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Dead Marines M _ * now the honored' Commotion ? complaints, editorials, speeches ? about the two Marines killed in Beirut Monday by Shiite Moslem shelling will likely abound. Supporters of Reagan's Lebanon policy will say it was a tragedy two Marines died, but will praise rtouro Tl>r\on ttrif K D onrton i m nntr \I/11 1 lilt 1 wiiu auinwa^aii .~>v*uiiuiviu^ y?in say it was a tragedy two humans died, and will blast the administration. The Lebanese army and Amal, the Shiite Moslem militia, will have their statements. Everyone will get their say on the matter ? exeept the two dead men, who are now among "the honored dead." W/hat'c rfnllv traoir is flip fnronttpn npnnln in n military action are those who die in that action. They become figures for both the pro and con sides, and are remembered as numbers instead of names. When the Iranian hostages were released in January 1981, the American public greeted them home with a heroes' welcome. But forgotten were the eight U.S. soldiers killed during an aborted rescue attempt. The two recent deaths bring the total number of American casualties to three dead and 15 injured, during the 11 months the peace-keeping force has been there. Statistics. Reagan expressed his "profound sorrow" over the deaths of the soldiers. But what about tne ZD civilians and 11 soldiers killed and the 136 civilians and 76 soldiers wounded? More statistics. The latest "honored dead" will become the subject of several people's topics on Reagan's Lebanon stand. There will be newspaper stories and televi sion reports, analysis comments and columns, otficial statements and letters, with the dead men regarded as figures. But it seems ironic those with the most profound right to discuss the policy are the ones who can nc longer speak for themselves. Letter policy The Gamecock welcomes letters and guesl editorials from students, faculty and staff on an} - ~ ~ i a 1 , newsworthy topic, limited to 30U woras, lypeu am triple-spaced. Writers must sign their name, as well as type it and include class, major and phone number. Pseudonyms are unacceptable. Letters should be mailed to Opinion Page Editor Gamecock,Drawer A, Russell House, USC, Co! umbia, S.C. 29208. I Gamecock Crlitnr in Pkiof LUIIUI III UIIIUI Johnny Boggs Copy Desk Chief Curt Cottle Copy Editor Mark Armstrong News Editor Chris Handal Copy Editor Beverly Simmon: Asst. News Editor Janet Edens Copy Editor Leigh Jone: Asst. News Editor Susan Muir Copy Editor Alan Sein Opinion Page Editor Ellen McCarthy Copy Editor Mark Farme Ent. Editor Julie Jameson Sports Editor Jeff Rcgers General Manager Ron Ernie Asst. Sports Editor Andrew Miller Ad Manager Linda S. Maine Asst. Ent. Editor Glenn German Business Manager Jean Hatche Wire Editor Leslie Katz Production Mgr. Mark Mctwa Photo Editor Mary Ann Mollis Graduate Asst. Wanda M. Hit Asst. Photo Editor Joe Jackson Adviser Mark Ethridge J Newsroom 777 7181 Advertising 777 42^ Business Office 777 3888 Production 777 28. The Gamecock welcomes letters and guest editorials. All letters and gue editorials must be typewritten, triple spaced on a 65 space line. tetters should be no longer than 300 words and guest editorials should be limit! to one newsworthy subject no longer than four typed pages. Letters and gue editorials MUST be signed with the writer's name, telephone number, mailing a dress, class standing or faculty position and major. Pseudonyms are unacceptab but the writer's name may be withheld upon request if the circumstances warrai IWe reserve the right to edit guest editorials and letters. Address letters and columns to: Opinion Page Editor, Gamecock, Drawer A, US Columbia, S.C. 29208. Opinio Mr LISTEN,WL,I WJIDH'T ' r : KA^l&DEMTOEft TftTWVJ 1C T UMWr arru l uvm ?? * l r\y\\ l VZ-tW ; i US\HS STEROIDS i On double pi How can a man charged with 96 counts of rape, aggravated burglary and other heinous acts, plead both not guilty and not guilty by reason of insanity? Those were the pleas entered when the trial of Dr. Edward Franklin Jackson Jr. started Aug. 22 in Akron, Ohio. The two pleas should be mutually exclusive. If he is not guilty, then he did not commit the crimes. If he is not guilty by reason of insanity, then he committed the crimes, but should not be considered accountable because his mental condition is something he cannot help. Hither he raped, or he didn't rape. Which is it? Entering two pleas has messed things up. Ordinarily, defendants have a right to bail because they are con| sidered innocent until guilt is proven. This idea is concurrent with our na) tion's deepest commitment to individual liberties, and is vital to protecting our people from undue Dunishment. Though insanity may absolve a person of criminal guilt, it does not make that person less dangerous. t The Lantern j Ohio State University Computer buffs aren't just playing games anymore. ? Apparently bored with Space In vaders, they're tapping into the data banks of nuclear weapons laboratories, hospitals and California school systems. Their hobby is serious business, a new type of theft that demands national attention. : tetter: ; Student compl; : about registral r To the editor: s In Friday's issue 01 me ^iaie news ll 44 .Classes start today, and some sti n longer waits than usual on the last day e fall semester." r. Let it be known this is the understat Probably not everyone's experience v as mine, which included waiting in line during a three-day span. st Maybe some didn't get off so lucky. 1 the Elephant Room, the arena or any BtJ hour, I'd say you'd rival the Second Cc ? g?' OSCAR is an appropriate name for I le' the TV character, it's sloppy, unor chaotic. I say we try something new. L ,p Felix and clean up the act. ^? IntereampuS eas, compute A group of Wisconsin computer enthusiasts has been especially mischievous. Ten to 15 members are under investigation by the FBI's Milwaukee office for using home computers to raid data banks at New Mexico's Los Alamos National Laboratory and businesses around the country. One member of the group allegedly broke into the computer system of the Sloan-Kettering Memorial Cancer Center in New York City, causing the system to fail while monitoring cancer patients. The power of today's computer wizards should not be underestimated. The need to study computer security ? for classified government data as well as personal records ? is greater now than ever. The methods and motives of the culprits now coming to light could lead to the prevention of more serious cases. Last week, a pair of reporters tapped into a Wisconsin state computer that keeps records of welfare checks, tax refunds and employment payrolls. The two avoided detection in their demonstration to show the state attorney general data systems are susceptible. Their easy access is a good argument for the need to study computer security. Indiana Daily Student Indiana University As students are moving into new houses, apartments and residence halls, they should be aware of the possible existing fire hazards and be prepared to protect themselves against disaster. A good place to start a safety check is an investigation of electrical outlets. o I D Bins ion paper, a caption read idents were reporting f of registration for the I I ement of tlie year. vas quite as frustrating /bOa" /B :s a total of nine hours il^ [f anyone did get out of H C^T" of the lines within an Ate ?ming as far as miracles j 11 JSC's new system. Like I j T^T{ ganized and generally I / f s?" et's change the name to I Karen Jonas Advertising junior ^-3o S?^.-5" r break-ins Dwight Elliott, deputy Illinois state fire marshal in charge of fire prevention, said, "Recently, there has been a dramatic decrease in the number of fire deaths and it is largely due to the placement of smoke detectors." Non-working outlets may mean disconnected or crossed wires ? both problems have fire-causing potential. In addition, new renters need to make sure they don't have exposed wiring. A call to a landlord concerning wire problems could prevent a tragedy. Other potential fire hazards should be kept in mind throughout the school year. Elliott noted a strong correlation between fire-related deaths and drinking and smoking.Students s lould nake sure to extinguish all smoking materials before going to bed. Often when people have been drinking, "they aren't as quick" and tend to leave burning cigarettes in places where a fire could be started, Elliott said. a .1 /v-- i 1 AU/, Anomer lire nazai u mciiis iiuiu cicatrical appliances with faulty wiring. An item as innocuous as a curling iron can cause a fire to break out. A curling iron with a wiring short should be discarded. A safe bet would be that most people would prefer to have straignt hair rat her than a permanent resting place in a cemetery. And if one doesn't take fireprevention measures, he or she could join the ranks of those who have died a painful and needless fire-related death. The Daily Eastern News Eastern Illinois University I I AIKKOKI | SECUR.ITV li' '*63 ^N?0?i*r?<3o f ?4>ki fvyM c?l?