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Viewpoint * ^ *" Wednesday, October 22, 1986 i WW l THE GAMECOCKnHnMMnHHHMHHBBMnMHBHHHMnMHI Religious freedom Holderman should be careful about I' i . f i f \ unifying religious speaKers w USU The Rev. Billy Graham will deliver the commencement address at USC's graduation ceremony Dec. 21 as a part of an "ecumenical year" for USC, says President Holderman. The idea of an "ecumenical year" seems harmless enough, but one problem with it is choosing which religion or demonination should appear before students, because some students may be unintentionally offended. Past aooearances at USC bv nuhlic fianr#?c ?iir>h ac a^tArc a J vu UMVH UiJ C*V?>VS1?J Danny Kaye, Bill Cosby, Fred Rogers and journalist William Buckley have been questioned, specifically as to what advice these figures could give students, but the speakers were generally either well-liked and/or respected at least by one major contingent of students. Opinion of Graham's upcoming appearance is not as favorable. Many students are questioning having a reliffinil"! IpaHpr I4C SI cnpal-pr Attlore oro l~ ~ ? 0 ?~ uu M ?)/vunvi . V/11IV1 J aiv ^UtSllUlUll^ liXC UiiC of all students' money for a man who represents a specific religious doctrine. Finally, there is a concern he might preach, not speak. Graham's standpoint is usually either highly valued or vehemently opposed, there is no middle-of-the-road. Of course, there is no pleasing everyone in choosing a graduation speaker, but bringing in an evangelist is sure to raise some eyebrows and maybe some tempers. In an address to the Christian Action Council's annual orientation for ministers new to South Carolina Sept. 3, Holderman said several major religious leaders will speak this year. USC Information Services list this as Archbishop Iakovos of the Greek Orthodox church, the Archbishop of Canterbury of the Church of England, James Crumley of the Lutheran church in America, Emilio Castro of the World Council of Churches, Russian-Jewish dissident Anatoly Shcharansky, an unnamed major black religious figure, and finally, a tentativelv scheduled visit of Pnnp John Paul II in September. "Some of the world's most respected spiritual leaders," Holderman said. There are no restrictions on who will speak, according to Debra Allen of information services. If this is so, we wonder why there are no representatives from religions other than Christianity and Judeaism. And what about inviting agnostics and atheists to round out the viewpoints? Some may think these students who are atheists or agnostics don't deserve attention, but they do attend the university, and pay good money to do so just like those with religious affiliations. Getting a complete representation of religions is almost impossible. The list could go on forever. But we could at least try for a thorough concensus. Graduation is a time to look back at what you've learned throughout your college years and apply it to life. There are people out there with all kinds of religious beliefs, or no religious beliefs, and students must learn to respect all ot them. "Mr. Graham's visit to the university is an important part of this institution's continuing effort to re-emphasize values and their relevance to our lives," said Holderman. The values he wants re-emphasized may not be the values everyone at USC wants reinforced in their lives. Good I seww \ NAWIL UWM-VMS ffV " . -ra He6IWME. (LAJI I COUEGC PMSS i(WK I f^5\ \ %*r;.. \ ^ ~li^^t\ /^)? c s?7 3 lUVPVV Jr*' C J*4l: +fJ/i I ?r CMirtttt/WMM. / Tf 11^ IIP CT Tell us what's on your mind. Letters must There is a limit of t' be typed, double-spaced and only 250 words. the same writer. Include name, address and telephone We reserve the rigl number for verification. Names will be on outdated topics withheld upon request. Guest editorials are topics. limited to 500 words. Indicate whether you Write to: Vie' are a student, a USC staff member or a com- Gamecock, Drawer. munity member in letters and editorials. Columbia, S.C. 292! | I The smell of h There's a smell in the air that isn 7 just fall, but goes with autumn like snow does the winter. Ritino from the /Unfhc mediocrity that was O'Caribe, the Homecoming Commission has regrouped, taken a serious look at the problems from last year and offered students and alumni alike: The Wonderful World of Carolina. And oh, what a wonderful world it is. This is the world of good students and a better administration. It is an upfront, easy place, where the students and administration exist as one, a unified whole. Nothing is kept from the other and peace and harmony pour over the sides of this barrel of happiness, which is our home. It is such a happy and sweet place that diabetics are refused admittance. The current students are treated like gods; their merest whims are brought to life by an all-too-eager administration. Those students who've gone before are pretty much ignored. Alumni are not catered to hand and foot; getting better tickets to the football games than the students. They are forced to walk up the ramps at Williams-Brice, just like the students. There's never a long line for an alumni elevator at the stadium. The administration doesn't hire out Shuttle-cocks to take them to the game. They have to walk, drive or take the $2.50 SCE&G bus just like the students do. Oh, it's a happy, wonderful placc all right. And to celebrate this happiness, the commission has planned a veritable orgy of events. Just like when O'Caribe celebrated USC'; many ties with our next door neighbors in the Letters to th Fault is found ii. netw_Q Qtnru sion unc --www w?. w j cunimur out that To the editor: the mas< The article in the Oct. 8 issue I do of The Gamecock about the in- Ton's s terview with Joseph Ton, entitled should r "Exile says communists realizing of the ch marxist problems" was neither s wholesome in idea, but had some in the i serious shortcomings. The state- could us ment "Many communist coun- of think tries are realizing religion is not the opium political leaders once thought it was" is not only wrong, in my opinion, but is contradicted by Ton in the next paragraph about China not opposing religion as strongly and letting its people have beliefs more openly. Mgf Are we supposed to believe countries such as Hungary, Sq ?? Poland and China are not oppos- ' ing religion as strongly due to a kind and benevolent national To the e heart? I think not! They are do- I feel ing it to control the masses more McRee's effectively. If communist coun- Miss Mc tries are discovering that a little the entir religious freedom helps make the just bee irrhTi Editor in Chief wo letters per month by Linda Taylor Managing Editor it to stop printing letters *?fw &?yette to make room for new suphenOM.%,te Assistant Copy A-point Editor, The Desk Chief Russell House, (JSC, Wendy Eden [)8. News Editor Buddy Moore 1 omecoming wafts Bv I > tafl Stephen Guilfoyle I b Caribbean, The Wonderful World of f Carolina celebrates USC's many ties with the r folks who rent out the attic upstairs; our close cousins in Disneyland. v Doesn't the sight of Cocky in Mousketeer s ears just bring a tear to your eye, as it does t mine? Doesn't it make you want to scream to s God, saying "Take me now, Lord I've seen p all I wus meant to see! My life is complete."? r A cornucopia of events is planned. Looking at the schedule of hprc I t?rr? inct (lomn impressed. t I The events are (in no particular order): r a dance, a pep rally, a i a carnival, s a football game, (one we should win,) and c a Friday event. (This event features Regency, but since it doesn't say this is a concert, I stand in awe of a commission that can book s i and get a hotel to come to USC for : homecoming.) } tf> oA if V- VU1W1 Tiore content and happy turned off by Janice hostile toward oppres- overzealousness. Her lett< ler communist rule, then to imply that all the free< list leaders are finding liberty we enjoy today c religion is the opiate of us compliments of the A ses. liberal establishment, wl agree, however, with servatives seek to tak tatement that the state rights away. Sadly howe lot meddle in the affairs nation is in much more d lurch. If this is true, then, approaching totalitariani: hould the church meddle the left than from the rij iffairs of the state. We I have often wondered e a little more of that way term "liberalism" is so o nig iii uui uwii society. pneu to me ideology of Liberals try to take our Robert South Amendment rights to ow Junior, and they make us drive Hotel, restaurant on highways designed tourism administration They strangle economic through stricter and stric trols and regulations, wh all freedom i.ncrcas? ta.xes to pay huge, lumbering, goveri nm IShcaralo giant they have crcatedUil! BIUCI HID like to know who or > God's name these s< ditor: "liberals" have ever succ< I must respond to Tina liberating. ; letter of Oct. 13, 1986. Ree should not condemn c conservative movement Barry J :ause she is personally Junior, Gamecock MMMMMdKMMMMMMMaUHtMinHMMMHNMMIMMHMMIMmMMMflHHHMMBUMi Assistant New* Editor* Sport* Editor S Amy DelPo Jeff Shrewsbury I Maria hratus Assistant Sport* Editor I Viewpoint Editor Wayne Washington S JulieI Nader Photography Editor I Money Editor Jennifer Steib I Wendy Eden Aisietant Photography Editor I Feature* Editor Thomas Humphrey > Paula Wethington Kickoff/Ciraphlc* Editor I Attestant Features Editor Tracy Mixson ( Kathryn Jeffries / I [.TOTKAHY^I ? man it *FAKTJll?Ml Q?&.:zj -i 3. Vdb'll 1 f TtT ; through (JSC Despite a new rule last year banning lisplays on The Horseshoe (Homecoming loats and shanty towns ? you know, the isual), the commission has it listed there will >e homecoming floats judged this year; on rhe 'Shoe. And others are jumping on the Disney mndwagon this week. The student theater J' you know, Cinematic Arts) is showing many )isney films this week. "The Sword in the itone," "Alice in Wonderland," and "The ixorcist." are iust fl few nf th<"> n*?r?*nninl amily favorites that are a part of CA's )isney film festival. The kids just love it when Alice goes to the ?1ad Tea Party, when Arthur pulls Excalibur rom the stone, and when Linda Blair's scared head does a jig. I really enjoyed the carnival Tuesday. It vas from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., while most*.; ft tudents were supposed to be'doing that class ; * hing.' But I know some teachers let some tudents out of class, and the rest had enough ride in their university to skip those ! nidterms and just have some fun. I'm sorry it didn't rain yesterday, because ; he rain location would have added so much o the event. A carnival in the Russell House iallroom is just another image of heaven to ne. And the elections for Homecoming Queen ire today. This event always brings yet ^ muiiicr tear 10 my eye, seii-aamitted male V hauvinist pig that I am. Ah, you can really smell it now; that special cent of autumn. The charnal stench of another tomecoming. . : Game coverage omeSa"o is unsunnnrtiup ^ American lile con- To the editor: e these I was very disappointed in The ver, our Gamecock's coverage of the Va. anger of Tech game. Funny, but I thought sm from The Gamecock was supposed to jht. support the Gamecocks! why the I'd like to see this week's ediften ap- tion of Va. Tech's equivalent of the left. The Gamecock. Will their sport swriters relate only what their Second team did wrong, while ruining n guns, their Homecoming game and los- f ) 55 mph ing their winning streak? for 70. Our team obviously thrives on growth crowd support. Driving up to the ter con- game Saturday I saw three iile they busloads of the Clemson band on for the the way to their game with timental Virginia. Where was our band? I would The seating allocated to USC vhat in fans was poor, and our fans did >-called their best in the cheering depart:eded in ment, but the band would have been a big help in giving that vital crowd support. ohnson %, pnysics Name withheld upon request j"*"' " .. , <- . ,' w. k < <y : ' ; ' -- ipccUl Assignments Director of Student Media Editor Bill Clements Jal Millard Production Half Artl?t Mark Armstrong \obb Lane Lewis Covington >at?booU Editor Advertising Manager lobby Jones Margaret Michels tdvisor Assistant Advertising Manager lill Rogers Jan Hodges V Graduate Assistant Margaret Renkl mmmmmmmHmmmammmmmmtmmmmmmmmmmmmamummmmmmmmaamtmrnmmKmwmmi " I