Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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IDie C5ai Serving USC Sin Jennifer Stanley, Ec Nikki Thorpe, View Editorial ? Marcus Amaker, Sarah Efird, Rosalind Harve Going dry an College is a time of living, learning J ! i._A! 1_ ana experimentation. d For many students, a experimentation involves large n quantities of alcohoL Hie alcohol often n associated with partying and having a good time is also associated with ol things like D.U.I, and date rape. It also may conjure images of si fraternity parties. This is what two p: fraternities at USC are trying to ft combat. fi Sigma Nu and Phi Delta Theta r< have both proposed plans to go dry st by the year 2000. tfc Their proposals come not only from image problems, but also the 11 rising insurance rates their chapters r< are facing. re This may be an inevitable step for al Greeks to reestablish their reputations r< and deter costs. Parents and the cc community will also see it as a si responsible move. Although this move is noble, there al are some uncertainties involved in st dry fraternity housing. cl At USC, students 21 and older ai are permitted to have alcohol in m campus housing. Student Media Russell House * Jennifer Stanley Ben Pi 11c Editor in Chief Copy Desk C Mklti Thorpe Sarah Eft Viewpoints Editor Graphics Edit Photo Editor Kristen Richa Rosalind Harvey Asst. News Ec News Editor Jessan Ha| Marcus Amaker Donnle Bal Features Editor Matt Also Dwayne McLemore Elizabeth We Sports Editor Creative Serv The Gamecock is the student newspaper of The Unii South Carolina and is published Monday, Wednesday aj during the fall and spring semesters and five times dur summer with the exception of university holidays and e ods. Opinions expressed in The Gamecock are those of th author and not thoee of The University of South Carolir The Board of Student Publications and Communicat The Department of Student Media ia its parent orga The Gamecock will try to print all letters received. Letters sh 250 words and must include full name, professional title or year a student. Letters must be personally delivered by the author to Th newsroom in Russell House room 333. The Gamecock reserves the right to edit all letter for style, pos space limitations. Names will not be withheld for any circumstan VIE TIECOCk ce 1908 litor in Chief points Editor loard r?i?.? n. M_I J, utjau juuusiuii, uc muL?cuiurc unsure step Going dry seems an obvious step ecause most on-campus students re under 21. Therefore, this new love seems to simply enforce USCs ales and national laws. However, forbidding those 21 and Ider is unfair and irrational. The councils of these organizations nould also seriouslv consider the roblem of drinking and driving. If aternity members are prohibited om drinking in their place of ssidence, they're likely to go imewhere else. Ihis greatly increases le likelihood of drinking and driving. Fraternities might do better to each their members the ;sponsibilities of school and the jalities of date rape and alcohol buse. They should teach the laws jgarding drinking and the insequences of those who violate ich laws. Prohibiting the consumption of cohol in fraternity houses will not op alcohol drinking. It will merely lange the location of consumption id possibly make the consequences ore serious. USC Columbia, SC 29208 iw Amy Shannon hief Asst.Features Editor rd Jim Green or Creative Director irdson Carolyn Griffin ',(or Business Manager fer Ellen Parsons her Graduate Assistant P Erik Collins iborn Faculty Advisor ices rersity of id Friday ing the ineuamecocK e editors or Editor (803) 777-3914 iona ia the News 777-7726 ETC. 777-3913 mzation. Viewpoints 777-7726 |m Sports 777-7182 ould be 200- On-Line 777-3913 nd major if a e Gamecock Advertising 777-4249 iibie libel or Classifieds 777-1184 * Fa* 777-6482 WI'UI I "We need to focus on th broth Robert Del J columnist | I thought I would discuss my city's latest blight in the national spotlight. Birmingham, Ala., was the only city in the nation not to see the hour-long special of "Ellen" over a month ago, when the show's main character admitted she was gay. As with any controversy, there is always more to it than what you see on Oprah or the nightly news. I myself have prejudices. I want my city to look its best at all possible times. But, I think this event is more about homosexuals gaining acceptance in society than the image of Birmingham. That's why I think the whole story should be told. The decision not to air Ellen's coming out episode was made by one man, but influenced by three communities. However, you need the background information first. In September 1996, the local ABC affiliate (Channel 6) became a FOX affiliate. Stations from Ibscaloosa (west of the city) and Gadsden (northeast) joined forces, built a tower in Birmingham and created a new ABC affiliate. Therefore, quite a shakeup occurred in the area of local news anchors and reporters. JfTSi fcrD#> "V e positive aspects of friendship, leai erhood and community involvemen oian, president of Phi Delta Theta Genera The most significant defection from com Channel 6 was James Spann, the locals' on j favorite weather man. Birmingham puri viewers, like those in Columbia, had city Vwwmo tn fVmii* rtmira Qnnknt?j wvwiiiv/ uvtaviitu w uiux u^rvo cuiuiuxo. J How else do you explain Mr Knows-It Heil (Joe Pinner) still being on the air? quic Spann, citing Christian beliefs that sat< didn't agree with FOX programming Aud like 'The Simpsons" and "Melrose Place," min said he wanted out of his contract, groi Apparently he had no qualms with othe ABC's "NYPD Blue" and its nudity. Acti With his departure, some of his fans stat followed him to the new ABC station. 1 So, when Jeriy Heilman, president Cen and general manager of the new station, local kept "Ellen" off Birmingham television citiz sets, it was all business. He realized adv< that entrenched Southern Baptists and tele] other so-called Christian traditionalists to te viewers in all three cities would stick I with their moral weatherman and his any "moral" station. witl Despite the bad press he and his com afofinn omrnrol nrnfllro 1 ofnr? mnn jtuuuu itvcivtu, o^vuicu wCCIVO lauci uicu the station was picked as the top station mat for news, and its meteorologist was the I town favorite in a Birmingham News mat readers' choice poll. long Heilman made his decision with his anii wallet, without regard to censorship, his si the education and entertainment of the of th city, the city's national image or, that especially, the gay and lesbian and <Mp [fri/To Pc dership, scholarship, tr 1 Council munity. It worked for him to play irejudiced, uneducated, religious flts' fears, but it didn't work for the or the nation as a whole. But, people of this city didn't let man take them captive. Hans were :kly made to televise the show viaellite in Boutwell Municipal itorium. The screening sold out in utes.The audience was a diverse ip of people, including some of the r news anchors at the ABC station, vists picketed and protested the ion's decision. Uabamians Against Senseless sorship began an ad campaign in I newspapers. The ads encouraged ens to boycott the station's biggest ertisers. The ads also included phone numbers of the businesses ill them to pull their advertising, ieilman said he intends to blackout episode of "Ellen" that has to do 1 her sexuality. The strong gay munity and more progressive abers of Birmingham intend to :e that a bad business decision, f they are successful, Heilman, ing a business decision, will no er think homosexuality is immoral lappropriate for children to see on tation. And maybe the traditionalists lis city, state and nation will see "Ellen" is not the problem, but fear hate is.