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The University of South Carolina Vol 98, No. 89 • Since 1908 --- FRIDAY, APRIL 15, 2005 - Newton allegedly punches Williams • SG president files, withdraws simple assault charge against USC receiver, opts for ;mediation-type deal’ By JONATHAN HILLYARD SPORTS EDITOR Student Government President Justin Williams and USC receiver Syvelle cwiuii were invuivcu 111 a scuffle at the Masonic Temple on Gervais Street early Saturday morning. Williams filed a simple assault charge against Newton, but decided Wednesday to drop the charge, according to the warrant division of the Columbia Municipal Court. Williams, a third-year public relations student, filed an incident report with Columbia police officer S.E. Thomas at 1:30 a.m. Saturday. The report said Williams claimed he “attempted to calm down several other people who were talking,” and that Newton “punched him in the left side of his face.” According to the same report, Williams toid police that as he was struck, Newton said, “Yeah bitch, that’s how we get down,” and immediately left the scene. Williams said he wasn’t talking to 1 he Gamecock, but he told 1 he Associated Press he “found a better solution for handling that, more of a mediation-type deal.” The report said Williams claimed to have been sprayed with pepper spray by an unknown subject. Williams suffered no visible injuries, but the report did say that NEWTON WILLIAMS he had complained of non-visible injury. Newton, a sophomore from Marlboro County, is a two-year letterman on the USC football team and played quarterback last season. He was moved to receiver for um ycai 5 apiiug pidcucc uiiuci coach Steve Spurrier. Spurrier told the AP that Newton will take part in Saturday’s Garnet and Black spring football game. “We’re going to give him a little benefit right now,” Spurrier said. “But if he’s at these scenes of scuffles and brawls too many times, then he won’t play for us.” Newton was unavailable for comment. The incident report identified Newton as “starting receiver.” Columbia Police Department public information officer Skot Garrick said he didn’t know why that distinction was made. On Tuesday, Newton, along with former quarterback Dondrial Pinkins, applied for the state’s pretrial intervention program in response to petit larceny charges. The players confessed to taking action photographs rrom the locker room area or Williams-Brice Stadium, according to arrest warrants. Williams is in his second month as SG president. He was inaugurated March 3. Comments on this story? E-mail gamecocknems@gwm.sc.edu Sodexho earns award for eco-friendly food • But vegetarians say cafeterias still lack menu options By SYDNEY SMITH STAFF WRITER Sodexho, USC’s campus food provider, was awarded the 2005 Keeper of the Vision Award for a Sustainable Future from Food Alliance, the nation’s leading certification organization for sustainable products. Sustainable products, food produced in environmentally friendly and socially responsible ways, must meet Food Alliance’s strict requirements, including reduction of pesticide use, conservation of natural resources, not using hormones and protection of safe working conditions, according to the Food Alliance Web site. Sodexho’s use of fruits, vegetables, sustainable products and locally grown products helped the national company earn the award. Sodexho includes sustainable products in about 12 campuses nationwide, with plans to include more universities in the future. While USC’s dining does not offer sustainable products, locally grown produce from the State Farmers Market is available. But despite Sodexho’s attempts to provide more natural meal options through the incorporation of locally grown produce and sustainable products, some vegetarian students do not think Dining Services is going far enough in meeting their needs. First-year English student Kat Heavner decided to become a vegetarian this past Thanksgiving for several reasons, including health and animal rights, she said. Heavner said she has not had much luck finding meals at USC dining that fit her diet, and that mealtime choices are cheese pizza, pasta, salad and grilled cheese, which gets old. “I’m not picky about what kind of cheese I eat, but I know a lot of vegetarians that won’t eat most kinds of cheese. It’s cheaper to use animal fat and stomach lining to harden cheese than vegetable oils, so most cheese has animal product in it,” Heavner said. “Even the veggie entrde in the GMP has cheese in it most days. Also, they usually just make one entree a day, so I sometimes have to eat the same thing for lunch and dinner.” In response to the growing requests for more options for vegetarian eating, Sodexho spokeswoman Bonnie Gordon said the company would like for students to voice their interests by submitting recipes. Filling out comment cards, available in dining facilities, as well attending Food Committee meetings, which are advertised around campus, are easy options for students to get involved in campus food options, Gordon said. ♦ SODEXHO, page 4 U.S. marshals apprehend more than 10,000 fugitives By MARK SHERMAN THE ASSOCIATED PRESS WASHINGTON — More than 10,000 fugitives, many wanted for violent crimes, were rounded up over the past week in a coordinated nationwide effort led by U.S. marshals, law enforcement officials announced Thursday. Officers from 960 federal, state and local law enforcement agencies took part in the search, which coincided with Crime Victims Rights Week. The dragnet caught 10,340 people, some of whom had two or more outstanding arrest warrants. More than 130 of those arrested were wanted for murder, another 550 were sought on rape or sexual assault charges, and more than 600 had outstanding arrest warrants for armed robbery, officials said. 4 > Among those captured were 150 gang members and 100 unregistered sex offenders, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales said at a news conference announcing the results of “Operation Falcon.” Among those arrested was Eddie Kelly, 24, wanted by Dallas police for allegedly shooting a man five times after leaving a drug house on Feb. 13, and Marcel Baldwin, 21, of Atlanta, who was found beneath a trap door in his kitchen. He was wanted on charges of assault and sexual offense against a child. Gonzales said more than 70 percent of those arrested had prior arrests for violent crimes. “We know from history — and from the bitter experiences of far too many ♦ FUGITIVES, pag« 4 PHOTOS BY NICK ESARES & JON TURNER/THE GAMECOCK "Brother" John Duncan, top, a visiting preacher from Georgia, harangued students outside Preston College and the Russell House, Thursday afternoon. Anna-Marie Prete, left, a third-year print journalism student, sits in silent protest. RHA Senate mulls joint SG meetings By JESSICA CROSS FOR THE GAMECOCK A controversial amendment to the Residence Hall Association’s constitution that would permit the RHA Senate to consider holding joint sessions with Student Government’s Senate was among the topics of Tuesday’s RHA meeting. The senators also discussed the possibility of a trial membership to an online music provider for USC. The joint-sessions amendment was proposed by Bates House President Allen Klump, a first-year political science student. He said the goal of the amendment was to incorporate communication between RHA and SG. “I believe that joint session’s purpose is to show consensus among the student body on certain important issues as well as strength in the working relationship between RHA and Student Government,” Klump said. RHA President Adam Hark, a fourth-year history student, opposed the amendment. There is no real danger in the legislation, Hark said, because the proposal did not pass. Although Hark said he does not believe it will pass, he admitted that it was a step toward joint sessions of RHA and SG. While the proposal was not accepted, Patrick Walsh did make a motion to set the issue to the side to be dealt with later. “I was ultimately against it because of the way the amendment was written,” Walsh said. He said he is in favor of the concept of joint sessions and knows of successful joint sessions at other major schools like the University of Tennessee. Maxcy Sen. Jonathan Ross brought up the possibility of USC’s trial membership to an online music provider. If passed, the proposal would have given USC residents a one-year trial membership to ♦ RHA, page 4 IN THIS ISSUE ♦ THE MIX Pictures worth a thousand words USC Advanced Photography Two class gives 11 art students a chance to share their work in an exhibit titled, “Trace, Remnant, Vestige,” showcasing digital photography and traditional silver prints. The exhibit opens at 6 p.m. tonight at the Bus Stop Gallery with a reception. > www.dailygamecock.com - PREACHERS DENOUNCE STUDENTS • Unauthorized event sparks campus criticism By JON TURNER \rrurc CHITAD Several fundamentalist Christians visited USC on Thursday afternoon, railing against gays, Catholics, sex, alcohol, cigarettes and “atheist | university professors.” Before long, they had built a congregation of about 50 students, informing them “that burning fire down in your bosom is sin.” “Brother” John Duncan initially addressed students from the Greene Street sidewalk, near Preston College. When USC police asked him to leave, he stepped into the street, off USC property. Duncan said he was a regular preacher at the University of Georgia, where “they have freedom of speech.” Police eventually moved him to the Russell House Patio. “OK, everyone, I’m going to the free-speech area, now,” he announced, to cheers. According ro vjoc. policy ror visiting speakers, “the campus is open to free discussion” amid “conditions consistent with the scholarly nature of an academic community.” However, USC’s discrimination policy expressly forbids racial harassment that “creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive” environment. Second-year print journalism student Charlotte Taylor said Duncan began harassing her on the street. “He just started screaming at us and told us the pope is going to hell, and he blasphemed the Madonna, which is really offensive,” she said. Several students said they were horrified when he declared the pope was burning in hell. Matt Callis, associate pastor at the Shack, said he was dismayed by the scene. “I don’t know what he represents, but that’s definitely not Christianity,” he said. Callis said he hoped USC students ♦ PREACHER, page 4 CATCHER ON THE FLY NICK ESARES/THE GAMECOCK Receiver Sidney Rice, foreground, goes up for a catch as safety Ko Simpson trails behind. SEE PAGE 10 FOR MORE TODAY HIGH: 65 LOW; 39 ___ INDEX Comics & Crossword..9 Classifieds.12 Horoscopes.9 Letters to the Editor..6 Online Poll..6 Police Report..2