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anday, Octobar 21,1996 "ISafft Serving USC, Stephanie Sonnenfeh Chris Dixon, Vie EdHorial Angie Campbell, Martha Hotop, Achin Adam Snyder, Jennifer Stanley, Sara Sved ^A O P i N Financial aid v when run by gi For the past two years, as part MM*""""" of the most recent Conservative ^ Revolution, all of Program s. Washington has ^ move been examining private ways to decrease the size of the federal government. One of the latest programs to come under scrutiny is the Federal Direct Student Loan Program. The Republicans want to move the program to the private sector. They argue besides saving the U.S. government money, it would be more efficient when it is being run by private businesses. Unlike many other Federal programs, this is one that actually works. Students receive money fast and efficiently. They only have to apply to the office in Washington, and from there, the status of their loan is decided. From there, the government handles everything, and all students have to worry about doing is getting good grades and paying off their bans after they graduate. The only problems with the program in the past are actually minor.The argument is basically a toss-up as to whether, in the Voting our onl to have a voic With the '96 Ihhw presidential election more than two weeks Vote on Not away, it is it's our c important for have an Americans to the govt realize the importance of voting. According to a CNN report, only 55 percent of eligible American voters actually vote. On Nov. 5, we will choose the man who will lead America and the free world into the 21st centuiy. The upcoming election is extremely important, so more than 55 percent of eligible voters need to make it to the ballot box. Whether you vote for Clinton, Dole, Perot or one of the many independent candidates is up to you, just make sure you vote. Clinton, Dole and Perot are not the most exceptional presidential candidates in American history, but we can't use that as an excuse not to vote. Sometimes we have to choose the lesser of three evils, but at least we are making a choice, Stephanie Angie Sonne nfeld Campbell Editor in Chief Ljsa Chris Dixon Noworatzky Viewpoint! Editor Sara Svedberg Martha Hotop Copy Desk Adam Snyder Robert Walton News Editors Photo Editor Jennifer Stanley Brian Rish Features Editor Graphics Etktor Achim Hunt JasoI1 Jefrers Sports Editor r, . i n _ __ | . Lruiuei divw.i Cece von Kolnitz cartoonists Special Projects I 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. ? tock Since 1908 1, Editor in Chief wpoints Editor Board i Hunt, Lisa Noworatzky, Brian Rish, Iberg, Cece von Kolnitz, Robert Walton, I O N irnks better ivemment pnTP|VH private sector, the loan program would cost the mt Loan government less hould not money and d to the whether it would sector. be better for students. But the question here is why would the government cut a program that works? It helps students, is easy for them to use and the relative advantages of moving it are clearly debatable. This is just another in a long list of programs the Republican Congress wants to cut Many other programs, like Social-Security and Medicaid, are in much more financial trouble than this program But those will not be cut because they are seen as too valuable. They will just be severely overhauled. Also, elected officials are afraid to cut these programs because if thev do so. thev will not endear themselves to senior citizens; one of the largest voting blocks in the country. more involved and tell their Congressman he will lose their vote if the programs are cut. y opportunity e in politics and we are making oui voices heard v. 5 because Voting is the :hance to easiest and mos effect on effective way we wnment. can take part ir our government Before you vote read your loca paper and watch the news 01 television to find out whicl candidate best suits your idea o where America should be in thi 21st century. We also need to be educate* about candidates for the Hous< and Senate because the men and women we elect to Congres make laws that directly affect ou lives. If you don't vote, don't complair If you're concerned abou welfare abuse, then vote fo someone who will reform welfare If you're concerned about you taxes, then vote for someone wh will lower your taxes. Voting is the most powerfu outlet we have to voice ou concerns on the laws and policie that affect us on a daily basis vs: 777-7726 /ertising: 777-1184 X: 777-6482 Keith Boudre, UPWWMMHUIHIU ^ j v/iii vaa u Rob Gioieili Director of StudeaM< Asst. Viewpoints Laura Day Diplta Bhambhani Creative Directo Jessica Nash J.T. Wagenhe Asst Features Alt Director Bryan Johnston Mark Hopkii Dwayne Graduate Assista McLemore Marilyn Edwa Asst. Sports Taylor Nikki Thorpe Marketing Directo ? is_:i. Asst. Photo lns v/uiiiik Ben Mu Id row Facu">' M a Asst. Graphics The Gamecock will try to print all letters rece Letters should be 200-250 words and must includt name, professional title or year and major if a stu Letters must be personally delivered by the aulh The Gamecock newsroom in Russell House room 3: The Gamecock reserves the right to edit all letter style, possible libel or space limitations. Names wi! be withheld under any circumstances. VEEWI ;:hei , , 8 "The more free market-* bank, particul People sh( Cece von Kolnitz ) "If you died five minutes from now, where would you be?" A man standing outside of the Russell House holding a sign aboul Jesus shouted the question at me as ] passed by him on my way to historj class. The answers I thought of at firsi were "in history class," and "I'd be dead," but I knew that's not what he meant. He was trying to make me decide 5 between Heaven and Hell, r And he may have been a little upse i T vi nil Pil : Decause i aian i lane one 01 me piece: ; of paper he was passing out. I I don't like those things, those eeri< 1 '9 African Ameri i f To the editor, B I write this letter in an effort t< i applaud the recent actions by Kapp: B Alpha Psi Fraternity Incorporated, a well as Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternit; s Incorporated. r These two groups have organize: forums with topics directly related t African American students, as well a the black society as a whole. It is pas time that we as young people take i r proactive involvement with the pligh - of African Americans today, r We have sat back too long and le 0 others decide our fate for us. With forum such as these, it is obvious that youn t] people of color are concerned about ou r future, as well as this society's preser state. The forum "Tupac Shakur. Hero o J villain was an insignirui iook ai in views, opinions and thoughts on a ma who has been exploited by the musi industry. The panelists were well informe and competent individuals stemmin from every level of the professions stratum. The audience was an assemblin ,ux of African American children, studenl jer t 7 II and adults who all listened and respecte the voices and opinions of other audiem r members. im The forum on the CIA's involvemer in drug trade was an in-depth look s ^ the government's attempt to once agai rds oppress my brothers and sisters. Th panelists were all extremely educate ' men who gave the audience membei new discernment on this tragedy Africa Americans have to face. I would like to thank Kappa Alph ^ Psi and Alpha Phi Alpha for giving n and my people an opportunity to becon !7udti more educated and aware. These tv fraternities have begun something I hoj >3. will continue on this campus. I m The capability we as young Africa Americans possess should not go unuse OENTS mam^ 1 flS m CRACk ||> oriented you are, the less lik< arly those of us who want to U.S. Representative M< ^iild not he 2 publications that describe the end of | the world or ask questions like, "Have you been forgiven for your sins?" I don't think they work to change ' anyone's mind. I don't think people , who read them are instantly converted because of their fears of going to Hell. Even Brother Jim, the street j preacher who came to campus last Spring ranting about the sins of college I students, wasn't "saved" until he , attended a supposedly evil and sin? filled rock concert. I think it takes more than sleazy little brochures. ? But as ineffectual as his leaflets might be, I can't help thinking about t his question. 3 It doesn't make me wonder about Heaven or Hell because as soon as he i shouted it to me, I changed it around ican students sh< We all need to step up to the challenges with which we are faced. 0 Brothers and sisters, we all need to a realize that we are catching hell in this s society, and we will continue catching y that same hell until we all take a pro active role in the upliftment of our people. 1 Krvstal Keneiy 0 English Junior s a Media groups need to 1 report tmth about Clinton it s To the editor g r I am writing to discuss the media's lt reporting, or lack thereof, of the many Clinton related scandals prior to and r during his administration. e If the national media would have n done their job to report the unbiased c facts about then Governor Bill Clinton's d philandering while in office, the public g would have seen that he lied continually d throughout his 1992 presidential g campaign. Time and time again, he lied ;s to America about his exploits with many d other women, among other things, just ? to get elected. Now in office, both he and Hillary )t have stated that they have not been the it most faithful partners to each other. n Well, that's funny because I remember i e him flatly denying any intimate dealings :d with Jennifer Flowers on "60 Minutes" ?g when he was running for the presidency. tn Therefore, he lied, and the American media and public should have held him ia responsible. ie The same allegations that were le thrown at Clinton in 1992 completely to sank presidential hopeful Gaiy Hart in ye 1984. Why have we changed our morals? Why isn't character an issue anymore? in I have never seen or read about any d. modern administration that has been I > c 11 lis * AMERICA ?ly you are to think the gc downsize the Department ark Souder, R-lnd. n i i _ ^ _ 1 uraiu u) xiu I've come to the conclusion that li aren't afraid to take risks. Not lis instead of studying for a test. Real i in my mind. I revised it to read, "If you died five minutes from now, what would you regret?" I always think of this new question when I have a choice to make, a decision of whether I should or shouldn't do something. I've come to the conclusion that life can't be interesting unless you aren't afraid to take risks. Not risks like deciding to go to a movie instead of studying for a test. Real risks. Risks that make a difference. Journalists especially shouldn't be afraid to take chances. It's our job. Duld take activ plagued with so many scandals: draft dodging, smoking dope, Whitewater, travelgate, Vince Foster's "suicide," the Rose Law Firm's shredding of Whitewater documents and the obtaining of nearly 300 FBI files on high-level Republicans, to name a few. Richard Nixon's Committee to Re iilect had 75 hies on Democratic omciais which forced him to reluctantly resign. The whole Watergate scandal was a media frenzy that had the nation questioning the morals of its highest government office. Why have we changed? Why does the media repeatedly ignore Clinton's wrongdoings? Have we all become so passive that we will not seek out the truth? Or is there something more? What has happened to the determined, investigative reporting which has seen the likes of Woodward and Bernstein and the more recent Jonathon Beatty and S.C. Gwynne that exposed the BCCI? Are the editors of Americas leading publications (e.g. "The Washington Post") so corrupt in protecting this liberal president that they refuse to print any material detrimental to his re-election campaign? To the media, "If ifs the truth, print it!" The American voters deserve it. Heath Coleman Business Freshman Marriage only a union between man, woman To the editor Cece von Kolnitz recently wrote an <Xl liue CI 111 lieu iTCiciioc vi ivxcu x iagc rxv.t Legalized Homophobia" in which she was highly critical of those who support the act. 3_ fvM (vernment needs to be a of Education." te chances fe can't be interesting unless you ks like deciding to go to a movie isks. Risks that make a difference. If we at The Gamecock didn't cover something because we worried .about what USC's administration thought of us as students, we wouldn't be doing our jobs. If we kept something out of The r.omnoncl Ko^anco it mirrVit affort lis VlUUlV/VVVn WVVMUUV 1? lUlgllv Mil WV mw personally, we wouldn't be doing our jobs. We wouldn't be of very much use to our readers. We wouldn't be good journalists. And if we died after the next five minutes, we wouldn't be any closer to the truth about anything than we are right now. e role at USC She attempted to argue that the bill was not necessary, irrational and supported only by racists and bigots. I take issue with the article for several reasons. First, the act was necessary in order to bring about common sense, not to legalize "homophobia." The irrationality of it all was that such a bill had to be passed in the first place, not that it was passed. Mamage has always been denned as a union between a man and a woman. Once marriage no longer means the union between a man and a woman, then it loses its original meaning and some other word must be invented to mean what marriage was originally meant to mean. If marriage is used simply to describe many of the good traits of marriage commitment, love, support and caring -it will cease to mean what it was originally intended to mean. Besides, what really is being asked by the gay community is not tolerance, but sanction and endorsement by others that what they are doing is right. I am grateful that we live in a democracy, and as long as I do, I will continue to fight for what I believe is right I will speak up because if the silent majority does not, then the silent majority may one day find itself no longer in the majority. Once the majority of Americans believe that the rights of marriage include samesex marriages, then I will live under such laws, but until then, I will do all I can to stop the recognition of such. This is no more bigoted or prejudiced than those who refuse to allow me to express the freedom ot my religious beliets or to state what I believe is right without hurling insult after insult and attempting to take away rights that come from living in a democracy. Chris Herrod Gfad Student