The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, March 29, 1982, Image 7
TO THE EDITOR
With the dismissal of Mark
Platte as editor of the
Gamecock there now exists
the possibility for a credible
orirt rolatront 1
M??? ivivtuiiv vunvnai page.
However, after reading the
recent editorial entitled
"Dismissal Fair?" I have
come to the conclusion that
the same unobjective, selfserving
meanderings will be
forthcoming.
The editorial protested the
dismissal of Platte and cited
several reasons whv it was
unjust.
Firstly, the writer of
"Dismissal Fair?" stated
that Platte did not consider
himself a candidate for the
Student Government
presidency and was only
trying to make a point. Sir, I
read the column and I
certainly got the impression
s
TO THE EDITOR
Since terrorism is some
governments, I find it ironic
a conference on terrorisr
Publications met to decide w
think it is clear that the bo;
measure designed to quel
Government feelings on this <
Why were those 1,500 stude
not, in actuality voting for ]
representing: abolishing Sti
not voted, I sincerely doubt i
at all.
TKic ;o -r
iiuo 10 VVI1C1C IIIC CI UA Ul
bureaucrats are threatens
domain, the school officials
have seen as an encroachn
Pa
TO THE EDITOR
I am writing in regard to
Chris Acquaviva's letter to
the editor in the March 24
iL ? . f mvwt a
laaue ui uiu Kjamccocn. wnai
are you complaining about?
In no way did Mark Platte's
running for offices in Student
Government affect your
election to the office of
treasurer of said government.
Or were you wary of
competition for the office?
None of the candidates
running for the offices of
president or vice-president
had a chance of a sure win,
so why not invite the occasion
for a varied field of
IVMftllP tin
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Editorial
that he was seriously considering
the Student
Government office. Did he
not ask us to take him
seriously, and didn't many
other students believe him
and indeed write his name in
on the ballot? If he was
trying to make a point, he
u:~ _cc ?
a?iv? uid ?u?n were me only
ones aware of it.
Secondly, the writer noted
that Platte did not write the
article as the editor-in-chief,
but as Mark Platte, private
citizen. Did Mr. Platte use
the space entitled him as the
editor? He did. How can the
editor of a paper use
privileged space and
editorial prerogative, write
a column and separate
himself from his office? I
submit that he cannot.
Thirdly, it was stated that
Platte was opinionated,
m 1 * *
tuaents vo
times linked with oppressive
that Mark Platte was attending
n when the USC Board of
hat action to take against him. I
ard's action was an oppressive
1 an uprising of anti-Student
campus.
nts voting for Platte? They were
Platte, but for the idea he was
ident Government. If they had
nany of them would have voted
the matter lies. Just as petty
i by any invasion into their
lashed out at what they must
lent on the power structure ol
per Checks
players? I do not necessarily
condone Platte's use of the
Gamecock to inform the
student body of his intentions
to run for Student Government
nor of his intentions if
elected, but I do feel that all
the candidates, including
Platte, were given just
publicity for campaigning in
the Gamecock. (At least
Platte did not plaster the
campus with posters thus
littering and causing an
eyesore about the university).
You may be an accounting/finance
major, but
exactly what do vou know
Debated
informed (surely you jest)
and, although he was not
alwavs in agreement. he
always respected your right
to voice an opinion. Several
of his articles came to mind
with respect to this
statement. I recall Mr.
Platte questioning the right
of a certain group to protest
and voice their opinions in
front of the State capital
building earlier this year. I
also remember a comment
he made in his personal
column regarding race
relations in Atlanta. He
stated that blacks and whites
in Atlanta did not interact,
that Atlanta had less racial
trouble than other cities
where there was racial interaction
and hp wnnHprpH
-?? -"""J
if non-interaction between
the races was a viable
solution to racial problems.
ted For Idee
USC. If Platte had run as an or
to be part of the Student Gover
; serious action would have been i
The board obviously ignored
now-famous March 3 column:
from any affiliation as editor-ii
: as MARK PLATTE."
They also must have overloc
1 Gamecock coverage and the d
1 the campus was hit with, Plat
' amount of coverage about his c
L other candidates. If he had wai
editor-in-chief, he surely woul
form of campaigning than one c
: And Balam
about the running of a
government such as this
university's Student
Government? Also, how can
you possibly suggest
abolishing such an estate as
a newspaper, which has
served as a tool of checks
and balances on the
government since the 18th
century? It is this medium of
mass communications that
informs a great majority of
our nation's peoples of
almost every aspect of day
to day life. We should be
grateful that America has
freedom of speech and a free
press. Without this in
;Is this informed and objective?
Such musings are
appropriate for the editor of
the Jefferson Davis
Academy Gazette ; not the
newspaper of a major
university. !
Finally, the Board of '
Publications was accused of
being "out to nail" Platte,
and not being responsive and
objective in considering his
dismissal. Well, after
reading Platte's drivel and
observing his performance
as editor I feel that the>
were justified in wanting to
"nail" him, if indeed they |
did. [j
Please do not follow in Mr. I
Platte's footsteps. Do not let I
this opportunity for
legitimacy and credibility
fall by the wayside.
JOHN A. BRASINGTON !
Theatre And Speech
r
dinary candidate who wished
nment, I sincerely doubt any
taken against him.
the last sentence of Platte's
"I present this stand apart
i-chief of the Gamecock, just
>ked the fact that, what with
eluge of posters and banners
te received only a miniscule
andidacy, as compared to the
nted to misuse his position as
Id have chosen a less subtle
olumn in the Gamecock.
SUSAN G. HAND
Journalism Junior I
ces
' stitution the United States
could probably be compared
to the communistic Soviet
Union. ?
I will conclude in quoting
Thomas Jefferson who wrote
"were it left to me to decide
whether we should have a'
government without
newspapers, or newspapers
without a government, I
should not hesitate a
moment to prefer the latter."
I, for one, tend to agree
with Jefferson.
ELIZABETH BRANCH
urn 7m
Journalism Major
SPSS
~ fa
Tom Coyne ^ ^ \
News Editor
Tonight millions of adoring eyes will watch and cheer as
their favorite movie stars vie for the coveted Academy
Award. Every year people are disappointed when their
favorites fail to receive an Oscar. In honor of tonight's
historic occasion I would like to announce my nominations
for the first annual Ernie Awards.
The Ernie Award is for international, national and local
figures who are so often overlooked in their performances.
Mail your vote to your congressman and the results will be
announced by the Bif Bulkie Accounting firm. Although some
may disagree with the nominations they were carefully
1 12 - J 1 ...
i cacm cucu aau siuuieo Dy a very reputaoie committee. I
Best Film: i
The Odd Couple-Remake of the old Walter Matthau-Jackj
Lemmon movie with slight changes in script. This version)
stars Ronald Reagan and Tip O'Neill.The two dottering old
fools go to Washington D.C. and disagree on every possible!
subject. Because of internal bickering, the nation slowly goes)
to hell. Better than Simon's original. i ?
Spaceshuttle-From the makers of Airplane. Spoof onl
NASA's Spaceshuttle program. Jack Lousma and C. Gordon!
Fullerton are brilliant in their performances. Story line isj
about scientists who spend billions of taxpayer's dollars on
the program only to discover they don't have enough money
to paint the entire ship. The ship's tiles fall off, drink bottles|
spill leaving liquid floating throughout the ship, com-^ .
munication system fails and toilet goes haywire. \
Buddy-Buddy-Gov. Dick Riley and USC President James!
Holderman spend entire movie arguing about everything .
from eliminating the College of General Studies to the! '
amount of funding USC should receive. But throughout, they
remain buddy-buddy. Columbia Mayor Kirkman Finlay was
scheduled to star with Holderman but contract negotiations
ran into difficulty on the Greene Street clause.
Apocalypse Now-The United States and Soviet Union play
two power hungry nations who vie for all the banana
republics in the world without any consideration to its people.
The ending to this one has the potential to be devastating, but
I couldn't tell you since I left early.
Best Actor:
Mark Platte-(Absence of Malice) Controversial editor
writes column about eliminating Student Government. The
infighting that occurs later is unbelievable. The ending has a
very ironic twist ? everyone loses.
Alexander Haig-(The Man Who Would Be King) This film
i is about a man who takes one of the most prestigious jobs in
the world but still gets no respect from anybody. When the
pressure heats up, he tries to take charge and once again
everyone laughs. The director originally tried to get Rodney
Dangerfield, but Haig gets less respect than even Danger-,
field can imagine.
Terry Fox-(Superman) A real tear-jerker about a young
man stricken by cancer who attempts to run across Canada
despite having one artificial leg. Before he can finish his
fundraising run, the cancer spreads to his lungs and he dies a
few days later.
David Stockman-(Coma) Story about man who goes into
the hospital. Instead, the surgeon slips and gives him an
accidental charisma bypass. He is appointed to Office of
Management and Budget and is in office for four years before
a reporter discovers he is in a coma.
Best Actress:
iNancy neagan-u<irst Family) Tnis flick would also make
a good TV sitcom. Her husband is constantly saying things he
doesn't mean. Her daughter can not find a job, and her son's
only interest is ballet. She wastes thousands of dollars on
china and her personal wardrobe. " I Love Lucy " was never
this good.
Brooke Shields-(Calvin Klein) All of Brooke's commercials
are run end to end. Her thought-provoking lines are sure to
make a bestseller someday and the positions she is able to
twist her body into should someday win her an Olympic gold
medal.
Pam Parsons-(Bosom Buddies) Women's basketball coach
is alleged to have sexual improprieties with her team.
Despite this she consistently has winning teams. In the end
she is forced to resign and the media coverage makes her a
nationally known figure.
Rona Barrett-(True Confessions) Opposite her star Tom
Selleck.who she nicknames "Beefcake." this movie cxnnsps
how old Rona really gets her rumors. She pays for it but it is
not with money. This is not one to bring kids to.
Best Song:
"Only the Good Die Young"-John Belushi
4i Did It My Way"-Eugene Carmichael
"Carolina Girls"-Pam Parsons
"Take It Easy On Me"-Jim Carlen
I'm sure many people will be displeased with some of these
choices and wonder why some of their favorites were not
nominated. Among those not nominated include Moammar
Khadafy, George Bush and many others who could have
easily been in the running for an Ernie.
It is hoped that someday the much-coveted Ernie will
become as great an honor as winning the Oscar and Grammy