Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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EHK VOL. LXIV NO. 57 UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA, COLUMBIA. S.C. 29208 April 4, 1974 $900,Oi Filed A~ FY FRANK DEEI)ACIIE A $900,000 law suit has been filed against the University; Charles Witten, vice president for student affairs; Joe Pearce, Florence insurance agent; and Reliance Insurance Company. The suit was filed by George Frooks, university law student, who is represented by Kohn & Findel, Attorneys At Law. Ac cording to Finkel, the suit charges the parties named with misrepresentation and deceitful practice, through fraudulent in ducement and breach of contract. The defendants have 20 days to answer the charges. Finkel said discovery procedures would follow after the defendants had replied. Finkel plans to take oral dispositions and subpoena records. He estimated 18 months as the earliest possible trial date. Frooks is suing individually and on the behalf of all university students with the student in surance plan. According to Finkel, this class action makes the suit stronger and gives Frooks the right to ask for estimated damages incurred by all students. As an individual Frooks is entitled to sue for only approximately $200. "The individual claims are very small, but the fact is that people are literally defrauded. The problem is to make it recognizable judicially. We are bringing in claims at one time. Everybody at the university is a potential loser," Finkel said. "We believe Green St BY TOMMY FOWLER A major issue facing Columbia City Council candidates in next week's election will be what to do about the Green Street closing. The April 9 election will have two Democrats and two Republicans running for two vacant council seats. The Democratic candidates are R.E.L. Freeman, a self employed Columbia businessman and I. P. Stanback, a retired in surance man. Facing them are the Republicans, William Durham, a Columbia realtor and Kirk Finlay, a Columbia area attorney. Durham and Freeman have previously served on the Council and will attempt to regain their seats. Durham, a sort of middle-of-the roader on the question said, "I am not in favor of closing permanently without full information." He said until Sumter Street had been completed, allowing traffic to funnel through, and without estimates of traffic flow by a proposed Council survey, he would not commit himself to a closing. "I am committed to a trial closing for a good, thorough look at the traffic situation," Durham )0 Fra 'ainst I the school has pandered insurance. It's an odious situation all the way around." T. Eston Marchant, university board of trustees chairman, was served as the university representative. He said, "The case is in litigation at this time. I couldn't comment on it at this point. The attorney general will be representing the university." Assistant Attorney General Donnie Myers said the university McKinne' Call For C BY TOMMY FOWLER Both the in-coming and outgoing presidents of the USC Student Government Association (SGA) stressed the re-organization of the University's decision making process at inaugration ceremonies Tuesday. Rita McKinney, told the audience at the B.A. Auditorium yesterday the power of decision needs to be returned to the students and faculty thus diminishing the absolute decision-making authority of the Board of Trustees. "Once in a while, the student eet Issue 1 'Until I can see some I explained. "Until I can see some way for traffic to be moved in a proper way, I would not be in favor of it," he said. Durham said there had been other suggestions made con cerning the closing of Green Street. Among the suggestions, Durham said, was building a bridge over Green Street as has been done on Pickens Street, The survey Durham mentioned is one proposed by Council to help determine the effect on traffic flow patterns a trial closing of Green would have on the surrounding routes such as Sumter and Pickens streets. Durham said the physical Suit JSc will send his office material soon and comment will be withheld at least 10 days. The pamphlet issued by the insurance company has already be ordered rewritten by Howard B. Clark, South Carolina Chief In surance Commisioner. Clark said the clause excluding coverage of student health center charges was not adequately displayed. y, Leventis rovernanc government cranks up enough steam, is in the right office at the right time and their input is heard. However, myself and 20,000 other students cannot accept that form of student participation in w: At should be an educational democracy," McKinney said. McKinney said she thought it was time for the University to "open up its decision making process to more than just a handful of top level administra tors." She explained that a change was needed at the University and See SGA, Page 5 r" n Upcomni way for traffic to be move would not be in favor of it. problem of moving vehicles through and bodies across the street was the main factor of the issue. "There's got to be a way of doing it without upsetting the whole city," he said. He explained that knowing political people as he did, "to put off (the Green Street issue) means bury. "I am in favor of a trial closing to determine the facts," he said. Durham also said, "A lot of people feel a trial closing is just a foot in the door, and I don't blame them" Stanback, a definite advocate of a permanent closing of Green Street, said, "I think, damn it, they d '1w i j c'.- g . :i .'FyQ ~ LMT t- 4. It might not be Ocean Drive, but all th decent place for one to sun himself. T been usurprising in view of the state's si perhaps the biggest surprise of all is tl water in the reflection pool. Photo by K. ig Council H bes this d in a proper way, 18is att( Coll sail( hun F favi --William Durham -fa to t ought to close it". He said there pro are 10 thousand people crossing the like street every day and, in his clos opinion, "Council should work for had them.'' to ti "This won't hurt Five Points one are, durn bit," he said. "I hope you'll F get your University advocates to prol turn out." saic Stanback said he did not un- und derstand why the Green Street botI closing caused a great deal of ope controversy when there was 'NO Col. WORD' 'at all" about the closing of hea the 200 block of Bull Street, behind the Bates House. pa He said, "It wouldn't hurt top close it (Green Street) from Assembly Street up." U A .. e same, it is water and a half he recent warm weather has range weather patterns. But se fact that there actually is Courtney Dicely Election e described the closing as "the t thing to do." Stanback said was in the best interest of the to 20 thousand students who nd the University. To me, they're a part of imbia," Stanback said. He I he was for the closing,' one dred per cent." reeman said he would be in )r of a trial closing if the ts" are given. My feeling is that I would want ry it," he said. e said the trial closing would bably pass in a council vote. "It my feeling that, more than ly, we'll go for the trial ing," he said. He added there been some serious objections le closing from the Five Points a and residents. reeman explained the :edure for a trial closing. He 1 a traffic count would be made er "normal" conditions with i Pickens and Sumter streets n to traffic. Then, he said, incil would hold a public ring to consider the results of test and to show a proposed i for re-routing traffic during ee 'A nmDAES n-g -,