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1 2 HZZHZIZZZZZII I *t5atffeocfc Serving USC Since 1908 Wendy Hudson, Editor in Chief Matt Pruitt, Viewpoints Editor Editorial Board Lucy Arnold, Jamie Clark, Erin Galloway, Stephanie Sonnenfeld, Allison Williams, Larry Williams, Ryan Wilson New ranking merits kudos for Carolina personnel, students Blink twice. Rub your eyes. Gasp in unadulterated surprise. The following is NOT a criticism of university administration, politics, or practices. As a matter of fact, the University of South Carolina deserves a congratulatory Dat on the back this time. Monev magazine's list of the 100 best buvs for col lege lists USC as 34th. To the student, this means money well spent. For the faculty and staff, this means a sense of upward movement, development, and progress. For all those involved, this provides a sense of accomplishment. A number in a magazine may seem trivial. This will not send high school seniors running in droves to our campus or transform us into a school of Ivy League caliber. However, our new status will hopefully generate some internal pride. Such a ranking has the potential to instill in the student a newfound respect for the university; if each individual feels as though he or she is receiving an above average education, and getting it for a bargain as well, then the potential for a collective sense of pride is inherent. Maybe even more importantly, this small amount of recognition is rewarding for those who are constantly working to make our university a better place. Little rewards such as these prompt faculty, administrators, staff, and all others involved with the university to continue their efforts diligently. This doesn't mean that all individual departments are now absolved from any criticism. Improvements still need to be made. However, the fact that we are at least heading in the right direction is positive and comforting. Keep it up. We sure will. Columnist advocates GOP values, sets agenda for semester .. Hello and welcome back! It's | TOMMY TOUCHBEBBY rimn rrv ofovt annfhAv nnKA/\l ?*aa? I vuuc i<vj oua.il/ cuiui/iici ouiuui jcai ^ ? and say goodbye to summer vaca- columnist | ** ... write more light-hearted articles I am nov beginning my semor and even poke fan at myseE year here at Carolina I look for- Many uberak would have you Wa**duatrng m May. believe that all conservatives, esMost of you who were here last ^ christians are stupid id. yem are probably familiar with me iots who ^ ^ brainwashed. I andmy weekly column. Asforyou think the old ardom Vhen criticizfreshmen I would like to give you ^ othera look at y0uraelf apan idea of what I will be wnting Ues here ^ ^ quite inabout this year. secure about their beliefs. I began wnting for the Game- 1 ^ a conservative for two baoock two years ago when my former sic reasons: because 1 believe in most roommate who was editor at the ^ ^ ? 8maj,eI. ,e88 nne, asked me to jom the newspa- federal government is better and per. At the tune because I believe the Gamecock a conservative, I our quality of life was widely cnti- ' ? .? l0 cited by the ma- respect life, liberty ^dJ^ jonty conserva- and my Creator, litis back to the traingTEra of lack Of respect fer d'tional values left-wing liberal- Ufa. llhW^wi (faH i. . r B11^ mj aw tipiCS W 11IV. 11 ism. ave a Avident in Olir ramnant made America tempted to pro- eVmefTl m our ranipam ^ ^ . , vide a voice to the Clime, milliOltplUS ba- in which to live ZS We* which are sacri- ^?=dents on campus ffc?l each yW and Htmrtyand my whose viewpoint the ridiculous petty Creator. This lack nored." ^ lawsuits which flood , ... . . . liberty and God i will not shy our courts every day. is evident in our away from im- rampant crime, portant issues, , million-plus babies which are sacnOTwill Isugarcoat the truth, I feel rificed each year and the ridiculous obligated to provide facts and sup- petty lawsuits which flood our courts plement them with my true feelings every day. Liberal fiscal and social and opinions. Anyone who mites ^ glMeB ^ in tfais meS8, the honest truth about poll tical and it's up to us conservatives to and social issues is subject to berng get us out of the mess. hated by die radrrol liA-winggroups I would like to dose today by ofin the country. Rush Limbaugh, e e , , tt o i xt , j terrng a tew wise words to our new House Speaker Newt Gingrich and r , v . , . , GOP presidential candidate Pat m total conBuchanan fit this mold. Irespect trol of your hfe (no more parental each of them for their honesty and f ?i? ion). You have a choice to sincerity, thus I always try to hold llve responsibly (i.e., go to class, myself to that high standard. study for tests>av0ld 311(1 d^ _ . ? _ __i_ _i\ Tr j- mi Of couree, I like to have fun with nou. u yuu uo so, you win reap - the column, too. Sometimes I will benefits later. Thafs the choice be quite serious when writing about 1 made, and I am now happier than such issues as abortion and educa- I have ever been in my entire life, tion reform. At other times I will Good luck, and HI see you next week! "tBaf&ock Student Media Russell House-USO Columbia, SC 29208 Chris Carroll Director of Student Media Wendy Hudson Lucy Arnold Martha Hotop Laura Day Editor in Chief Stephanie Tina Morgan Creative Director Matt Pruitt Sonnenfeld Asst. News Jeff A. Breaux Viewpoints Editor Features Editors Ben Pillow Art Director Chris Winston Larry Williams Chris Dixon Gregory Perez Copy Desk Chief n??n w/;. Asst- Features Design Editor Erin Galloway Spotts Editors Robbie Meek Kim Golden Allison Williams Jamie Clark I? Asst Adverting Manager News Editors Photo Editor Jason JefferS Erik Collins Keith Boudreaux F?:ul?Ad.,? c Letters Policy The Gamecock is the student newspaper of the University of _ _ . ... ... . South Carolina and is published daily during the fall and Thc Gamecock will try to print all letters received, spring semesters, with the exception of university holidays Letters should be 200-250 words and must include full and exam periods. name, professional title or year and major if a student. Opinions expressed in The Gamecock are those <>r the editors Letters must be personally delivered by the author to or author and not those of the University of South Carolina The Gamecock newsroom in Russell House room 333. The Board of Student Publications and Communications is _ _ , .. , the publisher of The Gamecock. The Department of Student The Gamecock reserves the right to edit all letters for Media is its parent organization. style, possible libel or space limitations. Names will not be withheld under any circumstances. V3EWF f Th is Stuff... PA( \ gLOoPi fio \ C<OLO Youit I ~ M 1 QUOTE UNQUOTE "I am ecstatic. The reputation of a u the Don G Seperate bu Over the past several months, I have rfollowed the pronouncements of Ms. Shannon Faulkner's attorneys with great interest and believe that they L_ must have been misquoted when it was m stated they feel that discrimination on Hi the basis of sex was unconstitutional be or that separate could never be equal. What they really must have said was br any discrimination detrimental to women Tc was unconstitutional but that if it per- "si tains to men it is permissible. in] After all, this is exactly what occurs fei at all levels of federal, state, and local wl government on a daily basis. The dirty eq little secret is that, since the mid-1970s, fei separate has been mandated to be equal ev on the basis of sex, provided it is to the sti benefit of females. ag For example, no sooner did Judge a 1 Houck rule any discrimination on the lei basis of sex was impermissible, then he lei turned around and pronounced that separate standards of hair grooming, en weight and physical fitness, based sole- an ly on gender, were equal and accept- an able because of inherent differences be- bu tween men and women. Unless I'm ar Switch hittc Baseball has been blessed with great switch hitters such as Pete Rose, Eddie Murray, Mickey Mantle, and Bobby Bonilla. However, the switch hitters of which I write are playing a different game. This game is one that has many curve balls, knuckle, and fast balls that fly at a tremendous pace. Once at the plate the switch hitter can fall from grace with one swing or soar to heights that make legends out of these players. The game of which I write is ...Politics. The past several weeks have been extremely interesting when one speaks of state politics. South Carolina has seen several state legislators who used to "swing" for the left start to "bat" for the right. Most individuals would agree that this slow conversion of state Democrats to the confines of the Republican party has been occurring since Dwight Eisenhower broke up the Democratic Solid South in 1952. I would suggest that the past several weeks have presented the Republican as well as the Democratic party with some major problems. Most importantly, however, these conversions have asked the voters of South Carolina some very important ques UUliS. First, is it ethical for a member of the state legislature to "switch" parties while in the middle of his or her term? I would dare to argue that if a state legislator is really a servant to constituents then he or she must not change parties until it is time for re-election. While I realize it to be a naive statement that most voters in state and local elections vote along party lines and not for the individual, some do. The second question one must face is that of power versus working for the state. Are these "switch hitters" following the conservative cycle to help the people of our state or to set themselves up for better seats or chairmanships of legislative committees? The fundamental question is: has our state political system become so dysfunctional that even the Democrats cannot provide leadership or help to their own districts and therefore must switch parties? This is one question that I PINTS i ftUTXi $HocKiM "JSf IZAvTl^ir... , r.cs/T MAu? V(0 uMJ " ' " y soieer-ifw /f nlverstty Is always five to six years behl last four years under Dr. (John) Palms a ireiner, associate provost on Money mat it equal a Ion The LAWRENCE WEPEKIND to run: Guest Columnist miles. 1 while v, issing something, according to Judge bar wit ouck and Ms. Faulkner, separate must of less t s equal. es now But this is not just the erroneous obstach ainchild of a lone District Court judge, nated t > the gender feminists, whenever these with thi eparates" are questioned, it is grudg- females gly admitted that they are indeed dif- extra t: rent but that it is acceptable because stacle oi lile they might not be equal, they are These a luitahle. To those not familiar with hut thrr ninist jargon this "equity" means that putatioi en though men are held to a higher somehc andard, they are not discriminated Not ainst because women are entitled to gender lesser standard since it taxes their pressu: 3ser physical abilities to an equiva- maintai it level. but alsc All across the armed forces, at fed- qualific al service academies, at federal, state polite cr Ld local law enforcement institutes agents < id at fire fighting schools, separate shot, it equal standards and requirements This e maintained. when e ;rs...step up! TRAV ROBERTSON Columnist cannot begin to answer. Only time will tell. Third, what about abortion? We have seen one legislator put on hold his conversion because of the Christian Coalition. Will those "switch hitters" who are pro-choice be allowed to function in the Republican party? Is the abortion issue the true litmus test that separates the parties? I would argue that for the most part, yes. Finally, the problems that these conversions present to both parties. I admonish that the recent conversions to the Republican party will eventually destroy the party as we know it. The conservatives have welcomed several former Democrats who have voted along conservative lines in the past. However, can the Republican party allow these members the freedom and liberty to vote how they see fit? After all, these legislators are not used to being forced to vote along party lines constantly. The point being, will the ultra-conservatives and the Christian Coalition allow for the big tent in order to build numbers or a tiny umbrella with a limited view. I would submit to you that the Republican party will try to settle for some type of medium tent or umbrella in order to keep control. Another aspect of this is the damage done to the Democratic party. Do these conversions mean that the Democratic party is now officially and forever will be the only party for minorities? Could the Republican party now be the party of angry white males? Are we seeing on a state level through the Republican and Democratic parties the solidification of white versus minorities? Is there no more common ground? Let's hope not, or our state is in a lot 01 trouDie. It is time for the "Switch Hitters" to step up and take that swing that will either make them legends that save our two party system or fall from grace and take the entire state with them. Thursday, August 31,1995 rr^Tier\fryr\ CpUfKT/N I TAMN"77^0 \~r? / i \0itfcr if- / fat ;v ;// ' * M A. lAIL^A ? a ??? m. _ *- ? nu uie rati, wnm we re swing wiui ons ropon is tne resume or lid (Provost James) Moeser." jazine's recent college rankings g accepted practice Marines currently require men crous, and yet, it is deemed acceptable 3 miles and women to run 11/2 because it is done in the nam** of equalMales must perform pull-ups, ity. While it is true that some excepromen only need to hang hum a tional women may meet mala standards h their arms flexed for a period jn these rigorous fields of endeavor, the han 20 seconds. Obstacle cours- few that do are deemed not numerous have special lanes with lower enough by gender feminists and hiring js or added booster steps desig- based solely on objective merit is uno accommodate women. Even acceptable. To them, discrimination on ese modifications, because most the basis of sex is justifiable so long as still cannot negotiate the course, it is perpetrated against men. ime is given and the final ob- Were it necegsary ^ storm abeach> tre clearly different standi or ,ugh a marvelous system of com- "antsomeraewto win actually te there a caned "gender norming,' they ^ flank or dehvenng accurate fire, iw come out equal in the end. "ot 90me0ne wbo waL8 ffTf? be8t' to be outdone, especially since but was somewhere behrnd looking for feminists have brought legal a b??ster s^Pre on them, the FBI not only To out wh? ins dual physical requirements criminated against I know of a few cham> has "gender normed" firearms pions of civil rights down in Charleston ations. I guess this means that who may be able to help you out. In iminals will hold still for women fact, I hear they're looking for some new ar at least allow them a second clients. 3 "equitable" discrimination, Lawrence Wedekind is a second-year xposed to reason, seems ludi- student at the USC School of Law (/lex I write us. Reader responses are welcome. Letters must be personally delivered by the author to Russell House room 333. Letters should be 200-250 words and must include hill name, professional title or year and major if a student The Gamecock reserves the right to edit all letters for style, possible libel or space limitations. *