Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Ethics Media should watch their step in dealing with suspect cases The media likes to pride itself on ethics. And, as in all professions, there are good, ethical media people and organizations and very bad, unethical ones. Sometimes, though, a person or organization can make a bad ethical decision. Sometimes these decisions do not necessarily harm anyone, but sometimes they do, and it seems as if one of the "they do" situations is approaching. In case you haven't heard, there were five murders in Gainesville, Fla., recently. No one has been arrested in the murders and police do not have a definite idea of who the murderer might be. They do have a list of suspects, but that is all thev have right now I - - J -"CP So far, no problem. But last week, a man was arrested and put into custody for beating his grandmother. Police questioned him in the murders and for a while raised his bond to $1 million. No concrete evidence could be obtained, however, and the bond was later lowered to its former amount, but not until several newspapers and broadcast media got hold of the story. A number of newspapers, including The State, ran the story, including the man's name and photograph. Now, this man may or may not be guilty in the Gainsville killings, but some media folk better hope he is because several things could go wrong if he's not. First of all, the man's name will always be associated with the killings, whether or not he is guilty. For the rest of his life, people will hear his name and remember it being associated with the murders, Perhaps in the backs of their minds, they will know he was not guilty, but they'll remember the association. Second, the running of the story in some prominent papers could give students in Gainsville a false sense of security ? making them believe the killer is safe behind bars and they can return to their homes with nothing to fear. This is all well and good if the suspect is the killer, but if he isn't, these students could be walking right into death. Most of the time, the media executives make decisions in the best interest of the public. This time, however, a misconeption of 1 c? .t_ _ 1-1 - " ... wnai is guuu iui uie puonc, as wen as some copycat decisions ("Well, the such-and-such paper ran it), has led to a situation that could cause many problems for the suspect, the community and the publications that ran the story. Mf the environmentalists get their way, there won't be any trees left to cut' ! i - ' Jiv* ^ 1 " JSBwiil ~^J&&??E i The Gamecock I 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 j Kelly C. Thomas : Viewpoints Editor 1 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 J 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 ^ f 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- t fessional title if a USC employee or South Carolina resident, or year and major if a a student. An address and phone number are required with all letters sent. The a 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. I A In absence oi Why does America seem to need an enemy? More than anything, I think it's because having an enemy fuels the military industrial machine. At the risk of sounding like a crack pot, I honestly think the United States military had something to do with Iraq's invasion of Kuwait. a year ago, tne Evil Empire in Eastern Europe began to fall apart. The people in these countries were happy to be gaining freedom and the rest of the world was happy because now maybe the world could work towards becoming a whole community. The U.S. went through a period of cynical disbelief, but then when it became apparent the Soviet Union was really trying to change, we joined in, wanting to help them the way we would our other friends in the world. Then Germany began the process of reunification. Everyone in the western world was feeling good about the whole thing, right? Wrong. The U.S. military was looking at a large withdrawal from Germany and massive budget cuts. When you don't have an enemy, you don't need a large military force. * Most of the U.S. public seemed to agree with this. At a time when the deficit continues to grow bigger by the day, and there are more than enough domestic problems that need support over a war that is just not going to happen, the* general consensus was to cut the military budget. America conf Without any beating about the bush, let me start off with a handful of brief facts. Though Polish I am, it is not my intention to bore you with some dry propaganda about my remote country somewhere out there. By the way, Poland is in Europe. A different background opens my eyes to some aspects of America and its lifestyle, which you would be hardly inclined to think of as yours. Now, to prick you to the quick from the start, with no harm intended. Observation: You live cool and hip lives, unbothered by what ails this world; you self-complacently and securely wallow in the mud that is called (hats off!) "being a superpower," you don't have natural enemies (excluding cockroaches); your only concern is what's happening within a few miles from your nose; you are enslaved by the system craftily molding you through the media; blinders are what you enjoy wearing; and a global hamlet is where you vegetate, "buy houses, grow fat in them and die." The other side of the coin is startlingly different. Nowhere else have I found people who would be half as friendly as you are. In no other place are good spirits so universal is they are here, and at no other schools can you see so countlessly many smiling faces. Nobody else in the world but your government pves a damn when some unhinged nincompoop ? a m ivi n pri<?i<5 M b- militar; v-t iaia m.e. oil poii< is Bush's fault U.S. interest ro the editor: HE WOUL American lives are worth more SAUDI ARA han "cheap oil" and, contrary to the negative four editorial (Crisis, 27 Aug. tions of Sadc 1990), Americans should be com- relations with Gaining about, condemning, and tion and Sai lenouncing the U.S. military de- major mistake iloyment to the Middle East. was a lack < America has no treaty obliga- American dor ions with Kuwait or Saudi Arabia, President I Ithough, it does have military ties of the M.E. c nd cooperates with the Saudi gov- are vintage 41 mment under certain contractual tics". Willie asis such as the AW AC program, crime in An dso, America maintains a special Colombia an ? enemy, U.S. frnm I Dennis Shealy One thing the military does not like is to have its budget cut. That is why they spend $700 on aerodynamic toilet seats or whatever their excuse for spending that much on toilet seats and wrenches is. The real reason, of course, is because at the end of the year they need to show a need for more money. Therefore, I imagine the thought of having their budget really slashed upset them to no end. So what's the armed forces to do? Find a new bad guy for them to be the vanguard of democracy and apple pie against. And what better candidate than those fanatics in the Middle East. Lord knqws what those people are liable to do. Is it really so far fetched to think that the military wouldn't be above doing something like getting Saddam Hussein to invade Kuwait? If I recall correctly, ex-President Ronald Reagan and a few military people were involved with a weapons selling deal not too long ago. Until Vietnam, wars were hard fought. Nobody liked war, but if you got involved in one, i nsinp to visitii ^ W' * #? Radoslaw Szczech "Sjjii Guest Columnist unleashes their insane drives. Mysteriously enough, kindness and happygo-lucky "Hi-how-ya-doin"' attitude is ubiquitous. Thrown into such an environment, my communist-branded, strained and defensive mind first shies away, then wonders and finally relaxes. The question, however, remains: what is it that makes up the American mentality? Is it a well-balanced mixture of parochialism and magnanimity, or is it a prudish and hypocritical humbug cunning enough to have for years fooled most of the world and, paradoxically, Americans themselves? These are not epoch-making, brand-new queries, but, methinks, it's worthwhile to give them a mite of thought. I came to the South a week or so ago. Different people, different viewpoints. No doubt it -ft"***** :'ft"*^ ft! \ |?j | I y force to enforce its represented Bush's w< :y. drugs, and Saddam Hus ussein is well aware responsibility for Americ U.S. relationship and crisis. Bush's strateg in the Saudi oil fields. but effective. Americai D NOT ATTACK longer interested in Bus BIA. And contrary to the S&L's, HUD looting, media characteriza- ^Ps taxes, or the e> lam, he had excellent legislator's failure to i the Bush administra- America's grave financial idi government. His Unfortunately, Presidei e in invading Kuwait now trapped by his owi of knowledge about and forced into a militai nestic politics. tion of this crisis. His a< iush is the instigator reprehensible and immo :risis, and his actions editorial is a close seconc Bush domestic poli- gesting that American Horton symbolized "cheer" fellow American terica. Destabilizing death. American lives a d invading Panama creates one you went to fight and got it over with as soon as possible. There were prisoners of war who were treated horribly. And that was another reason to fight all the harder to end the war: hopefully, some of them might be save. The first of the atomic bomb was based on this concept. Even though I don't agree with the use of atomic weapons, I think the U.S. was merely trying to show that the war was now over, one way or another. But Vietnam seemed to be different for two main reasons. One, it was on TV and the public was introduced to war that got public opinion going against our involvement. And two, the military and associated businesses found that war could be profitable. Troops were dribbled in and the war was badly mismanaged, and too many lives were lost for no good reason. Americans shouldn't let this happen in the Middle East. People should call to have the government do something or get out. Have the Airforce level all of Iraq or don't worry about it. I know there are hostages, but there have been prisoners of war, too. I don't want any American or anyone, for that matter, to die, but sometimes a war means fighting and when there's fighting, people die. Don't let your enemy call the shots. If the U.S. military is behind this, which I think they are, don't let them waste our money and the lives of our citizens by allowing them to turn this into a reason for their being. ig Polish eyes fli . win taice me some time to get used to the new situation. Thankfully however, America's distinctive advantage is that it can go to all lengths to make a foreigner feel comfortable and at home. Interestingly, everybody finds at least a trace of their native culture in the American melting pot. Daily, or nightly, fraternity parties across the street remind me of Poland's stormy days. Hailed by cacophony of partying "friars," I can't help remembering our equally vociferous student demonstrations that had filled the streets of Krakow before communism pathetically crumbled. The difference is that fraternity parties are not beaten up by the riot police. Nevertheless, homey comfort is lost when it comes to chow. Already now, I have no doubts whatsoever that I will never catch what the cafeteria folks say to me when I order a meal, and "order" is certainly not the word when I finally see what I've got on my plate. So far, I've been eating accidentally arranged potpourris of exotic provenience. Seems to me that the Marlon Brando school of pronunciation is still much in vogue. I wonder what else the future holds for me in America. Let me humbly cherish the hope that I won't be lvnched or draeeed before court for writing insidious articles. This would be a consummation hardly to be wished. 1 ir against more t*ian "c^eaP ?^ sein bears Edward W. Liggett :a's finan- international studies senior y is crude rv l a. is are no Drinking not !hrid-myd uSC's affair ;ecutivei resolve ~ I rrici* To edltor: U !k How the hell is it USC's busiit Bush is . S U S U S 1 011 ry resold camPus? 1 feel f?r *he 48 students ninns w wh0Se names 80t turned in last " I Yn April while drinking at a private, i for sulT off-03111?118 facility. What is this s should state school coming to? s to their re worth Pern Reed liberal arts sophomore