Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

KBaltcock I Strvbtg USC Since 1908 J.T. Wagenheim, Editor in Chief Lee Clontz, Viewpoints Editor Editorial Board Wendy Hudson, Carson Henderson, Gordon Mantler, Nancy Salomonsky, Tony Santori Satisfactory After a year, Clinton receives mixed reviews on domestic, foreign performance President Clinton's first year in office has been one of triumph and tragedy, endless praise and sharp criticism, impressive professionalism and childish naivete. And his popularity ratings reflect these contrasts. When he took office, 65 percent of Americans had a favorable impression of him with only 27 percent unfavorable. His popularity then dipped to 51 percent in July but has bounced back to the current 60 percent rating. Clinton receives high marks for his handling of race and women's issues, the environment and foreign affairs, in addition to the Brady bill, family leave and the North American Free Trade Agreement. However, the majority of the public hasn't been satisfied with Clinton's handling of the federal budget deficit, taxes and crime. Clinton had a relatively impressive year in Congress with the passage of the Brady bill, a family leave bill, a scaled-down national service plan, NAFTA and the budget plan. The only major piece of legislation that wasn't passed was Clinton's economic stimulus package. However, much of the year was one public relations disaster after another. Fiddling with the military's gay ban wasn't a smart political move in the first month of his presidency. And in addition to not pleasing anybody, the resulting "don't ask, don't tell" policy left myriad gray areas for the courts to decipher later. Clinton's indecisiveness in the international hotspots of Somalia and Bosnia raised many questions in 1993 about his qualifications in handling foreign policy. He has only recently gained respect in this area ? because of his highly successful trip to Europe and his standing up to North Korea over its nuclear facilities. But there are still many holes in his policies toward the rest of the globe. The firing and rehiring of the White House travel staff, Vince Foster's suicide and now the White House's handling of the Whitewater .scandal has sometimes given the administration a less than professional image. But possibly worse than anything else is the administration's handling of personnel matters. There are many federal positions yet to be J filled, such as civil rights posts and judgeships. The Zoe Baird debacle and the mysterious withdrawal of Bobby Ray Inman for defense secretary haven't helped the White House's image problem either. We hope the next year will be more successful for Clinton. In addi- l? tion to having some sort of health care package passed, welfare and a crime also need to be addressed. But for any of this to happen, Clinton d must get the Whitewater affair behind him. And he needs to handle per- C sonnel matters better. L His first year was just satisfactory. It could have been better, but it could have been much worse. Let's hope 1993 was the lowmark of c; Clinton's presidency. h Campbell misses mark I on contraceptive issue ? Gov. Carroll Campbell's state- _ 11 ment in Wednesday's State of the JjHfc ? State address that "Every woman 0 on welfare should be on some L \ a type of birth control" is a fear- k JKk some one. Wk Why, you may ask. With the flf impoverished parents bearing ? ^ children that no one can afford to QfnttQ n feed, clothe or educate, children ^ who become criminals, children f( who endanger our society physi- columnist cally, morally and economically, S why shouldn't government force well-stocked. Not to mention the 0 the women of these rommnnities cost of the nhvsiral examination d' to exercise birth control? required yearly in order to renew a It's an idea which seems pill prescription, acceptable, yet it lacks the sensi- Is it any wonder that some men ^ bility to the whole scheme of hit the road when their girlfriends ^ women, men and reproduction, become pregnant? And if they J) Thank goodness it is only an idea, don't, the suggestion of abortion Birth control, especially one is quite a popular one. mandated by the government, A woman's fertility should be does not at all stand for liberation, governed by the woman alone. Or u, choice or freedom in a woman's if she and her husband or ^ life. A woman will truly be free boyfriend care enough about each vj when our society views pregnan- other to share in the responsibili- C( cy and birth as advantageous, ty, more power to them. But tak- te beautiful and natural, and not as a ing away the woman's right to crippling disease of which she choose her birth control as jy must be rid. Campbell suggested is a blatant m Campbell's statement also leaves symptom of the kind of ignorance ^ out one very important factor in men and women follow without Sj pregnancy: it takes two to tango. realizing it. ^ OK, college women. Think China deals with the problem jn about this. You may be taking the of overpopulation by forcing p] same type of birth control pills as women to have abortions after C( a woman on welfare who lives they have had more children than w just a few short blocks away. And the government deems is appro- y( your boyfriend, like her priate. Is this next for America? 5. boyfriend, doesn't even bother to It's pretty scary to think our re use condoms since the pill is so governor cannot see the truth: that jf reliable. pregnancy and children are not ie Both boyfriends have the securi- the products of a faulty machine, S( ty that their girlfriends are diligent- and that women are not machines ly taking the pill everyday. They with on and off baby-making but- ci don't have to pay for them (at off- tons. If we allow our government sj campus drugstores, they cost to force women to exercise birth between $15 and $20 per pack), control, we will bow down to this w Not only do you pay for them, but view and set the progress made n( you make sure your pill supply is by women back 100 years. IWI?. 'tfe- . -< News: 777-7726 || rSftlflfr rrt M? Advertisin8: 777-4249 Laura Day I FAX: 777-6482 Production Manager Student Media Russell House-USC* Columbia, SC 29208 fj Gr*?n Asa. Production Manager J.T. Wagenheim Nancy SaJomonsky Darby Lackey Gregory Perez Editor in Chief Carolina! Editor Asst. News Production Asst. Lee Clontz I ony Santori Melissa Tennen Brian McGuire Viewpoints Editor Sports Editor Asst. Carolina! Graduate Asst. Carson Henderson David Mandrel! Matt Hanley Renee Gibson Copy Desk Chief rwio cahiui Carolina! Advertising Manager Gordon Mantler Chris Muldrow Jimmy Debutts J. Taylor Rutland Copy Desk Chief Graphics Editor Ass( Sports Asa. Advertising Manager Wendy Hudson Nora Doyle Paul Jon Boscacci Erik Collins News Editor Asst. News Cartoonist Faculty Advisor The Gamecock is the student newspaper of the Letters Policy University of South Carolina and is published Monday, _ _ .... .... , Wednesday and Friday during the fall and spring semes- ^le Gamecock will try to pnnt all letters received, lers. with the exception of university holidays and exam Letters should be 200-250 words and must include full periods. name, professional title or year and major if a student. Opinions expressed in The Gamecock are those of the Letters must be personally delivered by the author to editors or author and not those of the University of The Gamecock newsroom in Russell House room 321. South Carolina. The Board of Student Publications and Communications Gamecock reserves the right to edit all letters for is the publisher of The Gamecock. The Departrent of style, possible libel or space limitations. Names will not Student Media is its parent organization. be withheld under any circumstances. Viewpoin ^ savj somelfli'^6 WsoluTelh Horrible That 1errinet? me/// "\ \ uuat pi t? wou se?"i \\ AMU#t>ER? A SEAli'&r'^. \ A MUTILATioNP ^ "This is a key administrative appc memb rx V* Vvi4-4-r* ITnu 11 :r-w*. * juuuiua, rauiiviit Now that I'm in my fourth semester at USC iw, I can honestly say that nothing else is quite s exciting. Look at the events of the past seven ays. Both of the news events that have South !arolina buzzing happened in a courtroom, et's review: Bobbitt vs. Bobbitt. I have discussed this ase with several of my male friends, and we ave come to a unanimous conclusion. Given a hoice, we would rather be shot between the yes repeatedly with an automatic weapon, lease. On Friday, Lorena Bobbitt was found "not uilty by reason of temporary < insanity." Let le get this straight. After months of being mndated with stories about the tumultuous obbitt marriage, we have run this little soap pera through the American judicial system nd concluded that NOBODY DID ANYHING WRONG! John Bobbitt has become enough of a celebrif to be featured on 30 or 40 tabloid shows and 1 te Howard Stern pay-per-view. Lorena has tade nonstop tabloid appearances and is being ailed by some in the media as striking a blow >r abused women everywhere. F\ ? T I 1: *1 * 1 4L n_LL!44- LI 1 ~ ~ ? O vo i ucucvc iuai ooui doddius are uiaineicss: ure I do. I also believe those nice L.A. police fficers were just trying to quiet Rodney King own so they could read him his Miranda rights. "olumn oversimplifies euscaptno on r . that they wil attered women's issues for the batten Second, he To the editor: her behaviors Once again, I am insulted and, by the femini lfortunately, not loo surprised by women aren't e ignorance of uninformed indi- taining the apj duals who have little or no con- merely trying :m or compassion regarding bat- You also i red women. statements th? I am referring to the column by to be victims Ir. Wagenheim entitled "Bobbin and "The abui [appropriate role for feminists." In er." In other \ ie process of assessing your per- provoke or in: >ective of the trial, you insulted probably forg ie feminist movement, but more bands' undei nnnrtontlu ufHi maHp liohf rvf thp chini. Hn it Lipui UIUU^) j V/U mm &V4\1V V/l U1V ^>1111 1,5 . l^U U light of battered women. Your apply to victhi jmments regarding Ms. Bobbin Wise up, N ere degrading and unnecessary; human being Dur evaluation of the situation was raped or tort aseless and without appropriate tered wom< isearch. First, Mr. Wagenheim, strength or co you had researched domestic vio- You may h; nee, you would have discovered readers, Mr. 3mething called the Battered also insulte fomen Syndrome, two of its main many others, laracteristics being extreme pasvity and helplessness. It's quite common for battered Criminal jus omen to feel as though they have ) one to turn to or, that if they do How has Clintoi 1 "He's gotten a lot of bad press fej I didn't vote for him, but he sh I don't agree with everything ~ "I don't think I expected more as yet. He's not as establishec be. In comparison to others, th f ts Ifr-? u No, A GIRL, J f- . oltv.. )intment, and I am pleased to annour ers emerged as the strongest Candida 3r make lively co Patrick McNeill , ,> -5, COLUMNIST And I believe Damian Williams was using his brick to try and kill a mosquito on Reginald Denny's forehead. However, the Bobbin family hasn't gone unpunished. John has already suffered his share of public shame and humiliation. Lorena must, as part of her sentencing, go through 45 days of intensive psychiatric examination. Even if you doubt Lorena's innocence, one can't help but feel pity for her now. Shannon Faulkner. Yes, the darling of USCSpartanburg finally got the go-ahead from the Supreme Court to attend day classes at The Citadel. Unfortunately, she will not be permitted to join the corps of cadets until the entire issue is resolved. As a good Southern Conservative, my heart goes out to Ms. Faulkner. I can appreciate her goals. She just wants to go the The Citadel, learn how to fire a rifle and do other neat military stuff. Then she can become an officer in the Army and one day defend Fort Sumter against e will believe them or passi0n for Cause 1 be held responsible . , . , ng. can cloud judgmei >w dare you compare to those "promoted" To the editor: st movement! Battered 1 don't so much disaj concerned with main- Melissa lennen's Jan. 2 propriate behaviors but as I lind it worthy of com to survive. "Nature has a reason 1 nake the enlightening thing." Really? Consider it "Women don't have cations of this statement, of domestic violence" The belief implicit >e can stop much soon- Tennen's statement is th; vords, battered women sons that nature may have stigate the abuse. They reasons. We arrive at th ot to starch their hus- sion that there are good i wear along with the nature for all human beha elotpmanto nlrrv uiaiiIH r*n\7af o ofpqt Haol iv^ov oiaiv/iiiuiiio aiov vvwuiu vuwi u givui uv/tu ns of rape? ior that both Ms. Tenn Ir. Editor in Chief. No would find unacceptable, wants to be beaten, A better statement is " ured. Yet, many bat- cause for that which we c in don't have the nature." This cause may b 'urage to leave. may be silly, or it may t ave entertained a few human comprehension. Wagenheim, but you h isn't surprising naturi d and misinformed some remarkable si However, give me a sol; and five billion years, and Kimberly Cooper Tennen, would do better, tice graduate student The human mind and tl sprit are the true wonde universe. Indeed, the vi 1 performed in his first; ould have a chance. won't g than what I've seen HP?** "I don I as he expected to * Hillary ough, I'm generally lems." Jonathan Evans cal science sophomore HBPif rtt f * M, %% Y? 6 ^ ice that one of our own faculty te." USC President John Palms On the naming of Lester Lefton as humanities dean urtroom fodder i i > t the invading Yankee horde. I'm sure she will win on appeal and be| allowed into the corps next semester. I can picture Cadet Faulkner's first day in the barracks. She gets her shiny new uniform and a nice, I close crewcut. She meets her roommate and new! best friend, Nathan Bedford Forrest Hampton, | and unpacks her bags. She goes to classes and is marched around the1 parade grounds until her legs are about to give > out under her. Upperclassmen scream in her! face, force her to clean out the toilets and order \ her to "drop and give me 50" as a means of j making her feel like one'of the guys.' Then,"after1 a showerwith 30Tir4tToTher "NobS," the upper-" 4 classmen lock her and her roommate in a closet for a few hours and then.... What's that? You don't see this scenario as; likely? You think Shannon will be able to live in her own barracks with her own shower? Youthink hundreds of lawyers will descend on! Charleston the first time an upperclassman rais-! es his voice at Shannon? How cvniral of vou Shannon Faulkner has stated she wants a Citadel education, and by God, as a daughter of t S.C. taxpayers, she's entitled to one. To treat her differently would give her a separate education experience from the rest of the corps. And as John Bobbin could tell you, "Separate is, by its very nature, never equal." and spirit that drive some to seek to create hope, order and purpose lit in a harsh and unpleasant world during a brief and confusing existence, such as Ms. Tennen is trying gree with to do. The struggle is to Find our 1 column own good reasons, and so I salute / ment. Ms. Tennen and her mother. 'or every- However, I believe that perhaps the impli- Ms. Tennen's reasoning in this case is clouded by another human quality, in Ms. That quality is passion for a cause, tt all rea- Perhaps Ms. Tennen wouldn't be so : are good quick to support the Studies of Dr. e conclu- Profet if thev did nnl neatlv dovetail easons in with her own ideology, vior. This Ideas are worthy of study not of behav- because of their significance to en and I some political agenda, but because they have reasonable evidence there is a backing them. )bserve in Ms. Tennen should reserve e good, it judgement unless she can effective>e beyond ly assess the evidence. No insult is implied or intended by this remark. 2 has had Science, any area of science, is a iccesses. discipline that requires more than ar system intelligence and diligence to mas- ! I, or Ms. ter. It takes time. 1 I he human rs of the G. Neel Taylor ; 2ry mind Mathematics first year graduate - ?? ?J I I year in office? I rying to do what he can for a country that ;ive people a break." . \ Tasha Anderson Sociology Ph.D. candidate i i I 't like his performance. I think he and are to blame for most of the country's probI I Kelly Herring \ International studies sophomore *