Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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General BY BETTY WILLIAMS A black brigadier general said that the Air Force has set out to raise its percentage of black officers from 1.7 to 5.6. Lucius Thetis, Special Assistant for Social Actions to the Deputy Chief of Staff at Air Force headquarters, Washing ton, said the service is trying to bring about this increase "in the near term." The general, who visited Carolina Friday to attend an AFROTC dining-in, said that the 5.6 per cent figure is based on the percentage of blacks in the group from which the Air Force recruits its officers, the group of 22 to 30-year-old college graduates. As a social actions officer, Theus is responsible for equal opportunity and treatment, race relations education, drug and alcohol abuse control and domestic action. "We are solving the contem porary problems of the day in the Air Force including drugs, race relations and equal oppor tunities for all personnel," he said. "It's one of the most chal lenging exciting assignments I can think of. You can see things happening." Of the Air Force race rela tions program Theus said, "We have in the Air Force a total program. We have a standard by which all of our Air Force people must live. All Air Force personnel must be treated equally." Its three-pronged approach Hear... CUSCo' ..Stereo Sound *Cartridges 0 Phonos 2714 Devine St. TV & Mu Welcol HAl Sandy 11 a. 634 H A at i Us highlicjht consists of programs in educa tion, equal opportunities and awareness. There is a race relations education program in training schools for recruits. In addi tion, "We do give all our person nel 18 hours a year in race rela tions education." Theus said. To carry out the equal oppor tunities program, "At all instal lations of any size at all an equa' opportunities officer is there to recommend to the commander to take any actions necessary," the general said. The officer is also available for the men to air their grievances to. As a third aspect of the prog ram "We make sure all our per sonnel are aware of the backing of the program. They won't have to wonder." Theus said that ranking officers in the Air Force including the Secretary of the Air Force and the Chief of Staff had recently spoken out to give backing to the program and to indicate the service's determination to bring about equal opportunities and treat ment. Despite these extra efforts Theus said, "The standard of equal opportunity is the same as any other standard in the Air Force." Those standards won't be compromised. Ignoring this or any other standard could and has resulted in demotion and or reassignment. rTo 2 Year Warranty Parts-Labor S Earphones " Needles sic Ctr. Ph 2s6-0541 me Students 'PY HOUR :304:30 chelob 30* vlches, Soups, Salads in. to 12 p.m. tDEN STREET :ive Points new Air Education and rehabilitation are significant parts of the Air Force program to combat drug abuse. Theus said, "Drug abuse and. duty in the Air For ce--these two are totally incom patible." Education comes first but he said, "We do use the usual methods of attack to detect drug abusers." He said drug abusers have the 'ption of admitting their abuses. "The man who volun teers to come in for rehabilita tion is guaranteed no discharge less than an honorable one." In referring to the recent racial troubles in the Navy Theus said he could sympathize with their sister service. "The same thing could happen to us." He said the Navy has a program similar to that of the Air Force for equal opportunities and race relations. The general said he tnmks the Air Force will not suffer much with the advent of an all volunteer army, partly because it relies on volunteers to fill its ranks already and partly because "The Air Force now offers such good opportunities to youngsters that we will con tinue to maintain our appeal. We have so much in the way of technical training to offer that when he leaves he will certainly have a career that is saleable on the outside." Now Open For Your This coi Good until Dec. 9. 1972 9f1 Force yl Gen. Theus Convenience... Gamecock I block from canip 921 Asse Grand Op * Pabst I *1.40 Open S Cold Beer-C Same prii f44 lo s$worth!fneear.., a THE GAMECOCK is published twice weekly on MoM ay and Thur sday during the fi and spring semesters with the ecception of uni versity holidays and exam periods. Change of address forms, sub scription requests and other mail 'items should be sent to The Gamecock, Drawer A, USC, Colum bia, S. C., 29208. Subscription rate is $3 per semester. The Gamecock this year received $55,000 from the student activity fund entitling full time students to a subscription. Officesof Tho Gamecock are rooms 317, 318, and 319 in Russell House on the university campus. Telephones are 777-8178 and 777 4249, news, and 777-3888, advertis ing. Second class postage paid at Columbia, S. C. Although The Gamecock is a pub lication of the students of the University of South Carolina, it is not an official publication of the uni versity. The opinions expressed herein do not necessarily represent those of the university, the student body, or all staff members of The Gamecock. Be Editor! Application for editorship of "The Gamecock" and manager of WUSC AM radio are now being accepted for the spring semester. Deadline for submitting the applications is Dec 11 at 5 p.m. They may be picked up at the Dean of Student Activities Office on the sec ond floor of the Pendleton Building. Union election The University Union will hold elections Thursday Dec. 7 for posi tions of vice president for Finance and vice president for Entertain ment. Applications must be submit ted to the union director's office by Tuesday Dec. 5. To qualify one must have been a member of the union for one semester and have been currently active. Party Shop us-in front of Star Lanes mbly Street ening Special lue Ribbon six pack case - 8:30 p.m. old Wine-Mixers ee hot or cold ycle In stock at -362S Open at 1:30 every day as