University of South Carolina Libraries
GAMECCK Founded 1908 Mark Platte, Editor-in-Chiej - Try Brewer, General Manag Linda S. Haines, Advertising M( 0 Jean Hatchell, Business Mana Mark McEwan, Production Mane A Listle Just because The New York Times nuhlisheri sompthintf it called the "Selective Guide to Colleges 1982-83" which did not include the University of South Carolina in its 265 entries, there is no real reason for alarm. Taken as a whole, the guide is nothing more than an informal survey of colleges and universities the Times happened to interview. The fact that IJSC was not inrliiripri on that list means nothing more than this university not having the survey taken. The guide was intended to sell copies to prospective students and really had no business being given the title "selective guide." It could easily have been called "The New York Times Chooses to Rate Some Universities and Omit Others." Even the author,Times Education Editor Edward B#. Fiske admits to not having enough room in the book to publish information about every school. Unfortunately, this kind of trite survey can fuel criticism from within and without the university. Administrators may be angered by the guide and students may feel slighted but that type of attitude is tr xmn i? -i i- _ uuneuts&ary. n naa Deen included, no doubt there would have been some Times criticism of either the academic or social life here. The students and faculty who work and learn here know the criticisms and there is no need to have outfiidp sonrpps pvnlain TTSr'Q limitations. For only Clemson, Furman and the College of Charleston to be listed, the randomness of selection for colleges and universities is clearly shown. Are these actually the three best colleges in South Carolina, or has Tha Times been too sporadic in its surveys? Consider also how the surveys were conducted. Fiske and his staff interviewed 25 students from each university determined by enrollment lists submitted to The ??????? MnnHHHnHHMBnMannHi Torn Coyne, News Editor David Talley, Sports Editor John Vaughan, Entertainment Edito Beth Sundrfa, Copy Desk Chief Mike Fisher, Graphics Editor Fatty McCarthy, Asst. News Editor er Johnny Boggs, Asst. Sports Editor wager Mike Lough, Intramurals Editor Fletcher Johnson, Graduate Assistan ger Mark Ethridge Jr., Advieer iger >ss USC Times. Then the newspaper talked uri th o "oomrklJ*iff" rtf vviin u oaiiipiing v/i au ministrators from each institution to determine the rest of the survey. Just how many people The Times interviewed is not clear. Nor is it certain whether the newspaper actually even talked with anyone associated with Carolina. But surely even the least informed individual would not rely on a guide such as this to determine the worthiness and quality of an entire university. Guides and surveys are printed daily which detail listings and criteria for everything in a position to be rated. Many of them are printed to be sold, and do nothing more than try to entertain the reader. And that is the case here. The New York Times Selective Guide to Colleges 1982-83 sells for $9.95 and is written in entertaining, even a humorous, glib format. No doubt the book will sell because of what it has to offer. But the guide in no way can be an official representation of any institution unless it includes all facets of that institution The University of South Carolina is included on other surveys which don't include colleges listed on The Times guide. Depending on which one taken for the ultimate and indisputable truth, the surveys are subjective and lack important data. The publicity that has surrounded the guide just now is a little late considering that the book was available a month ago. We only hope that the local media gives as much coverage to similiar guides of this nature which have been published. Overall, it is better for this university not to included on a SUbiective survfiv Anv rpaptinn h\j .? -J J - ~-J this university to being left off the guide would only lend credence to something that has been so underresearched and discretionary. m ? * m m* m m m m m Letters Sports Colun TO THE EDITOR It appears that Thursday, Feb. 4 tramural Sports Editor. That must hi ignorant public of Sol Blatt and the be past few years. It's nice to know tha that has been written on the board believe that it's called beating a dea controversy over this issue or mayb< he knows everything about the univ don't you stick to Intramural sports v so many times before?that all of the board and Sol Blatt. w-* - ? rroposal i TO THE EDITOR I've lived ten years in Indiana and Northerner and a Southerner, I feel being printed in your paper. How lor S South continue? One Wednesday in 3 views on the South from a Northern whole months of living in South Ca Southerner's rebuttal to the anti-Soi Northerners all go back to where th Jersey). The predictable reply came 1 "We won the War!" And so it continu I humbly propose a solution to end part of the country is superior. Let's j abuse the Gamecock editorial page a Street Garage, North vs. South. The from that moment on, everyone affil winners. If the North wins, the loser: parties, pray for snow, use the word like New Jersey. ! Tf C> ll. ' ii me ouuui wins, me losers must purchase genuine imitation brass El\ Ricky Steamboat wrassles on TV. I hope that I've made my point. Hai GAMECOCK *dv' fiusii Sole reproduction rights granted to the As Press. All other material contained herein ma reproduced without the permission of the editor. Opinions expressed in the Gamecock are i signed, of the writer and, if unsigned, of the edito I The Gamecock welcomes letters and colui letters and columns must be typewritten, tripl on a 65-spacc-line. Letters should he no longer than 300 woi columns should bo limited to one newsworthy si longer thon four typed pages. Letters and columi be signed with the writer's correct name, t I rfMT" OK.. FIRST WE TOHE^MI II WER THE ARCAPES... 1 i %aJM n mi TI * rtiMinniciirr wm ^ M m "ssiin& vmivcniuro mm 'IVMi ' nirn ^ To The Editor ? in Just A Rehash must have been a slow day for the Gamecock Inj the reason he decided, so graciously, to inform the >ard of trustees actions regarding athletics over the t Mike has the ability to reprint the same rhetoric ?Sol Blatt in particular ?various times before. I d horse. Maybe it's Mike's way of trying to stir up ; he just wants to give students the impression that ersity's athletic problems. Either way, Mike, why Tiling and quit printing the same old garbage heard Droblems of thfi flt.hlptio Hpnartmpnt cfom frrtm Hi? 4 ? VA?rn\yliV OVV1I1 li Vlll Ui\/ NAME WITHHELD BY REQUEST ro End Debate l ten years in South Carolina, so snpakincr nc hnth a experentially justified in responding to the muck ig will these silly exchanges between the North and four editorial column, I endured a host of distorted "sage" who had reached her conclusions after five irolina! Last semester, I agonized when I read a uth letters to the editor, which suggested that the & ey came from (I think it's some little town in New s from yet another vapid writer, a Union enthusiast: esadnauseum. 1 once and for all this ridiculous nwr u/hir>h give each of these territorial cheerleaders who have loaded gun and let them battle it out in the Blossom last person alive wins the dispute for his side and liated with the losing side must pay homage to the 5 must play the Bruce Springsteen anthology at all ft s "man" or "like" in every sentence, and learn to learn the words to "Elvira," marry immediately, 'is belt buckles, and holler "Mercy Day" everytime 1 to the diversity of the U.S.A.! CHARLES HOOD Chemistry Junior <* s ertising: 777-4249 Newsroom: 777-7181 icss Office: 777-3888 Production: 777-2833 sociated number, mailing address, class standing or faculty y not be position and major. Pseudonyms are unacceptable, but the writer's name may be withheld on letter, upon request, if the circumstances warrant it. ^e reserve the right to edit columns and letters for T1HS. All space and style, and we reserve the right to reject any P HDflCPfl i column for any reason. ^ ds and Addr<?ss letters and columns to: Editorial Page Editor, * Gamecock. Drawer A. USC. Columbia, SC. 29208. ibject no . laMUST ' Oa C0<*-'-?a licensed student organization of elnnh t,,e Univer8ity of South Carolina and receives funding phone from student activity fees.