal government, it does not offer money for all research projects.
“Money from the government is specifically directed,” said Robert M. Ellis, director of development for the School of Medicine, who is in charge of raising most of Jhe private funds for the
Health Sciences Campus.
“The government decides on what it feels are priority research projects and gives funds for those,” he said.
“With government money, we have to take it when they give it. and the government may not always be giving funds for something w e feel is top priority.
“When government money is not in line with our needs, we raise private funds.”
Last year. Ellis and his staff raised $2 million from private sources, mostly from philanthropic foundations.
“We have a study on venereal disease going right now that was awarded nearly a
quarter of a million dollars from the Hartford Foundation in New York,” Ellis said.
Ellis is currently devoting most of his time to raising$10 million for what he called “our top priority for the next five to six years. We hope to build an advanced diagnostic-center on campus.
The center will be an outpatient hospital consisting of approximately five clinics. Each clinic will specialize in testing and diagnosing one specific disease area.
“When a physician (outside the Health Sciences Campus) runs into a difficult case, he can refer his patient to one of our clinics.” Ellis said.
“The center will give our faculty an added opportunity for private practice and will give our students the chance to encounter a wider variety of patients than he might see at Los Angeles County-USC
Medical Center.”
Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center, located next to the Health Sciences Campus. is the primary hospital used for teaching medical students.
Individuals also donate funds. Construction of most of the buildings on the campus was paid for by individual donors.
“I fully expect that to raise funds for the diagnostic center, we will approach individuals and ask for support,” Ellis said.
On the main campus, many ofthe larger individual donations come from alumni. This is not the case on the Health Sciences Campus.
“There’s not much rah-rah influence in a medical school,” said W. D. Buckmaster. director of cancer center Development, who raises private funds for cancer research.
“Students here spend most of their time working very hard. So there’s less fun. less enjoyable experiences to look back on. A medical school alumnus doesn't feel
the ties as strongly as an alumnus from a school on the main campus.”
While alumni have not been the major funding source, they do contribute.
Ellis said they are sometimes important links to wealthy patients, who can be approached for donations.
They also contribute, through an alumni association. $500 to $1,000 per year to purchase microscopes for students.
Ellis runs Salerni Collegium. a support group which has contributed more than $1,250,000 since 1958 to the campus.
Most of the support group's members are physicians who contribute because “they are interested in supporting Southern California's major private medical school.” Ellis said. “They want to help maintain private education, rather than have it all fall into the hands ofthe government.”
How are private donors found?
'continued on page 2)