Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Misleading su Agents BY BILL PRATT News Editor Deception being employed by life insurance agents on campus as they sell their policies has reached a point where some restrictive action must be taken. These agents employ selling techniques which at times mislead the buyer to outright violation of South Carolina Insurance Codes. The Gamecock in its April 10 issue revealed that most students are unaware of the deceptive practices used by the companies, and consequently they discover they have been legally bound to a life insurance policy. In some cases, the agents present the policy application in the guise of a medical background check. After assuring the interested buyer that the application is nothing more than an application, not a policy, the proper signitures are made. But, in these cases the interested party has signed a promissory note for the first year's premium, along with the necessary health releases. Subsequently, the agent pays the application fee as he prepares to mail the papers to the main offices, without the prospective buyer ever being aware of this action. The payment then becomes the first installment on the first year premium, and the agent has The Columnist takes id TO THE EDITOR: I was reading your Issue for March 13, "Opinion," by some bubblehead named Moby Salahuddin. Of course, this fugitive from an ivy-covered ivory-tower has every right under our alleged "free" system to hold such ridiculous views, wear rose-colored sunglasses, keep his head in the sand and to have his mail for warded to Yellow Brick Road, Apartment 1, Land of Oz. I will not argue that. I just believe us Veterans who were there in that ill-managed war should have equal time. Granted. Salahuddin Is right in stating that no amount of aid now will save Cambodia, Laos, nor South Viet Nam. What he Ignores, having never been there nor seen what the NVA or the VC do to people (not just Americans; but, to their own), is that the "Domino Theory" is proving to be correct. He ignores the Communist insurgents in Northeastern Thailand (called by Thais and Americans alike the "Thai Cong") as well as along the Malaysian border in southern Thailand; nor for that matter is he aware, apparently, of .the pro Chinese "neutralist" government of Burma which ousted all Americans as early as 1967. Nor is he aware of the increased attacks idents plague broken the insurance statutes of South Carolina in the process. Such are the stories told by those who have chosen to reveal their exploitation. But, what of the student who fails to expose his misdirection? Where is the guidance and education for the person to understand his plight and to relieve himself of it? Clearly, without some help the victim sinks deeper and deeper into the weaknesses of the policy and company. But, this does not have to be the case. The University, in its role as an educator, and student government, in its role as a policy formulator, can step in to curb the abuses, and oversee the entire insurance selling activities about the campus. The University first of all should set up a regulatory board which would set up guidelines for all policies to be sold on campus, and the board should set up specific sales methods for all agents on campus to follow. This type of board could be easily formulated through the College of Business Administration's Insurance Department. Over the long run this action is the best solution. But, what in the meantime? The course is clearly open to student government to point to the abuses and through these exam ples educate the student body. This education would serve a Gamecock'. ealistic stance on h by North Vietnamese in Laos in support of the Pathet Lao. He questions whether these weakened Asian nation-states are falling to the marauding, mur dering, communist criminals. Perhaps he should visit U.S. Defense Language Institute, Presidio, Monterey, and talk with native Vietnamese (who were our teachers pf the language) who survived Ho Chi Minh's purges in 1954-1965 as well as those victims of "VC justice." Ba Giap, my teacher of culture and history, would be most pleased to show Salahuddin her earless face where VC "justice" am putated them because she refused to become a communist. It is too bad there is no "Americong" rampaging the U.S. kidnapping, raping, murdering, and assassinating students and other bubbleheads, modeling their atrocities on that of the Viet Cong. Perhaps Salahuddin would then taken note of the real issues. Sure, the U.S. is losing--not through defeat but through apathy, lethargy and softness. The fat Americans -have always had it too good. We need a devastating military defeat--here on our cwn shores, an occupation by a criminal power like Red China campus two-fold purpose. First, the student body would learn to avoid certain undesirable aspects of the insurance selling industry. Second, flagrant violations of in surance laws would cease. In the past, student government has prepared booklets containing information which most students do not have readily available to them. An example of such action is "The Landlord Tenant Guidebook" prepared last year. A similar booklet, illustrating the common malpractices and types of policies, would be a major step towards curbing a problem which. has not been regulated in quite some time. Such action would also enhance the credibility of the student government, and it would ob I viously show that student govern ment can do something for the students. However, if the University and student government fails it seems clear that the South Carolina In surance Commission will sponsor similar action in the General Assembly. But, until such action is initiated the questionable conduct of life insurance agents on campus will go virtually unchecked and the student will continue to be abused by the money hungry people that these agents are. r mai idochina (excuse me; the "Peoples' Republic" of China), or the Third Reich. We had that war won in 1968 until LBJ halted the bombing. No one ever wins a war who puts limits on his own soldiers. Sure, we mur dered 50,000-plus Americans. But that was Washington's deal with the Communists. FREDRICK MAUNEY Write r's logic not visible TO THE EDITOR: I have just read Lenny Dolin's letter in your April 3 Issue and It makes me wonder who really has an I.Q. between 50 and 75. Surely it must be my own Ignorance that leaves me wondering how Lenny can attack someone for insulting a group which he considers talented and In the next paragraph proceed to do the exact same thing. Somehow his logic escapes me. As for his defense of John Denver and the Carpenters, it would seem that the 1968 elections would have proved for all time that numerical suppr has nothing to do with ent or worth. Anyway Lenny, thanks for the gumball. STEVE METZ Editorials Student affairs Dr. James B. Campbell, USC's new vice president of student affairs, will walk into his job at a time when a number of student services are in need of change. For instance, Steve Hill, in his State of the University speech last Wednesday before the Student Senate, listed food service, housing and maintenance as three areas in which the new student affairs vice president will have to direct his attention immediately. When contacted last Friday at his home in Michigan by a reporter for The Gaiecock, Campbell said he will have to do a lot of hard work before he will be familiar with the problems facing USC students and the most appropriate ways to solve these problems. Campbell replaces Charles H. Witten, who has been the chief student affairs officer at USC since 1963. The change in personnel hopefully will cause the student affairs office to become more responsive to the needs of the students. If the office of student affairs is to successfully attack the problems of the students it must have strong and imaginative leadership at the top of the staff. Campbell, who was vice president of student affairs at Eastern Michigan University, must provide that leadership. Coming into the University from another school, Campbell will have an objective look at USC's student affairs office that may have been absent in the past several years. And through that objective eye Campbell should be able to see the problems that have bothered USC students for a long time. But while attacking the problems with objectivity, the student affairs office should not become isolated from the students. Campbell seems to realize that his office should be familiar to the student body, and he says that he plans to get out and meet as many students as he can. Hopefully Campbell will retain his willingness to get to know what the students want when he starts his job July 1. Staff solicits feedback Since The Gamecock is financed by every student in the Carolina community and read by about 20,000 people, The Gamecock staff would like to receive fee dback from our readers about the quality of coverage we have provided. Our coverage and display of the news may not reflect the views of the students as much as it should. More input is needed to find out what our goals should be and what methods should be used to attain them. A press council has been organized for 2 p.m. April 21 at the Russell House Theater to give our readers a chance to tell the editors what they want in their paper. All students, faculty and staff members are invited to attend to give The Gamecock staff a better idea of what you want in your paper. THE GAMECOCK Editor JIM HERSH Managing Editor Advertising Manager STEVE PARKER ARTFPRANK News Editor Photography Editor Sports Editor BILL PRATT MARI MASENG PETE FEHELEY Entertainment Editor Production Manager Copy Desk Chief CHUCKCROMER TERRYCOON FRANKDELOACHE The Gamecock welcomes letters from readers. Letters should be limited to a single subiect and a maximum of 300 words. They must be signed with the writer's true name. Pseudonyms or Other aliases will not be used, but the Writer's name will be withheld if circumstances warrant. To assist us in verifying the identity of writers, please include your mailing address and a telephone number where you can be reached. We reser ve the rt to edi al letr,ntfrcnet u omet our space limitations. Address: