The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, March 10, 1980, Page Page 6, Image 6
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