University of South Carolina Libraries
Banning 'Chocolate By Ann Farmer The school board of Richland District Two acted op pressiveiy in canning "the Chocolate War," voted a debate audience last week, composed of about 55 middle school students and at least one member of the. school board. The debate, sponsored by the Athenian Literary and Debating Society, attracted students from (JSC's Summer Talented and Gifted program, as well as a local librarian, a Greenville media analyst and several interested members of the community. Society Master-at-Law Kevin Leslie argued in favor of the resolution, which passed with 64 in favor, 7 opposed and 7 abstaining. Leslie said banning any book is contrary to the basic idea of freedom. "IT IS not for the best interest of our society that we should iu:. ,1?... ?.? r J ?. L-I_: piviiiwiv. una. . . n is ucsu uyiug nccuuui, MUI licipillg lO establish it." The book, by Robert Cormier, was named to the New York Times' recommended list of books for children in 1974, and the author consulted with his son to verify the accuracy of the language in the book. "It's always wrong to ban any book, and even if it were right, this is not one that should be," Leslie said. On the opposing side, speaker Jack Hamilton, the society's moderator, said oppression was the issue. BLACK'S LAW Dictionary, Hamilton said, defines oppression as an act of cruelty, severity or excessive use of authority* or unlawful exaction. He contended that the book has no demonstrated literary value, contains unnecessary language and presents a very . bleak outlook to a young person. The book is still available in libraries and bookstores, and, therefore, the first amendment has not been violated, he said. In his rebuttal, Leslie argued that certain bounds ? such as uurning wucnes ? snouia not oe crossed, ana censoring an autftor is one of those bounds. The language is realistic and not very offensive, he said, adding that the Christian Science Monitor has even termed the book realistic. HAMILTON SAID in his rebuttal that schools must have community support, and the people who pay for the books and the parents whose children read them are the people who should decide what books should be available. When the meeting was opened for comments from the au dience, 39 people spoke, many of them the TAG students, iwho said parents need to "grow up." "It's the kind of language we hear every day," Bob Rogers :said. "If the book is about the way people really live, then it's about life today and it shouldn't be banned. It prepares you for life more, Christie Thomas said. HOPE BARBER said classics, such as Tom Sawyer and I NEED A LITTLE HEfiT TR Come cool down w BUD CfiNS a 75<p m ZnZnw /fSC^k ^ Pool I The GAMECOCK i? the student I I newspaper of the University of South Carolina and is published three times a week on Moncayw, Wednesdays and #. . Fridays during the fall and spring f / rQ C semesters and weekly on Wedneidava aB^rxiP JL a M / &CiO during both cummer sessions, with the exception of university holidays and ex- tho nrmiml ( amination periods. U IC Uliyilldl I Opinions expressed in the We've got location* co< GAMECOCK are those of the editors _ _ . _ ? _ . . . and not thoae of the University of South 2/0 I Rv^Se\W The Board of Student Publicationa Com?r ROSOWOOC and Communications is the publisher of mm m ma 0^ the GAMECOCK. The Student Media / A O Department is the parent organisation 1 / ? ' of the GAMECOCK. \ f Change of address forms, subacrip- I SSSSSS?I * tion request# and other correspondence | u*o^mo cm. | ohould be sent to the GAMECOCK, T>S\ nuwoooo* / Drawer A, University of South ? Tf ~ Carolina, Columbia, S.C. 29208. zo 6-1. t.iu. u>.. ... (it SI X oimwi luifUII irivd ?iv ftti.w ivi \*/ i XXI * year, $8.00 per fall or spring aemeater I 3 and $3.00 for both summer sessions. *] 2 Third elaaa pontage paid at Columbia, S.C. The GAMECOCK ia a licensed student organization of the University of South Carolina and receives funding for atudent activity fees. War' wrong, debate Jack Hamilton Armies anainst thp resolution at last waak's Athanian debate. ' " U "D "? - Huckleberry Finn, contain some of the same language and racism, but are still available. Beth Caroll said while the book may be depressing, the language is necessary. Society member Tony Snell said librarians and teachers are liberal, and the school board needs to try to instill morality into students. "Someone has to take the responsibility to monitor what we learn," he said. ainlpl fiilk counierea wnn me argument inai 11 is ridiculous to think that every taxpayer in every community can read every book that goes into every school library. "We must delegate that authroity to someone, and we have delegated it to librarians ^nd teachers," she said. Another TAG student said he had seen horror movies that were worse than the book, although they were rated PG. Society member Stanley Davis received applause when he said that children hear the words from parents or grandparents. "PA OI.MTC U A VI? it ? V,? rolH a i * kj airi t * -* iv iuvv ii) iiv juiu . During summations, Hamilton said just because a law may be circumvented is no reason to eliminate that law. "If we throw every law off the books that someone was [EfiTMENT? I I ' G ith us! Write a I I SUM! j >. \ (tpiscopal, A11 are welco1 I V\/ We're located at 728 1 V ( Sunday . Main Open 12-2 am * FEATURING * M^J^. ibles Top Video Games een featuring G3f I I ui Tuesda i Always No Cover! 1 ftn Thursd Please come join v The Horseshoe lic&infs (jfioMHDQ -amily Haircutters n f children aiMcK-oan. and on* noar youl OOD DRIVE fj Cut & Style A< j & S. Wood row Km 949 D sra nn < n 1U? B %jf m 1 MB Reg $6 00 | S9& . Exp. July 31. 1984 A . ^ ^ v.. G ANYTIME AT RC audience says ' 1 ">r IWWWn Photo by Mary Ann Mollis breaking, they would all be gone," he said. Leslie argued that censorship is too dangerous to let it get u.. vjy. "Ideas never hurt people. Ignorance of ideas hurts people," he said. After the vote was taken, a member of the District Two school board, who gave no name, spoke. The member said the book has been recommended for 8th grade and up, and was presently in middle school libraries for sixth, seventh and eigth graders. "Nobody said anything about banning," the member said. . ? n n i tr rrt n I ? 9 I THE BOOK had apparently been left behind when the High school moved to a new location and the middle school moved into the old building, the board member said. Ine Athenian Society is a USC student group that meets weekly during fall and spring semesters and bimonthly during the summer. Next Wednesday the society will debate whether or not the U.S. should intervene in the Persian Gulf in order to continue the free flow of oil. The meeting will be at 8 p.m. in room 303 of the USC Russell House. ot an opinion? etter to the Gamecock B MER AT ELM!!! Lutheran, Methodist Campus Ministry) me to join in our summer activities! Pickens Street behind Wade Hampton Dorm rs: Worship meet 10:45 a.m. ? transportation with group 1 to area churches [i 2:00 p.m. Conflict Resolution Study Group ys: Prayer Support Group 5:30 p.m. lays: Bible Study Group 9:00 a.m. (other Bible Studies can be arranged for schedules, if interested call: 799-7363) PtmWy SPECIALS \J| 1en & Women || Perm ] bJ| Jults Shampoo, All Helene Curtis N| Cut, Style Products U (6.00 $19.50 B Reg $10 00 I Includes Cut 8c f% I Style. ||J Exp. July 31. 1984 II Exp July 31. 1984 I " DraMnBBBaMMMHWWMaSDMM^^ ^DuAm I \nru//nv/>rv rv r> ? ^ -