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This Day In USC History September 27, 1923 - Enrollment at USC passes 755 mark and is expected to reach 900. Bringing a world of diversity to USC by Rachel Helwis ETCETERA EDITOR In addition to being one of the most culturally diverse or ganizations on campus, Students Allied for Latin America is ded icated to bringing Latino culture and issues to the forefront of USC consciousness. “We definitely want to emphasize the ‘for’ [from the orga nization’s title] because it’s not just students from Latin Amer ica. There are a lot of people involved who are not Hispanic,” said Clarissa Denman, vice-president of SALA. According to President Edirel Susanna, SALA was formed four yean ago “because there was no organization that targeted Latino’s, and the Latino population is growing quickly in the United States.” According to SALA, the purpose of the club is to “pro mote cultural awareness with regard to Latino issues both on campus and in the community.” SALA hopes to promote these issues by integrating social in teraction, cultural discussions and community service into club activities. One of these planned activities is a Latino mentoring pro gram at A. C. Flora, a local Columbia high school. The program allows SALA members to become involved with Hispanic stu dents at the school. “SALA members go to the school and talk with them about possibilities that are available for them [the students] af ter high school,” Susanna said. “Often, they don’t think that college is an option, but we want them to be aware of the opportunities that are available for them. We also are planning on bringing them on to campus to see what the university is all about or bringing in a Latin Amer ican Studies Professor or Spanish Professor to help give them some perspective,” Susanna said. In addition to community service, SALA members plan on bringing different cultural issues to light during their meetings this semester. This includes showing video clips and having pre senters and dancers that will help encourage discussion of Latin American issues. “We also want to organize events for students like Hispanic Heritage month or speakers on campus because we want those involved in SALA to know about Latino culture,” Susanna said. It’s not all community service and discussion at SALA meet ings however. The club also offers students the chance to so cialize and have fun while in a Latino atmosphere. In the past, the club has offered salsa lessons and Rumba at Rafters night in Five Points. The club also often holds activities at the Lotus Club or Monterrey’s. According to Susanna, students need to be more aware of Latin-American issues because of an increase of Hispanics into American culture. “As well as music and the whole cross-over thing, people are starting to realize that these people [Latino’s) can do as well, and they are opening a lot of people’s eyes to Latino culture,” Susanna said. “If you walk around any big city in the United States like Miami or Atlanta you’ll hear Spanish, and it’s getting to be the same way in Columbia and on campus. There is definitely a grow ing population here in South Carolina and people should be ready USC helps save orphan films by Mark Pratt Associated Press COLUMBIA — One of the things Dan Streible loves about old news reels is the surprises. The USC film professor’s favorite is a 1928 20th Century Fox Movietone newsreel of a building dedication at Fox’s Hollywood studio. After a couple of speeches, including probably the first record ed words of silent movie cowboy star, Tom Mix, a man introduced as Russian revolutionary Leon Trotsky steps to the microphone. “Someone introduces Trotsky, and I’m freaking out,” Streible said. “Oh my gosh, Trotsky, what’s he doing in Hollywood in 1928? Then this guy comes up to the microphone, he looks like Trotsky, he’s got on the coat, he’s got a briefcase under his ami, and he speaks in Russian, he doesn’t speak English, and it’s just a brief thing con gratulating Fox on their new movie. And I thought ‘Wow, what a moment.’ ” Of course, this Trotsky was an actor, part of a studio publicity stunt. Even so, it’s those moments that make these “orphan films” worth saving, Streible said. Raising awareness and discussing ways of preserving what’s left of these films is the goal of this week’s three day symposium at the university. About 100 people from around the country attended the sym posium. They ranged from archivists with Eastman Kodak Co. and the Library of Congress to movie buffs and students. While much has been made of saving Hollywood classics, the focus of the symposium was on the orphan films—so called because they have no commercial owners. These include silent movies from the early days of cinema, newsreels, documentaries, home movies, educational, government and independent films. “The majority of motion pictures produced since the invention of cinema in the 1890s are no longer available for screening,” he said. Before 1951, films were made of highly flammable nitrate, which turns to jelly and eventually disintegrates to dust. Some films were destroyed because they had no commercial value. Even newer films are rapidly deteriorating, Streible said. Preservation can be as simple as putting the film in cold, dry stor age to slow deterioration. It can mean complete restoration and duplication or digitizing. Either way, it is expensive. A 100-minute black and white feature film can cost at least $20,000 to duplicate, said Greg Lukow of the UCLA Film and Tele vision Archive. That can skyrocket if major restoration is required. The symposium was held at the university because of its sub stantial archival film holdings, including 11 million feet of 20th Cen tury Fox Movietone newsreels. “These are a window into our past,” said Karen Lund, a digital conversion specialist at the Library of Congress. “When I see his torical figures and cultural icons, it makes me feel like I have more of a line into the time they lived. They seem more like human be ings. They’re not just dry historical figures.” Saving the films is not just about preserving history. It’s about preserving culture and art, too. One of the highlights of the symposium was a screening of a film by Oscar Micheaux, the country’s first black feature-filmmaker. His 1920 film, “The Symbol of the Unconquered,”was found in Europe a decade ago. That’s not unusual, Lukow said. “ Lots of lost films are found in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, eastern Europe, because these were the last stops on the worldwide distribution chain,” he said. “More films are being discovered every year.” Campus Notes AAAS Step-Off tickets on sale Tickets for the 1999 AAAS Step-Off, which will be held Oct. 15 at the Car olina Coliseum, are on sale. Members may purchase tickets at AAAS General Body meetings on Tuesdays or call 777-5061. Non-members may purchase tickets at the RH Information Desk or the Coliseum box office. Tickets are $6 for members, S8 for non-members and $ 10 the day of the show. Poet to speak as part of Minority Writers Series Mervyn Morris i s the first of four poets who will be visiting campus Sept. 27 as a part of the Minority Writers Series. Morris is professor of creative writing and West Indian literature at the Uni versity of West Indies, Mona. Morris will speak at 7:30 p.m. today in Gambrell 153. For more information, call Kwame Dawes at 777-2096. Phi Beta Sigma to hold donut sale Phi Beta Sigma fraternity will be sell ing donuts beginning today. Donuts will be distributed the following Monday. Twenty-five percent of the proceeds will go to a local charity. African-American Greek showcase to be held Fraternity and Sorority councils will be sponsoring a showcase to allow students the opportunity to leam more about Greek life. The showcase will start at 8 p.m. Thursday in the RH ballroom. For more information call, Troy Felder at 544-0528. AMA to host speaker The American Marketing Association will be holding a meeting at 7 p.m. Thurs day. Michael Witkokski, from Ferillo and Associates, will speak on “Public Poli cy, Marketing Techniques and Special Referendum.” For more information, call Gwen Davison at 794-8102. Contra Dance to be offered Columbia Old Time Music and Dance is offering a Contra dance from 8 to 11 p.m. Oct. 9 at the Hugh Dimmery Memorial Center. Traditional dancing from New England and live music will be provid ed. A workshop will also be offered at 7:30 p.m. for new dancers. All dances taught, no partner necessary. For more information, call 796-8935. Rape Crisis Network looking for volunteers The Rape Crisis Network is searching for responsible, caring people to respond to survivors in local hospital emergency rooms and on the 24-hour crisis line. Con cerned people over the age of 18 and who have access to transportation are en couraged to apply. For more information or to interview, call Cecily Watkins at 252-8393. FINE CLEANERS fWeCcomz (Bacl^Students Sled/ S'ine/ taJt& ca/t& cfi add/ city/ cleei^Un^ laMndvy/ and altewdion/ needy! fyihen/cJiee^e PP'Ufifi ’fr 3*in& Pol&an&tb' .. .^044/’ve/ chosen/ Ui&flined. 830 Harden Street in the Heart of Five Points • 13 Columbia Area Locations • Same day Service • • Fluff and Fold • Student Accounts Welcome • , I 10% of« •*'l? elected models l Dlscoan md A en,, „ . 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