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Snell plays hero; f I a 4 4" I <r% uidy uut55 nine While Rep. Thomas Hartnett's remarks on Jan. 20 concerning college students were stupid, the response given by USC Student Government President Barry Gray was equally weak. The First District congressman, attending a State House public hearing with South Carolina's congressional delegation, said much money allocated for student loans "goes to students who sit around and take courses in human sexuality and what makes butterflies fall out of the sky. "Go to the fraternity houses on this (USC) campus. Find them lying around, never held a job, taking all kinds of drugs. "We've got enough educated derelicts." Gray said Hartnett's statement was a "broad, blanket statement" and "intended for firing up the Ck f no rv* ' ' llV/lAlls LV^aill. But his remarks were equally broad and blanketed. "I don't think the student loan program is a breeding ground for derelicts," he said, adding, "I don't think there's a great need for an expansion of student loans." Gray has since done little in response to the Hartnett controversy. Other leaders on campus, however, have been doing his job. Dennis Pruitt, vice president for Student Affairs and dean of students, sent Hartnett a letter defending USC students and fraternity members. Russell Seay, Interfraternity Council president, also wrote Hartnett a letter, calling the reoresen tative's comments "brash, unfounded, gross generalizations." But it is Tony Snell, governor of the South Carolina State Student Legislature, who did the most in taking up for college students. Snell, who has campaigned for Hartnett, went out on a limb in his defense of USC students. Snell's original comments were not powerful ? perhaps, a little too conservative ? but he has since continued to do Gray's job. Originally, the Charleston native said he was "shocked to believe that that was in his (Hartnett's) mind." Although he said some people abuse student loans, he called Hartnett's statement "a stereotype, a generalization." Both Gray's and Snell's comments were weak. But whereas Gray has simply forgotten of the matter, Snell has continued to support the students' cause. His plans have included writing Hartnett, informing students at other colleges of the represen tative's comments and trying to get the congressman to speak at USC. Hartnett will come to the university to speak if invited, Snell said. Gray and Snell are both elected officials, whose are supposed to represent student needs. Snell, as SCSSL governor, did his job. Gray, as SG president of the largest university in the state, did not. "~~ 6omccoc k ? Editor in Chief ; Johnny Boggs j | Managing Editor Chris Handal Copy Desk Chief Curt Cottle Copy Editor Pam Armstrong News Editor David Hill Copy Editor Hon Br?ckett Asst. News Editor John Oeiner Copy Editor Leigh Jones Oninion Paae Editor. Ellen McCarthy Copy Editor Alan Seim Entain. Editor Leslie Dunson General Manager Ron Emler Asst. Ent. Editor Margarita Pate Ad Manager Linda S. Haines Sports Editor Jeff Rogers Business Manager.... Carolyn Griffin Asst. Sports Editor Andrew Miller Production Mgr Mark McEwan Photo Editor Joe Jackson Graduate Asst Wanda M Hits Asst. Photo Editor.. . Mary Ann Mollis Adviser Mark Etbridge Jr. Newsroom 777-7181 Advertising 7774249 Business Office 777 3888 Production 777-28331 The Gamecock welcomes letters and guest editorials. AH 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 end guest I 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, Gtmecock, Orawer A, USC, Columbia, S.C. 29208. 1 ;pTt Campus letter writers To the Editor: After opening the Monday edition of the Gamecock, I was uisappoinieu inai mere were no comics 10 reaa. iviy neea ior a good laugh was soon satisfied though, when I came to the editorial page. Instead of finding the usual boring letters nobody cares to read that were -written by editors of other campus newspapers, I was treated to a humorous collection from our own student body. The first letter questioned Barry Gray's role as student body president. Obviously the writer has not bought any of the discount movie tickets that the fine efforts of the Student Government Association has made available to us. It could not be because she has not heard about the offer, because it seems like almost every issue of the Gamecock carries an advertisement proclaiming this great achievement of how Student Government has been working for you. The next letter was from a Nada resident questioning the apartment's safety. While I'll agree that "bleeding girls suffering from smoke inhalation is not a pretty sight," you'll have Intercs On dining facilities, fc Since assuming the position a month restaurant. He saic ago, Duke's new director of food ser- proposal is found in vices Barry Scerbo has already made by students in steak ; two changes in the operation and facility. recently proposed several additional While Scerbo's significant changes in university eating upgrade the qulity < facilities. While these changes indicate both commendable that Scerbo is indeed committed to im- we question both th< proved food service and facilities, we for a facilitv snrh feel that improving the quality of the it is reassuring to food should override most of the such an active app capital changes. Scerbo has made positive im- ^ provements in the quality of DUFS Cps services. Most obviously, he allowed _ food service patrons to benefit from ? the lower prices for canned soda v /"CTl ^ available because of lower bids submit- \ ted by the Coca Cola and Pepsi Cola companies. ^Changes in the East Campus Union to a self-service operation and in- ? eluding an a-la-carte option are another addition to the availability and J Q W? LX?S . flexibility to East Campus food sevice. R. _ M pydMrTf j However, the long lines that have j resulted require notice, and may require some reorganization of the wor- 7#r\ |i thy program. J V. Scerbo also has proposed changes that include renovations to the University Room, the Leaf and Ladle and the East Campus Dope Shop. These in- LSw elude the construction of a new .1; I Colonial-style dinner restaurant facili | ty on East Campus. The proposed Oak Room-like East f Campus restaurant is appropriate because it rectifies the disparity between eating facilities on the separate campuses. However, Scerbo has made a particularly puzzling proposal to make the jjj jj| jjgg|H ^ University Room a Western-style ?j lUdm\Chu^KnK. WVWJ^ | erS ~ nlooca nrorl cfurlont pi^uou yi uu o^uuuiii to admit that is sure was funny reading that girl's description of her potential towering inferno. The last letter was from a student complaining about Rep. Thomas Hartnett's remarks on student education and fraternities. The student wrote that "I am a computer science major with a 3.835 GPR, am in the Honors College and have been involved in such meaningless organizations as Phi Beta Kappa, Mortar Board, Omicron Delta Kappa and the Student Alumni Association." Whn rarps1? Boy, are we "amazed at what all those drugs have done for" your "capacity for knowledge." You should see what they've done for mine: I can finally walk and chew gum at the same time. Now that's an accomplishment. These letters made my day. Please quit using letters from other campuses and use more from our own. They are j ; 1.1 _ 1 ucimuciy mure enjuyaoie 10 reau. Steven Mecauley Management science graduate impuS tod service at Duke i support of this After stagnating under Louis Guillette, the interest shown DUFS seems to have a director who and chicken at that wants to make improvements to the system. determination to However, any proposed changes if ennd cprvirpc ic u c:?* __u - 0 suvjuiu ursi auuress me quality or me and comforting, food and service. Expensive im: need and demand provements of a facility's aesthetics are not yet the order of the day. see Scerbo taking ^ro?/e/0 roach to his job. D(jke Unjv0rf|ty iT" NjowohT