The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, December 06, 1991, Page 3, Image 3
Duke
Racist 'politician' once again
seizes the national spotlight
David Duke,former founder and president of the National Association
of the Advancement of White People, announced his inten?
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With his announcement, Duke virtually crippled the reputation
of the Republican party, and made the United States the laughing
stock of the world.
David Duke, in his attempts to gain voters and funds, will have
a profound and humiliating effect on President Bush's re-election
campaign, and in the process of doing this, will bring the South
crumbling to its knees.
In the past year, Duke has become the focal point of the American
political scene and has proved that any type of prejudice in
America will find its way into the public scene.
So, the question comes down to this. Who are we to blame for
this mess?
The voters of Louisiana? The American political system? David
Duke? Tige Watts?
Nope. None of the above.
The only blame for this matter should be directed toward the
national media. As print and broadcast publications, the media
created a vims that spread so quickly, it became inevitable to stop.
Granted, the job of the media is defined as the nation's watchdog.
But, in retrospect, it seems too incredible that the media
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consequences it would bring.
Yes, the Duke story and others like it should be presented as
prominent and recognized issues, mainly so that citizens of this
country may be educated and well-informed mammals.
But in the future, as the former Ku Klux Klan leader begins his
road and campaign to the White House, the nation's media watchdog
should be prepared and leary of once again becoming David
Duke's personal pet. (
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IGAMECOCKl
News: 777-7726 Advertising: 777-4249
Chris Silvestri
Editor in Chief
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L>AVID DUWLU^m 13 KAN 1 I^UFNU
Managing Editor/Viewpoint Editor Copy Desk Chief
Tige Watts Tracey Davis
News Editor Carolina Life Editor
Aaron Sheinin Teddy Lepp
Sports Editor Photography Editor
Patrick Villegas Gordon Mantler
Asst. News Editor Asst. News Editor
Amy Barcomb Rich Taylor
Asst. Carolina Life Editor Asst. Sports Editor
Virginia Marshall Greg Rickabaugh
Asst. Copy Desk Chief Asst. Photography Editor
Wayne Williams Eric Glenn
Comics Editor ^ j g rjtt Darkroom Technician
Staff Cartoonist
, Renee A. Gibson Laura S. Day
Asst. Media Coor.IAdvertising. Manager Production Manager
Stacie Lewis . ray Burgos
Asst. Advertising Manager Asst. Production Manager
Erik Collins Carolyn Griffin
Faculty Adviser LARA CHAPMAN Business Manager
Asst. Classified Manager
Letters Policy: The Gamecock vd.ll try to print all letters reaeiwed. 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.
-
1
V^Uilgl J
Over the Thanksgiving holiday
folks talk about politics and say vs
blame for the sad state of the econo
tion, AIDS crisis, etc., etc.
Now I know this is going to sc
strange coming from me, but I don't
ident Bush deserves all of the flack 1
for the state of things.
A lot of people are saying he proi
of things during his campaign thai
hasn't done or done the opposite c
said he would do. Well, since when
tician supposed to tell the truth? I'i
t doning it, but they almost always lu
^ ways will. It's our fault if we believ*
- voted for him.
The point I've been slowly gettin
have a Coneress which has the dow
and enact laws, but they sure don't
i doing anything except bouncing che
| themselves pay raises in the mid
^ night, playing politics, and pointing tl
at President Bush for not showing th
I run the country. And I bet they w
Greek column
unfair, wrong
To the editor:
After Wednesday's Viewpoint
piece on Sigma Chi's Derby Days,
I feel obligated to write in and correct
the inaccuracies that were
printed. First and foremost, I take
offense to the statement that the
sororities "spend the week kissing
up to Sigma Chi's to earn points
toward winning Derby Days." This
is simply not true and is an insult
to the sororities that work so hard
during the week. Points are
awarded to the sorority that wins
each event during the week, not by
kissing up to Sigma Chi's.
Sigma Chi has always recognized
and appreciated the hard
work and effort that the sororities
put forth during the week. Thousands
of dollars are raised for local
and national charities thanks to
t leir participation. The writer of
Wednesday's niece was comnletelv
wrong in saying "The winning sorority
gets its name on a check to
Sigma Chi's philanthropy." The
fact of the matter is that the top
three sororities get a check in their
name donated to the philanthropy
of their choice. Thirty percent of
all the money raised goes to charities
that the sororities choose.
Derby Days would not happen
every year without the sororities,
but to go so far as to say that
"Sigma Chi hardly deserves credit
for most of the week" is ridiculous.
The brothers spend the entire
semester planning, organizing and
running the week's events.
The writer said "alcohol was
easily accessible to those underage."
That person was obviously
not at the events to see the doormen
at Pug's and B.L. Rooster's
card people at the door and mpke
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las to shari
I listen to
ry,Xa? DENNIS
>und really ?
think Presle's
getting .
wipe for them, too.
raised a lot I would like to see
t he either some effort into dome
)f what he caught up in foreign pol
was a poli- then he is. Regardless <
ra not con- doing, Congress has a ji
ive and al- the power to do it, so wl
"d h*m ^ Mostly, it seems like
getting themselves re-e
[g to is we politics. But in a fai
er to make wouldn't it be nice if th<
seem to be (Democrats and Republic
cks, giving plans for education, A
die of the (like leaving them then
heir fingers homeless and the saggi
em how to see why they claim they
ant him to dent as a leader. If a dc
LETTERS TO
follow-up checks through the
crowds.
The comments about the event
aorority reua are wen taicen,
however, some things need to be
cleared up. In the survey that was
asked to the sorority members it
was made clear that if they
deemed any question inappropriate,
answer it "offensive." Several
of the questions were left out of
the event because a few people answered
in this way.
Finally, it is important to remember
that participation during
the week is entirely voluntary. Nobody
is twisting the sororities'
arms to compete. If the week was
truely degrading or insulting to
women why would they keep competing?
I believe that the vast majority
of sorority members see the
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healthy competition and most importantly
for a great cause, charity.
I hope that in the future the writer
will get his/her facts straight
before criticizing an event that so
many people work so hard to make
a success.
Brian Williams
Derby Days Chairman
IT7 ?a
writer wrong
about shuttle
To the editor:
I would like to write in response
to Greg Rickabaugh's editorial about
the Carolina Shuttle. There are
many things in Mr. Rickabaugh's
article that I strongly disagree
with.
The first thing I wish to address
is his comment on the lack of organization
within the system. As a
resident of Bates House I use the
shuttle all week long. This year the
system is much quicker and definitely
more reliable. I used to wait
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Messages ^
c
e blame for
~ dressing, ther
what Bush
congressman/
HEALY . yhc"lher:
it. I realize th
of any new p
be that hard
and get it pa
the president really put needs to be 1
stic issues, but if he's issues look ]
icy or golf or whatever, take them lor
3f what the president is i certainl)
ob to do, and they have congressmen/
iy aren't they? who have the
they're concerned with 310 probably
lected, but hey, that's cemed about
ry tale sort of way, met. Conpes
jy actually got together president's j<
;ans) and came up with policy. Even
IDS, the environment basically all i
5 wetlands alone), the his job. It see
ng economy? I fail to start asking (
need to have the Presi- and remind t
imestic issue needs ad- the real work
THE EDITOR"
30 minutes for a shuttle. Once they
arrived, they were always full because
everyone had waited so
long. Now I only wait 10 minutes
with no problems of overcrowdedness
becuase the routes take such a
shorter amount of time. Since the
reorganization of the routes, the efficiency
of the shuttle is great! I'd
like to bring to Mr. Rickabaugh's
attention that most schools do not
even offer such a service.
Next I'd like to address the
safetv issue he brines un. The inci
-j - _ GJ- i
dent where a girl's arm was stuck
in the door last year was charged
to the girl, not the shuttle driver. I
do not have any question in the
ability or safety of the shuttle drivers.
I believe they do a fine job
and are always very friendly.
Maybe Mr. Rickabaugh forgot how
friendly one of the drivers was
when he saw him waiting for a bus
after operating hours. The driver
gave him a ride to his destination
in his own vehicle.
The last issue I'd like to raise
makes me irate. Mr. Rickabaugh
should apply for a job with the IN
QUlKfcK, I'm sure they'd appreciate
his ethics. The things he wrote
about certain drivers could easily
hurt individuals, not the shuttle
system. He personally attacked
people by telling bits of other people's
conversation. I'm sure he
knows that it is a journalist's obligation
to let people know what
they are saying will be printed. After
invading conversations, he
chooses to print what will serve
his purpose.
I'd like to close with a personal
message to Mr. Rickabaugh and
anyone who agrees with him. If
you don't like the Carolina Shuttle,
you can walk. It is here to give
students a service that is for our
benefit, not to be criticized by an
unethical journalist
Lisa M. Jordan
Education senior
troubles
1 it needs addressing, regardless of
is up to or what party a
woman belongs to.
e's a job to do, they should get to
le need to debate the pros and cons
iece of legislation, but it shouldn't
to reach a reasonable compromise
conH ouAr\;r\nA in ^nnrrrAOC
JOVAi. lTiaJ UV V/fVlJVllV 111 WllgIVOO
lypnotized so imperative domestic
like pay raises. I bet it wouldn't
ig to get some things done.
' don't think this applies to all
'women; there are probably a few
nation's interest at heart, but there
a lot more who are more conmaking
sure their own agendas are
s' job is to run the country and the
3b is primarily to handle foreign
if I don't like George Bush and
of his policies, at least he's doing
;ms like more of America needs to
Congress what they're waiting for
hem of what happens to loafers in
1.
Honor society
not to blame
To the editor:
In response to Lori Crowe's letter
of Wednesday, Dec. 4, the USC
chapter of Gamma Beta Phi is not
to blame for not receiving Lori's
dues on time. Out of 1,200 USC
students who received invitations
to our Society, hers was the sole
incident of its kind. Prospective
members were asked to mail their
dues to Gamma Beta Phi's campus
post office box. Instead, Lori left
her check on the desk of the chapter
adviser, Patsy Tanner, who was
not out until after the deadline because
of a medical emergency.
Obviously, this lack of blame on
.1 I. _ i. ^4-11.. J ~ ?
tne cnapter s pari toiaiiy uiiucimines
Lori's assertion that USC
Gamma Beta Phi is irresponsible.
However, as a representative of the
many satisfied Gamma Beta Phi
members, I feel an obligation to
address her claim.
The USC chapter was recently
asked to provide the marshals for
USC-Columbia Commencement
ceremonies. This great honor, and
the enormous responsibility it entails,
demonstrate the esteem and
trust which Gamma Beta Phi commands
on the USC campus.
In addition, USC Gamma Beta
Phi received the Distinguished
Chapter Award this year. This recognition
of diligence was preu..
fk/t vr~
acaiiou iaj liic ciidpici uy uk national
Headquarters of the Gamma
Beta Phi Society.
Those who are involved in our
many service projects and educational
activities know that the
chapter is worthy of the honors it
receives.
Summer Smith
President, Gamma Beta Phi