Few effects expected from HEW rules on handicapped
BY MARC CORMAN
The effect on the university of a possible new set of federal regulations concerning discrimination against the handicapped will be negligible, said Barbara Pearson, director of the Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action programs at USC.
The regulations, which would expand the antidiscrimination rights ofthe handicapped, may be signed into law this week by the outgoing secretary of the department of Health, Education and Welfare (HEW), David Matthews.
In general, the rules would forbid discrimination in admissions, hiring, firing or promotions against persons with handicaps, ifthey are otherwise qualified, said an article in this week's National Observer.
That is nothing new. A swarm of controversy, however, surrounds the section of the rulings that would extend to alcoholics, drug addicts and the mentally ill the same job protection rights already accorded blind, deaf or crippled persons.
The proposed regulations would forbid
discrimination against these people by any institution receiving HEW funds, such as hospitals and schools.
The university receives HEW funds and thus would be affected by the ruling, if it is signed into law.
“The only criteria is ability,” Pearson said of hiring practices at the university.
Critics of the ruling say that drug addicts and alcoholics should not be classified as handicapped and that if the regulations become law, institutions will have to hire drunks and dopers, the article said.
Proponents counter by saying that both alcoholism and drug addiction are widely regarded as disease and the text of the rulings define a handicapped person as “any person who has a physical or mental
impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities.”
Thus, they say, alcoholics and drug addicts should be considered handicapped.
Furthermore, supporters of the regulations say the law would still require that a person be qualified for the job.
Current alcoholics and drug addicts would probably not qualify anyway, the article said.
Pearson said that if a person is qualified for a job when he applies at the university, the fact that that person may have been an alcoholic or drug addict is irrelevant.
Thus, the rulings are designed to help the past alcoholic or drug addict who has been cured, but is still discriminated against by employers.
Pearson said she doubted whether the
rulings will become law, but either way, she thinks USC will not be greatly affected.
She says that the university has always opened the door to the qualified, regardless of handicaps.
Another section of the regulations would require institutions receiving HEW aid to remove architectural barriers for the handicapped, such as lack of elevators, ramps and other aids for the disabled.
Again, Pearson said the university is in good shape. Anyone who has traversed the campus has seen the many ramps and the designated parking spaces for the handicapped.
Pearson added that the university has money set aside for further improvements to help the handicapped, like an elevator for the north wing of the Administration Building.
So, whether HEW Secretary' Matthews signs the regulations into law or not, the handicapped will continue to be adequately accommodated at USC.
Daily w Troian
Volume LXX, Number 62
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, California
Wednesday, January 12, 1977
Student has hocus-pocus up sleeve
BY STEVE ROSENBLOOM
If Marks Hall disappears one night, don’t be alarmed. It’s probably Doug Hoover practicing his latest magic trick.
Hoover, a sophomore majoring in business, began his hocus-pocus hobby in high school, but is already a junior member of the Magic Castle, a private club for magicians.
“I was on the high school swimming and water polo team when a friend showed me a small pocket trick. It just grew from there,” said the 18-year-old prestidigitator.
“I was kind of let down when I found out how it was done,” Hoover said. “But I kept going. That’s one reason I don’t tell people how I do tricks. I don’t want their interest to diminish. Ifthey know how a trick is done, they won’t come back.”
Hoover has a magic library that numbers close to 200 books and is worth close to $1,000 dollars. He said that most of his books deal with theory and sleight-of-hand magic.
“The neat thing about magic is its originality. There are less than 20 basic effects, but there are so many variations. The fun is in creating your own effect,” Hoover said as he made a Cross pen disappear.
“It’s all misdirection. That’s the key to magic. I couldn't let the trick perform itself; I had to focus your attention where I wanted it,” he added removing the pen from behind his ear and taking the silver dollar out of his pocket.
Hoover said he prefers to use com-
DOUG HOOVER
mon, everyday objects in his act. He doesn’t use a lot of apparatus because he feels he is there to entertain an audience, not to puzzle it.
Close-up magic and audience participation are among his favorite acts, but he makes sure not to embarrass anyone.
“I have a trick where I tear up a newspaper and then put all the shreds into my hands. When I open my hand, the paper is back together. I have someone from the audience do the same thing, but when he opens his hand, the paper is still shredded. So I put it in my hand and put it back together. I tell the person that it’s my fault for being a bad teacher. That way he isn’t embarrassed and he’ll come back again,” Hoover said.
Hoover says his presentation of tricks was a matter of analyzing his habits and making tricks fit his moves so he feels comfortable performing them.
More intelligent people are the easiest to fool, Hoover said. They try to catch the subtle things. He said he makes all kinds of subtle moves to throw them off the track. Misdirection won’t work on a young audience, Hoover said, because their minds wander, which makes it tough to keep their attention focused where the magician wants it.r
Hoover has attended and performed in shows at the exclusive Magic Castle. As a magician, he feels the best way to enjoy magic is just to sit back and watch. He said he notices the misdirection and presentation used by the performer, but adds that he still enjoys it.
Journalism and biology to discuss lab space shortage
BY GARY MALONEY
StaH Writer
Continued use of laboratory space in the Allan Hancock Foundation for broadcasting sequence offices will be discussed today by members of the biological sciences department and the School of Journalism.
“There is indeed a shortage of space,” said Edward Bassett, director of the jour-nalism school. “The department of biological sciences seeks to use the present broadcasting offices for a faculty research center. The meetings will determine whether or not broadcasting will remain in Hancock.”
The department of biological sciences and the School of Journalism cooperate under the auspices of the College of Letters Arts and Sciences (LAS). Two deans of LAS divisions are participating in the discussions.
The office space in room 244 was ceded to the old department of telecommunications many years ago and was continued when the School of Journalism absorbed telecommunications into its program, Bassett said.
John Marburger, dean of LAS, said the present broadcast offices were originally designed as fully functional laboratories (“wet labs”), and were remodeled for office space by covering sinks and outlets.
“The situation regarding space for the School of Journalism can be expected to change within the next 18 months to two years with the construction of new classroom space,” Marburger said.
“Once space is found for broadcasting, the biology department will naturally assume the use of the Hancock facilities,
with a center for contract-supported research to be completed soon.
The situation of lack of space, then, is of a temporary nature,” he said.
Bernard Abbott, chairman of the biological sciences department, declined to comment before today’s meeting. Abbott also serves as director of the Allan Hancock Foundation.
Formerly, KUSC took up some of the office space in Allan Hancock Foundation 244. Bassett said, and its move to new offices on Hope Street in November was one of the stimuli to discussion of transferral of space.
Much discussion over the past 12 months has concerned a long-considered move of the School of Journalism to offices in Founders Hall, leaving the present offices in the Student Union and the Hancock Foundation to other groups.
Marburger confirmed that Henry Sal-vatori, a member of the Board of Trustees, has donated $2 million to the university specifically earmarked for classroom use by the College of Letters, Arts and Sciences. “The university must now seek to match that with another $2 million for construction of the complex,” Marburger said.
“Though we have a wait ahead of us for funds and construction, the situation regarding journalism, biological sciences and other departments will soon be considerably improved,” Marburger said.
Participating on the informal committee are two members of the School of Journalism, two members of the Department of Biological Sciences, John Schutz, dean of social sciences and communication and William Wagner, dean of natural sciences and mathematics.
Counterfeit stickers create Parking Operations problem
Advanced technology is creating a problem for Parking Operations. Counterfeit parking stickers have increased with the use of Xerox and IBM color copying machines, said John Lechner, director of Parking Operations.
Another problem with parking decals concerns drawings. Some architecture and fine arts students produce excellent imitations, Lechner said.
He said dental students produce some of the best counterfeit stickers because they have access to a machine that can match teeth colors. The false passes are often discovered because they look too good.
“We have quite a collection of forgeries. Some ofthem look better than ours,” he said.
Thefts add yet another headache for both the legitimate owners and security officers. A report is being compiled on the number of thefts this semester, he said.
He added that the department has a good recovery rate. During calm times officers go on foot from car to car checking parking passes. They carry a list of stolen passes and check for forgeries. Cars with stolen or artificial decals are towed away, Lechner said.
Officers often become suspicious when a person who is obviously a student is seen getting out of a car parked in a faculty area. “Students look like students and they get caught because they are in the wrong place,” he said.