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%\lt 0i Serving VSC i Chris Dixon, E< Stephanie Sonnenfeh Editorial Achim Hunt, Bryan Johnston, Karen Layne, J Jennifer Stanley, Problems 1 Run for of If nothing else, one of the i things college students do best is gripe.There's no work i , involved, it's easy and it's something to do with people equally as lazy. i Une ot tne topics usu students love to gripe about is that elusive thing referred to as "the system." "The system" can range i from red tape during advisement to not having 1 access to Dr. Palms. "The system" consists of anything a student does not have complete understanding of, and therefore makes generalizations about how it doesn't work. 1 The only way to combat "the system" is to get into the thick of it. Certainly it will 1 require time and effort, two nouns many students are unfamiliar with. But if you are going to whine about how people do not try to change things around here, then you do it. Dent know where to begin? How about the Russell House. Yes, the home of the Grand Marketplace also houses the offices of several student organizations. TV10 -firo* nno unmnntpmi is Student Government, an organization that actually has some power to do things. Shocker. Student Government elections are coming up. Though it is not quite time for the candidates to be accosting you in front of your Bowl ads country's si Churches across the country celebrated Superbowl Sunday - minus the pigskins and beer. Since 1990, churches across the nation have participated in trie souper nowi program, which is held every Superbowl Sunday. The program encourages churchgoers to donate an extra dollar for charity. The money collected goes to homeless shelters, food banks or abused children, among other charities. This year, the program raised $1.5 million. In S.C., more than $124,000 was collected from 651 churches, according to an article in The State. What this program did was kHHBS Stideit Media Rutell Hon Chris DUoa News: 77' Editor in chief Advertising: Stephufe FAX: 77' SoaaeafeM Viewpoints Editor Achba Hut R? Karr Lajve Brya? Jenifer Siuley JohaMoa J New, Editor, SPorU Mtor, Join Lvoa* Nikki Thorpe J( KcUfy Photo Editor McPheroon Ben Mold row M Feeturm Editor, Cr^ "tof Ntldla A Rocqne AssL Viewpoints The Gamecock is the student newspaper of the UoitcrsiSy J and Friday during the Fa'l and Soring semesters, t! ** Opinions expreaed in Th.? Came cock are thoae of the editor Carolina. The Board of Student Publications and Communications is th Media is its parent organization. The Gamecock will try to print all letters received. L full name, professional tifle or year and major if a the author to The Gamecock newsroom in Russell H to edit all letter for style, possible libel or space lin cu instance. imecock Since 1908 iitor in Chief i, Viewpoints Editor 1 Board ohn Lyons, Kelly McPherson, Ben Muldrow, Nikki Thorpe. nth USC fice, vote college (that's election day), you could be one of those candidates. Not a political-science major? That's okay. It is not necessary in order to run for senate or one of the executive positions. President, VicePresident and Treasurer do require lots of time and dedication. It is helpful to have prior experience in Student Government, but it is not a requirement. If you want to try and make a difference, but cannot commit, oh, say, your life next year to Student Government, run for a senate seat in your college. The senate has a lot of sway, especially the finance committee, which delegates how much money each student organization receives from the student activities fee. Look in The Gamecock to see how often your college representative has been absent from Senate. If you notice a pattern, like they don't show Wednesdays at 5 p.m., then maybe you could do a better job. The deadline to file for the election is this Friday, January 31. You can file in the office of Student Government. Be prepared to shell out some money for your campaign, ranging from the double-digits to a four-figure investment. But the investment of your time and dedication will be worth more and reap the J 1 /? A greater Denents. spotlight lallowness wonderful, but $1.5 million sort of pales in comparison to the $1.2 million some companies paid to advertise for 30 seconds during the Superbowl. Tbo bad charity isn't a hot commodity like Budweiser or Pepsi. Think of the money it could bring in if it was. If s sad to note that society is willing to pay more to advertise beer or soft drinks than donate to charities. We're not saying to give up buying beer or Nike shoes. Rather, we wish society, on a whole, could stand to donate a little more money to charity rather than to capitalism. The money could go so much further. Just think about it. we USC Colombia, SC 7-7726 DukI Brows 7774249 Jaaoa Jefffen 82 glass Grees Ed,,or Aisl New5 Laura Day eMlea Nash Cr"tive Director Aut.Fe?tuns Marllys fTNlcholsoa Edwards Taylor As*. Photo A?t Ad?rliiin? Muiipr ark Hopkiss Erik Colllss Copy Desk Chief F.culty Adviior damSysder Office Manager South Carolina and ? published on Monday, Wednesday, ception ot university holidays and exam periods s or the author and not those of the University ot South e Publisher of The Gamecock. The Department of Student etters should he 200-250 words and must include student. Letters must ne personally aeuverea oy ouse room 333. The Gamecock reserves the right iitations. Names will not be withheld for any cir VIEWI James Dickey's be. As a teachei Recent fern nwas stopped at a red light the other day on Gervais Street, right across from the AT&T building. I had the windows rolled down and Jimmy Buffett on the stereo as I looked up and saw two very attractive women walking out the door. One was blond, the other a brunette. Both were dressed very nicely. I figured they must have been about 30. All of a sudden, as I was about to drive away, I noticed that they were wearing tennis shoes with their lovely attire. I certainly have no prooiem whatsoever with women wearing tennis shoes, but women wearing tennis shoes with dresses is an atrocity. I have heard that this was common in larger cities like New February is Wkwj s we approach the month A1 of February, we leave the | month that was fit for s King and enter the month generally recognized as one that is fit for everyone else of my race. As we all know, and whether the residents of South Carolina like it or not, February is Afncan-Americar History Month. This is when all of my fellov African-Americans take time oul for a month to celebrate our heritage Yes, I said "heritage." For all o the Confederate flag supporters whc are trying to catch me contradicting myself with the use of that word sorry, but I've covered that base Personally, I think taking this whole month to celebrate all oui accomplishments is a bunch of crap joints g4\ m K &( classroom changed p, James Dickey has never g? Pat Conroy, novelist and fori tale fashion | FRED LEACH | York and Washington, but this trend has evidently moved down into Columbia. I asked a female friend of mine about this, and she explained that it is very uncomfortable to walk around in high-heeled shoes all the time. I can understand that. I have never tried walking around in a pair of women's shoes, but they look mighty uncomfortable. However, no matter how uncomfortable they are, women wearing tennis shoes along with an otherwise attractive outfit is like putting a bumper sticker that reads, " I brake for garage sales," on a RollsRoyce. In a word-it is tacky. Another thing that I have noticed lately is women wearing ties. In this i a time to ce I SHAWN SINGLETON | l pnpn PfTTTTTTWHMHBi euphemistically speaking. Now before all my fellow brothers and sisters start writing their letters , and death threats, hear me out. Our history is not something that we suddenly think about on Feb. 1 and forget about by March 1. r If s not like Christmas, when we wait eaeerlv for that one time of year that we celebrate our heritage e (oops, I've said it again). It is something that we should T be cognizant about from the cradle ' to the grave, for we have so many useful eveiyday items that we can ' thank African-American for giving us. Simple items such as the mop R ?&G, ^ -<5J m^s, I t ?mrnrnmm?p?jSK^B J f I the kind of writ< i set me on fire, a >ne out. mer student of James Dickey. trends caus age of political correctness and gender equality, I suppose that many women feel that they must attempt to dress like men in order to get ahead. Nonsense. Ties are detrimental to people's health and they cause a decrease in one's mental capacities by cutting off the blood supply to the brain. I certainly don't need anything that reduces my cranial functioning. It is impaired enough as it is. I remember when I used to work at Bi-Lo, I was a cashier. Often, they would find that my drawer was either short or over. I guess spme people got to thinking I was just dumb or something because I got demoted to bag boy, I'm sorry? bag person. However, it was not due to intelligence, it was because I had to wear a goofy Bi-Lo tie. Where I now work, I sometimes lebrate histc and mailbox were invented by African-Americans, as well as more complex inventions, such as a bootmaking machine, a sugarconfectioning machine, and the carbon filaments for Edison's light bulb. I have blamed Garrett Morgan many times in my life for making me late for school and work, with his invention, the stop light. However, I will always thank him for saving my life, and the lives of my fellow Marines, with his gas mask. Now, back to that word "heritage." A word that I dared use in describing my history but disregarded in insulting yours. There is a reason for this. I can safety agree that there is very distinct <^kQr^fQrtlQ,, knm rliamiofinrr uuuuiuiii nurnsagc AAV.,AI, Imm Mr BU_ ;p I was going to ind that fire has e problems have to run a register, and I am never off. I also don't have to wear htie. I also used to work for a State Senator. While there, it is required that HI you wear a ue. Just look at the political situation in the United States and consider that politicians wear ties almost all the time. I rest my case. In addition to causing lower intelligence, ties also will eventually lead to baldness. The tight piece of cloth wrapped around the neck cuts off the blood to the hair follicles. You never see many bald women, do you? It is because they dont wear ties. However, if these trends continue, you will see a lot of women walking around with a pair of Air Jordans, looking like Mr Clean. >ry, heritage * w as it may sound. However, have any of you stopped to think about how dark and sordid it was. You want to remember a past in which one group of people enslaved another, a past in which every white was considered superior to every black. Yet, this was considered a golden era in this state's history. Golden Age for whom, I ask? What this all boils down to is a matter of "heritage" (there's that words again). It seems that a very proud section of white Southern history is a very dark period in African-American history. Nevertheless, we should not forget about it. We must make sure that such a human rights injustice can and will never happen again. SHI