University of South Carolina Libraries
1 Wednesday, October 25, 199S Serving USC Since 1908 Wendy Hudson, Editor in Chief Matt Pruitt, Viewpoints Editor EdHorial Board Lucy Arnold, Jamie Clark, Gregory Perez, Stephanie Sonnenfeld, Allison Williams, Larry Williams, Ryan Wilson, Chris Winston Keep an eye on how funds are distributed USC students have grown accustomed to hearing about financial cuts and having money taken away from them lately. If s been quite some time since they have received money. However, due to an increase in student activity fees, several student organizations will actually receive a little extra spending money. First, one must commend student government for their efforts in facilitating the increase and distribution of activity money. Kudos to all who put forth the effort. Second, the student population must pay attention to where the money is going and how it is being used. A common complaint among students is that activity money disappears into the cosmos once it is contributed. Many feel that they never see their money again after the check leaves the hand. Well, this is a golden opportunity to prove the contrary. While all budgets are public, this particular distribution will be closely monitored so that students rsn find rmt where the mrmev croea wifh tKa laoot omnnnt nf """ - (3VVW "IVil vllv IvUOV UUiUUllI' VI V11UJ tj and hence have no reason to complain. Also keep in mind that if you feel that your money is being used unfairly or unwisely, it is your duty to voice a complaint and tiy to launch the proper changes. Keep your eyes and ears open. Then you can be that all involved will be held accountable. Attitudes towards sex influenced by liberals Our cultural attitudes toward sex i and other related issues has been TOMMY TOUCHBERRY warped with massive liberalism dur- ? : ing the past several decades. It be- | Columnist gan with the spooled "sexual reyo h h d f d ff Many of lution of the 1960 s. This revolu- . , , * . , , ., ,. ^ ]. 1 .... , i i j todays parents lack the moral mtion m cultural attitudes has led us , r ., . , . ? , , , ... tegnty and/or the guts to talk about o a msis m many areas. sexual morality with their children. For example about half of all j ^ ^ forparents fTT-ITf ? to talk to their children about such ly two-thirds of our teens engage in , , . , , .., . J ... , e jBut , an embarrassing subject, but their sexual mtercourse before adulthood .. * . J , , .. j, T11 ... . ,. ., kids entire future may depend on it. andlor marriage. Illegitimate births p ^ absolutely the single occur at about a 30 percent rate per ,. . . a ., r B, * j r nlu j j biggest influence on their children s year. And worst of all, there is a dead- 00 , .... , m. * j x ,. ? , AtAo u- l sexual attitudes. This influence desly disease called AIDS, which is in- . , , , , , / , e perately needs to be used. fectaggrowmgnumbersofeurpop- Thirdly, the liberal welfare state a^n' . . .I , . has negatively affected attitudes toThese are just the mos visible ^ d results of the sexual revolution. m. l j <j? f r u> m, - . . r , . The Tree handouts^ policy of welfare The fact is fewer people today get ^ ^ mamed, more and more children are ., , . , , . ..i 1 1_ 1V A Uic lOOBl L*;i?UIlCU ICOUUl^CO CU1U catgrowing up without both parents, , , %n, , , i i j ,,, . , f est needs. They have been locked mand there is a serious problem with , , , J . ,. , , , , ., , e .i j if to a cycle of poverty which very hard both respect for others and selftre- ^ Jmt ^ C|^.ent welf^re spec . ere are severa miyor ac form will hopefully change many of tors which I believe have brought ., .... \ . , J , ... ,, these attitudes m the long run. about these problems. v-,- ? ., ,. , , tx a. n i j a.' Finally, the media and enterFirst, liberal sex education pro- ^entindustiy have provided the grams in our public schools which ?id Qn the * ? ? know were initiated during the 197(Fs and ,^JLous sex without consequences 198(fs have been one obvious fimtor. Swideepmad into modem ^movies, These programs, which many of you televisiJn md music. have probably witnessed firsthand Accordi to an USA Tod concentrate on teaching so-called ^ television sexual decision making and pro- on ^ foJm?or network there vide basic information about what Jnes sh ^ contraceptives to use, and in more e e . , , :c , r j j i. four were of unmarried couples, 16 extreme cases provide condoms to , ,. u ,1,1 , r were adulterous, one was homosexeT.y el? s ,. ual, and only FOUR were between Liberal pro-ams rarely mention marted heterosexuals, abstinence, and in most cases treat ^ of j lied or licit abstmence as an unrealistic choice ,. , . . \ - . . , . ? i sex which is promiscuous m nature for most students. Many sex educa- . , * . ghowg and tion teachers write austmence on as - pp ,? for those with "certain religious be- ( h b matter should receive liefa" What most students learn from subject matter should receive these courses is the idea that it is md R ratlng)-18 als? V* 31 m these courses is the idea that it is ^ d mgtal music S&uClt h ?here -tne dMBon that l want to nave s? tQ condemn those f who have with the person I am dating and (2) ^ se active ^rior t0 adult. I use or he uses a condom. v j j/ it c. n Yes, these students do learn how canUsesZ!i7totaowledge to use contraceptives, but they are make ^ ^ chlldrenaolrt rarely able to properly use them in , th ' mjstakps r the moment of passion (or lust). With- same mistakes. 1 here are ov,? u v VTh j a growing number of Sunday school, y?uth group and school sex educama^e^Wthi?"iS7tae? atairnSedc!LimtuTsC We are finally beginning to see anmdeistandhiofthecunsequLs anmprovementm this area due to , . ? ^ such programs. There is an oppor? P<^1^U?i Tnarpntincr in t tunity here to turn things around, Secondly, poor parenting m terms , ' , , , * . ' of discipline and teaching morality t"feSXprobfems News: 111-7726 Ethan Myerson Advertising: 777-4249 Grades Editor Tiavr. -1-1-7 - joa rtreonrv Perez " r/vA.; ///- ofoz Design Editor Ryan Sims Student Media Russell House-USC* Columbia, SC 29208 online Editor W?nd> Hudson L?c, Arnold Editor in Chief Stephanie Chns Dixon I n MattPruitt Sonnenfeld Asst. Features Creative Director Viewpoinu Editor Features Editors Robbie Meek ? ? \ R_?aliv Chris Winston jmk Clark Asst. Spoos Copy Desk Chief Photo Editor Jason JefTers a ii- ax/mi , Cartoonist Marilyn Edwards Allison Williams Robert Walton .' , " Tav)or News Editor Asst. Photo Editor Keith Boudreaux layior Larry Williams Martha Hotop Circulation Manager EHkCdBfaT Ryan WUson Cece von Kolnitz Facul(y Advisof Sports Editors Asst. News Letters Policy The Gamacock i, the newspaper of the Umverrity of ^ Gamecock wiu ^ l0 ^jm all tetters received ss.'sa SJS5S ass sstttsz. u- ?-? * r r ?**<M sity hoiidiyi and exam period! n* . professional title or year and major if a student. Opinions expressed in The Gamecock ire those of the editors Letlers must be personally delivered by the author to or author and not those of the Uniwisity of South Carolina The}Gamecock newsroom in Russell House room 333. The Board of Student Publications and Communication! is the The Gamecock reserves the right to edit all letters for publisher of The Gamecock. The Department of Student Media style, possible libel or space limitations. Names will not is ill parent organization. be withheld under any circumstances. VIEWF men cac QUOTE, UNQUOTE "It's a presentation that they Ways of the John Wayne, Wyatt Earp, Bat Masterson, Brett and Bart Maverick, Ronald Reagan, Sam Houston, and Roy Rogers. What do these individuals have in com- L mon, you ask? This group of men are v said to be last of the great cowboys. My father would call these cow- q boys the last to ride into the sunset of C( true "manhood". It is very fascinat- ^ ing to listen to people who belong to my father's generation argue that these ^ cowboys represent the true epitome of what a man should be. However, in today's world, horse back riding has been replaced by , NASCAR auto racing and guys try to prove their "manhood" in many vari- e' ous manners. Guys play basketball ^ and football on the intramural fields. Everyone, who knows me, would generally agree that, despite my being a few pounds overweight, that I like to a occasionally play a round of golf and e pick up a tennis racket. Bat Master- a son loved cards. I too am a lover of cards and the camaraderie which sur- v rounds a good hand of poker and a ^ drink of bourbon. n The point is that men try to prove a the ascension to manhood in many R ways. To be honest, I am not sure n what makes a boy become a man, but v I do know what does NOT make a man b a man. I contend that there are sev- rt eral areas of analysis of why some boys o: utters to m arroR Most America I am writing in response to the ar- li tide printed in the Wednesday, Octo- d ber 11,1995 edition of Hie Gamecock, i< entitled "Verdict marks national di- r visions on race line." ti First of all, I would like to take a c neutral position on the verdict of the Simpson trial in order to avoid being t' needlessly categorized by a trial that s should not have been as racially taint- ii ed as it has become. My concern, which s also happens to be the concern of the p author of the article in reference, is s the "reaction of a significant segment of our population." r This reaction is the inability of the I majority of white Americans to un- \ derstand the mindset of the majority i of black Americans. What pains me, i more than the pervasive inability of white America to understand the mind- r set that dictates our reaction to cer- r tain issues, is the fact that many white c Americans fail to take into account t America's historically weak will to up- \ hold racial justice. i Only one generation has passed i since our parents lived through the { Civil Rights Movement of the 60's. ( Therefore many of the attitudes our i parents may have held during this time have certainly played a major < role in shaping the way our genera- i tion perceives race in America. j So when you speak of a "color-blind 1 society," I wonder in what Utopian so- ] ciety you have lived in throughout your ] PINTS r wst mm enjoy which gives them a few problems college students fa< Mickey Baines, member of RisG Old West 5 TBAV ROBERTSON n Columnist ? v till never become men. n First, chivalry. Is this virtue of the )ld West dead along with these great P Dwboys? I was always taught to open a tie door for ladies and to try and be P olite. However, we must ask sever- ^ 1 questions in order to examine this ^ reat virtue. In today's society, we, as individals, argue that everyone needs to ^ ave equal consideration, as well as, ^ ual treatment. Has this movement iven guys an excuse for not treating ^ idies with respect and courtesy? Another question that one might: j? as this movement towards partners ^ nd competitors forced us, as a soci- a ty, not to treat women with respect nd dignity? a Now, before I upset to many indi- e, iduals, I would like to suggest that tc re not go back to the old days, but j lerely incorporate some of the values s] nd ideals these men stood for. Ronald y, leagan nor Roy Rogers would have y, ever cursed or been disrespectful to- t< rards a lady. We, as guys, striving to w ecome men must strive to incorpo- tl ate being chivalrous towards the ladies f our day. When we accomplish this, h i ins don't und fe. The "you" in this statement is not o epicting the author in reference specif- ti :ally, but is a collective "you" refer- t< ing to what I perceive to be the attiiide of a significant portion of our so- A iety. A What I am trying to get across is s hat the notion that black Americans t hould accept, at face value, that Amer- ji :a has become the egalitarian society t o many have died to create is a com- o iletely backward and stagnating as- ii umption. I agree whole-heartedly that the o ioting in Los Angeles following the i todney King verdict was, in practice, b vrong. Complete chaos and plunder- \ ng should never be accepted in a civ- c lized society. However, the entire incident should I lot be cast aside as irrational acts of i nayhem without addressing the un- r lerlying feelings of rage that ignited 1 he Watts community. This rage can c >e extrapolated to the rest of black " America in one form or another. The age I am addressing is most vividly 1 md vehemently expressed by our gen- c iration through the hip-hop culture t md rap music. i The lyrics of rap, when properly { analyzed, display without a doubt the i "eality of the situation many black \mericans face on a day-to-day basis. ' Many white Americans are not ex- i posed to the struggles endured by a 1 people who have for so long been robbed \ I > NCtS US. JUi "E ^ facts about the effects of i :e on a day-to-day basis." lue Business drama troupe ;hould be < 'e will be on the first part of our jourey into the sunset of manhood. Second is the simple fact that John /ayne and Roy Rogers would have ever raised a hand to anyone unless was absolutely necessary. Most imortantly, they would have never raised hand to a lady. It has become to revalent in today's society that some uys hit ladies. I suggest that any guy 'ho would raise his hand to a female i the lowest in the evolution cycle and hould be drawn and quartered. Some guys would argue that the idy deserved it or she hit me first, fell, Brett Maverick would never have it a lady even if she started cursing is name and swinging punches. The leal behind the western belief that a tdy should never be hit is the simple ict: any man who punches and beats lady is nothing more than a coward. My hair may be leaving my head nd my gut may hang just a few inch3 over my belt, but I have never had ) hit a woman in order to prove that am a man. Sam Houston would have hot any man he caught beating a 'oman. What drives a boy to beat his ife, or girlfriend? What drives a boy ) throw a beer bottle at some lady 'ho walks bv and does not rive him le time of day? Well, I suggest that any guy who its a woman is the most insecure per %! >, v-T--:, lerstand race f their heritage, denied equal opporunities and systematically been taught o fear and hate themselves. To further enlighten my fellow unericans to the mindset of black unerica, I suggest for you to make a incere effort to analyze the ramificaions of African-American culture in jst as much detail that black has had o analyze European culture during ur matriculation through the Amercan educational system. In light of a sincere understanding f the mindset carried by black Amerca, I'm almost certain that the "celeiration following the O.J. verdict" vould not be "sickening," but, to some legree, heartfelt. In closing, 1 would like to say that do still believe in America. I feel that t is time for us to throw away the tired hetoric that has dominated race reations to date. I would like to take a juote from Michael Novak's essay, Further Reflections on Ethnicity": "Quite commonly, Americans hopeessly misunderstand one another be:ause each fails to note how the concurs of his own language and expe"iences differ from those of the other, md neither can find a key to a relevant common culture." This quote was quite relevant to 'Verdict marks national divisions on -ace line,? in that the article displayed he author's honest and candid misinderstanding overwhelms, for all 5 >TjCE? 3RJEN_ drugs and alcohol and other emulated son alive. Why can't he just go down to the gym and hit a punching bag? Can he not merely go out and play football, a real contact sport? Do guys who hit ladies believe that they enjoy being hit? Well, all of the girls I know prefer to be held and loved instead of kicked in the stomach. One can fully understand that by hitting a woman there is no ascension to manhood only insecure cowardice. In conclusion, the old west has given and imprinted many deals about chivalry and the treatment of women on individuals in my father's generation. However, nothing can be done unless the lady being beaten presses charges and confides in individuals whom she trusts will get her help. This is no manner in which a lady should be treated. I feel that we as a society should try to incorporate chivalry to women in our daily lives. I would argue that we, as guys wishing to be men, should strive to be polite and courteous instead of the opposite. Only then will we become the men that many of our fathers have been. Only then will we be able to pass on the ideals of chivalry and kindness to our children. ; differences practical purposes, the entire racial spectrum of contemporary American society. For America to progress to her next level of greatness, we need to confront these conflicting views candidly. If we continue using the same tactics of the past, we will surely fall to a depth not experienced since the Civil War. Marcus Gfrant Biology Freshman write now Reader responses are welcome. Letters should be between 200 and 250 words and should be delivered personally to The Gamecock, Student Media, Room 333 of the Russell House. Name, classification and mggor should be included Names will not be withheld under any circumstances. The Gamecock reserves the right to edit all letters for length and/or possible libel.