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U.S. should invoke War Powers Act Sunday brought an announcement that a ceasefire accord had been gained in Lebanon. This agreement, if it takes full effect, will bring to ar end four weeks of heavy fighting that began wher anti-government Moslem militia men took control of the streets of West Beirut. This outbreak spread to the Shuf Mountains wnen me Israelis withdrew their forces. The Lebanese Army, the Christian Phalangist militia and Syrian backed Druse fought to fill the vacuum. Though this is a possible step towards peace in Lebanon, there will be no change in the disposition of 1,600 American Marines in T j^cuauuii. Does this mean an end to the War Powers Act fight between Congress and the White House? Supposedly, the three branches of governemenl have clear-cut duties and responsibilities. However, as history has shown, the judicial and legislative branches are shadowed by executive supremacy in times of military conflict. During such times, the president has almost absolute authority in the deployment of U.S. Armed Forces. This has led to questions of abuses of power b> various presidents, especially during the Vietnam years. Therefore, in 1973 congress passed the Wai Powers Act. Though the resolution has never beer invoked, it has the potential of forcing the presi dent to report to Congress and gives Congress the opportunity to act as decision-maker in times ol conflict. With a growing U.S. military presence ir the Middle East, many people are questioning whether it's time to put this act to the test. The Marines are in Lebanon as part of < peacekeeping force from Italy, France an( r-? 1 t n? i . . 4 a r i tingiana. since late /\ugusi, rour marines navi been killed by Syrian-backed Moslem factions Regardless of the supposed 4 'cease-fire*' man; Democratic and Republican congressmen fear ai increase in the number of casualties. Therefore, much to Reagan's dismay, certaii members of Congress have been calling for the ap plication of the War Powers Act. Should the thi aci go into eneci, mc presiueiu musi icn ^ungics when American armed forces are sent into hostili situations, armed for combat, or for the deploy ment of additional troops. Within 60 days, the American forces must b withdrawn unless Congress enacts special legisla tion allowing them to remain. The law allows th? ? - j? ?. : :e president a ju-uay cxiciimuii u uc wains. Considering that four Americans have been kill ed, why hasn't the War Powers Act gone into ef feet? Because President Ronald Reagan contend that these deaths were an unfortunate accident an that they are neither prepared for combat nor in hostile situation. The American people must have the opportunit through their elected representatives to review th situation and act if our Middle East policy is to b r i C f.il dUWVV/JOl Ulf I r~Gomccock Editor in Chief Johnny Boggs Copy Desk Chief Curt Cottle Copy Editor Mark Armstrong News Editor Chris Handal Copy Editor Beverly Simmons Asst. News Editor David Hill Copy Editor Leigh Jones Opinion Page Editor . . Ellen McCarthy Copy Editor Alan Seim r-i riomarnn f!nnu Frlitnr Mark Farmnr tm. CUIlUf uuiiu uumcoun uuf [ Asst. Ent. Editor Joan Kirchner Sports Editor Jeff Rogers General Manager Ron Emler Asst. Sports Editor . . Andrew Miller Ad Manager Linda S. Haines Wire Editor Leslie Ounson Business Manager Jean Hatchell Photo Editor Mary Ann Hollis Production Mgr Mark McEwan Asst. Photo Editor Joe Jackson Graduate Asst Wanda M. Hite Graphics Editor Beth Harrison Adviser Mark Efhridge Jr. Newsroom 777 7181 Advertising 7774249 o?c/nn?c nffirtt 777 3888 Production 777 2833 I The Gamecock welcomes letters and guest editorials. All letters and guest editorials must be typewritten, triple spaced on a 65 space-line. Letters should be no longer than 300 words and guest editorials should be limited to one newsworthy subject no longer than four typed pages. Letters and guesl editorials MUST be signed with the writer's name, telephone number, mailing ad dress, class standing or faculty position and major. Pseudonyms are unacceptable, but the writer'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, Gamecock, Drawer A, USC Columbia, S.C. 29208. Li 1 QpiniQN M - J " Lei . Pedestrians' rights dis e To the Editor: signal is regardc On Sept. 19,1 and one of my friends hurtle through narrowly escaped injury while crossing belief that a wis y Sumter Street between the life sciences foot knows bett 1 building and the Thomas Cooper turf of the reckli Library. The endless r< j An automobile going north on the the university's four-lane street rushed to and through buildings prove* a marked crosswalk crowded with streets is no ] s pedestrians at the height of lunch drivers of Colui S hour. Because my friend hit the enough, our fell e speeding car with his hand in a reflex- necessary to wa ive act of anger and self defence, the serious injuries driver pulled into a nearby parking conditions. The < space and immediately accosted my Greene Street in e friend for daring to touch his fractured is pro( automobile. problem exists hi e A meeting with the driver at USC's South Main Street security office The hit and shortly thereafter failed to produce Sumter Street tw " satisfactory results because of one or daylight is even more reasons it would be unproductive the uncountable S to bring up now. accounts of neai d The simple fact is the complete from my friends a disregard of Columbia motorists for proving the obv fVio rinhtc r?f rian? Hailv en- hevnnd anv nere HIV 116'"" ?' J J J dangers the life and health of USC Concrete step y students. Motorists in Columbia seem now. We do not e to conduct themselves under the theory study. Action mi e that, crosswalks and traffic signals the legal and \ notwithstanding, the pavement is which the accidc theirs alone. They routinely wait for and political cc the lights to change with their vehicles sufficiently mon blocking the pedestrian walkways, rev- safety of USC's ving their engines at the justifiably Columbia City C agitated pedestrians. to close Greene S fic lights, speed A CROSSWALK with no traffic ^ the crosswalks a English major disagrei To the Editor: As an avid reader of the Gamecock for quite some time, have always perused each edition with a critical eye. Unt recently the subjects of my personal critique have always bee the sort of mistakes that mark any amateur publication. I hav yet to discover any serious breech of trust or abuse of joui nalistic privilege on the part of the editors. However, once in a while the editors tall victim to one o their own devices, this one, the opinion page. Such was th case in the Friday's paper when Chris Lane apparently felt i his duty to take the Gamecock to task over a recent editorial Lane castigates the Gamecock for an editorial that appeare in the Wednesday edition, dealing with the increasingl anemic saga of "Ronnie" and the Horseshoe residents. Mi Lane accuses the Gamecock of making false and libelou allegations about tjie residents of the Horseshoe. IN FACT, Mr. Lane apparently has convinced himself thi f ft ^/ rnt QlAtt water suw\ t t. - / OM ro?R WAV TO BATES. J / a /THESES No BRAIWflae UEHf ?r^TrtE/; f * \O?JLY A OQCAT NEWA \V^?. 0 ^ terS ::::::::: regarded, student says :d as an invitation to USC STUDENT Government the streets with the should begin a vigorous program of ;e person traveling on louuymg auu agnaiiou 10 eonipei me er than to invade the city of Columbia to take these steps. If ess motorist. economic considerations are foremost " epairs being made to in the minds of Columbia politicians, walls, bus stops and perhaps a boycott of area business will > that- being off the better balance the scales. protection from the Individual students should be aware nbia, including sadly that in a collision between a motor ow students. It is not vehicle and a pedestrian, most of the it any longer for the important legal presumptions are arto result from these rayed in the walker's favor. If soaccident a year ago on meone sustains a real injury, they which a girl's hip was should consult with a lawyer im^f enough that a real mediately, after collecting the names ere. of persons present at the scene of the accident. run I witnessed on The State Bar Association will refer 'O years ago in broad students to competent attorneys free of more proof. To add charge, and in many instances, the number of personal lawyer's initial consultation is free. Do r misses I have heard yourself and your fellow students a to this list would be favor by finding out if you have a case, ious and well known I am sure a few large personal injury ?itv. iudements will co a lone wav to modi ?s need to be taken fying the terrible behavior of many need a committee or a Columbia area motorists. ist be taken to change As a parting word to those motorists >hysical lancscape in who have driven carefully, I thank mts occur. Economic you. As a warning to your reckless >nsiderations may be counterparts, the days in which USC e important than the students will sit by while the streets are students to justify the made into a battle zone by your indif^ounciFs decision not ference are coming to an end. Itreet, but adding trafbumps and repainting William Hamilton III re not. Law student es with letter to editor % \. the editors of the Gamecock are actively plotting against him, I as he states with "...absurd and well planned accusations..." ?1 He even goes so far as to accuse the Gamecock of "...libel and n defamation of character of Horseshoe residents..." e His points of complaint deal with bits and pieces of the editorial and not complete sentences. \ More importantly, in attempts to make his point, he fails to f take into consideration the broadness of the statements that e seem to upset him so. The editorial hvquestion was not aimed 11 specifically at him, but at those persons'r^sponsible for the in' cidents mentioned. d Just as a cautionary note, Mr. Lane, 1 would like to point y out the bold print at the top of the page, just iit*case you're r- considering attacking me along with the Gamecock; a seven ,s letter word meaning "belief" or "judgment," and it hifckbeen at the top of the page all year. Mark Staffer lt English Mnior