Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Editor-in-Chief . .. N ew s Editor ........................... Campus Editor ...................... ... Sports Editor ........................... Society Editor .......................... Feature Editor ......................... Copy Editor ........................... Exchange Editor ....................... Circulation Manager ..................... Assistant Business Manager .............. Managing Editor ........-.. . Divorce USC State politics and the University of South Carolina today seem to have a growing bond, intermeshing the two. This union occurred when the former created the latter, but the extent to which politics influence the univer sity's functions appears to have increased through the years. That Carolina is a state institution war rants a degree of outside interference; pub lic support generally demands public control, whether the project be welfare, power de velopments or education. Yet, when this power unnecessarily dominates the endeavor of an institution or retards its services, it has overreached its purposes. In the case of the university, strenuous, precautions must be taken not to offend cer tain individuals or factions, anyone who might have a finger on the knife which slices the appropriations pie. Each year, officials of the university and friends in the General Assembly undergo a tedious ordeal in securing funds for the coming fiscal year, sometimes successful, sometimes failing, but always back the next year. Supreme authority over the university is vested in a Board of Trustees, elected for short terms by the General Assembly. What ever the qualifications of these men, and there have been many who have given great service to Carolina, they do hold office hy political election; and, if they (lid not have political influence or prestige, chances are they would not hold the positions. In addition, several Board members have no connection with the university, other than that the particular office to which they have been elected has this position as an ex-officio duty. No one objects to wise an( competent ad ministration of the university's affairs, and most citizens understand that the General Assembly must stretch a minimum of state money among a maximum of institutions. However, there are many instances wvhen the power of polim's over Carolina is car ried to ridiculous extremes. The late Governor Tiliman, idol of the "wool-hat boys,'' probably did this institu tion more harm than any-public official in its history. Tfhrough his influence, its ser vices were stripped to a minimum, its fac ulty humiliated, and harm, which it took dlecades to erase, was (lone. Today, when the university fails to re ceive wvhat it asks in funds, the natural re action is to scream "p)olitics." When an of Gamecock Si With this issue of The Gamecock, the fall semester staff completes its work on the paper. To those publishing it in the spring, we offer good wishes andl advice if it is necessary. Today, The Giamecock is in the best finan cial condition in its forty-one years of life. Some credit for this, of course, should go to the retiring staff, but much is due to busi ness practices begun last year, netting a profit for the paper, andl continuation of these policies this fall. Also, an increased university enrollment has enlarged the student allocation and pros perous business conditions in the city have been a boon to the advertising salesmen. During the war, few students and adlver tisers with no goods to advertise, were two factors which, teamed together, madle prof it able publication difficult. Today, the paper will have funds on hand to meet such sub sequent occurrences. Policies of The Gamecock for this semes ter may be summed up aLs "for the student - Carroll L. Gilliam .............. Ned Threatt .. Kenneth W. Baldwin, Jr. ........... Joe Molony UNI ...........Ruth Newell M ................ Jane Dowe . .... . .Wimpy Webb Founded Jan . . . Marguerite Webb first editor, "Th . ... . Bobby -Gaines the University ..... . Jack Walther college year exc The opinions --------- Jean Hill necessarily those an endorsement From Politics ficial is fired or hired, there naturally will be some who will reflect upon the power of political "pull." The same is true of other state institutions, but the undermining of public confidence in the university is more acute than in the other cases. People in all sections of South Carolina are prone to look upon Carolina as a mere annex of the State House, serving politicians now in power, and, in its classes, training fu ture politicians. Some have called the uni versity Law School the "third house" of the General Assembly. This attitude can wreck an institution that, to serve the public, must have its mass support. Certain parents will refuse to send a son or daughter to a school, which, in their opinion, is unstable; citizens of the state hesitate to endow a university under politi cal control. To restore the confidence of the average South Carolinian and to destroy that creep ing fear of insulting someone which in fluences nearly every official ac' of the uni versity and which in turn, causes a cultural paralysis, Carolina should be divorced from state politics as much as possible. Two solutions are possible: 1. Instead of forcing the university to re quest funds on an annual basis, allow its of ficials to draw up a budget and normal ex pansion programs for a period of years and appropriate the sums in a lump fund. If, for instance, it could be possible for Carolina to undergo the ordeal only once every five years rather than each January, freer rein could be exercised by the institution. 2. Abolish legislative election of trustees, and substitute longer terms for the short, two-year terms now in effect. Appointment by the governor of the state of men who holdi no )u)lic office for a five- or ten-year term alppars more satisfactory. In add(ition to these applointive members, p)opular election of some members by the university's Alumni Association has its merits. Alumni can be fair judges of the value of the institution to their respective nmmbers. Also, ex-officio service could be discon tiniuedl, freeing overburdened public officials from, what is to them, just another duty. These two innovations do not seem un reasonab)le or imp)ossible to execute, and should be satisfactory to the people who own the University of South Caroli na--the citi zens of the state.--CLG. Laff Changes body and for the university." Whatever the criticism made in these columns, whatever the projects undertaken, we have believed them to be just and best for the interests of the students and Carolina. Whether edu cation is the answer to the problems of the state, and whether the university should have a well-planned new campus, only time will p)rove correct or incorrect. Neverthe less, The Gamecock still b)elieves in both. To those who have supported and co oplerated, we offer gratitude. To those who have stood on the side lines in smug, de tached andl asinine objection, we say nothing as space is limited. The staff sincerely believes in the right of students to have an uncensored organ of news andl views on their campus. We be lieve that any effort to change this condition should be vigorously resisted by the student b)ody which owns the paper. As long as The Gamecock and the univer sity exists, the retiring staff hopes that both will stand together for service to their stu dlents and their ate.--( rnG GAA+4 C<> CROWING FOR A GREATER VERSITY OF SOUTH CAR0 ember. of Associated Collegiate Pj Distributor of Collegiate Digest aary 30, 1908, with Robert Elliotl Gamecock" is published by and f< Af South Carolina weekly, on Fr apt holidays and examinations. expressed by columnists and lett of "The Gamecock." Publishing d although the right to edit is reser "I know what they in TOM WILLIAMSON AROUND 1 The swan's song is usually re ferred to when the passing of something either significant or ir ritating is noticed, for that gallant and singularly graceful fowl is supposed to sing only once during it's lifetime - when death ap proaches, and, therefore, is used as an illustration of the end of the row. This bit of copy denotes the end of an attempt to put into print a few words of passing interest; no definite end was attempted in the past, for the end belongs to those yet to come. Criticism has been levelled during the course of the semester, not caustically, but with the hope in mind that certain con ditions of doubtful worth might be rectified. College is a different set of standards to a varied group which inhabits the campus, -but if only a few fine points can be realized, then something good has been ob tained by a sojourn here. A friendship made in college seems to be more lasting that even those from earlier childhood; per haps one is old enough at the uni versity level to differentiate and appreciate people, and 'certainly friends should be chosen with care, for they display the taste that one selects in personal choice. Fortunately, Carolina has the distinction of possessing some fine folks, both in the student body and on the faculty. The future visits to old Caro lina's campus, to renew acquaint ances and make new friends, are the true value of an institution of this kind; it has stood as a haven f'or those desirous of a return to the old steady way of life. Letters To the Editor: Something should be done about Steward's Hall! I hear daily complaints about the food from all my companions who have survived. Not only am I tired of eating dishes I can't identify, but the ones I do recognize are in edible. Several times since I have been at the university, they have raised the price of their meals, but the quality of food has gotten worse, if possible. Before the war, meals were fine and there was more of it, but I am not complaining about not getting enough of what they serve now. Anything I get is, too much. It seems to me that there are a lot of students on the campus who must eat at Steward's Hall, for financial reasons. Furthermore, it is customary for a university to have eating facilities for its stu dents, and eating facilities in which they may oat. Why can't the- universty ai. Business William LINA Mary Denny ene Patrick, Elim Suzanne Ned Threatt Gonzales as the Nutt, Margi ar the students Of Genaro Huex days, during the Jack Morgan Grady Decell Sorota, Jim 4 erwriters are not Walther, Am oes not constitute garet Ficque ved. Tuttle and H tean by the (I1 Bills!" [HE CLOCK The walkways of the horseshoe have long been trodden by the feet of those seeking the many things that the university can offer, and I feel myself indeed fortunate to have had the opportunity of being a member of this community of ideas and ideals at two distinct and different periods of time. From the late thirties to the mid dle forties a decided change was noted, the old easy-going way was cast off for that of the hurly-burly, the race against the clock. People are the same the world over, some one once cliched, but alas! such is not the case. People differ as much as the geographical location which serves as their home. The firm grasp of a sincere handshake, the certain knowledge that one is in friendly surround ings, these are the things that are worth remembering, for, when old age creeps up, and memories are about all that is left of any value, then a quiet period of meditation can bring peace and contentment. To those who will remain to carry on the traditions and daily pattern of Carolina life I request this: don't become apathetic to sur roundings, but strive ever to main tain that desirous balance between classroom and campus activities; seek to perpetuate the ways of life which have been the goal of those who have gone before. Part with an appreciation of things which have been your lot while here, if you search only on the surface you will be rewarded with a realization that little gifts are the framework upon which lives are built, ideals are the ma terials of which civilizations have b)een constructed. the budget that they give to Stew ard's Hall and cut down some where else. There are many useless expenses on the campus, and the students could certainly appreciate it more if the money were spent at Steward's Hall. I am against any raise in meal ticket prices. If they go any high er, it will be cheaper to eat off the campus than over there, which might not be a bad idea, but, hon est, some of us can't afford it. We could join the Army where the food is better, I guess. I realize that a committee of some kind or other is always in vestigating Steward's Hall. Why don't they send somebody over there to eat the stuff? And then do something about it. I've had just about as much of slimy spaghetti, yesterday's raisin pudding, calf sweetbreads, tough and bitter greens, dry doughnuts and cheese-spattered toast, and potatoes and rice and potatoes and rice and potatoes and rice as I can stand. Manager..... REPORTORIAL S B. Scott, Terrell L. Glenn, Dal , James Hughes, Arthur Ru or Keels, J. Burrell Sanders, ' Moye, Eric Oppenheimer, E< Harold Bourgeois, Rudy R! Levinson, Betsy Knowlton, j -ta, Bob Westerfield, Lloyd I Van Newman, Jim Crawfor' Jane Gerard, Pete Partee, Be Llexander, Bill Rogers, W. H. : ie Clark, Toni Leppard, Floret1 tte, Virginia Emory, Marion ilda Adams. SOL ABRAMS / May Be V; There has been much criticism of college athletics and athletes. Usually it is impersonal in nature and directed toward the group as a unit or the individual as a par ticipant of some sporting activity. The very character of these college sports causes strong human reaction in their spec tators. Every person who watches, hears, or reads about any game thinks it is his un questionable right to express himself without restraint as to the event. The fan does not consider any abuse he may heal) upon any ath lete as being personal. Yet, it is difficult for the student participat ing not to feel that these attacks are personal in nature. Here at the University of South Carolina, where we have our share of unsuccessful sea sons, there is a tendency for the unfavorable comments to be strong and repeated. Yet, the fine qualities of our athletes are often overlooked and only the unfortunate score of a lost game is remembered. The Carolina-Clemson game of last year is remembered as a well played game that South Carolina lost. Few know or recall that when students lined up outside the ath letic office several days before the game. the Block C Club bought and distributed sandwiches to those members of the student ' ' who gave up lunch for a chance to ob tain a (late ticket. This was a commendable action which received little publi(ity, and it was soon forgotten. Next semester the Block C Club and the Minor Block C BOB SOLOMONS Fore As tihe months narrow into weeks and the wveeks into days we realize that ole '48 has pulled out sand left, us v:ith tihe semlester al most over. We can look back with nostalgic feelings to the opening days of the semester and the high lights of the half year. Way back there in early fall it was registration and renewing old acquaintances with an eye to the coming football season. Everyone was on hand for the opener with Newberry and the talk then was "watch us roll." We slipped a lit t.le against Furman but it took that long trip to New Orleans and the Tulane Green Wave to topple us from the win list. From there on, it was a handful of excuses at every turn especially to the "Cow Dets" who lucked out on us in the Big Thursday game. In the mix ture of football games we found classes as usual, social activities, new organizational heads, student and faculty gatherings, and in gen eral "business as usual." It wasn't long before we had a full fledged semester on our hands. For some it was the first session at Caro lina for others the last, some found themselves in law school, others on the way to medical college and for still others an addition to the third finger left hand. That's all behind us now. For those who prefer to live in the past it is possible to reach back and pickup good moods and bad, For others Tomorrow Is the important time. The future of the University of South Carolina is important to every one of us. During the semes ter numbers of imnportant Issues were brought to light. One of the highlights of the discussions was the proposed nlan to mov th IJi Peorge W. Shelor, Jr.; rAFF rid H. Crum, Ditty Fleishman gheimer, May Herbert, Ruth reanne Turner, Olga Edwards. [ward Vereen, Pat Shadduck vers, Jane Almy, Charmaine l Munn, Marjorie McCorkle, luntington, Leonard Duckett, I, Jem Newbury, Ish Thomas linda Collum, Bill Fairey, San WcCartha, Chuck Gibson, Jack 'e Reyner, Carolyn Katz, Mar Gibson, Patsy Epps, Frances 'rong But... Club will begin a practice of showing movies of the out. standing college athletic events such as the Southern Confer. ence bouts, Carolina and other outstanding college football games. At first, these two campus or ganizations planned to show these to the student body without charge. Later it was decided that each person attending be charged the nominal fee of ten cents; the, money collected is to be turned over to the McKissick Memorial Scholarship Fund. This money is not used for any form of athletic subsidiza. tion, but is awarded by a spe cial committee to individuals who are considered on merits of scholarship alone. This fund helps deserving students to ob. tain a higher education which due to financial problems they would not be able to receive otherwise. Both the Bloqk C and the Minor Block C are to be given the high est commendation for their aiction in behalf of the university. It is hoped that they will receive the support they deserve, and the project will he successful and will become a standal practice at the school. Persons attending these films should remember that the ath letes are voluntarily exposing all their athletic mistakes to public view, and criticism of the pietured students should be sivoided., Hather. they should he observed as entertainment -.hich has been generously afforded by the athletic students of the school. N' Aft versity. Students took very de cisive standls on the issue, pro and con, showing that there was cer tainly no lack of interest. Through the wveeks every effort wvas made to maintain and regain Carolina spirit. And it did improve greatly. The Gamecock tried to give considerationi to all justifiable pleas. An effort, was made to pie sent the issues at hand in an un biased manner. With the comning of the newv se mester it also means a change in TIhe Gaimecock staff. Fore 'N' Aft will not occupy this corner during the coming session. As we move through the new se mester just ahead of us let's re solve to really become a part of Carolina. If you are not a member of some of the organizations find one that bppeals to you and give both yourself and the school of your choice the fruits of your sin cere efforts. Open to all are the literary socie ties, publications, YM and YWCA, and other religious groups. Let's make our services in this manner. Service to others, service to the University and service to ourselves. Carolina once had the reputation of being the friendliest' campus in the south. It is up to us to reclaim this lost title. I,et's give the University of South Carolina the greatest semester ever by doing our part. It's time to close out for exam', so-I'll see you later. This sincere hope that this column has been a small service to those of you whose common problems were reviewed and that the UniversitY of South Carolina will enjoy the~ best semester of hm. exsmce