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Viewpoint % MmmmmmmmmBmmmmmmmmmmmmuMmmmmammmKmmKmmmm?mminmunammmmm Monday, February 23, 1987 Get moving Students must overcome apathy, vote in the SG spring election Have you ever heard of the myth of Sisyphus? Well, the KOds Condemned Sisvnhus tn endlesslv nnch n rnrt tr? th#? top of a mountain. Unfortunately, the rock rolled back down the mountain every time, so Sisyphus was forced to perform this futile act for eternity. But the most futile act, it seems, is persuading USC students to get interested in campus politics and vote in the SG elections. If the gods of the underworld had really wanted to punish poor Sisyphus, they would have forgotten that rock-pushing nonsense and put him to work getting students to the polls. The operational word here is "apathy." It is often overused, but in this case it's appropriate. USC students just don't care. It's the sad truth, the one truth that weakens our university. To illustrate this fact, it is necessary to point out the action taken by USC students on specific issues. First of all, mrougn tne series ot Holderman fiascos concerning Sadat and the discretionary fund, what did students do? Nothing. When the Student Senate finance committee "misplaced" $60,000, what did the students do to show they really care or to voice their protest? Nothing. Finally, and most importantly, thousands and thousands of students were absent while a meager 200 students rallied against a tuition increase. What's the problem? Do you like to be uninvolved? Do you like for people to have carte blanche in making decisions without your input or opinion? Of course not. But that is essentially what you're telling student leaders when you don't participate. On Wednesday, however, you have a chance to redeem yourselves. You will have a chance to make your voice heard. SG will be holding campus-wide elections, and you also have a chance to vote on the new student constitution. Take the time to vote. Take the time to find out what the candidates are all about. Find out what the proposed constitution says. If there is something or someone you don't like ? vote against it. But don't just ignore the elections. If you do plan on voting ? vote for substance. These races, especially the president's race, are too important to be popularity contests. Look beyond the good-looking face or the sappy speech. Vote for a candidate who will work for USC instead of voting for one whose sole purpose is to fill his resume. Those kind of greedy hacks are not needed in SG; responsible leaders are. With that in mind, remember that effective leadership begins with the voter. So let's get out and vote and make damn sure we get some effective leadership. Qrr-...v J- I CJItJNc) I ttJIU VjUlUt* LU lVULAS SlTTlHS DUCK V/ILP PUCK PlRTY PUCK lef j|L Stew.? A ^ $VVl IS UEAP PUCK i - |?g *'* ^ JTTJ "v^Ni ^ HP*til if '11T7' ;zizr^^rf"| ^THl^oNElS^ rn | nrr?K^^J\ ':^~ A .j # ' S nlf^ ^ cc^y^ (& \^p" ^F? ^ v^m&As^ Write us a letter Tell us what's on your mind. Letters must There is a limit of tw< oe lypea, aoume-spacecl and no more than the same writer. 250 words. Include name, address and We reserve the right t telephone number for verification. Names on outdated topics to will not be withheld. Guest editorials are topics. limited to 500 words. Indicate whether you Write to: Viewp are a 9tudent, USC staff member, or com- Gamecock, Drawer A, munity member in letters and editorials. Columbia, S.C. 29208. fnitinn mill# an MI^IVII lUllf lfl|J On Wednesday afternoon, I put away my pen, notebook and neutrality and joined about 200 students in marching to the State House to call for full-formula funding for USC by the General Assembly, which will, hopefully, prevent another tuition increase. The rally, organized and held by students, was a minor success. It did show university and state leaders that students are mad as hell about facing a third tuition hike in as many years. Most could barely afford the first two, and a third will price them out of USC. Never mind, however, the issue at hand. Never mind that tuition hikes occur in the face of ridiculously lavish spending by the university. Never mind that another tuition increase, coupled with President Reagan's foolish cuts in federal student aid programs, could make this the last year of college for many students, including myself. But do pay mind to the three groups ihat were absent from the rally: the student body, the USC ad ministration and a political representative for non-state resident students. About 25,000 people arc USC students ? 200 (and that's a geneious estimate) participated in Wednesday's protest. That's an average of one concerned, involved student for every 125 apathetic ones ? a shameful, ridiculous average. A lack of publicity isn't to blame. Student Government made every effort to tell students of the event. With flyers all over campus, media coverage and word-of-mouth advertising, pre-event publicity was at its best. And l Letters to the Sarcastic letter narrow-minded Afro-Amer may projcc To the editor: white supr This letter is in response to the organizatioi series of letters-to the-editor con- matter of cerning racism. Although blatant "racist" N racism is on the rise again in in part, by : /-iiuvi iv.a, inc iiiajui continuing tnese loun problem is prejudice. misunderst Many people consider racism intent, and prejudice as synonymous. Blacks (t Racism is simply hatred. Pre- AFRO, a judice, however, is a feeling of Month) ai dislike formed beforehand other chani without any knowledge, thought to open lin or reason. In other words, pre- between the judice results from ignorance and these effort fear of the unknown. This is the ty and close attitude I perceived in a letter to the frustrati the editor Feb. 18. tional atten The points made in the letter rejected an< were narrow-minded and one- "separatist, sided. The concern about not usually c having a "White History behavior; e Month," about race-oriented racist attil campus organizations, about af- reciprocatec firmq ?\/#? 111--, l- rr" - .I..UUH.V uvuuil, auu lilt IIKC, 13) 1 DC timC trite. The purpose of these blacks and organizations and the reason for age," to c Black History Month is to instill learn to ac black pride in black Americans, Eradicating not black supremacy. Yet, more dividual an importantly, these institutions ex- we must all ist to help eradicate the "fears" all discard or prejudices whites may have preconceive toward blacks, by sharing black particular, fThTG realtor in t.nief a letters per month by Roni Bea Kayne Managing Editor o stop printing letters Amy DelPo make room for new '^TauU/'yle Aftsistant Copy oint Editor, I he i>t?k Chief Russell Mouse, USC, Andy Bechtel Newt Editor Paula Wethington > ! 11 El 1? athy disheartens I 1 ^ /! only 200 showed up. No excuse is acceptable. So the weather was cold and cloudy ? you walked through it all day. So it's a long walk to the State House ? you walk all over campus. So you have classes, but what's more important ? one class you take, or how much you pay for every class? ? ?- - uu, ;uu uun i mit. 11 :> uniy anomer lumon hike. It'll only take more cash from the already-strained pocketbooks of yourself and your parents. It'll only jeopardize your remaining years at USC. You better start caring, and you better start showing it. No USC administrator showed up to listen and respond to students' financial concerns. Too busy buying porcelain birds and erasing names from discretionary funds, I guess. Facing growing controversy and negative publicity, this was a great chance for the university to save face. Oh well. editor ulition and history. and continue our efforl overtones, which the change, the Association of Ignorance breeds p ican Students, etc. prejudice breeds racii t, were contrived by racism leads to destructi eniists, not by the not destroy ourselves, ns themselves. As a fact, the allegedly Jo IAACP was founded. Computer sclent whites. It's a shame ders' posterity now AffjjpL nn j< and their original Ull 1% hrough the NAACF, was malicio nd Black History id whites fthrnnah Ta nels) have attempted This is a referenc es of communication caricature of "Islamic races. Yet, too often that appeared in the Feb s are met with hostili- of The Gamecock. First d minds. But imagine cartoon should convey a on felt when every ra- or social humor or satirt ipt toward change is one that was publishe< i labeled "racist" or any such qualities. " This frustration is We wonder how man) ailed "militant" readers really enjoyed tl ind, consequently, a toon." But it did serve a :ude or apathy is that of a malicious attac 1. religion of Islam. We has come for us, both this an insult to nearly whites, to "come of adherents of this religiot ommunicate, and to particular to the Muslim cept ethnic diversity, and the Muslim comm prejudice is an in- Columbia. A ?~rr?* ' iu u.->?uv,ituivc cnuu; unuer me guise of i do our part. We must "terrorism," certain grc any stereotypes and individuals always take d ideas. We, blacks in tage to discredit Islam. W must remain patient know whether the autho ram e cock Assistant News Editors Sports Editor Sherri Berry Jeff Shrewsbury Hrendu Blyth Assistant Sports Editor Viewpoint Editor Wayne Washington t MI W.ll 1 ? imi ivimuru Photography Editor Money Editor Thomas Humphrey Candy ttarr A*Uitant Photography Editor Feature* Editor Jennifer Slelb Tamara Willis AssUtaat Feature* Editor Patrick Jean i U?HINHERE" mmouiER : this student Students are the backbone of USC. By ignoring students' concerns and paying them no respect, the administrators are breaking this back. (JSC's pocketbook has the right money, but their heart isn't in the right place. USC spends irrationally and raises tuition at the same timr McanivtiiU Pr?ci^?n? i ~ . ifavMuniuiVi A 1 VOIUVIU J aiuvd Holderman, great inaccessiblc communicator that he is, sits in his office and says he's doing everything possible to prevent another tuition increase. Right ? we heard that one last year. ^ State Rep. Tim Rogers, D-RichJand, spoke at the rally. He is a member of the House Ways and Means Committee considering fullformula funding, and his jurisdiction covers the Columbia area. For local and state residents who are students, that's great. He's an accessible representative who is involved ; with funding and concerned about students. Many students, including myself, live outside South Carolina and pay more. Where are we to find a sympathetic, involved ear? Who ' ^ is our political representative within the state who can do something for us? Not Rogers. Not Holderman. Nobody seems to have a clue. Neither do we, and we'll be the first to fall if tuition rises. The University of South Carolina is ours, too. But if administrators continue to be fiscally incompetent, it won't be our university much longer. Fight for your futures, students. Don't think it. Say it. Show it. Together. ? -1 % is toward caricature follows any religion, but this person certainly has a >rejudice; sick mind. Maybe this individual sm; and has 44STN 666" imprinted on the on. Let's back of his skull. The staff of that decided to print this trash should also have their heads >an Davis examined. :e, senior As a student newspaper, you should strive to bring about harB 1^1 HI rnony and understanding among % fclalll the various religious, national and cultural groups that make up US the Carolina community. Instead, you choose to spit venom at a particular religious group, e to a You have, many times, deplored dollar" religious bigotry in your col. 13 issue umns. Now it appears as though of all, a you have double standards, or political you are simple and plain but the hypocrites. Above all, this is sup4 -A 1 ?- L yt iu^ivcvi f/uscu iu uc me ecumenical year, declared by the president of this i of your university, to bring about greater % tiis "car- religious understanding among purpose, different people. It is therefore :k on the all the more regrettable that you consider did not try to be considerate to a billion the sensitivities of the Muslim i, and in students at USC. The staff of The students Gamecock would have been well unity of advised to use the precious available space to print a public ittacking service message rather than print tups and worthless trash. i advan- Faizy Ahmed 'e do not Faculty advisor r of this Muslim Students Association ^ . .?I Graphic* Editor Director of Student Med Ik Robb Lane Bill Clements EHtebook Editor Graduate Assistant Katherine Gilbert Mary Anne Banich Co talcs Editor Production Tracy Mixson Chuck Norris Wire Editor Son Ha Oillian Smith Advertising Manager Adviser Margaret Mlchels Bill Rogers Assistant Advertising Manager Jan Hodges ^ V H i \