The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, September 21, 1981, Page Page 2, Image 2
Editorial"
I
A A MA S i!
^.memoersj
The Senate Finance Committee made a grave mistake
Thursday and Friday nights by suppressing the basic right of
the public ? to inform and be informed.
lhe Gamecock sent a reporter ana two photographers to
Friday's committee meeting. Thursday night it was just one
reporter. On both occasions, the committee refused to admit
our correspondents to report or photograph the proceedings.
The reason given? "We voted on it and decided it wouldn't be
fair to let a funded organization attend the meeting," said
adviser Mark Erickson.
lne Gamecock obviously never intended tor any reporter
to lobby to the committee for additional funding; that's
common sense. We simply felt that a decision as noteworthy
as what should be done with $322,000, part of the first activity
icc liiLiciuciit in liiciiicu iicn vy luvch age. 111c uuuid
were closed on us and the reason is an insufficient one.
THERE ARE numerous times when the Gamecock has
been refused access to information and rightly so. When
personalities are being discussed for tenure and promotion,
students are receiving reprimands from the disciplinarian,
or various departments on campus are sensitively trying to
oust staff members; these are examples of where privacy
laws can be applied.
However, the money that has been generated by the fee
increase is important enough that all students. uould know
immediately how it's being handled. It was important that
students had to dole out the cash in the first place. Now, the
mpmhprs r?f thp ^pnntp Pinanpp fntnmiHfip amiHct a
chairman's resignation in the middle of crucial decisionmaking,
have become so paranoid that they fear any information
being conveyed to students or organizations.
SENATE PRESIDENT Glory Gault said Friday, "When
you (the Gamecock) print a story on us, you put a lot of
pressure on the committee." Gault's remarks reflect all the
leadership of a terrified body of uninformed individuals. In
fact, it's frightening to think of these attitudes that would
naturally permit the suffocation of vital information.
This year, the committee has decided to have no hearings
for the newly acquired money. Simply, nine students will
meet for two hours once or twice a week and hope to have all
the money allocated within two weeks' time. That means no
input from anyone save a cover letter from the organizations
explaining their particular situation. While the desire to
finish the proceedings in record time is commendable, the
fact that the committee has just lost two members and is
Utf rt n n/ltunAi*
ntawevi uy an auivsu vviui uusuiuicij' nu ca^ci iciltc III II1C
proceedings is not.
Add to this the primary complaint that students will have
no idea how, when or why certain amounts of money will be
distributed and the whole situation reeks of instability, and
misdirection.
The Gamecock is trying to do its best to report and com MxnlAntix
?f iu? : ? l t iron liuiL _ i : 1- ?
muiH^aic- musi ui uic iums dimui uov^, witii a uarrier sucii as
this, that task will become one notch harder. Hopefully, the
people that obtain information from this newspaper will feel
.he same way and support us.
i P?*!
I j :!
H H
i ?1.00 OFF !
t:.i mm. m mm emIB _ M 0j ?a B
I Any wnoie sud! j
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S $.50 OFF i
| Any Half Sub! |
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I 749 Saluda Ave. 256-6681 I
I in 5 Points Expires 9/26/81 Jj
Lei
TO THF FDITOR
I am writing you in
response to an article
printed in the Sept. 16 edition
of the Gamecock entitled "JROTC,
Kids Playing
Soldier." As a former
member of tne iNavai Junior
Reserve Officer Training
Corns (N.TROTC) unit of
North Myrtle Beach High
School (NMB, S.C.), I find
the article to be both
atrocious and appalling.
The writers term the JROTC
program as a
"training corps for
adolescents" and as an "in
house recruiting program."
I have to put their misconceptions
down to a lack of
sincerity and capability in
the art of reporting, for the
J-ROTC program is indeed a
very respectable and
prestigious organization that
deserves a lot of credit for
the quality educational
opportunities it offers.
THE J-ROTC program is
an institution whose main
concern is to instill a sense of
patriotism, self-discipline
and respect ? not only for
authority, but also for one's
own self. Through the
program cadets learn not
only to drill and fire rifles,
but also the precious worth
of believing in themselves as
well as the country they live
in and those who lead her.
Contrary to the closing line
of the article which stated
that "J-ROTC cadets aren't
learning how to lead but to
follow," I must point out that
in an average size unit of 100130
students, there may be as
many as 35-40 positions
(billies) open to qualified
narifltc It ic a wpII Irnnu/n
and accepted fact that in
order to be an effective and
responsible leader, one must
first learn the art of being a
follower. Cadets are advanced
in office and rank
according to their own individual
capabilities and
desires.
I myself served as an
executive officer (second in
command) during my junior
year of high school, and as
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tiers To '
commanding officer during 1
my senior year. These billits t
provided me the opportunity e
to explore and expand my f
capabilities and leadership f
11 mt. - _
SKins. mese unique op- ?
portunities cannot be found
in any other club or sport. It
is an aspect that makes the
J-ROTC program very
special and very exciting.
OUR UNIT at NMBHS was
formed in 1979. No teachers
j: :?? a ? <
wcie uiaiinadcu in uiuci iu i
make room for the very 1
popular class or its in- t
structors (one of whom is a c
retired Marine Corps Lt. c
Colonel, the other a retired
Naval Senior Chief Petty
Officer). The men are
dedicated to their students
and are well liked by them,
other students in the school,
14_. 1
lacuuy anu auiuiiiibu anun, j
and the parents and citizens .
of the community. s
<
Five classes are taught (
each day which cover a wide
range of topics including: .
naval history, political ,
science, leadership,
navagation, current events,
drill, and rifle. Drill sessions
are conducted one to two \\
times a week in order to
instill a sense of working
together as a whole in order
to acheive an objective.
Although drill periods are
conducted on the student
parking lots, the lunch
sessions are arranged and
controlled by cadets for
caaeis.
Those who give up their
lunch breaks and their free
time before and after school
to practice complex drill
sequences and difficult rifle
movements do so of their
own initiative in order to
improve their individual
skills. These cadets have
learned that anything
desired and anything worth
having must be diligently
worked for.
THE QUALITY of
graduating seniors who have
completed a J-ROTC
program cannot be
overlooked. The abilities of
inese young people wno nave
ujf/ c n/y/o/t j
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I
BBHHHDHM
Fhe Edit
earned of themselves and
he great nation they live in
ire invaluable. The ex>eriences
they have reaped
rom competitions, offices
md classwork all combine to
lelp mold an individual
capable of handling his life
n an effective and
>roductive manner. J-ROTC
s not a playground for
children who like to play
var, it is a classroom for
>eople who desire to enhance
heir education and their
ives. It isn't "cool" to wear
he J-ROTC uniform ? it's
iedication, hard work and
letermination.
LYNN GEIST
Biology Freshman
rO THE EDITOR:
In regard to Avery Wells'
etter, the Gamecock
probably does not cover
Dlack issues as well as it
mould, nowever we cannoi
correct the problem alone.
The Gamecock no longer
pays photographers or
writers for their work,
n A T\/TTJ
Vjrjn.-LVJLX:
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Courselocatec
, Columbia on th<
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Offer not cj
other
j Offer Expire
; Student i
nUBnHBHBi
or
therefore resulting in a
substantial loss of quality. If
there were a tew oiacK
students on campus that
were willing to work free a
few hours a week I believe
that things would change a
little.
AS A MATTER of fact
since vou say that you are
such a good writer and that
you can speak your views
well, I suggest that you give
it a shot.
When the Gamecock j
receives a good story idea
it usually follows up on it. i)}
NAME WNilnELU BY
REQUEST
TO THE EDITOR:
To Agitated Freshmen,
"Voice of the Gamecocks"
says "Love ya." Don't feel
insecure, you can borrow
one of my 47 Izo&s for the
Georgia game. Super!
JEFFMCADOO WJ->
Senior Prep Advisor
jcockI
>liru, Columbia, S.C.
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ial Page Editor, Gamecock, Drawer A, USC, rJj
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Qf-i irlnnf \
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