The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, August 28, 1975, Section B, Page Page 4B, Image 36
Bell Camp
Students D
BY BRENDA BELL
Entertainment Editor
USC has something more to offer
students than an academic at
mosphere. Located just 13 miles
from campus in a woodsy secluded
spot all its own is USC's Bell Camp.
This 215 acre outdoor
recreational facility provides a
variety of activities for the use and
enjoymrent of USC students,
faculty, staff, and their guests.
When Phil Lownes, Bell Camp's
first director came in 1972, the
facility was hardly.developed to its
full potential. In order to remedy
this and to make Bell Camp a nice
place for USC to call its own,
Lownes helped create a five year
developmental plan for the camp.
Some of these ideas have already
been put into use while others are
being worked on.
A major step in the plan was the
renovation of the kdge facilities pt
Bell Camp, which is just being
completed this August. The lodge
has been remodeled and expaned
to include a more modern and
compact kitchen and new
bathroom facilities. Four
skylights add to the modern decor
inside along with two fireplaces
and a convenient lounge area with
new furniture. A brick patio was
added on to the back of the lodge.
Inside, it is suitably wired for
musical groups. When reserving
the lodge, it can be set up in several
combinations--for conferences
bands, banquets, beer or dining.
The grounds around the lodge
are being landscaped and soon the
entire yard will be covered with
green grass. Eventually flowering
trees and shrubs will be planted.
Beginning September 2, the
lodge at Bell Camp can be reserved
by calling Dot Raymond at 777-8121
or 777-3803. For USC groups such
as fraternities sororities or clubs
the cost to reserve the lodge is
$65.00. Fifteen dollars of this is
* From Page IB Hisi
backs in the first few years were the t
The School of Astronomy was discor
of the telescope and the College
received criticism from the Medical
saying one medical school in the st
ended when funds ran out.
The years of good will were dampe
Constitution of the Reconstruction
that all schools supported by any
obligated to admit anyone regardlesw
the "white flight" had begun-enrolhi
from 113to 65 in 1869.
PA RT 7: L ATE 1804
The College of Agriculture and Me
solely for whites on the Columbia ca
College in Orangeburg was designate
and was compelled to be under I
Columbia Trustees. The College
Mechanics was a free, three year c<
presidency of William Niles it boasi
college's brief duration saw the fori
Association during the reunion of the
John M. McBryde took office aftei
the college began dri fting back t<
classical curriculum of the old S.C.
South Carolina College was officially
year as well as four year degrees.
In 1885 the college had 213 stud
began dropping rapidly each success
the Trustees agreed to expansion,
College gave way to the second
Carolina. McBryde remained Prei
campus reamined white, and Claf
black.
When Clemson Agricultural Colle
University lost nearly 25 per cent of
prompted Gov. Tillman to suggest
means for a "cheap, practical educa
-a third South Carolina College.
Refreshes
ull Routine
refundable if the lodge is left in
good condition. Non-USC groups
can use the lodge for $130.00. The
lodge is available for use Monday
through Sunday from 10 A.M. until
Midnight. These hours can be
extended upon request. a member
of the Bell Camp staff will be
present at every lodge function.
Another major undertaking in
the very near future is to rework
the athletic fields which have
flooded because of the large
amounts of rain during the sum
mer. The fields will be re
landscaped and new sod will be
used in the drainage ditches. This
project should be finished by the
beginning of Spring semester 1976.
For those who would like to get
away from it all for a while, Bell
Camp has nine cabins which can be
rented at a nominal rate. Each
cabin containes beds and electrical
power. Refrigerators are
available upon request. Two of the
cabins are air conditioned. No
bathroom facilities are available in
the cabins; instead occupants must
use the bath house. Linens are
not furnished. Grills are located in
close proximity to the cabins for
cooking purposes.
The lake at Bell Camp can be
used all year round for boating.
Flat bottom boats and canoes are
also available-free of charge-for
fishing purposes. Oh yes, the lake
at Bell Camp is full of bass, bluegill
and bream. The Grumman canoes
can also be rented for $10.00 per
day provided the person who is
renting it can prove he is com
petent to handle a canoe. If a
canoe is damaged, it must either
be repaired or paid for.
For the sports-minded,swim
ming is allowed all year round-at
your own risk. Lifeguards are not
provided after September 1.
The three tennis courts at Bell
Camp are available on a first
come-first serve basis. The same
is true for volleyball, archery andl
The 101s
and hopefi
South Car(
osses of two colleges.
tinued after the theft "It is do
of Medicine, which it it
College in Charleston as little u
ate was enough, was USC footb
ned by the new state making h<
in 1868 which stated quickly as
public funds were students.
of race. The first of name othe
nent at USC dropped played age
resulted ii
But it u
trainer (at
Is shape as a
chanics was opened Cocks" an
mnpus in 1880. Clafin Clemson C
d a college for blacks the same ti
he direction of the between th
of Agriculture and were brouj
>llege, and under the Nov. 12, 181
ed 66 students. The In 1909,1
nation of the Alumni to USC i
Class of '46 in 1880. traveling a
Niles resigned and and financ
the traditions and Efforts
College. In 1883 the by an agrii
reborn, offering two schools ar
expected I
ents but enrollment Under ti
ive year. Therefore, became m
and the second S.C. men. USC
University of South and studer
iident, the Columbia in 1916 fel
n College remained men betwE
(opposed I
ge was founded, the
its students. The loss
the formation of a Memori4
tion "--you guessed it: Streets, se
dead from
along with
With the completion of the new
sions from academic drudgery.
carpet golf. Equipment for all
sports is available, too, at no cost,
on a first come-first serve basis.
By the end of September,
arrangements will be made with
Wildwood Stables so that students
and members can have riding
privileges during certain times of
the week.
Beer and wine are allowed on the
premises at Bell Camp, however,
no hard liquor can be served there.
Kegs are permitted only when
procured through arrangements
made with the Golden Spur Night
Club on the USC campus.
Students are admitted to Bell
Camp with a USC I.D. and each
student is allowed to bring two
guests. A family may bring
another family as guests.
The flow of ideas for improving
Bell Camp has not stopped.
Fantastic new plans are in the
making already. The next step in
building a better Bell Camp is
constructing a new bath house.
year of the institution ushered in thE
illy final--establishment of the Unii
>lina.
PART 8: EARLY 1900's
ibtful if there is a college in the state I
iterest in athletics as we do. . ."
blication, the Carolinian, in an effort
ll team. The fact that all other coll(
-adway in the sport spurred Carc
sembling a team of students as we]
USC's firs't football team had no coa
r than the "College Boys". Their del
inst the "Mountain Boys" of Furma
a disasterous 44-0 loss.
as a beginning and soon the playe
$300 for three months) who whipped
iteam that came to be known as th
d donned .the colors of garnet anc
llege was in the process of forming i
me and soon fiery challenges were bei
e mountains and the midlands. The t
?,ht together at the Elmwood fairgr
46, where Carolina was the victor at 12
he new President Samuel C. Mitchel
Lnd seeing the rundown condition
round the state "beating the bushes"
ial support of the University.
o elevate the standards were further
:ultural depression, the slow start of p
d the First World War. Students
o heat and furnish their own rooms
ie administration of William Currell,
mnadatory for all male sophomores a
began losing a substantial portion ofi
its to the war. The student body of we
to 200 by 1918 and after the draft 1h
en the ages of 18 and 45 to service, PrE
o the use of students in the military)
PART 9: TO TilE PRESENT
il trees were planted along Green ani
veral monuments were raised and ti
USC soon rested in the dusty annals
other men from other wars.
club house, Bell Camp offers, mor
The present one was built in 1954
and is in great need of remodeling.
According to Lownes, plans are
being developed to construct a new
bath house instead of remodeling
the old one.
Plans are being made to con
struct a new and modem cabin
complex to replace the old ones as
well as to build new A-frame
conference cabins around the lake.
Other ideas for the future include
making catering services
available to those who use Bell
Camp, building a new putt-putt golf
course, getting paved basketball
courts and paved parking areas,
new playground equipment and
other new sports facilities.
In the 1974 season,. 41 per cent of
the people who used Bell Camp
were students. 22,000 people took
advantage of Bell Camp's facilities
last year during the peak summer
season of June, July and August.
Funds for Bell Camp are ap
propriated through the Student
official-- The atmosphere w
rersity of students until two co
School in 1918. Whei
capabilities they bec
part of the university
hat takes dorm, was built after
stated a amendment.
to raise a The Depression hit 1
ges were cut 69 per cent, spec
lina into tuition was raised and
I as ino 1934 under Roosevelt
h and no reinstated, Sims, Pr<
ou gan , built. The first "natal
u gam, but the students refe:
'ii 81 In 1940, 2,000 studei
rs had a .cut in half by 1943.
them into program with classe:
e "Game years and 140 USC al
black. The past two decade
team at University than any be
ng tossed The apathy preval
NO teams volvement of the '60'
Dunds on "Dixie" at games bec
to sell beer on campu!
1, coming survey showed that 10
sbgn bra-less and the stude
for began birth control pills.
for oral peaceful Vietnam Mo
hindered deaths evoked a more
uzblic high classes was urged a
were still Russell House. Polic,
protest was quelled a
R.O.T.C. The resignation of F
nd fresh- 1974 came as a shock I
ts faculty time and thought to
1 over 500 Controversy over the
Lw calling came to USC in 1962
s. Currell 7,6950on six campusses
resigned. campuses
March of 1974 came
new fad rivaled the
stuffing and panty rail
I Pickens number of streakers r<
e28 war lit night, one seriousl'
of history nude runners ever
thievery.
e than ever, a variety of diver
Allocations Commission. For the
1975-76 season, operational costs
should run approximately $25,000.
About $5,000 will come from
membership fees. In the past 3
years, about $120,000 has been
spent renovating and improving
Bell Camp's facilities so that USC
students can have a special place
to call their own.
To reach Bell Camp from the
USC campus, all one has to do is to
get on Green Street in front of the
Russell House and head down to
Five Points. At Five Points, take a
left on to Harden St. Take Harden
to Taylor and take a right on to
Taylor Street. Stay on Taylor
Street (which will turn in to Forest
Drive) until you see a road bearing
off to the left with a sign saying
Highway 12 (the same as Percival
Road). Stay on Percival Road
until you see a sign on the left
which says Bell Camp. Turn here.
There will be signs directing you to
Bell Camp from this point on.
as one of hostility toward women
eds were graduated from the Law
i the female scholars proved their
ame an accepted and sought after
Wade Hampton, the first women's
the influential passage of the 19th
JSC hard in 1932 with appropriations
ial scholarships were discontinued,
salaries were slashed. Aid came in
s "New Deal." Scholarships were
!ston and McKissick Library were
orium " was constructed at this time
-red to it as the "swimming pool."
its were enrolled, a figure that was
WWII started an intensive Naval
being held year-round. After four
umni killed in battle, the war ended.
s have brought more change to the
~fore.
ant in the '50's gave way to in
s. Protest against the playing of
sme a major issue. Whether or not
was also a point of contention. A
per cent of 1969 coeds went to class
it Health Center refused to dispense
students gathered for a relatively
ratorium in 1969, but the Kent State
violent protest in 1970. A boycott of
Lnd angry students took over the
a and troops were called in and the
nd classes remained open.
resident Thomas Jones in January
o many. He left to devote his "full
the teaching-learning process."~
real reason still remains. Jones
when there was a student body of
.He helped it grow to 26,342 on nine
with streakers across campus. This
goldfish eating, telephone booth
Is of the past. And even though the
~ached a phenomenal 508 on a torch
doubts the excitement caused by
aualed that of the 18nn's t....ke.