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-opinion. " .-.'V . i ' . \ 1." \ >f \ :v IAf m i w ... wasmngtons victory ends ugly election One of the ugliest elections in the nation's5 history has drawn to a close. Rep. Harold Washington held a marginal lead over Republican Bernard Epton yesterday in the city's mayoral race. With 9 793 of 9 Q14 nr**rinrts rp>nnrt#*H ?t 9 ? m today, Washington had 636,136 votes, while Epton had 595,694 votes. Epton, however, refused to concede, vowing he would claim the election from a "neck-andneck" finish. Washington, seeking to be elected the city's first black mayor, and Epton, hoping to become the city's first republican mayor in 52 years, were guilty ot one 01 the most vicious mudslinging campaigns ever. It is sad that a city with such a strong political tradition as Chicago had its biggest turnout since the 1944 presidential election over racial, rather than political, views. Perhaps comedian Bill Cosby put it best in his guest editorial in USA Today. Cosby wrote, "When I look at a person, I am cognizant of his color. If he tells me, I am aware of his religion. As we talk. I become aware of what he believes in life, and we can have differences. "But, if it is the sight of a person's color, or the shape of his nose, the texture of his hair, the size of his body, that makes me feel more relaxed meeting him, or uncomfortable meeting him, then I have no freedom to judge that person on tnc basis of what he may really be capable of doing." The citizens of Chicago voted yesterday ? not on the basis of what each candidate was ''capable of doing" ? but on whether he was white or black. This is what they will have to live with until the next election. And while they are doing serious soul-searching, perhaps they can rebuild Chicago's political tradition. Oscars a ioke Overlooking the fact that Monday night's Academy Awards telecast was perhaps the most poorly designed show in the organization's Mistory of poorly designed shows, the results also exposed all of the Academy's academic problems. Surely the special effects in "E.T." did not surpass even Spielberg's "Close Encounters of the Third Kind." Did the Academy even consider the innovation of "Tron," (an otherwise mediocre film)? And "Gandhi" for Best Cinematography? What about the stylistic superiority of Andrzej Bartkowiak's cinematography in "The Verdict"] These arguments could be endless. But until the Academy acquires some open minds (not to mention better guest hosts), the Oscars will remain a three-hour joke. (aomecoc h 1 j Editor in Chief Richard Mevers ' Copy Desk Chief .... Ann Appiegate Photo Editor Michael Becker News Editor Chris Handal Copy Editors . . . David OeWitt, Mark As?t. New# Editor . . Janet Edens Farmer. Leigh Jones and Ralph W. Stice Asst. Newt Edit. Rachel Waterhouse Int. Editor John Vaughan General Managar Ron Emler itssi. cm. taiior . . . Jim van Arsaaie Ad Manager Linda 5>. Haines Sports Editor Johnny Boggs Business Manager . . . Jean Hatched Asst. Sports Editor. . Dennis Switier Production Mgr Mark McE wan Opinion Page Editor... Leslie Kat/ Graduate Asst Wanda M. Hue Wire Editor Leslie Potash Adviser Mark F.thridge Jr. Newsroom 777 7181 Adverusing 777 4249 Business Office 777 3888 Production 777 2833 The Gamtcock welcomes letters and Quest editorials. All letters and guest editorials must be typewritten, triple spaced on a 65 space Ime. Letters should he no longer than 300 words and guest editorials should be limited to one newsworthy subject no longer than four typed pages. Letters and guest editorials MUST be signed with the writer's name, telephone number, matlmg address, class standing or faculty position and major. Pseudonyms are unac cepteble, but the writar's name may be withheld upon request if the circumstances warrant. We reserve the right to edit guest editorials and letters. Address letters and columns to: Opinion Page Editor, Gamtcock, Drawer A, USC, Columbia, S.C. 29208. -letters Today's soci Editor: Does anyone remember "My Generation" by The Who.... "Talkin' 'bout my generation...." I'd like to talk about my generation, but there isn't much to say. The emotional energy earlier generations gave to their causes appears to be absent. Critics of "my" generation point to this as a sign of immorality or amorality. I disagree. I think this generation is very moral. We are more intelligent and more logical than any previous generation. Talking to many of my peers, I find complex standards of logic in the making of moral decisions. My generation is so logical that it's not surprising a computer was made Man of the Year by Time magazine. Ours is the morality of the word processor. We have intellectualized to the exclusion of the emotional possibilities of the intrinsically subjective human experience. Other critics point to this lack of fervor as a sien of anathv and in sensitivity. Who's apathetic? We are proud of the fact that, for the most part, we can buy any damn product for our amusement we want. And of course, the suffering of others is their own fault for not wearing the latest fashions. What are we doing to ourselves? We can laugh about the old people who are too slow to get out of our way, and USC should RHitnr This is a letter from a disappointed a alumna of USC. I am writing to you in do something to get us back into the ference. As you well know from past history, C Carolina out of the ACC, claiming 1 because of their standards and his r< before and after he got out of the con that. Our basketball program cannot begir teams for recruits. Who wants to play ii can be seen at the ACC schools on telev Washington, D.C., to Atlanta? They h* know, in the final 16 and one natior second year in a row. Carolina has been embarked on a w 1964 with precious little to show for football appearances ?- and we never could not even gpt a National Collegiat bid when the~NCAA picked teams like and Marquette. As an independent school we arc goin The New York Daily News in a colu South Carolina was likely to get into t That will be a shame. We should be ir was one of the original members of t ference and a charter member of the A< If what I hear is true and they (the A back into their conference, I suggest playing them in football once we honor signed. Why does the board of trustees Holderman do nothing? Why does Bob I There are so many layers of admit now .it seems like it is being run by ( aren't interested in this lady's feelings < can't afford to contribute but $100 ner 1 Club, but I am second to nope in my I03 in my interest in all Carolina does. Spo % r"* l,"~ iety insensiti' we can casually discuss the political ramifications of the Holocaust over lunch; but when is there time for feeling? When is there time for emotional empathy with the pain of others who are greatly removed from us in time, distance and experience? I would like to say we haven't become desensitized to the suffering of others, but I don't know. The popular attitudes trivialize suffering and ridicule the emotional depth of experience. I have seen the "beautiful" people in tneir circus suits continuing the status quo their parents continued, and I have seen the hubiis and shamelessness in the faces of these fashion clones as they sneer across the classroom at the sons and daughters of the common working folk. The shamelessness of my generation is noi in wnai ll says ana does, but in what it feels. Or rather, what it doesn't^ feel ? compassion. When are we going to put away our "toys" and cry with all those who have never known anything but crying? And when will we share not just what we have, but who we are as humane beings, with all those who have never been shown a single act of humanity? The desperation of human culture rises today from the heap of logic and complacency that fills the void in emotional depth. And as life sinks into be readmittei us something to be nd frustrated fan and all this jealousy b< the hope that you will stopped jamming < i Atlantic Coast Con- And I heard that Invitational Touri Joach Paul Dietzel got only 1,000 students he could not recruit You put N.C. Sta ecora was a disaster will see standing r< ference. So much for A final note ? if just boycott ciga i to compete with ACC Carolina. n Columbia when they Economics migfr ision all the way from Please do sometl id four teams, as you lal champion for the inning program since "" it. A few rinky-dink win any of those. We 9 Athletic Association Southwest Louisiana g nowhere. /*"7N mn blurb April 2 said j he Metro conference. rt+Zf / i the ACC. Our school ne oia southern Con- AUi iCC) will not admit us J LjgxZ we immediately stop ll the contracts already \\ CUjIJ do nothing? Why does " darcum do nothing? listration at Carolina V^IS?fr | General Motors. They rwr*ifiii one way or the other. I /ear to the Gamecock u, ^alty to the school and ' nOrc Wt rts is supposed to give Rescue" Wf~tzmr\ cum?: onw i ^fil 4 MM VAVVJL/ orsvn, ivvyil, BUM stay flexible:; ^ lifli fj&B * bs> - Tr f IT,., ,S r5" j ve, apathetic boredom, we strive to find bigger and better thrills to try and convince $ ourselves that we are still human K/\irirfc itiA ofill (aoI n--4 wviiigii, uiui nc 01,111 11X1 cillUUUlia. DUl these are only shallow responses to passing amusements, anu soon the void is even larger and more painful. This generation has the task of reevaluating not the political or economic systems of the world, but something more essential and basic ? how we are to relate with one another as individual to individual. Until we as individuals reach a high level of responsiveness to the lives of each othpr And rpsnnnsihiltv fnr eanh nthor the current world crisis will only ^ deepen its own mire. However, let me state I am not implying our generation is singularly responsible for the world's problems. I am not saying all members of this generation are shallow and callous or that all members of other generations are not. But I am trying to increase the awareness of certain trends of now we may characterize ourselves and how others may perceive us to be. ^ 1 In conclusion, I apologize for taking such a large issue upon myself to discuss, but each of us must search our individual consciences to understand our roles and responsibilities as individuals and as a single humanity. Brian Melton Journalism senior d to ACC * happy about and to cheer about instead of ;tween programs at Carolina. The crowds Carolina Coliseum about seven years ago. out of 11,000 fans at the second National lament appearance by the Gamecocks, showed up. 4^ TTM/1 Lv I- iL _ L n^i: ../v.. ic tuiu uiNV/ uacK in mai i^onseum anu ytm x>monly. the ACC does not admit Carolina back let's rettes, furniture et al made in North it be the answer. hing. Marian Gibson (JSC alumna I lift ! m ?l_ aj ' u ' IK T* v vJf?*ndO S#M?n#l I & o : SyrtdtCif | CAN SURVIVE THE SOCIAL SECURITY