University of South Carolina Libraries
Serving USCS Lee Qontz, Editor in Chief Susa Editorial Keith Boudreaux, Lupe E; Jimmy DeButts, A killer's reo Fighting death row in ties up judicial system Had it been any ordinary persoi controversy surrounding the s Torrence, however, is not an death row who's asking the state to c ry previously decided. Torrence's conviction for stabbing; to result in the death penalty. Thafs 1 Thaf s the answer he wants. But somi change m the future, that omission si ecution is carried out, the justices will case anyway. This case is about a convicted mur He has said clearly that, if released, 1 ing anymore countless dollars on was him what he wants?justice, even at Poor judgme involvement PATRICK " 7 jf ' MCNEILL Columnist "What am I doiri here?!?! Please, Mr. Custer, I don't want to go" Larry Verne "Mr. Custer'* There was a high drama this week on the international scene, as our embattled American leader showed unexpected backbone in a military situation. In a matter of days, he brought us back from the brink of what was certain to be a futile military situation. He refused to back down from the evil Haitian military leaders, and he silenced the domestic critics who labeled his presidency a failure. But enough about Jimmy Carter. If you have seen or read about the brutal beating of a Haitian man in Port-au-Prince on Tuesday, you have probably figured out the people of Haiti have turned out to be the big losers in this settlement. According to wire service reports, Haitian soldiers attacked anti-government demonstrators with clubs, rifle butts and sticks. They detonated tear-gas canisters and fired their automatic rifles into the air. Then, they clubbed a man to death and nearly beat another to death. On Wednesday, military-backed gunmen shot and killed a nine-year-old boy who was with the demonstrators. All of these actions took place within sight of American soldiers. But, under the rules of engagement provided by the agreement, our men and women were forced to watch helplessly. From news reports, we have been informed that the U.S. soldiers can only take action in self-de"tBfflffcock S Student Media Russell House-USO Co! Lee Clontz Jimmy DeButts Editor in Chief Sport* Editor Susan Goodwin Kim Truett viewpoint* ctaiur ruww ???? Steven C. Burritt Ethan Myerson Copy Deak Chief Graphics Editor Keith Boudreaux Erin Galloway News Editor Asst. News Lupe Eyde Robert Wertz Features Editor Asm. News The Gamecock is the student 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 *rv Communications is the publisher of The Gamecock, "be Department of Student Media ia its parent organization. Uw4? IOCR ince 1908 n Goodwin, Viewpoints Editor Board yde, Steven C. Burritt, Kim Truett [uest mate's desire to die pointlessly n who requested to be put to death, a ituation could be understood. Michael guuc WlUIlg. Torrence has admitted to killing i the future. He is only asking the S.C. S have agreed to do. Because he is the first death row i the reinstatement of the death penal ty of what some have called a "statecommon with much of the legal system into a complex look into the nature of The deliberation of the case is ma siding with the prosecuting attorney, lie defender assigned to him. Howevei competence that Savitz claims. They tions for a man who wants his senter This supposed incompetence is th execution. While stabbing a man 191 ior, people have been allowed to stani commits murder doesn't mean he can' especially when he asks for it. Savitz also obiects to the situatio rence would not get parole because ol on trial for murder, showing no rem ordinary person. He's an inmate on arry out the sentence a judge and jui Lexington man 19 times is supposed the answer the judicial system wants, swhere in all this logic something has n the past and has said he will kill in lupreme Court to do what other courts nmate to ask to drop his appeal since ty in 1977, a discussion of the legali assisted suicide" has followed. As is i today, a simple issue has been turned 'man. de even more perverse by Torrence's while he battles Joe Savitz, the pubr, these actions do not indicate the inindicate a natural progression of acice to be carried out. e main reason Savitz cites to stay the :imes is not indicative of sane behavi trial for less. Just because a person t take the punishment for that crime, n because the jury was not told Torf earlier convictions. Because he was orse for his actions or any intent to louldn't really matter. Before the exhave a brief legal review of Torrence's derer who no one claims has changed, le will kill again. Rather than spend ted trial time, the court should grant the expense of his own life. nt hampers in Haiti fense or to assist the Haitian police in apprehending criminals. So, what have American troops been up to this week in Haiti? Well, according to USA Today, they have been doing everything from repairing the plumbing of Haitian civilians to filling potholes on the street. Huh? Wasn't it just 11 days ago President Clinton declared Cedras to be the second worst dictator in the Western Hemisphere? Now, our mission is to helD Cedras' government? Our mission is to help repair the plumbing? Our mission is to repair the potholes on the roads? Over the past 30 years, most American military problems have come when our armed forces are used for non-military purposes. In Vietnam, our men were used to help prop up the unpopular South Vietnamese government In Lebanon, the Marines were being used as a buffer between the Israelis and Arabs when a car bomb hit the U.S. Embassy. In Somalia, our involvement began as a humanitarian mission, and ended with our troops being shot down by Somali guerrillas. Hie Clinton administration is not using the militaiy to depose Cedras. There is no real timetable for the re movai or our torces. lhey will, presumably, remain in Haiti until the government of Aristide is secured. Under their present charter, they are unable to protect the Haitian people from their government. If America wants to help solve the problems of the Haitian people, they should send in the Peace Corps or the Red Cross, but the Marines should stay home unless America plans to use them for something other than target practice. Patrick McNeill is a third year law student. His column awears every Monday. , hhh Chns Carroll L? ^ Director of Student Media Using: 777-4249 Laura D 777-6482 Creative Director lumbia, SC 29208 Jim Green Ait Diiector Wendy Hudson Gregory Perez Asm. Copy Desk Production Asst. Tanja Kropf Elizabeth Thomas Am! rVtMf rwir AHv Accl Allison Williams Renee Gibson AM. Features Advertising Manager Ryan Wilson Chris Wood Asst. Spots Asst. Advertising Manager Jason JefTers Erik Collins Cartoonist Faculty Advisor Letters Policy The Gamecock will try to print all letters received. Letters should be 200-250 wods and must include full name, professional title o year and major if a student. Letters must be personally delivered by the author to The Gamecock newsroom in Russell House room 321. The Gamecock reserves the right to *<*it all letters for style, possible libel or space b mi tali or ^ Names will not be withheld under any circumstances. Teg SAfflfcST ?I1WN WMM Cff&Rjjgft f*? T?S1 P 4^ nSi QUOTEUNQU0TE "They raise our tuition Next se Racism taints I just started my second year here at Carolina. So far I have collected many memories I will keep with me for a long time, but there is one that stands above the rest. I'm sure I'm not the first person that has experienced what I have, and I am sad to say I will probably not be the last. About this time last year, I attended a fraternity rush party. It was the kind that fraternities use to recruit new brothers. Well, they might have been recruiting new members, but they didn't want the friend I brousht with me. To make a Ions storv short, mv black friend and I were asked to leave shortly after we arrived. This column is not about bashing fraternities (they really don't need my help). This column is focusing on the truths and norms of our society. The problem I would like to address is one quietly plaguing our campus: racism. If you think my thoughts on racism are way off base, that's fine. I can only say what I think is the truth, and people get crucified for telling the truth all the time. When racism is mentioned, most people, black or white, turn a deaf ear. People don't want to talk about it, and their apprehension adds to the problem. I'm not saying everyone is a racist, but it only takes one to spoil a good time. (An interesting footnote to my stoTwo problems v This campaign season I am having a hard time accepting two things: 1. Mayor Joe Riley is not the Democratic nominee for Governor and 2. Lt. Gov. Theodore is the Democratic nominee for Governor. Both men battled during the summer for the Democratic nomination, with the Lt. Governor coming out on top by less than 2,000 votes, barely one vote in every precinct in the state. Mayor Riley ran one of the most intelligent and inspiring campaigns this state has ever seen, while Nick Theodore ran negative ads attacking Mayor Joe on crime, taxes and racial equality. Those three issues determined the entire campaign. Theodore misrepresented the Riley record saying crime has increased two-fold in Charleston, while the crime rate actually has decreased tremendously. While the tax rate did increase in Charleston, most of the burden was placed on tourists. Should a death nw <r^es' ^ t*iat's w^at wan*s t( "I'm pro-life, but it is his choici n * him anyway. Is it the point of t ^oas: J GMBff "TV Pt^patyJA. WfecTOR ifon, usftso\ I ffl* I fn 0.^. tt&NWiS..- I J) 1 i every semester. I don't see why they car mester, they may say you have to pay for Harper-Elliot resident Nimisha Sangani I Carolina spiri SKf RYAN WILSON Asst. Sports Editor ? ry is that the person who didn't want my friend there didn't ask us to leave. He went through a chain of people until one of the members that knew me suggested we leave.) Why is there racism? The answer is easy ? ignorance. People are not born racist; they have to be taught it. My great grandfather was a card-carrying Klan member, but I don't see things the way he did. If you watch a large group of little kids playing, notice they tend to see past color. Those kids only know they are enjoying life to the fullest. Somewhere along the line those kids will separate and become alienated from one another. Some of my friends throw the word "nigger^ around like ifs an accepted title for a black person. They usually apologize to me because they know it offends me. It just goes to show that people know racism is wrong, but they are so accustomed to intolerance it comes naturallv. Shows like "Montel Williams" and "Geraldo" have vith '94 elections iCT?-??i ' <& tS-J BYRON JAMES Columnist _ N* J * 'wl I That didn't hurt the Charleston economy because tourism has increased steadily over the last 20 years. And racial equality is why he ran for mayor. He left the S.C. General Assembly to go home to Charleston to heal the wounds of desegregation. Most of the key city officials are people of color, all appointed by Mayor Joe. He also served as chair of the National Mayors Conference twice and is revered as one of the best mayors in the United States. This was South Carolina's second chance in 10 years to nominate an innovative and creative leader, but South Carolina chose the status quo. In 1986, Phil Lader, the former president of Wmthrop University, was defeated in the democratic primary by then Lt. 7 inmate be allowed t< Renee Powers I sll)le Psychology freshman jp^P ^ ^ 5 and they're going to kill f|^ j "Yes. he judicial system that he Bgg^|jg^ Terrence Casteal Biology freshman p lA^CAH PoUW ANALYST ^ i?#u Aifci<r tlli? CI%W H PRojecnua k L xviiuvv lausm 10 aiivc cuiu ncn v/n uuo uuu^uo, aim no going to take more than a column in The Gamecock to change anything. The simple fact is we all can leam to be more aware of our society. There are many cultures and people we can all learn from, but we have to take that first step. After that, it's easy. Ryan Wilson is a political science junior. : the candidates Gov. Mike Daniel. Lader is now the deputy chief of staff at the White House. Lader is regarded widely as one of the most innovative leaders in Washington. n:i.. n i 1 1_1 :_.l j rm i ATime uaniei, now a looDyist, aiiu rue* ineouore are cut from the same good-old boy, back-room politics that has lead to the demise of the Democratic Party in South Carolina over the last 15 years. Theodore's leadership is uninspiring. He is a tireless campaigner. (Who hasn't he called "Buddy"?) This state has been lacking a real leader ever since Dick Riley left South Carolina to be the secretary of education. Some of you are probably wondering who am I going to vote for in November. The truth is I want to write in Joe Riley. But since thaf s throwing my vote away, I am going to cast a vote for "Thick Nick." After all, he is the only alternative to David "700 Club" Beasley. Byron James is a political science senior. o refuse his appeal? I believe in autonomy. A person should be responfor their own decisions." Dan Waterman Nursing junior I think he has that right." Tiffany Shaw Journalism freshman I't give us toilet paper, water." it, community shows dealing with racism at least every 10 days. The panels on these shows are extremely enjoyable to watch. YouU always see some white woman, usually holding a baby in a white Klan outfit (which goes back to the idea that racism is taught), saying something like, "Well, the Bible says that the black race is inferior, so thaf s why I don't like them." Am I wrong or doesn't the Bible also say "Love thy neighbor?" I keep thinking about the scene in "Do the Right Thing" in which Spike Lee and John Turturro talk about big name black celebrities. Turturro says that those stars "aren't niggers, they're different." When you listen to Hootie and the Blowfish, do you think about the fact that Darius, the lead singer, is black? No, you only know whether or not you like the music. I am not sympathetic, apologetic or apathetic. I just lrvt/xiir i ? ftlnr/v r? r* J timll AM AAmTMia OA/1