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I Responsibi Administration shoulc 1 assistance to fire victi Sunday morning's Columbia Hall fii less and penniless. For some, all of th fire apparently caused by an electrical The only clothes one student has building's evacuation. Some lost ever; their stereo systems. And what has the USC administratic The university has held a few meet ing any responsibility to help, while 1 zations have provided extensive assists The University Bookstore, a private shirts and sweatshirts and even replace , Marriott Food Services, which runs and snacks throughout the night, w clothes and monetary compensation to A ? li^.i ICUUCId puiicu lUgCUICI in dupj them at meetings with insurance agent and gather clothing. In addition, the $3,000 to the students. The USC community responded Everyone except the university itself. USC President John Palms never t has not met with students to discuss th After Hurricane Andrew wreaked 1 President Bush promptly visited the an Even if this were only a symbolic the victims and at least gave the impre Palms' inaction gives the appearand Columbia Hall residents were nev< would be or what their purpose was. to find the meetings. It is true USC has no legal financ their possessions to fire or other disast But, ethically, USC has a responsib offer some assistance and moral sup] thing. We are talking about eight studem unpredictable and unfortunate circums The United States has the Federal help its citizens in the event of a disas of program in case of future crises. The administration should follow I and business leaders. USC is a comm everybody must pitch in to help. That Baird should Attorney Gei The honeymoon is over, or at least things won't be as Jflj smooth for President Clinton as he was Zoe Baird, ^ Clinton's nominee for attorney general, j ^ has come under fire because she hired q I illegal aliens as nan- HOll\ nies and then withheld their Social ??? Security taxes. By doing so, Baird has violated a federal law. The violation, which has stirred controversy and made her confirmation hearing with the ocuaic juuiciaiy v.uxiiiiih.igc vcxy difficult, raises the question of her credibility. Why would a woman who makes over $500,000 a year as the general counsel for Aetna Life & Casualty go out and hire someone and then withhold their Social Security taxes? She paid her unlicensed Peruvian baby sitter and her husband $2,000 a month, in addition to giving them free room and board. Broken up over a month, with them working 24 hours a day, the hourly salary for each was $1.49. Taken as a normal 40-hour work week, the hourly wage for each was $6.25. So, Baird was either violating the minimum wage law, or she was severely overpaying them. On a vera op a lieen>ipft (lav care facility in Columbia charges $75 per week, or $1.88 per hour. I would suspect day-care prices are proportionally adjusted across the nation. Not only is Baird violating federal civil law, but she is overpaying for a legal service which would be cheaper in the private sector. Baird's excuse to the Senate Judiciary Committee was, "I was acting ... more as a mother than as a person who would be sitting here designated as attorney general." Regardless of the fact, "acting as a mother" does not change the fact she has violated a federal statute. Committee chairman Joe Biden, D-Del., browbeated Baird into admitting her reason for paying the $2,900 fine as purely political. Had she not payed it, 1 ility i> y/ / vy r 771^ re left a few students literally homeeir possessions were ravaged by the short in an overloaded power strip, are the ones she wore during the /thing from textbooks to jewelry to >n done to help them? Not much, ings with the sole purpose of duckocal businesses and student organiince to the victims, ly-owned business, supplied free Td textbooks ruined by the fire. Pizza Hut, gave students free pizzas hile the Red Cross offered some those most needy. port of the students by representing :s and holding a drive to raise funds student senate Wednesday allotted well in helping these students. >othered to survey the fire site and eir situation. havoc throughout southern Florida, 1 ea to talk with the victims, gesture, it was well-appreciated by ssion of a caring government, e he doesn't care. ;r specifically told where meetings They had to rely on word-of-mouth ial obligation to students who lose ers. Such costs would be too high, ility towards its students and should port to those who have lost everyis who need help because of some tances. Emergency Management Agency to iter. USC should have a similar type he example of student government unity, and when emergencies occur, includes the administration. not assume ^ leral spot her nomination would be threatened Ik and would reflect badly on the Clinton m Administration. Yet, this whole fiasco reflects badly on the Clinton gjf \ Administration and J now places it in an z awkward spot. ^ Baird told the committee that the 1 only reason she hired the illegal aliens was because another lawyer said it was O.K. As a qualified attorney, she should have known the law, or at least she should have double-checked her colleague's information. This action, or inaction, as the case may be, speaks poorly of her abilities as an attorney. Baird knew her actions were illegal and knowingly violated the law. She broke it. Baird is a criminal and should not become the country's top lawyer. Nor should she be allowed to set off with a slap on the wrist. She, like many other high-ranking officials, must realize they are not above the law. Several congressmen have called for the removal of Baird's nomination out of concern for the new administration. Clinton, however, cannot afford to withdraw her nomination without appearing to be bowing to congressional pressure. To be an effective leader, he needs to appear strong and in control of Congress. Congress is likely to approve Baird, even though she will be the laughingstock of die administration. For an administration that wants to be "tough on crime," the appearance of having a criminal in charge of the Department of Justice is embarrassing. Conservatives would enjoy nothing more than to embarrass Clinton. We need cooperation in these tough times. If Congress wants to do a service for America, they should reject Zoe Baird. If Baird wants to do a great service for Clinton and America, she should withdraw her nomination so someone with more integrity can serve as attorney general. v^iewi A_c \F w< the USC's self-imposed sanctions on enough to satisfy the NCAA violations The violations involved no current guilty of the acts will be released at who was not implicated directly by th "reassigned" to the position of assistan As it stands now, the basketball tei recruiting visits allowed next seasoi directed by the equipment manager ins Roost will have periodic checks for un wnue UoL. is accusea 01 minor > cousins to the north, Clemson? In the ] accused of, among other things, Buckingham, one of their better playei tyViolations of this nature are among NCAA. But, as the season progresses, NCAA, and Buckingham is still eligibl I don't mean to trivialize the infraci but for no action to be taken against makes the NCAA hypocritical. Do we really need any stronger pei pose would it serve? The sanctions placed by the univers else were done, the only people it wou ing players. The purpose of the NCAA is to hel] say, punish the guilty parties and then basketball. Replace Sparky with Dan Reeves To the editor: In USC's never-ending struggle to achieve some semblance of national sports prominence, it would seem so many opportunities are squandered away. In my years at Carolina, 1987-1991, I watched the routine faltering of an athletic program regarded as one of "major league" proportion but is run more like a truck stop in Traveler's Rest. When will the management, and I use the term loosely, alumni and Gamecock Club stop settling for the bridesmaid and work towards becoming the bride? In case no one has noticed, we have not set foot inside the church lately. Frustration culminated last season when the football team mutinied, calling for Sparky Woods' resignation, a valiant move on the part of the team to take control of their own destiny when it seemed no one else would. Enter a lucky rookie quarterback with a four-leaf clover tucked ever so precariously under his shoulder pad, and a few unimpressive victories, including a victory over an abnorNEWSROOM 777-7726 ^ P.O. BOX 85131 Editor in Chief Associate Editors Viewpoint Editor Copy Desk Chief News Editors Asst. News Editors Carolina! Editor Asst. Carolina! Editor Sports Editors Photo Editor Asst. Photo Editor Graphics Editor Asst. Graphics Editor Cartoonist Co/v Editors Stud, nt Media Coordinator Producrjaa Manager Asst. Production Manager Advertising Manager Faculty Adviser Graduate Assistant Darkroom Technicians poir RQj ire the s i men's b; the men's basketball progr i committed. players, while the assistant < season's end. Even Steve b e investigation's findings, h; t athletics director, im is limited in its number a. Equipment distribution lead of the coaching staff. A authorized residents, /iolations, what about our i past few months, Clemson h; altering the grades of 1 rs, in order to maintain his e ! the most heavily penalized Clemson remains unaffected le. tions committed by the Gam the Tigers while we are cl tallies levied against us? W1 ity rectify the problems. If a ild hurt would be next year's p the student-athlete, not hur get back to the business of p*! iihi l mally weak Clemson team own barn, and, suddenly, th Midlands forgets about NCAA-leading losing strej way through last season. Perhaps our small-town department could must courage to contact forme great Dan Reeves. The ex coach ruled the AFC in tl had an illustrious career v Dallas Cowboys and coulc recruit more talent than "With the App State Conr Woods. And moving back lege football is certainly ; not unprecedented by othi coaches. Scott Ss 1991 USC gi Bush years shou be appreciated To the editor: For the Republicans, tho me aays. Kememoer wnen was president and the twitched at the military ai nomic might of our cc Remember when Bush 1 t5a UNIVERSITY OF Patrick V Lee Clontz, J.T. Wage Gordon IV Brian G Jack Dunn, Melissa T ...Lea Clayton, Rochelle Killin Jennifer Melinda W, Nancy Salomonsky, Tim T1 Stephanie Is Kelly Jc Gregory Chris Mil : p, Chris Davis, Thorn H Jim Mt Lau Jim Renee < Erik ( Brian M Erin Galloway, Rjka Hash t 30rULnlE elf-imposed sar asketball team s am are These so-called "self-imposed" penal slap on the wrist for violations more sei :oaches Let's start with the reduction of pai Jewton, program has now been allotted 12.pah as been the original 14 paid visits. Maybe tf USC's chances of finding players who : of paid Distribution of practice clothing and will be the athletic department's equipment m; lso, the Does this really guarantee the eliminate Random periodic checks of the Roo country unauthorized residents. The checks v as been department's security coordinator and tl Wayne a legitimate check be conducted by pi cfAn #Kom fmm himinrt tn o Knrtnc ronrv llglUHl- dlVFJJ UIVI1I ltv/lll lulling 111 Ck IA7^UO IV-pUJ The university is also requiring all ci by the pliance seminar on all NCAA regulati I by the housing of prospective student-athletes ously by the coaching staff? ecocks, Another ramification of this scandal mstised an assistant athletic director. Why she $105,000 to a lame-duck coach who \ lat pur- athletic department office. Michael McGee's report to the SE nything Newton had no knowledge of the infra return- about a recruit living in the Roost? Tha tants James Holland and Craig Morris a t him. I It looks like the athletic department playing ineffective coach while also dodging su Where is the NCAA in this matter? not to have their direct involvement. iAlLUiiJhLJU in their world against the forces of evil of r e entire Saddam? Bush had the highest a USC's approval rating of any president, C ye mid- ana his re-election was assured. What went wrong? That's a ( athletic, good question, but most I er the Republicans are already saying the \ r USC- party will win back the White \ -Bronco House in '96. But why are they t le '80s, forgetting George? There are plen- t vith the ty of good memories of the \ 1 surely Reagan-Bush era they can brag Sparky about. Bush did a fantastic job \ lection" abroad. r to col- The GOP should learn how to a a move stand by their man. Since Nov. 3, er NFL Bush said, "Until Jan. 20, America only has one president," and he was right. But the Republicans lunders didn't support him the way they raduate should have supported their leader. Just because he lost does not mean | j he should be thrown in the gutter to be forgotten. Bush was a great man, and he always did what he thought was best for the country. He and First Lady Barbara brought se were White House and the presidenReaoan cy down to earth and added a wo?jtl human touch to the job. Bush, as nd eco- did Ronald Reagan, showed us that i we can still be nroud of ourselves. >uniry: r led the ancl t0 an American 1S stl11 something special. History will littcock SOUTH CAROLINA COLU nhelm Gamecock is the student nev lnntler South Carolina and is published threi arland Wednesdays and Fridays during the f ennen weekly during both summer session; igbeck versity holidays and examination peri' Hninirtnc ovnroocnr] in I kn ( ' inin I , wpuuui ij hi me vjaiuc horsen or author and not those of the Univers Jewlin The Board of Student Publication: >hnson publisher of The Gamecock. The Stud Perez parent organization of The Gamecock. lldr"u Change of address forms, subsc U,1 J0" . .... armnn correspondence should be sent to Th( :Kellar The University of South Carolina, Col ra Day Subscription rates are $46 a yeat Green Columbia, SC. The Gamecock is a re? 9^on of the University of South Carolina ar ^ollins J cGuire "ent activity fees, i i mo to ictions on ufficient? Ities by the university are-merely a rious than we think, id recruiting visits. The basketball i visits, a real "severe" drop from lis reduction in visits will lower stab their girlfriends to death, footwear will now be handled by anager rather than by the coaches, an of the illegal use of equipment? st will be conducted to detect any vill be conducted by the athletic he manager of the Roost. How can aid university officials? What's to rt? aaches it employs to attend a comons concerning the recruiting and i. Will this seminar be taken seriis that Steve Newton will become >uld the school keep him and pay vill end up pushing pencils in the C about the violations states that ctions. How can a coach not know it is hard to believe. It seems assisire taking undue blame, found a painless way to drop an ricter penalties from the NCAA. USC's infractions are too serious emember Bush as ihe world leader ind the bringer of the New World >der. But the truth is: Bush lost, Clinton won. The Republicans will tave their chance in '96 to bump lim out of the White House, but it vill not come until then. For the ime being, they will have to sit >ack, watch the calendar and argue vhy Bush lost. To George and Barbara Bush, as veil as to the Reagans, thanks for emmding us what it means to be in American. Carson Bush Freshman The Gamecock will try to print all letters received. Letters should be 200-250 words maximum. Full name and professional title or year and major, if a student, must be included along with an address and phone number. The Gamecock reserves the right to edit for style, possible libel or space limitations. The Gamecock will not withhold names under any circumstances. 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