Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Emperor has own Waterloo EDITOR: When one realizes that Carolina has a self imposed messiah by the name of SCPIRG, it comes as no surprise to find that SCPIRG has as its defender the self proclaimed Emperor Wagner Roberts. Most Emperors have been- able to surround themselves with men of talent, knowledge, literacy and a knack for good PR. Emperor Roberts, perhaps, has not been so fortunate. One can scarcely believe that the ranting and raving seen in Mon day's letters to the GAMECOCK came from an Emperor and not some fugitive from the funny farm, for his letter was crammed with glaring errors, misidentification of quotes, and obvious contradictions of the very SCPIRG policies he chose to defend. To ask an Emperor or a SCPIRG pusher to think of mere peasant students as individuals with rights may be too much for one to demand in this century. The Emperor Roberts and SCPIRG may never realize that a SCPIRG or any organization, that cannot survive on voluntary funding is a SCPIRG that students don't want. If the old saying, "he who slings mud loses ground" is true, then Emperor Roberts of SCPIRG and his crew of skewering lancers must at this time be fighting among themselves for Empire enough to stand on. But in spite of his humorous harrassment, the issue remains - does SCPIRG , newly formed and with no record of accomplishment, have the right to tax students to pay for its operation? Even if SCPIRG has promised to return monies to students who will go through the inconvenience necessary to get it RENT-TV's 01 WITH PURC Furniture with Stud4 METRO 2738 Di Columb TelephonE back, does this make this obviously political clique righteous? SCPIRG's claim to be "in the public interest" puts no halo around anyone's head. Every politician from Maddox to McGovern sincerely believes his own stand is in the public's best interest. Why should Emperor Roberts of SCPIRG wildly attack "lawyerism" (his term for obeying the rules) when the SCPIRG petitions are involved? Perhaps his thoughts were echoed by a SCPIRGer who identified himself as Michael Cole, who when in formed that SCPIRG was collecting signatures in registration areas declared off limits by Dean Alexander to both SdPIRG and anti SCPIRG forces declared: "rules? We don't believe in rules!" YAF has never supported student taxes to student govern ment, unions, uncontrollable newspapers or other expensive playpens for student liberals. Emperor Roberts failed to read what was plainly stated - YAF doesn't back student tax to buy athletic tickets either. Instead YAF suggests that if you want a newspaper, a student government or revolutionary speakers on campus - or football tickets - that students as individuals or groups decide to spend their own money for them. The same goes for SC PIRG. Incidently Emperor Roberts, you might note that student taxes to support athletics is not a "capitalistic rip-off" as you suggested, but a socialistic swindle. All Napleons must meet their Waterloo, perhaps soon SCPIRG's tax plan and Emperor Roberts will stumble upon theirs. EDWARD C. FENNELL r STEREO's Color or B & W HASE OPTION Also Available ent Discouat LEASE evine St. ia, S.C. - 253-0346 Letters SCPIRG refunds to be simple EDITOR: Michael Trinkley, a YAFer who never identifies himself as such, continues to write "The Gamecock" protesting and fulminating over SCPIRG and casting insults towards its sup porters - now 8,000 students at USC. He persistently charges that the SCPIRG steering committee will not tell YAF when, how, and where YAFers can get their refund if they choose not to support SC PIRG . The SCPIRG proposal says: "The refund procedure is simple. The location of the refund office will be published prior to refunding. It will be readily ac cessible. Any student desiring not to support SCPIRG need only present his student I.D. Card to obtain his refund. No forms, no hassle." SCPIRG means what it says Mr. Trinkley. The main reason why the steering committee has not specified an exact office is because an ELECTED SCPIRG local board willmake that decision. This Local board, composed of students, will select a location easily accesible to all. Most SC PIRG organizers see the Russell House as the most likely location; however, the elected board members will finally decide that question, not those of us on the steering committee. Mr. Trinkley should-not question the integrity of everyone or every group with whom he disagrees, Even a careful conservative looks carefully before he levels charges against persons or organizations. RUSSELL N. BRAHM Gain The GAMECOCK Is published tr semesters with the exception of Un Changes of address forms, subscrig should be sent to Drawer A, USC, C $3 per semester or $6 for both semes GAME COCK this year received $50 entitling full-time students to a subs GAMECOCK are in Rooms 316 an University campus. Phones are 777 class postage paid at Columbia, S. pvblication of the students of the Unis Official publication of the Universiti not necessarigy represent these efth& memsbers Of the SAMUcCJt. Editor..... .. .... Associate Editor..... .. .. .. Managing Editor..... .. .. .. Assistant Managing Editor.... Business Manager..... .. .. .. Advertising Manager.... .. .. News Editors..... .. .. .... Features Editor..... .. .. .. Sports Editor..... .. . ... Assistant Sports Editor. .. .. .. Pheto Editor..... .. .. .. Circulation...... .. .. .... Advertising Salesman.. .. .. .. Classified Advertising.. .. .. .. Staff Writers.... ... .. .. .. Armida Ginbert, Bob Grondahl, Julie Lu Elien Murray, Kis Schwelckert, Val Sti Woodruff Sports Writers. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. Bit Heffner, Charles Collins Photographers. ... .... .. ....Curtnet Kish, Bill Norwood, Lewis Phillips, Mui Temporary positions pending staff orn The hot air of education EDITOR: Miss George (or perhaps Alice), the rabbit beckons your name; pleading that your head swims in ancient seas. Your remarks have seemingly been taken out of the "Teacher's Manual for Higher Education," dated 1903. "If we are to grasp the true significance of education, we must question everything around us." Obviously, you haven't adhered to the principle, Alice. What about the educational system that so benevolently bestowed its viewpoint upon you? Have you questioned that? Have you seen the stultifying rules and regulations that stifle children's innate creativity? Miss George, do "facts, theories. and quotations" give you a sense of security? Oh, to fill our hollow souls with dross. The purpose of education is not to cram facts and figures into amorphous forms, rather, to help the individual be as much as he can be. Do you wish to divest the student of his responsibility towards his education, saying he does not know what is best. Yes, in many cases that is present but not all and I refuse to let grand mothers like yourself rule the education al complex with absurd attitudes. "Exposure to knowledge." You sound as if knowledge (classroom, textbook, test, exam, teacher, rote) is an edible object and every student is to receive his or her fair share. Are there not other means or do you dismiss them? Tell me, do grades really con stitute learning? If I receive an A,, do you equate it with excellence? And if my interests fail me and I fail a course, am I to be chastised as poor person and a failure? Do you want to question, Miss George? 0. K. Why the boredom and the restiveness in our young people today? Perhaps the students are right in assuming that the educational system is designed acock 1-weekly during the fall and spring iversity holidays and exam periods. tion requests and Other mail items ~lumbia, S.C. Subscription rates ave ers. Sulk copies are 56 per 100. The 000 from the student activity fund, cription to the paper. Offices of the if 316 of the Russell House on the -6176, 777-4249 and 777-3888. Second C. Although the GAMECOCK. is a rersity of South Carolina, it is not an .The opinions expressed herein do University, the student body, or all ... .......Genda Miller .. .. .. ...John T. Gash ... .. .. ...Hlly Getting .. .. .. ...sharon Given. ... .. .. ..U.e Htuckbee .. .. .. .. ...Art Frank ... .. ...Karin Burchstead, Vicki Thames .... .. .. ...B.ob Craft ... .. .....Doug Williams ... .. .. ....Steve Parker ... .. .. ...Fran Zupan .. .. .....Mounty Preston . .. .. .....De Lundgren . .. .. ....Patty McGuilNlan .Larry 'Evans, K. Wayne Ford, mnskln, Ruthie Lyon, Hugh McKCinlght, Igliti, Lou Tenant, Ann Winters, Betty I Grant, Jim Hersh, Gary West, Teddy Dicely, Doug Holladay,Alan Hul, Stove wy Sill anization. to create productive, non-thinking masses (not individuals) and It is only leading the good ol' U.S. of A. down the road to oblivion. Alas- and forsooth, farewell to our "golden opportunity." Is it not strange that the majority of students want education to be something behind them, into the past, get it over with, it's not worth this trouble. Education should lie in the present, each individual striving to make himself a better individual with the aid of the educational system. Miss ,George, I am not a scarecrow who wishes to be stuffed with nothingness; take my name out of your game. I see balloons all around me, inflated with hot air (called education); and if only I had a pin. M. C. REID YAF for taxes if for itself EDITOR: The Young Americans for Freedom (YAF) has loudly and continously denounced SCPIRG's effort to finance its public interest efforts by utilizing the student fee system. YAF has set itself up as the defender of financial freedom, the opponent of "involuntary taxation," and the arbiter of honesty. The shrillness'and sheer volume of the YAF's negative campaign is bewildering. But, how does the YAF stand up on "involuntary taxation" when it comes to THEIR treasury? In 171, it appears YAF put in a request for $3,120.00 to the Student Affairs Committee, a request the Com mittee wisely denied - in total - because YAP would have used it (in the Committee's opinion) for political purposes. (This in formation is public information at the Office of the Dean for Student Activities.) Thus, YAF does not object to "involuntary taxation" if THEY can use the funds for radical, right wing political purposes; they only object to funding which is democratic and can be used to fight pollutiob and protect the South Carolina consumer. YAF certainly did not petition the USC student body for their permission to use their money. Nor did YAF submit to a referendum. No one has, to date, seen the YAF going to the students to ask them to con tribute to YAP. SCPIRG has been open and honest in its proposal, in its method of funding, and in.its objectives. 'Tbe YAP, when the truth is out, is found big on talk about "fiancial freedom" but little on action. The deed must be the cousin to the word. YAF~ doth protest too much me thinks. ANN STIRLING Vote District 16' election