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Monday, Soptomber 23,1996 VL*Hm Serving (JSC Stephanie Sonnenfel Chris Dixon, Vie EdKoifal Martha Hotop, Achim Hunt, Lisa No' Jennifer Stanley, Cece voi | 0 P I h Fitzgerald Cen sense of pride Who are the _________ greatest American writers of the Twentieth We should Century? Who USC is ho are some of the greatest \ Cente American writers of all time? Well, when answering both of these questions, especially the first one, one has to include the name F. Scott rvi 1J TT_ il. /?il. . ritzgeraiCL ne is ine wnier 01 me Jazz Age, and although his writings are the greatest about the Roaring Twenties, his themes and ideas transcend this period in American history to make them great for all time. He just truly is one of our great literary figures. ' Looking at Fitzgerald this way, it is amazing to think that here, at the University of South Carolina, we have the world's greatest Fitzgerald collections and one of its foremost scholars on Fitzgerald, Professor Matthew Bruccoli. Not at Princeton, where Fitzgerald went, not at Harvard, but here, at the University of South Carolina. It's amazing that we have this kind of first class literary collection here at the University, and we should be extremely proud of it. It gives us something to gloat about to the supposed "intellectuals" up at Duke and Chapel Hill. We can tell them, Peroft exclus debates is unl The Com- I mission on Ui?Ui&iUJ Presidential Debates has Ross Perot excluded be exclu presidential the up< candidate Ross Presidenti Perot and his running mate Pat Choate from the presidential and vice presidential debates in October. The Commission decided to exclude Perot and Choate because they determined the Reform Party candidates did not have a realistic chance of winning the Nov. 5 election. In true Perot style, he is fighting back. The Perot campaign said it would file a lawsuit in U.S. District Court Monday at 11 am in Washington, D.C., to seek an injunction against the Commission if Perot is not included. Perot, whose name is on the ballot in 50 states, said he is a victim of partisan politics and his nBagcodu Stephanie Cece von Sonnenfeld Kolnitz Editor in Chief Special Projects Chris Dixon Lisa Viewpoints Editor Noworatzky Martha Hotop Copy Desk Adam Snyder Robert Walton News Editors Photo Editor Jennifer Stanley Brian Rish Features Editor Graphics Editor Achim Hunt Rob Gioielli Sports Editor Asst. Viewpoints t The Gamecock is the student newspaper of the University of South Carolina and is published Monday, Wednesday and 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 todt Since 1908 d, Editor in Chief :wpoints Editor I Board woratzky, Brian Rish, Adam Snyder, 1 Kolnitz, Robert Walton I I 0 N 1 tenary brings to students wmmmrnammm ^ we are a true academic institution. be proud Not only does xting the the University itzgerald ^ave t^s &reat collection, but this week will be the 100th anniversary of Fitzgerald's birthday, the Centenary, and this celebration will be here at USC. Scholars from all over the country, and the world, will be coming here to attend seminars and listen to speakers, and to basically celebrate this great American literary figure. This is great for the University. This is going to be a major International conference, and the University will be able to put on ? i x c e li j.1 l. _1 lis Desi iace ior an me sciiuiais that will be coming here. We will show them that we are not just a po-dunk state school in the South, but a true academy of higher learning. Our main pursuit here is education, not a winning football team. So have some pride in your University that we have this collection. Take some time this week to attend some of the Centenary events and soak up the great intellectual atmosphere. This celebration is something that comes along once in a long while, and we happen to be lucky enough to have it at our University. ion from lair for voters pwvmhh rights were being violated, and he is absolutely should not right. dedfrom Perot, who coming usually averages al Debates. about five percent in presidential choice polls, may r\r\i fiova a realist.ir rhnnrp nf A1VV 11UTV u A V/ VMMMVV w* winning the election, but he can bring issues to the debates the two major parties would rather ignore. The American people should have the opportunity to hear all three presidential and vice presidential candidates debate the issues so they can make an informed decision at the ballot box in November. Voters should decide whether or not Perot has a realistic chance of winning the election, not a Commission. Voters can't make that decision if Perot isn't allowed to debate. tvs: 777-7726 vertising: 777-1184 X: 777-6482 Kej|h Boudreaux BraMMnBSnnn Circulation Manager Chris Carroll Dipka Bhambhani Director of Studea Media Jessica Nash Laura Day Asst. Features Creative Director Bryan Johnston J.T. Wagenheim Dwayne Ait Director McLemore Mark Hopkins Asst. Sports Graduate Assistant Nikki Thorpe Marilyn Edwards ... Tnvlnr Jason JefTers Marketing Director Daniel Brown Erik c?,lins Cartoonists Facul,yAdvi50r 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 333. The Gamecock reserves the right to edit all letters for style, possible bbel or space limitations. Names will not be withheld under any circumstances. f t f\GMECOCtC % EKCloWE! . ' ACCOUNTANT V I MO/2J2IS jp 2 Lg"iw VS "It Is our goal to alort tho c Rebeci Defense of R | Cecg von Kolnitz | At 12:50 a.m. Saturday, President Bill Clinton signed a piece of legislation into law which allows states to ban gay marriages. According to a Reuters article, Clinton's campaign thinks gay voters will still support him in November because marriage isn't a top priority to the gay community and the law doesn't take any rights away. Doesn't take any rights away? What about eveiyone's right to equal treatment under the law? If Hawaii wants to recognize gay marriages, then Hawaii should be able to do it. Ana wnen a coupie marnea m Hawaii travels to another state, that state should also have to recognize the marriage. Our government has decided states Homecoming | Wesley Walker | "Remembering the Days" will be the theme of Homecoming *96. This week I talked with people who remember the days when there was a Homecoming Queen at USC. They remember they were bad days. The SG president and vice-president have announced their intentions to bring back a queen. It would be better for them to go back to doing what they were before this bold initiative. Nothing. I cannot imagine why the first major action of the president and vice-president would be one to divide the student body, to bring to the surface all of the racial tension on this campus and to Mediocrity at' | Chris Salmon | Yes, I admit it. I have been remiss in mv duties as a Gamecock columnist thus far this fall, but I have a good excuse. Ya see, ifs not my fault? nothing has happened. That's right? Nada. Zippo. Zilch. Everything has been just so damn tolerable. The presidential race has turned into a prime time dog and pony show, and insultingly enough, not even a very good one. The parking issue is trivial, not to mention beaten to death. Even the InterVarsity Christian FeDowship has managed to avoid attracting my attention so far. An/1 foAa if* n/\ nna aomo fA Jmiu i&t o mvc iv. i iv viiv vuivo w ivuu about what I did this summer, and that includes myself. nnvT? % BEHifJo rne r > THE KISS ^ T?UI hi : students about concerns commonalities between fre ;a Franklin, International Students Advisor, ( damage Act Defense of Marriage right to equal treati should be able to ban same-gender marriages because they're supposedly a threat to somebody's definition of "family values." What possible threat could a samesex marriage pose to anybody? I've heard and read stories about prejudiced judges who have taken children away from lesbian mothers not because kiif Uaaaiica 4"Vv/Y\r UlCjf cliC Ulillt iiiuuicii^ uut ucvauog tucj are homosexuals. While these stories are horrible, I've always dismissed them with the thought that justice would prevail. But now I feel like it's impossible to count on anyone involved in the government to do what is right and fair. If lawmakers are so worried about today's families, why don't they allow states to keep wife-beaters and childabusers from getting married? The big question is what are they doing about the real problems this nation faces? pageant will fo further exclude non-Greeks from Homecoming celebrations. Now let me be very clear about my expectations for Homecoming *96. This year's Homecoming Commission, under the direction of Commissioner Jason Lockhart, has been working for a solid year to plan a memorable Homecoming week. In my years here, I have not seen a more dedicated group put so much effort into planning and organization. Homecoming *96 promises to be one of was reinstated 90s style. Actually, I'm surprised it hasn't already made a comeback. If s kinda like exercise with a back to nature feel, both very popular ideals this decade. I bet we could even sell the concept to Nike. Just imagine a thirty-five foot billboard featuring an incredibly attractive man or woman wearing nothing bul 1 > sceriis AT gei/MION . I mc*) GO**Q gp- 7 * (g) /f ?y *?*? ' and differences between th< shmen and transfer student! jn University 101 "Thinking Globally" worksho legalized hoi Act infringes on the nent under the law. This new ban is not a defense of ma bigoted and reminds me of why I got; Bill "I'm a Republican. No, I'm a Bern Democrat" Clinton has signed this pie Supreme Court slaps him in the face \ But lawmakers have never been accused of dwelling on important issues. They spend their time and our money making up useless, idiotic, mean-spirited laws. They say gay marriages are threatening, then turn around and declare that if s okay to let people carry around concealed weapons. Now that the extremist bigots in Congress have seen that Clinton will sign a blatantly prejudiced law, who knows what they will try to regulate next. If he's remembered for nothing else, people will know that Clinton was the ring tension, dr Treasurer Peter Siachos, heretofore the most visible and active officer of Student the best ever thanks to Carolina Productions, the Homecoming Commission and Jason Lockhart. It is not a coincidence these groups have chosen not to be involved in the election of a Homecoming Queen. It is also not a coincidence that SG (JSC can be de In short, I have been neutralized, and it is a bit humiliating. The only thing left to write about is the amazing lack of things to write about. However, my purpose here today is not to point out that USC has become a bastion for mediocrity in an otherwise twisted world, but rather to offer some /wr?anrrcmatinnQ Wiiow UVUTV Uiiu ^/I UVV1VM1 on how to change it. Suggestion #1: Streaking. Tt's ahnut time this 70s institution Government, has chosen not to be a part of this plan. Student Government can accomplish a great deal if they concentrate on the areas where they can be most effective. One of the most successful initiatives in the past has been the expression of student opinions and interests. Student Government has successfully lobbied the General Assembly through the South Carolina Students Association. Student Government has also done a very good job of expressing students' concerns regarding campus safety. As a result of their activism, call boxes are everywhere, Blossom Garage has been cleaned and the lighting improved and the closing of dangerous streets and :aFt with throug sneakers with the words "Just Do It" strategically placed. I can't speak for evetyone, but it brings a tear to my eye. Suggestion #2: Eco-Terrorism. All over this campus there are all kinds of creatures wrongly imprisoned. I happen to know where there are a bunch o' stone crabs that would undoubtedly be much happier in the fountain in front of the library. And what about that big old smokestack smack dab in the middle of campus. How does it look to a visitor in this day of a greener earth and cleaner air to come onto school grounds and see that huge symbol of industrial oppression with USC painted on it big as life. Now Fm no engineer, but it probably ain't all that sturdy. Enough said "bout i that. Suggestion #3: Theme-days. r * 3_ [? "7 ~ ? \ CHtf \ ttfiiN- Paul I /-.AT/iJPAO I 9 students, but also s.w PS mophobia rriage. It's offensive, prejudiced, a voter registration card. Now that ocrat, I'm a Republican. No, I'm a ce of filth, I hope the United States with it. President who started the ball rolling on legalized homophobia. To anyone who has ever taken a World War II history class, useless laws that work to discriminate against a particular group of people sound all too familiar. This new ban is not a defense of marriage. Its offensive, prejudiced, bigoted and reminds me of why I got a voter registration card. Now that Bill Tm a Republican. No, I'm a Democrat, I'm a Republican. No, Tm a Democrat" Clinton has signed this piece of filth, I hope the United States Supreme Court slaps him in the face with it. vision to USC intersections on campus. I am obviously against the idea of a Homecoming Queen. I do wholeheartedly support Homecoming, and that is part of the reason for my opposition to the selection of a queen. If the contest between young ladies for Homecoming Queen is as sour as it has been in the past, this careless endeavor could set a bad tone for the entire Homecoming celebration. I hope desperately that this will not happen. In the past, the election of the queen caused such bitter division and was seen as so unfair the queen was heckled by the crowd in the stadium. That was a terrible, terrible thing, and it should never be allowed to happen again. Why take the chance? h creativity The possibilities for this are limited only by your imagination. If 11 be great, we could have a Salute to Bootleggers Day, a Sadie Hawkins style Tongue-kiss a Stranger Day, or for you animal activists, a Capture-a-Wild-Animal-and-Releaseit-on-Campus-Day. nbftTr tVin +V?nmn vaajj viva jr... uuiuitwuij, uiv miviuv days are a juvenile and pathetic attempt at entertainment, but in my defense, have you seen TV lately? Of course, these are just a few ideas I'm throwing out there. You can take . them or leave them. Officially, I have to state that the proceeding list of recommendations is for entertainment purposes only and that I can't actually advocate any willful act of sabotage, public lewdness, or organized nudity, but if it were me...