Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Journalists go 4-nn ffnr nfnfii iuu icii iui diui y Now that the World Series is over, what are this nation's sport writers going to cover? From the bowels of Memorial Stadium and the almost 700-seat press section, information about the major league's two finest teams and their players was reported. Many journalists could have cared less about what was happening on the held, but instead were looking for "themes" to provide insight on America's favorite pastime. The media came out of the woodwork for the World Series. Newspapers that didn't have a major league team in their cities sent representatives to Baltimore and Philadelphia to report back to readers. Canada, England and Japan even sent television and radio broadcasters. After a 162-game season, it became apparent writers were having a hard time finding interesting angles in their coverage. Phillie players were most often asked if they liked the platoon system used by manager Paul Owens. Everyone knew the answer, but journalists would go to any length to get a story, especially one that dripped with controversy. A good example of this occurred in 1979 when Howard Cosell said on national television that the Orioles' Scott McGregor outhit high school teammate George Brett, now with the Kansas City Royals. Though McGregor denied this, many people believed it because of its source. Another story the media found interesting, was when Reggie Jackson, part of ABC's broadcast crew, was twice denied access. He tried to enter the Philadelphia locker room, which was closed to the press before the game. His second attempt was to interview President Reagan. After being turned away by a security agent, Jackson asked, 4'Even me?" Are stories like these what avid sports fans find interesting? It's a sad commentary on the journalistic profession when sports writers and broadcasters resort to digging in the dirt rather than reporting on the event at hand. Maybe we should return to the era of "peanuts and cracker jacks..." when the sports writer'smain concern was reporting "Who's on first...." Another tragedy In two shocking, similar yet unconnected events, re once again learned what a violent, fragile world we live in. First, a truck smashed an unguarded gate at the golf course where President Ronald Reagan was playing in Georgia. The result was five oeonle held hostage. Fortunately, neither the president nor the ( hostages were hurt. When a vehicle crashed into the Marine barracks in Lebanon, more than 100 servicemen died and more than 50 were injured. Too often, the distance between life and death is tragically short. vioui^u^n i Editor in Chief i 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 Ent. Editor Julie Jameson Copy Editor Mark farmer I Asst. Ent. Editor Joan Kirchner Sports Editor Jeff Rogers General Manager RonEmler Asst. Sports Editor.... Andrew Miller Ad Manager Linda S. Haines Wire Editor Leslie Dunson Business Manager JeanHatchell i Photo Editor Mary Ann Holhs Production Mgr Mark McEwan Asst. Photo Editor Joe Jackson Graduate Asst Wanda M. Hite Graphics Editor Beth Harrison Adviser Mark Ethridge Jr. Newsroom 777 7181 Advertising 777 4249 Business Office 777 3888 Production 777 2833 The Gamecock welcomes letters end 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 guest editorials MUST be signed with the writer's name, telephone number, mailing ad dress, class standing or faculty position and major. Pseudonyms are unacceptable, I but the writer's name may be withheld upon request if the circumstances warrant. | We reserve the right to edit guest editorials and letters. j Address letters and columns to: Opinion Page Editor, Gamecock, Drawer A, USC, I Columbia, SX. 29208. BUT \F we pua OUT, LSSMiON . , .... . ... ?W*. Student praises news To the Editor: Thank you for your courageous and wonderfully supportive editorial on Gay Pride Week. Such tolerance and good sense not only benefits USC's fledgling Gay Student Association, but also serves to promote understanding between the gay minority and the heterosexual majority. Increasing the visibility of gays on campus and the special events during Pride Week, as well as the ongoing activities of the GSA, can help enlighten the rest of the university about the variety of characters and temperaments among homosexuals that parallels that of the heterosexual community. The USC GSA gives gay students the opportunity to meet one another, form friendships, share common problems and advice, outside of the fast lane of bars and parks, which . : I., i ? i.. i jjicviuusiy nave iuu uncn ?ci vcu as uui uiuy navcn. We, as gay people without much of the support and Student opposes Ganu To the Editor: South Carolina is pui Congratualations. Your editorial in cept these gays in oui the Oct. 17 issue has brought to my at- 1 consider myself s tention the only really serious flaw our mentality, and I do n< university has: it doesn't know when to I speak for a large say no. campus. Anotner tnir I've never been so disgusted in my tand is why the editor three years at USC as 1 was to read mined to make us re what your editor is obviously so proud not a moral one, ai of ? the fact that our school spon- thinks she has the pov sored the first, and hopefully the last, some kind of generi< Gay Pride Week in South Carolina. over lunch. What I can't understand is why the Homosexuality is i writer of this piece of "journalism" is your "investigative' so proud that we can hold an entire read their Bibles a 1 week in the honor of sexual perver- maybe for the first til sion. With one swipe of her pen, this find it referred to as editor has come to the amazing conclu- in the eyes of God, a i i _ r - 11 _r - ? aiuii iiun me mcmaiuy oi an 01 1 nis eanoriai is nc Fraternity noise bothi To the Editor: Quiet hours are established in the dorms for obvious reasons, such as to create an atmosphere conducive to studying and to reduce the noise level for those students who managed to make it to bed at a reasonable hour. I do realize there are some students at USC who have the time to party frequently, but I see no reason why their socializing has to disrupt others. I am referring to the parties held on the McBryde Quadrangle, across from which I live in the Towers' Complex. Last week, in clelebration of Derby Days, there were some very loud parties at the fraternity houses. The music was loud enough to hear clearly inside my room with the balcony doors closed. As a hall adviser, it is my responsibility to enforce the quiet hours established in the dorm. While on duty one night, I received several complaints about the noise. . , m ? m chaos!" erS % paper for editorial legitimacy society confers on straights, too often fall victim to the same stereotypical views of ourselves that unenlightened straight people are trapped under. The GSA thus performs a service in self-education, reminding us, as well as the rest of the university, that sexual orientation does not discriminate on the basis of dullness or brilliance, handsomeness or homeliness, athletic ability or awkwardness, wit, pettiness, physical mannerisms, or any of the thousand characteristics we apply to ourselves and others. Straight society will fully accept gays only when we fully accept ourselves. The GSA and Gay Pride Week is a big step in that direction. Your editorial displayed the fairness and largemindedness necessary if we all, straight and gay, are to reach the day when the matter of sexual orientation becomes of paramount importance only to those with whom we sleep. Jody Daniel Skinner Graduate student ?cock view on gays nch-proud to ac- in the sense of the liberal issue it society. discusses, but it is unusual in that it ^ i member of this seems to be trying too hard to make its )t agree. I'm sure point. I get the feeling the person majority of this writing the editorial believes she has to lg I can't unders- make us see that men having sexual ial writer is deter- relations with men is normal and alize this issue is something of which we in the South id also why she should be proud, just as we are proud ver to reduce it to of our football team or our reputation e topic uiscussea as a society of relatively Christian attitudes. a moral issue. If I personally don't care what the ' writers would editor thinks about gays, and if she's little more ? or so proud of our sponsoring this event me ? they would then she should keep it to herself and g| a perversion and, let the rest of us make up our minds. , sin. Stan Whitten t an unusual one Interdisciplinary junior srsome, student says When I called campus police at 12:45 a.m. to ask if they could tell the fraternity to turn it down, I was informed it is allowed to keep this up until 1 a.m. I can understand partying on the weekends and "letting loose," and I understand Derby Days is a big event for the greeks. but while thev were nurfvino nth#?rc u/prA truinrt f a ^ - ?< i j ?e>> J "v,v " J '"6 lv/ study for midterms or trying to get a good night's sleep. What is the sense of even having quiet hours designated when they are disrupted by noise not even on our hall? Although this problem does not affect everyone in the Towers, it is a problem for more than 200 residents in Baker, Laborde and Moore, who live in the rooms facing McBryde Quad. 1 hope the fraternities will begin to show some consideration for the other residents of USC. Cheryl Olszowy % Criminal justice sophomore