Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Editorial Students Stricken! %__ A .* _ oy Apuiny uisease It happens every day on campus. A cmest snpakpr Addresses a few students sitting in the front of a large auditorium. Or a club president discusses future plans with the embarrassingly small percentage of the membership who carry all of the weight in the club. Where are all the other students? Everybody else has been afflicted with the contagious disease that has been rapidly spreading across college campuses in the past few years ? apathy. rne sympioms are easy 10 spoi: ovenuuiung campus uuuet?, walking past campus activities without a sideward glance, not knowing where the student government office is, not caring what clubs exist on campus for their major or special intersts, or complaining but never doing anything about a particular campus problem. If apathy was included in medical dictionaries, it would be defined as, "a psychological problem common to the collegiate species that has reached epidemic proportions in parts of the United States. The disease is dangerous because it causes the afflicted person to become oblivious to everything around him except his immediate, basic needs. If not treated soon after diagnosed, the disease can be terminal." In other words, apathetic students tend to lead the lives of turtles? coming out of their shell to experience the outside world only when it suits them. And once a student becomes a turtle, he usually continues that lifestyle for the rest of his life. This turtle-like existence of apathetic students is the number one problem on the college campuses? and it's 0Pttin0 u/nncf* arrnrrlincr tn thp Alienist issue of the National On-Campus Report. In an NOCR survey, 41 percent of 136 responding student government leaders cited lack of student involvment as the single most important issue on their campus. Frustrated campus leaders know that whenever an event is being planned or a government decision is being made, convincing students to take action consumes most of the time and energy. It usually takes more effort than actually executing me acuvuy or ^overnmeni decision. How , then, can USC students be encouraged to do more than just complain about an issue? One solution would be a rap on the head with a hammer to wake them up to the world. Or USC could try the plan that Florida State University has successfully used to increase student input into college issues. Twice a month, a randomly selected group of 22 students and faculty members meet for dinner and discussion, tackling such topics as "The University and Politics" and consumerism ana Higner j?,aucation. ine discussions have drawn previously uninvolved students into university affairs? and many are staying involved, the university reports. It seems the honor of being treated to dinner by the president's office encourages them to accept the invitation and contribute to the discussion. A similar program, initiated by the president's office or student affairs, would help the apathy problem at USC. The random selection process would give the "average student" not just campus leaders? the opportunity to contribute to camDUs issues. And it would helD cure those "average students" who seem to be most vulnerable to the disease of apathy. GAMECOCK University of South Carolina. ( olumbia. S.C. Founded 1906 Newsroom: 777-7181 Advertising: 777-4249 Business Office: 777-3888 Production: 777-2833 I Jeannie RaMon Acting Editor Tracy Helms Sports Editor Mark Platte Editor Mm Cortoett Asst. Sports Editor JHI Hancock Copy Desk Chief ?arry E. Newman Acting Photo Editor David Corvette . News Editor Brewer General Manager Tom Coyne Asst. News Editor linda Haines Advertising Manager Don Weatherbee Editorial Page Editor Mark McEwan Production Manager Mike Romatowski Entertainment Editor lean Hatched Business Manager John Vaughan Asst. Ent Editor Mark Ethridge |r Adviser Sole reproduction rights granted to the Associated Press. All other material contained herein may not be reproduced without the permission o< the editor. Opinions expressed in the Gamecock are those, M signed, ot the writer and, k unsigned, o4 t?*e editor. The Gamecocfc welcomes letters and columns. AN letters and columns must be fvoewfatten, triple-spaced on a 65 space line. letters should be no longer than 300 word*, and columns should be limited to one newsworthy subject no longer than four typed pages. Letters and columns mutt be \ signed with the writer's correct name, telephone number, matting address, dais standing or faculty position and ntajor. Pseudonyms are unacceptable, but the writer's name may be withheld on letter, upon request, V the circumstances warrant it. We reserve the righi to edit columns and letters for space and style, and we reserve the right to reject any column for any reason. Address letter* and columns to: Editorial Page Editor, Gamecock, Drawer A, USC, CohimUa, SC. 29208. I ?-? ' 1 ? r SP3G I _ H AC! Student N TO THE EDITOR: I am writ in** to PYnrpss mv dissatisfaction with the way you and your staff present material each week in the Gamecock. Being a Journalism major I consider myself a somewhat competent writer. At the same time I do not consider myself an authority on writing. But I can say that I, and I feel ...^ 1 f.... auic 1 apcan iui scvciui other people who do not voice their opinion as they should, am not at all pleased with the way your staff delivers what is supposedly going on around USC. Since the beginning of this semester there has been Stadium TO THE EDITOR: How 'bout them Cocks? No, I don't want to get on their case, despite the loss to Mimcisisinni r'mnsi ffiivs. I ? O?J ~ 7 Sports Illustrated charitably gave you the Nineteenth in their September 14th edition. I write not concerning the team or the coach, but rather something that more directly affects the fans' view oi tne game ana tneir attitude while in attendance. WITH ALL DUE RESPECT for whoever it may be, that is the voice of the Gamecocks at WilliamsBrice Stadium, I would like to inform him that the general consensus of section 40, rows 7 to 14 ? a demographically average section of students ranging /aTN / r CZZZZD .y\ ^ e r<rv I Atfprc Tn " vJ vr lot Satisfi approximately seven issues of the Gamecock printed and delivered. In these issues nlirMit (it) ') nnivnitit /\f UMVMt i/U.Ai pVl Will V /1 11 IVOt stories revolve mostly I around the whites and/or i their affairs. But what about , the blacks and other ; students? Do we deserve a I chance to have stories , written about us that occupy more than two inches of space somewhere secluded near an ad? I am not trying to raise any racial issues whatsoever, but the time has come for fair and equal representation in the student media! I HAVE YET TO PICK UP a Gamecock and read about the petition that the Alpha Announci from freshmen to grads in varying degrees of sobriety ? was definitely negative. I hope I don't bring any of his career aspirations to a screeching halt, but his vorhitl nrMAnnp mau IfMtn V ?/ ?v*a <l?V4J ?wp me away from the Blue Devil game. In all fairness, maybe the poor performance of Mr. Voice wasn't entirely due to his seemingly dull wit. His failure to ignite a response from the crowd ? except when exceptional on-field play warranted it anyway ? r\ ilfl lnof /Ika /x Uin 1? V.UU1U JUOL l/C UUC IU 1113 1UCIV of timing. Or maybe it's the incessance of what is really a three hour rah-rah monologue, interspersed with corny, hackneyed, or occasionally just unintelligible cheers; an ef ? in ! ! i?n mmmmwmmmjmmi iC. CAM* -"NJV?K*2R p*1 i ( %> i H&JW iff ah The Editor ? ed With ( Phi Alpha Fraternity passed around in support of the l%f> Voting Rights Act. This type of a story could not only be beneficial to blacks but also to other minorities. It also [It^nofire tn mn t h o vi;linnn\/nr IV7 IWV. UlUl a story is written about a black person it is always something that revolves around sports. Is this the only thing you think we can contribute to the students at USC? Participation in a V"\ 1 n t i n /^lirtnlp ') Ci ir?/\l?t rwv aiinuin. tvcuia ; ouici^ uw one could be that stupid! Another small item which caught my eye in your Sept. 10 issue is a section entitled "Weekend Entertainment," it had a listing of places where the attendance is nredominatlv whito What er Bothei fective Mr. Voice should not prompt a chorus of "What did he say?" His repertoire included such gems as "He's got ants in his pants," and a suggestion to Jim Carlen uitfi ma Lcaui pui sume more points on the board before the half ? with less than 30 seconds left and the ball on the Carolina 20. A little knowledge of the logic of ivmiunii wvjuiuii I IIMVC IlUI'l in that situation. I'M NOT SAYING HE should be shipped right back to Clemson (undoubtedly his origin), but maybe he should practice on a smaller scale for a while rather than nauseating more than 50,00(1 fans with his amateurism while he masters his choser profession. ? i nsnHaaBRHSSH^BBBBRB^HHB i HBHU mamsmmm i MPnmnii ; RlDlCulous" So ^ ^(PRESS n overage about the other night spots around town? Do they deserve to be mentioned? Or does your staff know they exist? One last thing I would like to express my displeasure with? and that is 1 have often wondered whether or not your photographers know what they are doing because it sure as hell looks as though they do not. Not only are the photos blurred "3^ and distorted but they also lack an assortment of subjects. There has been only one picture and possibly two whprp hlnr?kr. worp photographed. AVERY M.WELLS Journalism Sophomore a s A Few This is the big time, remember? NCAA Division 1. Sports Illustrated. Southern Football. Let's be realistic Mr. Voice, you could be the victim of a halftime coup. _ ?< /\JLSU, KEEP II\ MllNlJ that I am a non-fraternized student here at USC, thus I don't suffer from any., clothing hang-ups or other social or mental insecurities. I speak with a sound mind (cheap shot, eh?). Please Mr. Voice, take this letter both lightly and to the heart. n FRANCIS EMILE BABOEUR Freshman Agitator !