The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, November 15, 1968, Page Page Two, Image 2

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

Editorials Commentary Friday, November 15, 8 -- Page Two Columbia, South Carolina Sour Gripes Student Power-another of those nebulous terms that float around today's atmosphere with smog and pollution. According to Webster, power is "possession of control, authority, or influence over others." If this is the case, Student Power is a misomer. We possess control, authority or even Influence over no one. All we seem to possess is shortsighted vision and an overabundance of gripes. It's time to stop complaining and do something. Week in and week out, we hear nothing but complaints-in classes, in Student Senate, in club meetings, in dorms, in cafeterias. Letters to the editor sound like they're directed to a com plaint department, and occasionally, a student gets angry enough to complain in person. A letter in the last Gamecock was indicative of the situation: students finally found something to praise in a column that criticized. No one ever has suggestions or alternatives. No one has ideas for a better system. The criticism is rarely construc tive. And very often, a student won't even sign his name to his complaining letter. We complain about the power structure at USC. We complain that no one can do anything about our complaints because the buck is passed until the original intent is lost or ignored. A student can go to Student Senate who goes to the Vice President of Student Affairs who goes to the University President who goes to the Board of Trustees. And as in all state-supported institutions, the top rung in the power ladder i3 the State Legislature-the group that holds the purse-strings. But let's go one step further. Who controls or influences the Legislature? The people, the voters. And we are the people. Then why don't we use Student Power where it counts? Why don't we accomplish something instead of complaining? Whether we want beer on campus or a change in the speaker policy or better medical service or the voting age lowered, why don't we do something? It will take a little time, a little effort, and a lot of cooperation. We have one ideal organ at our fingertips. S. C. State Student Legislature meets the first week in December with representatives from all South Carolina colleges. The group enacts legislation that expresses the feelings of the majority of college students throughout the state, many of whom are voters. The University holds a position of leadership in SCSSL. We have the largest number of delegates, the most powerful block vote, and this year the Governor is a USC student. This group could serve as a powerful lobby-and we don't take advantage of it. Pride? In a letter on this page today, a student claims he is "a 'grit' and proud of it." We wonder at the sort of pride that makes him refuse to sign his letter. Carolia Skechboo "Those Yank Letter, Dear Miss Zalkin: "It is the right of every stu (lent at Carolina to have his privacy and other rights as a private citizen, respected," ac cording to the "Student Rules and Regulations." This section says if a student thinks his right of privacy is not respected, he should notify the Dean of Men. I recently made an appointment with the Dean of Men and found that we have the rights of any United States citizen, except when the adminis tration (oes not think we should have them. I found that the Dean of Men, Dean of Women or any higher authority, has the right to make a search of any dorm room with out a search warrant and with out the occupants being present. According to the United States Constitution (by which every American citizen's rights are constituted), this is a grave transgression of our rights as citizens. It is time for the students to awaken to what has happened and is happening to them. We may have the rights of any citizen but of WHAT COUNTRY? CHARLES MAHONEY Dear Miss Zalkin: I was surprised today when I found out that our next concert will be held at the same ridicu lous time as the Impression's concert. Why couldn't these con eerts have been planned for Fri lay night or some other time that would be more appropriate ? As shown by the poor attend ance (approximately one-fourth of Township was occupied for the last half of the concert) and compaints registered by several people, it seems obvious that having these concerts right after a ball game is a big mistake. Fans must rush from the game to the concert, and when they finally finish fighting the traf fic, they are not in the mood for a goodl concert. I think a new policy should be adopted for future concerts dur ing football seasoni. It is too late to do anything this year, but possibly future concerts could be held at times that would allow the audience to enjoy them. I realize there may be factors that caused this mistake in scheduling, but couldn't they be :ontrolledl in the future? ALAN COLEMAN Dear Miss Zalkin: As a studlent senator I would like to show my ap)preciation for the titanic trio who are de. tending the Student Bill of Rights against the students. It seems sad that some sop)ho ~nores must try to make a name' or themselves by being hotheads md holding up and disgracefully abeling the efforts of more lualifiedl studlents and faculty. JOHN C. GALLOWAY JR. )ear Miss Zalkin: As a recent Carolina graduate, was intrigued to note that LWA RE that localnt udent in CoorINUw CIVI L VLA s ought to clean up and cu s To The terest group and political dis aster area, has decided to af filiate with SDS. With this happy marriage, Carolina students can now look forward to being serenaded by gatherings on the Horseshoe singing the Horst Wessel Lied or its contemporary counterpart, or being pummeled for failing to agree with the lockstep, mass think "idealism" of these scrofu lous cultural anomalies. Gestapo tactics do not require Gestapo uniforms andi the one letter difference between SI)S and SS is not worth remarking. JAMES D. CLARK Dear Miss Zalkin: I would like to know where these groups get the idea that they have any power over who can belong to what groups or what groups are "right or wrong" for the "well being" of the students at Carolina. Since when has the Pan-Hellenic Coun cil become "virtios" enough to throw the "first stone"? By what accident has the Young Republicans, YAF and Youth for Wallace been made the censors of free thought on campus? Have they any right to decide for us what is "negative or positive"? How would they like it if another organization on campus made the arbitrary decision to start p e t i t i o n s against them ? They would be screaming bloody murder about "their" rights of free speech and assembly. If SDS opposes what these "positive and progressive" forces stand for, then by all means let us call in the CIA and FBI and have them arrested. As for that statement in The Gamerock tha? "students are at Carolina to be educated not to create revolui lion," that is pure unadultered hogwash. A university is certainly not created to force conformity on those who attend it. I may be wrong but aren't we here to learn the "truth"? How can we ev-er learn the truth if we are closed mindedl to all but our narrow way of thinking? Also if any society wishes to keep any semb)lance of a dlemoc' racy then p)eople outside the "mainstream of thought" must be allowed their right to speak their mind even if it is distaste ful to those of us who live in the Status Quo. CLIFF HIARRIIS Dear Miss Zalkin: Pertaining to Miss Capps' let - ter on grits andl hippies, I'm Letters Policy THm GAMIEcoCK welcomes let ters on any subject pertinent to and involving University stu dents. The Editor-in-Chief re serves the right to edit let ters to conform to style, good taste, space limitations and libel laws. Let ters should be typewritten and should not e.reeedl 200 words. No unsigned letters will be printed, but names mnay be with held upon request. Letters should be sent to Tus it their hair." Editor afraid she has no conception of the meaning of "grit." A "grit" is a Southerner. Miss Capps is from Cayce, S. C., and is a "grit." Grits are not ivy-league college students. I am a "grit" and am proud of it. I don't wear alpaca sweaters or "Gant" shirts. Miss Capps talks about the lack of acceptance by the "grits" of the hippies. Even if this is true it seems from her state ments there is also considerable lack of respect by the hippies for the "grit" ideals. The hip pies seem to be more of a mirror image of each other than her definition of the "grit," the con servative dresser on this cam pus. The hippies are the novelty of the 1960's just as the beatniks were in the 1950's. I do hope Miss Capps won't let the hippie utopian idealism override reality. NAME WITHHEL) BY REQUEST Reader C Spade's F Dear Miss Zalkin: The article by John Spade in the Oct. 29 Gamecock is really ridiculous in respect to the reasoning on which it is based and the resulting conclusions. \Mr. Spade's reasoning results in terrible misconcep)tions of Black Power and the black man's posi tion in todlay's society. This type of reasoning is prevalent in the American so iety, p:Irticularly the white mid 'lIe class factor of this society. 'he major fault with this reasoning is that it is, for the most part, irrational and it en tails anti-intellectual overtones. One main characteristic of this reasoning is that it concludes its hyp)otheses using emotional logic with no deductive logic, It is also characterized by the use of inductive logic, generally iniac curate, as an impetus for its con rlusions or even~ as a proof of validity. Mr. Spade's reasoning has led( to the following malI-coclusions. (I.) Black power is de(t riment al to black heritage, (2.) Blacks have a particular inherent posi tion in A merican society, (8.) aInd the black man's concep)tio,n of right and wrong should de p)endl on its satisfaction of the white society. Mr. Spade attempts to v'alidify his conclusions by the use of the statements of one single black athlete. This is inductive logic. A valid statement or con lusion can only be prove'n th rough a combination of dedue. tive logic. What I can't see is that Black Power is detrimental to black heritage when the concept in it relf involves a raise in status of he black man through economic and political development of Jo wer. lIIowever, I must say I adImaire r. Spade's courdge' and/or au lacity in giing him-el th. Today's F Challenge By ROLLIE WATERS Editorial Assistant ab: A few years ago an individual m( could easily commit social (and Ou in some instances, physical) a suicide by standing up for the m civil rights movement. Numer- ab ous white and Negro leaders to were branded as communist4 and m1 anarchists, among other things. cei Many of the organizations in- cat volved in the civil rights move- c ment were called before Con gressional committees for in vestigation. However, through the efforts of these civil rights organiza tions, the people of this great country began to realize that there was indeed a flaw being perpetuated in the "system" (0 segregation. Armed with this realization, attitudes have sub stantially changed - now its (T "out" to be anti-civil rights. Now a different group of so- gol called radicals are challenging mu "the system" by questioning, in sta part, the true function of its qui fundamental supporters - the universities. Their mundane cry is for "free (fey universities." Free from such hec things as certain r e q u i r e d courses which help the individual "adapt modestly but comfort. wh ably" to the society beyond. (S( Free from a "system" that hec supresses intellectual liberty by eac forcing conformity through gov ernment grants and aid. the These reactionaries, like the ' first civil rights workers, are gut being citedf as "anarchists and (11: communists." The v a r i o u s exc groups associated w i t h this coi movement are slated for investi gation by Congressional Con mittees. It is definitely "out" at hal the present, in society at large, (A to belong to this movement. the Hut, we as college students of hyc this generation have little in thil common with "society at large." fiet We are better educated, more tic progressive, and possess more Iu candor than any generation be fore us. fac hud W hallenges e (SL Leasoning sta; the right to determine the social A status of the black man by mak- you ing it relative to white judge- Mc ment, although, morally, there thiE shouldn't exist an inherent ler. status for any human. p Moreover, the greatest atrocity gu occurs when Mr. Spade criticizes you the American Black Athletes at o the Olympics, who exposed the am, white racism and resulting Illack amn opplression of the United State.s e or for embarrassing the Unitedw States. Such reasoning is one of the reasons that there is no go peace on earth. goro RAPIIAEL LEE ness Founded Jan. 30. 1908 with Robert Elliiott Go cock is ptblished~ by and for the students of the neekly during the college year except duarin~g hol raiThe opinions expressed herein do noit nIecessa irton. the faculty or the studen,t body as a who, Offices of The Gamecock are In Rt'oom 30s ofi campus. Phones are 777-4249 (Fditor-in-.Chier) and 777-Ri78 (Newsroom). The Gamecock Is represented nationally by Colgiate Presas Asoctaon. Subscrition ratesa EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Sally Zalkin MANAGING EDITOR....... ASSISTANT MANAGING EDITOR. ASSOCIATE EDITOR....... NEWS ED)ITOR... . . . ASSISTANT NEWS III ..... EITORIA~L ASSlSTA~NTS..... SPORTS EDITOR.. . . . F'ACUI.TY EDITOR........ SOCIETY EDITOR . . . EX('JIANGEI. 'DlTOR~....... AD)VERTISING; MANAG;ER. ... ASST. AI)VERTISING~ MANA(G 1l (ThASSII.'IED Al) MANAGER:I... ASSISTANT BUSINESS MANA R CIRCULATION MANAGERI..... chanan Mie Cresi. Eve,et Ce. Eddi Chn Feuche. Jim Gigaten. Natha Gex.a Eddley Chn Ron Miles. Jean Neai, Red Osbeldrn StsanleH Surratt. Joe Usry. Caro WiieuHre Wuard ris Mary Trtueadell. 'Bruce Hen. Darid Jard.tFr. Tyere. EBobt BeeaOstein. Ceates Crew., Chai Tyler. Be.,b B---i. ic McMiiiaa. Jim Gerden. V tadicaIs System And yet we are not invulner. Le to its pressures. Notice the ,venent on campus by some of fellow students to suppress liberal group's attempts to ke its ideas known. Think )ut it. It is our responsibility insure that the universities' in function should be a never Lsing search for truth. This t not be accomplished if we se our minds to new ideas. 'The Lamecock' Hecklers --- By Steve Heller ne heckler to another heckler) 'Duh" ie conversation continues) 'Where is it crowded quick, I :ta heckle, )lease, hurry, I st heckle, don't you under nd? I've got to have it ck. . . v now the obvious h.eckle ad. t is down on the ground. Sud. ly he stands and turns to kle a car going by . .) HOOOO! Ain't them ugly eels . . . UHH!" 'eming to he revived by this kle, the two hecklers turn on h other) Where'd ya get that shirt? In gutter? huh huh." You find that hairdo in the ter? chuckle, chuckle" , now both are shaking with itement and are almost over. e by pleasure inngs) Hey, let's go heckle." Duh, duh, yaa, okay, yippee. La. ... heckling outing begins with hecklers yelling at trees, fire rants, walls, peol)le - any ig. After their need is satis 1, they slip into a nearby sep tank . . . Underton,-s and ted conversation occur . . . ljoy, you shoulda seen his a when I said .." Duh, it was funny huh I really grossed her out when aid . . ." iddenly the obvious leader rids, and through a tremen s leadership effort, quiets crowd) Shut your $#,/,r-1$ mouths, ud al)plause erupts, honoring wonderful heckle and heck. Everyone sits, the leader iks) [ hear bad rep)orts of you s usin' old expressions when heckle. Somte of you insist using your own words. There t no place for anything dir nt here. Either be like us get out-now, I got somei ds in fashion to use and . . . And as the gang commences do their thing, the hecklers *p together to fight the alien es of intelligence and aware n7ales as the first editor. The Game I 'niversity of south rarlina semi Iiays and examinations. rily reflect the liews of tie adrantS' tihe Russ'ell Htouse on the ,'niversltr 777-1220 (Blusiness and AdverFtsinI) rational Educational Advertisinlg 8er stedi Collegiate i'ress and the S. C. e SS tier year. UJSINESS MANAGER Linda Del Rosso .........Mary Jane JIenstonl ...................Carl Stepp ...........Mike KrochmlnlY ...........Jim Wannamaker .......Jimi Haney, Ken Hare on Caughman, Rollie Waters ..........John D)avid SPAde .................ona GaUlt .............Linda L,awrecei ...............onna Scholl ..............hip GallowSY .................Jay BJender .......... ........obby Hiltt .............Nancie Miedditi .........Robert Scarborough . .. .. .. .. .Elliot t hIorenstein a Bland, Sue Tanner. Shirley *N' lian Caveny, harry Ellsen. 5S' mnsley. Mark Holmes. Martin MebkY1. Tony Steas. Jeanine Smith. Kar d Menk. Judy Sari. Kitty McCaCSbI Shirley Cook. Debbie Knight. * lea Keefer. Warren HudseS, ti 'iii Peters. Chig Abernetby. CyAtb ayle.