Daily §9 Trojan
Volume LXVII, Number 77
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, California
Friday, February 21, 1975
Caucus votes to assume responsibility for elections
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PIE-ROMANIAC—Conrad Perry, president of the Engineering Student Council, was a recipient of many a sweet dessert during Thursday's pie-throwing contest. The event was part of the Engineers' Week activities. DT photo by Shuji Ito.
BY WAYNE WALLEY
Staff Writer
The Student Caucus approved a resolution Thursday to assume the responsibility for conducting student elections.
A resolution to dissolve the Commission on Elections and Credentials of the President’s Advisory Council, which now conducts the election, was also approved.
The long-range effect of the approval of the two resolutions will be to “provide for a much more efficient operation of student elections and place the principal responsibility for our own affairs on
tho students." said Joe Flanagan, caucus chairman
Flanagan said the proposal to dissolve the present elections commission came about because of what he termed the incapability ofthe commission in conducting student elections and the “farce-’ of the December elections.
“Now, if we screw it up, we can only blame ourselves,’’ he said.
Because of a problem in written distribution, the caucus was unable to approve a charter for proposed commission, which would concern itself with conducting fair and equitable student elections.
Still, in an unusual move, the caucus appointed five persons to such a student elections commission. but as only a group to do election background work.
“This commission can’t do anything official now. but it will do the background work to avoid last-minute election preparation,’’ Flanagan said.
Charles Solomon, a senior in history, was appointed as chairman of the commission. Also appointed to the commission were Sarah Heck, a junior in journalism; Keith Keener, a graduate
student in law and economics: Neil Hickerson. chief justice of the Row Judicial, and Steve Zimmerman, a senior in business.
Flanagan said after the job done by the present elections commission last December, the caucus asked to dissolve the commission and revise its charter to make it clear, specific and efficient.
“The commission had no expertise in conducting the student elections, and they did express a desire for us (the caucus) to do it,” Solomon said.
“Now we assume the responsibility for student elections, which is a recognized right of students, and we are recommending to the executive committee of PAC to dissolve the present commission.
“The commission was making unilateral decisions on students without their input. They have had very little concern for students."
Flanagan agreed. “The caucus is a viable body and we should be responsible for our own elections. We need to dissolve the current commission and then appoint a new one just to hear appeals," he said.
The proposal is based on the by-laws of the President’s Advisory Council and asks that the election methods for student representatives be placed under the jurisdiction of such a commission.
The caucus, in other action Thursday, approved the nine persons nominated last week for the Student Programming Council.
An amendment to the recommendation for the health fee raise made at the last caucus meeting was also approved.
The amendment provided for monies paid for health service by students attending the Medical Campus to be used only for health service on that campus.
Reasons for health fee increase examined
BY PETER BOYER
Staff Writer
"I think that we should ask the students if they want to pay for the kind of services the Health Center is offering them, and if they say no. then we should be able to live with that decision.”
Addie L. Klotz. director of the Student Health Center, was referring to the proposed increase ofthe health fee from $22 to S32 each semester, recommended by the Student Causus on Feb 6
The proposal was approved by the Counseling and Health Services Commission on Thursday, and then sent to the University and Community Life Committee for approval.
But the committee said it didn’t want to rubber-stamp the increase proposal without a fuller explanation ofthe neces-
sity for an increase. The proposal was sent back to the Counseling and Health Services Commission for further study.
The health fee was increased this fall from $16to $22to finance the addition ofa pharmacy and a legal services program, services which Klotz termed highly successful.
The legal services program cost $23,225 this year and has served 100 students. Approximately $10,000 of that sum was spent on materials and the physical establishment of the office.
When asked if the use of the legal service by 100 students justified the cost of the program. Klotz said, “It depends upon how you perceive that program. If you as a student know that it is available when you need it, then it’s worth it. But we hope you don’t have to use it.
“It’s a preventative thing. There are a lot of ways to keep kids out of jail, out of the courts, through a variety of preventative educational programs, which are going to be scheduled this semester."
The pharmacy in the Health Center has been in operation for about three months and has cost about $20,000 to operate The pharmacy has been heavily utilized and has filled approximate^ 4.000 prescriptions.
When Klotz presented the increased fee proposal to the Student Caucus, she said the increase was absolutely necessary to maintain the current program due to increased student utilization ofthe Health Center.
Klotz told the caucus that the staff must be enlarged to shorten waiting time, and
an increase in the fee was necessary because the Health Center was running in the red.
But several students who have used the center's services said the waiting time presented no problem and felt an increase in the fee would be unjustified i>n that basis.
Andrea Roberts, a graduate student in library science, said she was generally impressed with the service at the Health Centerand that she found shecould avoid long waits by making appointments in ad vance.
Dan Shea, a senior in philosophy, said the Health Center wns "better so far than my own doctor. An increase in the fee wouldn't be justified from my view
Klotz said she was glad students were
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Indictment names alum in Nixon tax fraud case
BY NANCY SHINABARGAR
Assistant City Editor
An alumnus and donor to the university has been indicted for conspiracy by a federal grand jury in Washington D.C. for claiming a $576,000 tax deduction for former President Richard M. Nixon.
Frank DeMarco Jr., an alumnus and member of the USC Associates, was indicted for trying to defraud the government by claiming that the gift of Nixon's prepresidential papers was tax deductible. Ralph G. Newman, an appraiser who worked with DeMarco, was also indicted.
DeMarco declined to be interviewed by the Daily Trojan.
DeMarco, a 1951 law-school graduate and a member of Phi Kappa Psi frater nity, is a Los Angeles-based attorney who was formerly Nixon's tax lawyer.
(The USC Associates organization, which DeMarco joined in 1970, is the premier support group of the university. More than 500 persons in California have been selected for membership in the past lOyears. Each member pays at least $1,000 in fees.)
DeMarco was also charged by the
grand jury with making a false statement to Internal Revenue Service agents and obstructing a Congressional inquiry in connection with the Nixon donation.
If convicted. DeMarco would be sentenced to a maximum of 15 years in prison and fined $25,000.
He released a statement on his in dictment Wednesday, calling it a chance for his vindication.
He said. "While no one welcomes an indictment, and although 1 recognize the seriousness ofthe situation, I still have the strong feeling of relief in knowing that it is now about to come to some final resolution "
DeMarco admitted he made some mistakes, but said they were neither intentional nor criminal.
The indictment charges that De Marco and Newman, the appraiser, prepared and submitted false documents to the House Judiciary Committee impeachment inquiry, the IRS. the General Services Administration and the Joint Committee on Internal Revenue Taxation.
DeMarco and Newman were furthei
charged in the indictment of conspiring from March. 1970. to August. 1974. to falsely represent that Nixon donated prepresidential papers to the government.
They certified, according to the grand jury findings, that Nixon had given his papers to the government before July 26. 1969
On that date a new federal law sharply reduced the benefit of contributions such as personal papers for tax deductions. The indictment alleges the papers were donated on March 27, 1970, well after the cut-off date.
DeMarco was the former law partner of one of his university classmates. Herbert Kalmbach. also a USC Associate.
Kalmbach resigned from the law firm after pleading guilty to Watergate-related charges. As Nixon s former per sonal lawyer, Kalmbach collected $75,000 from Thomas V. Jones, another USC Associate and former chairman of the Northrop Corp. for the Watergate burglars’ legal fees.
The testimony of Kalmbach in the
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