Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Fm, If you've heard it once, you've heard it a hundred times. The same people who labeled us "Generation X" have added "apathetic" to their definitior Attempting to put such a diverse group into one neat category leads to logical inconsistencies like, "If we're so indifferent, apathetic and uninterested, then why are students at USC involved in over 250 registered student organizations?" Just because today's students aren't getting tear-gassed or beaten with billy clubs like their parents does not mean they don't care about anything. A survey of a few USC student organizations revealed who student activists are, what they are doing, the advantages they offer to students and the problems they face. It might surprise some that Greek fraternities and sororities are considered to be cradles of student activism. Service and philanthropy have long been a part of Greek life but are just beginning to change the image most people hold of Greeks. "I think people see us out there raising money for these children's charities," said Jennifer Beasley, president of Kappa Delta sorority. "I certainly do think people see us as more than a social organization." USC celebrate DtPKA BHAMBHANI Asst. Features Edit One of the biggest problems for college i along with trying to maintain a balance the social and academic life, is trying to r a balanced diet. In light of this proble and other universities across the corn observing National Nutrition Month ir "We decided that we'd try to tag on of the national events a little more," said B Sproule, graduate assistant for Hea Wellness. "Ihe main purpose is to try and healthy eating here at USC and to mak more aware of the choices that they ma J | : blc? ^gc Your Quality A Phone orders? , ;V 5 f|l' -Free ?1^ Wi Josh Blassingame, president of Alpha Phi Alpha, agreed. 1 think all fraternities have to fight the stereotypic mentality," i he said. "A lot of stuff that fraternities and sororities do for the community goes unnoticed. And they don't do it for the glory pr anything of that nature, you know, just personal growth, personal ^ satisfaction." Although activism has traditionally been thought of in political terms, today's students find they can be active by raising awareness and educating others, without being political. Mike Macmahan, president ofBGLA, said, "It's almost gotten to the point where if you're gay, it's a political stance in and of itself, but it's very possible for us to be active without being political.'' "For instance, we can set up a booth on World AIDS Day, and we can take a very active role, passing out ribbons, passing out condoms, but we're not fostering a political agenda; we're fostering a people agenda." Even with the large number of students involved in organizations and activities at USC, apathy is still viewed as a problem by some student leaders. "Obviously, you're going to run into some people that are apathetic just because, you know, they go to work, they ?s National Nut or Although many students neg ? 1- u? i-U eaimg pi upeiiy, it uaxi uc me it students, aspect of being at school, espec between students living on campus, naintain "Obviously, the biggest probl m, USC js students don't know how to < itry are Sproule said. "For a lot of students 1 March, from home where their parents h* to some meals for them. All the students Margaret was just sit down and eat." 1th and If a student has poor health, b promote carry on with regular daily act e people imperative students make an ef ike." their habits, exercise and eat ^ I pttf p & ?IVN "Balfour iternative to Booksto iccepted with Master * (803)254-5330 % j609 Blossom Sf3M18 p^ng% walk lroifscamp "There is a lot of apathy here \ that a lot of students are awai think are going to affect them, Chris Smith, member of the A go to class, they go home," said David Frankel, president of Young Democrats. "There is a lot of apathy here and a lot of things going on that a lot of students are aware of, but they don't really think are going to affect them," said Chris Smith, a member of the Association of African-American Students. Trying to keep up with a hectic everyday life or believing the issues don't affect one personally are both reasons why some students do not get involved. Chris Thomas, the adviser for Students Allied for a Greener Earth, presents another explanation. There are too many issues out there," Thomas said. "We've SDread ourselves out into having concern for everything, and therefore people are now numb. But if we continue being numb, where are we headed?" The funding of student organizations is a delicate subject that sometimes evokes cries of unfairness from various rition Month t lect to focus on servings from each of tl tost important "We really feel like ially for those is the key to all of this This is so student! em on campus she said, because the i ;at correctly should eventually becoi , they're coming that will induce a high ive cooked their energy. have had to do "There are lots and healthier," she said. "It ie or she cannot reduction. We're not sj ivities, so it is out and eat salads eve: fort to improve feel like they need to n the suggested day. There needs to be in4H li|P: with purchase of 25 personalized graduation nnouncements... 3875 + tax. Post graduate gowns please add $10?? 11 Discounts * Specials i|||i re Exclusivity Card or Visa. i<w mm By Catherine McIni and a lot off things going on 0 of, but they don't really ? 1 ssociation of African-American Students student groups. According to the Carolina Community student handbook, student organizations that have been registered for 12 full months can apply for allocation of funds drawn from the student activity fee paid each semester by every student, "unless the organization is a social fraternity or sorority, a political organization, a religious group or a residence hall government." The qualifying terms "social," "political" and "religious" are defined by the Student Senate Finance Committee during the appropriation process and are open to interpretation. Obviously, most of the activities of groups like Young Democrats or College Republicans are going to be political, but what about groups who take position on issues that might be considered political? "If s a pretty gray term, I think," said Brian Calub, vice chairman of the Student Senate Finance Committee. "From my experience on the committee, usually 4 0 promote betl ie four basic food groups. This is the p moderation and balance balance. Sproulf ," Sproule said. the basement ot j do not feel restricted, Center and get change in eating habits health educator me an unconscious habit Students can er self-esteem and more an eight-week t their health. Eac lots of benefits to eating topics and set g can also help with stress one week the toj aying people have to go At the end oft! ry day for lunch, but we personal goal to ot eat hamburgers every week. ! some balance." "Its not a di< 1 f PR< i Need to mal Wish you < Greenville Tt Last year, over 70( that transferee Gn A perm call Greenville Te Check out our convenier J For a i call 250-8111 osh, Staff Writer what we use to define it is like lobbying or trying to change policy." Some organizations may feel limited by these guidelines, while others find a way around them by holding educational ana awareness activities, ine senate Finance Committee may overhaul the entire allocation process so student activity fees no longer fund organizations themselves, only their activities. "That's something thafs been on the board for a while," said Calub. "If somebody wanted to have a speaker, we'd fund that, but not their organization. You'd be abb to define activities as political and nonpolitical, instead of organizations and that might could give other organizations a chance to get more money. So that's an alternative." Some student groups say their hands are tied when all they can do is hand out brochures to people who don't want to read them, instead of being able to demonstrate or lobby for change in legislation. Others disagree. "A law is just words; it doesn't touch people. You can have the legislation but if you don't have people to support it wholeheartedly, its not gonna work," Macmahan said.Tou won't need to do politicking once the education is done. A great deal of the problems come from ter eating habi erfect time to start creating that to lose v i encourages students to stop by for ther the Thompson Student Health Hov advice from a counselor or peer loss is p with ex also join the Lighten Up program, Dur self-paced program to improve educate h week, students discuss different display pals accordingly. For example, educate )ic of discussion may be exercise, to fill oi ie session, a student may set a the cou exercise three times a assist s Hea it and its not designed for people nutritic REM MULED te up a class or just want h could And a way to beat hij ich's Summer Transient Program ) students from nearly 100 institu ;d back to their own colleges and ienville Tech's very reasonable ra ission form from your college is i for vour summer tran it options including College On 1 ^TGREENVILLE TEC College That Woi summer transient \ or toll-free in SC i-< * ignorance. If students are educated, the problems might very well solve themselves." Coalitions are another way to bypass restrictive funding, and the benefits they offer go far beyond the financial realm. "When you get organizations to work in groups, pool resources and co-sponsor events, first of all, you get organizations to meet each other, and if you get those two organizations to work together, now you're sharing a budget, you're sharing supplies, you're sharing tech services, you're sharing events, now you have more money to do other things," Frankel said. "I think a lot of other fraternities and organizations need to take advantage of co-programming," Blassingame said. "Not only does it further the cause but it also builds friendships and bonds that weren't presently there." There are lots of ways to be a student activist, and you don't even have to do it on campus. Do your part to disprove the apathetic label of "Generation X." The Campus Activities Center is ]ru>ck+aA nn fVio lnwpr IpvpI wpst. wrintr of the Russell House and can put you in contact with any one of 250 student organizations existing or can even help you start your own. ts on campus weight on," Sproule said. "If s just designed n to learn how to eat healthier." rever, depending on personal goals, weight jossible, because the program blends diet ercise. ing National Nutrition Month, peer health ars will make presentations and set up 3 and tables in the Grand Marketplace to ! students. They will also encourage them it a nutrition assessment sheet, by which nselors and peer health educators can itudents in slowly changing their diets, ilth and Wellness will also be distributing mal flyers. if mi a get ahead? gh tuition? is the answer, tions earned credits universities at ites. leeded sient packet today. 'V and Weekend College! H ks racket, 500-822-1183.