The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, September 26, 1994, Page 4, Image 4
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