University of South Carolina Libraries
Bell By PATRICK TYLER News Editor USC's Bell Camp is expected to receive some $63,000 in student funds this spring for capital improvements. Phil Lownes, University Union director of the camp said yesterday the executive council of the union had chipped his budget request for the improvements from $50,000 down to $35,000, and they possibly would go lower before the budget is approved. Besides the union appropriation, the Student Allocations Commis sion two weeks ago gave the camp $14,200 on the condition the union would match that amount for development of the student owned camp. This would bring the total to $63,400. Some of the major improvements for which the money will be spent are additional parking space, an athletic field, an archery range, the renovation of existing cabins to equip, them with heaters for winter use and canoe trails among the streams that feed the camp's lake. Downes said one of the programs that will have to be scrapped because of the budget cut is the addition of tennis courts. The main reason for channeling such a large amount of student activity funds into the camp, according to David Ness, director of the union, is that student use of the camp has "almost doubled" since last year and that "outdoor recreation is the latest trend on col lege campuses." Even though there has been a sub stantial jump in camp usage Ness said there are a great number of stu dents who are unaware the camp BOARD TRUSTEES Students need at least members to serve their i the Board of Trustees. UI this right we have no voice i ing how we live. We are tired of havir leadership suppressed by less committees on this cal dent ideas deserve bette than this graveyard of red Student problems shot top. priority on the Board c The Board exists becausE should formulate policy w dents' interest foremost ir Fl amp. exists. Referring to a study done by a union member Mike Tucker, on the subject Ness said the study showed that 60 per cent of the stu dent body was ignorant of the facil ity locate 12 miles east of Colum bia near Dentsville. Last summer, to promote student use of the camp, Ness said the union arranged for bus service to the camp "three or four times a day." However, Ness added "The stu dents didn't t.se them tthe buses hardly at all. The most Successtul evenc an the camp was on the 4th of J ul y iast year when 2,000 people showed up, 1,300 of which were students. During the preceeding June, 159 people regis tered to stay over night at the camp and in July, excluding the Indepen dence Day celebrants, the number of over-nighters dropped to 138. The camp itself was inherited by the students from the YMCA when that organization was active on this campus. The "Y" had bought up the land, paying in some cases $10 per acre. Today according to Ness the land is assessed at more than $1 million and that value is expected to jump upwards radically in the near future because of develop ments around the perimeter of the camp by the Heath C. Manning Realty Company. According to Lownes, Manning is building an 18-hole golf course and residential development next to the camp. Lownes said property values surrounding the camp could go as high as $5,000 per acre. Now, a student wishing to use the facilities of the camp has only to find transportation to it. Spending the night in one of the camp's cabins costs 50 cents for maintenance. Along with students and campus organizations the camp caters to faculty and staff members and E o F two voting iterests on R k itit we gain n determ in ig student the count Tipus. Stu r attention -tape. ild warrant if Trustees. ~of us and' ith the stu mind. Exp- e*ci Improvements planned foi include additional parking spa members of the USC Alumni Association. For their use of the camp faculty members pay $10 per year and an alumnus, $15 per year. In the past year 214 faculty and staff personnel and 139 alumni have bought the memberships for a total input of $3,225. During the winter, Ness said the majority of use of the camp comes from campus organizations. A check of one month last spring FEL 'S $63,( S( .t n Bell Camp tic field, an i ce, an athle- and renovatia showed the following registrations on the campus books: Association of Afro American Students, 50 people, Phi Beta Phi, 40; Tau Beta Sigma, 18; USC Music Department (students and faculty), 150; USC Volunteer Services, 30; Sigma Nu, 60; Physical - Education Depart ment, 120; Kappa Alpha Psi, 100;University Union Short Course Committee, 20; USC English Department, 200; Individual Stu ST U RIGI Whateve * that a pers( guilty? It * to disciplin arrested bt should the on these st yet been pi True among thi them. SIDE )oo irchery range, canoe trails n of cabins. dents, 13. Robert Alexander, dean of stu dent activities said there is a five year plan for developing the camp to provide maximum benefits for students. No plan is available now because it is still being formulated, Ness said. However, Ness added that in that plan provision for stu dent transportation to and from the camp will be included during the warm weather months. EY DENT ITS happened to the concept >n is innocent until proven is the University's policy e students who have been it not yet convicted. Why University pass judgement udents whose guilt has not 'oven? leadership is found e students, not above