Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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U4e (6ameruck Editor BO08BAKER Managing Editor News Editor CARL NAYLOR MARION ELLIOTT Advertising Manager ART FRANK Alhsgithe GAMECOCK is a publication of the students of the University of South Carelina. it is,net an official publication of the University. The opinions expressed ferein do net necessarily represent those of the University, the student body or all the smIt members of the GAMECOCK. USC Should Help Handicapped Person A very famous handicapped person once said of his disability, "I must live like an exile." The speaker was Ludwig van Beethoven, and his disability was deafness. Even though Beethoven's disability could not be seen, he felt it set him apart from others. The physically handicapped potential student must feel this same psychological isolation. It takes laudable determination to overcome this obstacle and decide to attend a University. In addition to his physical disability and the psychological factors involved, our potential student has a third problem to consider-the physical facilities and the cooperation of the University. Admittedly, USC has made recent progress in both these areas. Buildings now are built under the rigid North Carolina guidelines for accessibility to the handicapped, and curb cuts and ramps make existing structures more accessible. Both the South Carolina Department of Vocational Rehabilitation and the South Carolina Commission for the Blind have on campus representatives to aid handicapped students. The Advisory Committee on Aid to the Handicapped Student is proposing ways the University can make life easier for these students. There are, of course, handicapped students whose deter mination has helped them to succeed without such aid, but there is no way of knowing how many are too discouraged to begin. No accurate count has been made, but it is estimated that about 50 handicapped students (either visually disabled or with mobility impairments) attend USC. Surely, that is a small percentage of the number of handicapp citizens who are eligible for and could benefit from an education at USC. Handicapped persons generally must work with their minds, since their bodies are disabled. They comprise a valuable intellectual resource our state can ill afford to ignore. As a state university, USC is dedicated to the education of all qualified citizens without discrimination. We are not suggesting that the handicapped are overtly discriminated against, but that the obstacles in the way of their education comprise a subtle discrimination which can be defeating. Money is needed, of course, to renovate buildings and rid the campus of physical barriers. In addition the University should implement a program to encourage the handicapped potential student to enroll, then do all that is possible to make his college life obstacle free. The responsibility does not stop with University officials, though. It is up to each of us to remain aware of the special problems these students face. If University officials can make the campus a comfortable home for handicapped students, the rest of us should see that they are welcomed to that home. We should do our part to see that there are no handicapped exiles in South Carolina. EBB Ur1 (Pamecock 9taff Circulation Manager Production Manager GREG TOWERY TER RY COON Entertainment ditorpBILL BAEdoR PoorpyEio REND B oELLLLBKE JOHNYr DyMMGS Contributors SUSAN CATE MTHKEC EK RW MARK DILLARDGEEHOJUEJNS BRENDA EASTERLING MAKMYRIMMDWL DANE EDENS FE-I OASIVVA AI KATHY EDWARDS KRNPTT JC AN ALI$0N ESTESSUASTVN ELNBLS HANK GILMAN , LN WAT DNABS PHILIP JMES PRE HUMBEY R ACUT s/ S( The Student Faculty Dilej Jones Appointment Blow To University Last week's announcement that former USC president Thomas F. Jones was accepting the position of Vice President for Research at MIT and not returning to Carolina in the near future came as a blow to the USC academic community. At a time of budget cuts and other problems facing our state university, it is extremely unfortunate that one of the University's most distinguished and respected educators ever has left for a better life -- research at a truly great academic institution, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. While USC's loss is surely MIT's gain, the USC Board members, state legislative members, and others who so in strumentally pulled off the removal of Jones 18 months ago should realize that his appointment is a poignant kick in their collective butts. The University was headed toward a prominence which it had never enjoyed under Jones or anyone else for that matter, and his resignation came as almost a complete surprise to the entire Carolina community. The circumstances surrounding the resignation have never been clarified, but a recent comment by one of the Univer sity's most respected faculty members could explain why the former president was removed. "Under Jones the University had lost control over students." If this were so, despite how theoretically impo,ssible it may seem, the student body en joyed every bit of academic freedom it had %hile Jones was here. The atmosphere under Jones seemed to be one in which most every student seemed satisfied with his mere existence at USC as not just another number, but as a specific individual. No one needs to be told that this atmosphere has gradually diminished since Jones' departure, for the present climate seems far removed from the academic excellence which Jones stressed. Recently, an administration official expressed to the GAMECOCK that he indeed could "detect a definite change in the morale of certain faculty from when Jones was here," and that "the difference between Jones the the present President is as glowing as night and day." Of course, there are those faculty and administrative per sons who disagree and are expressing glee over the fact that Jones is not coming back to USC, at least not in the very near future. A prominent faculty member remarked that bringing Jones back here might cause the former outspoken president to talk about circumstances surrounding his removal. Could that be such a shame? We think the University was literally screwed and cheated when Jones was apparently told to resign 18 months ago, and we hope that the controversy surrounding the situation will indeed someday be cleared up. But, whether Jones eventually returns to USC or not is immaterial to the future of the University for he has already left his indelible imprint in his 12-year quest for excellence here. Regardless, the University is an academic institution with - tremendous promise for the future. USC still has a potential for greatness not only to the state but also to its nation, and whether the Board of Trustees hears USC's deserving call for dynamic leadership to take it through another grueling twelve years or not, the entire Carolina community will either suffer or advance as a result of the eventual final decision. R LB nma Letter To Our Readers TO THE READER: Believe it or noi, last week marked a special time in the history of the GAMECOCK newspaper. No one cared enough to write a letter to the editor, and that's a rare occurrence indeed. While we realize many students are keeping busy with studies and summer fun, we still think its a sad day for our country when our readers find nothing to gripe about or fail to let their collective views known. Tomorrow marks the 199th anniversary of an event which was brought on because a group of individuals cared enough to speak out about problems affecting their future, and the changes going on around them. Today, however, it seems that no one really cares about those very similar changes occurring now. Remember that our future is judged on whether we bother to act when problems confront us. If there's anything bugging you, inside or out, then we'd appreciate hearing from you. The world is anywhere far from perfect now. And, only you can change that. BOB BAKER GAMECOCK Editor-in-Chief Letters Welcome! The GAMECOCK invites all persons within the campus community to make their opinions and thoughts known to our readers. It is your voice--we are the vehicle. We attempt to print weekly in our "Letters to the Editor" sec tion all letters - received. Minimal editing is promised, and though longer letters will be printed, letters of 200 words and under are given preference due to space requirements. And, it is the decision of the editors that we not run anonymous letters, though we will withhold names for valid reasons. Preferably, letters should be typed with name and ad dress of the author included. Please deliver letters per sonally to our office in Room 318 Russell House or write Campus Opinion, Drawer A, USC. Columbia 292n08'