The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, July 09, 1996, Page 4, Image 4
To have
your voice
neard, vote
TREVOR I So you are
FENCER | at the university.
I It's warm, it's
cozy.
You are here with friends watching
a movie between the daily pilgrimage
to classes. You make it to your Mortar
Board meeting. You are set. Parents pay
for school, you've plugged just enough
away from the summer employment or,
in some cases, the winter employment.
The grandparents send a little cash here
and there. It's nice and pleasant.
The most difficult decision you have
to make is which bar to go to in Five
Points tonight.
Especially during the summer, we
are all somewhat in a haze. We don't
really want to be here. It's hot.
No. It's "standing under the booster
rocket on the space shuttle as it takes
off hot, and there you are hiking across
the Horseshoe to class.
What am I slowly getting to is we
all forget about our responsibilities. Like
this rambling column you are reading.
It was supposed to be fa* the Orientation
Issue of the paper in the beginning of
June. I forgot. Then I said I would do it
a week ago. I turned it in on Saturday,
not typed.
So by now you're wondering what I
am writing about.
What? You haven't figured it out?
It is so clear it is uncanny.
VOTING!
What? Out of left field? Sure, maybe,
but it was what I was thinking about
when I started. w
It is what I forgot to do. Back on June
11. They all voted and I didn't. That is,
all the folks back home did. In the local
elections.
Some said it really isn't important.
I disagree. We need to vote. We need to
find the time to make a difference. Those
same folks who say it isn't important
are usually the first to complain when
things don't go their way. Yup. Those
local elections decide who this years
pseudo-politicians will be. And they are
the ones who find it in their hearts to
allow the increase in the university's
funding.
Tuition went up again. Second time
in three years. No doubt there is
complaining from all over the state by
young men and women, much like
ourselves,:who didn't vote.
If you don't like the person, vote for
the other one. If you don't like either of
them, vote for the lesser of the two evils.
There is no time like the present to
get your registration form for absentee
voting. Ifs big time voting in November.
Ifs important to let our voices be heard.
A great cliche.
Diere is duty involved here, too. Duty
to your country and future family. There
are nasty people out there, and many
of them live in Washington.
And what some of these nastees are
doing or might do could affect your
children and you. If you don't like what
your man in D.C. does, call him and let
him know someone under the age of 30
is concerned about his voting record.
I will say I don't think all of the folks
in D.C. are awful. Actually, I had a nice
response, albeit a form letter, from Fritz
when I called to say I opposed an
environmental resolution on the floor.
Une day, mayoe we win nave a glass 01
tea, and discuss further where those
reforms have gone and what he thinks
they mean to the coast of our lovely
South Carolina.
Pardon my digression. Back to the meat
of what I was saying. Apathy will kill
you. There is no time like the present
to vote.
Vote. Vote. Vote. Vote. I can't say it
enough. Vote. Vote. Vote. Vote.
Oh yes one other thing. Know what
and who you are voting for.
There is nothing like a wasted vote,
whether not used or used without
knowledge. Think about it. Lots of you
say the folks down the street from the
Smithsonian are out of control. Well,
your way to control them is to vote for
the other person. Use it Vote. Vote. Vote.
GAMECOCK READERS:
Let us know how you
feel. Reach us by
uiritinn
n ? ?!
a letter or
submitting
a guest column.
LETTERS
TO THE EDITOR
should be between
200-250 words. Letters
and columns should be
delivered to Russell
House room 333.
\ sC fC ^ ^
\ 1ai0>
^^
\^ >J V.'
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'
QUOTE, UNQUOTE
"We really expect the chai
Olympic torch
'As night fell on Birmingham, there op]
was one Kghtbrighter than the setting we
sun, the rising moon, or the city lights, it a
The Olympic torch was making its
way to the heart of the city which would oui
be its home for the night. A city where out
thousands of cheering citizens hailed liki
its arrival. rea
This scene occurred about a week wa
ago while I stood with my brother and we
the Olympic torch was carried into ba<
t* n . ..l. j i tin M t
. L?inn rars aowniown. wnne l was wa
there, I gained an appreciation for what
these great games represent. fait
For one night, every corner of the froi
Earth was within reach, and peace the
seemed much more than a fantasy.
For a brief instant, I felt like so much yot
more than a citizen of any city, state As
or country. Earth was the only home Bir
I could knew. a d
The Olympics were designed to tea
instill that inspiration into us all. We
come to realize how much more there tim
is than the daily drudgeries of our lives, soo
There are countries we have not seen, mo
languages we have not spoken and bul
cultures we have not experienced, the
We begin to understand the colossal
experiment Earth is and the unending sta
ffoK^0Tes, Ante D^Cuetn Dto uu i
\ oiildb&/ jaist he pi?> kiu. $ccf>t> ana
Pub , BUT KEEP W fl/VD THAT HE
j HUD A Loik FfC. THE Ml
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Editoral on accoi
In your editorial of May 15, stv
you applaud the recent passage a
of legislation designed to make log
public higher education in South F
Carolina more accountable. You mi
ii_. ?i. AI~:~ i
correcuy now; uns leyisiawun is en
a major step in the history of all
higher education in this state of
and that it is the product of the ob
considerable time and effort by pr
legislators, educators and busi- ex
ness people. in:
Lamentably, your editorial pa
lacks reflective thought and con- se'
tains glaring factual errors. You en
paid almost no attention to Te
some simple but highly relevant yo
questions. For instance, the leg- "S
islation is designed to reward in
institutions whose students of
graduate as quickly as possible. Cz
Is this not an incentive to lower co]
graduation requirements? In tic
order to speed up graduation }
rates, should institutions have ve
the power to stipulate that their ed
students are prohibited from re
having off-campus employment ru
during the academic year? er
Should institutions require stu- th
dents to commit themselves in ali
writing to study a given number ti<
of hours a week outside of the sh
classroom? A good standard co
here might be t-hree hours for bu
each course credit, 45 hours of st
s . . ji
'm* ^rnw !
^ m
iters themselves to build
Gene Luna, Housing Director
brings intern;
Dortunities I ADAM I *
have to test | SNYDER | i
jl EEHSBI
Our world, i
civilization, may seem so large, so i
; of control sometimes, that events 1
e the Olympics bring it all within i
ich. Political campaigns, bombings, ]
rs,and the continuing difficulties i
cannot seem to overcome take a :
:k seat when the world stops to
tch, listen and cheer.
Every four years the world puts its
h in the young, in people no different
n you or me, and helps them escape
: tragedies around us.
I felt it my duty, as one of those
incr rw?nnlp tn crivp tVip wnrlH Vinnp
part of my duty as a citizen of
mingham and of the world, I joined i
ifferent Olympic team. I joined the i
m of the Olympic volunteers. ]
More than 2,000 people will dedicate i
le at the end July to make Olympic 1
cer in our city a success. Thousands ]
re are waiting in the wings to help
t have been turned away because ]
re are not enough jobs for everyone. ]
In addition, hundreds of full-time 1
ff members are working around the i
T*Mm
untability bill 1:
idy a week outside of class if
student is carrying a course
id of 15 hours.
low are institutions to deterina
t.hfi after-crraduation
iployment records of their
lmni? Do we have those kind
records? If not, how do we
tain them? Some of these
oblems have been already
plored on other campuses, for
stance in Tennessee which
ssed accountability legislation
veral years ago. You appartly
did not know about the
mnessee legislation. Instead
u erroneously asserted:
011th Carolina is the first state
the nation to pass any form
an accountability bill." South
irolina's is, however, the most
mprehensive of such legisla?n.
fou also incorrectly assert unirsities
"were originally found['
to focus resources for
search." Any person with a
dimentaiy knowledge of high
education wouia Know Deuer
an that. That person would
30 know colleges and universiss
have historically been
aped by demands of many
nstituencies and American
isiness has be >n one of the
rongest of those constituen
^^7 ^ -vf#
v/
their own structures."
ational spirit
clock to prepare the city for the arrival
of our portion of the games.
Some will be working 12 hours
shifts in 100 degree for doubleheader
soccer matches. Other volunteers will
be running errands and trying to
accommodate our guests in every way
possible. Still others will greet
international visitors at the airport,
at hotels and at Legion field to show
them the Southern hospitality we are
famous for.
What inspires these volunteers to
help with the Olympics?
What brings thousands out to look
for a glimpse of a torch being run
through town?
Tt is a nntrintism fnr thf> wnrlH
We want our guests to be able to
enjoy the Olympics with ease. We want
them to leave with a smile and fond
memories of their visit to our corner
of the world. We want them to come
back and enjoy our polite hospitality
long after the Olympics are over.
But most of all, we want that
peaceful feeling to linger. Because we
realize that as long as we hold on to
the Olympics, nothing will be the same
in the world around us.
las loop holes
cies.
You also allege classroom
enrollments have soared in
order to fiind "an ever-growing
faculty and administration." I
share your concern about classroom
enrollments. But I am
puzzled about where you are
CM /nvMinnrr
milling an CYci-giumug iuvuitjr
and administration." based upon
my experience and observations,
the faculty and the administration
are not growing. My own
department, History, has lost
about. 30 nercent of it's full-time
positions. Other areas I have
some knowledge of have either
declined, have not grown at all,
or are growing only modestly
after years of no growth in spite
of great need. Those areas
include the libraries, business,
engineering, African-American
Studies, and Women's Studies.
Like most faculty members, I
welcome the concern of the
Gamecock about the quality of
higher education. In the future,
I hope that concern is reinforced
by more careful though and a
greater attention to factual
accuracy.
Thomas E.Jerrill
Professor
Serving I
Tina Morgai
Keith Boudreau
Edttoi
Chris Dixo
Cece von Koli
Olympic gan
qood, bad of
*
The Olympics can bring [" fwf
out the best and worst in HU
a nation. ffa
For the United States, ^
having the Olympic games "
in Atlanta has opened I
many eyes to several
injustices as well as Througl
restored faith as hundreds Qoo
celebrate the spirit of the
games. The Olympics will
only last so long. What we
need to do is take a few lessons from
the experience.
interest from the Association Of Africai
American Students to fraternitiei
and sororities. Residence hal
governments and honor societies al?
offer opportunities to get involved
But die focus of USCs oommitmen
to community service can be founi
in the Office of Community Servici
Programs. Located in the lower wes
wing of the Russell House in th<
campus Activities Center, the offic*
can place you with an agency tha
meets your volunteer needs.
As president of Into the Streets
one of the student organizations baset
in the rvffire T invite anyone who eniov
community service to come to i
"Oa
Tina Morgan John
Editor in Chief
Koith Boudreaux CoPy **
Viewpoints Editor n<i. .
a u i. HODeri
Coco von Kolnitz
News Editor photo
Chris Dixon
Features Editor Jason
Achim Hunt
Sports Editor Cart<
The Gamecock is the student newspaper of The
Carolina and is published Monday, Wednesday
the fall and spring semesters and six times duri
the exception of university holidays and
Opinions expressed in The Gamecock are tho!
author and not those of The University of
The Board of Student Publications and Coi
the publisher of The Gamecoi
The Department of Student Media is its par
The Gamecock will try to print all letters
should be 200-250 words and must incl
proressionai line or year anu major or a
must be personally delivered by the
The Gamecock newsroom in Russell He
The Gamecock reserves the right to edit al
possible libel or space limitations. Nan
withheld under any circumsta
I I?
On the negative side, there was
the Confederate flag controversy.
Almost, from the dav it was announced
that the games would be in Georgia,
those who feel the flag represents
hatred and racism have campaigned
for its removal from the top of the
Georgia statehouse. Others cried that
it was a matter of heritage and
tradition.
Whatever people believe, it
sparked a debate that crossed state
lines into South Carolina.
Unfortunately, the war of words is
not over for our state.
There was also the unfortunate
matter of where the Olympic torch
would go. Could the Olympic
Into the St:
community t
As students at USC, we I c
are often the audience for C
activists and campus leaders I
who 'preach' the word on
community service, involvement, an<
contributing to the Carolini
Community.
I don't claim to be a minister o
activism, but I would like to make ai
appeal, not only to freshmen, but t
all students about the value o
community service.
Being no stranger to Welcom
Week, Student Organization Fairs
and the recruitment tables differen
groups set up on Greene Street,
know that choosing where you belonj
is not an easy task. Groups range ii
amttDCR
JSC Since 1908
i, Editor in Chief
x, Viewpoints Editor
rial Board
n, Achim Hunt,
litz, Robert Walton
N I 0 N |
ies highlight
Southern life
committee support antimkdaMM
gay resolutions several
1Olympic counties voted for? In the
lames en(^? some counties
rescinded their
resolutions. Others, such
as Greenville, left the
1 tod 2nd resolution in place only
<d, we should to find that the torch
1 the event went through unlit.
After the recent
attack of American troops
in Saudi Arabia, security in Atlanta
is a top priority. During a time of
international pride it is unfortunate
we have to concern ourselves with
senseless acts of terrorism
On the positive side, hundreds
carried the torch while we cried and
rejoiced. A lot of needed construction
has taken place. The Olympics should
be an international event proportional
to an American July Fourth
u;icui atiuii.
The games highlight the work of
thousands erf" courageous people. When
it is all over, there will be a lot less
traffic and international teams will
go home to tell of their adventures
with Americans and the American
way of life. Now that ifs here, let's
relish the moment.
reets stresses
service
rUFTON meeting and see what
HESNUT we're about. We have no
[membership
requirements beyond
l pdruuipauuii in 3ci vitc pi ujctu?) ??tu
a this year, we plan to sponsor a number
of exciting projects,
f We're planning a food drive for
i needy Columbia residents, a winter
0 party for kids at the Epworth
f Children's Home and Into the Streets
*97.
e Into the Streets, which is scheduled
i, for March, is by far the largest single
t service project performed by USC
1 students each year. This past spring,
I more than 230 students, faculty
l members and staff members helped
i at more than 20 individual volunteer
s sites in the Columbia area. Next year,
1 we hope to increase the number of
a agencies and the number of volunteers.
If our group sounds like an
t organization you would consider
1 joining, come to our first meeting on
8 September 4 at 8 p.m. It will be held
t in the Preston Seminar room, and we
8 will have weekly Monday meetings
8 at 8 p.m. the rest of the semester,
t One of the important problem that
is frequently mentioned on campus
, is student apathy. So no matter what
1 you do, help change the view that
3 USC students are apathetic and get
a involved in something.
fficodi
Lyons Chris Carroll
Director of Student Media
;sk chief Marilyn Edwards Taylor
WaltOH Marketing Director
Laura Day
?^tor Creative Director
Jeff A. Braaiix
Gamba Art Director
Erik Collins
xrnist Faculty Advisor
University of South
t and Friday during
ng the summer, with s
exam periods. g
se of the editors or
South Carolina. The Gamecock
mnunications is The University ?' ^ Carolina
emotion. 18031 "7'772e
Features Editor 777.3913
Viewpoints Editor 777.7181
received. Letters
ude full name, Sports Editor 777.7182
student. Letters
; author to Classifieds 777.1184
>use room 333.
1 letters for style, Advertising 777.4249
les will not be
nces. Fax 777.6482
* ? 1