University of South Carolina Libraries
J Legislation in the South Carolina General Assembly might do away with the HOPE scholarship. Here is how the HOPE scholarship compares with its counterpart, the LIFE scholarship: j j £ A'3'- ‘ *vs-:v- k Amount Requirements HOPE Up to $2,650 3.0 GPA or higher LIFE $5,000 Must meet two of three requirements: 1.3.0 GPA or higher 2. Top 20 percent of class 3.1100 or better on SAT , . Forum CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 of one’s class. Huggins said education is bet ter off than other state-funded programs that have suffered cuts. He said the struggle for ed ucation funding was a fistfight and that other programs, such as Medicaid and juvenile justice, have been murdered. Pitts said this is a result of fis cally irresponsible spending done in the past, particularly the spending of non-recurring mon ey on recurring expenses. Now some decisions must be made about what needs to be cut, which is difficult because “ev erything we’re cutting is impor tant stuff,” Pitts said. Many students at the forum, however, expressed the opinion that education should be at the top of the priority list. They also said an investment in education is an investment in the future of the state and that without prop er educational funding, the state will be unable to attract bright students or keep students in state. “If it weren’t for scholarships and grants, I wouldn’t be here at Columbia College,” said Mintra Arthur, a first-year English and music student. “I can’t afford more loans.” ^m Alternative means of generat ing revenue, such as an increased cigarette or property tax, could help fund education; however, Huggins and Pitts agreed that this revenue would probably go toward Medicaid, not education. Student questions also prompted the representatives to discuss the money spent on salaries for both former USC President John Palms and cur rent President Andrew Sorensen, as well as the newly built Strom Thurmond Fitness and Wellness Center. Students expressed concern because, they said, that money could have gone toward scholarships. Huggins said the potential elim ination of the scholarship is an issue that USC’s Board of Trustees would have to deal with. The proposed cut of the HOPE Scholarship will be debated in the House next week. Jennifer Bolin, a first-year ear ly-childhood-education student at Columbia College, said: “I would have to say scholarships are a way for me to be indepen dent from my parents, and with out them, I surely wouldn’t be able to do that. I already have two loans, and to add another would just be very overwhelming.” Comments on this story?E-mail gamecockudesk@hotmail.com * Ballroom CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 volunteered myself.” The group meets every Sunday for two hours to learn new and re view old dance steps. It averages 12 to 15 members, and many members hope the group will grow. They have participated in many events around campus and be yond, such as a campus-min istries-sponsored swing night, joint dances with the United States Amateur Ballroom Dancers Association and competitions at other universities. Abbie Ferrance, the group’s vice president, said the group fluc tuates from year to year. “We seem to get a group togeth er that’s really wanting to dance at a higher level, they want to do competitions, they want to do ex hibitions, they want to polish,” said Ferrance, a first-year gradu ate student in earth- and environ mental-science management. She said members will then graduate or leave and that the group starts over with beginners. “We’re at one of those points right now — we’ve got a lot of new people,” Ferrance said. Because many members are new to dancing, the club is now mostly social dance. But some of the more advanced members still compete at local and national levels. Andy Wilson, who has been in the club since the fall semester of 2001, and his partner Carrie Bacon, a third-year biology student, will be competing in the National Shag Dance Championships in Myrtle Beach this weekend. The pair prac tice for about an hour a day, but Wilson, a second-year computer science student, said it’s not enough. “We’re competing against peo ple that have been dancing for about 11 years, so we’re at a slight disadvantage,” he said. “We’re feeling confident that we’ll do the best that we’ll have fun, but we don’t expect much.” More than competing, though, most members agree that the club is about having fun. Michelle Lueck, the club’s pres ident, said she’s made some of her best friends in her four years with the club. “The environment is really easygoing,” said Lueck, a fourth year marine-science student. “It’s really fun helping new people. When you see that they finally got the dance moves — the guys, when . I x . they’re actually leading, it makes it all worth it.” Ferrance agreed. “It’s a lot of fun, that’s the biggest thing,” she said. “It’s exercise, it’s good team spirit, but that’s totally beside the point. It’s a lot of fun. ” Comments on this story?E-mail gamecockudesk@hotmail.com -1 I Andy Wilson, a third-year computer science student, dances with Carrie Bacon, a third-year biology student, as Instructor j Tony Rodriguez directs a Gamecock Dance Sport club meeting. The pair will compete In the National Shag Dance Competition In Myrtle Beach this weekend. tjf PHOTO BY TRISHA tgl SHADWELL/THE tm GAMECOCK SunCoirr makes wi reless easy. * WHEN FREE APPEARS ON YOUR PHONE, MAKE ALL YOUR CALLS FOR FREE: * NO LIMITS ON MINUTES. PERIOD. No long distance charges. No roaming charges.' Call anytime to anywhere in America. Ail day. All night. All you want. GET THE SAME BILL EVERY MONTH. Simply pay a $49.95 monthly subscription fee. Voice Activated Dialing •Just say a name or number and the phone dials for you. • Good on any SunCom phone. U Wireless WeCetlc SfinComT SunCom Store Locations Store Hours: M-F 9*7p Weekend Hours: Sat io»<Sp Columbia Columbiana Centre ColumcHana Place Amo Notch Rd Camden Lexington Ft. Jackson Sumter Flee Points (near Parisian) 1230 Bower Pkwy Creekside Plaza Dusty Bend Malbrd Lakes Main Exchange Marketplace 539 Harden St too Columbiana *03-161-7560 803-261-7530 Shopping Center Business Park Building }a7 vvesmark Bled (corner of Harden St Circle 2513 North Broad St 54*3 Sunset Blvd 4110 Moseby St 803-236-8900 and Blossom) 803-261-7570, Richland Mai 803-243-7400 803-261-7550 803-782-0012 8o3-a6i-7$io 803-407-7738 3400 Forest Dr (M-F 92-5:top, (M-Sat ioa-9p, 803-790-2140 Sat loa^p) Sun >5p) (M-Sat ioa-9p, Sun i:30-6p) Exclusivt Authorized Dealsn mobile amir Acotss Multimedia Wireless Etc. JoEte—■ FREE OVERNIGHT DELIVERY 1-877-225-5786 CORPORATE SALES 803-262-7523 MOBILE SALES 803-261-2525 shop on lino www.SunCom.com limited time offer. $35 activation far and minanum lamomh sewice (mramt required. "SunGom UnPtan coverage area depends on irdiekfaal UnPbn Zone. Monthly subscript ion fee includes: all caffs placed and received with in your UnPlan Zone when tne screen on you r phone drtp4ayi~FWLF.*’ ana an additional joo nationwedt anytime mi auto* far call* placed and received whan the semen on your phone does not say "FRF E." Nationwide anytime minutes inexcew of the included 300 mimiWswiff he billed at ]$e a minute Additional nationwide anytime minute package* available Nationwide calling inefadee alt states, except Alaska. **$49 «*•**! price of Nolla ixSodw atperrhase and subject torroifan rebate whilr supples be. Intemaocnallcr^ dertanoe caff* are not included ner arc caffs that remme aawfft cwd et operator assist mar tocorapfate. SerCom reseruesthe edit to terminate your agreement ifreoredraa 50!% of year mmuten a* not on the SunGom Network. SenCem rewke waiUbk for residwtts of specified ZIP oxfcs only. 0#»r fan seth as taw*. utility me, dectoy asaieanor. unwenal service fund. toff, wemiqg and long distance appfa f Free Voice Activated Dialing offer vaW far two months aed requires a $3.00 prt wenth charge for ten mimqucrt months. Voice Activated Diafasg reepiro tcneectxn to a toMre* nueaber and air tPm » bdkd for phonx book set-up attarr'ted caffs and corrected c*tb when calling bom ouaidk of lleflai* Zone. See (tore*dM detads. OSenCom aoo). 1 * Inventory Reduction Sale! GetNevTX Shades For ) Spring Break/ Maui Jim Ray-Ban Serengeti Oakley Hobie Bolle’ Anarchy Costa Del Mar Gargoyle Vuarnet Palmetto Tree Croakies® I ill 111—11 I III p ‘$99 arts* H29-~ Roundly ^ j OrSaw IroimiuMtiMaiiM Awys dlonlAte* hfcesys convenient. hhoeys hssst^froe. ^^IfeiSh^liSkt Visit www.greyhoimd.com or cell 1-800-231-2222 GREYHOUND