Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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'S.C. Pri ,BY JOIN P. GRiiFFIN Editors Note: John Griffin is an inmate at Central Correctional Institute. "Three years now I've lived in this joint, and the warden don't even know my name. You gotta screw up every so often or they'll forget you're even alive." This is one of the most common gripes one hears from inmates in the South Carolina State Prison. Each month more and more men are crowded into the ancient facilities that is called the "Central Correctional Institute." Cells that are hardly larger than closets house two full-sized men. Seats in the mess hall fill up long before the lines of hungry Alteri To Tick ELI ons Dep prisoners expire. Each and every function requires waiting in lines that never seem to move. If the purpose of prisons is to punish and dehumanize and rob men of their self-respect, then South Carolina's current system is a success. Consideration should be given, however, to the fact that most prisoners eventually return to society: South Carolina isn't sending responsible citizens back into he world. Consideration should also be given tt;the fact that people reflect t he way they are treated: if a man is treated with respect, he returns respect. Men in prison are still men, and they deserve the respect of other men. And consideration should be given to the fact that a atives et Plans I tuden n Spri - Feb. 25, Cam CTIONS - March 4, E le, ' March 6, 1st - March 8, 2n< - April 2. Ina, rive Men person's individualism is one of his most valued possessions. It's Page 4 Feb. 21, 1974 very difficult to remain an in dividual inside the South Carolina Department of Corre-i ;ns; it's also hard to become r--h:i)ilitated there. No man conforms to society's expectations throughout the efforts of South Carolina's or anyone else's prison system: rehabilitation must come from within the individual if it comes at ANDREW ZALKIN While sitting in the Golden Spur last night, listening to fellow students complain over non existant athletic e%ent tickets, an idea evolved which maN alieviate this discontentment. The plan I am proposing would be beneficial to stu'ents, alumni, and the Athletic Department. and could easily be integrated into the Fall '74 registration. Very simply, it is this: 1. At the fee receipt station at registration ,students could pick up ticket books pre-stamped for all of the events which occur during the semester 2. For simplicity, seating arrangements could remain the Govei g Llec paign Starts Run-Off Run-Off gu rat ion Of Self all. But for a man to desire a change, he should be able to feel a sense of worth. It's hard to feel worthy when the administration that's overseeing a man's correctional process doesn't even know his name. The men in South Carolina's prison are not hopeless, illiterate idiots who aren't concerned for themselves. Creativity and self expression find outlets despite the adverse environment which surrounds them. The University of South Carolina's prison college program is considered by some prisoners to be the tool with which to pry themselves away from a hopeless Fi+"-tion. Other programs that incourage in dividualism hm't- been initiated: a same as now, wit eions reserved for each class. 3. Students wishing to purchase date tickets would then have the option of purchasing the adjacent seat book. 4. At a pre-set date before ti-.b each event, students who do not wish to use that particular ticket could return it and receive a refund representative of the percentage of the activities fee for a single event. For example, if the portion allotted to athletic event tickets is $12 per semester, and 12 ticketed games occur during a semester, then the refund would be $1. 5. The Athletic Department could then correctly ascertain the exact number of student tickets now available for general sales and, if necessary, recoup the $1 loss by rmen 10n S Respect' creative writing clinic; a drama club- classes in drug abuse; Alcoholics Anonym,us. Still the prison population grows. This isn't enough. Prison administrators are aware of the incompetence of the present system. and plans are being made to decontralize the Central Correc t ional Institution. Future inmate will be localized in small institutions near to their home counties. More opportunities and a healthy environment will be provided with which a ian can enhance his chances for a productive future. Face it, people, prisons are a flop. They don't do what they're supposed to cio. It's time for a change. No !t's past time fori a change. adjusting the public purchase price. This plan will eliminate students paving for tickets never used by thei. i:.. well as make activities 1cc pa. ment more fair. The si odent i as the option of using the ticket he has paid for, or "cashing it -n" so that someone outside the t'nia ersty will be able to purchase the rights to that seat for one event. The "\+hletic Department will not he losing any money by this refund to students, for they can make up the difference in public ticket sales. Students should not have to pay for tickets to games they do not wish to attend, while the general public should pay, and then only when there are surplus tickets.