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"The Liberated / HI wf: Anis Shorrosh, who performe Friday and Saturday Nights i here signing his book Islam Re A SKI IS crivp< A -m. Jk. k about health, < By ANDREA LLOYD Staff Writer Many students, regardless of their desire for information, will stop themselves from asking important questions because ol embarrassment or lack of time. USC's ASKUS phone service can solve both problems. ASKUS is a voice response phone system provided at USC. By dialing 777-7777 on a Touch-Tone phone and entering certain codes, USC students and Columbia residents can learn various campus, health and community information. This includes an Activities Hotline, updated weekly. The ASKUS system has been in existence for about 12 years, according to Director Debbie Haynes. Haynes said the system is more efficient and less expensive since it became a part of TIPS, USC's Telephone Information Processing System, in 1990. "It basically runs itself. It's answered by computer," Haynes L/fe in General V < / Life in General, comprised of playing Tuesday Night in the u Order at your Bal and receive a $50 < your 14K or 10K Now, more tha it pays to con 1226 Pickens St., Suit (803) 254-52 Palestinian" m ' JS k \ llllfSfe mm Kelly Johnson/The Gamecock d an Islamic/Christian dialogue n the Russell House, is shown vealed. i information coming events said. Haynes said before ASKUS, - because it is a voice response sys[ tem, students had to be hired to answer phones and play preL recorded messages for callers. This prevented ASKUS from . being available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. , Haynes said she collects statisti, cal information on how many calls come into ASKUS and which information is sought. "In the 1991-92 academic year, 48,000 calls came into ASKUS," ' she said. Many of the calls were health-related questions. ' I 'K rr\ nin Kr?/lir r~\ f rx rv\ rM 11 r\ i ti r me; main uuuj ui v^cmini unity and student information is updated 1 once a year before the fall semes ter begins. ASKUS information comes from 1 the What's Happening and Mortar Board calendars, The Gamecock and other Columbia newspapers, 1 Haynes said. To use ASKUS, refer to page 15 of USC's campus telephone direci tory. f ' ' > r jtp two acoustic guitarists, Shelly Sutt Golden Spur at 7:30 p.m. ISC Juniors a Now's the time t Balfour cla four office discount on gold ring in ever, ? ipare! n?ir? Free parking In rear e 5 (upstairs) 130 Care By JENNIFER FULLER Assistant Carolina! Editor The second annual Blockfest was moved from Greene Street to the Russell House ballroom because of the threat of rainfall, but the weather did not damoen the X spirits of those who attended. "It's slamming," HRTA freshman Glover Hickson said. The event, sponsored by the Association of African-American Students, featured vendors, student organization booths and entertainment by students. Bilal Robinson, owner of Nur Creations in Charleston, was selling clothing and jewelry from Africa and the Caribbean. "'Nur' is an attribute of God because he brings light," he said. "Light is like knowledge." Robinson said that long ago, Moslem merchants used their travels and interaction with different neonle to snread Islam. He came to Blockfest not only for the business opportunity. "There may be an opportunity for me to pull someone to the Lord," he said. Pharmacy junior Shirley NzoNguty, a West African native said the vendors' African items were very similiar to what is found in 111 11 Y H , HPm u on and Jerry Chapman, will be nd Seniors! 0 order your ss ring Green ft Pendelton Senate n n Uervaia H It Dunbar * Funeral Home ur ^ It 1 Lady )lina v wm&. ?faW% jHS^prl Africa. "I wish they had more Greek stuff," said Nzo-Nguty, who is a member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority. Julian Shabazz, co-owner of Awesome Records with his brother David, was selling tapes of speeches by black activists Angela Davis, Huey P. Newton, Sister Souljah and Malcolm X. "I see a lot of students with Malcolm X on hats, and they don't know Malcolm X from Madame X," Shabazz said. "They need to understand the real deal behind the fashion." Blockfest also featured a storyteller. Weai ing a gold turban and a brilliantly colored outfit, Femeia Adamson told the Aesop tale, "The Owl and the Cricket." Adamson then told one of her own stories, a variation of the fable in which a frog is kissed and turns into a prince. In her version of the story, the frog turns into a man with the combined looks of Denzel Washington and Wesley Snipes. Adamson, an English freshman, began telling stories a year ago after seeing the Black Storytellers' Conference. "I thought this would be a good World-class ji By STEPHEN BROWN Staff Writer Mark Nizer, "The Juggler Your Mother Warned You About," will perform 8 p.m. Wednesday in the Russell House Ballroom. The show is free for USC students. Nizer is an accomplished juggler and comedian who has recently appeared on "The Arsenio Hall Show." Nominated for 1991 Campus Entertainer of the Year, he WCISC-FM SI Tickets o G This program is paid for, in part, by The University of South Carolina, [ I . al Kevin Wynn, left, of Alpha Phi A1 Blockfest. Lanie Vu and Andreani of the booths at Friday's festival i frl JtJl! wmm Inclement we successful fes place to showcase my talent," she said. Rap and reggae music blared in the background, and many people began spontaneous dancing at the booths. Blockfest participants often took over the turntables and microphone for some freestyle rapping. ^ n__ A tt i ? c o: ^ /nyt u, six memoers ui oigma Gamma Rho sorority, performed "Friends" by R & B group TLC, throwing condoms into the audience at the beginning of the act. "This was a chance for us to show our concern for safe sex," said early childhood education junior Kimberly Johnson, a member of 2 Fly 4 U. Black student organizations used Blockfest as an opportunity to share information about their clubs and perform community service projects, collecting money and selling treats for charities. Omega Psi Phi fraternity collected donations for the James R. Clark Memorial Sickle Cell Foundation and offering free on the-spot sickle cell anemia testing. "Omega Psi Phi enjoys helping the community by doing different sevice projects," criminal justice senior Leonard Pendergrass said. National Society of Black Liggler to play ( has opened for George Burns, Ray Charles and Bob Hope. His acclaimed performance won him the 1984 Collegiate Entertainer of the Year award and the 1990 International Juggling Championships. Nizer has been juggling for 17 years. Inspired by a sUong dance background, a love for stand-up comedy, and a fascination with history's great jugglers, he has crafted a one-of-a-kind show. Original ALTERN/i VINA w 1^. UNDAY, OCTOBER 4,199 7:30pm at the Koger Center n sale at the Coliseum B< USC Students w/ID - $5.00 ieneral Public - $8.00 & $10.0 ' student activities fees. Department of Student Life, Division of Student I i K m ' l I Photos by Stephanie Newlin/The Gamecock [n the Russell House Ballroom. Af rather drives f-ULJ^d d ?v 11 veil 111UUU1S Engineers President Marvin Johnson said the organization was represented at Blockfest to show the technical side of the AfricanAmerican community and encourage minorities to acquire technical majors and degrees. "NBSE at USC is in a state of rebuilding, and we need as much exposure as we can get," Johnson said. Student Christian Fellowship sponsored a bake sale at their booth. "We're here to let you know that SCF is here alive and well. We're here to share about the love of Jesus," nursing junior Pamela Darnell said. AAAS Second Vice President Jody Brooks was glad to see so many people supporting Blockfest. "I am disappointed that not a lot of non-black people came out to see it," he said. "Our program should continue to improve and incorporate more cultures to represent the multiculturalism that we have at USC," Brooks said. Finance senior Sherresse Smith said, "I am very impressed with this year's Blockfest. The amount of togetherness and commitment tn the cause is outstanding." jolden Spur music and juggling such objects as a bowling ball, a blowtorch, and a cordless electric knife are part of his comic routine. Nizer has visited over 200 uni versities on his national college Tour. Wednesday's program is sponsored by the Carolina Program Union's Special Programs Committee. Members of the committee encourage all students to see Nizer in person. lTIVH90.5 2 ox Office o : Affairs