The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, March 21, 1994, Page 3, Image 3
Monday, March 21, 1994
I
"?at
Serving
J.T. Wagenheim, Editor in Ch
Mitel
Wendy Hudson, Carson
' Nancy Salom<
??_____________
Crime
S.C. politicians, media shi
unnvLVbsuiy rjysmiu ut/vi
Americans have always been c
and violent. Protection of the
been of utmost importance h
societies, including the European d
The Framers of the Constitution <
citizens' rights to own firearms, pre:
five Americans, their fellow Americ
ment. The United States, by far, ha*
' with practically no regulations on c
The United States is also one of
tries with the death penalty. We sh;
But with all of these rights allowi
ments for those who do wrong, cr
during the past 30 years.
Even though there has been a rel;
olent, Americans' interest in the iss
In 1968, in the midst of violent anti
M<vam Uaot- fK/a n^mArraftr
lULiuuu niAuii uvoi uiv i/viuwi?uv
der issue. And in 1988, George B\
against Democrat Michael Dukakis
crime. But in years such as 1972,1
in deciding the electoral result.
The cycle seems to have returne
about crime and how it's destroying
careful, our society.
The media joined the crime ban<
lore on how the country is on the ve
The first five minutes of every loca
rapes, burglary or how these eveni
Voters are demanding action froi
? and the S.C. gubernatorial candidate
of ideas on how to get tough on cr
,\ But many of the ideas cost a lot ol
include building prisons, which ha
ing the problem.
But everybody seems to be missi
ally steadied the past few years, and
crime shouldn't be ignored, but it's
can't afford without raising taxes o
I. It's also irresponsible to create 1
, become worse.
Yes, crime should be addresse
" get worse. But the politics of fea
V reinforced by the media, is ui
~ should focus on hope, not fear
X-rated bus
Tirocfp nf nit
VY (IOIV VFJL VJLI
Columbia has an ordinance ths
I says sexually oriented businesse:
such as adult bookstores and stri
? bars, must be in a commercial zori
! and at least 1,000 feet from churcl
J es, schools, parks, residential are;
and other sexually oriented bus
nesses.
| Fortunately, a Circuit Court judg
J ruled Wednesday that Columbia ui
constitutionally used this ordinanc
. ! in 1992 when it shut down Chaser
Mags-N-Mixers, an adult bookstoi
' on Two Notch Road.
< Apparently, Chasers' was withi
\ 1,000 feet of a neighborhood an
church. The problem, the judg
said, is that there is no place in C<
I lumbia that isn't within 1,000 feet <
a church, school or other areas i
- the provisions of the ordinanc
Chasers' was left with no alternativ
The ordinance is a sorry attemj
J by the city to close every sexual
' oriented business within its limii
Columbia has a pending case again
Chippendolls on Rosewood that,
) the city has its way, would shi
down the establishment.
Columbia should focus its eneq
on getting rid of the crime and cnu
that pollute the downtown and Tv
Notch areas instead of shuttir
down nonest, legal businesses.
When Chasers' presented extensr
evidence to the Circuit Court th
there was no place to move ar
therefore follow the ordinance, wo
ful city officials found themselves at
loss. They couldn't find anywhere f
the business to relocate to. The la
thing Mayor Bob Coble wants is tl
t responsibility of finding new locatio
for these types of businesses.
Some contend that prostitutic
and drugs come with die adult e
tertainment industry. These esta
lishments are a place for people
go and privately buy adult liteiatu
or be entertained by strippers. Ii
just safe, honest fun. Two Not<
would be just as trashy if every adi
bookstore were shut down, or f
TSaifcock
^ Student Media Russell House-US<
J.T. Wagenheim Nancy Salomoi
Editor in Chief CaroHnat EcSto
Lee Clontz T?^S?t0
Viewpoints Editor ? Sport, E*tor
Carson Henderson ^
Copy Desk Chief Riolo Editor
Gordon Manlier Ch M^r
Copy Desk Chief Graphics Edtto
Wendy Hudson Nora
News Editor liewt
The Gamecock is the student newspaper ol
University of South Carolina and is published Mo
Wednesday and Friday during the fall and spring s<
lers, with the exception of university holidays and1
periods.
Opinions expressed in The Gamecock are those c
editors or author and not those of the Universi
South Carolina.
The Board of Student Publications and Ccnmunic
is the publisher of The Gamecock. The Departm
0 Student Media is its parent organization.
Ittcock I
use Since 1908
ief Lee Gontz, Viewpoints Editor
rial Board
i Henderson, Gordon Mantler,
ansky, Tony Santori
mid resist creating
' crime issue
oncerned about crime, both property
mselves and their private property has
ere, much more than in other Western
emocracies.
drew out specific provisions protecting
>umably to protect themselves from Naans
and, some may argue, the governi
the most liberal gun laws in the West,
iwnership of weapons,
only two Western industrialized counire
that honor with South Africa,
ng us to protect ourselves and punishime
still has become worse and worse
itively steady rise in crime, especially viue
goes in cycles.
-war protests and other street violence,
vice president partly on the law and or
1911 pUUUUtU lllL 199UV U1 V-liiuv iiv/mv
, who had the image of being weak on
976 and 1980, crime wasn't as integral
d again in 1994 as everybody is talking
; families, communities and, if we're not
iwagon early, running cover stories garge
of paralysis because of violent crime.
1 newscast seems to be about murders,
s have affected a community or family,
m their government on stopping crime,
3 have answered their pleas with dozens
ime.
f money that the state doesn't have. They
s been proven to be ineffective in curbng
the point. Crime statistics have actuI
some have even gone down. Of course,
; irresponsible to espouse ideas the state
r slashing other needed programs,
nysteria over the subject when it hasn't d
in proactive programs so it doesn't
r being used by politicians, and then
inecessary. Our potential officials
-fill**
mvjo jl uiv
y's energy
i. J.T. Wagenheim
??
s' EDITOR'S NOTE
e
that matter never even existed,
n Coble claims the Chasers' ruling
id is a major diow to tne city s ngni
;e against undesirable businesses. He's
o- afraid sexually oriented businesses
of will multiply like gremlins in water
in if there are no zoning ordinances to
e. govern them.
e. Municipalities shouldn't be alpt
lowed to create ordinances to hinly
der the growth of any legal, honest
s. business. Let's say Chippendolls did
st meet the provisions of the ordiif
nance, and a church suddenly
it opened 700 feet from the bar on
Rosewood.
Ty Even though Chippendolls is the
Jc older of the two establishments, it
ro would have to close because of the
ig ordinance. The law should read the
contrary: Churches, schools and resre
idential neighborhoods shouldn't be
at allowed to develop within 1,000 feet
id from sexually oriented businesses,
e- What's fair is fair. All legal busi:
a nesses should enjoy the same proor
tection under the law and not be
ist punished for their mission or pur??
tvKP If nennle don't like these es
iv ? i 1
ns tablishments, fine, don't patronize
them. No one is forcing you to.
)n Let's focus our energy on passing
n- laws that mandate tough penalties
b- for truly criminal offenses. Make the
to drug dealers unemployed: Shut
re down the crack houses. Don't cent's
sor honest businesses.
:h
alt J.T. Wagenbeim's column appears
or every other Monday.
News: 777-7726
Advertising: 777-4249 Laura Dav
FAX: 777-6482 Production Manager
O Columbia. SC 29208 Jim Green
As?. Production Manager
usky Keith Boudreaux Gregory Perez
r. Asst- News Production Asst.
Brian Garland Brian McGuire
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re Enuly Peterson Renee Gibson
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' the Latter* Policy
day,
jnei. The Gamecock wiU try to print all letters received,
exam Letters should be 200-250 words and must include full
name, professional title or year and major if a student.
>f the Letters must be personally delivered by the author to
ty of The Gamecock newsroom in Russell House room 321.
stions The Gamecock reserves the right to edit all letters for
;nt Qf style, possible libel or space limitations. Names will not
be withheld under any circumstances.
HThe 6amccock
Viewpoi
" The ot Biu. mp cua
j|!|
If -J
"I consider it certainly an honoi
the future and in some
Questions over l
The hottest topic on the political scene
month h^s been the ongoing government inv
gation into the Clintons' dealings witft tne wi
water Development Co. Since many American:
pear to be confused by the Whitewater scand
have decided to use this space to answer all oi
inquiries an average USC student would hav<
the subject.
Q: What the hell is Whitewater?
A: It's an Arkansas real estate venture in w
the Clintons were partners with James and S;
McDougal during the 1980s. There is specula
that McDougal diverted money from his savings
loan into the Whitewater account and into Bill <
ton's gubernatorial campaign. When the institi
went under, it cost taxpayers in excess of $50
lion.
Q: But didn't the Clintons lose money on W
water?
A: That depends on who you believe. If yot
lieve Bill Clinton, by the time he sold his inu
in Whitewater, he had lost $69,000. If you be
the Clintons' tax returns, he didn't lose anytl
Since McDougal kicked in most of Clinton'
vestment for him, I'll believe the tax returns,
can't lose money you didn't invest.
Q: What's all this about document shredc
A: There were two sets of shreddings. The
took place during the campaign after the p
mentioned the Whitewater deal. Mrs. Clinton
two couriers from her office (the infamous
law firm) shred a box of documents. Accordii
Catering to 'sej
A man makes romantic gestures to a woman
either reciprocates or rebuffs. It really was p
simple, until the Supreme Court changed the i
This feeling-out dialogue between men
women used to be called flirting. Today, thi
be called sexual harassment, and it represent
one spectrum, a new McCarthyism where a
women can use innuendo to destroy career:
reputations. On the other, it entails anothc
ception to First Amendment guarantees tc
speech.
One problem with this crime is that with mc
ing left to do the majority of the courting in tf
ciety, the crime of sexuail harassment is inhei
biased against men. How is he supposed to I
how a particular woman will handle romani
tention? Second, it attempts a social engine
I ?t 1 Zf\ aaa I _.
scneme wncre years ui iuuuic is uiuci
yield to nouveau feminist ideology.
People are usually socially involved with the
workers. These are the people with whoi
spend the largest blocks of our time. Socia
even romantic relationships are inevitable.1
out-and-out harassment is wrong, romantic
tures to co-workers are natural.
This new dictate ? that men should treat w
the same as they do men ? is as hopeless;
ridiculous. Men will always wink and stare, a
Are politician*
B"No. Crime has got!
something needs to
"No. Crime is a prol
be taken care of."
ints
t//V" b?
I
11) 4
%
itlwaTerJB
Mr >
?
: and a privilege. It will give me an o]
way contribute to their long-term le;
Whitewater scanda
Patrick McNei]
' r JKSJrrrfthe
* f COLUMNIST
e on _
the couriers, all of the documents belonged
hich ceased White House lawyer Vincent Foster. W
arah to contact Foster for this story, but the Ouija
.tion was down.
and The second shredding took place last mon
Clin- cording to the Washington Times, the Rose la
ition decided to help the investigation by shredd
mil- of its remaining Whitewater-related docur
The firm decided Vince Foster would have i
hite- for them because... he's still dead.
Q: Is that why this is being referred
i be- "Hillary's scandal?"
;rest A: Yes. But there's more. While serving a
lieve Lady, Hillary was involved in an investment
ling, called Value Partners. It turns out that whil
s in- Clinton was on the hustings, telling Americ
You terrible the pharmaceutical industry is, Valu
ners was betting the price of pharmaceutica
linp? would nlummet. When this haooened. Hillai
first Bill) made a bundle.
>ress For those of you who aren't into high fn
i had this is known as "insider trading." Just as
Rose Boesky...
ig to Q: Why is the investigation of Vince F<
tually harassed' g
s jegMtt
S, on W * ! COLUMNIST
5 and PBlMr?
:r ex- long as the situation doesn't turn violent, i
> free will have to deal with it. Laws can't attempt
er people's sensitivity to how they're loo
:n be- Haven't the Anita Hills of the world ever I
,is so" a tavern or had a date? Haven't they ever fli
^ntly learned to handle the attention of someoi
weren't interested in? Can't they just tell
lc.at" rasser to beat it, or is it just more powerfu
er!ng . women-as-victims feminist agenda to make
ed to ... ,. , &
litical issue?
4r co- But sexua^ harassment is isn't exact]
in we The Navy, in response to its Tailhook pre
j ancj has classified the giving of personal letters
? ? ? M /lU/Aiit fko
JThile cms, ui asiuiig ijucsuuiu nuuui mv pvijvn?
over- a co-worker, or displaying sexually sug|
posters or calendars, and nuking sexually
omen remarks as sexual harassment,
is it's Yet the Supreme Court didn't even writt
nd as nition of sexual harassment when, in its la:
> creating an unnecessary
ten really out of hand, and
be done about it."
Laurel Coker
French/theater sophomore
)lem that I believe needs to
Synee Means
English senior iSL
3_
liSllffiM *
&
Xjfl Apu\
> mJiJ WM\t\G
?*> My fo PRA6
pportunity to interact with the leaders of
adership development process."
Charles Austin
Columbia police chief
on being an honorary ODK inductee
1 continue to appear
i death being reopened?
A: Because of the highly suspicious conduct of
White House aides following Foster's demise. ForB
mer White House counsel Bernard Nussbaum
claims to have found Foster's torn suicide note inside
his briefcase. The FBI agents who searched
?-I Foster's office claim the briefcase was empty. Hm.
mm. Where did this note come from? And don't
^ried most people tend to SIGN their suicide notes?
koarxj Meanwhile, the U.S. Park Police have come under
fire for botching the investigation into Foster's
th. Ac- death. But they have let it be known that they did
w firm perform an autopsy and tests on the corpse. The
ing all Justice Department, which is holding all the copies
nents. on the police report, has no comment.
10 use Q: Will there be congressional hearings?
A: Don't know yet. The Democrats don't seem
to as terribly anxious to have them. (Surprise!) The Republicans
want to start now. (Surprise!) last week,
s First tjje Senate voted unanimously to hold hearings,
^UP but special prosecutor Robert Fiske has let it be
e . re' known that he doesn't want the hearings to interhow
e Part ^ere ^th his criminal investigation.
1 stock ?ut ^ l^s probe continues to drag on like the
? (^nA Iran-Contra effort did, the pressure will build for
Congress to take action. If the hearings continue
nance, through 1995, the Senate may have the aid of a true
k Ivan cover-up expert: Oliver North.
jster's Patrick McNeills column appears every Monday.
etting out of hand
it took and favored with the case of Minneapolis
woman Teresa Harris, who claimed she was sexually
harassed by her employer.
? The Court, in an opinion written by Sandra Day
O'Connor with a concurrence from Ruth Bader
Ginsberg, agreed with Harris' case and ordered
jvomen compensation. They made no clear mention of
to cov- what sexual harassment is, but they said when a
ked at. workplace is permeated with enough insult or
seen to ridicule to alter the conditions of employment, it
Ttfthey vio'ates ^ ?f the 1964 Civil Rights Act.
the ha- In effect? the Court struck a blow to the First
1 to the Amendment by discouraging romantic and/or sexit
a po- uai speech. And men must now be petrified as to
ly clear ^al ^10 women ^ ^ women ^ too
j'biems thin-skinned to handle a romantic advance. While
?or po- rhetoric flies about the power of women, it's sad
il life of the Court has chosen to buttress the notion that
gestive women need special protection,
explicit personal ads in newspapers and the shameful 900
: a defi- numbers on television will probably be the only rest
term, al beneficiaries of the Court's ruling.
7 hysteria over crime?
"There needs to be awareness that crime is
out there."
Justin Jones
French education sophomore
"Crime is getting hectic. They should try to
put an end to it."
Victor Jones
Biology freshman