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Students gett By STEVE PRADARELLI "They see good j Assistant news editor both candidates.' State Democratic and Republican Because of tha college representatives hope to infect tatives for the t USC and other students with election their strategies w fever in the coming weeks, but they the Republican n say the task will be tough. dent George Democratic nomi "A lot of people are indecisive Gov. Michael Du about this election," said Andy Marty McClell Williams, one of three state chairman at USC Democratic college coordinators and junior, said ht Student Government vice president. repeating the misl Students run u By the Associated Press KALAMAZOO, Mich. ? She stepped out onto the high bar with a look of determination, quivering while she tried to steady herself. The crowd gasped when she lost her footing, then broke into cheers when she twirled her tail around the bar, saving herself from a 15-inch drop. Welcome to the second annual Rat Olympics, a lesson in patience, sensitivity and positive reinforcement. Since June, about 50 psychology students at Kalamazoo College have been training 11 white, pinkeyed rats to inch their way across the 2-foot-long, quarterinch-wide wooden bar, jump hurdles and climb a 5-foot vertical screen. With a piece of chocolate chip cookie as bait, the beady-eyed entrants in the Tri-Rathlon also had to climb a five-step ladder and make their way through a tunnel and a pan filled with an inch of water, to which most rats have an aversion. "I was really afraid of them when we started, but they're really very sweet," said junior Robin Lake, 19, of Traverse City, Mich., as her rat, Mimi, crawled across her shoulders. Professor Lyn Raible, who is researching brain chemicals that affect rats' sexual behavior, said it all started as a way to teach her students about learning and conditioning. But it turned into an ethics lesson. "In some of my classes we do live animal experiments with the rats and I found this teaches sensitivity," she said. "They realize that rats have personalities and feelings, and it makes them think twice before they do their experiment." Though some students refused to touch the rats at first, "The Gamec at 5 p. m oi Ul AG At South Carolina National Bank, we dc crime to be invested with more intelligence tJ That's why we created our Bargain Che( It's the checking account for people who don't want service charges. But who do want unlimited check writing privileges. In fact, Bargain Checking goes one j better than that. Because also included is " ing involved ii md bad qualities in tional campaign level of portraying ' Bush as something he's not. "We're it, college represen- going to do the issues, not the perwo campaigns say sonality," McClellan said, ill include defining ominee, Vice Presi- The Democratic college coorBush, and the dinators, working out of their party's inee, Massachusetts Devine Street headquarters, plan to ikakis. visit South Carolina's more than 60 an, Bush campaign colleges in the weeks leading to Nov. ? and a philosophy 8. The Republicans will use a system i'll try to avoid of field and campus representatives take made at the na- to get their message across. nusual rat race almost all the racing rodents found homes with their trainers after Friday's competition. we ve oeen togetner aoout iu weeks, ana we ve gotten very close," junior Tom Remble, 20, of St. Joseph, said of his rat, Putita, who wore a Superman cape and had her tail painted red, white and blue. Because pets aren't allowed in dormitory rooms, Putita, like many of her rivals, will be sent to parents. Asked if he thinks his parents will be pleased with their new pet, Remble said: "I don't know, but I'm sure my cats will be." None of the rats will go back to the lab for experiments. The small liberal arts college rolled out the red carpet for the rodents. There was an opening ceremony and procession of students to the theme of Chariots Of Fire, followed by a torch-carrying student wearing pointed ears and a tail. The competitors all were female because, Raible said, male rats are too ugly, fat and lazy. Black-robed judges held up numbers to rate each competitor. No overall winner was announced, but the crowd of about 75 seemed to agree the champion was Elle Dopa, named after L-dopa, a drug used to substitute for dopamine, a brain chemical. This may be just the beginning of the path to stardom for rodents with four-legged fortitude. Raible said she has twice sent videotapes to talk show host David Letterman with the hope of getting the rats a spot on his Stupid Pet Tricks segment. Both times she was rejected, because the show doesn't consider rats pets. "Can you imagine?" she asked. ock" staff me m. at Russell lir%yll >n't believe it's a a free ATM card that you can use fre ban money. Banking locations all over South Ca :king Account. our beaches. Plus you can use the ca] m -w?anrl f^iVrn ic? mor'tii i m uim vjix x. uo iiiuviix riiix Banking ^S? ing from South Ca >^7 South Carolina National your statements w< \ n '88 presiden Both campaigns say they will use "The first thing v handouts, information tables and bring up the interest: rallies to stir support for their can- tion," McClellan sail didates, but neither has a firm show the real side of schedule of events yet. real side of Bush." "It's not that we've lacked leadership," Williams said. "There's not Williams said the been involvement." especially interested To change that, the Republican lege students this ele and Democratic representatives say ticularly after w they'll work to increase election in- characterized as W; terest and participation among failure to woo colle, students. 1984. KT'' :^99PV^B ?P^^ys> ft* Strike up the band Cocky, the Carolina Band and the USC cheerleaders try 1 ly this past Wednesday. :etings every House Room ' wTi to y< mor 2001 Devi] . Sam k I I en S| ^2^27 D Th Five Points r 2020 Devine Street 256-0838 FR I Please present this cou per coupon per customi any sales tax due. Not other offers. Offer gooc stores. Cash value 1/ September 7,1988. COUPC $20.i Jk ! I i COLD e at over 125 TouchMatic Col rolina. Including those at rd in thousands of Relay *" | nes across the country. | aught paying unnecessary ! '' P stead, get Bargain Check- mmmm( irolina National. Where on't be held against you. ^ Member FDIC y|/ tial election ve need to do is He said the greatest effort will be in voter registra- concentrated on greeks, because i. "Then we can "they're usually organized and easily Dukakis and the targeted." But McClellan said an increasing Democrats are conservatism among college in reaching col- students, particularly in South sction year, par- Carolina, will make the Democrats' 'hat Williams task difficult, alter Mondale's "That's going to be an important ge-age voters in issue in this and future campaigns," McClellan said. 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