The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, November 14, 1994, Page 5, Image 5
"tSaflto
Serving USC Since
Lee Gontz, Editor in Giief * Susan C
Editorial Bo
Keith Boudreaux, Lupe Eyde
Jimmy DeButts, Kj
Fioafli until rl
17V/UU1 TT1U1 U
Terminally-ill deserve r
nature, circumstances c
With the passing of a law legalizin
voters have reopened a divisive is
the vote, this law is the first of i
effect on Dec. 8, Oregon physicians will be
of drugs to terminally ill patients, actions
under those circumstances.
If s easy to take a black-and-white app
finality of the decisions to be made and die
ing another die are two thoughts that lea
longing life is the only answer. For someo
ever, prolonging a painful life may not be 1
situations cling to life as much as possible
their lives on their terms. Though such cl
should be allowed the chance to make the:
well as the one to live.
As hard as it is to decide to end one's 1
tients with a dignified closure. On-going
family members, both financially and em<
sible and death in the near future inevita
may not be as difficult to make.
The law protects family members as i
ly ill. People who cany out suicide wishes
be prosecuted as murderers. Such an act ii
other states do not take into consideratioi
grant the desires of the dying without fe
scribe the drugs, and the patient will tak
The new law does not come without gc
haphazardly. The patient must have onh
imum of two doctors must agree on the t
ual, who in turn, must ask for the drugs
in written form. Also, doctors will have to i
the request. All these measures are taker
the qualifications for the service and the
consider before the final step.
Hie recent debate has seen a number
play any part in the suicide. They don't h
they can grant such a wish, the law enab]
about legal retaliation.
No one likes to think that they may 1
deadly disease and a peaceful death or <
that choice. With growing numbers of All
patients, the reality is that someday you
ly takes the painful debate over such a ch
the homes of family and friends where it
Giving bloc
a little, hel
g;
DEANNA 61
MCLENDON
Columnist 1
I 11
That needle scares me. a
These four little words were re a- r]
son enough for me to avoid last year's P
blood drive like the plague. There
wasn't anything anyone could've said I
or done to persuade me to set foot in S1
that ballroom. No way was I going to y
let some stranger stick me in the arm, ?
drain me like Dracula, then shove a b
stale cookie in my hand. Uh-uh. Not e
a chance. That is, not until someone e
else's blood helped give me a second b
one. n
Until Jan. 16,1994,1 had never h
spent the night in a hospital. Then b
suddenly, as the result of a freak car 1'
i accident on my way back from Christ- f
mas break, I found myself in critical i<
condition in intensive care at men- ^
land Memorial Hospital. In a fraction v
of a second, my pretty red sports car P
was shish-kebabbed across the end d
of a guardrail on 1-26, and my body
lay pinned between the driver's seat ii
and the stump where the steering ti
wheel used to be. My outside ap- d
pearance was relatively good?some ii
cuts, bruises and a small scratch across ti
my forehead? but my insides were
mangled. Due to the incredible forces r
my body absorbed on impact with the t
guardrail, I sustained extensive in- u
ternal injuries, including ten broken
bones, two collapsed lungs, a torn liv- ii
er and a ruptured spleen. This final b
, injury resulted in a tremendous blood o
loss. Overall, I received four pints of
A- negative blood. The doctors told y
me most people only have five in their p
whole system.
After a 17-day stay at Richland, I
was allowed to go home, where I be"iSaffeod?
?j
Student Media Russell House-USC* Coin
Lee Clontz Allison Williams
Editor in Chief Features Editor
Susan Goodwin Jimmy DeButts
Viewpoints Editor Sports Editor
Steven C. Burritt Kim Truett
Copy Desk Chief Photo Editor
Keith Boudreaux Ethan Myerson
News Editor Graphics Editor
Lupe Eyde Erin Galloway
Features Editor Asst. News
The Gamecock is the student newspaper of the
University of South Carolina and is published Monday,
I Wednesday and Priday during the fill and spring semesters,
with the exception of university holidays and exam
periods.
Opinions ex pre wed 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.
The Qai
xk
1908
roodwin, Viewpoints Editor
ard
, Steven C. Burritt,
im Truett
ignity
ight to decide
f death
ig doctor-assisted suicide, Oregon
3sue. Sliding by with 52 percent of
ts kind. When its provisions take
allowed to prescribe a lethal dose
hard to understand without living
roach to debating euthanasia. The
idea of someone deliberating helpd
some to the conclusion that prone
who will never get better, howthe
solution. While others in those
i, there are those who wish to end
tioices are difficult, those patients
m, given the opportunity to die, as
ife, euthanasia provides dying pamedical
treatment is a strain on
jtionally. If recuperation is imposble,
the choice to take an overdose
nnnVi oci if Vi/alvia rvnf fVin farmmol.
UUUi HO lb UUl^fO UUb U1V Wi iUUXMi
of their sick loved ones should not
3 out of love, not malice; something
a. With this new law, families can
ar of retribution. Doctors will pree
them.
lidelinee to keep it from being used
f six months or less to live. A minenninally-ill
status of the individthree
times, with the last request
wait 15 days before complying with
i to ensure the person really meets
patient has several chances to reof
doctors who insist they will not
ave to. For the doctors who believe
les them to do so without worrying
rave to choose between life with a
:hoose to help someone else make
DS, cancer and other terminally-ill
will. The new law in Oregon mereoice
out of the courts and puts it in
belongs.
J
?u nuris
ps alot
an a lengthy recuperation. Over this
ight-month period of recovery, I had
lenty of time to adjust my views on
uite a few issues concerning life,
eath, pain and healing. In a way,
m ashamed that it took something
s drastic as a life-threatening expeience
to make me realize the imortance
of donating blood.
At no time before my accident had
imagined I would need the extenive
transfusions that I required. This
ear, I see the blood drive as an ocasion
to exercise an incredible privege?an
opportunity to provide othrs
with the second chance I was givn.
It is no longer something I dread,
ut something for which I am eterally
grateful. This time, I'm not gong
to run away; I'm going to voluneer.
(Due to certain circumstances,
m not allowed to make a donation.)
\irthermore, I've realized that there
3 nothing scary about giving blood,
lonors are heroes and life- savers
rno proviae nospuaia witu ? mu?i
recious commodity. The process
oesn't hurt you; it heals others.
As for those who have given blood
i the past or are planning on giving
bis week, I thank all of you from the
epths of my heart, which is still beatng
today as a result of your donaions.
As for those like me who for some
eason cannot contribute blood, I hope
hat you will contribute time. Volinteers
are always in short supply.
Finally, for those who are still balkng
at the idea of giving either your
ilood or your time, I have only this
ne request to make of you:
Please don't let the needle scare
ou. Believe me, some things are simily
worth the pain.
Deanna McLendon is
a journalism sophomore.
im 770a Chris CmtoII
///-//ZO Director of Student Media
ising: 777-4249 Laura Day
77-6482 Creative Director
imbia, SC 29208 Jim Green
Ait Director
Robert Wertz Gregory Perez
Asa. News Production Ami.
Wendy Hudson Elizabeth Thomas
Asa. Copy Desk Adv. Graduate Asst.
Tanja Kropf Renee Gibson
Asa. Copy Desk Marketing Director
Ryan Wilson Christoplier Wood
Asst. Sports Ask. Advertising Manner
Jason JefTers Erik Collins
Cartoonist Faculty Advisor
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Letters should be 200-250 words aod must include full
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Letters mutt be personally delivered by the author to
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-
QUOTEUNQUOTE
"Occasionally people won't want to get anres
It's amazing to see your friends
Peter Siachos
GOP basks in I
I'd like to warn our readers at the outset that this
column may upset those who wish to put Tuesday's
election behind them. Ideological discretion is advised.
As promised, Fm going to review the highlights of
Election ^ and use all of the cheap shots I have saved
through the entire campaign season. But Fm not here
to gloat.
Not much, anyway.
Ding, Dong, The Dick is dead!? Despite an endorsement
from The State newspaper (snicker! snicker!),
hypocritical 5th Circuit Solicitor Dick Harpootlian
lost to Charleston attorney Charles Condon in his bid
to become South Carolina's Attorney General. I could
repeat all of the obnoxious statements Tricky Dick has
made about blacks, Christians and conservatives. I
could denounce Harpo as an "ambitious creep," but
Will Moredock, the liberal apologist for Free Times,
already did it last week. Instead, I will give you an example
of what it means to be Tricky Dick:
Those of you who saw Tricky Dick's campaign ads
saw him denounce Charlie Condon as a defender of
drunk drivers, rapists and drug offenders. Harpootlian
announced on Wednesday that he will return to his
private criminal law practices,where he will be defending
... drunk drivers, rapists and drug offenders!
The Bill Clinton Waffle King Award? goes to Democratic
gubernatorial nominee Nick "Hey, Buddy"
Theodore. You will recall that in '92, Slick Nick was
on the campaign platform with Bill Clinton, happily
proclaiming that the Democratic ticket was "Clinton,
Week full of reve
How-dee-do boys and girls, this is your old pal PNut
the Woozle and Fm here today to talk to you about
wnai 10 ao wnen a sirange man mes 10 gei yuu mm
his car. Two words... cash only. Sorry, I seem to have
this strange fixation with public service announcements
for kids starring some big, dopey safety mascot...
those and the infamous "Schoolhouse Rock" series
(Lolly, lolly, lolly get your adverbs here!).Though
I must say, Fve always had a soft spot in my heart for
"Mr. Yuk-mouth."
Well, the biggest newsworthy event of this past
week was (trumpets and fanfare) Election Day '94. Of
course, the entire nation was watching with bated
breath that most crucial of all races: South Carolina
Comptroller General. I don't know what in the hell a
Comptroller General is, but his name is Earle Jr., so
God help us lef hope ifs not a position of power. In a
political sidenote, Ronald Reagan was recently diagnosed
with Alzhiemefs disease. I don't think this came
as a surprise to anyone.
In cultural news, I hope everyone took timeout last
week to see the Department of Theatre, Speech and
Dance's production of the opera "Dido and Aeneas"
(pronounced Anus). It was a smashing show and I thoroughly
enjoyed it. Ifs the story of a young kitten and
puppy who have to learn to put their differences aside
and work together as friends if they hope to survive
in the wildern... wait, I'm sorry, thafs "Milo and Otis",
never mind. Incidentally, for those of you who loved
that movie and thought it was tender and heartwarming...
just remember that it was made in Japan
where there are no animal-cruelty laws governing the
Should doctor-assfc
^ "Yes, that's their choice. If the)
because they only have six monti
be able to make that choice."
W Computer infon
P"No, because I think suicide is
ITS Monday, November 14, 1994
ted, and they get pretty uptight and angry, but mo
and teachers in jail, but it's even better when you
, chairman of Kappa Alpha's philanthropy committee on the Je
[arpootlian, The*
~mHEri be
fm PAT MCNEILL de
Columnist po
v | * "p' / \
^ SS/ ^ Q(
Gore and Theodore!" ^
However, like the leader of his party, Slick Nick
somehow found the courage to change. During his final
debate, Theodore was looking for a snappy comeback
against David Beasley. The best line he could 1
come up with "You're an opportunist, just like Bill Clin- mi
ton!" m
To paraphrase the lieutenant governor's speech on
Election Night *92: Put a fork in Nick Theodore. He's re|
done.
W(
They're coming to take me away, ha, ha? My Tues- i
day night was a long one, as I pinballed among the
various victory parties going on in Columbia. In fact, to
by the end of the evening, I had more Coke in me than
Washington, D.C. mayor Marion "Cracklin'" Barry.
As I was on my way over to the Bob Peeler party, ^
I had to stop for the light at Main and Gervais. About ei,
50 yards away, there was a parked jeep decorated in th
red, white and blue. Standing alone atop the back of 0n
the jeep was a lone figure, gesticulating wildly into the ce
air and ranting about a conspiracy. I wasn't sure, but
it looked a lot like Republican adjutant general candidate
Tom Hendrix!
Free advice? Major Hendrix, I know that you must
stations on 'Milo i
rFI 1s
m MATT HORGAN jo
pp Columnist yi
1I
I
film industry. Apparently they had a cage full of Mi- ^
los and a cage full of Otis's (watch how their spots tend ^
to migrate throughout the film) and whenever little
Milo slipped off a log into the icy cold waters... "Cut!
Get Milo #23 and let's take it from the top. See if we
can hot glue this one's paws to the log so he doesn't u*
fall off." UKay, 1 apologize tor tnat last remain, it was
a tad tasteless, but I swear I'm not making this up. ^
But hey, what am I doing writing about this dreck? ^
I need to "focus on better issues", don't you know. So fv
has anyone out there eaten a "Meaty Meatball" pizza
yet? Meaty Meatball... it sounds like a bad nickname u]
for a fat rapper. Lord knows Fm not criticizing the ad- &1
vertising wizards at Pizza Hut, but it seems they really
want us to know there is meat in the pizza. It's
almost as if they're insecure about it, because when I ^
hear meatball I automatically think, "Jinkies, there's :
meat in that there pizza!" But then they try to rein- 1
force that by sticking the word "meaty" in front of it. r
I just don't get it. P1
Ahem... er, well I think Fve focused enough for to- ei
day on tough issues. I hope it was enlightening in some ?:
form or another. I guess all of you noticed we recently
had another nasty outbreak of "information booths"
around campus. Those things are like a pesky rash,
ited suicide be legal fc
' want their life to end [iSH *w j-^T"S1 "I agree w
is left, then they should restriction
Nakia Holloway w*
nation systems sophomore
wrong." "Yes, if th
Ue^obs ucated de
Pre-pharmacy freshman HL 4e9|
t- ^
5
I
I
>^
'
s
5
4,
st people are pretty good sports about it
know it's for a good cause."
iil and Bail
)dore defeats
disappointed in your loss, and I know that it is your
eatest desire to once again be a militaiy commanr.
Here is my simple, 7-step plan to return you to
wer
1) Write a letter to Stan Spears, the new Guard
immander, disassociating yourself from the Guard,
fact, tell him that you violently dislike the Guard.
2) When someone asks for your political opinions,
1 them whatever they want to hear.
3) Take some time off to travel around the world,
iring each stop, protest American military involvejnt
in countries like Haiti and Somalia.
4) Divorce your lovely wife and hook up with a feale
attorney who specializes in securities and health
gulations.
5) Try smoking marijuana. However, since the evil
;ed is known to impair brain activity, try not to inile
too much.
6) Switch your political affiliation from Republican
Democrat.
7) Run for President.
More free advice? My fellow conservatives, I know
at many of your liberal friends are upset over the
jction results. Don't rub it in. In fact, I recommend
at you walk up to your friend, put a comforting arm
i that person's shoulder, and say, in your most sinre
voice, 1 feel your pain."
Then, be sure to duck.
Pat McNeill is a third-year law student.
His column appears every Monday.
indOtis,' pizza
ist when you think you're rid of them for good, they
are up somewhere else, and 1-800-COLLECT is the
ck-itch of the info booths. My God, I can't express to
)u people how much I loathe that crusty animated
-800-COLLECT commercial that is on tv. nowadays,
wanted to stomp the crap out of that life=size "Potenessman"
cardboard cutout that was in front of the
ussell House ("Stick your pinky where the sun don't
line Politenessman! And here, choke on a hanky").
Plus those people are so damn pushy, now I know
lat I've written about this before, but they never give
3. "Smiley": Would you like a Calling card sir? 20%
f in the first three months if your bill totals over $100!
^ t i ?i ii ur\ ?i ? n i ii >___
e: i aon t can anyone... ever, omney : cui in eyre
liny and fun to look at! Cmon, sign the form, please?
te: Let go of my leg, you freak. I have a feeling that
le same people who staff these booths eventually end
p selling Amway or doing "infomercials"... ifs a Godven
talent.
Anyway folks, time flies when you're being evil, so
ice again I must bring this column to a close. Oh, I
most forgot, the Gamecock is starting an "Ask Myre"
advice column, and you might say that Myrtle and
go way back. She helps me out with any personal
aumas I might have, so if you have any questions or
roblems for Myrtle, send 'em to P.O. Box 85131, draw*
A in the Russell House. Well, I've got to go drain
ty big toe, so until next time, "If 11 be a cold day in
[ell when Hell freezes over."
Matt Horgan is a journalism junior.
>r dying patients?
ith it But there's going to have to be so many
ls. It's a good idea, but I don't know how they
ment it judiciously."
Mike Lepine
Computer engineering sophomore
ey're terminally ill, they have a right to die
i they're .sane and capable of making an edcision
Penry Patel
Pharmacy junior