The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, April 14, 1975, Page Page 2, Image 2
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BY BILLY COX
Of The Gamecock staff
The thirst for adventure makes
normal people do things they would
never think themselves capable of
doing under ordinary conditions.
On Saturday, about 100
presumed-to-be-sane USC students
donned everything from crash
helmets to wetsuits, hopped aboard
exotic and often pitiful-looking
watercraft and floundered down
the Saluda River.
Fortunately, blue skies and mild
temperatures greeted the on
Campbell
From Page 1
We will have to go to that area of
the University to find out what
needs to be done," Campbell
said.
"I plan on spending a lot of
time with the students," he said,
"so, they get to know me as a
person and an administrator, and
I get to know them."
At EMU Campbell was ad
ministrator of the student union;
minority affairs; admissions and
financial aids; counseling,
reading and study clinics;
student publications; academic
records and teacher cer
tification; placement; housing;
and health services.
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slaught of sloppy shipmen and set
the stage for the Second Annual
River Raft Race. The format for
the event was designed by the
University Union Trips and Ex
peditions Committee. It was to be
a trying afternoon for them.
Launch site for the race was the
banks of the river behind the WIS
radio ttansmitters off Bush River
Road. As cars, weighted down by
the bulk of makeshift rafts, con
verged for the 10:30 a.m. in
spection deadline, reports began
flowing in about floats which were
falling apart en route to the scene.
One couple reported leaving
various pieces scattered about the
highway.
Although push-off time was
scheduled for 12:30 p.m., the actual
"Go" wasn't given until more than
an hour later. The delay was
because of a snag in getting the
supervisory canoes properly
stationed. One student grumbled,
"Indians didn't take this long to
build a raft."
For others, the delay provided
sorely-needed time to repair and
even construct their little
Lusitanias. Many used the time to
make retrievers out of their dogs,
or to wade to the ice chests for beer
in hope of giving added dimensions
to the journey.
As countdown approached,
students began jockeying for
position as they slipped and slid
through the riverbank mud. "Just
like a tour in 'Nam," growled one
man, sinking ankle deep in the
slush as he dragged his vessel
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toward the water.
Because the field included 21
rafts, starts were made at
staggered intervals according to
division classification. Originally,
the categories were independent,
dormitory, sponsored and Greek.
Because no fraternities had signed
up, that bracket was replaced by
the kayak division, of which there
were only two. Malicious gossip
spread through the ranks of the
ready.
The dorm division shoved off to a
good start. A* float composed of
two barrels lashed together rolled
lazily over on its side as soon as it
hit the water, dumping its pilots
into the chilly river. The Second
Annual River Race was underway.
Each division raced from the
ropes with a splashing, snarling,
shouting frenzy. Chopping
viciously away at the current with
paddles and oars, each crew
thought they had a legitimate shot
at the first prize: a keg of beer.
Second prize was fairly lucrative,
too, as the bridesmaids were to
receive a cooler full of brew. Beer,
of course, makes the world go
round.
Several well-built, streamlined
vessels pulled away early, leaving
the ambitions of the masses dashed
behind them. For the majority of
swabbies fatigue, drunkenness and
rigor mortis appeared to set in
early. Slowly, rafts began drop
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ping out of the active competition
as the sun blazed relentlessly. One
crew listlessly rode the current
while one of the hands performed a
stand-up strip tease.
Although a few crafts had begun
to disintegrate before reaching the
first set of rapids, the rocks took
their toll. Perhaps the most unique
float, the "Saluda Serpent," due to
its snake-like length and grinning
head, smashed its bamboo back
bone and flung its riders over
board. Other rafts met similar
fates.
After a long afternoon of slow
currents, blisters, chill and sun
burn, the finish line was a blessed
sight. Stragglers crawled ashore
awkwardly and draped themselves
on the rocks. Nothing was -funny,
not even absurdities like the
"Shawanga Aircraft Factory",,
designed by David Taylor and
Chris Elmore, which combined a
surfboard-and toilet seats.
Barry Dickerson captured first
place in the race, representing the
Navy in the sponsored division,
with a time of one hour and eight
minutes. A protest was im
mediately filed against them,
claiming the vessel was more of a
boat than a raft and that it did not
conform to standard regulations.
Alan McGill of the University
Union said there would be a ruling
tomorrow.
Other first-place rafts were
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captained by Rich Ewing (in
dependent), Dixon Davis (dorm)
and Mike Tarlton (kayak).
Students thawed out beside a
bonfire, griped about rule changes
and the absence of a promised beer
truck and traded stories. The most
poignant tale of suffering which
summed up the day came from
second year law student Robert
Brown.
"I swam," confessed Brown
solemnly, "300 of the most
treacherous yards ever swam in
that icy water." Brown revealed
how the cold water. was too much
for him, and he told his crewmates
to drop him off ashore.
Afterwards, he realized he had to
get back on a raft, or die in the
wilderness, so he swam out to
midstream and climbed aboard
another raft. "They took me in, let
me have some of their wine-I was
already hungry and a bit drunk and
then they kicked me out. They left
me sitting there on a miserable
little rock," Brown said.
"I hate this river," Brown
grimaced. "I despise it."
The last few sailors heaped their
rafts upon the fire and staggered
away. For the second year in a
row, a four-and-one-half mile
stretch of the Saluda River had
done them in. The Northwest
Passage to the Pacific might still
be undiscovered if Lewis and Clark
had been USC students.
NS
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ilable Through the
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associate Degree - *7.65
Bachelor's - *7.65
W4asters - *9.15
Ph.D. - *11.75
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