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HEY KIDS! We're still making sure you guys know about our e-mail address. It's GCKVIEWS@VM.SC.EDU. Use it or don't, but do. the? Serving the Carolina Cot EDITORIAL Jennifer Stanley, Sara Ladenheim, j Rob Gioielli, Vie Kurt Johnson, Assista Kathleen McCormic Gingrich c quits, loss: And it only gets more interesting. Wednesday Newt Git morning, Republi- resignc cans were licking their wounds after I keeping a slim mar- rr , , , gin in the House of He had th Representatives, Stand up for when they thought they would be gaining seats only a few days earlier. Newt Gingrich, the man who led the Republican revolution four years ago, said he wouldn't run again for Speaker of the House and now has resigned from Congress altogether. After the the results came out Tuesday, Gingrich received much of the blame, as critics charged that his strategy of focusing on the Monica Lewinsky affair alienated voters. Several Republicans had already planned to challenge Gingrich for Speaker, and more announced their intentions soon after he made his statement. These and other Republicans said they had lost faith in Gingrich's ability to lead the party in Congress. He has made several miscues since gaining the speakership in 1994, the most notable being the government shutdown two years ago, which most of the public blamed on him and not Bill Clinton. Many believe this set the stage for Clinton's re-election in 1996. USC shoul credit-card A free T-shirt |HjHK7jjr never cost so much. They are there all the time in con- stations venient, well-plot- colleger tor) InfQ + inno uri+Vi MPflVVI WU IUVUV1VUU TT Ibil I] "Ml] stacks of fresh, white USC T-shirts Student and an avalanche of be aware ( credit-card forms. respond Bansheeic voic es shriek from the bow of the Russell House, "Free T-shirt, just fill out an application," as the students pass. Those seemingly harmless credit-card stations, which lull unsuspecting students to their pits and offer candy for blood, have always been distractions for students walking to class. Many students desire that free T-shirt and say they'll just sign up and toss the card out once they get it. But when they do get it, it usually gucD uu ouuit: use, cuiu, as with many college students, they compile quite a hefty debt. The credit-card company must be sponsored by a certain campus organization to allow them to be on campus. This may come with ffe Hit (Si ^^5" Serving the Carolina Com, The Gamecock is the student newspaper of The University Friday during the fall and spring semesters and five times during tl periods. Opinions expressed in The Gamecock are those of the edi The Board of Student Publications and Communications Ls the pu the newspaper's parent organization The Gamecock Jennifer Stanley Editor in Chief Jackie Poster Sara Ladenheim -Managing Editor Todd Money Rob Glolelll Vieupomts Editor Rosalind Hai Erin Reed Netvs Editors Kristin Freestate Features Editor Kurt Johnsoi Bryan Johnston Editorial Assistant Brad Walters Nathan Brown Sfxirts Editor Kenley Youn Nikkl Thorpe Fhnto Editors Ruth Nettles Sean Rayford Deneshla Gr Matt Ryan Online Editor Kelly Maguli Rob Lindsey C-opy Fditors Kathleen Mc Jessica Barflcld Kevin Langsl Student Media Ellen Parsons Director of Erik Collins Student Media Jeff Stenslan Lee Phlpps Advertising Manager Susan Barret Sherry F. Holmes Classified Kathy Van N Manager Daniel Brow Ctrolyn Griffin Business MatUger Julie Baker 1 nratk nmunity since 1908 BOARD Editor in Chief Managing Editor wpoints Editor nt Viewpoints Editor :k, Editorial Writer ailing it forD.C F7*^*j5Tl This was the last straw for many Reigrich's publicans, who adition. that even though Gingrich was responsible for their takeover of the e guts to House, his ability to bis beliefs, govern wasn't as great as his skill in leading a political revolution. It's a shame that we have to see this new fiasco in the soap opera that is Washington politics. While Gingrich's views and methods have always been questionable, there is one thing to say for him: he has always stood by his ideals in the wau oramrnmont eVirviilrl wnrlr TVioco TT UJ gV/ T VX lUiiVXlU UXXVUXU TT V/X XX. X XXVUV are what led to his rise and, some would say, to his downfall. This will only lead to more chaos in our national government at a time when more than anything we need stability and firm leadership, which we're not getting from the White House. And, at least for a while, Capitol Hill will be questionable as well. Newt Gingrich wasn't the most popular politician, but he stood by his views and was loyal to his convictions, something that's been on the endangered species list in Washington for years. rt regulate I booths I enmp fpp fnr thp use of university t-TfLYft ' spaCe and equipfocnson ment (tables, students. chairs, etc.). "jjTniTiTJHH Surely, people want to use credsneedto it cards, but rffinancial shouldn't there be nbilities. some kind of reg ulation pertaining to these stations? Well, let's look at it like this: organizations sponsor many other programs that greatly benefit students (i.e., the Career Eair) and their endeavors in college. These credit-card stations don't do much for students except take their money out of their pockets. No, don't do anything drastic like get rid of these stations. Research credit-card companies for histories of screwing students over. Check the validity of their specials. Have brochures or seminars informing and teaching students _i j. c i auuui ineir nnanciai respuiisiuuities and about credit cards. This will help keep one from paying one's soul for a measly T-shirt. mrcDcb ?i inanity since 190S MHMMilllMiilliBIMH of South Carolina and is published Monday, Wednesday and he summer with the exception of university holidays and exam tors or author and not those of The I niversity of South (iroltna blisher of The (iamecock The Department of Student Media is All area codes are 803 1 Editor 777-3911 vey II,fife Keiatums gckalQsc edu Director Viewpoints 777-7726 a Ass/ Vteu fronts Editor gcluietvsQsc edit Asrf Netts /Hilars News 777-7726 g gckneusQsc ctlu Encore FMitnr Etc. 777-3913 a ham Ass/ Failures Editor gcketcQsc.edu * Asst. Sports Editor Sports 777-7182 Cormlck FAitonal Writer gcksportsQsc edu :on senior news writer Online 777-2833 Advertising 777-3888 Faculty Advisor d Graduate Assistant classified 777-1183 t Creative Services ostrand fax 777-6382 " ^ Office 777-3888 V View] > ^ :@L^r4 % ,,A I Body art < "n ad, bold, dangerous and sexual r"^ly open. That's what tattoos and -LJ other forms of the body art, invented a toos and" columnist piercing was to show a belonging to a certain social group. Today, it serves some peoples' personal, 'not-likeeverybody' aesthetic needs and is supposed to be a sign of belonging to one of various 'anti-social' groups. And even more than that, it happens to be a huge tribute to recent fashion imposed by the mass pop culture. The American South has always been considered traditionally conservative.' Regardless, tattooing and piercing have found a number of devoted fans here. The state of South Carolina, how ever, is still pretty tough on the issue. Although there's no state ban on piercing, tattoo administration is officially prohibited. But getting some permanent body artwork is as easy as crossCountries [ guest columnist \ I was with my fiancee, Yaneth, and her family when it happened. In a white Ford Explorer, we were meandering along the crumbling road from Bogota to the city of Ibague in the Tolima section of Colombia. I was admiring the greenness of the mountainous Colombian countryside when I heard a gasp and a command to look out the other side of the car. Outside was the strangest scene I had ever witnessed. A man was lying face-down by the side of the road, wearinrr mono onr] n A nr? 1 rv-? innlrnf 1115 Jcail?; uuuto, aiiu a uciiim jativci. Standing next to him was a policeman clad in the green-and-white uniform of the Colombian army. The policeman was writing something down on a clipboard. Surrounding these two figures was a mixed group of children and old people who were bouncing up and down. It took me a second to realize what it was. I heard the word "muerto" and finally understood. The man on the ground had a pool of blood encircling his head that had the peculiar flatUniversity's minorities not equally represented To the editor: I am writing in response to the recently published articles regarding recruitment and retention of AfricanAmerican faculty and students at USC in both The Gamecock and the USC Times. These articles appear to be in response to the recent resignation oi Dr. Rigford. While Dr. Pigford's conJ tribuubns to this campus have been ' . t 3OINT: m, > I VffigTHt liFE OF Tftt Jmn / \^. c exhibits pc ing the state border to Georgia, where getting and giving a tattoo is perfectly legal and a thriving business, too. Is this another way, apart from thenlottery, that Georgians found to keep money coming into their state's economy from South Carolinians? Semi-legal, fresh from prison, and unpredictable bikers and lusty, insatiable liave-been-around' female strippers are probably still considered to be the most likely carriers of tattoos. And, they might have tattoos and their bodies pierced. But they are the people who like to show their skin-deep Celtic designs, raging oriental dragons and cute pussycats. , Now they are more like heads of icebergs (like any iceberg, not necessarily that from "Titanic"). Much more is under there, out of everybody's sight. There are a lot of people, not so obviously wild, who also wear tattoos and get their bodies pierced but usually keep them private. Corporate America, law enforcement officers and even high school teachers get their bodies embellished. They seem to be tired of guys with big bucks or other types of powers telling them what to wear and how to look. A lot of people get sick of being controlled by the "Big Brother." And they get rebellious. They don't want to join militia troops, though. Getting a tattoo or a piercing in a navel or a nipple (ouch!) seems to be just right. They get rebellious under ' turmoil t tened shape of a throat lozenge. Something had hit him hard. "A motorcycle accident?" I asked my fiancee in Spanish. UT\ uu yvu see a iiiutuieyeie.' sue replied. Every day I heard on the news in Bogota of the bloodshed in the countryside. Whole clans and villages were being put on their knees and executed by leftist guerrillas and their right-wing paramilitary counterparts. But even living in the country's capital city, the ubiquitous violence on television and in the newspaper was remote. If I had never bothered to turn on a TV or read a newspaper, I would have been happily ignorant of the rural slaughter. But here it was right in front of me. The sensation of the moment was lilro watrViincr cnmo news fnntacra nn. ly the window of the Explorer was my screen. We drifted by very slowly ? more slowly than one does for a mundane car accident. My camera ? where was it? It was tucked away in the trunk. I bit my lower lip in frustration from this wasted photo op. Later, when we arrived in balmy Ibague, I thought about the dead man. H Zl|jl||] year and may chide many and her resignation is a loss, I am also greatly disappointed by the complete lack of information about the overall lack of representation of all other underrepresented students and faculty/staff, such as Latinos, Native Americans, Asians, etc. There appears a need for clarity oi the woods "minority" and "AfricanAmerican." In a recent Times article Dr. Dennis Pruitt was quoted as saying, "we have an 18.6 percent minority undergradu;jte enrollment." Latei in the article, it was cited that African "Th< c SKristi? on W v^Vn. ^ PIHGE 1 . WS. 1 ^ tr fsoiial exj "There are a lot of ] obviously wilcL wh< * ' ... but usually keep the clothes, basically at themselves, so other people and, most importantly, their bosses, usually don't notice. Unless they sleep with their bosses, of course. There's a number of reasons to get a tattoo or a piece of jewelry running through your body. However, proving your boldness and shocking, unstable maturity to your parents and competing with your "friends" don't seem to be the best reasons. Scott Brewer, 27, co-owner of Body Rites, Columbia's only all-piercing professional establishment, believes: "Getting a tattoo or some piercing is very personal, and it should be done for yourself and not anybody else." Some non-liberal people experience anger, and even uncontrollable fits of ~i i. i.i?~ ] 3 A paiiic, auuui uie banuueu auu pieiceu nation, which is no surprise to me. It seems to originate from the same ole good rural folks' belief that everything they didn't understand was hazardously perverse to them and thus required immediate government intervention. Alyson Funderburk, 29, who has a noticeable and colorful tattoo depicting :rupts live j One dead person does not attract attention in Colombia. Colombians have expressions like "pentagon," which is a buzzword for "little bomb." "Oh don't worry, it was only a pentagon; it only killed two people," was something I heard on. several occasions during my stay. This one dead man probably didn't even make it into the newspaper. And yet he was my only real connection with the socio-economic conflict that pervades throughout the country. The Marxist guerrillas, in the name of establishing a regime of economic equality, have waged a seemingly endless war with their own country. They have destroyed countless lives in order to "liberate" the peasantry from an oppressive oligarchy. The right-wing nflromilitflriPK havp fnllnwpd suit, t.hpir predation upon the Colombian people. They were formed to "protect" vulnerable country peasants hum the guerrillas. In reality, the conflict has been between two bullies who shoot at one another for the acquisition of coca-producing land. Ordinary citizens have made up most of the casualties. necock will try to print all letters. Letters should be 250-300 words and or if a student Hand written letters must be personally delivered by th hor's telephone number. The Gamecock reserves the right to edit all it American students make up 18.6 percent of the overall undergraduate population. This is the same statistic used to represent the entire "minority undergraduate enrollment." Obviously, a very narrow and exclusive definition of "mif nority" appears to be used. As a senior at USC, I am disap, pointed by the lack of commitment to cultural, racial, religious, and sexual diversity. This is a tragedy both for the University community and for myself, as we are not being exposed to other *re were a lot of zeros on that check." 1 Freestate, Gamecock reporter, ivinning Reporter of the Year J ' *JmK *N ^ session people, not so 3 also wear tattoos them private." the Virgin Mary on her shoulder, recalls: "Some DeoDle in Dublic Dlaces feel threatened and negative about my tattoos, but usually never take time to see that they have religious themes." Like "South Park," permanent tattooing and piercing is not for everyone. Definitely not for me. It may be true that those "not exotic anymore" gimmicks do work for a number of Deople. They might satisfy their needs for self-expression. Also, it may help them get extra attention from other people, including the opposite sex, in today's "everybody is self-centered" culture (I still have trouble understanding how a picture of a naked girl on a male is supposed to attract-a female to him). Personally, though, I believe the best and sexiest decoration you can have for your body is clear skin and toned, lean muscles. Nevertheless, remember the beauty of it is that your body is all yours, and you are free to do anything you want with it. inaction There could have been a million reasons for why the man was killed. He could have been an informer for either side. He could have been a workers' or human rights activist. He could have been seeking political office. As I look back, I feel guilty for wanting to turn this experience into an anecdote, a snapshot to wet the appetites of everyone wanting to know about the blood and guts of one of the most misunderstood countries in the world. Colombia, to most Americans, is a country where bad things happen. They are right in that assumption, but what the news flashes on CNN have not shown Americans is complexity of war routed in the depravation of a people. Those who take up arms do so because it is impossible for them to express their civil grievances in any other way. I feel, more than ever, like just an other stupid gringo who only nurtures the sensational blurring of Colombia's violence. To get a better picture, I am going back in December. And this time my camera stays in my lap. must include full name, phone number, professional title or ic author to the Russell House room 333- E mail letters must hitter for style, libel or space. Names will never be withheld. ideas, experiences,^ values. As USC strives to attain AAU status, the importance of diversity among the faculty and students will manifest itself. We must recognize the important contributions that all diverse groups bring to a University community. The word "minority" should not be limited to certain groups, as it weakens its overall meaning and minimizes the needs of groups excluded from the definition. Megan C. Hoffman ) Spanish Senior