Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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s Disabled drivers need respect We've all done it. You're hurrying to a class on a If sopping wet, just-above-freezing morning. You overslept, danced through a shower, skipped breakfast but you're still running late. You seem to get every traffic light just as it turns red, and between them get stuck bechind some granny strolling aling in her 1965 Galaxy on her way to her coffee club. Panic sets in. Finally you reach campus. You know you could do the right thing ? you could park in a lot at the coluseum or the pit, or even feed a meter. You could park in most any legal, ethical and safe place. But the way your day has been going, you're sure 9 there's no chance of cathcing the shuttlecock, and with the weather like it is, there's no way you're going to walk from the parking lot to class. So you wheel around to the building your class is in, past the cars the bumpers of which are adorned with the coveted stickers allowing their owners to park them in the staff and faculty lots. "No way," you think, "that's a sure tow-away." You spot an empty space in a student lot and you i r? , maKe a run ior it. As you lock up your pride and joy, you notice how big the space is. And you wonder what those little ramp-like things are. And what did that blue sign say? ? The little ramp-like things are curb cuts. The space is a little larger than the standard space, since the people who usually park in this space and others like it need a little extra space to get out of their cars. And the blue sign labels the space as designated for handicapped students, and warns of a S20 fine and towaway at owner's expense for violators. Last year, one former USC student who is hadicapped from injuries received in Vietnam, thought University Police enforced the parking - laws so poorly that he sued the university. He said finding parking spaces large enough for his converted van, and near the curb cuts that keep sidewalks from being devastating barriers, often became campus-wide searches. Those searches made him late, his grades were affected, and by mid-semester, he dropped out. The problem was not only with inconsiderate non-handicapped students parking in reserved-forhandicapped spaces, but also with others parking in front of the curb cuts. So, even if he could find a parking place for his van, he faced falling over the edge of a sidewalk, perhaps into a busy street, or 4 wandering around on the sidewalk until he found a safe, unblocked curb cut. We do not seek to decide if campus police is enforcing the parking laws adequately. But what we do seek is to promote respect, and even more, consideration. If more driving students would be considerate of those who are handicapped, perhaps there would be no need for such legal action, and the handicapped of USC may get the access the law provides for them. I Gomecoc k ? i Editor in Chief l Johnny Boggs Copy Desk Chief Curt Cottle Copy Editor Beverly Simmons News Editor Chris Handal Copy Editor Leigh Jones Asst. News Editor David Hill Copy Editor Alan Seim Opinion Page Editor.. Ellen McCarthy Copy Editor Mark Farmer Entain. Editor Leslie Ounson Sports Editor Jeff Rogers General Manager Ron Emler Asst. Sports Editor Andrew Miller Ad Manager Linda S. Haines Wire Editor Kevin Sullivan Business Manager Carolyn Griffin 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 Ethridge Jr. Copy Editor Mark Armstrong Newsroom 777-7181 Advertising 777-4249 ^ Business Office 777 3888 Production 777-2833 | The Gamecock welcomes lotters 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 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, but the writer's name may be withheld upon request if the circumstances warrant. We reserve the right to edit guest editorials and letters. ij Address letters and columns to: Opinion Page Editor, Gamecock, Drawer A, USC, I Columbia, S.C. 292G8. 'i -?J Opinio WmmL i see foreign ffsi "^.weapon: n| andamimaw WJam runway pukiw if aper15 an mmmmn mnrmmnr 1ui On higher edi Reaching the federal legislators' ear when talking about Midwestern needs on higher education has always been a problem. But Indiana University is beginning to make some smart moves in a direction that may give us more of a voice about legislation on higher education. IU joined the University of Minnesota and Purdue last spring to form the Midwestern Universities Alliance, which will work to reach legislators in the capital about their needs. The Alliance heralds an increased cooperation among similar institutions with similar problems. That cooperation will make them a stronger force to reckon with and give them a better jhance to be heard. In September the group hired Newton Cattell to represent its interests in Washington, D.C. The $100,000 fee for the professional lobbyist will be administered by IU and paid equally by the three universities. On Nov. 15, he will meet in Washington with officials from the Midwestern Universities Alliance to decide which issues need to be addressed first. Once these issues are decided, Cattell will target Indiana and Minnesota delegates, including Sen. Dan Quayle, R-lnd., Rep. Andrew Jacobs, D-Ind., and Sen. David Durenberger, R-Minn. These representatives are on key education committees. Although there may have been some contention about hiring a professional lobbyist instead of using the money on something closer to home, the need for a professional lobbyist is apparent. IU and the other midwestern colleges have not always been successful in conveying their concerns. Someone like Cattell with his 15 years of experience as a professional lobbyist for higher education concerns, may have a better chance of getting through to legislators. He would be especially instumental *i. . r? . i. A xL _ ..-.^1 ; A ^ r in me ngni over me reaumorizauon 01 the Higher Education Act early next year. The act deals with graduate education programs, library funding and international programs ? all issues important to IU. Cattell worked on the first draft of the act and was in Miunicmui in reauuiuri/.auuii ui imc act two other times. Besides having someone with experience dealing with the problems in involving lobbying for higher education, the fact that the different universities arc willing to cooperate (by equally funding the lobbyist) could send a message to Washington that they take their responsibilities serious ^ ? ^"rTB Bff'?"""""ii ication, Jacksc ly. It might even produce results. Indiana Daily Student Indiana University On the same day that the Martin Luther King national holiday was sign i a _ i _ i/: j r eu liuu law, one ui rung b proteges. iormally announced his intention to rur for president in 1984. Last week, the Rev. Jesse Jackson's bid for th< Democratic nomination began amonj much national and local commetary The controversial figure's campaigr has been greeted with botl wholehearted support and outrigh ridicule. Critics have reservations abou Jackson's candidacy on severa grounds. First, people object to th< fact that he has never held public of fice. Yet the political subtleties of hi: direction of PUSH, the Cicago-basec organization promoting greater blacl involvement in politics, indicate tha he is a competent leader. A second objection is that Jacksoi has no hope of winning the nomina I L ! 11 1 _ lion anu inai ne win merely serve as < "spoiler" draining much of the blacl vote that had been previously countet on by Democratic front-runner Walte Mondale. This analysis is an over simplification: It assumes Jackson ha complete control over black voters fG00pM0RNiN6.' I'LL | IcaN'TV/aiT To HeaR ? 4 n . I n/-* _ , ,n ?r~ m?jKiNt}?> cJK? ur 10 It IHaveIgot a SuRPt i n^v? wii^v ' 1 5 n's campaign which is not totally accurate. Several black leaders have determined that they will not necessarily support Jackson. But even if the "spoiler" claim were valid, what is inherently wrong with it? If Jackson has a chance to earn enough backers to affect the Democratic nomination, why shouldn't he run? One last reservation about Jackson's candidacy is the fear that he will use his emotional style to bring the race issue into an unproductive bickering session. The Durham Morning Herald has referred to "blinders of race" and has urged Jackson not to use civil rights as "the guiding light of his campaign." However, civil rights promotion is a major reason Jackson is running in the first place. He is realistic enough to recognize that his chances of winning the nomination are slim. His purpose is rather to promote the concerns of his "rainbow coalition," involving various minorities but predominantly black. Jackson's bid is beneficial in that it will bring to the forefront of political awareness those legitimate issues that U r. m t?r rt 11? mo/lnnnitn Ildvc ltv,cim> utcn g,iv^w nuiu^mian. attention. The Chronicle Duke University