University of South Carolina Libraries
SGA plans to miltiple election errors MR. FARRELL: As a student at USC, I feel that it is not only a right, but an obligation to question activities of the Student Government which I feel need to be corrected. Such a situation now exists. Apparently, past failures are to be compounded into multiple errors. It appears to me that the time has cone to speak out. Earlier this semester, I , like thousands of Carolina students, voted in an election for student senators. Shortly afterwards, . it was revealed that the election was invalid. The reason for this was the simple incompetence of the Elections Commission. Because of the way this organization set up the elections, the results could not possibly have been acceptable. Many weeks have passed since that time and no mention was made of another election. Im mediately after the election was invalidated, it was assumed that another would soon follow. None did, and with the passage of time, it became only logical that there HYM See Ot for C C ymfan 'S For Your Letters would be none till next semester. Recently, I have heard a rumor that a new election is to be held before Christmas. Ridiculous as this proposal is, I have some knowledge of the Student Senate, and I do not doubt the truth of this rumor. At this point in the semester, practically nothing could be accomplished by holding elections now. By the time the elections could be held, the semester would be over. The only . which would happen would be that no one would have time to campaign or listen to the can didates. In addition to this, the Student Body has become disillusioned with the Student Government, so it is doubtful that many students would vote; in all likelihood their votes would be nullified anyway. Doubtlessly an election now would set a new record for low student interest, and any candidate who cared to stay in the race would find himself screwed by elections just before exams. One possible reason that the Student Senate could want elec tions now occurs to me. Maybe the Student Senate feels that it can cover up some of its gross in competence if it can manage a AN'Saaagg or Large Selection of Gifts iristmas, '-A-WAY NOW OPEN A NA RGE ACCOUiNT Jewelry Co Palmetto Theater Christmas Sh4 Chan-ge Aeeeunt $100 (Eks) p' RITTON' tothe simple thing like reliable elections. If this is a last chance effort to save face, the senate is obviously willing to sacrifice the students to regain a little prestige. If nothing else can be said for the senate, I sincerely hope that it, at the very least, has some concern for the student body. If it does, these elections will not be held this semester. CURTIS E. CLARK No political ambitions to be allowed in SCPIRG group MR. FARRELL: Ms. Millender's criticism of the "questionable'' SCPIRG organization is well taken, however we feel it is based on several rnistaken impressions of SCPIRG. Ms. Millender seems to feel the student members of the state SCPIRG board will be controlled by professional technocrats and politicians. One of the functions of the student representatives on the SCPIRG board will be to hire and FIRE the professional research staff of SCPIRG. This professional staff of doctors, lawyers and scientists will be hired on a short term contract basis and will have no say-so whatever in the areas to be researched. The SCPIRG organization is a non-partisan effort to remedy some of the glaring problems of the state of South Carolina and there will be no room for political ambitions in this effort. Ms. Millender implies the SC PIRG organization would create an unacceptable political machine under a "smokescreen of being for the consumer and against pollution". She seems to feel SC PIRG's "unspecified" activities would lead to the creation of this machine. While it is obvious that HELP WANTED SALESCLERK FOR CHRISTMAS APPLY IMMEDIATELY I4YMAN'S Jewelers 1417 MAIN Next to Palmetto Theatre ~pping Use S editor consumer and environmental protection is a tremendous problem in South Carolina, we feel any thinking person would realize that consumer and environmental protection_are not the only pressing problems in the state. We feel that inflexible bureaucracy is one of the problems the state faces today and by limiting SCPIRG to specific fields of investigation we would be creating another of these stagnant bureaucracies. We want the students to retain the option to investigate any problem they feel is pertinent. Although Ms. Millender foresees a problem with refunding dissatisfied students money we feel this process serves a two-fold purpose. First, it forms a per manent student referendum on SCPIRG- no money-no SCPIRG. Second, we don't want to compel any student who disagrees with the ideals of SCPIRG to support it. It is difficult for us to understand how Ms. Millender can feel that 10 people run the SCPIRG organization and do not want outside participation. We have over 100 volunteers at present and anyone who wishes to help with the organization of SCPIRG is welcome. Ms. Millender claims volunteers are only allowed to perform menial tasks. This is not true. One week we expressed a desire to work with SCPIRG and the next week we were helping to coordinate state-wide publicity. ERICWINTER ED HUGHES Upcoming elections, lacking preparation, 'to save face' MR. FARRELL: The illustrious Student Senate, with its foresight and concern for the student body is again bringing to USC an election which has not even been carefully prepared. This lack of planning can be seen by looking at the bills which set up this election. A special meeting of the Senate was called by President Walker to consider elections. It was decided that the election date would be Dec. 7. The runoff is on Dec. 9, and campaigning is from Dec. 3-8. If you are wondering who the candidates in this election are, they are the same people who ran Gamecock 920 Main St. Feati ,Carolyn Hites - and Alice Driggers - Welcome Sl (WINNE Breakfast served 7CRC a.m.-1O:45 a.m. RSA Waitress 1111 Graen. SL .( qtw last time, regardless of whether they still wish to run or whether they feel they have the time to run. Their names will be on the ballot; I do wonder whether the Elections Commission will be so polite as to inform the candidates, or if they'll have to find out about the election from the Gamecock. There were attempts in the Student Senate to delay the elec tions until the beginning of next semester when candidates will have time to campaign and students will have time to vote. With the end of the semester so near, papers and reports due, and exams in little more than a week, who has time to devote to this election? Another problem is finding poll watchers. There just isn't time to do this job. The senate also approved the people to serve on the Elections Commission without even sending the names to committee for con sideration. The commission was voted on as a whole; the senate didn't even bother to take the time to consider each person separately. The senate doesn't seem to have learned anything from the last election when one of the reasons the election was thrown out was because of an ineligible member of the com mission. The Senate was very eager to approve a list of names for the Elections Commission. With no research, the senate approved a list of six names, five of whom are fraternity people ( three of which are from the same fraternity). Is this a gr,)up which is represen tative of the U. S. C. campus as a whole? There were objections to the manner in which this Elections Commission was railroaded through the senate. A roll call vote was requested, but the majority of the Senate felt that this was un necessary. As one senator put it, "Are you afraid to let your vote be known?" The answer was, "Don't be a fool. Would you want your vote known if you were voting for this?" So on Dec. 7 you will have the Dption of voting. I hope you will ask yourself if the senate acted to show its concern for the student body or out of a desire to save face? Don't kid yourself. TONY G. DANIELS, SENA TOR DISTRICT 7, TOWERS Hairstyling Phone 254-3969 ires Shag Stylist Manicurist/Shampoo udents! ! Complete Menu RANT Under''2.00 Service. M4&n end Asserbhiu)