THE Vote Tuesday CALIFORNIA -VOLUME 86 PASADENA, CALIFORNIA / FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2,1984 NUMBER 7 Brown To Speak On J-----------.V ICTORY Defense Policy by Lily Wu with more conventional Harold Brown, past Presi­ technologies. The specific dent of Caltech, will discuss a system to be used is being Reagan Administration defense studied now by defense plan in Beckman Auditorium specialists. on Wednesday, Nov. 7. Brown will also discuss how Brown was Secretary of the the use of different systems Air Force from 1965 until he may affect U.S. foreign policy became President of Caltech in strategies. Brown was a 1969. He left Caltech to join delegate to the SALT talks in Jimmy Carter's cabinet as the 1970's and had observed Secretary of Defense in 1977. high level policy formulation. His talk, entitled "The Strategic Defense Initiative: The talk is sponsored by the ABM revisted," will list the California Seminar on Interna­ pros and cons of different tional Security and Foreign missile defense systems based Policy. The organization was on a recent study Brown con­ founded partly by Brown in ducted to evaluate Reagan's 1970 and is supported by Defense Initiative. The In­ Caltech and The Rand Cor­ itiative proposes to build a new poration. anti-ballistic missile (ABM) The talk, beginning at 4 system either space-based with p.m., is free and open to the laser technology or land-based public. Grad Rents Increase GSC: Housing Office Policies Unfair by Tony Stirk chemist's entire salary this The Graduate Student year. Most Catalina tenants are Council (GSC) is concerned first year graduate students, so about the operation of the their percentage figure is likely Housing Office at Caltech: to be higher. Unfortunately, Chief among these concerns these first year graduate are increasing rents, lack of students were not offered the parking, and maintenance cheaper dormitory space in problems. Housing Office mailings to Three years ago, a room in new graduate students in an ef­ the graduate dorms was $120 a fort to fill all the rooms. month. It is now $180 a month. Although room rents The best bargain for have gone up 50070 in three graduate students is Caltech years, graduate pay has not. owned off campus houses. A For example, a Graduate room in one of these houses Research Assistant (GRA) in would typically be $130 a Chemistry was paid $6726 month. This is changing, three years ago and will be paid however. In September, the $8016 this school year. Using first of three increases in an 18 the Consumer Price Index month rental increase plan was figures for LA-Long Beach, in made. For some of these pro­ constant dollars, $6726 would perties, three 15 % increases are -p otos y on I seg be $8437 now. And, while stu­ planned. For example, the dent's buying power fell, his house at 290 Holliston was ren­ Caltech defeats the San Diego Cougars by air (Lee Mallory) and by land rent increased substantially. He ting for $320 in February of .(Martin Brouilette). Details on page 9 paid 22% of his salary for his 1984. In September of 1985, room in the graduate dorm the rent will be $500, a 56% in­ three years ago, but he is pay­ crease. followed the talk, ranging from ing at least 27% now. Some departments pay their GRAs Chief among the reasons new defense ideas to the given by the Housing Office political consequences of cur­ much more, and some much Garwin On Star Wars less, but the pattern remains for these rapidly escalating rent ones, including the pro­ prices were that provisions Soviet Union to make their spect of violating current the same: more of a graduate by Chris Meisl student's total pay is going to were being made for increased President Reagan's Star weaponry more sophisticated. SALT agreements prohibiting maintenance and that prices ·Following ASAT's, Garwin large-scale anti-ballistic missile paying for housing costs than Wars proposal was the topic of before. Moreover, the graduate are being set to reflect housing a talk by Dr. Richard L. Gar­ discussed earth based beam defenses. prices in the private sector. An weapons, and anti-ballistic Garwin is IBM Fellow at students receiving the lowest win in Ramo Auditorium Mon­ rates of pay are new to informal GSC survey found missiles. Garwin added a few the Thomas Research Center in day. Garwin, a physycist, is a to that maintenance actually ap­ comments about U.S. offensive New York and holds academic Caltech, those most likely leading spokesman against the live in Caltech-owned housing. pears to have decreased. The Space Defense Initiative (the weapons (such as ballistic positions at Harverd, Cornell, Housing Office has been found and Columbia Universities. He The combination of rising "Star Wars" proposal). missiles) and their vulnerabili­ housing costs and inflation has wanting in its maintenance of Garwin gave an extensive ty. consults to the U.S. govern­ refrigerators, phones, heaters, ment on matters of military lowered the standard of living rebuttal to Star Wars, citing The talk also considered of graduate students substan­ toasters, and furniture in the many of the technical aspects technology and arm control. numerous alternatives that are tially, and this greatly concerns graduate dorms. Processing of of the defenses proposed in the both less expensive and more The very well attended talk the GSC. student maintenance requests effective. Star Wars plan. Garwin was sponsored by the Caltech has been very slow. The GSC .Garwin began by criticizing specifically pointed out their Y and the World Affairs Catalina rooms at $220 a objects to graduates paying antJ-~atellite (ASAT) weapons, shortcomings and were they Forum as part of the Caltech month and allowing $15 a higher rents for lower quality consIdering them far too ex­ could be replaced by much Space Weapons Group series month for utilities (Housing living conditions, nor does it Pensive for what they are to simpler devices, such as space of presentations on President Office approximate figure) will believe that higher rents should destroy. Futhrmore, the mines instead of ASATs. Reagan's Space Defense In­ eat up 35% of out typical continued on page 8 technology gain will inspire the An hour of questions itiative. 2 THE CALIFORNIA TECH/FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2,1984 I ] Notes from here I~___=_=_=_==-:.-I_et_t_er_S~~~~~':J by Mike Chwe IHC Chair Defended More Involvement To the Editor: had seen of him, I voted for Richard Murray. It's too bad more students missing a strong technical com­ makes the error so many of us Lily Wu made a good point don't stay around after third ponent. [Women's rights? make in thinking about people in last week's Gadfly ["Pro­ I had a chance to test by term finals for the commence­ School prayer? Life isn't a pro­ and what they do. mises, Promises," 10/26/84], assessment of what was best ment ceremonies. Last year, blem set.] ...It is a tragedy that In our world, painters namely that there is not a great for change later in the year, Our own President, Marvin we do not have engineers and paint, actors act, and farmers deal of interest in ASCIT elec­ when I was actively trying to Goldberger, in his closing scientists making decisions at farm. Painters aren't supposed tions or in how the elected of­ change rotation to give the remarks, made a suggestion: all levels from local to act, actors aren't supposed ficers are performing; to most freshmen more say in picking "Think about becoming involv­ neighborhoods, through city to farm, and farmers aren't people, ASCIT functions the houses. Reality exceeded an­ ed in politics." For the people and state government, to the supposed to paint. Life is split same, no matter who is runn­ ticipation. While remaining who missed his remarks, an federal government and into "work" and "leisure," and ing it. But she used unwar­ strictly neutral (as Chairman, abridged, annotated version beyond, in international rela­ people these days aren't sup­ ranted "examples" of elected he had no say in the final vote follows. The complete text can tions. [There are undoubtedly posed to do anything impor­ officers not living up to pro­ brought before the IHej, be found in September's many government positions in tant and substantive outside of mises. What upsets me most is Richard helped me a great Engineering and Science, from which a science-engineering "work." the treatment of IHC Chair­ deal, devoting time and effon which I am quoting. background would be helpful, Modern leisure is oriented man Richard Murray. Others to explain the logistics of effec­ "There is much to be if not invaluable. But toward consumtion and sensa­ mentioned in the Gadfly may ting change, and to point Ol!t serious about, you well know. knowledge of science isn't the tion. Leisure time is the time in be equally undeserving, but I how certain details in my pro· Students used to be insulated magic power which will save which we're supposed to spend have personal experience in posals for change would cau~ from the problems in the world theworld. I don't think that we the money we earned at work. dealing with Richard as the problems, and how these might outside the campus, but that have to convince ourselves that The point is that one IHC Chairman. be improved. He and the hasn't been the case for many we're Benevolent Scientists doesn't have to devote one's MaSH, Chris Brennen, years now." [I don't know coming to help Stupid career to political involvement During a year in which I, basically provided me with in· about many years ago, but Bureaucrats.