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4 THE GAMECOCK ♦ Friday, August 30, 2002 SOUND OFF ONLINE POLL Create message boards at Are you going to the game tomorrow? WWW.dailygamecock.com or Yes, I bought my tickets last year 74% send letters to the editor to No, I plan to be passed out 17% gamecockviewpoints@hotmail.com We have football at this school? 9% IN OUR OPINION Pill should * • be covered George Washington University joined a number of other colleges this week in announcing it will provide prescription contraception coverage in its student health-care plan. But USC and South Carolina are again behind in a movement that deserves the university’s and the state’s attention. Students at GWU petitioned for preventative contraception coverage, and the university responded. Similar circumstances caused the University of Students at GWU petitioned for preventative contraception coverage, and the university responded. Virginia, the University of Illinois, New York University and the University of Delaware to also add contraceptive coverage to their plans. An informal study by Planned Parenthood found that KS nprrpnt nf 100 mainr rnllppps and universities had student health plans that covered prescription drugs, but excluded birth-control pills. And 17 states have contraceptive equity laws; South Carolina isn’t one of them. Birth control is a basic health-care right for women. And birth-control pills are used, too, to treat medical conditions, such as acne and premenstrual syndrome. So why is South Carolina avoiding this? Congress has voted for the past four years to include birth control in health plans covering government workers and their dependants. While President Bush has taken steps to exclude the coverage, it’s clear that women nationwide are demanding equal coverage. Here’s another opportunity for the state and the university to be a leader. But health policies won’t change unless citizens - and students - ask. Gamecock Quotables “I don’t have a question about Corey Jenkins any longer on his ability to pass. I've never seen a quarterback improve as much from last year at the end of the season to this year.” LOU HOLTZ use HEAD FOOTBALL COACH, ON DEVELOPMENT OF STARTING QUARTERBACK “I am proud and appreciative of the way this group came together to improve the lighting situation of the area.” ERNEST ELUS DIRECTOR OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND SAFETY, ON LIGHTING ON GREENE STREET “We encourage faculty to use the Russell House Bookstore because a certain percentage of profits comes back as scholarships.” PROVOST, ON WHY TO SHOP AT THE RUSSELL HOUSE BOOKSTORE “It was definitely an experience, one I won’t soon forget, but I definitely wouldn’t live there again if you paid me.” BRUCE STOY SECOND-YEAR STUDENT, ON LIVING IN THE TOWERS GAMECOCK CORRECTIONS If you see an error in today’s paper, we want to know. E-mail us at gamecockviewpoints@hotmail.com. ABOUT THE GAMECOCK Mary Hartney Editor in Chief Adam Beam News Editor Emma Ritch Asst. News Editor Chris Foy Viewpoints Editor Erin O'Neal Asst. Viewpoints Editor Justin Bajan, Charles Tomlinson The Mix Editors Kyle Almond Sports Editor Matt Rothenberg Asst. Sports Editor Candi Haughlum Photo Editor Katie Smith Head Designer Page Designers Ann Marie Miani, David Stagg Jill Martin Copy Desk Chief Copy Editors Crystal Boyles, Karen Vaught Bessam Khadhraoui Online Editor Kiran Shah Community Affairs CONTACT INFORMATION Offices on third floor of the Russell House. Editor in Chief: gamecockeditor@hotmail.com News Desk: gamecockudesk@hotmail.com Viewpoints: gamecockviewpoints@hotmail.com The Mix: gamecockmixeditor@hotmail.com Sports: gamecocksports@hotmail.com Online: www.dailygamecock.com Newsroom: 777-7726 STUDENT MEDIA Erik Collins Faculty Adviser Ellen Parsons Director of Student Media Susan King Creative Director Carolyn Griffin Business Manager Sarah Scarborough Advertising Manager Sherry F. Holmes Classified Manager Creative Services Derek Goode, Earl Jones, Kimberly Myles Melanie Roberts Advertising Staff Adam Bourgoin, Justin Chappell, Amanda Ingram, Bianca Knowles, Denise Levereaux, Jacqueline Rice, Stacey Todd TO PLACE AN AD The Gamecock 1400 Greene Street Columbia, S.C. 29208 Advertising: 777-3888 Classified: 777-1184 Fax: 777-6482*^ The Gamecock is the student newspaper of the University of South Carolina and is published Monday, Wednesday and Friday during the fall and spring semesters and nine times during the summer with the exception of university holidays and exam periods. Opinions expressed in The Gamecock are those of the editors or author and not those of the University of South Carolina. The Board of Student Publications and Communications is the publisher of The Gamecock. The Department of Student Media is the newspaper's parent organization. The Gamecock is supported in part by student activities fees. One free copy per reader. Additional copies may be purchased for one dollar each from the Department of Student Media. i .L Tte&j!. CARTOON COURTESY OF KRT CAMPUS Readjusting to college life STEPHANIE THREET GAMECOCKVIEWPOINTS@HOTMAIL.COM Transfer student still getting used to college Last night, I had that dream again. I was sleeping under the window overlooking my family’s pool with the air conditioner set at a low 60-something and with Mommy and Daddy across the hall and Trevor, my brother, right next door. I was back in North Augusta fast asleep, safe and sound at home. But I woke up in a pool of my own sweat, only to find that I was 60 minutes away from home, with a broken air condi tioner (set at about 80 and still frozen over) and a broken heart, with only few things familiar enough to remind me of home. I thought getting used to col lege would be hard enough, even when I began a year ago at the University of South Carolina Aiken. I was able to live at home for two semesters after high school graduation and get used to college without the “college life.” So, after a year at home, it was time for me to move out. I knew it, and Mom and Dad knew it. I’ve been looking forward to being a Gamecock since I got the ticket admitting me. Disguised as an acceptance letter, I saw it as a way to move away and prove myself to everyone, to show my family and the greatest universi ty in the world what I was made of. So far, the University of South Carolina has got me beat, but as soon as I get my schedule under control, I’ll catch up. It’s been a little over a week since I’ve moved into the University Commons, and I’ve had a blast. I haven’t had my books long enough to see much past the covers, but the studying is coming along quite well. Luckily, the schoolwork and the crazy schedule have kept me busy enough to sleep well at night before the tears come. And fortunately I’ve got my posters, pictures and pillows here to keep my mind off missing home too much. But some nights it just doesn’t work; sometimes after my roommates are all sound asleep, I think of home and cry myself to sleep, wishing Mommy could tuck me in. But I have to accept that this is home, and this is the new Stephanie. University Commons is where I’m supposed to be. Don’t cry for me yet! There’s a happy ending to this story. Kevin, the maintenance guy, fixed our air conditioner, and I’m going to see Mommy for Labor Day. I’ve started to make friends in classes, and our neighbors are the greatest anyone could ask for. My cousin and best friend, Jennifer, is my roommate, so a little part of home is in the next room. After being a part of the Carolina Classics since April, I’ve finally gotten to know every one and finally fallen in love with the idea of being a Classic. Though I’ve been told all my life that my blood runs orange and I was destined to be a Rocky Topper, I’m a Gamecock, and there’s nowhere else for me. After working on the banners for the first home game, I’ve re alized college football is coming soon. Tomorrow, when the Gamecocks trot onto the field in front of a packed Williams-Brice Stadium full of screaming fans, I will be there wearing khaki pants and a little black top. I’ll be with the rest of the smil ing Carolina Classics, proud to cheer the garnet and black to an other amazing season. GO COCKS! Threet is a second-year public relations student. IN YOUR OPINION Aimona wouia lose to Little League Kyle Almond is crazy; Little League is as pure as baseball gets. These kids aren't playing for money or for fame; they're play ing because they love the game and because they have a chance to do what 99.9 percent of everyone in the world will not be able to do: win a world title. In addition to this, Almond says he could strike out “Bobby Braces” with his eyes closed. I hate to tell you, kid, but these kids would take you yard, and I mean they would put it way out, as in 300-foot homers. Also, not only could you not strike them out, there’s no way in hell you’d be able to hit a pitch from one of these kids. These kids throw 75 mph from 40 feet away; thats equiv alent to a 98-mph major league fastball. So, I’m sorry, but not only could you not strike them out, you would be struck out by ev ery single one of those pitchers. In the future, it would be nice if you would do some re search on your topic and not just write about whatever pops into that tiny little head of yours. JASON HENNESSY SECOND-YEAR EXERCISE SCIENCE STUDENT SG decision helps preserve Senate Deciding to allow the Criminal Justice senators to re tain their seats allowed the at torney general, Brook Bristow, to make the best possible deci sion. A If the two senators from the former College of Criminal Justice had been forced to give up their seats, then Student Government would have retroactively disenfranchised more than 600 students who once were in the College of Criminal Justice. These students did not get to vote in the College of Liberal Arts election; thus, none of the Liberal Arts senators represent them. These two senators can represent the interests of the newest additions to the College of Liberal Arts as their con stituency. Although they are in the College of Liberal Arts now, they must be considered Criminal Justice senators un til the next election is held be cause only then will the rough ly 600 students actually get to vote for their representatives. Furthermore, given the growth of the College of Liberal Arts, Student Government ought to amend its constitution to allow for more senators from Liberal Arts so that the stu dents in USC’s largest college have power roughly in propor tion to their numbers. BEN EDWARDS T!llltl)-YEAR LIBERAL ARTS STUDENT Ticket prices upset Gamecock faithful Last year, our parents’ week end trip was cancelled in the wake of the horrific events of Sept. 11. This year however, our plans have been sidelined by USC itself. The parents’ weekend plans this year do not include the provision for an exti a football ticket for every $75 package pur chased. For our family, this means that my university stu dent’s three siblings cannot at tend. I might have seen the reason ing if Carolina was playing a big football school — but Temple? For those of us who do not have season tickets—and cannot afford them at scalpers’ prices — this was our only way to get to a game to cheer them on. An added benefit for USC, I thought, was the enthusiam my other three sons had shown for Carolina as a possible college pick for the fu ture. I guess the Gamecocks have reached the point where they don’t need the support of the lit tle people. MAURA HAGARfY BANNON ISLE OK PALMS. S.O Submission Policy Letters to the editor should be less than 300 words and include name, phone number, professional title or year and major, if a student. E-mail letters to gamecockviewpoints@hotmail.com. Letters will be edited. Anonymous letters will not be published. Call the newsroom at 777-7726 for more information. Ending the talk about summer BROOK BRISTOW GAMECOCKVIEWPOINTS@HOTMAIL.COM Let’s move on and get the school year rolling. Maybe it’s just me, but I think the phrase, “How was your sum mer?” is getting more worn out than an ‘N Sync record at a fourth grade girl sleepover. Here we are in almost the third week of school, and this question is still coming up all over campus more frequently than Gamecock Cable runs “Braveheart.” Just as we have a drop/add day, we need to drop the how-was-your summer-question day. Let’s face it, if someone actually cared how your summer was, they would have known because you would have talked to them during the summer. So here is my summer tale of intrigue and mystery: I went to Guatemala for a month to work. Guatemala is a very third-world country. How third world? Well, there really is no middle class. You have the very rich, and then you have the beg gars and old Enron execs. My month in Guatemala taught me two things. First, English should be the world’s official lan guage. English isn’t just the lan guage of England, Australia, the U.S. and some areas around Clemson; it’s a language of busi ness, a language of passion and the language of Neil Diamond. Second, we as Americans are extremely blessed. Third-world countries have lack of resources, lack of education and lack of jobs. It’s like Mississippi without all the shotguns. wane 1 was out oi tne country, i thirsted. Not just for water, but also for the first day of school — a day where we meet new people, new professors, learn new things and pay the university 10 grand (and then go to the bookstore and pay about the same amount to have something we will never read). Maybe I should’ve been a li brarian. I’m good at stocking books and putting them on the shelf, where they will stay for a whole semester and gather more dust than a Tickle-Me-Elmo or Power Ranger action figure — which are now lo cated in toy chests, locked away in the basements of today’s kids — not to be seen again until they hit their teenage years and decide to auction them off on Ebay as “collector’s items” just to cover money for weed. If I saw a lot of one thing this summer it was kids. And guess what? Every one of them is spoiled more than a three-week old egg salad sandwich from the GMP. I read a survey a year ago that said 80 percent of parents believe their children are more spoiled than they are. Fifty percent of kids do fewer chores than their parents had to do, while 15 percent do more, and I don’t know what is wrong with the remaining 35 per cent of kids, but it’s hard to spell. During July and August, the thrill of my day was picking up my little sister from summer n O >r\ r\ n>V\n»>n T rrr\4- rna hraf C close-up and then battle their mothers out of the parking lot in their custom-made 2002 U.S. Army-issued Humvee Mountain Racer Suburban Assault Vehicles. That was pretty much my sum mer. So here we are back at USC, where the Carolina Girls really are the best in the world, the Ethernet is more unreliable than a World Com accountant, and it is closer to hell than it is to 80 de grees. I hope you had a great summer. Bristow is a fifth-year advertising student.