University of South Carolina Libraries
Editorial Preppy Book Ridiculous Lisa Birnbach is an enigma. As editor of The Official Preppy Handbook ($4.95, Workman Publishing, New York) and speaker on the college lecture circuit, she defies all known conventions of preppiness by displaying a personality all her own. Yes, Birnbach does not fit the old cliche, "If you've seen one prep you've seen them all," but she is consistent in the type when it comes down to money. Contrary to the elitist myth, new money is just as good as old money. Birnbach and associates know a good thing when they see it? even when it comes to preying on their own kind. INNOCENT PREPSTERS, once they see the plaid cover of The Official Preppy Handbook, will not be able to resist shoveling money Lisa's way. Actually preppy people aren't such a bad lot. They dress a little funny, but so do a lot of people. It's Birnbach's attitude that's dangerous? taking accepted values and turning them upside down. Birnbach and friends expound on this attitude throughout their book. For example, Birnbach's advice to inspired preppies is to get kicked out of school. In the chapter entitled "Breaking the Rules? The Importance of Getting Kicked Out," it is written: "if you can't bring yourself to flunk, you can always test your ingenuity by cheating. Imagine the pats on the back when classmates discover that you kept excusing yourself during the history exam because the Bill of Rights was scribbled on the bathroom wall." ONE LEARNS two things from that inspiring chapter: (1) Honor is a forgotten word in the prep's language. (2) At least they have the decency to capitalize Bill of Rights. Is this, then, the essence of preppiness? According to the authors, the book conveys the essence that after reading the book "you'll be able to travel from crib to coffin, from desk to date, from the city to the island without one false step. . .and you can wear lime green all the way." If the book does relate the true essence of prep, then how the prep culture has survived as long as it has is unclear. Perhaps what Birnbach and the authors tell us is not the true Prep Gospel. Perhaps Birnbach and friends are oddities, Sort of mutants that a culture might produce in 1000 years, or perhaps Lisa was simply the victim of a severe prep-school trauma which left her with a distorted outlook on life. THE MEANING and motivation behind the book is unclear. It is clear, however, that the book should not be taken seriously. At worst, the book is a feeble doctrine advocating separation of classes, at best it is simply funny. i ?. ?? GAMECOC NtwtrooM: 777-7181 Uf*r*n?y o4 South Qirafcu, Columbia, S.C. imi??M Ofctc 777-M88 Fo?**??d1*)8 $ok reproduction fajtnnie fUkion Acting f dfeof other mtietia! torsi MiA PtAtte fAknr the cd ft 10 Hancock Copy DmIi ChlH OpWona eapmae Oi?idCotv?U( New* Editor writer and, M ucvdgm Tom Coyw AmL Nt?i IdMof The Gamecock w Don Weatfeerbee (dHoHal rage Edkor columns must be ty| MJke ftooMtowt&i Entertainment Editor letter* tfcouid be i M*> V*u?Kan Asat. Int. Editor be fanked to one n Tracy Helms Sport* Editor P*S**- Letter* and flm Corbett A tat. Sports Editor correct name, fete? Mite Hsteer GrapMc* Editor or faculty potMon t iffry Brewer General Manager the writer's name n UrxkHatoes Advettfaing Manager droirmtaacM warn Mark Mcfwin ftodectton We reMfve the i\ pran HatcbcJ tmlnrii Mmmw style, and we reaerv r Ml* Etiuidgc ft A<Mt*r taten m I Dmwit# A, USC, Cut 1 ? 3mm I [j J? Bead Bracelet I .r mmIU i n&a - uiiiy i - I I The Jewlery warehouse jj i--i 2909 Piatt Springs Rd. 1 91 Jl 6 Mon.-Sat. I j "it's more than just another jewelry store." j -**^^^-11 II Poet I To the Editor: v r As the last weeks of * ~ i f Auiiuiici die cuiuuig aiiu going, I realize that the * female half of Carolina's I student population will have to dress against the oncoming cold weather. I am * an amature poet and never 1 had anything published but I 1 get inspirations just like 1 IYeates, Montbaten and the 1 rest of them. 1 The inspiration for this \ IK Advertising; 777-424* < Production: 777-2413 righto giMltd to the AawcUtnl fmi. Al Mtvrd htrriA My iuH be reproduced wUmrt t editor. d in the Gamecock Are rime, if signed, at Mm ed, o< the editor. cfcomes letters and cohimn*. Al letter* and xwritten, Mpinpand on a 65 (pace Rne. k> longer than MM words, and rofcsmna should ewswoethy subject no tonger than four typed cohimns rmtrt be signed with the writer's hone nwmber, msMng address, dass standing md ma+or. Pseudooyms are unacceptable, but iay be wtihhaM on letter, upon rcqsest, i Mm i ntM. gM to edtt tiAww Md IctUn tot ?p*ce and c the right lo refect any otunwi (oj any reuon. 4 cubiM to: EdMotial Page tditor, Cwmwt, MM, ic.mM imnHMinBHH formerly The T-Shirt FACTORY order' CUSTOM TOD 1 254-/ rPFATIX/F If : 1 Rnb * ? n W BMM 9 | 808 Harde en 4H?Mr Letters To Tl Praises vork came from the eauzation mat witn out hese beautiful girls walking iround our campus, Carolina would not be half as jretty a place as it is. I CAN ILL AFFORD space n your personal column and [ seek no recognition for nyself. If you are a man, I ippeal to your sense of >eauty in the Carolina girl; and if you be a woman, I ask fou to do a humble poet a Vrtii wihn Wriff m/: * ITHV V* I V VI4f IV* IIIL Between the shores of my Your full and windblown, D/gofd and auburn hair t Pleases me. With graceful lines you m My Carolina girls. My Carolina girls Maidens of magic one an you who walk the paths o My Carolina girls Be mine and I would Iov< Should I.. Could I...yes! You are ochid, rose and And it is a pleasure to W( My Carolina girls. /OUR T-SHIRTS AY! 1807 MDUSTRIES lie Editor i uiris favor and print my poem in some corner of the Gamecock when you run out of copy and need to fill ar space. Remember just one dav the trouble these pretty creatures go to to look as good as they do and let us recognise this. This would be sincerely appreciated by myself and THE CAROLINA GIRLS. MPM Amature Poet t as elegant ships ' soul. sails hat play in the breeze lake beautiful the world. A ,*11 U Uli fthe garden, and shine e you...yes! tulip...yes, ilk in your garden, MPM rnoAi mi#* i WHIVWI.IIMM I CLSIS Free Pregnane/ Testing Abortion counseling and borv Pregnancy can be detected be Birth Control Counseling and F Pap Tost and other Female Pre 2009 Hampton S Call Collect ? i mmmgmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmammmm ^ col? . w WRd To the Editor: I would like to point out an obvious problem which exists on this beautiful university campus. Littering is too kind of an expression for the overlooked Droblem E of pollution which is due to the ignorance and apathy the participating iTF dividuals. I find it obvious that some individuals are ignorant to this problem. These individuals simply ignore the oDvious ana actively participate in this defacing of campus grounds. I also notice the apathy in others who see both probity and solution, though find no n/AMn /\v>n 1 vv^/\f t ? r A f I rvrt f fW 1 f O 1*/^ lliuuvauuu luwaiu affirmitive action. Western culture is a type of cancer which has grown upon human kind. The ignorance and apathy toward a simple yet complex form of pollution (littering) are perfect examples of t|| ( self-destruct mechanisms which are manifested within western culture. Those who read this and agree are commendable. Those who refuse to take affirmative action are condemnable. I can only hope that others will choose to become like me ? self appointed garbage persons. Time is running out-thougig is still not too late. name withheld by request WOMEN'S "c I ices u tfore missing poriod | j )bloms t t., Columbia, S.C. I *03-256-0128 j