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vn A | 1 1 use Foreign Language I J I viewpoint page 3 Department offers Satur- I ^ Y Features page 4 day school for Japanese I Gamecocks prepare tor Georgia Comics page 6 I children. I ^ Sports, page 7 Classifieds page 8 page The Gamecock Founded 1908 Eighty Years of Collegiate Journalism Wednesday Volume 81, No. 22 University of South Carolina September 21, 1988 _ -<m JHHi m. mmmfc in mm '*"* * i7 || H| ||g i * Uol ^ ** mm |W:- -f ' WP^HHPB; ?.< r- ; jji t, \; / ,?' L' //# X/5h ^gm Take back the night Marine biology freshman Carolj other people in the fifth Annual Mnnrlav nioht frnm thp VW^ A hi House steps on Main Street. The community help-organizations su Sistercare. USC e> By KELLY C. THOMAS Staff writer Representatives from USC and tw sities met with Westinghouse Electi Pittsburgh Monday and Tue Westinghouse cooperative proj universities. "The meeting was designed to exp< where we feel we have had successfu said Jack Herrmann, public affair Westinghouse Savannah River Plant informational meeting that doesn't Savannah River Plant." USC, the Medical University of Storm ruins professor's island visit By MARY PEARSON Assistant news editor A USC professor spent most ol Sept. 11 stranded in a Jamaican hotel while one of the fiercest storms ever to hit the Caribbean raged outside. Merritt Hollis, director of Research and Development for the College of Education, was in Kingston, Jamaica, when Hurricane Gilbert struck the island during the morning. Hollis was in Jamaica on an accreditation visit to a local university, the College of Arts, Science and Technology, when the storm hit. He stayed in the Wyndham Hotel, one of the two major hotels in Kingston. "We were all scared because we didn't know what was going to ultimately happen," Hollis said. "We crouched and huddled in various places in the hallways and stairwells in the hotel ? any protective place ? trying to stay out of the way from windows." The center of a hurricane is usually marked by light winds and is called the storm's eye. Kingston was directly in the path of the eye of the storm. For the first 40 minutes, winds gusted at about 120 to 130 mph. When the eye passed, everything was calm and clear for about an hour, Hollis said. "The second half of the storm had a greater intensity and lasted for about an hour," he said. "What wasn't destroyed in the first half of the storm was caught in the second wave. The entire island was devastated." Phone lines were wiped out by the storm, and Hollis was unable to talk <v >: : . jy*5" '-fit ** <* \N EN * * nflT ) JJLLi w| ^^^Itlllllllllll^ i IHl * #**** *lm'Wm I H H ' F- sM jPEHNKB \ JULIE BOUCHILLON/The Gamecock <n Longnecker marches with about 100 Take Back the Night Walk and Rally uilding on Blandigg Street to the State event was sponsored by a coalition of ich as the Rape Crisis Network and , j : ^amines p Clemson University v ty Robotics Institut 10 other state univer- Center of Environmt ic Corp. officials in by Westinghouse. isday to observe The universities es *rams with other formalize research ti established, could bi 3se them to programs recognition as acader 1 research ventures," said, s manager with the The operation of I Corp. "This was an Pont, will be taken c apply directly to the The plant, which i< U.S. Department c South Carolina and weapons grade matei v !:u' ! u' ?u.| >} u jui j.wmu.ui uu The Gua Path of Hurricane Gilbert to his family until last Thursday. "It was especially hard on me not V being able to talk to my family," h Hollis said. "My son had become fl seriously ill and had to be taken to h the hospital. The last time I talked to t! my wife about his condition was fl Monday at 6 a.m. At 9:30, the phones were out." d Hollis said the most frightening rr part of the storm was when he sat in a his room on the 11th floor of the o hotel. F i was wanning uic siuuii uui ill)' u window, and the window began to p shake because of the intense pressure S and wind. Then the molding began to give way around the window," he c< said. tl He ran into the bathroom just as c< the window shattered and sent shards o of glass across the room, he said. tl The storm destroyed a restaurant surrounded by windows on the rr hotel's 17th floor, he said. w Council By LYNN GIBSON and KRIS TAYLt Staff writers Students will be able to get free week< campus from the Five Points area begin day evening under a plan sponsored by nity and Sorority councils. Council representatives met with S Dean Jerry Brewer at an emergency m< day afternoon to work out details of t "This is a trial run," said Sorority C vice Chairwoman Marie Louise Ramsd; participation and cooperation this w< determine if the service will be continue The plan was proposed in respons crimes in the Five Points-campus area said. In the past three weeks, two fema have been raped while returning alon Five Points area, and one student from sity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill wa he and another UNC student were 1 Harden Street. "We want to give students an alt valking home alone," Ramsdale said. Under the plan, two vans leased rransportation Services motor pool wi hree Five Points locations on Hardei Eckerd Drugs, Circle K and Food Lion ).m. to 2:30 a.m. Thursday through S; The vans will stop at the followini tails: Capstone, Bates/Bates West, To\ rower, Patterson, the Horseshoe and th ^uad of Sims, McClintock and Wade \11 passengers will be escorted to the /olunteer fraternity member. As a security measure, all drivers and ,vear identification badees. and studen o present either a USC I.D. or a ro Doard the shuttle. Non-USC students \ ^resent a bus ticket, which can be obt he Student Government office, and wi :o be accompanied by a USC student. Flyers will be posted in Five Point estaurants giving pickup times and loc The S.G. Senate will meet today at 5 p 3n the funds. The Sorority and Fraternity councils ?700 to $750 for a two-week trial p< Senate Finance Committee Chairman / otential 'isited the Carnegie Mellon Universie and the University of Pittsburgh ;ntal Research, which are supported tablished a consortium last year to es with the SRP lab. These ties, if ing the consortium schools greater nic institutions, USC administrators :he SRP lab, now controlled by Du >ver by Westinghouse next year. 5 located in Aiken and owned by the )f Energy, produces the nuclear "ials tritium and plutonium. \ "The hotel had a lot of damage. Windows were blown out all over the otel, and there was a lot o1iooding," Hollis said. "We even ad to take turns helping to mop up le water that was constantly ooding the floors." There wasn't much to do for two ays after the storm passed, because tajor roads were blocked, and the irport was ciosea ana vvouia not repen for several more days, he said, lollis was unable to leave the island ntil Friday, a day later than he had lanned. He arrived in Columcia unday. There were three newly wed auples stranded in Kingston during te hurricane, Hollis said. The Duples were going to the resort area f Montego Bay on Jamaica's norlern coast. "Those poor kids, their honeytoons were ruined, and 1 know they ere frustrated," he said. s plan v 3R said. On Sunday, depenc councils will ask for fund ? J J r i_ _ . _ r ^ 1 _ _i i :uu uuci iu ior me rest 01 me scnooi ning Thurs- Hyatt said he would s r the Frater- gram. "But as far as th< know how they will vote tudent Life ticipate any problems." ;eting Tues- Ramsdale said if func he plan. S.G., the Sorority and Fr Council Ser- for this weekend's expens ale. Student be about $400. The counc eekend will from Five Points mercha rd, she said. The councils had origii e to recent vice to begin in two to th , Ramsdale rape of a student walking prompted them to take a tie students Fraternity Council Presid e from the the Univeris shot after -? mugged Pamp] ernative to By RICH WALENDA from the Staff writer 11 run from The following is a 1 i Street ? various pamphlets publi ? from 10 of Crime Awareness, aturday. (Boston, MA), Campus g residence Division, and Anthony B vers, South Complete Security Hanc e Women's If you are raped, c Hampton. work at 252-8393. A vo door by a the hospital when you amination and stay with escorts will network acts as a suppor ts will have Avoid dark and iom kev to parking lots and areas w vill have to Keep a low profile ained from amounts of money in 1 11 also have places where strangers n If possible, get a r s bars and have a friend come and :ations. campus and need a ri ).m. to vote through Thursday from Alpha Phi Omega at 77" are seeking hours, call campus polic ;riod. S.G. Do not walk or c Vlton Hyatt of resea The consortium approved a 10-poini seek, among other things, "exclusive, rights to conduct, manage or facilitate classified research lab under Westinghoi the plant. This plan would give the thi refusal" privileges on all research projec SRP lab. Under the plan, the three universitie their research efforts to become the Research and Educational Corp. If Westinghouse accepts the propost pected to help finance a program tl distinguished scientists to South Carolin; would study and conduct research at the X/ ^ ^ ^dura$ Hollis never got to start his ac creaiiauon visn wnn tne conege. i ne college, which was celebrating its 30th year, was destroyed by the hurricane. "We were all stunned by the scope of the damage," Hollis said. "The water supply to the island had been interupted because of contamination. People were saying there wasn't a single banana tree left standing. The coconut trees and citrus trees were destroyed all over the islands, along with the beautiful larger trees which were at least a 100 years old or more." The New York Times reported Thursday that more than 100,000 homes were destroyed, leaving more than 500,000 homeless. More than 100,000 were living in make-shift shelters. The damage was estimated at more than S7 billion, and at least 30 people had died in the storm. See "Blow out," page 2 eekend ling on participation, the "We were s to cover operation costs "We were tir year, he said. The universit upport funding the pro- Columbia, ai e rest of Senate, I don't "People ht ," he said. "I don't an- walk alone operating thi ling is not approved by "This is ju aternity councils will pay cil President es, which are expected to mean you ca :ils are also seeking funds Wednesday, nts, she said. Ramsdale : tally planned for the ser- students, not ree weeks, but the recent At the same t I alone on Pickens Street service is me; ction more quickly, said "This is n< ent Luke Byars. service for p< hlets give s icated. Get ; cab. ist of safety tips from If yoi shed by the USC Office not let stranj Northeastern University and don't let Police and Public Safety Avoid i i. Herbert, author of the ing; if neces: ibook. from them. :all the Rape Crisis Net- If you t lunteer will meet you at change direct are taken in for an ex- occupied, sue you at the hospital. The Walk r t group for rape victims. shrubs, build deserted streets, parks, If a stra ith unsafe reputations. curb and int< , and do not flash large ween you anc )ars, at parties or other If attac light see your money. fighting them ide home, call a taxi or If a per: get you. If you are on money, give de anytime on Sunday not worth get 8 p.m. until 12 p.m. call If you s '-3825. If it is after these you are folh e for a ride at 777-4215. Police at 777Irive home while intox- Police Depart irch relal : plan in June to the consortium univ non-competitive The proposal wou research" in the ternational center, ise's operation of research of single, s ee schools "first of SRP. :ts planned by the Negotiations bet> sities to manage sti s would combine support research k Savannah River said. "Some agreement Us, it will be ex- position to discuss t hat would bring The 10 points wer a. These scientists change as negotiatio lab. and at any of Tests shot not threat By JOHN MILLS III ' Staff writer ' Although the Environmental Protection Agency warned the nation about radioactive radon gas contamination, it is apparent USC does not have a problem on its hands, a USC official said. Dan Zurosky, USC's radiation safety officer, said all of the buildings in the Horseshoe were tested this summer, and insignificant readings were recorded. "We tested the buildings in the Horseshoe first, because that is where the older buildings are," Zurosky said. "We thought that if we had a problem, it would be there: We found what 1 would call only background radiation levels." Some high levels of the radioactive gas have been recorded in South Carolina, but compared with the North, signs of radon gas are minor, said Bert Craft, an employee in the chemical radiological laboratory of the Department of Health and Environmental Control. "Radon is not a serious problem compared to that in Pennsylvania," Craft said. "The highest levels in South Carolina have been recorded in Greenville, Spartanburg and Rock Hill where there is a lot of granite under the surface." Radon is measured in picocuries oer liter of air. he said. "Homes with readings above four picocuries are said to be at the 'action level.' That means some action should be taken to control the radon levels," said Craft. Clemson University recently conducted a study that confirmed that there was little to no radon gas problem in South Carolina. In the study, shuttle feeling pretty helpless," Byars said, ed of seeing friends raped or mugged, y is right in the middle of downtown id there is crime there, ive to be smart enough to know , don't ? or take the service we will begin s weekend," he said, st a partial solution," Sorority CounAnne Macon Flynn said. "It doesn't n walk around alone Sunday through Everybody must be careful." said the service will be available to all just sorority and fraternity members, ime, she discourages the view that the ant to be a crutch. it a drunk taxi," she said. "This is a ;ople who want a safe ride home." I afety tips a friend to give you a ride or call a a must walk home alone at night do gers slow you down. Keep walking the strangers touch you. ndividuals or groups that are loitersary, cross the street to keep away hink that someone is following you, ion and go to a well-lit place that is :h as a store, and call the police, tear the curb. Keep away from ings, doorways and alleys, inger approaches you; move off the d the street. Keep parked cars beti the person. :ked by someone, yell and keep i if the attacker has no weapon, son displays a weapon and demands the money to him. A few dollars is :ting hurt over. ee a suspicious-looking person, or if awed by someone, call University 5555 if on campus or the Columbia tment at 911 if off campus. :ionship 'ersities. Id also implemerit a "world-class" inThe center would concentrate on pecific issues related to the operation veen Westinghouse and the univerjdies at the Savannah River Plant's iboratories are ongoing, Herrmann :s have been made, but we are not in hem," he said. e part of the original plan, which will ms continue, said Arthur Smith, USC . See "Westinghouse," page 2 v radon at USC 672 samples were taken. Only 5 percent of the samples showed radon levels above four picocuries. "We just finished testing the State House for radon," Craft said. "It has underground facilities, and it rests on a lot of granite. It received a reading of less than four." The measurements taken in the Horseshoe showed radiation levels less than one picocurie, Zurosky .>aid. Last week, the EPA urged Americans to have their homes tested for radon. Extended exposure to radon has been known to cause lung cancer. The EPA released information stating radon is responsible for about 20,000 lung cancer deaths each year. Radon is created by decaying radium in the soil. It breaks down into small particles that can be inhaled. In the open air, the gas is not rlonnorAnc Kut 1" n np\i/ Q i r _t 1 o H t uangvi uuo, uui in wv" , **ii v o energy-efficient homes, the radon gas may reach levels high enough to cause lung cancer. "Radon escapes through cracks in granite or through sandy soil," Zurosky said. "It must have a porous surface through which to escape." Solid granite is more beneficial than loose rock, because it does not give the gas a chance to escape, Craft said. The radon problem was discovered in 1984 when radiation detection alarms sounded as an employee at a nuclear power plant in Pennsylvania entered the plant. The alarm had sounded because of radon decay products attached to his clothing. When his home was tested, levels of more than 2.(XX) picocuries were recorded.