Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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.E K VOL. LXV' N o . 4 8 UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA, COLUMBIA. S.C. 29208 Feb. 18, 1974 After Hollings' Sp Board's Q Condemi BY CARL BAAB See related story Page 3. Democratic Senator Fritz Hollings visited the USC campus Wednesday and before leaving made a surprise appearance at the weekly student senate session where he answered questions about the presidential im peachment proceedings, the fuel shortage and President Nixon's proposed defense budget. Following Holling s' 25-minute talk, the senate voted over whelmingly to condemn as "ar bitrary, secretive, and not in the best interests of the USC com munity" the manner in which the USC Board of Trustees selected Patterson as next university president. In other action, the senate decisively smashed a bill authored by Sen. Robert Clarkson that would have prohibited graduate students from participating in many student activity fee-funded school programs. However, prior to the debate that surrounded these two bills, the student senate listened attentively Critici BY JOE LOGAN USC has the best method in the country for ticket distribution. According to Ray Faircloth, USC's athletic ticket manager, in the wake of student discontent over the distribution of tickets for the Notre Dame game. In making that comment, Faircloth denied that any illegal or improper ticket distributions occurred prior to the Notre Dame game. Faircloth also denied un confirmed reports that former Speaker of the House Sol Blatt had received 90 tickets for the basketball showdown. FAIR('IA)TIl SA)ID various other universities have contacted USC in modeling their ticket distribution after USC's "Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee, Oklahoma and Florida State have come to us," Faircloth said. Faircloth also pointed out that Clemson has no system for early distribution of student tickets. They have to show up for the game and hope they can get a seat, he said. Faircloth dlenied the rumor that the South Carolina State Legislature had received 1,000 tickets for the game. Hie said the USC Board of Trustees has in st ructed the athletic dlepart ment to offer each state legislator the opp~ort unity to p)urc(hase t wo season tickets each year. Hlowever-, he said, this year only about 110 season tickets were purc(hased by legislators and these seats are located in sect ions HS. T. S. 11, V. ech election F Fed By US( to Hollings as he told them impeachment proceedings against President Nixon should be stopped because America would suffer worse for it. On the energy crisis, Hollings said the fuel shortage is real though he admitted he did not really know to what extent. The problem, said Hollings, "Is that big oil has never filed the real facts." Hollings, who graduated from the USC Law School in 1947, told the senate that President Nixon's proposed defense budget was "too high, but not outrageous." Claiming that the U.S'A. should spend a higher percentage of its defense budget on weapons research, Hollings said, "Our scientists should be making the best weapons possible, not Wheaties or whatever they make." After Hollings was signaled by his aide that time was up, the Charleston Democrat finished his speech, which in the final analysis had highly political tones and a sweeDine condemnation of Nixon administration. The student senate then began debate on the resolution to con demn the board of trustees' smGro Officials C W and WX, behind the backboards. In accounting for the Coliseum's 12,397 seats, Faircloth said the largest block of approximately 5,800 tickets go to the students. He said that, except in the case of important games such as Notre Dame, there is usually a surplus of tickets. Manager of student ticket distribution, Roger Booco, added that often distribution regulations are relaxed in an effort to get more students at the game. Gamecock Club members, those donating a minimum of $25 to the athletic program, account for approximately 5,000 ticktes. llowever, Faircloth said, Gamecock Club membership does not assure someone of a season ticket. "Our waiting lists are so long that occasionally we throw some of them away," Faircloth said. Full scholarship donors, he said, are given the opportunity to purchase eight season tickets. AIPPROXIMATEIX l,O00season tickets go to faculty and staff members of the university. Faircloth said when the Coliseum was built the basket ball program was not as strong as it is presently, and( there was a fear of not being able to fill the bunidintg. Therefore, ap)plicat ions were sent to all faculty and staff me'mbers providing tor futuore a va ilabil ityv of se'ason tickets. Nearly 4001 tickets are( given rocedure iASenate university presidential selection methods. Claiming that "certain board members misled the USC com munity by speaking in terms of selecting a search committee that would represent the entire USC community," the bill's authors, Sens. Jeffrey Greene and Trippy Shinn, said the university community was in fact not represented in the board's decision making process. "The board needs to be con demned," said Greene and he added, "Just the method of selection, not Patterson." Opposition to the resolution came primarily from Rodney Shealy and Ed Ewing. Shealy said, "I'm not completely against the resolution, but I feel it should be worded less strongly." Many of the senators who favored passage cited The Gamecock's investigative coverage of the Jone s resignation and Patterson selection which indicated that "foul play" may have brought about the sudden (See SENATE, Page 12) ws Ove: laim System ' Our waiting li occasionally we th am Faircloth. The largest recipient, the president of the university, receives 56 season tickets. Both the governor and the student body president receive six tickets. The 30-member pep band is alloted 60 tickets to provide room for their instruments. Varsity opponents receive 25 free seats, and there are 10 strategically located seats for SLED agents. Thirty seats are provided for basketball and foot ball recruits and another 10 for visiting sports information directors andl press mem bers. Basketball coaches, players and miianagers are each given four free ';eats for fam ily andl friends. NIEM1BE HS of the athleti dlepartiment receive a Cree ticket for each member ot their family, excep)t for secreI(t aries Who receive only one for' themselves and their spouses. Tlhis comes to a total of ap)proxim)ately 150. l'aire lothI said varions n)oniV 40 USC's Mike Dunleavy prepares to< first half of the Irish's 72-68 win o% ternoon. This scene proved to be a Carolina, as Shumate promptly stufl face. See staff reports on Page 9. Sta Ticket. One of Best' sts are so long row some of them ray. Ray Faircloth -- I contacted the athletic department, but were unable to get extra tickets for the Notre Dame game. For r example, among those turned I dlown were the governor, various members of the USC Board of c Trustees and the Lt. Governor. v SLED) tried to get extra tickets for c various judges across the state, but s they too were unsuccessful. Both Student Ombudsman Joe a McCulloch and Student Body t President Rlita McKinney received v numerous complaints from d outraged students who, despite tl long waits, failedI to get tickets. aI McCulloch said. 'There's nothing t we can do, just let them blo0w off d steam. I think the SGA is caught in the mliddle of a problem that has no V solutilon " h SIN('E Student Government Association is in charge of student t< ticket dlistrib)ut ion, much cr-it icism li was directed towardl the SG;A. "I- I feel like we're taking flack for the C athletic denartment.'' McKinnev a [rive on John Shumate during the 'er the Gamecocks Saturday af prediction of things to come for red the ball back into Dunleavy's ff photo by Russell Jeffcoat. Plans ;aid. "Personally, I don't think we ;hould participate in allotment, but [ fear the number of tickets that vill slip out if we have no hand in listribution." McKinney added, "I hope some ;tudent senators institute egislation about this thing. FAIRC'LOTH AND McKinnevhad ieard of attempts by students to -ecover part of their mandatory ithletic fees. If successful, that vould mean about a 40 cents rebate rom the $12.00 fee. Two law students, Jim Pope and 3arry Smithson, have directed a etter to President Jones and 'hairman of the Board of Trustees Eston Marchant, requesting a neeting to discuss the situation. ope and Smithson contend that he Carolina Community bulletin learly states that each student eith a proper ID and validated fee ard shall be able to pick-up two tudent tickets. Allen Ward, past vice chairman f the Athletic Committee feels hiat the Notre Dame game will iarrant changing the present istribution system. Ward said sat Irvin Woods, chairman of the thletic 'omimittee, spends five to 'n hours per week with students iscussing improved systems. However," Ward added, "We do 'ant to make sure the process is etter' before we change.'' Paircloth and Booco are opposed >(changing the system. Both men 'el that situations like the Notre ame game (10 not arise often nlough to w~arrant changing to nother' method