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Campus annoy, i By MELISSA TENNEN Staff Writer Heavy breathing, sexual innuendos, and hang-ups may all be heard when USC students pick up their telephones. Prank calls have been a relatively small percentage of police cases this year, but they are still a problem. From January to July,* 1991, 47 calls were reported, according to USC police reports. "Anyone who knows the first three digits of the USC campus phones can keep dialing randomly until they find someone," said Rita Yarborough, victim witness coordinator for the USC police. A female freshman received approximately 15 calls in one night from a man who said, "I'm beating my meal." A USC student, who is a former prank caller, said those who make prank phone calls do so because they are not identified. He said, "It is a sick sort of freedom. It is a mystery to be able to talk without being identified." The caller would accuse victims at random of having affairs. Some A drunk driving dramatizati Police cadets volunteered as a When 1 You Give Blood You Give Another Birthday, Another Laugh, another hug, Another Chance. + American Red Cross Please Give Blood. _ h ' 5 prank upset sti times the victim would break down in tears, fearful of having the affair revealed. "It gives you a sense of power," the former prank caller said. The FBI began an investigation when the ex-prankster and a friend tried to convince companies to donate money to a fictitious charity. The two stopped before cashing the checks and before the FBI closed in. "It was immature, but it was done for fun," the former caller said. Typically, students do not report calls unless they persist. At that point, an officer will come to the student's room and issue instructions on how to handle the situation. The victim is urged to keep a log of the calls. If the calls persist, a USC police investigation will begin by wire lapping the victim's phone line, Yarborough said. The wire tap will then produce a list of phone numbers received into the room, with any unfamiliar numbers being investigated. If a suspect is found, criminal 1^*, i jh Ion was held in front of the Russ part of the Safe Spring Break Car Dressed outrageously. Carrot T< props from four full sized trun supplement his crazy antics on stage. $1 For Student V $2 For Gene ^ i CAROLINA PRi This program is paid for, in pe s. i indepen no a /I faK ?18 8 1 g Starts Russe ^ callers idents charges may be filed. "1 think crank calls are per verted, and the caller must be sic! to want to do that," said interna tional studies freshman Andre; Prospero. Many prank calls are made b; people who know the victim, si the calls go unreported. In mos cases these calls are between ; boyfriend and a girlfriend. One victim reported getting call from a male student who kept call ing because she rejected his offe for a date. In retaliation, he playe< perverted music to her over th< phone. Students who receive prank call may try to psychoanalyze th caller by speaking to them. "This will only encourage th caller to keep doing it," sai Yarborough. However, some students do no I 1: 1- 11 _ t a a ueiieve eianx t;aus are oaa as lonj as they are random. Exercise science freshmar Kristy Walker said, "You just hanj up on them. It's not that hard t( do." i^KSESifii gipjll WtKttk pil1 Wfj 'lJI Virginia Marshall/The Gamecock ell House Thursday afternoon, npaign '92. larrot Top londay, March 2 7:30 pm sell House Ballroom Vith ID ral HP OGRAM UNION irt, by student activities fees. "SMASHING! -Coryn James, NEW YORK TIMES REMARKABL dent animators boldly nimators have gone b -Jami fernard, NEW YORK POST FSili X P A N D E D ENTER ? Sunday March lstf P\ II House, Daily: 7, 9:00 130 for more informal !i== v miju I l ' vmel br a *dh ^K jtfBL ?* &^B e Photo illustration by Eric Glenn/The Gamecock 7 3 Prank phone calls make up a relatively small percentage of police cases, but are still a problem. Forty-seven cases were reported to the USC police department in the first half of 1991. I Closing Ceremonies for Black History Month and Opening Ceremonies I for Women's History Month I Dr. Sharon Whittaker, Vice President for Academic Affairs, Mary Holmes College. I Sponsored by: Association of African American Students and Women Students' I Association. 7 PM, Russell House Ballroom I Lecture: The Beauty Myth H Author Naomi Wolfe. Sponsored by: Carolina Program Union 7:30 PM, Russell House Ballroom Making the Grade: Women in Education I n 1 rv i kT 'l r*. . C* J , r1 J A U... J | speaicer: ut. tsaroara iNenson, state superintendent 01 naucauon. spunsuicu uy. I Women Students' Association and Women's Student Services. 7 PM, Russell House 327 I Living With AIDS - A Woman's Perspective 4 PM, Russell House Theater I Sponsored by: Open Door/Thomson Student Health Center and Graduate Student Association Women in Service I Panelists: Joan Fail, Nurturing Center, Gena Antinelli, Salvation Army, Lyn Phillips, I Partnership for a Healthy Generation, Velma Love, Director of Big Brothers/ Big Sisters I of Columbia. Sponsored by: Community Service Programs I 4 PM, Russell House 306 Going for the Gold I Speaker: Cathy Rigby, Gold Medalist and Performer. Reception Following Lecture I Sponsored by: Alcohol and Drug Programs, Open Door/Thomson Student Health Center, I USC Athletic Department, Women Students' Association, Women's Student Services I and Women's Studies. 7 PM, Russell House Ballroom I Making the Transition From College to Life I Speaker: Dr. Kevin King, USC Career Center. Workshop will focus on changing roles I and expectations as you move from a student to an employee. I Sponsored by: USC Career Center. 7 PM, Russell House 327 I Outstanding Women at USC Reception Presentation of "Most Outstanding Woman of the Year Award" I Featuring the USC Women's Chorus 4:30 - 6 PM, Campus Room, Capstone I Sponsored by: Women Students' Association and Women's Students Services I Sexual Assault: A University Liability? I Omicron Delta Kappa Forum. Sponsored by: Omicron Delta Kappa National [ Leadership Honor Society. 7 PM, Place: Currell College Room 107 "The Accused" March 17-18, 7 PM, Russell House Theater I "Thelma and Louise" March 26-28,9PM, Russell House Theater Sponsored by: Carolina Program Union I"hese events arc sponsored by Women's Student Services, Student Life/Student Affairs, and theWomcn Students' Association. Call 777-5780 for more information. Watch for other events on campus during Women's History Month. T ? III E HI WI remiere Engagement Five Days Only! tSpmBtR.j. pm $3.00 Students/$4.00 General '* | .D8To^77-2433 lon I Call How