The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, January 17, 1997, Page 9, Image 9
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Serving USC Sii
Chris Dixon, Edit<
Stephanie Sonnenfeld,1
Editorial B
Achim Hunt, Bryan Johnston, Karen I>ay
Ben Muldrow, Jennifer Sta
Citadel miss
to prove its
According to reports from
The State and the Charleston n
Post and Courier, ex-Citadel C
cadets Kim Messer and Jeannie f
Mentavlos are planning on r
attending USC this spring.
Although we are happy to b
welcome these new students, d
it is unfortunate the h
circumstances surrounding the
transfers are loaded with such r
unsightly charges against the ij
Citadel. v
The Citadel is supposed to
be the shining example of the f
good qualities of the South. c
The Citadel has enjoyed a c
prestigious reputation of turning r
out gentlemen committed to
family and community. i
That reputation is shot, due c
to the alleged hazing and I
harassment of some cadets (
against Messer and Mentavlos, <
including dousing the women i
with nail polish remover and 1
lighting the fluid. t
There was sentiment against 1
the Citadel, prophecies and i
premonitions that the military ?
college would fail in successfully
integrating the women. ]
The Citadel had a chance to i
prove the nation wrong. It didn't j
Confederate
wrong for Si
Once upon a time, there was 1
a place called Dixie. It was in ?
ii . i a _rii nu o 4.U
tne laiiu ui me wiu ouuui. c
One day, a war broke out
between the Old South and the ]
North. Battles were fought and 1
bonds were broken.
And, a thing called the ]
confederate flag appeared in <
battles. It was bold and bright, ,*
and represented the old south. <
Tbday, the old south is gone
and the fabled new south has ]
arrived. <
The new south is a place j
where businesses thrive and a
culture is alive. 1
And yes, the confederate flag i
of the old south is still alive and
well in the new south.
Here's where the
controversey lies.
The confederate flag to many
represents hatred, lb them, it
comes from a time when other
humans were enslaved because
of the simple color of their skin,
lb opponents of the confederate
flag, it is reminiscent of a place
which catered to human
injustice.
lb proponents of the flag, it
represents heritage. The
confederate flag withstood many
bloody battles to stand for a
belief and a society which was
brave enough to break the U.S.
apart.
Here in South Carolina, the
Student Media Russell Ho
Chris Dixon News: 7
hlitor in f.'hirf AdvertlSlDj
Stephanie FAX: 7
Sonnenfeid
VirwfMtinUi Hitiior Achini Hunt r
Karen Layne Bryan
Jennifer Stanley Johnston I
k ISrws hiitnrx ' V'"' Eililorn
John Lyons Nikki Thorpe ,
Kelly I'holit t 'dilnr
McPherson Ben Muldrow
Feature* Editors j (>raphi<> hlitrr
Fhr (Earner* n k is the student newspaper of the University
and Friday during the Fail and Spring semesters, with the
Opinions expressed in The Oameeork are those of the edi
(Carolina.
The Hoard of Student i'uhliealioas and t lommunications is
Media is its parent organization.
mmmm
The Oamtrirt'k will try to print all letters reeei
include full name, professional title or year and n
ered liy tin' author to The (iameeoek newsroom in
the right to edit all letter for style, (mssihle libel o
ity eireumstanee.
necock
nee 1908
jr in Chief
/iewpoints Editor
ioard
ne, John Lyons, Kelly McPherson,
nley, Nikki Thorpe.
ies chance
character
Instead, administrators did
ot aptly relay to the Corps of
Jadets how important it was
or them to live up to their
eputation as gentlemen.
Just about any other term
esides "gentlemen" aptly
[escribe the cadets who allegedly
Lazed Messer and Mentavlos.
The rest of the Corps also
aade the mistake in believing
f they ignored the women, they
vould disappear.
It is not enough to turn away
rom a problem. That is not
onquering it and coming out
in top. Lack of action is acting
n a cowardly manner.
Perhaps the greatest light
n this whole mess is Mentavlos's
ilder brother, Mike Mentavlos.
Mentavlos was a senior at the
Ditadel, just one short semester
iway from graduating. He had
nade it through Hell Week,
Tell Night, his knob year, and
wo ensuing years of a military
ife-style and studies. Yet he
mmediately stepped down in
support of his sister.
Looks like the Citadel, or
1 1 x J
pernaps nis parents, managea
to produce at least one
gentleman.
stars, bars
atehouse
lag flies upon the top of the
statehouse ? along with the
state flag and the U.S. flag.
Tuesday, the South Carolina
Legislature met in Columbia
for its 1997 session.
Among topics lawmakers
plan to address this session are
education, reapportionment
and, of course, taking the flag
off the top of the statehouse.
Late last year, Governor
David Beasely voiced his opinion
on the matter. He wants the
flag down.
But, there are members of
his legislature who want it to
stay where it is.
What to do?
The flag should be removed
from the top of the statehouse.
We agree with the stance of flag
opponents.
However, the flag does have
a place at the South Carolina
statehouse.
Fly the flag on the statehouse
grounds as a memorial to the
confederacy.
The flag is, despite its origins,
a legitimate piece of history. It,
like the Declaration of
Independence and the battle
of Iwo Jima, is something which
deserves a place in history.
The confederate flag of
yesterday can remembered
today without hindering the
future.
use USC Columbia, SC
'77-7726 Jessica Nash
t: 7774249
77-6482 Melissa Sellars
On-I.inr h'riilor
Wkki la Rorque Mark Hopkins
/U* Vir?p,,int* (jW ( hi:r
teginna Green Adam Synder
\ssl !Srws Offirr Manager
Jeff Nicholson Laura Day
. Creative Dim-tor
Jason JefTers Marilyn Taylor
Daniel Brown Vanjp-r
(jirtiMinist \ Erik Collins
Faculty Advisor
of South Garolina and is published on Monday, W?*dnesday,
exception of university holidays and exams jM-riodv
ilors or the author ami n?H those of the University of South
, lb?* Publisher of The Gamecock. The l)e|?artmenl of Student
veil. Letters should he 200-250 words and nitis
laior if a student, letters must he |>ersonally deliv
i Russell Mouse room 3.1.1 I lie Lameeock reservn
r space limitations. Names will not lie withheld foi
VIEWPOI
\
It was a lot of fun. Th
them, and in order foi
types
Larry Davis, senior USC guard, re
Charleston has i
They usually come either in couples or I
happy families. They are not welldressed,
as in fanny packs worn right
in the middle of the tummy and ?
sweatshirts from no-name colleges in the North.
Then they utter the words I now declare to be c
the most uncreative in the world. ^
"Hi. This is our first time in Charleston. Tell F
us what we should do." s
How about taking the first flight out of my
city?
I work for the Visitor Center in downtown c
historic Charleston. I enjoy my job for lots of ^
reasons: the building is historic, my co-workers t
are great, and I love showing of the best city in r
the nation, one far superior to the likes of New I
York.
I enjoy helping the families with young children ^
the most. I see the fear in the kids' eyes when '<
the parents start asking me about two hour bus 1
tours and tours of historic homes. t
A house tour is a child's worst nightmare 1
of "look with your eyes, not with your hands" >
come true. Nikki saves the day by quickly steering (
the floundering parents to a much shorter horse
and carriage tour. Kids are ecstatic because they '
actually get close to a real, live horsey, and the <
parents think I'm so sweet as to offer such a
charming, unique way of seeing the city. Yeah, 1
thanks, so ah, how about a tip? ;
Elderly couples go one of two ways: either a)
they're carbon copies of your own grandparents; J
they are so sweet, patient, and kind. Helping i
these people is a joy. Or, b) elderly couples' eyes
Newt Gingrich: Role
Nor did they repent of their murders, their
magic, their sexual immorality, or their
stealing.
-Revelations 9:21
He is known by many names. Fat Boy.
Visionary. The Gingrich Who Stole Christmas.
He's just one person?a guy who got elected
to the Congress of the United States of America
(which doesn't mean much when one considers
the criminals, hooligans and various entertainers
who have been elected to such offices). But,
obviously, some people think he's more than that.
You'd think he was the Antichrist from what
they say about him.
He got elected to his office because he made
certain campaign promises. He said he'd fix the
national deficit, repair (or put out of its misery)
welfare and start a new era of conservative ideals
in the government.
He is probably the first politician since James
K. Polk to keep his campaign promises.
And for doing what we told him to do, for
enacting the vision he described to us in great
detail beforehand, for keeping his word, he is
condemned. To burn in the fiery pits of hell,
according to some.
The media and, to all appearances, the public,
I is ready to string him up for, are you ready for
this?, failing to understand the Government Funds
and Tax System of the U.S.
i Ye who have not sinned, feel free to throw the
stones. (I should be hearing the ch-chink of
approximately three rocks because that's how
e last time we played [at
i* us to be a good team, m
of games away from hon
ferring to the Gamecock's 80-79 basketball vi
its fair share of
BLSIi-aLTlW 'ff' I a
;laze over as soon as you begin dispensing
aformation, then they get cranky because they
an't keep the prices straight, and "darn it, I ^
ought in World War II, so how come I have to ^
iay for things around here?" I actually had ^
omeone ask me that once. q
Working with the public is tricky.
You get so used to answering the same things ^
iver and over. You are here (point to the map).
Ye have three different kinds of tours. These are ^
he prices. Don't drive downtown, use the trolley.
This is how you get to the Market/Mt.
Peasant/West Ashley (again pointing to the map.) P
But always out of this routine come the Really
Yeird Questions to smack you upside the head r<
ind make you take notice. Some of them are ^
eally sweet, like the elderly gentleman who shyly 11
?ld me he was getting married, and did I have b
vedding information, or the young guy who
vanted to know the most romantic place in c<
Charleston to propose to his girlfriend.
The rest of the Really Weird Questions amaze b
me with the enormity of their stupidity and lack h
}f common sense.
"I know you guys have historic plantations, ti
out do you still have real working plantations, t]
you know with cotton and slaves and everything?' t
This was asked of one of my African-American
friends. Russell just smiled and handed the man v
some brochures.
"How do I get to Tara? It's here, isn't it? I know y
it. is hficause mv friend saw it last month. And
model, despite obvic
many people understand the aforementioned
Government Funds and Tax System of the U.S.).
Now let me just say that by no stretch of the 1
imagination am I excusing Mr. Gingrich. He
probably made a mistake.
In fact, he ADMITS to making a mistake. Once
again a political move unheard of in the 20th
century.
And on the whole, using the rank system of
sins, Gingrich's sin is really quite small. Now if
we were talking about murder or lying or stealing
or sexual immorality...
Either Newt was an incredible magician when
he first began, fooling us all into thinking we
wanted change with some clever slight of hand,
or we, the American public, are a big pile of idiots.
I'm tempted toward number two. We knew
that the system wasn't working and we finally
had the brains to stand up and say, "Yes, let's do
something about it!" And the man who listened
to us is now the great horned beast.
Well, let's talk for a moment about the great
horny beast in the White House. I think I
mentioned something about murder, lying, stealing
and sexual immorality.
But he, the man who has yet to look us m tfte
eye and tell us his name, rank and i.d. number
with honesty, has been re-elected.
And instead of investigating liim, we're standing
by, nodding our heads and saying, "Now if that
bey ain't restoring the majesty of the presidency,
?
to
nous
Florida], we lost to
re have to win these
le.
Ictory over University of Florida
i 1
tourist numor
here is Khett Butler buried?"
This was all mine. Never, ever openly confuse
literary work of fiction with reality, especially
i front of a Southern English major who has
ad Gone With the Wind a few thousand times.
First of all, even if GWTW was not fiction,
ara was located in Jonesboro, Georgia, not
harleston, South Carolina. As for Rhett Sutler,
le closest you'll ever get to his grave is Clark
able's.
Once, in the middle of July, I had a phone call
om a woman wanting to know what the weather
ould be in Charleston on November 15, because
le planned on taking a boat tour. So I told her
le average temperature of November and
recipitation fall. That wasn't enough.
"So, what's the weather for the 15th" she
jpeated. "I want to know exactly what it will
e. Rainy? Sunny? Cool? Will a warm front come
1?" Oh, hold on and let me whip out my crystal
all and find the forecast.
Really Weird Questions sometimes involve
alloquial faux pas.
The Lowcountry is known for she-crab soup,
ut once someone got a little mixed up and wanted
3 know where to find "shoe-fly soup."
Let's not forget the people who don't want to
ake a boat tour out to Fort Sumter, located in
tie middle of Charleston Harbor, and insist that
bey just want to drive out there.
Hey, maybe if you were driving Jesus's car it
/ould work, but other than thatwelcome
to Charleston. What can I do for ou?
Well, we have three different kinds of tours
n
>us flaws, mistakes
t don't know who is."
If anyone has cast a magical fog of stupidity
and forgetfulness over the public, in my mind it
.vould have to be President Clinton.
He says one thing and does quite another. Or,
as is more often the case, says two or three different
things, then does something else entirely.
Did we re-elect him because of his unwavering
vision? Because of his strong and capable
leadership? Because of his glowing "inner beauty"?
Or because he can come on television, smile
at us benignly and tell us exactly what we want
to hear? Nobody ever said it would be easy to
bring change to the United States.
Nobody said it would be painless and that our
grants, food stamps and social security checks
wouldn't be touched.
Just for the sake of clarification, I am not
equating Newt Gingrich with Jesus Christ, nor
am I aligning political parties with either good
or evil. I am saying there is right and there is
wrong. Our justice system is based on morality,
and though these morals are not necessarily tied
to religious values, religion, and especially
^ *' * * * 1 1- - J 1 _ *_ _
Christianity, nave certainly piayeu a ruie ui uie
development of morality in this country.
That's part of the reason that it's not okay to
assassinate people here, whereas in other countries
it is acceptable, if not desirable. It's okay for us
to say that some things are bad, nay, it is necessary
for us to say some things are bad.
So you liberals who keep shouting about how
Newt is a demon, the scourge of our country,
remember another ancient Biblical adage.
It takes one to know one.