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A letterfrom the editor A vi nvr>l nnnf XX11 ^^VJvJlCLlld I/. The Gamecock editorial staff would like to apologize for the appearance of this past Friday's newspaper. Indeed, we feel an apology is almost compulsory. Because of a lack of qualified personnel in the oroduction deoartment. w*? hnv*? Pvn^rionfoH a _ , ? J W . -?r ^ V4?Jt/VA AVliWU serious problems. The major difficulty concerns typesetting. The recent resignation on only two-days notice of our assistant production manager, who was an outstanding typesetter, hampered production output beyond immediate repair. Previously, it has taken months to fill the top two spots in production, and we don't foresee an exception in this case. The loss of this typesetter has forced us to employ temporary personnel provided by the university. These persons are called "floaters," and the quality of their work is usually subpar. As a result, the newspapers this semester, especially Friday's, have dismaying great amounts of typographical errors. We understand it is difficult to read a newspaper story containing so manv errors it is practically unreadable. The best example of this was Friday's editorial ? there were about 30 mistakes in it. It is impossible to proofread and edit this many errors in the time available. In order to correct a misspelling, the proofreader must physically cut out the incorrect letter and replace 11 wiin tne correct one. To do this to stories with few mistakes is at best difficult, but to do it to stories with copious mistakes is, as I said, impossible. We do have another extremely qualified typesetter, a former production manager, but this person is not available for work as often as we desire. Therefore, the copy comes out bad. We are doing everything conceivable to remedy the situation. We are trying to replace the assistant production manager as quickly as possible, but the replacement must be qualified ? a good typesetter. Since the Gamecock can't afford to pay high salaries, finding a typesetter who types about 70 words a minute with minimal mistakes is difficult. We also have a shortage of general production personnel. Because of this shortage, OHy / fflSanA " < .M,? ? .? _< J,* J J .?>,? .' J tV f : $ t t irm f-.n> nnv voorlove jl vxx v\y V VIA X VU/VIVX U the editors have been moonlighting in the production room. Don Fobes, Barry Glenn, Steve McCormack, Mitch Sherwood and myself have spent about five hours per issue in the production room this semester. This is illustrative of the magnitude of the problem. There is a substantial difference between S 1! 1 1 pruuuciion worKers ana editors ? production workers usually worry about their $2.50 an hour, and editors worry about the quality of the publication. This is not a hard and fast rule; some of our long-time production people do show pride. Our production manager, Fran George, and former production manager, Karen Wooten, have exhibited special concern. fru? ? 1 " * " x iic cunurs, cinu my sen, are especially upset, because this problem is not our fault, and we have little recourse except to hire additional production personnel and hope they learn quickly. I must commend my editors for a job well-done. They have met their deadlines and provided quality stories and page design. They have also curtailled outside activities, cut many classes and lost much-needed sleep because of the production problem. So far, the most devastating effect of our problem, aside from the production of a typographically inferior newspaper, is the rapid exodus of promising reporters. Most writers are sensitive people, and when they spend time carefully researching and writing a story only to have it look bad in the newspaper, they get discouraged and frequently quit. i promised this campus a lot when I took this job. We have given our readers a quality product all summer and this semester until this past Friday. We do not intend to produce a shoddy newspaper ; we feel our readers deserve more than that, but if this problem continues, it is possible the Gamecock will stop publishing until remedial action is taken. This we do not i. ? _ ? * - " warn 10 ao, ana we will endeavor to avoid it. The editors and myself have set a deadline of this Friday for our decision. We're having problems, but at least we realize it and are trying to correct the problem. Bear with us, we'll do the best we can. Mark J. Lundgren Editor In Chi*f W M&, I TVi S BuT ,t's GOIM& T< BACK of another $5 fine To the editor: 'USC drivers, beware of the tree zone! Columbia police are diligently ticketing cars parked between the curb and the sidewalk whether or not this area has grass, much less a tree. Prime violation areas are those ji.i ^ Ji a ? A?s ? A t_i i liuiwciit miming pleura ui uin uujuceiu iu siuueiu pariung lOlS. Since ignorance of such an obscure ordinance is no excuse under the law (it is not published in the SC Drivers Manual or in Traffic and Parking Regulations for USC) do yourself a favor and don't park there, unless you are prepared to pay a $5 fine. The tree zone as a no-parking zone ordinance dates back to 1956 when it was passed by the Columbia City Council reportedly for greater motorist visibility of children darting into the street. All tree zones within the city limits are owned by the city, hence the reason tree zone is one of the sixteen violations printed on a parking ticket. Today the majority of people aware of the ordinance are in the law enforcement J*. !-f / 1 ' division vana possiDiy reai estate;. Marion P. Crim Nursing Undergraduate Speech dept. ignored To the editor: I was deeply shocked by the 1977-78 Garnet and Black's choice of material for the Department of Theatre and Speech. The Garnet and Black, like other organizations and persons at U.S.C., fails to recognize the fact that Theatre and Speech also encompasses a Speech Department. While the number of students who are Speech majors is relatively few, they provide many activities in which all members of the U.S.C. community may participate. For example, one of the biggest events on our campus last spring was the British Union Debate on the Equal Rights Ammendment. With two State Legislators as well as stydents participating, one would think that the Garnet and Black would provide some coverage of this pertinent event. Theatre and Speech sponsors more than just dramatic events. It also sponsors lnier-conegiate debates, speech contests, high school debate seminars, and other activities as well as providing excellent training for future teachers, speechwriters,communications specialists, politicians, and others. The University Community needs to recognize the fact that the Speech facet is a vital program of the Theatre and Speech Department. Only after this realization and re-evaluation of current practices employed by Department officials will the Department cease to loose fine momKni-o nf +1*a 1 -1-" !' ' " V vi.tuv. o ui uic iacuiiy emu sum us 11 nas recently (lone. Chuck Bowen Theatre and Speech Senior | gamecock I Founded 1908 | Mark J. Lundgren Editor In Chief y^y I Barry J. Glenn Entertainment Editor ^ / Mike Hunt Sports Editor ^ / Stephen McCormack Graphics Editor / Mitch Sherwood Copy Desk Chief Judy Sims Editorial Page Editor r Janice Wood Graduate Assistant \ Caryn Jacobl Assistant News Editor \ j Brett Frledlander Assistant Sports Editor J , Skot Garrlck Assist Ent. Editor Jill Griffin Ad Manager Fran Georoe Production Manager Jon Clemmensen General Manager SamMcKee Business Manager The Gamecock welcomes letters from its readers. Letters should be a maximum of 300 words and must be signed with the writer's correct name. Pseudonyms or other aliases are not acceptable, but the k writer's name will b?wlthh?irt i# r*nn^??H ? " w and circumstances warrant. Please Inm elude the telephone number and mailing address where you can be reached to assist 1 us in verifying the identity of the writer. Also, Include class standing and malor. We A V* reserve the right to edit all letters for J f J|S^j B? space limitations, but not for content. f ^9*m> Please address letters to: Campus n _ m >. m Opinion, The Gamecock, Drawer A, USC, nnWSJ Columbia, S.C. 29206. ^ OclnloniMnrMurf in Hi? ??? . 7.7, . . thou#, Jf signed, of the writer end, If on J signed, of the nmlor editorial staff.