The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, September 30, 1996, Page 3, Image 3
Monday, September 30, 1996
nsaffe
Serving USC S
Stephanie Sonnenfeld
Chris Dixon, Vie\
Editorial
Martha Hotop, Achim Hunt,
Jennifer Stanley, Lisa Noworatzky, (
HA
0 P I M
USC Alumni de
for accomplisl
Homecoming
weekend has
come and gone.
A lot of people Homecomir
rrr\ 4- aiii* i 1.
gui ui una, uui OTOUgO
football team alumn
was once again t
not the team we
saw two weeks
ago against
Georgia (but basketball practice
starts in 15 days), and many of
Carolina's Alumni returned to
Columbia for the weekend.
In a certain sense, that's what
Homecoming is for. Alumni and
current students can come together
to remember the past, celebrate
the present and look towards the
future.
These folks are our connection
to this University's history. It's
great they can come back and
show they are still part of the
University community.
Many of our alumni have left
Carolina and gone on to do great
things, and they still give back to
the school. Leeza Gibbons is a
national celebrity, but she gladly
came back to participate in the
Homecoming ceremonies and to
accept an award for her other
work in giving back to her alma
mater. But Gibbons was part of
a group of alumni who received
awards for the work they have
done after graduating.
Politicians wn
movies for pol
Republican |?JJTTVn!f9
presidential
candidate Bob n i ^ ?
Dole was Bob Dole
featured in an ad movies t
in LA Weekly fcr attacks
the soundtrack of promoting
the film
"Trainspotting,"
which Dole accused, along with
"Pulp Fiction," of promoting drug
use.
In the ad, Dole is shown
wearing a button that says, "Iggy
Pop For President." Pop's song,
"Lust For Life," is included on the
Trainspotting" soundtrack.
After accusing "Trainspotting"
and "Pulp Fiction" of promoting
drug use, Dole admitted never
seeing either movie.
As a presidential candidate,
Dole has a responsibility to use
his influence to speak out against
drug use. He should, however, do
rnrmr/ili f/l molro Clirp wbflt he
i^ovaivil IV lAAUA^V ?JV?* v
says is factually correct.
Anyone who has seen
"Trainspotting" knows the film is
anti-drug use because it exposes
Stephanie Cece von
1 Sonnenfeld Kolnitz
Editor in Qiief Special Protects
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
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. T Department of
Student Media is its parent organizatio.
1
cock
ince 1908
, Editor in Chief
vpoints Editor
Hn irl
Brian Rish, Adam Snyder,
Z&c& von Kolnitz, Robert Walton,
I I 0 N
serve respect
menls in life
These alumni
are part of many
who have gone
ig weekend on to be
t IJSC's innovators and
4 h/irb leaders in their
fields. They have
V ' shown us what
can be done with
an education
f- a:- \IT?
1IU1I1 WHS UIHVCISlt^. YTC ttic a
major university that produces
top notch graduates. We can and
should be proud of these graduates.
We can say, yes, they went to
Carolina, the school where we go
now. Much of the pride a school
has comes from its alumni.
Whether that graduate went
on to win a Nobel Prize or become
president, there is a tremendous
feeling that his or her experience
at that particular school helped
them achieve success.
Whether it is true or not,
it still means a lot to students and
alumni of that certain school. And
it should because you and
that successful person got
the same education, so maybe
there is some of that greatness in
you.
So let's always remember and
honor our alumni, especially those
who have been successful because
well be one of them some day, and
maybe some of that greatness will
be in us.
Dngly attack
!
irncai gain
the realities of
heroin's insidious
, * ? effects.
should see Iftheenter.
before he t a i n m e n t
them for industry was
] drug use. actually
producing films
promoting drug
use, we would expect Dole to come
out against those movies.
Dole's attack of the
entertainment industry is obviously
election year politics. Calling
the entertainment industry
into question is an easy way to
get votes.
Dole needs to work on issues
like the economy and health
care reform because they are
the issues that actually have
a day to day effect on all of our
lives.
People don't start doing illicit
drugs because ot the entertainment
industry. They start doing drugs
because they want to. Why would
someone destroy his or her
life by taking drugs because of
a movie? It just doesn't make sense.
777-7726
rtising: 777-1184
. 777-6482 Keith Boudreaux
Mirniiwrniima
Chris Carrol]
Dipka Bhambhani Director of Studea Media
Jessica Nash Laura Day
Asst. Features Creative Director
Bryan Johnston J.T. Wagenheim
Dwsynt Ait Diroctoc
McLemore Mark Hopkins
Asst. Sports Graduate Assistant
Nikki Thorpe Marilyn Edwards
Asst. Photo Taylor
Jason JefTers Maricding Director
Daniel Brown Erik Collins
Cartoonists Faculty Advisor
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, potato libel or space limitations. Names will not
be withheld jnder any circumstances.
vmwp
/ cUR>tW/Mi
/ suwi^cfe
AeouT OUR '
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OAPK
"I guess that's SEC f<
aqd the game coi
Shawbegii
Erin Shaw
Dear Carolina,
I'm spending a quiet night at the
townhouse, debating international issues
with my roommates, listening to Billie
Holiday and in between, staring at the
Supreme Court from my balcony. In the
? A 1 T* ? ? 1 - _i. !_ _
past lew weeKS, ive started my miemsmp
on Capitol Hill, lingered for hours at the
Smithsonian and negotiated the Metro
trains during rush hour traffic.
Fve stood engulfed in histoiy around
countless memorials, but even more
exciting, I am standing at the future of
the country as well. Okay, in between
being inspired by the symbols to our
freedom, I will admit to having a great
time exploring bookstores, shopping at
Georgetown and even getting my palm
read.
And just what will my future have
in store? It depends on who you ask. The
woman who read my palm predicted a
long life, a career serving people and two
Homecoming
To the editor,
Homecoming is a time of fun and
celebration. It is a time the Carolina
Community can come together in a festive
atmosphere. This is exactly what
happened on the night of Tuesday,
September 24,1996 at the Student
Government sponsored (not the
Homecoming Commission or Carolina
Productions, against whom I hold no
hard feelings) Homecoming King and
Queen Showcase. Students laughed,
danced and cried tears of joy during the
program.
The Showcase also honored and
highlighted the accomplishments of some
of USC's stellar students. Eileen Grana
did not win her crown because she looks
like Cindy Crawford, and Emest Sessoms
did not win his title because he looks
like Denzel Washington, and neither
won because they are the two most
popular people on campus. They both
earned their titles because they are
talented students that have shown
excellence in leadership, service and
academics, as have all of the semi-finalists.
No fights broke out! No gunshots
-- - t?
were fired! No one had to fire teargas
into the crowd or call in the National
Guard to stop a race riot. The audience
clapped and yelled for eveiy contestant.
Yes, this was a Student Government
sponsored program, but all the students
in attendance took ownership of the
program. It was their program, and they
made it a success.
If Mr. Wesley Walker (the young man
who wrote the column that unfairly
criticized this year's Homecoming
Showcase because of his ignorance of,
and lack of research about, the process)
had done an iota of research about the
PINTS
Showcase a si
process, he would have known it was not
an election but a showcase of both males <
and females and the process was a fair
one.
I would also appreciate, Mr. Walker,
that any complaints about the job Student
Government is doing be brought to me
face to face, Russell House room 110.
Fm sure the success of the Showcase
has disappointed a few people, such as
Wesley Walker, that were looking forward
to racial discord and campus division to
occur, but it has shown us all that running
away from tough issues doesn't solve
anything.
We must face the things in which we
fear and come up with solutions to the
problems and difficult issues that face
us. I thought that was why I was elected.
My job is to address the issues that
concern students and find solutions to
these problems, l thinK so lar tnis year
in Student Government we have been
active and done an outstanding job.
So, Mr. Walker, maybe you should
go back to doing nothing, and leave
journalism to those trained to do it.
I encourage everyone to Pray, Trust
God and Grow!
Patrick Wright
SG President
Columnist should direct
anger over DOMA to
U.S. Congress, not Clinton
To the editor,
Although I wholeheartedly agree
with CeCe von Kolnitz's column (DOMA
W^ww \
\ a
',d&CK? /
>otball, maybe at its best, *
lies down to the execution <
Brad Scott, USC hear
is adventur
children. For now, though, the present
is overwhelming enough. li
My first week I spent touring the city v
and getting to know the 10 other s
participants in the program. The group t
is made up of 11 from USC, Clemson c
and the Citadel, six of whom I am living f
with in the Carolina Townhouse. t
And, yes, the living arrangements
are quite similar to The Real World," I
otherwise titled "Nine Republicans and t
Two Democrats," which provides for i
continual political dialogue. c
I walk every day to the Senate Office a
Building, where I work for Senator Ernest 1
Hollings of South Carolina. Things are i
getting to be crazy in the office since 1
Congress is back in session. That means
I get to open up even more letters and 1
answer even more calls from disgruntled 1
constituents. <
The hot issues right now are the
Partial Birth Abortion Act and DOMA- 1
Defense of Marriage Act. My issues, <
however, include trying to keep cool in i
my power suit and asking for any job i
they will give me. No task to small. ;
I
>
vw <SuSTCCNl
L
rfc >
*k"''here
you go out and conr
if a few plays at the end
1 football coach
es in natic
I will confess, though, that there are
alls in the day when I stare at CNN and
vonder what my place is in the whole
cheme of things. As much as it is exciting
o live in the most important nation's
apital in the world and to be, in fact, a
>art of government, it is also humbling
0 start out on the lowest rung.
As inspiring as it is to stare at the
incoln Memorial on a clear night over
he reflecting pond, I wonder just what
1 junior English major from the University
>f South Carolina is doing here. And
vhen lost in the tunnels under the Capitol
building, I confess to longing, if just for
a moment, for the safety of the Russell
douse.
As I have met so many new people
aere, they seem to ask what I want to
ae. I honestly don't know, and thafs one
)f the reasons I'm here.
I'm constantly reshaping what I
relieve in and what passions I will focus
)n, and I think the best way to do that
s to throw myself into the middle of the
action. With my interests in literature
and the arts, I might just decide to spend
IC*~CCV>, ucopiu
legalized homophobia," Sept.23) regarding
Congress' dastardly endorsement of a
bill that targets a single identifiable
group of Americans and subjects them
to discrimination, I must take exception
tot the writers criticisms of President
Bill Clinton.
At first I thought this column signaled
a refreshing'break from the conservative
doldrums from such columnists (should
I really use the term so loosely?) like
Fred Leach. However, von Kolnitz's
otherwise excellent analysis of the Defense
of Marriage Act produced an unfair
criticism ofTresident Clinton.
The debate over same-sex marriages
boils down to a matter of discrimination
And while the US Congress continues
to support measures like DOMA and nol
pass bills like the Employment Non
Discrimination Act, a measure that woulc
have made it illegal for employers to firi
an employee because of his/her sexua
orientation, Americans are starting ti
see the problem in Washington is no
the White House, but with the House o
Representatives.
For all practical political purposes
Clinton was forced into signing DOMA
In addition to the federal bill, simila
1-:11 A 11?J 1K
unis were siecuiii uncu uuuu^u ?u otai
legislatures during the summer month
of 1996, primarily because of outsid
pressures by the Christian Coalition an
other conservative groups.
Had Clinton vetoed the measure, h
would have subjected himself to way t
many nasty political sound bites an
negative ads by the Dole Campaign (b
the way, Dole was one of the original a
sponsors of DOMA in the Senate befor
he retired).
President Clinton told gay and lesbia
voters that we were part of his visio
' I ~ ,
3
0^
Clip
r do rfl
?199 b
i*fe
ipete for 60 minutes,
of a ball game."
>n's capital
countless weekends mulling over the
work at the Museum of Women in the
Arts and go home to work on a novel.
Maybe I'll discover I want to make
politics and government my career, or I
want nothing to do with it. I may decide
to go on to law school and work for an
agency that truly helps people.
As we speed toward our collective
future with the election close at hand, I
continue onward toward the answer
which not even the palm reader could
give me-how will I make an impression
on the world?
But the streets of D.C. might help
me figure things out.
This is the first part in a series of columns
by Erin Shaw, a participant in the
Washington Semester program through
the Honors College. She is in D.C. this
fall interning on Capitol Hill and will
report her many adventures. This column
will not always be a political one, but
kind of a storytelling through experience.
t expectations
back in 1992, and he has kept his word.
Not easy for a man who made 159
campaign promises and kept 103 of them.
During the first four years, Clinton
has had more openly gay and lesbian
members serve in his administration
than any other previous president Clinton
was also the first U.S. president to support
measures securing equal rights for gays
and lesbians.
To say Clinton will be remembered
as the one "who started the ball rolling
[ on legalized homophobia" is not fair, and
quite frankly, an anachronism, especially
given President Reagan's witch hunts
lur gays anu icsuiaj is 111 luc uiuiuu j mai
. cost the US more that $890 million.
[ Meanwhile, since 1994, GOP House
. and Senate members (many of which
1 come from the Southeast) have initiated
; bills to prevent AIDS research funding,
1 overturn the District of Columbia's
) domestic partner registry, eliminate gay
t and lesbian groups for employees of the
f US government, and ban same-sex
marriages.
'? As a former columnist for The
l- Gamecock, I can sympathize with Von
r Kolnitz's outrage that such a measure
e like DOMA was passed. The bill is clearly
s illegal and even conflicts with the US
e Constitution's Ninth Amendment, leaving
it again to the courts to settle this matter.
However, von Kolnitz should redirect
0
her rage towards the real instigators of
^ DOMA, like House Speaker Newt
y Gingrich, Dole, and co-sponsors Rep.
y Bob Barr, R-Ga., and Sen. Don Nickles,
^ R-Neb.
ii Tige Watts
n Executive Editor, In Unison