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Page 6 ? October 5, 1984 Opinion the gamecock I Homecoming changes nppripH mnrp thnnnht m v v vi w %a w w i v ? ? In her College handbook, author Lisa Birnbach called Homecoming Week, particularly Cockfest, Carolina's biggest tradition. It may not be the biggest, but Homecoming is a great tradition. Like anything else, though, it didn't become a tradition by going through the wringer of modification every year. This year it has undergone some changes ? some minor, some major, some dictated by outside forces, some made on the basis of willful choices by the Homecoming Commission. Some are good, snmp arf> had One thing missing this year will be the Homecoming parade. Instead of floats, we have stationary displays, stuck on campus. This wipes out the only chance most people, students and alumni alike, had to see the work of student groups. Now everyone must trek to McBryde Quad or Gibbes Green. Reasons given for tying down* the floats include - ? ? i i n _ n A rpi ! j _ tne cost ana trouoie or malting a noai. i nc luea is that the cost and logistics of finding a truck and. trailer to haul them is something only a few organizations are equipped for. This may be true, but planting the floats as stationary displays is no solution, especially when the primary location for the displays is McBryde Quad. That defeats the purpose of getting more groups involved, because by sequestering the displays among the fraternity housing area, they are away from more common areas, such as Greene Street, the Russell House patio or even the Horseshoe. To be sure, the Quad is open to everyone and everyone is welcome to see the displays. And greek organizations are probably the best at building homecoming displays (and floats). But putting displays in their midst, especially where they are surrounded by buildings, can't really be expected to encourage participation from sororities, religious organizations, dorm governments, professional and honor societies and other student groups. On the other hand, the plans for allowing beer at the Outdoor Concert this afternoon are to be commended. The idea of giving wristbands to concertgoers 19 or older is a sound solution to the dilemma of having a dry concert that no one would go to, or facing an open free-for-all rampant with underage drinkers. It's sad of course, that we must think that a dry concert would be a flop, but this is a fact of life at PorAlinn of m /Art linii/oroitinc t V/aiunua, anu at niuoi uiiiv^ioniv/o iuua) It would be wise to remember the comment made by Jerry Brewer, director of Student Activities: "We want students to be able to make their own choice about what they want to drink, and we don't feel it should be the emphasis of the event. The main focus of this event is to listen to the bands, have a coke, beer or hot dog on a Friday afternoon and celebrate Homecoming.'' That's a good perspective. Have a greai Homecoming weekend. GamecocK I Editor in Chief David Hill Manaaina Editor | Leslie J. Dunson Copy Desk Chief Ron Brackett Copy Editor Tim Surratt News Editor John Deiner Copy Editor Laura Dannhardt Asst. News Editor Ann Farmer Copy Editor Crystal Chapmar Entertain. Editor Marisa Porto Copy Editor Kip Botti Spurts Editor Andrew Miller Asst. Sports Editor.... Tracy Mixson General, linger ,, .. n. flop, fmlet Photo Editor Mary Amr HolHs Ad Manager * m,, Doug^Truttblooc Asst. Photo Editor . Jennifer Wooten Productlcfrr .Manager . Mafk^tfwar Copy Editor Susan Lkfweltyti Sraduatp^ijiitant. Hoti,fo/ch8i)ar, Copy Editor. Hal Hewell Adviser .. .. . BfifRogen Copy Editor Lynn Cusick 1 ' '1 V.! v . ' '.v '' ! .' . Arivartisinn Newsroom 777-7181 Production 777283Z Business Offfica 777 3888 The Gamecock welcomes letters and guest editorials. All letters and guest editorials must be typewritten, triple spaced on a 65-space line. Letters should btffto 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, Kilt tfo writw'i namm mau ha uiilKkiM iiruin iMiutl If tka rumunaluipu r??i 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. _ % * HEK'S . -1^ I AftriRJ 1 PWV1 ' mammammmmmmmmmmmmBmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmatmmmmmmam Do not condeir To the Editor: This is in response to Teoti Anderson's letter of Sept. 28 criticizing The Gamecock's coverage of the Bobbi Rossi tragedy. In ancient times, monarchs often killed messengers who brought bad tidings from the battlefield. The temptation is great even today to blame newspapers for the world's ills. They' make convenient targets for those with no other recourse. All too often, as Anderson charges, journalists do commit abuses, cloaking themselves in the First Amendment as if those 45 words were a blank check authorizing any exploitation of human Apartment defi To the Editor: I would like the following letter printed as a letter to the editor. A letter outlining some of these problems recently appeared in The State newspaper headed "U.S.C. Housing Needs Renovation." Att: Mr. Allen Shealy, Director of ? Family Housing, Residential Life l Services Dear Mr. Shealy: ^ My name is Emily Younginer. I live in Middle U.T. Apartments. I have lived here for almost a year and thank the Lord I will probably be out of here at the end of this year. | I didn't complain to you when I S moved into a Ultny apartment that hadn't been cleaned or painted (although I did complain about the following: hazardous railings, insufficient heat in the winter, insufficient i cooling in the summer because of restrictions on number of and i B.T.U.'s of air conditioners, parking, 5 etc.). Some of these problems are not Student Senai K ... v " t V 5 . v. ' . To the Editor: ' In response to the letters regarding r the parking problem at USC published in Monday's and Wednesday's issues t of The Gamecock, let it be said that both the student government and the I university are currently addressing the i issue. J As all concerned know, the problem was compounded by the city's cursed ordinance and new meters. If there exists a way to undo the damage done in the neighborhood around Columbia KEtb'RMr DRfeWflZE/ Ailrt -^*7 H$tk[ ^ Letters in journalists fi suffering. The Gamecock's handling of the Rossi case doesn't fall into this category so far as I can see. Throughout the sad affair, the stories brought news of the investigation to a *~ ...1 j:j-k l many siuucms wnu uiuii i nave tittcss to other news media. Should the campus paper look the other way, or submerge the developments on page 5, because of their shocking and tragic nature? Hardly. Yes, those front-page headlines were horrifying, but because of the facts themselves, not because of any attempt at sensationalism. Such needless deaths strike somewhere deep within I * ciencies neea ic dangerous and some do indeed pose a real threat to the very lives of those who live here. I think that is unresponsible of those in charge to let these dangers go unchecked. Well, the purpose of this letter is not I\J WVVI UiU 5IUUUU, UUl IU pUllll IV/ another danger. When it comes to my daughter's well-being I demand action. This pitiful excuse for a playground which my child and others have to play in is bad enough without it posing a potential danger to their well-being! The big kids play ball in it and hit the balls hard enough to seriously injure a smaller child (and the playground is too small to separate the children). So, ici a uu ;>uiiicuiiiik <tuuui una uejurer that happens! Also, all the roots sticking out of the ground are a real hazard on the playground ? not to mention swingsets which are falling apart. We've told Sandy (U.T. Resident Manager) about these problems on the te busy on parh Hall and Capstone, you can be sure that Sen. Eddie Zahler and myself will have found it by semester's end. He and I are also working with university officials to pave, light and just plain better utilize lots of Pendleton Street, and to do anything else possible to increase "convenience." If anybody else has a complaint or question about student government be mg wormicss, mcy may see me, call me at home or contact me through my nni^ittTk// ili* or doing work I the hearts of all of us. Piercing as the feeling is, it gives us the right to call $ ourselves human. I Anderson writes, "Those who loved | tsooDi surety win warn 10 rememoer her as she lived, not how she died." That's certainly true. But in our grief, we must not unjustly lash out at the messenger who brought us the terrible news. That only breeds ill will on a campus that should be of one mind on iociift oil Atliorc PrA\7Pntino iiiia ioouv uuv v uii wuivi j. a i vtviiiui^ something like this from ever happening again. Andy Duncan Journalism junior i be corrected playground, out nothing has been done about them. It's bad enough that you ignore our (the adults in U.T. Apartments) problems, but please don't ignore these dangers to the children! In closing. I would like to commend you for two things; first, for getting that big iron pipe out of the playground surface and, second, for your prompt (relatively prompt) attention to the problem we had with the railings rusting out in U.T. (middle) Ants Hnwpvpr thi? H/im little tf? remedy the following two problems with the railings in Middle U.T.: (1) the space underneath the railings is still large enough for a young child to slip through (which has very nearly happened) and (2) the railings are short enough (below state code, but protected by grandfather clause) for someone to accidentally fall over. Thanking you for you immediate attention to these matters. Emily Younginer, Middle U.T. No. 139 :ing problem senate mailbox, but please don't show me your ignorance by writing accusatory letters without getting your facts first. Furthermore, a meeting was called so that Sen. Zahler and I could solicit help in our undertaking. Notices were posted in and around the Pendleton Street lots, but Mr. Ramsey was not in attendance. As for Jim Lamb's great parking space, it is two miles away, at his house; the man walks to work. Sen. Pat Evans Student Ssnats ACQ Committee