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* Wednesday, April 6, 1994 r ; I *t!5ari Serving V J.T. Wagenheim, Editor in Chi Edltorl Wendy Hudson, Carson ] Nancy Salomoi Crime 'Two strikes, you're o to keep repeat offend /TTihe "two strikes, you're out" po Legislature is a positive step JL crime. . a Most violent offenders, once releas repeating their crimes. Many commit ; ations or have demonstrated that th< J "made up" for their crimes. Unfortunately, the excuse of priso justice system to let many prisoners, < ciety without adequate time for refor t J For a number of criminals, though leased, they go on to perform similai ^ and money of the law enforcement s; i nals it has just set free. \ The solutions? Several possibilities \ and cons. ; Legalize drugs. Perhaps the most < t crime, some say, are to make drug sa oners convicted of using or dealing. T to be used by violent offenders. The \ abuse begins to run rampant, thereb) Build more prisons. A logical step, < , olent criminals go, but an expensive form of the prison system itself. After all, what good will it do to ha\ 4 the system is still geared toward findii ' radically violent offenders. The "two strikes" bill. By building m c oners convicted of violent crime twici , tive, albeit expensive, solution will pul belong: away from law-abiding citizer The bill, which would classify violet or rape, is the most effective way to < bars. Critics of the bill say it doesn't allov Kilifotinn ai* \Y/iv\?*r? A vuimuvil VI IVUVllipUVlI. TY IVllg. A pih has a chance to redeem himself. If the ity, there is no excuse to allow him to Other opponents of the bill say it is to groups that study prison populatioi ^ prisonment. When it comes to violent criminals, I is the innocent citizen attacked by a v by a system designed to protect the pi Of all the anti-crime proposals to cc strikes" proposal is the most reasonat Costs of wel a shouldn't sc Reports in both The New York Times and The State Tuesday said the cost of President Clinton's plan to reform the U.S. welfare system would cost much more than originally expected. This was according to a confidential memorandum presented to the president by adminis, tration officials. Tl ? J ^1 1 I J me mcinu 5<tiu mc pian couiu add as much as 158 billion to the nation's welfare costs over the next 10 years. It also said there was the chance that, under the plan, which calls for a two-year limit in benefits, some former recipients might be left homeless or unable to take care of their children. Incredibly, the initial reaction by many, including administration officials, to this news was one of surprise. For a system that is so screwed up, it should be no surprise that it 4 could cost quite a bundle to fix it. Of course, there are ways to cut some of those costs, but any plan which would still meet the original goals of welfare but avoid the abuses of it, would require more money, at least in the short run. Clinton's plan has been described as the "Cadillac version" of welfare i proposals and will probably be scaled down. The current plan calls for a two-year limit on benefits for those able to work plus expanded i training, education and child-care < -i / . programs su uit uiance OI getting a | job before being cut out of the pro- 1 gram is much higher. 1 His plan is ultimately the best way j of preparing welfare recipients to en- 1 ter the work world again. In this | way, the money the program requires will not be just thrown down | a hole, as it is perceived. Instead, it 1 will be an investment in people, who 1 will pay back society through hard work in a normal job. Now, my conservative critics will ' *t5aifcock & Student Media Russell House-USO Col J.T. Wagenheim Nancy Salomonsky Editor in Chief CaroKn?! Editor Lee Clontz To"y S?ntori Viewpoint! Editor _ Sports Editor Carson Henderson Mandrel] Copy Desk Chief Pboto Edi,or Gordon Mantler Chns Middrow Copy Desk Chief Graphics Editor Wendy Hudson Nora Doyle New. Editor A?t. New. The Gamecock is the stndent newspaper of the University of South Carolina and is published Monday, Wednesday and Friday during the fall and spring semesters, with the exception of university holidays and exam periods. Opinions expressed in The Gamecock are those of the editors or author and not those of the University of South Carolina. The Board of Student Publications and Communications is the publisher of The Gamecock. The Department of Student Media is its parent organization. Itcock SCSinct 1908 ef Lee Gontz, Viewpoints Editor lal Board Henderson, Gordon Mantler, nsky, Tony Santori ut' policy good plan fers off streets l: ?J? ;J ? ?- -t - in./ unuci ?.uiu>iucniuuii Dy mc staie i toward the prevention of violent ed, successfully return to society, not ted their crimes in questionable situly can function in society. They have n overcrowding has encouraged the rven violent ones, move back into som and punishment, i, there is no rehabilitation. Once re crimes again, wasting the resources ystem, which must track down crimiexist, each with their individual pros controversial ways to reduce violent les and usage legal, and release prishis would, in effect, free prison space plan, however, could backfire if drug r creating more crime. :ertainly when compared to letting viinvestment to make without any rere more prison spaces available when lg a quick release for all but the most ore prisons and demanding that pris: serve a lifetime sentence, this effect violent, repeat offenders where they IS. it felonies as armed robbery, murder insure that criminals remain behind v appropriate opportunities for rehajoner released after one violent crime : criminal continues his violent activremain on the street, unfair to blacks, who are, according is, more often targets for lifetime invite only person being treated unfaidy iolent criminal prematurely released ublic. ime down the pike thus far, the "two >le and potentially the most effective. fare reform are Clinton I9BEU Gordon Mantler COPY DESK CHIEF say this is way too idealistic and that most of these people are losers and will never amount to anything. This might be true for some, but many just had bad breaks. This type of program is just the type which gives them the chance to succeed and give something back to society. The solution to welfare is not to just cut off people after one year or six months as some conservatives have suggested. The training programs are necessary, even though they probably don't need to be quite as expansive as in Clinton's proposal. The other concern of some people failing through the cracks is, unfortunately, hard to avoid. No program will be able to accommodate everybody, but if done right very few will fall into this rateeorv. The release of this information about the potential costs of welfare reform is a necessary step in educating the public about what it will take to fix the system. Most likely, it will cost us quite a bit of money in the short term. However, welfare reform is an investment in the future, arhich will eventually bring about a good yield. I just hope the president and Congress will stick to their promise and reform a badly broken system. The ivorst thing they could do is nothing. Gordon Mantler's column appears every other Wednesday. I / "! s. r> 11 777-7776 vims v^urrun . " ___ .Q Cooiduulor of Studea Medii tising: 777-4249 L D 777-6482 Production Manner umbia, SC 29208 A jbn Green As*. Production Manager Keith Boudreaux Gregory Perez Asst. News Production Asst. Brian Garland Brian McGuire Asst. Carolina I Graduate Asst. Emily Peterson Renee Gibson Asst. Photo Advertising Manager Jimmy Debutts J. Taylor Rutland Asst. Sports As*. Advertising Manager Paul Jem Boscacci Erik Collins Cartoonist Faculty Adviser Lattors Policy Tbe Gamecock will try to print all letters received. Letters should be 200-230 words and must include full name, professional title or year and major if a student. Letters must be personally delivered by the author to The Gamecock newsroom in Russell House room 321. Tbe Gamecock reserves the right to edit all letters for style, possible libel or space limitations. Names will not be withheld under any circumstances. %\\z 6amccock Viewpoiv /sn UfuircUiTtD nm B|fm 11*5 P66& I^AM 1Y5 gjg^tRTHkN VIETNAM 1Y5 ?66EB"1M*N TM? <Pani$* NQw>?ON !fI "The deficit is getting lai We are $20,000 to $2! the actual ar Feminists wan I know I am not sharpening knives in the kitchen. I know I am not studying pamphlets for a feminist Utopian island. I know I am not spitting on men who pass me in the street. But I know I am a feminist. When I say the majority of people who attack feminism understand very little about its nuances, I am not calling anyone stupid. Feminism is complex in its different opinions and thoughts. Not all women are brandishing steak knives or hopping on ^li^ocmTSticks ready to recolonize thfe moon with women only. Most mainstream feminists want integration with men, they want equality, they want respect. Women are not a pair of legs with gossamer hair and a smooth butt. Women do not want to destroy men. What good would that do? It defeats the purpose of feminism. Some feminists argue women aren't different from men except biologically. Plop a kid out, and that's it. That's what makes a woman different from a man. Other feminists say this difference is what women should celebrate because it is unique: To give uie, to nave a cnna stir inside tne body is something wonderfully womanist. Or maybe a woman's mind is different in that it is more serene, more docile, more sensitive because of the hormonal differences. But if that's true, such a thing might be an asset in times of trouble. If the country is on the brink of war, a government with more women involved might be less likely to declare violence. And many crimes are committed by men. Violence not related of the ml ? , . nant woman to abortion rights ment and w pregnancy, sh To tbe editor; all of her opti Steve Lefemine's letter to the edi- the a, tor fa the April 1 issue of The Game- tirebirthcon, cock was a nice Apnl Fool s Day joke. p)anuandin I rod this same letter in The State a "'?, 15 the woman's unjustified and ludicrous as it was . abortion, no i Gaining the legal right to a safe ^^eS' ^ aV abortion is not an explanation for the aTe' friehtenine amount of vinlpnre that Prevention we are experiencing in this country ^to rec^uc' today. If you remember correctly, dur- cies-1116 ^acu ing the 12 suffocating years of Reagan ^ activity and and Bush, abortions were actually re- bias-free in c stricted by the gag rule. message is no State health departments around Violence is i the country were gagged by this rule to have an ab and were unable to inform or aid the lated to the la pregnant woman if she wanted to ter- the streets o m in ate her pregnancy. With the repeal frustrated peo What do you thin] "I don't think it allows ro change. Criminals should be should have some benefit i instead of being put away for - >-.mr m r |[j| "I think it's a pretty good p< flP Hi porate some rehabilitation." Secondary counseli its 1U{ ITS QoJ A UOHTCJ wk REFR*$H'N& T^Slf . -jvir VOiu ENJO'*#' - sha COLUMNIST kej pos OW] But, these are just theories. How do theories get proven? They must be tested. So many perceptions must be changed. Men still wo think they must be the pursuer. Some think that is to ( all they can be to a woman because she is not wor- A thy of friendship: Her mind is too weak, and she is bin too much of a temptation for him. ses: A few years ago, 1 was at a party, and 1 spoke to er t a man who was friends with my then-boyfriend. I woi assumed this man was just being amicable, and he It mistook my behavior, also. He started writing me is n letters and sending me copies of his favorite music, anc When I asked him to stop and just be my friend, Anc he raged, calling me every negative feminine word ^ he knew. This man was embarrassed and hurt, and ? ? sue this was how he retaliated. I never heard from him ^ again- heft I do not hate men at all. It's simple. Society tells men they must pursue women who aren't aggres- ern sive, but are passive and timid, sitting by the phone, we drying their hair on a Saturday night. mei This is the negative image of what feminists fight T Women are not objects. But here's another stereo- nor type. When women cease being objects, they cut fern off penises. No, no, no. Lorena Bobbitt did not cut agir e in 1992, when a preg- Let us focus on why violence enters a health depart- curring instead of on how t< ants to terminate her American women of their rig le is given counseling on safe abortion, oris, including abortion. ivent of new and effec- Wendy Sc trol methods such as im- School of Public 1 jections, the number of graduate si y be reduced. However, right to a safe and legal USC volunteerS hell matter what the circum- 1 ailable thanks to Roe v. tit ClClllCllttiry SCilOi through education is the To the editor: ng unwanted pregnan- The city of Columbia had a 1 > on birth control, sexu- experience Saturday, March 26 STDs need to be taught unteers representing all aspects >ur schools in case the community participated in th ?t received in the home. Year program. The individu; not linked with the right volved in this program deserve onion; it is directly re- nition for the positive change rge number of guns on caused to happen in our comn f our country and the Many USC students comprised pie who are using them, volunteer groups. k about the 'two strikes, yo om for people to ^ ^ punished, but they 8et away w to the community Marketing senior olicy if they incor- MT 1 think it's LdBfl violent, the :ia Stackhouse lifc" ng graduate student IfoM* 7_ : MePlM Mtc MAtONfe OUT OF J CTuFf ? PO^T teAW-V U*pCR$TANft.. I'M ATRA'O jO'N&T&ENOfOON... O o o je is getting smaller. We won't know August." J.T. Wagenheim The Gamecock editor in chief i the cancellation of the Garnet and Black yearbook lity, not fear r husband's penis because she .hated men or a ted revenge. She wanted to stop him from hurther. tnd when a woman is pushed to such a point, I ike my head and want to cry. This woman was ng raped by her husband, a man who was sup?ed to respect and honor her. And it was in her n home. Rape in her home by the man she mar1. Anyone would feel trapped, too. Mv God. no nder she did such a violent act. It had nothing io with vindication. l woman is more than a pretty pair of legs. Bed a woman's moving, uncrinkling eyes, she posses a brain which kicks and screams even hardhan those legs. This world has not been fair to men. t is wonderful a woman can create life, but that ot all she can do. Her mind stomps and shouts I pushes forward, throwing back its blankets. I a man does these things, too. But because his ly is not the house of the child, he is free to purcareers. fo matter what, I know women have a long way )re they can call themselves equal. The U.S. govment is only made up of 2 percent women. As all know, this country does not have that many he steak knives are still dull, the pamphlets are lexistent, and I don't like spitting. But I am a inist and will be when my eyes are crinkled and >gi is oc- As principal of H.E. Coriey Elemeno strip tary School, it was an honor to be asht to a sociated with the Carolina students who worked with City Year. These students came to our school and assisted hmidt our families and staff in making an outiealth door classroom and nature trail, mdent An amazing transformation in a j 1? wwucu <11 cid near uur scnooi oc? curred in a matter of hours. These stu" dents, who spent several hours at our 3l school, have made a tremendous difference by providing an additional learning environment for our students inique and staff. as vol- A special "thank you" comes from of the our school to the students who asle City sisted us. USC can be very proud of als in- this fine group of young people, recogs they James Lane lunity. Principal I these H.E. Corley Elementary School Irmo u're out' bill? ; sounds like a good thing. Criminals nth too much today." Will McNair Business administration freshman OK. If the crimes are consistent and n the person should be put in jail for Rodney Byrd Chemistry/biology senior WERE MAOe JCETtWEVRf 5 , TEW?M6TW TIWW/ u i ger, and the potential to generate reveni 5,000 in the hole from the 1993 yearbool nount until the 1994 book comes out in, On it respect, equa rl Afei 1?: 1 ? I flHi Melissa Tennen I