The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, April 01, 1974, Page Page 6, Image 7
Gibbes Mall:
Deplorable
In its never-ending crusade against greenery, trees
and the American way, the university has once more
taken steps to remove one of the few remaining non
concrete areas on the USC campus.
Gibbes Green, that run-down, dust bowl someplace
near Pickens Street is the latest meaningless endeavor
on the university's part in what appears to be a con
certed effort to finally cover the campus with a dome
and artificial sunlight.
But the conflict and controversy surrounding Gibbes
Green is beginning to look like it goes much further than
a simple destruction of nature, in view of the recent
resignation of campus architect John Califf. For it
appears that there is a major difference of opinion one of
the highest administrative levels on this campus.
Without question, Gibbes Green is one of the
university's eyesores. But it is also one of the school's
few remaining open areas; an area that has
degenerated in recent years to its present. state; an area
that, with a lot less money and problems, could be
restored to its pre-dirt days.
Yet, without any solicitation of student opinion, the
school has forged through with its plan to turn Gibbes
Green into a concrete playground; overturning or
ignoring any suggestions by Califf.
This demonstrates a dangerous problem that could be
reasonably detrimental to future university plans. We
all might just as well accept the fact that this school is
eventually going to one of the concrete wonders of the
world, despite our complaints. But if the upper-echelon
nature-killers are going to battle each other over what
an area is going to look like, serious questions con
cerning university standards arise.
First, what is the actual purpose Gibbes Green is
g(a ng to serv,e? Obviously, only the interests of Mr.
Brunton and his Business Affairs cronies. They expect
:students to treat the issue with their usual apathy,,
eventually Faccepting- the project because it's there.
Second, what is the point of a campus architect like
John Califf if Brunton & Co,. is going to make the
ultimate decision anyway?
Third, why such a gross expenditure of funds for
something as mundane as a concrete playground when
residence conditions, health policies, etc. are getting so
disgustingly poor? To say nothing of the fact that the
Student Allocations Commission doesn't even have
enough money to fund all of its budget requests from
various student organizations.
As usual, a competent decision concerning priorities
has not been made. Gibbes Green is an -unnecessary
fiasco that should be deplored.. Furthermore, the chain
of command at the Business Affairs level obviously
leaves something to be desired.
Nevertheless, the school plods on in its own inimitable
fashion, arbitrarily acting in what it gauges to be the
interest of Carolina students. When all that's actually
being done is extracting some money that could be
better spent on a project that has caused nothing but
problems. More of the kind of problems this university
really doesn't need.
Kudos No.1
Strange as it may seem, someone at this university
actually did something good for the students. During
spring break, when the wind reached near-hurricane
status, the window of a Capstone resident's car was
blown out.
As the car was in an enviable position for any hoodlum
to come in and rip it apart, the university police brought
the auto down to the station to ensure that nothing evil
befell it.
As amazing as it may sound, we thank you.
NIXOI,I SAID- .N%XON
T4E WAR WAS T-E EN
OVER.........,.. CRISIS
VI AMESE IN 1
NAVE BEEN YE ST
KILLED, WOUDED, To BUY
OR MADE AT 96
NOMELESS SINCE GA..(
PEACE WAS
DECLARED.
'Streaking
Epidemic'
Reply
To The Editor:
A "blooming" ambassador o
rather native wit has appeared ir
the forefront of the moral debat(
over streaking. We know of her nol
only from her stench of attendani
infirmity and "ill will," but alsc
from her basking Christiar
superfluity, as the .virtue-laden
"Ann Doe." Reeking with the
notorious bane of Puritan resen
timent and perverted will, sh(
thrusts herself forth .as that"soli
Bird", masturbating the engine o
"Monday Morality".
Who did not long for and rejoicf
in the dithyrambic effusionof thos(
two glorious nights, when thos(
flagellating ar.d castrating
shackles of popish morality anc
moral prostration were consumed
How enduring that spirit has beer
ever since! For once the weak
morbid and decrepit was not th(
order, was not the abyss wher(
idealistic self-expression i;
irrevocably lost. There was nr
"fall" on that Monday evening, 0r
on the previous '"hallowed'
Sunday, when "we" enshrined our
innocence and asserted our felicity
of being alive! Oh how those
words exorcise the dyspeptic
pestilence which you and other
teething carrion like you engender
in the unassuming hearts of the
noble, and all those who say yes tc
life! There is an eye in your
lacerating Christian dogma
"Miss" Doe, that kills as soon as ii
sees the sublimity of youthful self
expression and unaffected levity.
In your rabid and bloated reec
titude, you indiscriminately and
collectively indict the participants
in the early March "regeneration'
with moral execration anc
dementia. Perhaps, your
pubescent treks to school hav(
contributed to your present
Puritan cholera, and inability t(
abide in the innocent and un.
conditional happiness of others.
Seek not to express the idle
rhapsodies of the "Kanting'
Franciscan and self-assumed
moral curator, until your ultimate
"garland" has been achieved.
Like Phineus, you rail because
others dine with "liberal hedn" or
the coveted delights of natural
social expression and exchange.
In the final respnne to oun
SAID NIXON SAID NO
ERGY T14ERE WIL.
WAS 8EW NO IN
t5 T.WASL.AID ~
E OPF MY JO
ItDAY iWA.
PER.
Our Mail
impulsive Christian summons an<
Magdelinian plea for "God's help,'
I refer you the greatest of al
"Christians," Friedrich Nietzsche
who responded to Victoriar
catamites like your revered sel
with the conclusive reply: "Shov
me one more Godless than I, so tha
I may rejoice in his instruction"
Charles A. Roberts
Mall May Be
Improvement
To The Editor:
Concerning the Gibbes Greer
f Mall construction, I'm a bi
bewildered. Knowing Brunton'$
track record, I. expected the worst
and bummed considerably. But
opi
"It Is a newspa
the news,a
-Wilbur
The Chicag
The G
Although The G;arnec
students of the Univer
is not an official publica
opini ons expressed hern
resent those of the uni
or all the staff member
pori% I:ditor........
porItHii \4'ns 1-:dtor.
Itliti:.1 eta....
(OW SAID
5 wIL.
G4ES1CiL,". V DO
after looking over the pictorial
layout l(on a signboard at the site)
it didn't look bad at all. Ap
parently, no trees will be removed,
the brick walkways now existing
will remain, the mall itself will be
brick (not raw concrete), and more
grass will be planted and
cultivated. Judging from the
pictorial alone, this appears to be a
definite improvement and
preservation. Added to the
proposed renovation of Longstreet
Theatre tone of the few really
attractive architectural
achievements on tne campus), I'm
pleasantly surprised.
However, I remain skeptical ar.d
would like to see more detailed
descriptions of both proposed
restorations. Could such be ob
tained and printed in the
Gamecock?
Alva Lumpkin, III
lion
er's duty to print
id raise hell."
F. Storey,
o Times, 1861
litor
W~ilIiamis
.\rt IFrank
mecock
>ck is a publication of the
sity of South Carolina, it
tion of the un iversity. The
~in do not necessarily rep
~ersity, the student body
sof The G;amecock.
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