University of South Carolina Libraries
r ? \ f ^ Thursday, Sept* 22,1977 University of South Carolina, Columbia, S.C. Volume LXIV, Xo. 6 ^shiip Go Cocks!!! g These two Gamecock fans seem to be leading their own cheering section as their team defeats Miami (Ohio) at WilliamsBrice Stadium. The USC squad faces Georgia this Saturday at home. Gamecock C?..aL ** 1* ^uuiii ^aroiino not heavy beei * By JOHN KOZMA Gamecock Staff Writer First of a three-part series South Carolinians are not heavy beer drinkers, according to the 1976 "Brewers Almanac." The almanac reports the state's 1975 per capita consumption as 18.1 gallons, slightly below the national average of 21.6. A regional comparison, however, paints a different picture. Per capita beer consumption for other southeastern states were: North Carolina, 16.2 gallons; Georgia, 16.1; Tennessee, 18.6; Alabama, ( 14.7; Mississippi, 16.6. Florida, at 24.0, was the only ( 41 southeastern state with a higher average than the . nation. | THE HIQHJ?ST state excise tax on beer is levied by south-'Carolina 4*23.81 per barrel), followed by ' Alabama and North Carolina ($16.53), Georgia i ($14.88), Mississippi and Flortda ($13.23), and Tennessee ($13.09). The average state tax per barrel in 1975 was $4.70. i The S.C. tax on beer is a revenue-producing rather < than a regulatory measure. A 1940 state-wide referendum called for prohibition to become effective 1 if and when a new source of revenue could be found to I replace the duties collected on alcoholic heveraffes i The referendum passed, but apparently a new source < was never found. < < 9 NOK IS ONE likely to be devised, since the present tax is an established source of revenue for local j governments as well as the state. Only the state may ] r* J* t ^ft -'^l * ^M?^j[^ jpj mm. sgwr v 1 I'' * s* St?ph*n McCorm?cV--THE GAMECOCK fans have had plenty to cheer about this season since the team has won three straight games at home. The lively cheering will j continue this Saturday because the game is a sellout. i boozers * drinkers tax alcohol, but a set percentage of the state collections are returned to the cities and counties, according to a spokesman from the S.C. Beer Association. While the amount of tax affects consumption, it is only one factor. Many states under a variety of procedures allow city or county governments to prohibit or severely restrict sales within their KaiimHO?*IOO 14 m ^ui.uui ik,j. wi y tinea ui euuiuies may resuu irom referendums or restrictive licensing policies by local authorities. The effect of such local laws in each state, according to the 1975 "Brewers Almanac," is represented below as the percentage of each state's population residing in dry regions: Alabama, 27 per cent; Arkansas, 40 per cent; Georgia, 2.5 pier cent; Mississippi, 24 per cent; North Carolina, 30 per cent; rennessee, 4.8 per cent; Utah, 1.9 per cent. South Pamllno CI I J Miiviiira anu riuiiwi iutve nu ury areas. OF THE remaining states, only Kentucky (46 per cent) and Texas (22 per cent) have more than 20 per cent of their population living in dry areas. State regulatory laws other than taxes, such as limitations on hours or days during which sales may be made, may also affect consumption. In addition, figures in the "Brewers Almanac" suggest a correlation between per capita income and beer consumption and between distilled beverage and beer consumption. Per capita consumption figures do not take into account what age groups are represented by the population. ....... .......... ..... ...... Pmfc ci a university B IM ESC Ill WWVUI I By JACK KNEECE . Gamecock Writer Biology professor Wade T. Batson, 65, is accustomed to vigorously hiking all over the countryside, a pied-piper to his entourage of students, as he skillfully identifies even the most obscure flora from the coastal marshes to the mountains. Batson said he feels that he is at the height of his academic prowess. Students who have developed respect and admiration for him agree. Dr. Paul W. Blackstock, 64, runs one mile each morning before he arrives at the university, where he is a professor of government and international studies. He said that he's at th?> nrimo v?ic ? n.V f* v? IUU UV,UUV1111V. career. Both men would be forced to retire under a new edict handed down early this year by the university administration requiring mandatory retirement at age 65. 'When they say I'm over the hill I tell them that the last hill I was over was 18,500 Feet." - Blackstock 0 Blackstock noted that Winston Churchill was prime minister of Great Britain at an older age. He said one could spend hours naming men who did their best work at age 60 and beyond. A few that came rapidly to his mind were Arturo Toseariini. Pahln Cabals unri Tt*?iinn t; - J - uuva AIA4I1U1I UUVIIU1 A II call" dello ("Seven Characters in Search of an Author"), who did not attempt to write until he was 65. "When they say I'm over the hill," said Blackstock, "I tell them that the last hill I was over was 18,500 feet." He said he was referring to a pass in the Himalayas where he recently went mountain climbing. Both of these professors would be retired despite a large student following. Dr. Batson's field trips have become so popular that each one results in tag-along visitors. Batson said, "They called me over the provost's office and said, 'How f 1 -l * * " uu you leei duuui nexi year r well, 1 told them it (his age) didn't affect me because I had come to the university under a verbal agreement that would allow me to continue to teach until I am 70. But, thev said, unfortunately, that it would mean the end of my academic career." He said no professor receives any job security assurance in writing. Batson and Blackstock have filed suit in U.S. District Court to get the university to honor the original retirement age of 70. U.S. District Judge Robert W. Hemphill has issued a temporary restraining order prohibiting the university from terminating the employment of Batson, who is already 65. The S.C. Attorney General's office is arguing that the suit should be heard in the state courts. A hearing is Set for Monday to determine whether or not the move will be made. n? onlrl U *' * . ubuwu dqiu inai caiu stepui me migauon ne ana Hiackstock have received much support from friends, students and faculty. "I've had people come up and ask if I needed money," said Dr. Batson. "About 30 people showed up in court last time," he said. : The case is far more significant than local coverage might indicate because the suit could affect thousands of state employes. It also would immediately affect the future of a handful of other university professors who are in their 60's. The existing mandatory retirement age in other state agencies is 70. Blackstock said there is one theory that the university may have been chosen as the first state agency to attempt a mandatory retirement age of 65, the hope being that a handful of professors might cause less of a Rnnnivlr than fnrMul nt - ? >va wu ?ui cm vi mine unrci suite agency. Therefore, other state agency heads are carefully watching the outcome of the case, which initially began when Batson and Blackstock sought injunctive relief this past March. Blackstock said he would be more than delighted to resolve the conflict by competing in a foot race with any member of the university's .adroiniftUAUve ftUtt. . ? .> . . OWHBM3BBQB?MB?MB?aaMM iiiimiwwiii?amim'??i'