Wednesday, March 5, 1997Talk radio host sues
UC Berkeley
A radio talk show host is suing UC Berkeley, claiming officials
wouldn’t consider him a viable candidate for journalism dean
because of his conservative politics.
Michael Savage says he should have at least been
interviewed.
Savage was among 41 candidates for the job of dean of the
Graduate School of Journalism, which went to China expert Orville
Schell. Savage’s drive-time show is broadcast on San Francisco
radio station KSFO-AM.
Savage, who has a doctorate in ethnomedicine and philosophy, has
filed suit in Superior Court in San Rafael, charging that his
application was dismissed because of his politics.
"There’s no balance there at the university at all," he said.
"Why couldn’t they find room for one middle-of-the-road
conservative somewhere in that liberal nexus of thought?"
Mike Smith, university vice chancellor for legal affairs,
defended the selection process.
"The search committee invited only five applicants for personal
interviews and Mr. Savage should not interpret his not being
invited for an interview as a personal or professional insult," he
said.
New law cracks down on tobacco sales
Most students who pick up a pack of cigarettes will be forced to
pull out some identification, compliments of a new federal law that
requires clerks to card everyone age 27 and under.
The law went into effect last Friday. Previously, stores were
required to ask for an ID when someone looked under 18, the legal
age to purchase tobacco products. Under the new law, store clerks
who fail to ask for ID will face fines ranging from $250 to
$1,000.
Businesses are reacting to the new law by training their clerks,
posting signs and warning their cigarette customers.
Bill Detweiler, personnel manager at the Ames Save U More Foods,
said cashiers know that if they are not sure the customer is 27 or
older, identification must be requested. However, if the cashier
knows the customer by name and knows the customer’s age because of
a previous sale, the law doesn’t require the cashier to keep
carding the customer.
But how do cashiers tell whether they should card a customer
who’s buying tobacco products?
"We’re going to be asking if they look like they’re 40," said
Mike Lee, manager of the Ames Cub Foods Store.
Like most laws that require carding, many customers may be upset
about having to show their IDs. "It’s going to be the cashiers that
take the brunt," Lee said. "They’re just doing their job."
Buddy Jones, manager of Kum and Go, said the new law is a bit
extreme, "especially for a store where 99 percent of business is a
campus area. Ninety-nine percent of students are under the age of
25."
"It’s impossible to ID everyone," Jones said.
Although he isn’t overjoyed by the law, Jones said he
understands the position of lawmakers.
"Eventually, I think it’ll tone down a bit (because) we have no
control over it and we have to abide by it," Jones said.
Because of signs posted for the customers and media attention,
many cigarette smokers have been warned of the law. Save U More’s
cigarettes are kept behind its customer service counter, Detweiler
said. At the end of the summer, another law will put a halt to
self-service cigarette sales, including vending machines.
"We’re kind of a step ahead of that because starting in August,
they must be contained," Detweiler said.
Although it may be a hassle on both sides of the counter, some
store managers agree that the law will cut down on minors who want
to light up.
"It’s a good idea to help discipline younger kids from starting
to smoke," Detweiler said.
"This law has a good purpose," Lee added. "I’m for it 100
percent. I just hope customers understand."
Compiled from Daily Bruin wire reports.