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) ' Equal Space TO THE EDITOR . I am writing in response to (Mark Platte's) column in the Wednesday Feb. 10 Gamecock. You used my letter for your kick-off. In your column, you defended your policy regarding the oublishing of letters to the editor. You wrote that "vou've heard again and again that our letters to the editor are being y abused by idiots writing in." You continued to say that it is an outrageous suggestion to cut out opinion from students, faculty and staff that write in. You concluded your song and dance by saying, "If we were to edit letters, Mr. Haggerty, then we'd be editing the thoughts of our readers: something we never do." I guess that policy went in to effect after you edited my letter. My letter was about two pages. After your editing, only a few bones remained to the skeleton of my letter. Probably what's more infuriating is the fact that, after you edited my letter, you put words in my mouth. I never suggested that you edit letters. I said, "Some of them should not nrinted without revision." There is a verv old custom I in the newspaper business. When an editor receives a highly * opinionated or controversial letter, he or someone else often Buckley Articul TO THE EDITOR rnlnmn are nlainlv an em I am writing in response to harassment to the Editor Mark Platte's Gamecock and the scribblings in his personal university. It is appalling column from the Feb. 18 that the student fees are Gamecock. Surely, with the being used to publish Mr. quality of this university's Platte's feeble ravings. Humanities and Journalism fn the Feb 18 Gamecock I Departments, we could find he writes concerning James finoi* avomnlo t if innr. o n 1,1 a iiuti vAaiupi\/ jvwt r . DUtMCy , U I . o d[i" nalism in the Editor-in-Chief pearance on the Phil than we presently have. All Donahue Show. Actually, school newspapers have William F. Buckley, Jr. is problems (such as the recent the columnist, editor of libeling of Mr. Swicegood) National Review, and author but Mr. Platte and his of the book mentioned by Mr. n roo lr I Ifo n ro; V-^l V^l V/l ? TO THE EDITOR I am writing to you in response to the letter entitled, "Greeks Are Not True Brothers." The evidence that the writer uses, which he claims gives sound reasons for his opinion, is in actuality nothing but misinformation. He claims that a "brother" was asked to depledge because of financial problems. Brothers can not depledge. Only pledges, or what we call associate members, can depledge. rne oniy reason why a pledge would be asked to resign his associate status would be because that is what a pledge is; a trial member. Often a fraternity or sorority asks a person to assume this trial status even though he or she is not real well known. The pledgeship which follows is a probation period in which the brothers get to know the pledge and then at the end of the pledgeship, the brothers decide whether or not they want the pledge to officially join. If the pledge is approved by the brotherhood, he is initiated and becomes an official member. P i ^ ^-iflllW .tfrfilSP- FORto For Letters contacts the writer to make sure that the letter is not a phony. When the newspaper person speaks to the writer, he spmetimes asks permission to delete a part that is in bad taste. I still believe that letters to the editor shouldn't be abused by idiots writing in. The Gamecock should not publish * rid icuJoiis statements "The picture accompanying Talley's column shows him seated behind the typewriter with a stupid grin on his face." Furthermore, any decent writer does not use such garbage to prove his point. If you decide to print this letter, please print it completely. If you want to edit it, please contact me before doing so. It is very easy for anyone "holding the microphone" to take a few Sentences out of context and shoot a solid view point straight to hell. Practice what you preach. Provide equal space when yon take someone's letter on. You hand-picked three statements trom my letter and attributed nail a column 01 laise inferences to me. You ought to be a little more responsible! STEVE HAGGERTY Journalism Graduate Student lntf> Snnkfsmnn Platte. James, his brother, is mandate of the nation in the now Under-Secretary of last election, not Buckley's State. After this simple error private madness. One does Platte proceeds to note not need to agree with Buckley's public positions Buckley to recognize that his concerning the Soviets, and |s an articulate spokesman. that he wrote a spy novel (a Uoes disagreement with Mr. best seller, like his previous Platte constitute "twisted two) Platte finds all this as thinking"? What is in an example of Buckley's question is not Buckley's "twisted thinking." I ask, politics, but Mr. Platte's who's "twisted," Platte or competence and responBuckley? A strong defense sibility, of which his columm and firmness toward tne exmuiis neuuer. Soviets was surely the JACKW. BUHT Graduate Assistant Music at Way To Live I, for one, know of several times that I have helped fraternity brothers with problems and they too have helped me with mine. Our fraternity always helps out brothers who need help, even financial. I have not always been "gung-no" ureeK; i sat out tor awhile before I joined a fraternity, so I, too, have been an Independent. The Greek life is not for everyone; however, those who are Greek will undoubtedly agree with me that it is one great way to live one's short stay here at Carolina. Friends come and go, but through the Greek system, one's friendships are firmer and they exist on a much more lasting basis. I am proud to be Greek and I am proud of what the Greek system does at Carolina. 1 am noi asnamea 10 sign my name to my letter admitting I am a Greek, but obviously the author of "Greeks Are Not True Brothers" is either ashamed, too scared, or just does not have the guts to sign his l JEFF VINZANI Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity President see page 10 for additional letters ^Sfflusrl iSnf Hk nHHHMMMMMMHnHHnHnMHMHHWMMBni 1VT ilRKT I^I ATT17 AVA* M. MJl * A J. JLZJ j Editor-in-Chief Well, the Gamecocks almost pulled it off and really should have beaten Notre Dame Saturday but again, the team deserves credit for making it an exciting game. It's not their fault that COLLEGE BASKETBALL has become a "kiil-theclock" adventure because of no time restriction during possession. The college game desperately needs a 30-second clock and those who disagree need only look at Saturday's ? i - ? i ?i ?i game iu ut: jjci suaueu. ivuuiy uiiniv uic iiiipiciiiciiidiiuii ui such a rule would equate college basketball with the poor strategy and the run-and-gun offense of the pro game, which is untrue. Professional basketball is pathetic only because players run the game instead of coaches. That's something that could never happen in the college game unless players started getting paid (legally, that iO Allriiiiaht PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL comes to the midlands! And none other than my favorite ballclub, the New York Mets, will have a farm team at Capital City ballpark. There are a number of good reasons for a move to have a baseball team here and among them is the money that will be drawn into Columbia through concessions, tickets and contributions to the team. I can only hope that Columbia will give a baseball team the kind of support it needs. And I hope the Mets will provide Columbia wntli cnmo oninvmpnt HfiW Pan WNflK FM claim itself to be the "number one rock station in America?" I'm not sure it's the number one rock station on Columbia FM. And besides, the radio stations in town are so dull and programmatic that the only relief is either WUSCFM or the out-of-town stations picked up on short-wave radio It is revealed that JOHN F. KENNEDY taped hundreds of conversations in the Oval Office. Big deal. In the first place, although it was ethically wrong, it had no effect on the way Kennedy performed his job. Secondly, the knowledge that the tapes were made was public information in the Kennedy Library in Boston. What was the scandal? It's time to nominate your choice for the AMOCO OUTSTANDING TEACHING AWARD before March 8. There are a number of teachers who would qualify and certainly are deserving of the recognition and a monetary sum. Send nominations to Mrs. Ada B. Thomas in the Business Administration Department for faculty members. Send nominations for outstanding graduate assistant to Dean George M. Reeves of the Graduate School FUN FACT TO KNOW AND TELL DEPT.: Did you know that USC has students from every state in the country except Wyoming? I didn't think you did The University of North Carolina's student union has announced that they will sponsor the performance of JAMES TAYLOR March 3 at their campus. Now why can't Contemporary Sounds, our concert-sponsoring vehicle, call up Beach Club promotions and get Taylor to come here? Beach Club is doing all the promotions for the North Carolina concert. I don't remember the last time Contemporary Sounds brought a name band or singer here since last spring Breakfast with PRESIDENT JAMES HOLDERMAN is scheduled for this Thursday at the Keystone Room of Capstone and students are urged to sign up at the Russell House Activities Office. The breakfast is scheduled for 7:30 a.m. This is a good opportunity to ask Dr. Holderman a few questions and ask him whether he likes his eggs poached or scrambled GREEN STREETS, the bar in Five Points, was so packed Friday night that the windows were fogged up. It's hard to understand why so many people would want to crush against each other in a steamy room for three or four hours. I guess it was because of the appearance of the Killer Whales, the group from Charleston who have created a cult of fans here at USC Read somewhere that young people up North were accounting for a record number of SUICIDES. The reason? Such a long, depressing winter replete with mounds of snow and frigid weather. I think people can just as easily get depressed about a number of other things besides the weather Classified ad in Friday's Gamecock reads: "Good looking young male (21) seeking an attractive female (18-35) for sex and an intimate relationship. Only serious inquiries please." Then a name and number is listed. Glad the young man is serious. I would hate for women to call him who didn't actually want to hop in bed right away PLUS CATEGORY: To SHEILA FOSTER women's basketball center whose number was retired Saturday. During the past few years, the Spartanburg native has been directly responsible for the Lady Gamecocks best seasons ever. We thank her for a tremendous athletic effort. MINUS CATEGORY: To those RELIGIOUS ZEALOTS on this pamniifi whn snpnri thpir pvprv wnkinor mnmpnl trvinc* tr , -'I J " O " J O conceive ways to recruit and persuade unsuspecting students into joining their cults. The spring is prime time for these types to be seen meddling and cajoling.