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Effect up to s Tomorrow, USC students wil (hopefully) go to the polls to elec their representatives in student g overnment for the coming year. Traditionally, voter turnout haj been extremely poor and studenti have expressed little or no interesi in their governing body. No on< seems to care, and this factor onlj lends to the ineffectiveness o! student government to com municate with the student body. Most students do not realize thai the only way to change the existing environment is through in volvement and action. Some student senators themselves are serving in the organization for resume or athletic-related pur poses and care little about the students they are supposed tc represent. A handful of SG operatives attempt to discuss and propose effective legislation, but little significant progress is made either because of poor leadership or little consideration on the nart ol the administration. THE MAJOR BLAME for poor student government at USC lies with students. Most simply do not care what happens to them during their four-or-more year stay at this university. The Gamecock has reported many student relatec issues and offered opinion, bu student response is almos nonexistent. ? i try to justify theii apatfc$^r^arguing that "nothing will ;]S^^oiie" regardless of theii concerns: This is not true. Anp^actfve student voice cat accomplish a lot. Dorm conditions could be improved, the parking problem could be alleviated, anc security could be greatly im proved, if only students voicec their opinions and offeree solutions. This is the job of th< student senate, but unfortunately the members have not done thei jobs well. Voters, also, have no Hnnp wpll in splorti m> rinalifipi *r? t leaders. Last year, about 2,000 student voted in the Spring elections. Thi is a ridiculous number when th total enrollment at USC exceed 24,000. There ape ^ no simpl I1 * fr, % .f -V r ' Cjamecock Founded 1 908 Torn Travis Editor in Chief Brian Duncan Copy Desk Chief Mark Plane NewsEdnoi O C ^ 1 Mr.. C?_.ia C/ln... UICU r I IcVIIOi HJC I 3 I.U'lU' James Rpkosny . Entertainment Ed?tpr Robed Anail Graphic} Editor Janet Gibson Editorial Page Editor Cyhnda Calvert Wire Editor Ronda Tempteton Assistant News Editor Stave OrrfttSi8?1 "T Assistant Sports Editor .^ ffrey Charney Assistant Entertainment Ed Car! Babcock -Graduate Assistant i | , Anthony Gray Adver tisirtg Manager Bifl Outlaw General Manager Wiiliam Tmakiy Production Managor Mark Ethrid?)e Jr AflvivV Newsroom 111 /1,81 Advertising 777 42^9 Business Qttic.u 7/7 'JH'ffl Sole reproduction rxjlits granted to th? Assocrat fl Puns A.'I other material contained herein may not, Iw reprinted without thr? oert^'ssion of the edno' Opi. .io'?? e*pres?erJ in thp Gamecock art those.'I signed of the writer ar<1 it unsigned o' the senior editorial staff v*?liwfrr- ?' ive SG 1 . raaenis 1 solutions to the apathy problem, t and surely there are enough issues t to keep students involved, i.e. Greene Street, the parking i problem almost no student input ? into university policy decisions. t * ' THIS YEAR'S SENATE has ' done a slightly better job of representing students than those of the past, but many senators have held office the entire year without ? understanding their respon| sibilities. Except for weak resolutions ana a tew Dills, the ; senate has done little to improve the lives of students at USC. Simply stated, the senate is still a ? joke and students are to blame. Students must take an active | role in deciding what happens at ' I ISf" if thpv arp tr? imnrnup thpir lives. If one doesn't care what happens during four years of J college, how can life in the "real ' world" be any better? It is time for students to "get off their butts" and do something for themselves. Electing responsible candidates to student government is a step in the right direction, and casting votes is a major responsibility of every student at this university. ' It takes little time and effort to | cast a vote, but much consideration is required to make good decisions about the candidates. Once elected, senate representatives should establish [ regular contact with students and I work for them. The senate is no place for aspiring lawyers and graduate students seeking * government employment when they graduate. > 1 j THINK ABOUT THE ISSUES, j think about the candidates and use your voting power tomorrow. After " all, this is one oi the few chances you have to express your opinion. I To those who win the elections, -j don't waste valuable time courting the administration and celebrating your victories for the remainder of the year. Communicate with the o U,?1.. 1 -JJ '?- - siuucni uuuy unu auuress mt; s issues. Unless this happens, SG e will continue to be a resume filler, s and students will continue to "get e the shaft." Opinion Letters The (iamecoek welcomes letters from its readers All letters must be typewritten ami triple spared on a 65-space line and should lie a maximum of 300 words letters must l>e signed with the writer's correct name, telephone, mailing address, class standing and major Pseudonyms are unacceptable, hut the writer's name may he withheld by request it circumstances warrant We reserve the right to edit letters (or space and style Address letters to: Campus Opinion. The (iamecock. Drawer A. CSC. Columbia. S C 2920H (jttliimn.K In an effort to increase reader input into future issues, the (iamn-Mk offers a weekly guest column Columns must be limited to one newsworthy subject ?ind must be no more than four typed j pages All columns must be typewritten and triple spaced on a 65-space line All facts must b*? aci'iinitf1 Thi? cHilnrml n:i fln i-Hilnr Reserves the right to reject any column for any reason and edit lor space, content, style and accuracy Columns must be signed with correct name, address, telephone, major and class standing orlacuil) position Address columns to: Guest J Column The (itimecock Drawer A. 'JSC. ('(tin rnfriu S C J9?0H 1 k^h>? Ji N on-drinl To the Editor: I am writing in response to the letter of February '29th, written by three freshmen concerning what they perceive as a dangerous threat to the university community ? alcohol. I would just like to inject some thoughts to others who might also prescribe to this mentality. First, the non-drinkers, are definitely the minority on campus, and therefore I suggest that thev get use to the idea of flagrant alcoholic abuses on campus or beat a hasty retreat. There are other local institutions that do not allow the extent of personal freedoms (as few as they are) to students as does this university. Since the non-drinkers are the minority, it would be safe to conclude that the majority of the students are at this university due to the extent of student liberties. Finani needs i To the Editor: I am a full-time freshman here at USC. Like many other students at this university, I carry a full load of classes and work part-time after school. I am completely independent of my parents' financial support. Since I pay for all of my college and living expenses, the savings from my summer job have been completely depleted. The fact that I am independent and trying to pay my own expenses is not so amazing, but the fact that I am trying to do this v/ith a mere $55.00 a week is! Although I am in dire need of financial aid to continue my education, it is impossible for me to receive asaiaiautr uctauoc iiiy [jaiciiu) aic in the middle-income bracket. Every financial aid form inquires about the financial status of the applicant's parents and oners nine or no consideration to his independence. This is why I have been unable to obtain aid thus far in my college career. Unless I am able to get some financial aid to meet the rising cost of college and living expenses, I m*>[ Letters arming' alcohol absurc ters minori You see, Mandy, Sharon, and Julie, you can't allow the administrators to infringe on this one liberty without realizing the serious renprnissmns nf snrh an act. If the university officials were allowed to. "ban" booze, they would soon find it necessary to restrict other student activities that didn't comply with their expectations of student behavior. The purpose of this university is whatever the individual student wants it to be. The possibility of academic advancement is offered, but what is done during one's tenure at the university is the responsibility and concern of only one person, the individual student. If you don't want to drink, by all means, don't drink. If the Alkies bother you at the athletic games, locate yourself outside the student section. ?ial aid evision will be forced to drop out of school and work full-time hoping to save enough money to return at a later date. I hope to pursue a career in dentistry, which means spending a great deal of time and money on school. I certainly hope that I am not forced to drop out of college like so many independent students have before me due to the tremendous expense. I have talked to many young adults hwo quit school because they could no longer afford it and were unable to receive aid as a result of their parents' financial status. The university should examine its financial aid policy. It should make revisions on the applications to take more consideration of a student's independence and make an effort to better serve his needs. As an independent student, I feel tnat I deserve consideration as ar individual, and I should be ehgiDK to receive financial aid regardless of my parents' income. After all the money they are making is no helping me! Roland K. Fulcher undeclared freshman 11 i ity at U SC The letter cited our football team as "fearless" and our fans as "dedicated." I assume by these adjectives that the composers of the letter advocate the athletic department here at the university. Is this a part of the periect academic institution that was described in the article? Isn't athletics as foreign to education as alcohol? What about the students that don't give a damn about football, basketball, etc...? 1 imagine they would suggest the "banning" of the athletic program, if they didn't realize that the program affects a l^rge majority of the student body, the alumni, and the state. The students of this university are "sick and tired" of hearing the whining from the various little complaining griping minority groups throughout our university. Some don't want booze, some don't want Frats, some don't want Gays, some don't want Blacks, some don't want Jocks. I don't want whiners. Fonda B. Benson accounting junior Snow fights 'disgraceful9 To the Editor : .< S Many people believe that a college can be a soiirce of social J education as well as intellectual growth. A college student can learn to live with his peers, interact with them on a mature level and respect his neighbors and their A.. ti J; -i ? -- property, it is aisgraceiui wnen these rights are violated. I am referring to a specific incident which occurred last week on I Sumter Street. Those who par, ticipated in this outrageous oenavior or laenutiea wun , laughter as harrassed passengers left their cars in fury should give a I little thought to their action, i This behavior is degenerate ; which is defined by Webster's as ! "degraded from the normal moral standards." You people add a new \ meaning to our school mascot, the * "Cock." Arte Kandel biology sophomore