University of South Carolina Libraries
Carolina News Bush rallies in Greenville by Ron Hutcheson College Press Exchange Grebmue—Texas Gov. Gtfoige W. Bush portrays himself as a candidate who reaches out to minority voters, but he was the featured speaker V&dnesday at a Christian school that prohibits in terracial dating. Bush's visit to Bob Jones Universi ty here underscored the lingering com plications of racial politics in the South, a vital region far Republicans in national elections. In gcang to the school, the Re publican presidential hopeful reached out to Southern conservatives at the pos sible risk of alienating moderates, in dependents and voters of color in oth er parts of the country. ~ The visit was viewed as politics as usual in South Carolina, where racial tensions are focused on the Confeder ate battle flag that flies over the state capitol. Even the NAACP took a pass when given the chance to comment on the Texas governor’s appearance at the school. At a news conference after his speech, Bush said he opposes the ban on interracial dating but said he sees no conflict between his visit and his in clusive campSjign message. Bush often » and ethnic by their different languages. Some segregationists have interpreted the sto ry as a warning against mixing races. It was unclear if the prohibition ap plies only to blacks and whites — and not to Hispanics or Asians, for example — and school officials did not return phone calls seeking clarification. Interracial or cross-cultural dating and marriage is becoming more and more widespread in the United States, par ticularly in places with diverse popula tions such as California, Texas, Florida and New York. Census fipres from 1993, the latest available, show that 5.6 percent of married couples in the Unit ed States identify themselves as inter racial, up from 4 percent in 1990. „ In 1998, school officials threatened to arrest a gay alumnus for trespassing if he came on the grounds, prompting a demonstration by gay rights activists. The university’s mission statement declares that the rules guiding student life flow from a literal interpretation of the Bible — “whatever the Bible says is so,” The school’s goal is to produce graduates who art “Scripturally disci plined; others-serving; Gsd-loving; Chnst-proclaiming; and focused above.” Despite its sometimes controversial poli cies, the university is familiar turf to Re publican presidential candidates. At least two of Bush’s rivals, publisher Steve Forbes and radio commentator Alan Keyes, are expected to visit the cam pus and its 5,000 students before South Carolina’s Feb. 19 primary. Keyes is | African-American. ' “Republicans and Democrats have been going to that campus for years,” said for mer.Gov. David Beasley, a Bush sup porter. “They’re good folks, they’re good people, and they have strong views ~ that they don’t play politics with. They’re not trying to impose that view ' on any of the candidates running for of fice,”' A spokesman for Bush’s chief rival Sen. John McCain of Arizona, declined to say whether McCain would accept an . invitation to the campus. “Sat McCain does not support that pol icy or that viewpoint,” spokesman John Wfciver said of the interracial dating baa i ■ a ■- ___________1 »'■' ..—■■■'■ .-I Fitness Center • Computer • Fax and Modem Station Linked to Campus Study Hail • Library • Lounge Area Catering to Students j_ Currently leasing for the Fall Semester ATTENTION UNDERGRADUATE AND GRADUATE STUDENTS WORLDWIDE ENTER.COM PURSUE JOB AND INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES THAT SPAN THE GLOBE Campus ant Center.com The world's largest campus job fair ■ i- ' ■ ■ ? S.C. colleges on the road to more funding by Jennifer Holland Associated Press South Carolina’s colleges and uni versities hope lawmakers accept a new system that rates requests for campus con struction or repair projects. The state’s Higher Education Com mission approved the first project scores Thursday, which are meant to help law makers decide which projects to fund this year. A five-member committee of state business and education leaden scored the projects based on the type of construc tion, how well projects met the school’s long-term goals and building needs iden tified in a 1994 study. The process stems from a request last frill by House Ways and Means Commit tee member Thomas Keegan, who wanted the commission to prioritize the schools’ projects before they were sub mitted to the Legislature. It would be up to lawmakers to de cide how to use the scoresio distribute funds, unless the Legislature is consider ing a bond bill, said John Smalls, direc tor of finances and facilities for the com mission. State law requires that the commis sion rank projects with the greatest need when the Legislature considers a bond bill. The scoring systeni was developed as a more objective way to determine which projects should be funded. Commission staff used to tour campuses to jucfee which projects to recommend to the Legislature, but “because it was so subjective, we felt we needed something,” Smalls said. Commission member Lawrence Gres sette objected to new scores Thursday, saying “we’re establishing a dangerous precedent.” Some universities are concerned the scores create one more variable in state funding and could overlook schools’ in dividual needs. Scott Ludlow, chief financial officer at Clemson University, said the state’s col leges are still adjusting to the 3-year-old performance funding system, which us es 37 criteria—from teacher and research funding to student SAT scores and gradu ation rates—to determine state funding. “I want to recognize the difficult situation (the commission is) in, but I want to recognize the frustrations of the uni versities when they see things shifting,” Voters from page A1 registered to vote 30 days before. There are several ways to register to vote: One can register at the DMV, go to the Richland County Voter Registration Office on the comer of Harden and Hamp ton streets (2020 Hampton St.) or mail in a voter registration form to PO Box 192, Columbia, SC 29202. Students who consider Columbia their permanent address (or live in Columbia the majority of the year) can register in Richland County, but students who have permanent addresses out of town can call _ their home county voter registration office and register an absentee ballot. Registering an absentee ballot is just like voting; one can pick candidates and send the ballot to the home county. Absentee ballots must be received three days before the election. Also, par ents can call in to their local voter reg istration office and arrange for their chil dren to vote. The number of absentee ballots has increased over the years, as numerous reasons for casting an absentee ballot have increased. The long list of reasons in cluded being a college student away from home, a person spending time out of the country or anybody over 65. If you are not sure about voting or where to vote, you can do what is called “fail safe” voting the day of the election at the Richland County Voter Registra tion Office. McCain from page A1 care of our obligations in good times,” McCain said. McCain also talked about his signature issue, campaign fi nance reform. He said the Clinton administration “debased the institutions of government” in the 1996 campaign finance scan dals. President Clinton “treated [the Lincoln Bedroom] like a Motel 6,” McCain said, referring to allegations that the pres ident allowed donors to his re-election campaign to sleep in the Lincoln Bedroom, usually reserved for guests of honor. McCain said Bush defends the current system. “You can’t defend this system,” he said. “It’s indefensi ble.” McCain cited his experience as a reason he was ready to take over the presidency. McCain has specialized in foreign policy during his tenure in Congress and served in the military before being elected. “I’m fully prepared to take over as commander-in-chief right now,” he said. McCain promised to tell Americans the truth, if elected. “I will always act on principle, and you will always hear the truth from me, no matter what,” he said. McCain also showed some of his trademark humor at the rally. He talked about Bruce Babbit, Barry Goldwater, and Mo Udall, all failed presidential candidates from Arizona. “Arizona may be the only state in America where moth ers don’t tell their children they can grow up to be president,” McCain joked. He also talked about selling the movie rights to his best seller, “Faith of My Fathers,” which covers the military ser vice of his grandfather, father, and himself. He said there was some dispute over who should play McCain in the movie. “I want Tom Cruise. My kids want Danny Devito,” he said. McCain also joked about the establishment’s dislike for him, referring to Harry Truman’s statement that if somebody wants a friend in Washington, they should buy a dog. “That’s certainly true in my case,” he quipped. Ludlow said The scoring process for building pro jects will work if it “strongly considers the individual institutional matters,” said Robert Gallager, vice president of finance for the Medical University of South Car olina. Fair from page A1 ‘ organization, because if they can show on a resume that in college they could work with many different types of peo ple, an employer will appreciate them more,” Wilson said. Wilson also said that the NAACP wasn’t limited to African-American mem bers and welcomed anybody to come to their meetings. Students who would like more infor mation about student groups on campu^ are encouraged to stop by the Campus Ac tivities Center, located in the Russell House basement. The Center has information on all registered groups and will help students get involved on campus. Senate from page A1 Goldbeig said that since the three pro grams are so similar, the College of Phar macy feels justified in asking for equal “al location of funding to go to pharmacy oiganizations, as they [the Budget Com-— mittee] see best fit, enabling students to^ fulfill their professional pursuits.” STUDENT SENATE Currently, tour ot the IU existing phar macy organizations get funding. These or ganizations work within the community, sponsoring events like Operation Immu nization, a flu-vaccination campaign. “I believe the compromise presented by Mr.Wxxly Carothers, which states that pharmacy students receive 38 percent of the fees for the last two years, is equitable and fair,” Sadik said 41 The senate will further debate the issue Wednesday. Get it 3 times a week! | ^'Gam crock rind the best Price on New and Pre-Owned Hondas www.rickhendrickhonda.com HONDA 791-5660 1650 Airport Boulevard • West Columbia, SC 29171 Propecia 1 (finasteride) Ask your doctor about this pill } from Merck. For more information, call * 1-888-MERCK-74. 5 2 • 1 5 www.propecia.com EfUjHUHflHHH i There is a printing error in the 1999-2000 University Of South Carolina Student Basketball Ticket Information Book. The distribution dates for the Mississippi State and Alabama games are NOT Feb. 8 and 9. The NEW DISTRIBUTION DATES are I, Monday, Feb. 7 and Tuesday, Feb. 8. j The distribution dates for the LSU and Georgia games are NOT Feb. 15 and 16. The NEW DISTRIBUTION DATES are Monday, Feb. 14 and Tuesday, Feb. 15. Lets have a big Turnout of Student Basketball FANS for the last Four Home Games of The Season. Distribution for the games will be in ROOM 205 Russell House from 9:00am - 4:00pm. • Students are not guaranteed a student ticket to each game, only the right to a ticket as long as student tickets are available. • Remember, the good seats go early, so get your ticket as soon as you can. Handicapped or disabled students can?get assistance «