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I ) W\t CE Serving U Chris Dixon, Stephanie Sonneni Editor Achim Hunt, Bryan Johnston, Karen Layne Jennifer Stanl Organiza for dcser The USC NAACP had the gumption to ask for almost $20,000 in student activities funds. The African American Association of Students asked for almost $24,000. That's a lot of money. A hell of a lot, actually. But, you've got to give organizations that ask for money credit. Why? Because they're asserting themselves and doing what they're supposed to be doing: using their money. Every year, when we pay niir fni+irvn a email a-mnnnf WVli VMXVlVlAj IA umuii UlUUUi.AU goes to the student activities fee. Now, wouldn't you want the money you're paying for this fee go to activities that are run by and for the betterment of the student body? If they aren't used by students, who will use them? OK, we admit $20,000 is a lot for one organization to need. Really, think what you could do with $20,000. But, the NAACP should be commended for taking the chance and asking for this money because it shows that Airline pi! affects em Thank to a little-known 1926 Railway Labor Act, President Clinton was able to temporarily halt the American Airlines pilot strike. A New York Times article cited Clinton's action as the result of economic reasons ? reasons that affect everyone, i Some may think that Clinton intervened in the strike unnecessarily. But, the reasoning behind his action is legitimate and understandable. What some may not understand is that a strike of this magnitude not only affects pilots, but you too. The Times article said that the strike could cost the economy up to $200 million a day. If the strike had been successful, thousands of people would have lost out by not being able to complete their travel plans. This would have affected tourism, jobs and personal plans. Stmleat Media RmeO H Ckrk Dtxoa News: Editor in Chief Advertisil Stephanie FAX: SoaaealieM Viewpoints Editor Achlnt Haat Karei Layne Bryan Jennifer SUaltv Maatoa Net,j Editor, Sport, Editor, John Ltobs Nikkl Thorpe aeiIy ' """ MePkenoa M?Mrow S&u RoefK Assl Viewpoints The Gamecock is the student oew^aper of the University od Friday during the F?1 tod Spring semesters, vv.th t.. Opinions inrid in The Gamaeoek are tho* of the h Caroline. Tha Baud at Studaot Publicaboc. .od CoMimicboo. i Madia ia in panoi organisation HHDDDI The Gamecock will by to print all letters received full name, professional title or year and major if the author to The Gamecock newsroom in Ruaaell to edit all letter for style, possible libel or space I cu instance. 11 v A 5amecock |j cr c: inno II , Editor in Chief 1 feld, Viewpoints Editor j| ial Board J s, John Lyons, Kelly McPherson, Ben Muldrow, " ey, Nikki Thorpe. tions ask veA funds they, like other organizations, are interested in taking a piece of the pie they helped to bake. Perhaps it sounds a bit selfish to advocate this money grubbing, but if organizations can't ask for money ? their money ? what's the point? Each full-time student pays about $40 a semester in student activities fees, while part-time students pay a smaller portion, all of which comes up to $1.25 million a year. Out of that, $18,975 will be divided among graduate m organizations, and $68,928 L will be given to undergraduate organizations. Student Media, Student Government, Carolina Productions, Sport Clubs and Student Services receive close to $1.2 million. This year, about 60 undergraduate and graduate student organizations put in requests for funds. Ifs nice to see that USC organizations are making the effort to get money. After all, that's what it's there for. f lot strike tire world d Plus, how will customers ever really be able to trust American Airlines? fj R d f n r o P 1 i n t n n ' a intervention, American Airlines d canceled flights to Europe, tc Japan and South America. , k People were stranded at airports because of canceled flights. u Canceled flights and a divided company aren't good o: for American Airlines' w reputation. t* People are looking for an affordable airline and one they can trust in light of recent ValuJet scares. b Sure, 9,000 American p Airlines pilots want more money, but they want it at the expense of the national / economy, thousands of * customers and thousands of ^ American Airlines employees. Looking at it that way, it's a good thing Clinton stepped in. Very good. mm USC Columbia, SC JJ 777-7726 Daalel Brow. ^ ig: 7774249 Jmoa Jeflera a j 777-6482 " . Mel mm Sellers ^ Reglaaa GreeM Online Editor Asa. New> Laara Day 81 Jessica Nash C"4'"Director D Aut.Fetture* MarUya f0] Jeff Nlehoboa Edwards Taylor , Asst. Photo AselAdrertmifllanapr Mark Hopldas Erik CoUlas th g>/7 d*? chief AdTlior ar Adaai Syader Office Manager P* r at South Carolina tod u published oat Mondar, Wednesday, 1) e eweptioo o( uniseraty holidays and esam periods lilon or the author and not thoae ol the Univanily ol South I the Pubiohar at The Gamecock. The Department of Student PI bi , Letters should be 200-250 words and must include ^ s student. Letters must be personally delivered by ^ House room 333. The Gamecock reserves the right limitations. Names wl) not be withheld for any cir- n nc afl 1EWF I'm pretty damn rhere's r hven though time and time again the suggestion has come up around the newsroom, we haven't one an article about apathy on ampus. Maybe that's because we re apathetic ourselves. But what could you do with this iscinating story idea? Oh, there is so much. We could ive deep into this hard-hitting issue 3 find out what everybody already nows. People just don't care. In passing, maybe they do. As a 'him, as something to whine about, ley will wonder why nothing seems 3 get accomplished. But that slips away as thoughts f tests, papers and how to get this weekend's supply of beer quickly ike its place. So come Thursday, less than 10 ercent of our student body will take le time to vote. They will go in and ut of the Russell House, not othering to take a step towards the oils. The Election Commission has Some gu aith the recent cold spell, and the news of snow in the Upstate, I'm reminded of a trip I took this time last year. And with my allet still aching from Valentine's Day, is story only reinforces the notion that guy will do almost anything for love. After a semester at The Citadel, I as convinced that I could handle almost lything ? so I was foolish enough to slieve that I could learn to ski. Now, r those of you who aren't familiar with iing, count your blessings and leave e idiots from Sweden who don't have lything better to do. But, not wanting let my girl down, I agreed to go and it my life in her hands (mistake No. What you must understand is that e hardest part about skiing is not the ocess itself (this consists of sliding >wn icy cliffs going about 200 mph), it getting ready to ski. First, you must navigate through e ski lodge while wearing "ski bibs" at look like a space suit minus the slmet (looking back, a helmet might ?t have been such a bad idea). Then. jer being sized up by Sven, the Swedish JOINTS IVOUSHOI i Look it okv tii a i pleased about it. T1 Eddie Fooler, on the Gamecock's 10 excuse f I ADAM SNYDER | ^ stu made it so simple this year too. Most 0r of the voting booths will be located thr inside the student union. Others will be located tui conveniently at your respective college. You'll be more than likely get to be there anyway, or you at least Coi can get there between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. But, you don't care. Not on f0o election day at least. wh I heard someone say the other y0l day that there's no point in voting because either Greeks or African da] Americans (and lately a combination of the two) dominate the campaign. \\re So, in either case, close to 80 ' me percent of the student body doesn't Thi feel represented in the executive or rep 1 orri al of itrn a i <4 a nfQfn/lnnf IV/gXOiabl Y U OlUt VI U b UUVIi V QJ* ? Government. Whose fault is that? Albeit, both ejft factions have had increasing political by prominence in student elections exi recently. But their strength lies in the fact that they can get their dgg constituents to vote. Other Ab ys will do ; I JASON MOORE I udBDfiHBHi guy Twc equipment man, I was given a pair of the skis and two poles. The skis were approximately the length of a '72 Thii Plymouth, yet good ol' Sven failed to but mention that the bigger the skis, the faster you go. And for a novice like me, det; this was important information. info My girlfriend, however, assured me This that I would "catch on fast and be flying ovei down the slopes in no time." plo\ This proved to be true because it < took me no time at all to perfect the art exe< of falling, and I was definitely flying down the slopes, although it would have skis been much nicer if I could have done the] this in an upright position. And all this the occurred before I even made it to the afte bunny slopes. Rea The bunny slopes are not supposed 1 to be that difficult, but to the beginner stuj like myself, the only hope of reaching of tl the top is by airlift. mas This is because it is scientifically tim: impossible to walk in skis. If you lose tiyii your balance and fell down, you're stuck, tha Guys just like me have frozen to death accc because they kept telling their girlfriends, here w fel ,/M WEIND I^JST lis certainly says w w 3 successful basketball season. or apath) dependent" candidates have very se le or no constituency. T1 All they have is every 9 out of 10 ch dents not giving a damn if they ha anyone else represents them oughout the university. th But, you do care when your tion is being increased. You do se: e when your club or organization to ;s short-ended by the Finance of mmittee. You care when you're tired of the foi d Marriott is serving. You care jui en you miss two classes because l're looking for a parking spot. You still don't care on election po J. an You don't care at 5 p.m. yo sdnesdays to sit in on a senate seting in the Russell House vo eatre. You don't care to call your tresentative to find out what he se: she can do for you. th And guess what? They don't care de ler, and they know it, as portrayed an last week's tirade led by some ting senators. go I have never seen a group more so arvfncr nf fVio dn.ivifWn(i nirlmama sences were outrageous this re anything on, honey ? Fm just resting. Fll get wh n a minute." (These are the same ofi s who refuse to ask for directions. m( ) weeks later, they can be found in im exact same spot.) Another problem I had was stopping, soi s may not sound that complicated, an let's face it, skis don't have brakes. th< When I inquired as to why this minor ail was overlooked, I was quickly tre rmed that all you need is technique, wa 3 refers to the most famous, and most At rrated of ski maneuvers, the "snow en v." ice Oddly enough, this works when no mted properly. ati The skier simply crosses his or her sig \ at a 45-degree angle and presto, f fall flat on their face, low through lik snow and come to a gradual halt sai r taking out Sven and his friends, ad lly, it is a beauty to watch. But let's suppose that you're actually rea )id enough to want to go to the top siz IP mm info in TKon VAII mnaf firof am aw tuvvulWMUli A 11VU| JVU UXUOV UJLOb Dill iter the ski lift. This takes great the ing and can only be compared to ig to leap into a moving Volkswagen enj t's already full. Once this is wij implished (most people quit right It's 0, you can ei\joy your ride to the top, the t f AStffoU RYABE IllSl Tb CONMEY A aftC TlV>?E^j H?nen *GwW -j-wsy1 ive are for real. ' at USC ssion. Legislation has been nil. le call for old business brings a uckle, and the call for new business is them rolling in the aisles. This time the fault is shared ough. Student apathy bleeds into the nate where they are unmotivated do anything for the small portion people who even know they exist. Some representatives are in it r resume packing, while others 3t like the ring of an official title. What can be done? First, you can vote to show the wers that be that you are out there id you want to have a say in how ur university operates. Second, you can follow up your te with pressure. Ask why it has taken over a mester to decide what to DO with e Assembly Street tunnel art sign, much less pick up a brush id paint it. Other universities' student vernments actually accomplish mething. Care enough to get our presentatiyes doing their jobs. for love iere if you're smart, you'll calmly take f your skis, and walk down the mntain, thus being spared from minent disaster. If you are, however, an idiot with nething to prove (namely, that you're idiot) you will hurdle yourself down i mountain. This usually proves to be a ;mendous rush because you get to itch your life pass before your eyes, some point down the slope you may counter a mogul (mounds of packed that send you into orbit). These will t be seen until you re-enter the nosphere because there aren't any ns! So as I rocketed down the mountain, e Clark Griswald in his lubricated icer sled, I remembered my girlfriend's i._ J.1_ i o 1 1 vice to use ine poies ior Daiance. But after a few futile attempts, I lized that the only thing those over;ed shishkebabs are good for is acking the squirrels that entertain smselves by laughing at you. This is not to say that skiing is not oyable. In fact.T love to watch people )e out as I sit ail cozy in the ski lodge, i a fine spectator sport, but I'll leave ! actual skiing to Hans and Franz.