Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Letters to Dear Sir: I'm not in the habit of taking Gamecock editorials serious ly;but last Thursday's paper contained an editorial that I feel is a drastic misrepresentation of the truth. I refer to Billy Cox's letter, entitled "Where's that Spirit?" concerning USC basketball and the USC athletic program. First of all, I resent Cox's assumption that "Carolina bas ketball is simply not what it used to be, and everyone in Columbia knows it." That's a pile of bullshit. It's probably true that Carolina fans aren't quite as enthusiastic this year, a d there have been some empty seats in the Coliseum, but that's what happens in an off year for Carolina basketball compared to previous seasons. As far as our "weak" schedule is concerned, it may be weaker than ACC schedules, but it's still one of the toughest in the nation. Maybe Cox should take another look and find out just who we play. Next, Cox's suggestion to re enter the ACC is one of the most assinine Ibve ever heard. I per sonally would welcome more local teams on our basketball schedule, like Clemson and Fur man, but the ACC is definitely no solution to that. The 800 rule wasn't the only reason we left the conference. The ACC. always was, has been, and will be a jinx to Carolina athletics. EDITOR'S NOTE: This copy of Ben Baggott Jr.'s letter to The State newspaper was sent to the Gamecock in response to a Jan. 25 editorial. Dear Sir: In The State's January 25th editorial Key Principle Involved In Dietzel Pact Deb ate, The State took the position that the trustees of the Univer sity of South Carolina had vio lated South Carolina's Freedom Letters Welcome Letters to the editor on topics are welcome but subject to editing and condensation to meet style and space require ments. All letters must be typed and must be signed with the full name, address and phone number of the author. Unsigned letters or those with pseudonyms will not be printed. The letters should be addressed to Letters To the Editor, The Gamecock, Drawer A, USC, Columbia, S.C., 29208. the editor If Cox had stopped there, I probably could have overlooked his stupidity. But his statement that we at Carolina "don't have a whole lot to be proud of in the field of sports these days" is one of the biggest lies I've ever seen in print. USC has at this time an extremely good athletic program. In fact, football is our only losing program. Not only do we have a nationally powerful basketball team, but last year all of our spring sports had at least a winning season, most of them going consider ably beyond just a winning sea son. And this year, most or all of the spring sports are expected to do even better. If that's not enough for you, Cox, look at our women s athletic program and you'll find undefeated teams, champion ship teams, and consistent win ners. All this is what we have to be Cox. Judging from your editor ial, you're nothing but a traitor to the spirit that you were so gallantly defending. One more thing. You were wrong about McGuire's being just a "good coach"; Frank McGuire is a genius. And genius shouldn't be tampered with. FRED MERRITT EDITOR'S NOTE: Billy Cox's letter was a letter to the editor and not a Gamecock editorial. of Information Act. This may indeed be true but there are several areas of this problem which need closer examination before your conclusion may be considered valid The actions you cite as being in violation with the F.O.I. are both defensible. First, the trustees may have held execu tive session not to discuss their news access policy but to dis cuss what they considered a personnel matter. This is per missible under the F.O.I. Act. The State contends that discus sions concerning contracts of employes are privileged but not the final action taken.. The University may however consider itself a Corporation and therefore a separate entity It is intuitively obvious that the trustees are withholding certain information from the public but is U.S.C. getting away with ignoring the F.O.I. Act as your editoral states? The F.O.I. Act allows the courts to issue injunctions against violators. If the State feels that the University is in blatant violation of this Act it should use the legal safeguard (an injunction) provided for in the Act. The State should go to court and seek an injunction to obtain the requested records if the University is required to produce them. BEN H. B_AGGTTJR. BLOOD DONORS NEEDED! IMMEDIATE CASH PAYMENT Age Limitations, 18-60 NEW HOURS 9:30 a.m. 'til 5 p.m. Mon.-Fri. CAROLINA BLOOD BANK 1317 Taylor 923-622 McCabe and Mrs Genuine FILM PREVIEW BY DAVID SIMPSON The Hollywood Western has come a long way since Bronco Billy Anderson was shot off of his horse in the 1902 picture, The Great Train Robbery, There has been John Wayne's shot to stardom in John Ford's epic Stagecoach, the never end ing series of "B" westerns of the 50's, and the transition of the Hollywood western to the spaghetti western. A couple of years ago, however, the west ern brought on a new look-that of a psychological as well as a sociological study. The film that presented this view was Robert Aldrich's McCabe and Mrs. Miller. Together with a fine script, striking photo graphy, taut direction, and mar velous performances, McCabe is perhaps one of the most genuine and enjoyable west erns ever made. 'The Gre critical C THE GREAT TRAIN ROBBERY. FILM PREVIEW BY 4DAVID SIMPSON The Great Dictator was Charlie Chaplin's first all talk ing motion picture and also marked a critical change in the Chaplin style, for he undertook a role unlike that of his previous characters-that of a dictator, resembling Adolph Hitler. In the true Chaplin style, however, he turns his character inside out, grasping every opportunity to convey true comedy while making his character wholly believable. Made in 1940, The Great Dic tator was meant as a scathing satire on Hitler, portraying him as a small man (everything and everybody are twice as big as he is) with very grandoise ideas. When it was released, however, many critics found it distasteful for making fun of a man who had put Germany back on the map .. But Chaplin, a socialist, realized the ultimate goals of sUch Fascists, and exhibited his thoughts in one of the most fam ous scenes in movie his Easy To Open Gamecock Charge Account * 100 (LUmit) BRITTON S . Miller and enjoj Situated in a small mining town in the northwest United States, the picture focuses on a small time gambler making the most from the gullible townspeople, and a prostitude, who coerces the gambler into financing her business and splitting the profits. All goes well until some big time hoods (the forerunners of the Mafia) want to buy out the business. Faced with the possibility of sel ling out or getting shot, the gam bler struggles with his hidden conscience, reaching a conclu sion he has never had the strength to face before. Warren Beatty as McCabe, gives one of his finest perfor mances, rivalling that of Clyde Barrow in Bonnie and Clyde. His portrayal of the two-bit cowardly gambler torn between his own interests and the alure of the mysterious Mrs. Miller is perfect. The peak is reached when he must accept violence at Dictato haplin sty tory-that of the little dictator dancing with the world globe. In addition to Chaplin's antics is the added advantage of Jack Oakie's portrayal of a Mussolini caricature. Upon his entrance it is a rival battle between Chap lin and him. It is Oakie's perfor mance, in fact, that keeps The Great Dictator from becoming mediocre. Chaplin also portrays a Jew ish barber who is harassed by the dictators troops. His por trayal is reminiscent of his "tramp" character but falls short of it. It seems as if Chap lin were concentrating his main efforts on the title character. Chaplin also, for the first time, voices his true feelings toward totalitarian rule in a highly propagandist scene. It is this scene, in fact, that has led many reviewers to criticize the film, for it does markedly differ from the whole of the film. The Great Dictator is cer tainly not Chaplin's best film for it was a bold experiment in a time when the world was ready to explode into an inter-* national war. For this Chaplin from us . . .somewhkere th experienced v\oitresses. Let gistering wth our Dial-a-\til calling 787-9721 - anytirme {able in order to save his own life. Julie Christie is stunning as the frizzy-haired prostitute whose only escape from over powering reality is the local opium den. It is a performance that is captivating yet disturb ing. Special notice must go to the beautiful camera work through out the picture. Tinted with a yellowish tone to enhance the authenticity, McCabe is visu ally haunting and moody. cap turing a part of the west rarely seen. . McCabe and Mrs. Miller is a film not to be missed. Not only has director Aldrich captured the full richness of the locale, but has also given the viewer two of the finest perfor mances given by two of the fin est performers in films today. McCabe and Mrs. Miller plays this Friday and Saturday nights at the Russell,House Theatre. Admission is $.75. Its worth it. r' marks lechange must be appreciated. Still Chaplins's performance of the little dictator with big ideas and Oakie's portrayal of a fat Fas cist are two of the immortal characters in screen history. It is a film to see, for it is Chaplin, himself. The Great Dictator opens this Friday night at the Gamecock II, the first in a series of fine films being pre sented only in the Columbia area. The Gamecock is looking for reporters, preferably with experi ence in news writing, in political science, English, history, sociology, psychology and business. For information call Patrick Tyler at 777-8178. E ATIP 3re are restaurants that need Js help them find you by re ress service. Give us a tip by - day or night. DIA L-A-SE RVICE DIAL -A - WAIRESS