Disabilities program accepting applications
The Developmental Disabilities Immersion Program is accepting
applications for the 2001-2002 school year. The program is a
two-quarter commitment that provides students with an opportunity
to learn about mental retardation and other developmental
disabilities.
The program combines classroom learning with fieldwork and
practical experience. Students from all majors are encouraged to
apply.
The application deadline is May 22. For more information, e-mail
[email protected].
Performer guilds begin contract talks
The two Hollywood performer guilds began negotiations Tuesday
for a new contract aimed at improving pay for middle-income
actors.
Negotiators for the guilds downplayed the likelihood of a strike
but conceded it’s possible if there’s no deal by the
June 30 contract deadline.
The Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of
Television and Radio Artists began the afternoon bargaining session
at the Encino, Calif.-based headquarters of the Alliance of Motion
Picture and Television Producers.
Leaders of the guilds said their priority will be improving
conditions for character actors and supporting players who earn
less than $70,000 annually rather than multimillion dollar
stars.
“˜”˜This is really a blue-collar union, and stars now
won’t always be stars tomorrow,” said SAG
negotiator Brian Walton. “˜”˜These actors need to know
they will be able to pay their rent, their mortgage and buy their
kids school clothes.”
Of the nearly 135,000 total performers represented by the two
guilds, only about 2 percent earn more than $100,000 a year.
About 75,000 actors earn between $30,000 and $70,000 a year, and
nearly half of the guilds’ members are unemployed.
The guilds have not detailed specific new contract proposals,
but officials indicated they want an increase in residual payments
for shows rebroadcasted on cable and in foreign markets. The guilds
also want higher initial pay for screen work and assurances that
studios will limit the number of productions filmed outside
Southern California.
Southern California Gas plans expansion
Southern California Gas Co., the nation’s largest gas
utility, announced plans Tuesday for a $40 million expansion to
keep pace with the state’s growing demand for electricity and
ease the strains on its transmission system.
Analysts say California’s electricity crisis is
threatening to exhaust the state’s supplies of natural gas,
which fuels most electric generating plants. A drought in the
Pacific Northwest has cut hydroelectric power supplies, putting
pressure on natural gas-fired plants to make up the shortfall.
Southern California Gas, a unit of San Diego-based Sempra
Energy, will add capacity for enough gas to power three
500-megawatt power plants that could provide enough electricity for
1.5 million homes. The expansion, combined with $15 million in
improvements to the transmission system announced in March, will
boost SoCal Gas’ capacity by 11 percent.
Both projects are expected to be completed by the end of the
year.
Two-thirds of SoCal Gas’ natural gas is sold to power
plants and industrial users and demand from power plants has pushed
the utilization of the company’s transmission system to 95
percent, up from historic levels of about 75 percent.
Compiled from Daily Bruin Staff and wire reports.