University of South Carolina Libraries
Coroner by da Two jo By VIRGINIA MARSHALL de Staff Writer P? Imagine telling a little girl her father has just died in a ... car wreck, knowing several 1 people will be sad over his death. sa Then, imagine dealing with a re comedian later that evening, in knowing he will make a whole audience happy that night. ^ This is what Charlie Vassy, a ' Richland County coroner and ? manager of The Punchline Com edy Club on Harden Street, ?* tr? u/ith hie lifp \i/hil<* V1IWUVJ I.V/ V*\y W Y 1UI A11J 11A v Y ? A1AAV still managing to stay happy and k keep his sense of humor. "You can let it stress you out v or take on the challenge," Vassy p said. Although "spare time is a h joke" and he rarely gets more F than three hours of sleep a night, e Vassy finds both jobs equally i rewarding. a "Comedy is excellent medicine, especially because of peo- fj pie's anxiety over things going a on in the world," Vassy said. e As a coroner, Vassy sees the si anxiety people experience from Earn $160 . _ - - J a month! ^ We need males with A' or [ bonus program for students! 27191 Serologicals SPRII * MONDAY?$.50 DRAFT BEER*TUESDAY?$.50 DRAFT BEER*WEDNESDAY?BIKINI CONTES *THURSDAY?WET T-SHIRT CO *FRIDAY?WAVE 104 LIVE REM *SATURDAY?OPEN UTIL 2:00 i *SUNDAY?OPEN UNTIL 2:00 A, V : ; llggffiGal y, club mane bs ke ath. Seeing other people's ublems has made him thankful r the life he has led. "I've lived the most perfect 'e I could ever want," Vassy id. He feels all his happiness lates back to "love and stability the home." Since Coroner Frank Baron ive Vassy a job in December )88, he has felt the biggest lallenge is dealing with other milies and letting them know a death. "If it's in your heart, you now what to do," Vassy said. It's the most awful thing in the /orld to witness that much ain." Perhaps this is what makes im "genuine," as described by a 'unchline employee. "He's verybody's friend," said Kris ^omsic, a former USC student nd Punchline employee. As for The Punchline, Vassy inds another family needing his ttention. He comes home to his mployees, not just the evening how. "He really cares about his em 3 blood types. Special Call us for details. Mddleburg Dr. Suite 105 Columbia, SC 29204 254-6537 (GBI Everyone' - rk_ ,?rtn ** -vr-^^^4*W-a#w^ REDUCED COVER WITH CC REDUCED COVER WITH CC IT, DON'T MISS THIS ONE-$ NTEST?$.50 DRAFT BEER OTE?FIRST 104 PEOPLE A \M. SERVING YOUR FAVOf .M. anish * IJeon? \Z 'it Bead, SC. ESS OC tger by night >p man I ployees and will do anything for them. He's the best boss vou could ever have," said Lynn Roberts, a USC junior. Vassy got a job with The Punchline through friends on May 7, 1983, when only 70 professional comedy clubs were in the United States. "Now there's one on every comer," Vassy said. Since then, The Punchline has helped make Vassy a "workaholic." "It came close to burning me out and would if it weren't for the people here," Vassy said. Vassy can remember a situation when his two jobs conflicted. He felt it inappropriate to wear a particular Punchline tshirt when he arrived to pick up the body of a boy who commit :j~ ?4t A. a. icu suiuiue. i pui on a coai 10 cover it up," Vassy said. Aside from two timeconsuming jobs, Vassy also finds time to work as an electrical contractor at Forest Acres in Columbia. At 37 years old, Vassy has not decided which job he will (got un dnn< put in 1 th1cdk ??-?'--vrf . 3 IEAK s Making The Power Switch )LLEGE I.D. )LLEGE I.D. .50 DRAFT BEER DMITTED FREE RITE BEVERAGES ntzmuvjumn i cno Ocean Zbrivc s.c. 1-803-249-1436 | SPECIAL RATES* ;ean drive beach, s.c. _ ? m happy choose to devote his full-time, but he plans to choose eventually. Even though Vassy has three jobs, making money is not his main concern in life. "I measure someone's wealth by the measure of their happiness," Vassy said. This philosophy is evident in his choice of idols; Walt Disney and Sam Walton, owner of the Wal-mart chain. He believes Disney was a genius for making so many people happy, and even though he met failure, he never quit trying. "Think about what the world would be like without fairy tales," Vassy said. He respects Walton for remembering "the simple things in ^ life" even though he is a billionaire. Vassy takes pride in driving a pick-up truck as does his idol, Walton. "I hate Donald Trump. I am light-years happier than he is," * Vassy said. ' 1 >UNCEMENT? / 4HDIN * 1ECOCK! A! ^3. J S t ^^100%Cotta Great for cut-offs c I i rm ;?s s?s?: : 1 II aii tasnion snirts at ci ARMY-NA\T 1621 Main Street Columbia, SC ir^ J WHAf \i* laundrv fac j full furnitu j package \ swimming \ sleeping & NOW PRE-LEA 30-60-'. a l f S 11" OFFICE HOURS: M-F 9:30-5:30 211 MAIN ST. ' I; I lii?Miii 9 ' mf Eric Glenn/The Gamecock >r. Jan Love, a GINT professor, will be featured in an NBC doumentary about faith around the world. Professor's work XTDP leaiureu un f NICOLE SUBRIZI aff Writer An NBC news crew followed government and international studies ofessor Janice Love from the capital of Australia to the capital of >uth Carolina for a documentary on the World Council on Churches. NBC will broadcast this documentary May 19 at noon as part of its Ligious programming. It will be a 60-minute piece entitled "The Face of I the Earth." Although the NBC documentary is about the council, it will focus >ecifically on the social justice aspect. Love played a primary role in is area during the Seventh Assembly as co-moderator of the council's stice and service unit. NBC wanted to talk to her to profile someone volved in social justice. See PROFESSOR page 5 >r casual wear I 0_ ' O Gain valuable ex- h perience working for |L learance prices 1B The Gamecock! All J OTA DC majors welcome. Call g I blUnt I 777-7726 or come by H Russell House room Si ? OME SEE \ r WE'VE GOT j i'OR YOU! \ rilities .J^wL i r JBrriri^Mi, re JW^MCW'Si'l L^MLLL^ pool | studying lofts j SING FOR SUMMER AND FALL!! 90 Day Leases for Summer! une 1 - July 31, 1991) A NEW I.FASE ON \ UNIVERSITY LIFE 254-7801 ' I