The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, March 25, 1992, Page 3, Image 3
VlEWP
Diversity
The Gamecock ma
to guarantee fair c
The USC community ? more tha
ethnic, racial, religious, political and
The Gamecock ? USC's student
'OINT
&
r Perry S
Psyche
kes effort som?
JJ much
overage overb^
n 25,000 people with diverse
economic backgrounds,
newspaper with a staff of ab- imunity's
wide interests and TBI
it efforts this semester to reprecruit
writers, especially misuggestion
boxes on campus
s by contacting minority pro- I
ampus and recruited female
the Sol Blatt P.E. Center. Soul
lal and extensive coverage to The
5 History Month. The news- ment h
international students, gradu- system
d minority students. . FlX11
i coverage to Bisexual, Gay ful, bui
the concerns of BGLA. The fff y
Wc cv
will give equal attention to jisted
forms.
ibiased coverage to Student out of
lished professor profiles and Still,
It is
s were instituted to guarantee olina 1<
million
/ery day and an international lottery
stion of the day. nation
1 every paper. ?' worl
AntoHainmAnt ^ or~\t ioonc* LHSl
out 20 struggling to serve the coir
needs to the best of its ability.
The Gamecock staff has made gre;
resent everyone at USC.
In January, ads were published to
norities and internationals. There are
that are checked frequently.
The staff recruited minority writer
fessors and posting fliers across c
sports writers through solicitations at
The Gamecock has also given eqt
Black History Month and Women';
paper has covered issues concerning
ate students, handicapped students an
The newspaper has given length}
and Lesbian Awareness Days and
Gamecock has covered Greeks and
Greek Week.
The Gamecock gave fair and ui
Government elections and has pub!
stories on their research.
A number of new editorial policie
diversity, including the following:
Including an African-American e>
student whenever possible in the que;
Covering non-mainstream sports ir
Covering non-mainstream arts and
Advertising every day for student
question of the day.
Including at least two sources and
news story.
Running only two opposing letters
subjects to avoid stirring up bad relat
The Gamecock is more diverse an<
has been in years. But despite the
complaints still arise, and always will
Readers have to understand that s
different lights, interpreted many diff
When controversy arises, editors Y
address it because there is a problem
community peace. Should a volatile
newsworthy and reflects a problem,
upset people. How would you decide'
The Gamecock is an open forum. /
an article, opinion piece or letter to tY
An atmosphere of open-mindedm
for input dominates the newsroom. Ii
take advantage of it.
Accusations of bias or narrow c
considered.
PRU6SU
AAAS claims
article unfair
To the editor:
When I was approached about giving
an interview in reference to the budget
of the Association of African-American
Students, I immediately knew that
problems would arise.
The very first paragraph of the article
that appeared in The Gamecock
Wednesday, March 4, 1992, said that
students and administrators are in rage
about budgets, namely the budget of
the association. Well, what is this rage
based on ? the fact that they did not
get what the association got, or that
this predominantly black organization
got thousands of dollars?
Mmmmmmm!!!
Absolutely no legitimate and factual
evidence is presented as to why anyone
needs to be outraged. Furthermore,
none of the people quoted in the article
once came to a program sponsored by
the association or a meeting unless they
were campaigning, that is!
This letter from me, as president of
the organization, is inevitable. As soon
as I read the less than newsworthy article,
I knew that something had to be
done to provide the campus students
and the community with factual, not inconclusive
propaganda about the
association.
The Association of African*
American Students was established in
1968; therefore* we will be celebrating
ouf 23th anniversary in 1992* When
cniv^i iaiiiiiiNw/iii 111 hplnin
input for Cross Fire and the masses
ing the
two opposing views in every not soi
stands
to the editor on controversial state,
ions on campus. If th
j broad in its coverage than it a loUer
efforts and accomplishments, could a
I, sometimes very justifiably. ,
tories are often seen in many
erent ways.
iave a difficult decision ? to
, or to avoid it for the sake of A si
quote be left in because it is the be:
or taken out because it will Yes
} could
Anyone at any point can write bul 11
ie editor. UPWil
jss, diversity and eargemess when
i is up to the student body to
No,
overage should be seriously cle to
bale i
mmit -r
^ Alst
<g ^ Hov
ESWI1H26*6
the student Senate Finance Committee
makes its decision about how much a
student organization receives in terms
of student activity fees, one aspect is
based on how long an organization has
actively been on campus.
The association has provided quality
programs for the university's students
and the Columbia community for years.
We are not a select group that buys itself
pizza parties and trips to the bowling
alley. Approximately 90 to 95 percent
of our budget is allocated for
Black History Month programming and
the operational costs of Black History
Month. We have not had one penny go
to any programming solely for its 387
members (not 367 as was erroneously
reported in The Gamecock.)
We spent almost $800 this year on
Black History Month agenda brochures,
sending them to every oncampus
student (that ended up on the
floor) encouraging all students to attend
the educational and culturally enriching
programs.
Several other things were written in
the article which made it non-objective
and completely ridiculous: the graphic
used made it seem as if the association
was the top organization on campus receiving
student activity fees. Wrong!
The association may indeed receive
the most allocations out of a particular
series or code, but what about CPU or
even Student Media, which are both receiving
about twice as much money as
we are. If this graphic was going to be
Used, this information needed to have
been explained. Also, no one from the
studeht Sdhate friidtiee Cbrtlniitiee Was
Question: What dc
>cott Sven K
>logy major Physics r
ink it looks okay, but in "The H
places there is too but the r
garbage, especially erything
1 Gambrell Hall." and the 1
The hone
ern atroci
xross
^ottery could ease
ii Carolina is a poor state. e
nricnn c arp ni/prflrm/inn Ora;prn. r
pi tjv/iu UJ v UJV11IU "JHg. VJU* vm V
ousing is falling apart. The education a
is almost the worst in the nation. 1<
ng all these flaws would be wonder- Is
t we can't afford it. Taxpayers are al- c
burdened with state and federal taxes,
en have a tax on mail order goods s
an the back of the state income tax a
The state is taking plenty of money ii
its laborers' pockets. n
, there are not enough dollars,
ridiculous not to have a South Car- si
attery. A state lottery could generate ii
is of dollars every year. Not having a A
is, in effect, turning down a cash do- V
that could be used to aid a multitude tl
thy and desperate causes. a
time I checked, God was all for
g the homeless and educating the p
. So why are religious groups oppos- ti
implementation of a lottery? This is si
mething evil, this is something that a
to benefit the population of this w
e money that could be generated by
y were put toward education, schools
ifford to hire quality teachers. Teach- T
State lottery is
Late-supported lottery would not be in 1
st interests of South Carolina.
, the money generated by the lottery c
be used to fund education or welfare, ?
would also make the state dependent a
hat money.
1 the state spend its money wisely d
it has an automatic safety valve that c
it from running a deficit every year? c
a lottery would give the state a vehi- d
spend frivilously in some areas and
tself out in others with lottery re- s
? when it overspends at the end of the c
r<
), lotteries target people with limited
es. As Jim Bakker demonstrated 1<
he ran the PTL network, people will f<
way money, even if they can't afford u
icy believe that money will somehow a
y their financial situation. n
;t people buy lottery tickets because p
slieve thp.v will win thp $97 S million ?
prize one day. C
/ever, the best most people ever do in C
quoted, or if they were asked, and ;
comment was not given, that shouk
have been stated.
Let's not forget, that is the commit
tee that makes the decision of hov
much to grant an organization, not th(
association. Additionally, if any organi
zation wants more money, ask for it oi
raise it.
The writer also did not practice goot
journalism by using the non-credibk
sources and their quotes, which gave i
racial tone to the article and to this si
tuation. Or is that really the way thing:
are? Mmmm!
If we want to get technical, one o:
the organization's presidents who wa:
quoted is the president of a fund
raising organization, which is not sup
posed to receive any percent of studen
activity fees.
Only two predominantly black orga
nizations receive funding. If we look a
the less than $20,000 dollars that blacl
groups are receiving out of the thou
sands that we contribute in student ac
tivity fees, compared to the thousand
of dollars that predominately Caucasiai
groups are receiving, somewhere th'
black students are getting jipped.
Besides all of the above information
look al how this one article receiving
Iront page, top story billing make:
USC look to the community and those
considering USC as their college. I:
this image created by this one article
relative to the students and administra
tors at USC?
Where are all of the good things thai
) you think about the appear
Susan Abdelsal
najor Art Design majc
orseshoe is all right, "I think it loo
est of it is ugly. Ev- cially when the
is real spread out, bloom, but the I
"owers are ugly, too. area is trash."
sycombs are a modty-"
,
; Fircr^
taxpayers' load
rs are not saints. Their vocation should inlude
sacrificing financial security. They,
re the building blocks of our society, and a
3ttery could ensure we get the best around. :
lot to mention computers, labs and more
lassrooms.
The money could also go to providing
helters for the homeless with soup kitchens
nd beds. The money could go to establishig
free medical clinics in rural areas. Moey
is needed everywhere.
But with so many needs, so many debts,
[) many causes, why are we even hesitatig?
There is no doubt that we need dollars,
old that is the first and foremost necessity. Vithoul
the dollars to do something about
lis state's problems, it doesn't matter what
nyone needs.
Next time you get a tuition increase, a
roperty tax hike or an absurd parking
cket, you have a right to be angry. The
late is poor, but they're not doing anything
bout it. It's easier for them to open your
'allet. , ,
- Shelley Magee
Shelley Magee is Viewpoint Editor for
he Gamecock.
not solution
otteries is win the $1 instant win prize.
Furthermore, as the state of South Car>lina
has shown in the past, the money
;enerated by a lottery will probably be mispproriated
by the legislature.
Just like most bills in the State House,
he state lottery proposal will probably inlude
a few pay raises or a few perks for a
orporation moving into a representative's
iistnct.
Then, the money generated will go to
ome proposal that benefits a few vocal
onstituents and generally leaves most state
esidents out in the cold.
Before concocting another lame-brain,
ang-shot proposal to generate more money
or the state, the legislature should consider
sing the money it already has more wisely,
nd it should consider reforming the
lethods it already uses to raise revenue, esecially
the stale tax system.
-Chad Bray
'had Bray is Sports Editor for The
iamecock.
i AAAS does to promote cultural enrich1
ment and enlightment on this campus?
Where is the article focusing on such
events as the African-American Block/
lest, which attracted more than 600
j people from the campus and
community?
r Where is the article about the Christmas
Carnival, which had hundreds of
1 deprived and at-risk youths in atten
native; v^uiaiiM) livjt ill I lit vjamv^v^iv.
* One can argue that there are not many
blacks working in The Gamecock, but I
5 made special efforts to make sure that
press releases and agendas were given
f to The Gamecock. Who wants to work
5 in an atmosphere that continuously presents
African Americans on this campus
in a bad light.
I Before I wrote this letter, I thought
long and hard about what could be the
best thing to do in this ugly situation. I
decided that no way could I come off
it as a student in rage. I had to do what
k was best for the organization and the
African Americans on this campus,
now and those still to come.
s Writers for The Gamecock, please
i try in the future to thoroughly research
e your topic before printing stories like
this. Make sure that your stories have
some type of newsworthy basis.
And finally, for those who want to
know the truth, you are welcome to attend
our meetings Tuesdays at 6 p.m.
in the Russell House Theatre, or you
can come to our office.
Don't let your ignorance blindly lead
>^ou!
Donna Moore
L AAAS President
ance of this campus?
am Maeve O'Connor
>r Biology/Spanish major
ks nice, espe- " have a problem with it
flowers are in be'n9 right in the middle of a
Russell House cThe Horseshoe and humanities
areas are kept well,
more of what you'd expect a
uunege 10 iook HKe.
Pro-lifers fight
to limit choices
- Tige Watts
When do we have the right to tell people what
they can and cannot do with their body?
This past weekend, a group of pro-lifers blocked
ihe entrances of abortion clinics in Greenville.
These people look just like you and me. But for
some reason, they think they have the right to tell
people what they can do with their bodies.
They believe they can dictate us. They believe
they fight for the rights of the unborn. They are
wrong.
They don't fight for the rights of the unborn, they
fight to control us. They fight to limit what we
think, what we feel, and what
we do.
Living in this country gives
us rights. We can express our
views. We can write what we wm * ^
want. We can believe in any su- i|| ^ ^
preme being. qm* *
So, why can't we do whatever
we want with our bodies.
These people are not pro- IJHHBOfilMlifers.
They're anti-choicers.
We have to stand up to these people and tell them
we won't stand for the limiting of our choices. We
have to fight.
Just as our forefathers fought to build this country,
we have to fight to protect this country.
We have to keep our choices available. We cannot
stand by and let Big Brother tell us what to do.
This is not a Communist country. But, if we don't
act, it could be.
Imagine living in a country where people tell us
what we can read. Imagine living in a country that
regulates what we think and feel. Imagine a country
where choices are outlawed.
If we don't protect our choices, who will?
It's up to you and me. We can't afford to mess
up.
If we tell our government it's all right for them to
control us, what will they do next?
Will they ban some books? Will they ban TV
shows? Will they ban our thoughts?
From birth we have choices. We decide what to
wear, what to feel, what to believe.
If I want to wear polka dot shorts with a rugby
shirt, I should have that right. If someone wants an
abortion, they should also have that right.
The freedom of choice is an important one. It has
named our presidents and representatives. We cannot
have it taken away.
Stand up for what you believe in. Stand up and
l ight for your rights. Stand up to the people and tell
them you want to live in America, not Romania.
Stand up and fight.
Stand up.
"ANP STILL RUNNING?"
i?I
IGamecock
Editor in Chief Eric Ward
Managing Editor Tige Watts
Copy Desk Chief... Kathy Heberger
Asst. Copy Desk Chief Jennifer Jablonski
iewpoint Editor Shelley Magee
News Editors... Patrick ViDegas/Gordon Man tier
Asst. News Editor Kim Everitt
Carolina! Editor Greg Rickabaugh
Asst. Carolina! Editor Lee Clonts
Graphics Editor Ryan
Cartoonist Paul Jon
Photography Editor ...Virginia Marshall
Asst. Photography Editor Eric Glenn
Sports Editor Chad Bray
Asst. Sports Editor Sean Ryan
Faculty Adviser Erik Collins
Asst. Advertising Manager MeBsaa Owenby
Asst. Classified Manager -Amy Taylor
The Gamecock will try to print all letters received. Letters 3hould be
200-250 words. Full name and professional title, or year and major
if a student, must be included along with address and phone number.
The Gamecock reserves the right to edit letters for style, possible
libel or space limitations. The Gamecock will not wltnhdld names
under any circumstances.
" *