Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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USC Veterans develop basic *GET]1 ON BLUI on sale now i the sedom scene N9 REBEL-SLP-1520- THE SELDOM SCENE All Rebel albums a Ralph Stanley, Countr . Waldrn,The il Gener plus many ms. Seld more Bluegrass awari adwe're voted the U Dutch 10-9:30 i rogram provides learning skills in concert DEEP PURPLE w ith Electric Light Orchestra and Elf Sun.,,Dec. 15-8 p. m. T : 6.50 -"5.50 4.50 Available Record Bar Taylor St. Pharmacy Broadwood. Pharm-acy Ft. Ja-ckson Rec. Ctr.n.o.2 ,iIGH EGRAS :hru Dec. 31 . eton SedSSee * Scn a rcie IIGa yohrp s ftEyASS ro -saeicl.n BY ROBEItT ATCHINSON Of The Gamecock staff Eighteen veterans recently graduated from the first class of the Veteran's College Preparatory Program (VCP), Bob Thurber, coordiiator for the Office of Veteran Student Affairs at USC, said Tuesday. The VCP program, organized by USC office of Veteran Student Affairs helps give veterans the necessary skills to complete the high school equivilant programs. The program also helps veterans who have completed high school, but have been away from school for a long time and would find it hard to return to college otherwise, he added. Of the 20 graduates, 12 decided to go on to USC, six decided on a technical school, one went back into the service and one went back to his job, Thurber said. According to Thurber, all students are given an initial en trance exam, a test of Adult Basic Education (TABE). TABE is used to determine class eligibility. Anyone who scores poorly on the test is told because of the short duration of the course it will not be sufficient preparation for a post secondary education. But, Thurber said, all options are considered and the best interests of the individual vet is considered. The VCP program comes in the wake of the old Veterans Upward Botpnd program defunded last June. The funds for VCP were Holiday se with Christi The Carolina Christmas sease will get into full swing Sunda: Dec. 8, when the Universit presents its second annui Christmas Music Festival i Carolina Coliseum. The 4 p.m. extravaganza, USC holiday gift to the Columbia are will feature carol sing-alon interspersed with Christmi stories and special music pe formances. No admission will I charged. The hour-long festiva coordinated by Dr. William , Moody, head of the Department 1 Music, wil include the itudentar faculty talents. of the. Universi bands, orchestra and concel choir. Popular and traditional Christmas music will be combinea during the program. The in ternationally-acclaimed concerl choir will sing the traditional "Silent Night" and contemporar) sounds wi be offered by the Read The Keep available under the CranstWm amendment callig for a $3 million federal post mndary grant for disadvantaged students, Thurber said. Allotment of monies is based on vet enrollment figures in the respective schools. "We could have spent the money on a media campaign, billboards,. broadcasts, vans," Thurber said, "but after talking to a number of people we decided there was a definite need for a prep program of some kind in the community." Most contacts with vets in the community, according to Thurber, are made through VA and American Legion chapters. In addition, a State Fair booth was used this year to make a number of contacts. The booth was run for nine days and 52 persons responded, he said. Thurber and others at the Veterans Student Affairs office consider the VCP program a total success. In fact, Thurber said "we haven't advertised too much because we have more applicants than we can handle." Classes are kept to a 25-student limit to provide for smail groups and individual instruction, Thurber said. About 10 students are still needed to fill the sprin session beginning. Thursday, Jan. 23 and running through April 9. The programs last 10 weeks and arg held once a semester. The VCP program is approved for VA benefits. Interested per sons may contact the Office of Veteran Student Affairs, USC, 777 5156. ason begins rnas concert n mixed chorus, Carolina Alive, and f, the feminine voices of Radiant y Vibrations. These two ensembles kl will sing "Sleigh Bells" and then be n joined by the oratoria cheir for "Do You Hear What I hear." Joe Pinner, WIS-TV, will be 's master of ceremonies and narrator i, for "Twas The Night Before is Christmas." is Featured during the per r- formance will be the Opera oe Workshop's presentation of "Mr. Scrooge" under the direction of 1, Donald Gray. "Mr. Scrooge" is 1. based on Charles Dickens' "A f Christmas Carol." Words and d music were done by USC faculty y member Samuel Douglas. t Sing-alongs will be Christmas favorlites such as "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" and "0 Come All Ye Faithful" along with others. Also particlp5ting in the festival -will be the u~.band which will accompany the sing-alongs and provide the overture and the USC orchestra which will play for "Mr. Scrooge." Gamecock informed.