University of South Carolina Libraries
Tuesday, February 20,1996 *\5aif Serving U, Wendy Hudson, Editor in Chiel Tina Morgan, Brent Se Editor Chris Dixon, Martha Hotop, Karen Layne Ryan Sims, Stephanie Sonnenfeld, Cece v Students loi forward to 5 You have put more |K7TC time in at the library this past week than all of last Spring semester. You, my friend, is cor are in midterm hell. boy, We at The Gamecock ri feel that in the middle of panm midterms we should take part in relaxing the Hang student body by talking spring about something too clc wonderful and great - au spring break. For those of you who haven't taken your nose out of a book in a week, spring break is March 3-10. This time is often spent at the beach or at home, far, for away from SG elections, bad food and loud roommates. You can go home to take baths (perish the thought!) and lounge.. Or some of you can go back to work for a week to earn some extra spending cash. If you haven't made up your mind as to what you want to do, why not join the do some service over spring break or volunteer here in Columbia for the week at a homeless shelter. OK, it is not quite exciting as going to the beach, getting so drunk you don't know where your room is and winding up beside someone who remains nameless to you. But, next year or in a few years youH be facing LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Tradition not of all Southern I am writing in response to Erin Dunning's letter in the Feb. 14 issue of The Gamecock. I am a black Southern male. I was bom and raised in the South, and my heritage is strongly influenced by black Southern ways of life. I can understand Erin's frustration because I would also be offended if someone went against something very important to me. However, some of the things she said trouble me. I realize that McGriff made some strong statements that probably offended many white Southerners who are proud of the Confederate flag. Ms. Erin Dunning said, "Being Southern is a culture, a way of life that includes honoring the Confederate army and the rebel flag, not for slavery but to remember our freedom." This is not true for all Southerners, especially black Southerners. One of the reasons the Civil War was fought was because of slavery. Of course, white Southerners fought fin- their freedom, but what about black Southerners' freedom? If we studied history, we all know that the Confederates were for slavery. In turn, the Confederate flag represents any ideas associated to than, this includes slavery. Being a proud Southerner has nothing to do with honoring the Confederate flag. If the Confederate flag is in your heritage, then honor it. I can respect that. You cannot force your flag upon people who do not wish to honor it. The three flags flown over the state capital are the U.S. flag, the state and the Confederate flag. The U.S. and the state flag represent all South Carolinians as a whole. The Confederate flag represents all South Carolinians as a "tMfeock & Student Media Russell House-USC* C Wendy Hudson Robbie Meek Editor in Chief Matt Pruitt Ryan Wilson Sports Editors Managing Editor Allison Tina Morgan Williams Brent Seeliger Special Projects Viewpoints Editors Ethan Myerson Martha Hotop Graphics Editor Cece von Kolnitz Karen Layne News Editors Deanna Chris Dixon McLendon Stephanie Copy Desk Sonnenfeld Ryan Sims Features Editor Online Editorr The Gamecock is the student newspaper of the University of South Carolina and is published Tuesday through 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 and Communications is the publisher of The Gamecock. The Department of Student Media is its parent organization. 1 track SC Since 1908 F Ryan Wilson, Managing Editor, eliger, Viewpoints Editors ial Board , Robbie Meek, Tyson Pettigrew, Matt Pruitt on Kolnitz, Robert Walton, Allison Williams N I O N iking Spring Break nnrv something everyone has to face as they march into break '96 the real world - there ning and will be no spring break. are we Yes, USC, there >ady! is no spring break in the mhmh real world. Having said IiIUh that, you may be on, USC. thinking, "If this is all I - break is get, I am going to take >se to lose it to the max!" Well, hope. that's OK for the time ' being, but if you've got a whole week off why not accomplish some of that stuff you've been meaning to. Do some resume boosters. Meet some people. And for God's sake, get off your butt. It's only nine work-week days until spring break. That's four Tuesday/Thursday classes and five Mnn/lQxrAA/Q^r?oo/lQTr/CVirlQv nlooona iUUUUUJff fT VUiiUTUajffX 11UUJ W1U4JUVO. It's only one SG election away. It's coming, we promise. Perhaps the University could finish some of the annoying construction, give us back the Russell House parking lot so pedestrians don't keep getting mean looks hum drivers. Maybe your eyes will uncross after you're away from the libraiy for a week. Hang in there, USC. Our time is coming. representative iers whole. The Confederate flag only represents one group of people and divides us. If we fly flags representing every group of people, there would be plenty of flags over the Statehouse. I feel that it is fine to display the flag if you choose to do so. I know just because you are proud of the Confederate flag that does not make you a bad person. I can respect that. If the Confederate flag is in the heritage of the Kappa Alpha fraternity tradition, that is fine They have a right to be proud of people standing up for their "freedom." If you are saying that I should honor the Confederate flag to be a proud Southerner, I would have to say I am sony I cannot It does not make me proud to honor people who wanted to keep black people in slavery. Erin also said, "African Americans should be proud to be Southern, just like the rest of us." Is Erin saying that all African Americans are not proud to be from the South? Is she saying that true Southerners are only white? If she is, she is wrong. I am proud that my black ancestors help build this country strong with their free labor. I understand Ms. McGriff was caught by surprise, but we (Hack or white) should not get boiling mad at everything that we do not agree on. We should all stop playing the race card. I am saying that as a young, black male. I would like to give much praise to Jim Davis for explaining the purpose for the KA tradition and helping us understand it instead of adding wood to the fire. Rodney 0. White Psychology junior /s: 777-7726 ertising: 777-4249 C: 777-6482 Chris Carroll Columbia, SC 29208 Director of Studem Med,a Laura Day Tyson Pettigrew Creative Director Robert Walton Jeff A. Breaux Photo Editors Art Director Adam Snyder Sue McDonald Jennifer Stanley limSnet'lmon Asst. News Graduate Assistants Jennifer Hansen Marilyn Edwards Dipka Bhambhani Taylor Asst. Features Marketing Director Achim Hunt Erik Collins Asst. Sports Faculty Advisor Keith Boudreaux Jason Jeffers Circulation Editor Cartoonist Letters Policy The Gamecock will try to print all letters received. Letters should be 200-250 words and must include full name, professional title or 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 edit all letters for style, possible libel or space limitations. Names will not be withheld under any circumstances. I ' ' n If 1 f I / 11 i/,/ , M , f , % ! I \ // w ( '1 J^taery*' 2-76 ?/9?? TM? GA "RAs are enforcers mai want to be a helper and Hors I Rush Limbaugh He has defined an entire radio format His talk show is the most listened to radio talk show in America with nearly 25 million listeners weekly. His influence is undeniable. His ability to entertain, inform and persuade is unbelievable. He is both the most loved and hated A _ / i. r XT 1 man in America vexcepi ior newi Gingrich). Who is he? Well, of course, he is Rush Limbaugh. Every day, Rush Limbaugh's radio talk show can be heard on radio stations coast to coast. His television show finished second only to David Letterman in a survey of most popular late-night talk shows. Rush's books "The Way Things Ought To Be" and "See I Told You So" have sold millions of copies. He has starred in a Pizza Hut commercial and a Florida Orange Juice commercial. He has even developed his own line of ties that are carried in many chains, including Dillard's. Rush Limbaugh began his radio career as a disc jockey for a Top 40 station in Pittsburgh. He entered talk radio in 1984 and by 1988 he had launched his national show from New York I began listening to Rush during my sophomore year here at USC. My interest was perked during the 1992 presidential election. I had always been interested in politics, but Rush gave me the inspiration to stand up for what I believe in. Also, I consider Rush to be my No. 1 role model when it comes to my career. I have entered a career in radio as a DJ for a local Top 40 station. Although my career goals are to pursue the career ladder in the Top 40 format (or a similar U.S. president] For some strange reason, it seems that the presence of Ronald Reagan is imminent as we approach yet another campaign war between Democrats and Republicans, and, more strangely, a war between Republicans and Republicans. In Bill Clinton's State of the Union Address last month, the legacy of Reagan was hauntingly present, even in the wording of Clinton's speech. Preaching, "The era of big government is over," it might as well have been Dana Carvey doing his best impression of the former president. In Clinton's first State of the Union address four years ago, I faintly remember him calling for "sacrifice" amongst Americans (translation: you folks with lots of hard-earned money, cough it up). In the Republican party, it seems every candidate is calling himself the next Reagan. In an era where it is "cool" to be an outsider, Steve Forbes and Lamar Alexander are trying to board the on-ramp to the same back road Reagan took to the White House in 1980. Heck, even Washington insiders are trying their best Reagan impersonations. Candidate Pat Buchanan frequently makes comparisons between himself and the former president, and, in a hilarious display that was indeed a sign of the times, Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole recently said to supporters, Current events debate< PINT 1" f r@ms m ?cock ' ny times, but very few ap I a friend. Addressing mil eshoe area Residence Life Coordinator Linda provides inspii format), I I TOMMY wouldn't mind | TOUCHBERRY having my own radio talk show at all. Liberals often attack Rush Limbaugl and his audience. They say Rush is ai extremist who spouts misinformatioi and hate-speech. Liberals say Rusl listeners are ignorant, uneducated anc unable to think for themselves. Ii addition, many liberals say Rush is jusi a complainer who makes cheap attack at President Clinton and othei "honorable" liberals. Of course, if you listen to Rush's shov regularly, then you know these attack are completely untrue. On Jan. 28, th< Washington Post ran a story tha' contradicted all of these lies put fortl by liberals. The story focused on the demographics, lifestyles and attitudes of Rush's audience. The story was featured along with a stoiy on America's cynicism toward politics and its lack o political involvement. Hie story on America's cynicism founc that a majority of Americans are verj cynical about politics and government They are also pessimistic about th? economy. Finally, the article assertec that America, as a whole, is verj disinterested in the political process. A majority admit to not keeping up with current events by reading newspapers or watching news and political programs Also, the article found that manj Americans are untrusting of not onlj institutions, but individuals as well The article on Rush's audience founc very different results. The research ial hopefuls ei "I can be the I LARRY next Ronald | WILLIAMS Reagan, if you I want me to." That the Republican hopefuls are constantly claiming themselves to be carbon copies of a revered former leadei might suggest that this group a) lacks a solid identity b) doesn't have strong convictions c) has a lot of money and therefore is trying to "buy" their waj into the White House or d) is prettj damn weak. After strong consideration I'll have to write in my vote, which is e) all of the above. On the campaign trail, our formei president Ronald Reagan had one simple yet critical Golden Rule he exercised to perfection: Never attack a fellovs Republican candidate. If these candidates claim to be so much like Reagan, thej obviously haven't looked into whai made him so successful on the campaigr trail. What bonded Republicans togethei during the Republican Revolution ir Congress of 1994 is their downfall ir 1996. What was, and has traditionally been a party of internal support has turned into a party of extreme divisiveness. In a televised forum Thursday in New Hampshire, the Republicans furthei exhibited their ability to distance themselves from the voters in a debate that was characterized by persona i here! Check out The s f"'c r S\ / / / hi T jMit tsuwrnw ^? .?yv. I . yp \:% 1 f,S*{'lv^<-r^A^!JLL' * m#AWfeto.- ' \ ' y iply to be enforcers. They ^conduct come with that." Newman ation, education showed that Rush's audience was more informed and involved in the political process than the American population. Rush's audience read newspapers and news magazines and watched news 1 programs much more often than the 1 average American. 1 Compared to the entire American i population, Rush's audience consisted 1 of a much higher percentage of college i graduates. They were also much more t trusting of other people. Additionally, 3 the research found that Rush's audience r was more optimistic about the economy and their personal lives than Americans r as a whole. 3 What does all of this mean? Well, it i means the conservative listeners of t Rush Limbaugh's show are much more i educated, better informed and have a 3 better overall disposition than the rest 3 of America. This totally flies in the face 3 of liberals who spout their "flush Rush" 3 propaganda. Again, liberals attack f others because of their own insecurities. In conclusion, I believe Rush Iimbaugh 1 is the best thing to ever happen to radio. ' Although I spend the majority of my ? time listening to Top 40 music, I really ; enjoy the hour each day I get to listen I to Rush. He is both an inspiration and 1 a great motivator. His message of 1 optimism motivates me to be the best 1 I can be. Rush is the Ronald Reagan of 5 the '90s. And the most important thing of all, Rush has given a voice in the 1 media to those of us with conservative 1 values. Liberals may still dominate the mass media, but Rush has narrowed ' that gap significantly. i nulate Reagan attacks and cheap shots. At the onset of the debate, candidate Lamar Alexander accused Bob Dole of negative campaigning and attributing ; false claims. Next, Dole retaliated by s saying something to the effect of, "Well, you did it first." And these people want ? to lead the country? \ Mudslinging has taken on a whole I now moanintr anrl if will lilrolv nnsf r Republicans control of the White House. r In what was symbolic of this ridiculous , Republican internal strife, Buchanan was interviewed in New Hampshire Sunday by a panel of journalists on " ABC. , After Buchanan berated Dole's I campaign as "hollow," ABC's Sam ' Donaldson asked Buchanan if it were s a race between Dole and Clinton, who t he would vote for. "Dole, of course," t Buchanan said. Oh, yeah, of course, i Bill Clinton must be licking his chops as crunch time approaches. Internal " mudslinging in the Republican party i has to look encouraging, and Clinton i realizes they're playing right into is r hands. 5 The campaign trail is Clinton's strong - suit (I feel your pain"). If the Republican storms continue, you can expect the 1 nominee to be chopped liver against a r younger Democratic candidate who is J well-versed in the defense of accusations that might hurt his campaign. Gamecock Viewpoints! > ~j 1 3 > * Fertilizer V reeks havoc i r _ _ i ror coiumnisi drew The midstewart term is looking us in the eye like your mother does when she is trying to figure out whether you've been lying or not. If s the time of year feared the most by eveiy student at Carolina next to final < exams and Parent's Weekend. It means ! you have to get off" the of couch and finally i find time to study around all that beer- | drinkin', women chaisin' and sleepin'. ; There, thafs over with. It's not that I had planned to write a column ! specifically about the midterm, but the university wanted me to officially remind you to study for your exams. Now, on with this week's column. Has anyone walked in front of the Thomas Cooper Library lately? I did last week. I saw this brown, crusty stuff on the ground. As soon as I inhaled, I smelled * this scent so bad it would even make a hog farmer gag. At first, I thought the university was trying to recruit students from Clemson. It looked like they were putting this stuff out to make the good ol' Tiger Town coalition feel at home. But then it occurred me. They're still mourning the loss of the Gator Bowl to a bunch of Yankees, so the two Clemson students smart enough to spell Carolina wouldn't be here. Then I guessed Brad Scott was trying to bring in the latest crop of recruits from Rimini to town. But signing day had passed, so that ruled out that option. Was the Grand Marketplace cleaning out the kitchen? No. Had a crazed maniac released a flock of evil skunks to do his bidding at the Carolina campus? Negative. Had President Holderman made his triumphant return? Nunh-uh. The university was spreading fertilizer. I don't know what that stuff was made out of, but one can assume it was dinner for a cow at one time. While I was standing in front of the library making my olfactory dissatisfaction known to the public at large, a gentleman informed me that using this putrid food for plants was a way to ensure the wellbeing for the environment. I told him he was full of what this stuff smells like. How could this stuff help the environment? Something that smells this bad couldn't be good for a darn thing. Or could it? Here are a few useS I came up with I for the USC fertilizer other than fertilizing I plants: Tired of those traveling salesmen? I Lay a few pounds of fertilizer on your I porch. You won't even have trouble with I neighbors. (Note: This tactic may not I work in Myrtle Beach or Rimini orl anywhere there is a Dallas Cowboy! present.) Suppose you're having trouble! keeping burglars away from your brand! new BMW. A little under the tires andl they'll think the car isn't worth a darn! And for the ladies, want to send! your boyfriend a payback for the thonjl bikini you got from him for Valentine's* A load of this in his mailbox will makl him think through his future gifts a lol And for the gentlemen, remembel that girl who dumped you two nightl before the semiformal for that dope! smoking freak? A few pounds in thl trunk of her car will remind her to a! least call the next time. Tired of that nosy RA inspecting your room for beer at 3 a.m. before a bi! exam? A pile of fertilizer a day will kee! the RA away (and you too, unless yo! have your sinuses removed). Hey legislators, tired of those protel groups hanging around your offices al day causing trouble? Hurl a couple I pounds of this from the top of the Carolii! And, last but not least, membe! of the Civilian Militias, you too can kel the FBI, CIA and KGB off of your bal by placing the fertilizer around yol maneuver sites. Next week, Stewart's tips on savil the environment. You want a regulaM voice on campus?! Here's your chance! Submit a I 500-600 word column to Viewpoints. Drop it by Russell House room 3331 with your name I and telephone I number. Questions? Call 777-7181. |