California earthquake shakes up U. students from L.A.

California residents weren't the only ones shaking yesterday. Many University students were furiously trying to reach their families after a huge earthquake hit California early yesterday morning. Centered in San Fernando Valley, about 20 miles northwest of Los Angeles, the quake occurred at about 4:30 a.m. PST. The earthquake, which killed at least 27 people, measured 6.6 on the Richter scale and was felt as far as San Diego to the south and Las Vegas to the northeast. Lasting between 30 and 45 seconds, it was followed by more than 20 aftershocks -- one which measured 5.7 on the Richter scale. The quake awoke residents as it rumbled through houses, causing massive damage, and a loss of power and water for hundreds of thousands. "Members of my family were actually thrown out of bed this morning," said Wharton junior Jeremy Schwartz. "Things were flying across rooms." Schwartz said that while no one in his family was hurt, his house was "severely damaged" because the epicenter of the quake was only about three miles away. Damage to his house included a tilted chimney which will have to be rebuilt, cracked and collapsed walls, and broken windows. "For us, this is the worst earthquake since my parents have been in California -- 22 years," Schwartz said. College sophomore Amiel Weinstock said he heard about the quake from his father, who called early yesterday morning. "He said he wanted me to hear about it from them first instead of hearing it on the news," Weinstock said. "Just knowing that they were okay was enough for me." Weinstock added that his house also suffered damage, but that only material things were lost. "Everything can be replaced," he said. College junior David Doctorow was still not able to contact his parents or grandparents as of 9:30 p.m. last night. "I wasn't able to get through all day and still I'm not able to get through," he said last night. "Needless to say I'm pretty concerned." Doctorow said he heard a recorded message when he tried to call, which said that the "phone lines were occupied for emergency usage" because of the quake. Schwartz said usually during morning earthquakes, people wake up to "a very loud rumbling sound." "The rumbling usually comes with this rolling feeling which is hard to describe if you've never felt it," he said. "This one [was different because it] had a much more jerking feeling." Students also described how they typically prepare for earthquakes. "As long as I can remember going to school, we've always had to do earthquake drills," said Wharton sophomore Ella Kim, whose house in Los Angeles suffered only minor damage. "We learn how to cover our spines and crawl under the desk. "You're conditioned to do those things, but when?everything starts shaking, you don't really think about things like that -- you just run," she said. Schwartz echoed her sentiments, adding that when an actual earthquake occurs no one is really prepared. "As soon as you can realize what's going on, you try to get under a doorway," he said. "You hold on tightly to the sides of the door frame and you pray real hard that nothing drops on you. "It's a very scary few seconds," Schwartz added. But Schwartz said his family still tries to prepare by keeping emergency earthquake kits in the house and in each of the cars. The kits contain dry food, blankets, bottled water, first-aid kits, batteries and a radio. The last big earthquake to hit California occurred June 28, 1992. The Landers quake, east of Los Angeles, measured 7.5 on the Richter scale.Kratter named SCUE chair at elections By RANDI FEIGENBAUM Daily Pennsylvanian Staff Writer The Student Committee on Undergraduate Education elected its newest six member steering committee last night, outgoing chairperson Jonathan Pitt said. Engineering and Wharton junior Matthew Kratter was elected chairperson of the group and College junior Eric Stock was selected vice chairperson. "With the new president and the new administration coming to Penn, we hope to fill their needs for student input with regard to undergraduate education," Kratter said. Continuing current SCUE projects and beginning new ones are atop Kratter's list of priorities, he said. The University's calender and reading day schedule, inter-school minors, a proposal for rhetoric classes and Speaking Across the University are among the programs the new SCUE board hopes to focus on. He added that the group is also planning to develop a new University publication entitled The Practical Professor to discuss the "role and responsibility of the faculty." A 1995 White Paper on undergraduate education is also on Kratter's agenda. Stock said he wanted to better connect SCUE with the general student body. "I'm looking forward to making students more familiar with our role on campus," he said. "I want to make ourselves more available to student input and complaints." College junior Carolyn Choi was elected to fill the position of secretary and will become the group's first secretary since its founding. SCUE's 28 general members, along with the previous steering committee, voted in last night's election. Pitt reflected on his term as SCUE chairperson by reflecting on the issues SCUE tackled during his term, including the College General Requirement and the University's calendar. "I think we had a phenomenal year," he said. "I couldn't be more happy with the results." Pitt added that he had confidence in the newly elected steering committee. "I think the membership of SCUE wisely selected six individuals who will work together well," he said. "They are intelligent, articulate, knowledgeable, and committed to SCUE." Also elected last night were College sophomore Beth Tritter, a DP beat reporter, as treasurer, and Steering Members at Large Sharna Goldseker, a College sophomore, and Eugene Huang, an Engineering and Wharton freshman.