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Hit (5m Serving the Carolina Comt EDITORIAL Adam Snyder, I Amy Shannon, V Kurt Johnson, Assist a Indecent < questions Around 15 minutes after midnight HuBAmLL Friday, four female Indecent ex nutdewl!ivingi5 prompts the Bates West received some surprise Of(WTmS guests. The unex- vrmn pected visitors, two men they had nev- Housing S er seen before, came increase Si into their apart- Deskassista ment and sat down. t , One of the men ^suspmou exposed his geni- M tnc dc talia and behaved crudely. When asked to leave, the ] men did so peacefully, but the in- i cident definitely raises serious con- 1 cerns about dorm safety and "ran- ] aom acts ol indecent exposure. The men claimed they are stu- < dents at South Carolina State in Or- 1 angeburg. So, what were they doing ' wandering around unaccompa- < nied in USC's Bates West dorm in < the wee hours of the morning? Why 1 weren't they noticed by desk atten- 1 dants when they arrived? Will they return? Episodes like this ques- ] tion the security of USC's residence i halls and how safe students really 1 are when in their rooms. When considering the casual i manner in which this particular in- i cident was carried out as well as the i innate nature of this type of dis- I Design of quarters g Ah, yes, what ?.i|, would you like on HHUMmhUi your quarter? Yes, All the State, South Carolina, as create theii well as all the other states, will be al- quartet lowed to design their own quar- I BUUm i T? I x-i. :ll TO "_ J. ler. Ciacii suite win ? my a grt get their quarters fQr states to , in order of their en- ? J trance into the anderuk union. South Car- their stt olina was number eight, so they'll start our minting in the year i 2000. 1 Why? Who knows, maybe to pro- < mote the state, or maybe the gov- i ernment is showing that they have < some creativity. However, the Trea- < sury Department has created guidelines for the design: it should ap- 1 peal to a wide variety of people, avoid 1 controversial subjects, no living peo- i pie, no state flags or state seals and : no double-headed coins. i These regulations are set up ] to prevent people from keeping < the coins as collectibles and to en- ! sure that the coins will have some ] creativity and originality. < Some ideas have been fire ants (by the governor himself), the con- ] federate flag, a cotton ball, the mag- ] nolia blossom, the Boykin spaniel, and the palmetto tree. Ut6ar ? Serving the Carolina Comn, The Gamecock is the student newspaper of The University o Friday during the fall and spring semesters and five times during the periods. Opinions expressed in The Gamecock are those of the editor The Board of Student Publications and Communications is the pub is the newspaper's parent organization. The Gamecock Adam Snyder Editor in Chief Rosalind Harvey Amy Shannon Viewpoints Editor Sara I adenhetm Kurt John3?" Cara Pellatt News Editors Carrie McCuitou Jennifer Stanley Features Editor Kristin Freestab Achlm Hunt Nathan Brown Bryan Johnston Sports Editors Sean Rayford Susan Meyers Photo Editor Tori O 'Hara Brian Rish Online Editor ?f1n notsJ Chris Dixon Copy Desk Chief Connie Karlckht Student Media Julie Baker Sherry F. Holms Susan Barrett Alicia Dickson Carolyn Griffin Judson Drennan Creative Services _ . Jim Green Ellen Parsons Director of Student Media Michelle Dames Lee Phlpps Advertising Manager Collins i ? *r? ntcock nunity since 1908 BOARD Editor in Chief ieupoints Editor nt Viewpoints Editor ixposure security turbance, it may apuiJHHH pear humorous to posure many people. nitP<Sjtm However, somequebiwn duction, rape or murrrrHHHB der could have easily occurred. It's very for'kould tunate that the of'CUrity. fenders were neither nts can't m^rious nor violent > Desk assistants is people ghould not be allow. trms. ing any unknown people into student residences. Housing needs to increase security of the dorms. Something like this should have never iiappened. The unsettling issue of whether cur campus in general is a safe place to be is beginning to materialize, rhe crime of indecent exposure isn't exactly "random" nor unprecedented at TTSn Tt. wasn't, tnn lnntr a cm that a persistent flasher roamed the lower levels of the Thomas Cooper Library. Even the Horseshoe has experienced its share of crime in the form of armed muggings over the ivinter break. All students must be wary of any suspicious persons walking around the residence halls or campus buildings. Report any dubious or shady behavior to an RA and the police. states' Jl Jl _ _ rack mi lunily since 190S MaMBlWBMKHjiBMil f South Carolina and is published Monday, Wednesday and 1 summer with the exception of university holidays and exam s or author and not those of The University of South Carolina. Usher of The Gamecock. The Department of Student Media Ml numbers area code 803 The Gamecock Public Relations Coordinator Editor 777-3914 !St. Viewpoints Editor u . _ .. rja Viewpoints 777-7726 gh Asst. News Editor > Asst. Features Editor News 777-7726 Xsst. Sports Editor Asst. Photo Editor Etc. 777-3913 Asst. Online Editor Sports 777-7182 iff Copy Editors Online 777-2833 m Classified Ad u^hi. Manager Student Media Business Manager A Overt is, ng 777-1184 Creative Director Classifieds 777-1184 i Creative Services _ e-Aao Graduate Asst. Fax 777 6482 Faculty Advisor office 777-3888 P ;ooa iaea TTiiii* However, it will all iUMKtm get under way when $ get to Gov- Beasley sets up * OWTt plans to get public input. The governor & himself must submit three to five ideas, ikM and then the TreaUtway sury Department promote mus* aPProve the design. What a great idea. ite. This is a great way to promote and advertise our state, as well is everyone elses. It would be interesting to see what kind of designs DriAT\1 A juiei states tunic up yvitxi. jl cupic ill over the country can at least learn )ne interesting thing about the state )f South Carolina. And it is right to give the idea to he people. They should decide what hey want on the quarter to represent their state. People will be taking great pride in their state by pickIng a diverse and equally representative symbol to place on dut quarter. It could also give the state something to brag about; people would say "yeah, that's OUR quarter." This is a great opportunity to present our state in a well-deserved manner. r~ mm 10 OUR' Un IB AT iviampu Language is a power stronger than all the men who use it combined. Knowing not only how to write well, but also how to speak well, can be your ticket to countless venues. Unfortunately these talents are quickly becoming a ~i lost art in our AmeriMm a can society. We need to take a minute to sit up and notice that we are living in a society when ruth NETTLES ZulcJGuest Columnist olinian stu. dents cannot read and write well enough to pass the high school Exit Exam (which is based on an eighth grade level) and some yet manage to graduate from high school not knowing how to read or write. Few Americans today have a firm grasp on the vocabulary and gram mar 01 tneir native tongue. Many Differer Walking through the Russell House the other day, something caught my eye. I had never really looked at it before. On the wall is a large copy of the Carolinian Creed. "T1 Among Guest Columnist compass in my life. Often it feels as if Fm in the minority that holds this belief. We are fortunate enough to have one of the most diverse student bodies in the country, and it is time for us to embrace this diversity The University itself offers many events for students so that they can learn irom eacn otner out rareiy is inis opportunity taken advantage of. Too many times jokes are made about culIUUhIMUI Yes, Virginia, there is a God' To the editor: i mil wnung una iciter m rcapuiise to Michele Dames' article on "Bible pushers." I am in no way planning to "bash" Ms. Dames. In fact, I respect her views and writing skills. I am, however, going to clear up a few things that have been on my mind. I am deeply saddened by the lack of morality of this campus in particular and the country in general. I have read many disturbing things in this paper ranging from the cloning jssue to whether [IVis hW''-' wYfess t ASMio WeATO r ^ llofltllf Liabiiig J foreigners come to the United States with more knowledge of the English language than some people who have spoken it since they learned their first words. At the root of the problem are a failing educational system and a stereotypical but true apathetic American attitude. Think back beyond English 101 and even beyond high school senior English. When was the last time you were actually taught grammar? When was the last time a teacher stood in front of your class and explained phrases and clauses? If you can name a class after middle school, I congratulate you on having good teachers who went against the rules. It is no longer considered proper to teach children grammar through all the familiar exercises and spelling lists, we all once endured. Now the desired way of teaching English is through a student's writing. Tell them to write, and when they make mistakes, only then can you correct them. However, the majority of students need more. As college students, we should each have a wide range of vocabulary. We should know how to write it factio] tural differences. It is this hatred ol what is not known that ultimately is the problem. USC can be divided into a variety of different groups. Among the most prevalent is Greeks and non-Greeks. If s easy to divide our school up, to identify someone with a certain fraternity or sorority and thus brand them without even knowing them. Anyone who has been on the fifth floor of the library can literally read the writing on the wall about Greeks and non-Greeks. If s amazing how peo pie can find a way to turn every sororities' letters into a rhyme scheme with the word "whore" in it. For those in fraternities or sororities, no love is lost over what nonGreeks think of them; they already have friends. The same contempt for each other will continue until an effort is made to actually socialize and get to know each other. Pride in your heritage is generally something we associate with the Southerners on campus. However Northerners seem to be just as intent on letting people know why they are God's gift to the world. Time and time again we are reminded by these "superior" people why everyone here Thfl a i k /11 a student. etude a m withheld foi or not a mother has the right to choose an abortion. And where I could spend hours speaking my mind on these controversial items, I am, instead, going to tend to the topic at hand. Ms. Dames has stated that she was "attacked" by someone trying to push their faith in her lap. She went on to state, in no uncertain terms, that these people should leave her alone. For the most part I agree with Ms. Dames. Not to take anything away from my "Bible pushing" brethren, but that type of witnessing is a bit overzealous and tends to push people further away from God, not bring them closer. In 1 John 4:12, John states that "No one has ever seen God; but if we love one anothej^ God STtTYwtmm 5Wa STRONG AN P&ISNfc ACTi col English c "Knowing not only ho\ also how to speak well, < countless venues, inese becoming a lost art in ou a concise, clear paper without splitting n infinitives, dangling prepositions or o misplacing modifiers. But that is not t< the case for far too many college stu- } dents. g The second problem is the apathetic fj attitude of many Americans concerning their language. While there is an ^ increasing encouragement to learn ^ at least one foreign language, the ma- c jority of students take their requirement and run. ? I have heard on more occasions ., . CK than I can count that everyone in the " world should just learn English and it would be easier. I can't think of better ^ examples of a closed-minded, incon- v siderate attitude. t Language is an integral part of cul- y ture that should not be lost. I urge you as divide "Too many times ] about cultural diffe hatred of what is i ultimately is th is a stupid redneck. Obviously this isn't the truth. s 1 However there are times when I 1< can see their argument any time a i shouting match takes place that always ends up with someone challeng- s ing the "Northern Aggressor" to a good fi old-fashioned brawl in the lobby area. P For both Northerner and Southerner, n rarely does either person associate with t the other. People from the North stick b tnoefhpr anrl nt.Viar students from out of state?-just as in-state students? li tend to keep to themselves. fi One issue that divides the nation o as well as our campus is definitely race, r Chances are you can't even remember a the last time you went to a party or c even had a real conversation with some- f one of a different race. Fm not just talk- a ing about black and white, but also t Hispanics and Asians as well. F amecock will try to print all letters received. Letters should be 250-300 words, land written letters must be personally delivered by the author to The Gameco uthor's telephone number. The Gamecock reserves the right to edit all letter any circumstance. lives in us and his love is made complete in us." This verse is one of the d fundamental writings that express the e belief of witnessing by example. If we're I living the life that Jesus requires of us, t then that will become evident to r nonbelievers. They will see the joy and 1: > excitement in our lives and with a burn- r ing desire or just morbid curiosity, they e will come closer to see what it is that i we have that they are missing. That is the way you should be witnessing, t not pounding people on the head with ? i your Bible, trying to meet some non- c existent quota of saving 20 people in c one day. Again, your exuberance is i commendable, although a little misdirected. =, HAT \ tit "1 ther people to understand you. Strive o understand them. Learn another mguage. However, before you can bein to learn another language, you must irst know your own language well. When you hear a word you do not now, don't mentally skim over it. Look t up, learn it, and expand your voabulary. When you hear a common hrase, endeavor to learn where it came rom. You may be pleasantly surprised nd fascinated by what you find out. 'ind an answer to the questions you lear like, "Why do we drive on park i t_ J * n? ?ays ana par& in unvewaysr iaa.e he power of language and use it to our advantage. user* jokes are made rences. It is this not known that ? e problem." Way too often when walking by omebody different from ourselves we ook at them as if they were in a cage n a zoo. We stare in amazement at low somebody could be so strange, 0 different, so completely opposite ram anything we've ever know before, dter looking at them for a brief moaent we continue walking, thinking he same stereotypical things we did efore. College is supposed to be about aarning something new. Unless an efart is made to associate with someone r something different from the known, Lothing can truly be learned. So I tsk everyone to at least give others a hance. Hang out with someone in a raternity or sorority, somebody from 1 different religion, race, state or na- ^ ionality. You might be happily surirised at what you learn. and must include full name, professional title or year and major If ck newsroom in Russell House room 333. E-mail letters must infor style, possible libel or space limitations. Names will not be As for Ms. Dames' belief that God loes not exist, I ask you this: have you ver looked at a sunset? If not, then suggest that you do so. Look at hat masterpiece in the sky, the ultinate work of art, and tell me that you lonestly believe that it came from lowhere; that it simply came into existence one day from absolutely nothng. In closing I leave you with this: he next time you're walking to class md you see the complexity of a flower >r the beauty of the sky, I ask you; who lo you think made all of that? ^ Jason Ravan ^tudio Art, sophomor^ ,-ra !_ 'lege press EXCHANGE srucial v to write well, but :an be your ticket to : talents are quickly ir American society." ^ ot to fall into aDathy. Do not expect