The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, September 11, 1981, Page Page 2, Image 2
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
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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\
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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,
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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