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Go 4 it USC offers many organizations for students to join and enjoy Now that classes have started, it's time to talk about another important aspect of life at a major university ? student activity. USC has dozens of organizations for students, faculty and staff to participate in, from media to Carolina Program Union to fraternities and sororities; from clubs for people of similar interests (languages, physical activities, majors) to intramural sports to residence hall government. And the list goes on. If you're particularly politically minded, there are political organizations (Young Democrats, College Republicans, etc.), Student Government and government and international studies organizations that meet to talk about national and international policy, current affairs and government relations. Student Media offers the Garnet and Black yearbook, Portfolio magazine, WUSC-FM (a 2,500 watt student-run radio station) and (of course) The Gamecock student newspaper. Ideas are also in the works for a student-run cable network channel. Carolina Program Union lets students get involved with the more cultural aspects of USC, bringing musicians, actors, dancers and other performers to the campus; planning movies to be shown in the Russell House theater; and bringing big-name speakers to the USC campus. There are organizations for people who share an interest in computers, languages and English as well as for those whose particular thing is science or astronomy. Or maybe you prefer playing fantasy games ? Dungeons and Dragons and the like ? well, USC can accomodate you there, too. Like jumping out of airplanes or scuba diving or horseback riding and show jumping? Guess what? Yep, you can do that too. There are also organizations such as Amnesty International, Students Allied for a Greener Earth and a newly-formed animal rights group. Many students participate in these activities, but when compared to the volume of students that attend USC, the numbers are surprisingly low. Lack of student involvement can be attributed to many factors, among them lack of knowledge the organizations exist, not knowing anyone involved in the organization, leeriness of a new situation or something you've never done before or laziness. Or maybe you just don't want to join an organization. And that's your prerogative. But organization involvement is fun, interesting, rewarding and looks good on your resume. You can meet loads o' people and get good experience. So try it out. What do vou have to lose? Assistant to the Editors Kristin Francis Erik Collins Graduate Assistant Faculty Adviser Ed Bonza Laura S. Day Director of Student Media Production Manager Ray Burgos Renee Gibson Assistant Production Manager Advertising Manager KYLE BERRY CAROLYN GRIFFIN Assistant Advertising Manager Business Manager Letters Policy: The Gamecock will try to print all letters received. Letters should be, at maximum, 250 to 300 words long. The writer must include full name, professional title if a USC employee or South Carolina resident, or year and major if a student. An address and phone number are required with all letters sent. The Gamecock reserves the right to edit letters for style, possible libel or in case of space limitations. The newspaper will not withhold names under any circumstance y ~ " KNOTTING THE OTHER ONE IS GOING TO TAKE A LITTLE LONGER 0^]=^=== -_'1)_11\Jjj JlL ^ i?t ? , - - ? ' "I ^ <.-- >'-^;-.'^sr:c4o fa&MAJ&T ^/w *r. t^vi/ The Gamecock News: 777-7726 Advertising: 777-4249 Jeff Wilson Sharon Willamson Editor in Chief Managing Editor/Copy Desk Chief Lynn Gibson Elizabeth Lynch News Editor Carolina Life Editor Dougaube Renee Meyer Sports Editor Photography Editor Kelly C. Thomas Viewpoints Editor Elizabeth Fox Sherri Tillman Assistant News Editor Assistant News Editor David Bowden Kathy Heberger Assistant Carolina Life Editor Assistant Carolina Life Editor Brant long Julie bouchillon Assistant Sports Editor Assistant Photography Editor Octavia Wright X Satan suggest Late the other night, the Gamecock staff was ct Aiiartima a? tKo nQ(TA m An C f AT_I^ ill At* WUIIUU^ vyvviliiuv UII UIV JW pug,V IIIVIUWI lvmvi welcome back issue, when suddenly the newsroom filled with the unbearable stench of singed brimstone. Little did the devoted staff know, but Satan had chosen to make a statement to the press regarding the huge amount of publicity he's gotten lately, and he'd chosen to make it to the beacon of tri-weekly collegiate journalism, The Gamecock. After the official arrival of the Prince of Darkness (accompanied by much clamoring and screaming by members of both sexes), His Pointy-Tailedness promptly transformed himself into a short, bearded fellow with a pronounced beer gut, a badly receeding hairline (compensated for by extra length in the back), wearing a Hanes tank undershirt and sporting extremely lousy posture. He pulled out a pack of Benson and Hedges cigarettes, lit one up and began. "Pleased to meet you. Hope you guessed my name," he said with an ironic chuckle. "Just a lftllo joke, there. You guys seem so tight. Must be^production night." of young journftttfitsffiodded in exhausted agreement. "Well," he sighed, taking a drag off the long smoke. "I just thought I'd finally get some things straight with the press, since my P. R. people have obviously not been doing their jobs. They're vacationing down in the ninth level for a few eons." "Anyway, through my extensive reading of the trash you people call journalism, I've decided I've been seeing far too much about Satanism. By the way, I prefer Lucifer, but I guess Luciferism just wouldn't have the same poetic ring to it. It seems like everything I look at "Lonely hearl Y'know, it really is funny when you think about all the companies out there making money ? especially when it comes to sex. For centuries, we've had church, clubs, dance halls and even the good old neighborhood. But, for those trapped in loneliness and an unwavering desperation, the prostitution business became an answer. And now, as we close the twentieth century, we have a merging business on the phone ... sex lines. Now, don't get me wrong. I guess there is a need for them if people can actually get that desperate or maybe call just for a joke. But, the market the "businesses" target is totally unsettling. All of them feature women darting their eyes at the camera as they tantalize viewers with a soft, smooth voice, saying "I have a secret and I've nev-er shared it with anyone. But, I think I'm ready to share it now. If you want to know, call me now." Or "Phone confessions. Just call to hear people tell others things that they've never told anyone. Call now." Now, come on folks. Get real. Who really montc *r\ ooll o nnmhpr Kpar cnmcnnc.'c cr\ VT ui 1LO iU VU11 ? IIUUIUVI vvr ??vw* 1^ called "confessions?" But hey, I guess there's a LETTERS TO THE a a ? does she d Columnist has ^ navy m statements no authority . * Speakinj To the editor. person I vs Please restrict Kelly C. "General jn ^ mih, Patlon" Thomas to writing about ^id whose subjects of which she has some Would be t knowledge. While the intent of her jj.on for a c editorial, "Military is for honorable I no) men, not wimps," was laudable, 1983-1987 she plainly overstepped her bounds gunner in with the blanket statements she though I c made about the problems with the Republic c young in the military. From where nawa, and hahpme iwe zule$ s sensational S. berry these days is Satanism this, Satanism that, and I honestly don't know what on earth you folks are talking about." "Sometimes I get the impression that things like that sound sinister and evil, so that makes it good enough to print. Well I'm here to spill the beans on every Satanist that every came out of the wierdo closet." "They don't know what the Hell they're talking about." At this point, a simultaneous gasp rose from the staff, for they knew that future story ideas on campus Satan worship were now officially doomed. "That's right. It's all completely bogus. Listen, you've heard about Jesus kicking the money changers out of the temple? Well that's what happened to yriurf truly, except on a slightly more cosmic level. The Big Guy caught me making deals with you pipsqueaks down here, so out I went. That's the whole story. I'm a businessman, and most of the time business ain't very nice. So now I work my little ventures from a different office, that's all. So what if the air-conditioning sucks, he snarled as he took another drag. "So where was I? Oh, yeah, those loons that think they worship me. Let me tell you kids," he said, pointing at the group with his cigarette. "When you're in business, you don't want worship. You want to make deals, and when the de;s" numbers or OCTAVIA WRIGHT business for it though ? at $2 a minute. And, just think ? these companies are targeting the male market and that's what's so unsettling. My favorite one is, "Are you lonely? Need someone to talk to? I'm available. Why don't you pick up the phone now? Go ahead, I'll be waiting on the other end." Imagine a hunk of a fellow: maybe a Tom Cruise or Blair Underwood look-alike looking into the camera and saying, "Call me, baby. We can have a good ole' time. Hey, if you call I'll tell you my secret." Doesn't this sound kind of ludricous? Of course, this Drobablv wouldn't be a rea sonable way to commercialize men, but why haven't these companies found a way to present : EDITOR raw her authority? From California. If I had bee -brat" status? Thomas' war I'm sure I would would lead people to although probably not it some join the military as Thomas would have ser-tag.' Baloney. that her friends would. I as a veteran, the last 'ant dissecting problems I served four years i tary is a well-off college ines. I can talk with son idea of true hardship on conditions in the mil o go without her curling Thomas cannot speak w lay. thority on these sul : see any hostilities from should therefore keep h while I was a machine- to herself, the Marine Corps, allid serve in Subic Bay, Awards received: Gc >f the Phillipines, Oki- medaI? Meritorious Un Mt. Fuji, Japan beside Sea Service Deployme M M super-scoop ! als don't come through, you want to collect on what vnn're owed Tt iiist so harmens that mv J w J?~ " n f business is buying soul options." "And not just any soul options, mind you. I do everything I can to avoid these pimply-faced high school twerps who pick up the Necronomicon one day and try to conjour up demons to get rid of their English teachers. I don't deal with losers. I get no return on losers. It's hard enough to keep the Arabs and the Jews hating each other, why would I want to screw around with some nabob who's just going to end up in a state hospital?" Another drag off the smoke. "I saw the third Omen the other night, and that, if anything, is what I'm trying to do. Hell, I figure if I can get someone under my thumb in a nice cozy office way up in the government, I'd have it made. But think about how hard it must be to get people to like someone like David Dukes. The man was in the KKK, for cryin' out loud. He doesn't even tickle my fancy too much, but you have to work with what you get, you know." We could tell he was winding down. "So anyway, that*fc.tf&bul it. I "just felt like that needed to be said straight from the Darkhorse's mouth. So tell your friends in the biz, lay off, 'cause I'm just trying to do my job. Just like them up there," he said, pointing his cigarette, now only a smoldering butt, to the ceiling. "So you kids be good, OK? You seem like a nice bunch, and I like what you're doing. Come to think about it, I'd hardly ever collect on my purchases if it wasn't for you guys ferreting the bad guys out. Thanks." And with a tap and the falling of a bit of ash, he was gone, but is still smells kind of smoky in here. ily target men men to women in an appealing manner? Especially since women slightly outnumber men. I think that I have an answer to this question. As the infamous comedian Arsenio Hall says, "Hmmmmmm." Maybe, it's because companies don't think that women would actually call the number. But, what makes the companies think that men would actually call the number/ Especially when men have the "neighborhood" corner to turn to in their moment of desperation. I've spoken to several guys about the numbers and none of them said ? or admitted ? they would actually call it or knew anyone who would. So, my question is who really calls those numbers? Well, I guess my conclusion will rest as inconclusive. But it nags me that women are seen making these commercials when men aren't. This whole situation has made me rethink the women's movement and what we have and haven't accomplished. It's all tied in with a little word but it has big connotations ? even in the big booming world of business. It's called ... RESPECT. ? >n called to Rifle Expert, and Pistol Marksman. lintrh ftafla m. t ! n i ua?v 6u"v, rNeii r. Lewis as "gladly" CPL USMC ret. you believe Journalism Sophomore n the Mar- C01TeCti0n ie authority In the August 27 edition of The itary. Kelly Gamecock, a guest column was dth any au- run entitled "Gas prices not suited )jects and to government control." er opinions The article's writer was not attributed; the writer was Ben Asa Rast, financial adviser for >od conduct Prudential-Bache in Columbia, lit Citation, The Gamecock regrets this ;nt Ribbon, error.