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Ut(5o
EDITORIAL
Jennifer Stanley,
Sara Ladenheim, i
Rob Gioielli, Vie
Kurt Johnson, Assista
Kathleen McCormic
Hate crime
national oo
The recent, tragic
death of gay stu- HHBHJLii
dent Matthew Hate crime
Shepard in beingp,
Laramie, Wy., has to be pc
sparked debate over
hate crime legisla- WTTrnfFP
tion. Rweisi Mfume
of the National As- ^ crime is a
sedation for theAdvancement
of Colored
People, for motiva
instance, has taken
advantage of this case to encourage
Congress to pass the Hate
Crime Prevention Act. This legislation
would, in theory, help protect
people targeted for violent
crimes based on such things as
roro nr eovnal nrianfafinn Kir oof _
&UVV VI VVAUU1 Vi IVXXVUViVllj VJ WW
ting penalties for such actions.
It's difficult to put the issue of
hate crime legislation in proper
perspective after such an egregious
act. It is an incredibly emotional
issue. But we must try to
remain rational, or we will take
unwise steps on our way to making
our country safer for everyone.
Of course, people should be
punished for committing a violent
act against someone because the
victim is gay (or black, or any number
of other characteristics.) The
thing is, they should also be punished
if they commit a crime towards
someone for any other reason.
Not only that, but ? and this
fact gets lost in debates over hate
crimes ? they already are punished
for such acts.
A murder victim is no less dead
because she wasn't a member of
a protected group. A stabbing is
no less heinous because it was
Blatt should
aerobics scl
The aerobics
classes offered at
Blatt P.E. Center AerobicsXI
benefit the USC are not cc
community im- enoughfi?
mensely. For only ^
$10 a semester, students
and staff are A new ti
able to participate in should be ii
an activity that not s0
only sculpts our bod- peop
ies but makes us between
healthier and
stronger.
It would be nice, then, if the
classes could be offered at more
convenient times. A new schedule
began last week, but they are offered
at times that are at odds
with our regular class schedules.
For instance, the "Step & Kick"
class on Tuesdays and Thursdays
is offered from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m..
This precludes the attendance of
?ic?ii
-^i ^erring wv v.unniriu
The Gamecock is the student newspaper of lite I niversity
Friday during the fall and spring semesters and live times during ti
periods. Opinions expressed in The Gamecock are those of die edi
The Board of Student Publications and Communications is die pul
the newspaper's parent organization
The Gamecock
Jennifer Stanley Editor in Chief - Jackie Poston
Sara Ladenhelm Managing Editor Todd Money
Rob Glolelll Viewpoints Editor Rosalind Har
Josh Lonon News Editors
Erin Reed Kurt Johnsor
Kristin Freestate Features Editor Brad Walters
Bryan Johnston Editorial Assistant Kenley Younj
Nathan Brown S/xirts Editor Ruth Nettles
Nlkkl Thorpe Photo Editors Deneshla Grs
Sean Rayford Kelly Magulr
Brian Rlsh Online Editor Matt Ryan
Rob Llndscy Ofy Editors Kathleen Met
Jessica Barfleld
Student Media
Ellen Parsons Director of
Student Media Carolyn Grill
Lee Phlpps Advertising Manager Erik Collins
Sherry F. Holmes Classified Jeff Stenslant
1
>
imecoch
nmunity since 1908
BOARD
Editor in Chief
Managing Editor
'wpoints Editor
nt Viewpoints Editor
k, Editorial Writer
sparks
ntroversy
ppmh] committed only
SHIHil to rob the victim,
legislation and not to express
ushed hatred.
ksqcI If it is true that
people are not bepjTrfjrwn
ing punished severely
enough for
rrimj? no hate crimes, then
bat the it is also true that
people are not be*lon%
ing punished
enough for the
same crime with any other motivation.
If this is the case, we need
to make stiffer penalties for crimes
against any human being.
Even so, legislators will be
tempted to address hate crimes,
as the issue is hot right now. We
hope they will be prudent, and
consider the mess such legislation
could produce.
The main problem is that it re
quires mind reading. If a homosexual
person is killed, was the
assailant even aware of the victim's
homosexuality? And how,
then, did the criminal feel about
homosexuals? And even if it can
be proven he had anti-gay sentiments,
were those the motivating
factors behind his actions? Or was
the crime, in reality, committed
for an unrelated reason?
Such a case would require conjecture
on the parts of all but
the defendant, who likely won't
admit to it anyway.
It is much easier to determine
actions than thoughts. And
thoughts don't hurt anyone until
they are manifested in actions.
Laws, then, should address only
actions, not thoughts, and therefore
not motivations.
1 change
tiedule
JTMBhI a student with a
class starting at
ledule times either 8 or 9:30
mvenient a.m.
r everyone. If that step class
was changed to,
say, 8 a.m., or
me chart even 8:15 a.m.,
nplemented someone with a
9;30 class could
? make both more
' c^asses- easily. They might
not smell great,
but they'd be able to get their exercise
in between classes.
The same applies to classes offered
in other time slots. So, Campus
Recreation: thanks for the
classes; we think you're doing a
great job. But it would be great
for time-pressed students if you
could put your classes on schedule
with the university's class
tuiico.
mccodt imbi
inanity since I 'JON HBHMHIiMMBBBMjt
of Soutli Carolina and is published Monday. Wednesday and
lie summer with the exception of university holidays and exam
tors or author and not those of The t 'nivetsity of Stxitli Carolina. \
Wisher of The Gamecock. Hie Department of Student Media is
All area codes are 803
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vey Publk gelations gckedOsc ctlti
Dimlor viewpoints 777-7726
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faculty Adnsor Fax 777-6382
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V
V JLc Wr
ire
(Iran
see ill
Single guy t
Single and proud!" said my female c
classmate, a smart, good-looking, j
long-legged girl, in answer to my 1
question of j
RMAN ABEAV a*d satis* 1
faction.
columnist No specif- (
ic research (
on the ratio of single students to 1
those in relationships at USC has been t
performed yet, but I'm sure I won't be s
wrong to state that a huge number of
undergraduate, let alone graduate stu- s
dents, are already involved in a rela- !
tionship which typically started back t
in high school and has been dragging
on since. Are most of those happy li- i
aisons and are they truly justified? i
Pressed by friends and raging mass 1
media images of dating and happy cou- 1
pies, youngsters, especially females, :
feel like they have to be in a relation- \
ship to be socially approved and ac- 1
Grad studei
guest columnist
A iron o onvMni* ofnmrict rrro/4no_
Aic juu a ociiiui otairng giauuation
right in the face? A little unsure
about what you're going to :
do next? If you haven't thought about
it by now, someone else has thought
about it for you probably your parents.
Maybe youll win the lottery, if you're
willing to relocate. If you're a comput- '
er gee...I mean whiz, you can write your
own ticket and go work for that strange 1
uncle we all have in Seattle.
Maybe you're thinking you need
to get a foot in the door first. In a mere
matter of months, the lowly intern
position has been infused with a shot
of publicity that would make a Madison
Avenue exec blush. And while it's
not a job for the weak-kneed, I'm told
that dry-cleaning bills are relatively
cheap.
TTie way I see it though, in either
case Billy will be calling the shots. If
you half-enjoyed school, and you'd like
to maintain a modicum of independence,
why not consider graduate work?
Just like swamp-legend John Fogerty,
I used to work for the man every
night and day. I gave it up to return to
graduate school. Now I work for myself
every night and day.
Leadership in recycling
program poor
To the editor,
Leadership is a privilege, and with
privilege comes responsibility. The
Board of Trustees of The University
of South Carolina should adhere to this
principle. However, the school's leadership
has turned their back on the recycling
program. Instead of placing the
recycling program on hold, the univer
'PINT
>ny
L 0) noun
usiraiion
examines 1
:epted. At some point, if you say tha
mu don't have a boyfriend or a girl
riend, a number of people are likely b
udge you on the spot.
Even notorious underachieving MT\
:artoon Butt-Head says, "Girls won'
sleep with you unless you already hav
i girlfriend." And if you are single, yoi
ire not worthwhile.
Has being single become a way t
neasure a person's worth? I am afrai<
t may be so. And the youth are receivinj
his message ? they rush into early
ind usually immature and hopeless
elationships.
On the other hand, there some oth
;r socially accepted reasons to be tie*
lown. I asked a freshman girl how sh
vas managing her 3- year-old rela
ionship, which sparked up back in hig]
school.
She said it could be difficult at times
since the relationship did distract he
rom hitting the books but stressed tha
here are very positive things about il
Guess what was positive about
relationship for that young woman? Be
ing in love or living life with a soul
mate? None of that sentimental garbag
For this material girl! The first thin
she mentioned was, "He has a car an
takes me everywhere I want to go, an
tie pays for me when we go out." A set
it offers O]
No difference, you're thinking. Nc
quite. I wouldn't say I've never lost
minute of sleep worrying about the wa
things might have been.
As a grad student, there's alway
spmnrLcrnpssincr TTsnallv it's flhniit Vim
much money you could be making i
industry. However, for those who ei
joy their freedom, academia is still n<
a bad place to be. Public attacks on ace
demic sacred cows such as tenure an
the ever-expanding corporate present
on campus have somewhat harnesse
academic freedom, or at least our r<
mantic notions of it.
Still, what most real-world type
will gain in monetary terms ove
their ivory tower brethren, they wi
lose in terms of both spiritual and phys
ical freedom.
Let's start with the base first. In ii
dustry, even as a middle manager,
pretty much had to tell someone if I we
going to take a leak, eat lunch, come i
at 10 tomorrow morning. That stuff ca
wear on you after a while.
T> A * A . ii 1 _ 1_ _
out, more importantly, now aooi
the essence of what you do? Most of tl
jobs we're being programmed for as un
versity grads are too restrictive. Tht
seem to follow a grand formula, firn
ly entrenched and rarely questions
As a grad student, and ideally as a pr
TheC
Zj|JII|j. year and n
chide i
sity should revive the policy to preser
the earth's resources.
Currently, the university places tl
materials in a storage shed. Most of tl
materials will probably be thrown awi
because of the neglect to recyc
them.
Despite this waste, every residen
hall contains recycling bins giving co
scientious students the impression th
are aiding the environment.
Many reasons abound as to why tl
university does, nothing with the m
ST
"I did
S
sz\ /T2
relationship j
t ond later, she hastily added, "But, of
course, I love him! And we will get mar0
ried eventually." Of course. Good luck.
OK, finally, here's the sex part. Deal1
ing with the birds and the bees seems
t to be a major challenge for many young
e people. Kim Sheffield, assistant coorj
dinator of Sexual Health & Sexual Assault
Services, says, "American culture
0 sends a huge number of confusing mes1
sages about human sexuality. While
sf parents and teachers discourage
r, teenagers from early sexual activity,
i, TV shows, magazines and advertising
are full of rather explicit statements
r promoting it. A little is done to promote
d safe sex or help teenagers to undere
stand and deal with their sexuality."
American and European culture alti
so makes people believe that a single
female having sex is wrong, while a sex
n__ _ _!_ i_ i. r\fr a_ il _
>, uaiiy active single maie is urv. un tne
r other hand, there are males who can
.t get sexually active (something they are
dying for) only if they agree to get ina
volved in a relationship,
s- I refuse to be hypocritical about sex,
1- even if it hurts someone's feelings. Peoe
pie want it. The bad news about this is
g sometimes both males and females feel
d pressured, both by cultural and physd
iological factors, and jump into painful
and dysfunctional relationships just for
ptions after ?
>t
a "If you half-enjoyed scl
y
maintain a modicrum c
I not consider graduate ^
n
l
^ fessor later on, you get to pursue ideas
l" that motivate you, within reason, of
course.
Working for yourself is not so bad
if you're pursuing your own constructs
> or hypotheses, solving your own problems,
then force-feeding your findings
| down the throats of captive audiences
jj at a conference; or in a classroom.
, Though not perfect, the academic life
seems to offer an opportunity for real
progression. In academia, you may anj
ticipate being in the same job for the
lg rest of your life and not know for sure
n what youll be doing in two years.
jj And, of course, every one of life's
paths should have its little perks. Beer
it drinking is not frowned upon in grad
ie school, it's an indispensable lubricant
i- for the mind that sizzles with pas;y
sion. Just don't adopt a John Blutarsky
n- consumption pattern. Finally, if you
d. play your cards right, you may be
o- able to study in some fairly interesting
amecock will try to print all letters. Letters should be 250-J00 words anc
aajor if a student. Hand written letters must be personally delivered by tl
luthor's telephone number. The Gamecock reserves the right to edit all I
ye terials. Officials state they simply cannot
decide what to do with the matetie
rials that is not cost effective. Apparrie
ently, saving money is a higher priority
ay than saving the environment,
le Certainly, the Board of Trustees
and the university need not be wastece
ful in fiscal spending. However, frun
gality at the environments expense is
ey not acceptable. Is cost effectiveness more
important than our planets future?
be President Abraham Lincoln once
a- stated, "You cannot escape the re
n't care about a degree. I was
at USC to play football."
Sterling Sharpe,
former USC football player
' 9
?ES) |
^4%B> 1 I
Jv m
J
w
lb
popularity
the sake of it. Maybe having safe sex
with someone you are not in a relationship
with, or abstinence, is a better
choice than the pain and frustration
you are likely to experience in such
a badly motivated bond.
Just make sure that, if you are
choosing to be involved in an obligation-free
sexual activity, it will be
safe both physically and emotionally
for you and your partner. Otherwise,
it can a pretty costly thing to do.
The bottom line is that, generally
speaking, a healthy relationship is great
and probably one ot the most rewarding
things in the world.
But it is likely that before you get
into one you will need a lot of space to
do things for yourself, like school and
meeting other people, and attain a certain
level of experience so that you know
what you want and your personal demands
are satisfied.
It is OK to be single and take time
to learn about yourself and what your
life goals are. Don't let yoursetfbecome
a slave of cultural stereotypes and confusion
about your own personality.
The author has a medical degree
from Peoples' Friendship University at
Moscow, Russia.
jraduation
100I, and you'd like to
>f independence, why
vork?"
locales or attend schools with a cool-ass
moniker, like this one.
When I head back home at Christmas
with all my Cock paraphernalia,
you just know I'm going to be the best
Santa any of my rowdy friends have
ever seen.
This could sound like a bit of plug
for the university. It's not intended to
be, but I'm willing to take a cut if more
money rolls in from an increase in grad
school applications. All facetiousness
aside, its clear the graduate life is not
for everyone.
It's very rarely the right path for
those who want to make money. It's not
a great idea if you don't like to really
push yourself every once in a while. But
if you think you have a bit of the spirit
of free enterprise ? but by no means
fancy yourself a Turner or Trump ?
then it's worth a second look.
Think of it as an entrepreneurial
endeavor for the mind.
I must Include full name, phone number, professional title or
te author to the Russell House room 333- E-mail letters must Inetter
for style, libel or space. Names will never be withheld.
sponsibility of tomorrow by evading it
today." If human beings keep wasting
what we have today, nothing will be
left for our children. Our leadership
should finally take a stand for environmental
security instead of fiscal
greed.
Corey E. Ford
Political science/history freshman
3 *