The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, August 31, 1990, Page 3, Image 3
Unfair
; College administration should
stay out of students' private lives
The decision by the state Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission
to turn the names of underage students convicted of illegal
possession of alcohol into their universities is an invasion of students'
privacy.
Their reasoning behind this decision is to hopefully catch stu
dents who may have an alcohol abuse problem and to discipline
offenders.
This is a lame excuse for the trouble it will cause students. It is
true that young people can develop a drug or alcohol problem, but
most people who drink are doing so because they like to or as a
social activity, not because they have a problem.
This action should be considered an invasion of privacy because
a student's off-campus activites are his or her own.
If they are caught by the ABC and are charged with the illegal
"possession of alcohol, they will have to face the legal consequ.
ences and more than likely their parents' wrath.
This is not USC's or any other university's business.
If a business man is charged with DUI, the police do not notify
his employer. So why do university officials and the ABC think
they they have the right to cause students further grief?
Part of the university experience is to grow and become an
adult, and part of becoming an adult is learning to deal with the
consequences of your actions. A university is no place for the
principal calling a student in to discuss their behavior.
This is not meant to belittle the serious problems associated
with drugs and alcohol, but the threat of possible expulsion or
having to go to counselling for having a few drinks is ridiculous.
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basis", which of course works both ways. It will be good for students
if they have a chance to defend themselves, but at the same
time one must realize this could also mean that if mommy and
daddy have any pull at the university then their son or daughter
may get off where as another student might not.
Most people drink, especially young people. And as long as
they don't drive or endanger anyone, they should have that right.
The 21 age limit is equally ridiculous as this new action. By the
age of 18, a young person has to face most legal responsibilities
and are probably about as responsible as they will be. Let them
learn on their own.
There are already laws for underage drinkers. If they get caught,
let them face the consequences like adults. Don't add to their
-Slproblems by allowing USC to get involved.
> 9
NO TIME FOR A MIRAGE
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The Gamecock
News: 777-7726 Advertising: 777-4249
Jeff Wilson Sharon Willamson
Editor in Chief Managing EditorlCopy 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 ,
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BRANf LONG JULIE BOUCHILLON ,
Assistant Sports Editor Assistant Photography Editor )
Octavia Wright
Assistant to the Editors
Kristin Francis Erik Collins >
Graduate Assistant Faculty Adviser t
Ed Bonza Laura S. Day *
Director of Student Media Production Manager ^
Ray Burgos Renee Gibson *
Assistant Production Manager Advertising Manager ^
Kyle Berry Carolyn Griffin s
Assistant Advertising Manager Business Manager ^
i:
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, pro- r
fessional title if a USC employee or South Carolina resident, or year and major if 1;
a student. An address and phone number are required with all letters sent. The d
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. v"
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There is no g(
We modern folk are an arrogant bunch. According
to us, we are immune to sickness, harm
and death, and we're only slightly fallible, i
What do I mean? Let me tell you. *
My friend and I were walking in Gambrell
Hall the other day when we heard a loud buzzing
noise echoing down the hall ? the fire 1
alarm. The surprising thing was, nobody did
anything. Some people looked up and around
like they'd never heard one before, but they
didn't move. Some didn't even look as though
they'd heard it. And, what got to me most, my a
friend and I said, "Oh, it's the fire alarm," and p
continued on our way to the canteen.
The buzzer stopped about 10 seconds after it h
started, and there was no fire, but it struck me h
as odd that this and other life-saving devices are p
so often similarly ignored. a
Part of the problem with fire alarms, I real- n
ize, is they have to be tested so often. People d
are told to ignore the alarm on a particular day it
and that stays with them. And we've all been
through the day when some prankster pulled the ti
alarm repeatedly, making us run out in the cold
without our coats six times in one day. It's not n
fun. e
- ??
w j a A search and di
Letter writer be a persona
life exDerienc*
misses point ^
tacks, Mr. L<
_ , line sardonic
To the editor: Thomas as K<
As an objective observer of the ton? Thomas
recent editorial by Kelly C. Tho- journalist.s
mas, Military is for honorable with Amcricai
men- n<* " and rf?n eral Patton, al
ten by Mr. Neil Lewis, I feel Mr. G ? .. .
Lewis's empirical views on how nece;sa t0
American servicemen view combat He ^cr
are most interesting. I'm sure his A u
6 ? , . . kid whose idei
view is a very accurate description ., ?,
e . J r % without her cu
of how many servicemen feel on T . . .
the issue of war. However, I find it thlS s,omcd
unnecessary to place personal af- ci?U o"cifi" ,
fronts as reasoning of his point and a *Lnr?
1 doubt his opinion reflects the di,sessmeniview
of all young servicemen. I
also question his views on one's
authority to exercise editorial opinions.
Miss Thomas's editorial explicitly
states that she is relating Q 111 11
her opinions based on the feelings
3f servicemen she has encountered, rnpplp
that's where her authority is rested. SJJCvlC
One of the ways in which jour- To the editor:
lalists cover an issue is to attempt I am appal
o gain empathy with the subject, minded, specii
Stephen Crane wrote The Red Shealy in his j
Sadge of Courage, one of the in the Augusl
greatest war novels in history, Gamecock. /
vithout actually being a soldier, mankind shou
lis method was through meeting the purity of
oldiers and discussing war, than the lives <
rankly and realistically. A journal- ligent mamma
st can't actively participate in ev- ice in Alaska
ry subject they cover in their ca- very flippant i
eer. A journalist interprets and re- titude towart
ays what he or^she finds in human animal:
liscussion with knowledgeable extinction of i
eople on the particular subject. per year, the rr
)ne's authority to write an edu- wildlife habita
ated opinion comes through re- of our waters
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kelly C. Thomas ^
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nes
The point is, though, the alarms are there for was
reason. People die in fires, and alarms help spii
irevent that. Let all who have ears to hear . . . kne
Another point is that the rate of violent crime F
as reached phenomenal levels, reports of rape eno
ave more than doubled in the past five years, eng
eople are being murdered in groups in Florida, spei
nd people are still walking outside alone at pie
ight. I know every once in a while people just a li
on't think and run somewhere alone, but it just wa>
;n't safe ? for women OR men. like
Someday, our "It can't happen to me" atti- A
ide is going to catch up with us. I
Our careless attitude is ruining our environ- don
lent. Pollution, deforestation, the "greenhouse cam
ffect" ? all continue to plague our planet be- out
scussion, it need not our own loss of dignity.
1 narrative of one's
,s Furthermore, the intell
public is very concerned abo
to his personal at- lives of whales and their 1
^wis in his opening bere on As well as al
ally refers to Miss mals> who lheir very exif
*111/ P "Pnnori 1 Dn? deserve our resDect and care
. vivuviai i ai" , 1
Comparing a college ^elfarf's dependent upon the
ittempt at empathy of 'he an'mals- and
i servicemen to Gen- fare's dependent upon the q
ias, "Old Blood and environment Perhaps
ily sarcastic and un- 1 ^ou a PeoP.f
polemicize a point, yourself cared more about to
"a well off college mals,. mng m ** water'
r, ... . ? wouldn t have to worry too
' ,of hardsh'P ,s go aboul lhe purity of iL
rling iron for a day." p Catherine F
ting relevant to the Ar, Ed. Graduate St,
if so, can Mr. Lewis
acts supporting this
USC parkin
Jeffrey C. 1 urbitt ofjll ^fllP rilf*
lurnahsm Freshman ollll UIC plli
Unict 1^1 editor.
Let me add my voice to thi
a mor that will undoubtedl
iSlSl raised from the latest develof
in the debacle more comn
known as parking at the Univi
led at the narrow- of hSouth Carolina. I fully
ssist attitude of Mr. Pathize Wlth commuter stu.
juvenile commentary 0 must arrivc on campt
: 27th issue of The car^ as ^ am* cac^1 morri'ng
According to him, ^a^ ^ere are no avai
Id care more about Parking spaces. However, I cj
its drinking water ^dp wondering what will be<
of three highly intel- ?* me as 1 continue the ard
Is suffocating under Usk of P^g * ^ great in
n waters. It is this Uon of hlSher education wit!
ind cold-blooded at- resources markedly diminishec
1 our fellow non5
that has led to the Did the parking committee
learly 1,000 species listically believe that "the
lassive distinction of would be able to hold the ovei
ts and the pollution of students who would be f<
? not to mention to seek parking there? From
OUR MONEY OR I'LL DRILL YOU
F SUPER UNLEADED'
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carelessness
ise we just can't seem to believe we're doing
thing wrong.
^ople drive drunk because they just know
y'll still be able to operate their car. Joe over
re couldn't but they can.
Ve've even got to the point where we ignore
own bodies' warning signs of poor health
I illness. Headaches are dismissed as tension,
nach aches as indigestion, red eyes as tireds
and once, when I was little, my pneumonia
; dismissed by the doctors as an upper rectory
infection. Lucky for me, my mom
w better.
eople are scared to death of AIDS, but not
ugh to stop taking intravenous drugs or to
age in safe sex by using condoms. And
iking of using condoms, it seems some peowould
rather pay for abortions than pay for
ttle piece of protection. Or then, there's alrs
good or abstinence for those who don't
the "discomfort."
md the list goes on and on.
don't agree with those who say people
't care about anything but themselves be;e
lately it seems people don't even care abthemselves.
sonal experience that parking committee
members may not have had,
igent I can tell you that unless you park
ut the in "the pit" before 6 p.m. on Sunfuture
day, you needn't trouble
1 ani- yourselves looking there the rest of
>tence the week (university holidays ex.
Our cepted). If you are lucky enough to
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wel- have been looking favorably upon
uality you. The fact that I live on the
, Mr. Horseshoe should not deter me
like from parking at Bates, I suppose.
i ani- If I needed access to my car Monn
we day through Friday between the
much hours of 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., the
Shuttlecock would merrily deposit
risch me at my fender (of course, I
ident might need to allot extra time for
this or just give in and hike it). But
if a job takes me off campus and I
12 return after dark, the Shuttlecocks
are already safely tucked away for
g" the night while I must make my
solitary way across the large and
lonely campus. I could park in a
. Faculty Lot closer to my residence
" c^" hall and get up at 6 a.m. just to
)ment ma^e sure * ^ad ^me t0 an ^
)me.n parking place and take the Shuttle.
y cock to my first class.
ersi ^ I seriously doubt if the extra 450
em~ commuter spaces will alleviate the
en s problems these students face when
1S^S arriving for classes, and it will
' sureiy lniensiry panting proDiems
1 a e for on-campus students. The parkannot
I ing committee needs to offer stu"ome
dents viable solutions to this prob111
Oil Q
lem such as, reducing the number
of parking stickers made available
J my to students and/or creating new
parking struggle from one group of
students to another benefits no
rea- one, but it succeeds nicely in creatpit"
ing animosity between the groups
rflow and towards the administration.
Dreed Tracy Skipper
per- Psychology Senior