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The University of South Carolina Vol 98, No. 90 % Since 1908 ---MONDAY, APRIL 18, 2005 * SOME GREEKS SAY POSTERS ‘RACIST’ • Russell House policies anger some students ^By TAYLOR SMITH STAFF WRITER Signs placed on an entryway of the Russell House are leading some black fraternity members to proclaim the university hub “racist.” The signs, which appeared last week, say the building is “for the enjoyment of members of the university community,” but prohibit students from carrying a variety'of objects into the building — including bikes, pets, bats, paddles and canes — and stipulates guests must be accompanied by someone affiliated with USC. Stephen Vanterpool, a fifth-year computer science student, said the ^ signs are part of an initiative to * keep blacks (particularly black fraternities) out of the Russell House. “I see the point of those signs,” said Vanterpool, a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. “I thought it was sad how they tried to sneak it in there when it is clear what the intent of that sign is.” Vanterpool said the signs are inherently racist because of the prohibition of canes, which are primarily carried by members of black fraternities. Typically associated with elderly use, he said Kappas were the only people who carry canes around campus. Because they were not implicated in the April 7 brawl, Vanterpool said the rule was made “just because they are black.” University officials weren’t sure who ordered the signs, with Student Life claiming it was the President’s office and vice versa. Bobby Gist, executive assistant to the president for Equal Opportunity Programs, said he talked Student Life Director Jerry Brewer about the need to abolish the use of canes around campus, but did not authorize the signs. “I told him I was wondering why students were even carrying around paddles and canes,” Gist said. “The only people who carry canes are people who should be in shows.” Gist said he met with USC President Andrew Sorensen after the brawl to discuss safety measures to ensure the Russell House stayed student-friendly and not a “night-club or pavilion.” He said there was nothing racist about the measures discussed or the items apparently prohibited by the signs. “1 don’t see anything racist about that,” Gist said. “I am an ♦ SIGNS, page 5 ^Football players arrested for possessing marijuana By STEPHEN FASTENAU ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR A sunny Saturday afternoon for the USC football program turned cloudy Saturday night. Redshirt sophomore defensive back Ty Erving and sophomore linebacker Josh Johnson were arrested for possession of marijuana. According to police reports, a Columbia police officer spotted Erving and Johnson in a parked car smoking what appeared to be a cigarette. Upon approaching the ^vehicle, the officer took both into ^custody, along with Justin Johnson, after noticing a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. Assistant Sports Information Director Michelle Schmitt said Sunday night the athletics department had not yet received a copy of the incident report. Schmitt said Athletics Director Mike McGee would issue a statement after reviewing the incident report, likely Monday. The athletics department will then decide whether action will be taken. Erving, a Batesburg native, returned to the team in January after having left midseason of the 2004-05 campaign with former coach Lou Holtz. Johnson, from Gibsonton, Fla., returned after •leaving in 2003 and not playing }ast season. A true freshman in 2003, Johnson was redshirted. Erving was also redshirted in 2003 following an auto accident in preseason camp that left him with an injured eye. Thirteen Gamecock football players have been arrested since January. Six players, including wide receiver Syvelle Newton and former quarterback Dondrial Pinkins, were arrested in January after an investigation into $18,000 worth of missing photographs and computer equipment from Williams-Brice Stadium. Moe Thompson and K.T. Mainord were dismissed from the team after their March arrests for allegedly breaking into East Quad apartments and removing electronic equipment, linens and a small amount of cash on Feb. 23. Reserve wide receiver David Smith, who caught two touchdown passes in October’s JV game, was arrested and suspended indefinitely from the team after allegations he broke into his girlfriend’s apartment and attempted to strangle her. Erving turned heads with his play this spring, most notably with an interception of an Antonio Heffner pass in Saturday’s Garnet and Black Game. Coach Steve Spurrier dismissed running back Demetris Summers from the team after a second failed drug test earlier this spring. Spurrier made clear following past arrests that any player who “embarrasses” the football program will no longer play for the team. ♦ FOOTBALL, page 5 IN THIS ISSUE ♦ THE MIX Ready to rock Summer music festivals such as Bonnaroo, Coachella and Columbia’s 3 Rivers festival offer fans a change of pace from the normal single-band concert. Page 7 "f """" ^ ♦ SPORTS New era kicks off USC coach Steve Spurrier and the Gamecock football team gave fans a preview of what’s to come when fall rolls around at the Garnet and Black Game on Saturday. Page 12 » 1 -- KATIE KIRKLAND/THE GAMECOCK i Eric Hyman, left, is named athletics director by USC President Andrew Sorensen on the Horseshoe on Saturday. Hyman will begin July 1. USC names athletics director • Eric Hyman selected to succeed current AD Mike McGee by USC President Andrew Sorensen By STEPHEN FASTENAU ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR Eric Hyman will become USC’s next athletics director July 1, USC President Andrew Sorensen announced Saturday. Hyman will replace Mike McGee, who will step down J une 30. The announcement, made to a small group of administrators and media representatives on the Horseshoe, came just half an hour before the Garnet and Black Game, which Sorensen and Hyman watched from the sideline. The hiring was a result of an extensive search conducted by Sorensen after McGee’s Jan. 18 decision to step down. Sorensen began with a list of about three dozen candidates, which he eventually narrowed to six before choosing Hyman. “He is a man of remarkable integrity and judgment, a role model for student-athletes and a skilled administrator,” Sorensen said. Hyman’s contract will pay him $375,000 during the next five years, with an opportunity for a performance-based bonus of up to $75,000 per year. Included in the deal is a $150,000 relocation loan, which will be waived at $30,000 per year for each year Hyman remains athletics director. After eight years at Texas Christian University, Hyman returns to South Carolina, where HYMAN at TCU ♦ Texas Christian University’s athletics director for 8 years ♦ Instrumental in orchestrating TCU’s invitation to join Conference USA ♦ 29 conference titles at TCU, where student-athletes achieved a higher graduation ’ rate than the overall student average ♦ 2003-04 Street & Smith’s SportsBusiness Journal National Athletics Director of the Year ♦ Negotiated innovative marketing partnership for TCU athletics with ESPN Regional, the most extensive agreement of its kind between ESPN and a university I SOURCE: WWW.SC.EDU | he coached football at Furman for nine years before becoming associate athletics director. Hyman has also served stints as associate athletics director at N.C. State, and athletics director at Virginia Military Institute and Miami University in Ohio. Among those in attendance for the announcement were USC basketball coach Dave Odom and former Furman athletics director Dick Sheridan. “There are certain parts of the country I can relate to, and this is one of them,” Hyman said. The 52-year-old Hyman said he had become familiar with the state after driving through nearly every area while recruiting at Furman. “I can’t wait to go back to Shealy’s Barbeque in Batesburg Leesville and Yoder’s in Abbeville .... I know all those great places (to eat) around the state.” Hyman inherits a program with annual operating revenue of $52 million and 20 varsity sports. The man who oversaw 29 conference championships and renovations to nearly every athletic facility while with the Horned Frogs says he will take a team approach to managing. “I coach the athletic department like a team,” he said. “As far as I’m concerned, we’re teammates. You have a better chance to reach some of your success and to reach your goals and objectives when you have people working together.” McGee said when the search began that he would prefer his replacement to come from within the university. Ray Tanner, Chris Massaro and Brad Edwards were each named by Sorensen as internal candidates. Tanner later withdrew his name from consideration, and Massaro left to take the athletics director position at Middle Tennessee State. “(Hyman’s) background speaks for itself,” McGee said. “They made a good hire. That’s not always the case with a one-man committee.” \ __I J_ athletics director after 12 years during which he oversaw $110 million in facility renovations including the 2-year-old, 18,000 seat Colonial Center. He was involved in hiring high-profile names like former football coach Lou Holtz, baseball coach Tanner, track coach Curtis Frye, Odom and new football coach Steve Spurrier. Hyman said he had not yet talked to Spurrier extensively, but that the two had met. The 2003 04 Athletics Director of the Year spent his time at the spring game shaking hands with coaches, conducting interviews with ESPN ♦ ATHLETICS, page 5 Seven-story wave forces cruise ship into harbor FROM AP REPORTS A seven-story wave damaged a cruise ship returning from the Bahamas over the weekend, smashing windows, flooding more than 60 cabins and injuring four passengers. The Norwegian Dawn was diverted from its route when the ship ran into rough weather on the way back to New York on Saturday. The 965-foot-long vessel docked in the Charleston harbor for repairs, and departed for New York early Sunday after a Coast Guard inspection, officials said. It was expected back in New York by noon Monday. “The ship was hit by a freak wave that caused two windows to break in two different cabins,” Norwegian Cruise Line said in a statement. It said 62 cabins flooded and four passengers had cuts and bruises. The wave reached as high as deck 10 on the ship, company spokeswoman Susan Robison said Sunday. . ____:-i_lix-_i BILL COOKE/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS The cruise ship Norwegian Dawn heads out into the Atlantic Ocean from the southern tip of Miami Beach, Fla. The ship was diverted from its route when it sailed into rough weather on the way to New York on Saturday. A seven-story wave damaged the ship returning from the Bahamas during the weekend, smashing windows, flooding more than 60 cabins and injuring four passengers. 1 he ship s hull was damaged but the vessel was not taking on water, said Keith Moore of the Coast Guard Group Charleston. “All the passengers had donned personal flotation devices as a precaution,” Moore told The (Charleston) Post and Courier. The cruise line said passengers whose cabins were Hooded were being flown home from Charleston and the safety of the ship “was in no way compromised by this incident.” Each passenger on the ship got a refund of half the trip’s cost and a voucher for half the price of a future cruise, Robison said. Ihe ship left New York last Sunday with 2,500 passengers aboard. Robison said about 300 passengers decided not to return by boat. About 100 people were flown back to New York and the rest made their own arrangements, Robison said. ——www. dailygamecock. com ■< >