The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, April 15, 1992, Page 3, Image 3
POINT ,
Megan Mor;
Journalism
I
View]
- v;
Media
Journalists out of
need to be more h
W/Via u;otr?Koe tVia
yv iiv/ w aiwivo uit waiwiuu^i
A lot of catchy phrases and nai
media since the free press was es
than 200 years ago.
Some are good, many are bad,
and file of the army of "journalists.
During their banquets, conferenc
make jokes and tell anecdotes abc
ions and discuss their efforts to i
serving.
They're failing.
An attitude of groupthink pervat
sling back the gin they grow out of
There are many levels of readers
ers to read the comics to those wl
politicaf opinions.
But the average reader is middh
economically and understand how
: fecting them.
Journalists make great efforts to
but they do so from a distance.
Because they are different. They
formed and thus, more arrogant.
They also have to juggle the ides
of the business, the reality that the
eiy uay, a papei eveiy uay, anu u
business, not an idealistic institutior
Some say the media is a reflectio
Consider this ? Huge newspape
ers and placing profit atop the pric
ning the same cover stories. Televi:
30-second soundbyte, MTV story.
And this ? Newspapers pay t
fresh, hungry college graduates,
industry.
And this ? The public is sick c
eral understanding of its importanc
datory, rumor-based stories, especia
The public is sick of jaded jourr
man, who don't listen, who aren't (
care, who are not really like them.
That's why the public has unfa^
who are trying to protect them agaii
Don't say that's what people wa
a lie, a cop out and total garbage.
People in general are fair. The)
They're human. They're not animals
TP llKETO VflTf FOR A Fll
WW TAKE tlS BACK TO
i. /I
CPU programs
don't waste fees
To the editor:
I regret the fact that I must waste
valuable space in The Gamecock and
the time of its readers correcting some
of the libelous statements set forth by
Kipp Shives in his April 10 editorial.
However, as the current vice president
of the Carolina Program Union, I believe
it is my duty to inform USC stu
dents of the truth concerning several of
the misleading accusations set forth in
this editorial. As we are held accountable
for spending student activity fees
wisely and responsibly, I hope that students
will not lose faith in our organization
because of one writer's failure to
research his topic fully. Hopefully, this
letter will "set the record straight," so
to speak.
First of all, Mr. Shives grossly misled
readers of The Gamecock with his
editorial statement that "... Cockstock
will cost $12,000 for Dream (sic) So
Real, a band currently off its label because
it could not sell enough recbrds."
This is, very plainly, not true. Had
Kipp Shives researched the entire program
carefully, he would have discov
touchy
"I believ
luman ^track <
nally set 01
to inform th
nes have been attached to the
tablished in this country more
and most come from the rank
es and drink parties, journalists HraE
>ut their experiences and opininderstand
the public they are
les. As they rub shoulders and f^ck
toucn. V/Vii
, from those who buy newspap10
do so to formulate in-depth IIP?e J
r USC is a f
cility, inch
J income, struggling to survive The cen
the fast-changing world is af- as prescri]
available :
try to understand these readers, health cent
rhey only scratch the surface. community
are more educated, more in- inprovidin
Therefor
lis of journalism and the reality S10n 10 ten
y have to grind out a story ev- leedsStUdC
te reality that they work for a whether
are right in
n of the society they serve. the COuntr
r chains gobbling up other pap- viors. In t
)rity list. News magazines run- we've com
sion newscasts worshinnine the 70 to 80 n<
ii v r
they had s
heir future talent, the young, to USC.
less than almost every other Those h
birth contr
if the media. They have a gen- pregnancy.
u ?u ? . a .u dents not
:e, but they re tired of the pre- con(
lly during election time. sexually t
lalists, of those who aren't hu- AIDS,
lown to earth, who don't really
/orable opinions of the people Fu
ist government abuse.
nt to read about because that's "Hey M<
are helping
, * . , r , of birth co
r get both sides of the story. SUldent hea
Some mi
iSFClASS STAMP THAT Sto
HRSKMSS SEffWCE facl.
ZZ' " Some w<
* diseases an*
? ImilPRf sense.
.".J Many mi
think there :
? ? be spent."
\vi.s rjstal cpRroi^no^n from a pack
In the issue
JT JIIU? -^"r wait until i
^ Others, how
ered that the $12,000 allocated to this this
event covers not only the cost of four cos
bands including Dreams So Real, but an
also the technical costs for an outdoor vid
show, contractual costs and obligations, den
equipment fees and rentals and security cha
for the performers and spectators. den
Many of these costs are forced upon to s
us, either contractually or by the facil- rarr
ity we choose to utilize. Additionally, all,
all of the publicity that has been re- tent
leased to campus, including posters, ram
flyers, Free Times ads, Gamecock ads, alio
table tents and banners, is included in org;
this allocation. In this case, we do not inc
feel that we have in any way used our ban
funds irresponsibly, as Mr. Shives hav
would have readers believe. f
Secondly, Shives mentioned that "...
the University of Georgia's union is br- sh0
inging Pearl Jam to their P.E. field." acl
The Carolina Program Union Contem- che
porary Sounds Committee has re- 0ffj
searched bringing acts such as this to moi
our campus, but its tighter budget cos
simply cannot accomodate a program Poi
of this magnitude. For example, last whi
year, when more funds were available, Luc
this committee looked at an act of of i
comprable noteriety, Tony! Toni! lair
. Tone!, which would have cost approxi- on
mately $11,000. Once advertising, sec- Shi
urity and technical costs were added to ordi
Question: What is your ove
an Jeff Britain
major Business major
'e the media has "Lots of stories go i
it what thev oriai- Lots of stories don't hz
ut to do, which is coverage they need to
le public. The main News is lacking on the
s become to enter- World, the Middle Eas
I of inform." other areas of the wor
cept maybe Japan."
^Cross Fi
ter should provide bir
>mson Student Health Center at Also, the heal
ull-service outpatient medical fa- birth control wi
iding a full-service pharmacy. about the range
ter has over-the-counter as well sions, including
ption methods of birth control ter conducts we
for sale to USC students. The year for variou
er abides by the standards set by been able to do
' medical and pharmacy practices behavioral cha
g birth control options for adults, levels of abstinei
e, it would be a rather odd omis- All this aside,
d to all the health needs of col- lates to the comi
nts, except their sexual health vention. It's my
medicine has h,
: >? a L..^l T TCP
n ? guuu ui uuu, ujv, aiuu^uia preventive, roie i
line with college students across ing birth contro
/ in terms of their sexual beha- wanted pregna
i sophisticated research project healthy diet for c
ducted over the past few years, vent unwanted hi
jrcent of college freshmen report Regardless of
exual intercourse before coming ues about sexual
to deal with th<
eterosexual students not using rather than after,
ol are at high risk of unwanted
All sexually active college stu- - Lisa Mohn
practicing safer sex (i.e. mono- Lisa Mohn is
ioms) are at risk of contracting a health education
ransmitted disease, including Health Center.
nding contraception q
Dm! Did you know yoitf taxes The university
cut a big hunk out of the price funding, which c
ntrol pills and condoms at the Why should ever
Ith center?" to pay for those
Dthers would need to have thier Should we have
:ed to normal position if they making moral cl
vunerable children reveal this with?
This is a meltii
_ ferent values and
>uld say u s good becuause of ters Qf reU jons
;numter of sexually-transmitted usj bif[h 1
1 AIDS victims, and lhat makes Eilher way thcy
are angry becuasi
others, however, would say, "I thing they think
are better ways for my money to lieve the prices
promote promiscu
Perhaps USC !
ppreciate their children having options for studei
of medicine at the health center. many forms of e
>ctor checkups and visits also and couples. Thr
s and families out. But a pack other organization
aplets is a whole different story and cultural outle
of condoms. spend the money <
liege is a tremendously experi- 4 's,
soul-searching esperience. kWc don ' have 1
lablishes his morals and values. avc a ??? lline;
of sex, some will choose to
marriage (stand proud y'all). -Brian Garland
ever will decide they are ma- Brian Garland is
to have sex. Baptist Student U
; artist fee, this concert would have Many of the
t nearly $20,000. In order to bring ants in this e
act like this to campus and still pro- items includi
e other musical programs for stu- tapes and coi
its, this committee would have to the amount
rge an admission price to all stu- program is ji
ts. This year, the committee opted out and the fc
;pend its allocation on quality prog- participants
is, charging very little if anything at empty-handec
thp.rP.Hv j?11rm/iniT mnrp npnnlp oi Thp oi m r
w.vivuj uiiuh wig, nivyiv iu ai niv aim v.
I. Consistently cost effective prog- Union is not I
iming on the committee's part has dent activity
wed it to retain enough funding to give somethi
anize Cockstock, a free event which community, 1
ludes, as previously noted, four richment, em
ds, instead of the one that would When CPU c
e come with the price of Pearl Jam. only to offsei
'inally, Kipp Shives claimed that the Pcns^vc Pr0&
Spin Doctors/Lucy Brown ballroom on 1
w lost more than $4,000 in student vcrsc' enJ?>':
ivity fee dollars." If Shives had Prov?king ac
eked the official records in the CPU Since last Ai
ce, he would have found that the sPonsib'e lor
ney spent on this program, which vl
t less than $4,000, was spent on the y' 7"a<
iliac New Music College Tour, concert, the
ch featured the Spin Doctors and alms senes
:y Brown. This program consisted mn in
lot only a concert but a merchant's on Tues(lay
as well. However, the money spent among other;
this event was not "lost," as Mr.
ves claims, but spent responsibly in ^'ce Pres'f
er to reach the students of USC.
rail perception of the medi
. \ % W
Krystal Crosby
Political Science major
untold. "I think the media doe;
ive the good job, despite being un
have, to certain issues. But over
i Third they do a good job."
>t, and
Id, exMgir
Pra
i und
., . . -Octavia \
th control
Ahh ..
Ith center does not dispense Should v
thout educating the campus of 18 or 2
of responsible sexual deci- American I
abstinence. The health cen- okay for a
11 over. 100 presentations a rather than
s student groups, and has These qi
cument a level of positive swerable t(
nge, including increased have and d<
ice and condom use. That 'thi
I think the main issue re- day as we
non sense approach of pre- evenings ar
opinion that for too long, pie want to
ad a curative, rather than This Eas
in people's health. Dispens- very simph
1 tn sHllllS tr> nrp\ipnl nn_
' t-w piv.vm 1411- 3VJ UlIIl^Ull
ncy is like providing a
:holesterol reduction to pre- The ver)
*art disease. recently pa
one's moral or ethical val- state is pre
ity, it makes medical sense out how cl
*se issues before the fact Blue laws.
the grocery
When 11
the associate director for ously vetoe
at the Thomson Student minute at
couldn't ur
state still h;
'rebel' fla^
uestionable Sig^
it. 1"
is a state school with state
omes straight from taxes'. This "is
/one, therefore, be obliged founded or
, - lows its chi
who choose 10 have sex. ^ S(
to support a health center iq le
toices we may not agree Sounds p
rig pot .of people with dif- It's a slu
1 beliefs. Some are mem- God. They
and denominations where the problen
d1 is equated to abortion. who say ii
think a life is lost. They 'faiths'. Bu
a they are funding some- Are we bei
is wrong. Many also be- the Creatoi
and accessablility here chance whe
ity on campus. and Love c<
should be stressing other
nts. The college provides The idea
ntertainment for students prayer is nc
ough CPU and countless of jjfe for $
is, there are entertainment
its at all hours. Why not Spiritual
3n their budgets? ever ^
I ] _ c - 1 ?OA
leu ox a mia- ous song: people orte
;o take our clothes off to same. This
out there, t
nite spirituc
At any ra
Secretary Histonan for the
njon our childrer
' ality is not I
it, lies our v
Jesus one
the Kingdoi
10: 14. He
more than 2,000 participvent
came away with free ishment),
ng candy, T-shirts, audio nough s
mpact discs. We feel that
of money spent on this
xstified by the large turn
ict lhat the majority of the H
did not leave the event H VJ
I.
>f the Carolina Program Edjtor in
;o create revenue. Our stu- Managing
fees are spent in order to Copy Desk
ng back to the Carolina Asst. Copy
)e it through cultural en- viewpoint
lertainment or education. News Edit*
harges for an event, it is Asst. New*
t the costs of a more ex- Carolina! E
ram. We pride ourselves Asst. Caro
hat we have brought di- Graphics E
able and often thought- r
ts to Carolina this year. Photograph
jgust, CPU has been re- Asst Photc
the display of the AIDS Sports Edi
lilt, a trip to New York Asst. spor
jysmith Black Mambazo Faculty Ad
Breakfast with President Asst. Adver
and all of the movies that Asst. Class
the Russell House Theatre
through Saturday nights, ?
>. if a student, m
John S. Cunningham TheGameco
. , r, n libel or space
lent, Carolina Program under any cir
Union
I
a in America?
Min Wook Kang
Chemistry major
5 a "I think they are doing a
fair good job in informing the
all, public. Without the media,
how can the public know
what's going on in world politics
and national politics?"
yer in schools
Leniable right
Vright
. the things people debate.
ve make alcohol legal to drink at the age
1? Should neonle he allowed to burn the
lag? Should women fight in a war? Is it
woman to breast feed her baby in public
give it milk from a cow?
jestions may seem silly to some, unan)
others. But, there is one thing we all
jmonstrate each day that is VERY REAL,
mg' is called faith. We all show it each
wake up in the mornings, study in the
id sleep through the night. Yet, some peoquestion
it's very existence,
ter season, let's remember that faith is a
i principle. It keeps us going. So, what's
>
r idea that the South Carolina Legislature
issed up a chance to really 'liberate' the
posterous. It seems people like to talk abose-minded
South Carolina is. No lottery.
Gee ... the next thing they'll do is reclose
stores on Sundays like they used to be!
leard the S.C. state government preposterd
the measure that would allow a simple
the beginning of school for prayer, I
iderstand why. Then, I remembered the
asn't taken progressive steps to lower the
I from the State House. Things started
ether. I started thinking about S.C.'s fucrept
into my mind when I thought about
the grand ole U.S. of A. ... a country
i religious principles. A country that alldren
to pledge allegiance to a man-made
:hool morning. Yet, we sit and debate the
galize prayer in schools?
fi lrna^ri tmol kiiivi9
ut/lljr nj[AA/iiuvai, nun.
ime people disrespect the right to talk to
need to re-prioritize themselves. What's
1? Oh yeah ? we have people out there
t wouldn't be fair to people of other
t who are we really being 'faithful' to? _
ing more faithful to other people versus
? We are not even giving ourselves a
n we disrespect God, who is Truth, Faith
3mbined.
that we would even debate the right to
iiculous! Prayer should be, and is, a part
lose wno allow it to be.
ity is far more powerful than religion can
en though they are interrelated. However,
n mistake the two as being one and the
explains the number of religions existing
>ut there is, and always will be, one infill
realm.
te, disallowing our future, which rests in
i, to experience the advantages of spiritubeing
fair to them or to ourselves. Within
ery existence.
;e said, "Let the children come to me, for
tn of God belongs to such as they," Mark
also said, "Anyone who causes one of
en to doubt me, (shall suffer great punVlatthew
18: 5,6.
;aid.
r a in e c o c k
Chief Eric Ward
Editor Tige Watts
Chief Kathy Hcberger
' Desk Chief Jennifer Jablonaki
Editor Shelley Magee
ars... Patrick Villegas/Gordon Man tier
> Editor J.T. Wagenheim
ditor Greg Rickabaugh
lina! Editor Lee Clonts
iditor Ryan Sims
Paul Jon
iy Editor Virginia Marshall
>graphy Editor Eric Glenn
tor Chad Bray
ts Editor...., Sean Ryan
Iviser Erik Collins
tising Manager Melissa Owenby
sified Manager Amy Taylor
ck will try to print all letters received. Letters should be
is. Full name and professional title, or year and major
ust be included along with address and phone number.
ck reserves the right to edit letters for stylt-. possible
i limitations. The Gamecock will not withhold names
cumstances.