University of South Carolina Libraries
The University of South Carolina Monday, March 27, 2006 Vol. 99, No. 77 # Since 1908 Ana Elisa Fuentes / The Associated Press Fermin Vasquez, from left to right, Esperanza Mendoza, and Irlinda Manzanares, of Santa Barbara, Calif, participate in a demonstration. Over 400 people amassed in De la Guerra plaza on Saturday as part of a nationwide protest of federal legislation that would make helping illegal immigrants a crime. Crackdown? Senate, President Bush ponder fate of illegal immigrants nedra Pickier THE ASSOCIATED PRESS WASHINGTON — Founded by immigrants and praised as a haven for the oppressed, the United States now is struggling to decide the fate of as many as 12 million people living in the country illegally. The Senate takes up the emotional debate on the heels of weekend rallies that drew hundreds of thousands •pf people protesting attempts to toughen laws against immigrants. Among the ideas that President Bush and members of Congress are considering: — Erecting a fence on the Mexico border to deter illegal immigration. — Treating people who sneak across the border as felons to be deported. — Allowing foreigners to stay in the country legally as custodians, dish washers, construction workers and other low-paid employees. — Allowing those working in the U.S. a path to citizenship. — Requiring them to get in line behind everyone else back in their home countries who want to become Americans. On Monday, the Senate Judiciary Committee takes up the issue and Bush headlines a naturalization ceremony for 30 new citizens at Constitution Hall. Demonstrations are planned near the Capitol, including a prayer service with immigration advocates and clergy who plan to wear handcuffs to demonstrate the criminalization of immigration violations. Bush is going to Mexico this week for a meeting with the leaders of Mexico and Canada. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Sunday it’s important that Mexico “recognize the importance of defense of the borders and of American laws.” Protests raged across the country over the weekend, led by more than 500,000 people who marched through downtown Los Angeles on Saturday in one of the largest demonstrations for any cause in recent U.S. history. Marchers also took to the streets in Phoenix, Milwaukee, Dallas and Columbus, Ohio. Demonstrations continued Sunday, when nearly 3,000 people, many wrapped in Mexican flags, rallied at the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus and an estimated 3,500 United Farm Workers members and their supporters protested in Los Angeles. The president, working hand-in-hand with the business community that relies on cheap labor, is pressuring Congress to allow immigrants to stay in the country legally if they take a job that Americans are unwilling to do. Judiciary Chairman Arlen Specter, R-Pa., also supports the idea and has vowed that his committee will advance a bill to the full Senate on Monday, even if they have to work “very, very late into the night.” “If they’re prepared to work to become American citizens in the long line ILLEGAL • 2 Delta Zeta sorority to hold marrow drive ^ Event started in 2005 to raise money for sisters transplant From Staff Reports Delta Zeta will hold its annual Sweet Caroline Bone Marrow Typing/Blood Drive Tuesday from noon to 6 p.m. in the third floor of the Russell House in memory of Caroline Boles Terry. Terry, who was a Delta ^^Zeta member at USC, was diagnosed with leukemia in fall 2004 and required a bone marrow transplant. The sisters of the Delta Zeta pulled together in February last year to hold a bone marrow drive to find a match for Terry. “Last year, we were able to (register) over 300 people, and this year our goal is more than 300,” said Rachael Renken, a third year French student and president of Delta Zeta. “It’s so important for us to get minorities, because every Caucasian that is not met by a minority incurs an extra cost. If any student has any percentage of a minority in them, they can offset this cost. Minorities include Asian, African American, Native American, Pacific Islander and Hispanic.” The Sweet Caroline Bone Marrow Drive was so successful last year that the sorority held more than one. “We ran out of supplies in the first hour,” Renken said. “The entire afternoon we had to restock because we kept running out.” Sara Unrue, a third-year criminal justice student and membership vice president of Delta Zeta, said Terry came to the drive in 2005, and that was the last time most of the Delta Zeta members saw her. “She was so optimistic and kept telling us how much it meant to her that we were trying so hard to find her a match and others who were suffering from the same thing she was,” Unrue said. “She kept reminding us that life is sweet and you need to do all you can, and she kept a smile on her face to remind us what we were all there for.” Although Caroline found a match and entered remission, she took a turn for the worse and died Aug. 22, 2005. This year, Terry’s parents will be attending DRIUE • 2 Students, alums seek support at State House Carolina Alumni Association lobbies legislature for program funding Jess Davis STAFF WRITER’ For political junkies and USC supporters, Tuesday’s Carolina Action Network Day will provide an opportunity to mingle with state legislators as the CAN lobbies on behalf of USC. CAN, a group supported by the Carolina AJumni Association, lobbies elected officials year-round in support of USC. Every year, one day is set aside for lobbying en masse at the State House. Students can join faculty and alumni in making the rounds to speak with representatives and Qpnaf-nrc Four funding priorities are the main focus of this year’s lobbying. USC has named the faculty excellence initiative, Congaree River environmental initiative, USC School of Law, and Gibbes Green campus redevelopment “pressing needs” that need state assistance on top of existing funding. In addition to specifically lobbying for these four funding needs, totaling $46 million, the group will also thank legislators for their past support of USC and ask them to continue supporting the school, said Tommy Preston, Student Government president and third-year political science student. “We’re not just going, complaining or pleading • for money,” Preston said. “We want them to know USC recognizes their hard work.” The Gibbes Green campus redevelopment plan, with a price tag of $20 million, calls for renovating LeConte and Petrigru to prepare for the relocation of the College of Mass Communications and .Information Sciences from the Coliseum. Building a new law school at the corner of Gervais and Bull streets will also cost $20 million, in addition to private donations and previous state commitments. The facultv excellence initiative seeks to add 150 faculty members at a cost of $4 million, and the Congaree River initiative will focus on environmental research to evaluate and protect the ecological health of the river. Undergraduate, graduate and K-12 students will take part in the project. The day will begin at 9:30 a.m. at the Capital City Club, on the 25th floor of the Capitol Center, across the street from the State House. After organizing its game plan, CAN will provide advocate training, then the group will split up. Ten student leaders who have worked in the State House or are familiar with cnn« 2 USCfootball player arrested in local bar The Associated Press South Carolina defensive end Shea McKeen was arrested early Friday after a bar fight, police said. McKeen, 20, was charged with disorderly conduct, trespassing and failing to follow police command. South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier said McKeen was suspended indefinitely. “In all likelihood, he probably won’t play for us anymore,” Spurrier said. “We’ll wait for the investigation to come out.” Pour House co-owner Sam Abraham said the brawl lasted a couple minutes. “The whole event was uncalled for,” Abraham said. “That’s not the image we’re trying to create or condone.” McKeen played against Central Florida last season, but suffered a lower back injury and didn’t play again. He was listed as a backup to junior Jordin Lindsey in the team’s spring media guide. “It is embarrassing, and I apologize because this is a guy we recruited,” Spurrier said. “When you recruit (players) and they are troublemakers, or appear to be, it makes you feel bad, so we have to do a better job of recruiting the right kind of kids. We’re going to mess up occasionally, like we did with this one guy-” Viewpoints Field Cantey says monkeys are the key to world peace; Valene Sims sings the praises of Rainbow flip-flops and thtir comfortable effects. The Mix Vista-fied Microsoft announces the delay of it’s long awaited operating system Windows Vista untilnextyear. Sports Swept No. 7 Carolina takes all three games from No. 9 Florida at Sarge Frye Field over the weekend. Index Comics & Crossword..7 Classifieds.10 Horoscopes.7 Opinion.4 Police Report..2