Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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opinion "It is a newspaper's duty to print the news,and raise hell." --Wilbur F. Storey, The Chicago Times, 1861 YAF Plans Undesirable The recent Young Americans for Freedom (YAF) Proposal to the Boaid, of Trustees to do away with mandatory Student Activities fees is undesirable for several reasons. The basic complaints are juvenile and seem to be based on political bias of the mem bers rather than a philosophical disagreement with the purpose of the fees. Accatding to the proposal, the student activities fees should be stopped because many of the fee supported activities are politically biased. It cites the Union films committee, the Ideas and Issues com mittee, the Student Government Association, and The Gamecock for political bias. However, it is interesting to note the kind of bias they consider undesirable. Throughout the proposal is the challenge that certain activities are left-wing. The gamecock, for example,is charged with journalistic excess, and articles such as. an unflattering editorial concerning Floyd Specce and Strom Thurmond, a letter to the editrr written by Bret Bursey, and an anti-Nixon editorial are cited as evidence This brings up an important point. Editorials, columns, and letters to the editor are opinion, not straight news. Writers of these opinions have the right provided by the First Amendment to ex press their views. It is interesting to note that the YAF members are not trying to improve the situation by working for the Gamecock or by writing letters. Instead, they wish to force the Gamecock tomove off campus, which threatens the existence of thepaper and conceivably could do away with the students' access to news and expression altogether. Doing away with university support of student activities would do more harm than good. The Student Activities fee is $13.50 a semester and for this fee the student has the opportunity to participate in a great number of activities and receive many services. The right of the student who wishes to be involved in these activities is as important as the student's right not to participate. Voluntary activity fees would not solve the prolbem, because the fee would be higher and many could not afford to pay it. It seems therefore, that the proposal is aimed those activities that the YAFdoes not agree with, not at the mandatory nature of the fees. For example, the YAF is not against paying mandatory athleti-c fees although a great many people would rather not pay them. The proposal appears to be an attempt to do away with all activities that the YAF (acting as self appointed censor) deems improper, with no con sideration for the rights and opinions of students who do not agree. Letters Policy Although the GAMECOCKwill attempt to run all letters received, preference will be given to those typed and under 200 words. We will not run anonymous letters, although we can withhold names for valid reasons. While we try to guarantee that letters will be printed, we do not guarantee when letters will be printed. riey Spee ths, Weal She has tried to hit the main problems facing Carolina n- students. She has been st relatively accessible. ly In 'the address, McKinney nt takes a good, hard shot at the y, student senate and its mem e bership. She chides senate id committees, saying such work "revolved around meeting to simply to read over bills sent to ta them that one interested senator may have written," She fur w thermore states that "Student !n Government cannot adequately to serve this student body until !s every senator, every officer and st every cabinet member takes on initiative roles." ie Perhaps therein lies the at biggest problem with student id government.. The channels of in communication between the w SGA and the students are limited. This inadequacy can be ly directly related to the incapacity s of the student senate to originate of any truly expansive legislation. s However, in many instances, this lack of forceful action in the ,n senate's Dart cannot be blamed ' on the body itself. McKinney ana e Eileen Berlin have at 1e tempted to take the entire in University to task on virtually an every issue they deem im a portant, often leaving senators , a cabinet members and elected st officers far back in the shadows. ty Then again, were it not for the he perseverance of the Dynamic A Duo, registration still would be built upon paleolithic ideas. NWMMMMMMMMMMMN Our Ma think about yourself, you'd quit smoking altogether! Just common courtesy is all that is necessary. Try it; you might even realize that getting cancer wasn't going to be that much fun, anyway! Charles E. Sacverance Editors Note: The article in question "The Smoking Issue Pro-Con" was written by twc different members of our editorial staff. Inspiration Promise TO THlE EDITOR: In response to Vivian Cooper's editorial on Bob Dylan, I was amazed at her pessimism and ridiculous comparisons. I also .attended the Charlotte concert Sand believe Dylan is offering not only a memory, but a promise of new hope and inspiration. The return of Dylan should be heralded and not criticized. Comparing Dylan to a religious figure is a ,purely asinine com pa;ison to make. The hero of a generation--yes, but a religious figure--nio. The words and spirit of Bob Dylan will not be forgotten-if listened to. The problem is not that Bob Dylan has nothing new to say, but perhaps we did not listen close enough the first time. So shut up and listen. I B O BBY EDW A R DS eh Tells cnesses If, as McKinney writes, "student governments are being faced with student problems ," and the roles of officials are to be completely fulfilled, a better liason will have to be created between SGA and the students. It truly will have to be a student government. McKinney has done a better than-average job in a position that could easily be neglected. However, in her en thusiasm and vitality, she has forgotten about the role of the elected officials that also should have an active part in student government. As a result, the senate has been somewhat disabled in the face of McKin ney's constant assault on ridiculous University policies. University governance may be the answer. But such a system cannot be established and put into working order overnight. Before university governance comes about, the present system has got to be proven effective in relationship to student-SGA communication. A standard rule of change is: if the old system does not work, get something better that does. While university governance undoubtedly would be a great boost to the system, the old standards should be genuinely tested. The success of the present system would then be an interim step toward the new set up immmmmmmmmmq I I I MMMMMMWWMMWWNS Humanity Not Lost To The Editor: Last semester during final exam week, the men of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Theta Nu chapter, sponsored a fund raising project for needy families in conjunction with the annual WOIC-Columbia Urban League holiday season project. Because of campus concern and cooperation, a cash con tribution of $305.75 was made, along with numerous con tributions of fooa and clothing. This showing attests the fact that humanity is not yet lost on this campus. The members of Alpha Phi Alpha would like to acknowledge thanks for campus support, for without it, this endeavor would not have been as successful. Members include Norman Banner, Jack Bellamy, Jimmi Cooper, John Edwards, Harrison Heller, David Hudson, Alex Kinlaw, Daniel McRae, Atlee Prince, Richard Reed, and Benjamin Powers. The membership also proudly reflects the addition of four new members in recent induction ceremonies. New members include Phillip Berry, Edward Grey, Samuel Jackson, and Norman Thomas. Again the members Alpha Phi Alpha give mnanKs. McKirn Streng1 By DOUG WILLIAMS Running a student gover ment is not exactly the easie thing in the world to do. Not on is a student body preside responsible to his constituenc but serves also as a definit liason between the students ai the administration. It might be far too early critically examine Ri McKinney's administration Though she has gone off on a fe somewhat radical tangents, ev( her bitterest enemies have admit many important issu, have been faced during the pa months. McKinney's State of tr University address strikes both the strengths ar weaknesses of the system which she and her fello government personnel operate Though the speech definite lacks force of any sort, it do reveal the varying degree success student government h had this year. Student government has tak( quite a few steps forward in th past 9% months. There is ti successful book exchange; tt massive positive trend registration; the creation oY ad hoc committee to prepare policy on McKinney's biggc single issue: universi governance. McKinney has gotten off t pedestal on which most S( presidents place themselves g*mm.m.mmmm..l kmmmmmmmmmmi Enjoy Suffering To The Editor: Congratulations! Th( Smoking editorial in the Januar: 21 issue of The Gamecock is the first pro-con article I have eve: read in which the pro and co sides were written by the sami person ! How can a person who il against the No Smoking Bil write an honest article for it? I is evident you like to see peopli suffer. Have you ever seen a persor have an attack of asthma? Have you ever seen lips turn blue a! the victim struggles for breath? Have you ever had the op portunity to watch the face of man with emphysema at someone near him lights up? Cigarette smoke aggravate! these conditions to no end. You are right in saying the bil is for the rights of the non smoker and not for the health o the smoker. If someone is no allowed to smoke in class, that il certainly not going to keep hin from smoking outside of class. To people who enjoy breathing that garbage, the smoke is ni bother. To those of us who are ii our right minds and do not lik< cigarette smoke, it really is bother. I have even become sicl (literally sick) upon having cigarette smoke blown in m: face. I am not saying that a law is ii order. If you high-and-might: smokers would think about u: once in a while. you'd qui smoking in class. If yu wnou