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E-MAIL! Remember, we have an email address, so don't hesitate to write us. It's GCKVIEWS@SC.EDU. Write one, write all! Page 2 tkC Serving the Carolina EDITOR1 Sara Ladenheii Rob Gioielli, 1 Kevin Langston, /Iss Emily Streyer, Ass is Jennifer Stanley, Spec Flagconl comes to The Citadel is once again in the HHHUm headlines, this time The Confi courtesy of the prese South Carolina 7hp ( Council of Consern*i flHPPPPVI vauve citizens. The SCCCC be- _ lieves that the Con- ^ s no federate anthem Confedei "Dixie" and the today Confederate flag Can should be played and waved at all Citadel parades and games to commemorate the memories of those Citadel cadets who died 138 years ago during the Civil War. But the Confederate flag symbolizes more than just Southern pride and historical preservation. To many native and non-native South Carolinians the flag also represents hate, oppression and blatant abuse of fellow human beings. Some South Carolinians think the flag should be removed from prominent display and remain reserved for such holidays as Memorial Day or Veterans Day. Tt's the nennle sn stannrhlv I 1 ? J supportive of the flag remaining on- top of the State Capitol and other prominent buildings who make South Carolina look like a backwater to the rest of the United States. If a conservative group Loyalty of define NB In just a few weeks, the NBA will begin the 1999 Thelockcni season, and some NBA St have asked why it's even bothering to have a season. But in a league where rookies who ** ^ 8?^nS don't even go to col- great effort lege get $126 mil- and coacl lion contracts, backth there's simply too much money involved. Canceling a season isn't an option for the players, owners and myriad of others who make millions off the NBA. Basketball will go on. But the real question is whether anybody cares. The powers that be in professional basketball must not know their history, or they would've looked at the baseball strike in 1994 and realized how bitter fans can get. It took the heroic efforts of Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire this summer to get people to finally care about baseball again. There was one player in the NBA who could captivate the most -?m> ?ic(5ai Sen-Inn tlx- Carolina Com The Gamecock is the sluilent new spaper of lite University Friday during the fall and spring semesters and five times during I periods Opinions expressed in lire Gamecock are those of the eeli The Hoard of Student Publications and Communkatkms is tlte pu the newspaper s ptrent (rganizalktn The Gamecock Sara Ladenheim lidilor in Chief Emily Streyet Rob Gioielli Vieufxiuits Editor Kevin Langst Kenlcy Young Aeus lidilor Rachel Helw Brad Walters A'eus lidilor Clayton Kale Nathan Brown Sports lidilor Brt?ck Vergal Erin Reed litxilnn-s lidilor Charlie Walla Rob Lindscy I'ealnn-s lidilor Katy Evans Sean Rayford Photo lidilor Deneshla Gra Matt Ryan (Mine Htlilor Ashton June Kristin Freestate Cn/iy Ikvlt Chief Ann Marie M Todd Money Gyn Dlilnr Jennifer Stan Rebecca Cronicaut Ciyiy Htlilor Student Media Ellen Parsons Din-ilor of Sherry F. Hoi Sltidenl Media Lee Phipps Adrertisinf- Manager Carolyn Grift Susan King Cn-alin- Din-dor Erik Collins Jeff Slenslant (I 1 ' . iamccoch Community since 1908 AX BOARD 11, Editor in Chief Viewpoints Editor , istant Vieupoints Editor 'tant Vieupoints Editor zial Projects Coordinator trovers1 i iCitade 1=55551 in Germs MJmI manded t ?derateflag Nazi f 1 a mce at raised over Atadel. in Berlii asked "Deutschla , . Alles"bep roomforthe all officiFa ateflag in tions, th( 's South would cry f olina. the reques ? be denied. This con is not that far off. The Na: as responsible for the h pression and blatant abus low human beings, astl federacy was. The only di: is that such a request ir is denied on basic grounc spect to the dead and to th suffered under the Nazi nySouth Carolina needs up. The SCCCC is but one groups that wish to preser ture and society of oppress ripped apart our count caused today's struggles t blacks and whites. As the future leaders c Carolina, we need to star these symbols of oppr dressed up as "heritage" ai that our freedom of speei dominant as theirs. ferns wi Aseasoi apathetic ol JmSHHIH fans, but ft t-shortened Jordan dec eason. retire wh< league need most. The mosi esting playe to take a NBA right by players Percy Mille hes to win as rapper I efans. one 1 ?*? mostsuccesi tertainers country. It remains to b whether Miller's inclusion Charlotte Hornets roster i: fort to fill the seats or actu; fleets his abilities. Considering the nature labor problems, it wouldn't prising if people stay awa NBA basketball. The pi a owners and league are gc have to work hard to win b; goodwill of the fans. It's quite an effort for a of multimillionaires to pro\ actually care about the gar not just the balances in thei accounts. mecodi Egg mn nily since 1 90M of South Carolina anil is published Monday. \X'ei [he summer with the exception of university holida itors or author and not those of The I niversity of So blisher of 11 ie Gamecock. Hie Department of Stud All area e<xles r Asst. VicujxriMs on lulilors hditor lg Asst. Sciiy lulihtrs Viewpoints ds AvV Sfurts lulilors fit t rim ice News As# /'cuttin's lulilors fit la tew i ha in Etc. Assl. I'hoto lulilors fitkelt? ianl Sports ley S/nxial l*roji\h f>tksj>on Coordinator C )n I ine Advertising lines Classified classified Mtinuf>er In Hiisiness Manager Fax i'at ully Adt'isor 1 (iraduaU' Assist a nl ()''11 c S ViewThe Y 1 r i ll? my de- ,m I V hat the ji 11J|||| g was I1 IE a school | vj? n, and || 111" IC? that " * ? nd Uber 5b Govemri oul, and t would T n his State of the State address la I week, Gov. Jim Hodges said, "Mai lpanson JLparents think that education r zis were snnnsihilii i d h' ^T^he United States has enjoyed unique relationship with Iraq ove JL the course of the decade. It seem t inter- as the year r in the Ifek. roll on, th now'is tension be r, who, jflr tween th in'tte the J?iUl ally re KEVIN LANGSTON ?h^tl Iraqi sol ; of the diers eigh be sur- years ago? What fools we were to ac y from tually think we solved the problem thi y e r s time. )ine to rej?^ce(^ when our troop i .1 returned home, seemingly victorious The yellow ribbons came down from ou car antennas, and once again Ameri group ca proved to the rest of the work re they that it was the .dominant military force ne and So why were we shocked when Sad rbank dam Hussein refused to let U.N. in spectors look at his nuclear weapon: Incsdav and K? Palms pleased cnt Media is - -g with service arc Kd.-t To the Editor: m-?m Although the university has cele ir/Osc.iiiti brated Martin Luther Kine Jr. Dav fni s@sc.cfiu 17 years, two weeks ago today, we toot 777-7726 another step and suspended classes in Dr. King's honor. The students turned s vt/ii the day into a complete success and 777-7IK2 made their university proud. Throughout the year, the USC community ^ provides countless hours of service in the Midlands, individually and through organizations. But on Jan. 18, in mem-7-MK2 ory of Dr. King, you created a unified 777-.-wan Day 0f Service. More than 750 gradu 1 ' , rvf monu A LI I ^ A^l VI llltuij IIVU^ veacul- columnist didn't acti ion that 1 ally mea ry and the government has no role in educi )etween tion. Hodges' proposal of education i a No. 1 budget and policy priorit g, , demonstrates his belief in governmer 1 0U responsibility. Similarly, Clinton pr< up to posed federal involvement and spent e s s l o n mg increases for education in his Stat id show of the Union address. For those who n ch is as alize the importance of education, sue proposals might initially seem a joy an relief, but rather they should be war nof government involvement. Funding education with tax dollar in many ways makes sense. Educatio seems to function as a public good, pre . viding numerous benefits to those wh ^ live in an educated society. is Wrong int ided to poin Gamecock /V A /A aent stun sf. The problem with U.S. sch< Xy doesn't lie in a lack of funding. A e_ adjustment for inflation, spending ty pupil is five times what it was 50 y< v_ ago. Over the past 30 years, w. s test scores have been sliding down, e pupil spending has been on the upsw ie with a more than double increase r $2,500 per pupil to nearly $7,000. n The problem is, money poorly sp ie Districts try to put out the fire in ie ban schools by essentially pointii y hose and spraying money at them. R j. money is spent in the average ur j _ school than in other schools, but 3S National Assessment of Educatic Progress showed in a recent study 1 n most students in urban schools fa a_ master even basic reading, math iS science skills. y Americans aren't getting w lt they're paying for. More money is sp y per pupil in the average public scl j. than in the tuition of the average .g vate school. There are certainly a y riety of factors influencing the gree h success of the lesser-funded priv d schools. But one key to their succ y is their autonomy. Their funding st within the school, and decisions ab .s tne students needs are made Dy p n pie who actually work with the s j_ dents. 0 We might all be better off if Hod truly believed responsibility for edc tion doesn't belong to the gove tendons ke a sites? Why should he have let them 1 T at the sites? America had just bom s the hell out of him, and then he \ s supposed to cooperate completely? e one likes to lose, and Hussein must h been quite upset when Iraq failec e put up a decent fight in Desert Sto: Hussein had gotten what he wa ed. The people of Iraq hated the Ui 0 ed States more than ever, and the t loyally rally behind their fearless lea e as he openly rejected America and h U.N. Hussein was more powerful tl 1 ever in the eyes of his people. He 1 s them hating a country they knew nc h ine about. Does this sound famili In keeping with our overconfid t nature, we kept that "how dare you" titude as Clinton literally dared H e sein to deny his authority again. H sein called his bluff, and Clinton reac s by doing the least logical thing, bor ing Iraq ... again. Gung-ho Americ; r saluted this move, while pacifists cr out against such a ridiculous attack. 1 course, more attacks were to folk :. Why is America even interestec Iraq? What threat do they pose to world? Sure, they have nuclear weapc s but several other nations have th< SuTmiissiur ^ W length. [ I I l' 777-7726 L ~ A ^ The student. Hani ate ana unaergraauate stuaents, t ulty, and staff of various races a creeds walked together to MLK Pe and then traveled into the commun to complete various projects. You rectly helped those in need, whetf through renovation work or by talki to homeless and elderly citizens w . were inspired by your optimism a [ idealism. For your committed and ; tive sense of social responsibility a: for offering a great tribute to the leg cy of Dr. King, on behalf of your ui versity, I simply wanted to offer y our commendations and say thank yc John M. Pair University Preside < QL a ?n its i w THIS COUNTRY DESPERATELY ui NEEDS RftHT C NOW... ft III fwi II ^ ; ts educatio iter "We might all be bei e^s believed responsibil pgj.0 doesn't belong to th Tng, rom ment. Governmental control creates ient. problems with layers of expensive buur. reaucracy that spend money poorly and ig a get between the money and the stulore dents it should benefit. Government ban spending "per pupil" is misleading bethe cause the money has to filter through I guest columnists can only lie printed twice a semester. Please d :'k will try to print all letters. Letters should he 2s(MU" words and must indud Jwritten letters must lx- personally delivered by the author to the Russell llous necock reserves the right to edit all letter lor style, libel or space. Names will r *cd Mural a positive city landmark diier To the Editor; ng This letter is in response to the j^0 editorial "Removal of mural points to ncj the future" on Jan. 22.1 am definitely ac_ for getting over the past and working toward the future. ra. There are some things, however, that you are just not going to forget. ou George Rogers was a hero to most of us. )u HeisahugepartofhistoryatUSC.lt seems that USC doesn't care, though. ns It seems to me money is more impornf. tant than having a state hero. 4 >nal federal and state departments of eduthat cation and school district offices before il to it ever makes it to the school, and When funding finally makes its way down to the public schools, it comes with hat instructions, stipulations and govern>ent ment mandates. The bureaucracy leads 100I to a public school system that favors inpri puts, procedures and rules over innova vation, results and excellence, iter Education's funds shouldn't be wastate ed on bureaucracy and government :ess mandates. Do bureaucrats know ays what children need better than parout ents? What our state needs is a dynamic >eo- school system full of choice. :tu- Hodges' State of the State proposals for smaller classes, laptops and the ges First Steps program sound great, but ica- they aren't guaranteed to produce betrn - ter schools or better-educated students. ep U.S. in M ted "We don't care abou 17Q C ? No Middle East, as long Z coming." rm. intuit cool toys, too. Americans don't worry sy'd themselves with those countries, der What makes Iraq so special? They the refuse to respect us, and we get mad. ian All it takes is for us to rub one of lad these nuclear powers the wrong way, >th- and they could attack us. Why should ar? they care about our retaliation? The ent damage would be done. The world would at- be engulfed in a nuclear war to put all us- minds to shame, us- There's bad blood between Iraq and ted America, and I see it as being our fault, nb- Why do we waste our time worrying ans about Iraq's nuclear weapons sites? ied Why worry about Iraq at all? Money is Of the only logical answer. We were all aw. captivated when we saw the oil fires 1 in clog the sky during Desert Storm. We the knew we were losing thousands of >ns, dollars in oil. We don't care about the Dse state of the Middle East, as long as our is for columns art? welcome from nil mi?mh<*rs of thr Carolina C.oi IQTE, UNQUOTE 'It's virtually as though their ionization no longer exists on this campus." rena Staggs, director of Greek ife, in response to thepunishinnnt nf Ploltn ^iamn Thotn ednesday, January 27, 1999 J 3 / M. Td.O, ^ Z A me OPMC E.U6.P? ( i_ n growth tter if Hodges truly lily for education le government" They are grandiose, generic, governmental generalizations that don't come from educational innovators attuned to > the specific needs of certain school districts, classes or students. Even if his proposals were successful, as centrally nlonno^ monrlofoe mnnM ovnln^n I^IUIUXV/U U1CU1UUI/VO W1V/J VTV/U1U (/AViUU^ innovations that might be more successful. Clinton was closer to the mark with his State of the Union proposal of an Education Accountability Act. The act finally demands that states and school districts become accountable for progress. The government would change the way it invests money in education, supporting what works and revoking funds for what doesn't. Advice to Clinton and Hodges: Keep your demands and structures simple. A demand for schools to show progress is a good idea, but qualifying it with government stipulations is not. Let those , close to the students decide what's best for them. And cut down the education bureaucracy to spend your money well by concentrating it in the classroom. iddle East t the state of the as our oil keeps oil keeps coming. That 15 cents we save on a gallon of gasoline sure is worth all the mayhem we stir up with Iraq. This aspect, added to our mentality to be the global protector, can come back to bite us in the butt one day. Since President Theodore Roosevelt introduced that attitude of global protection, Americans have felt it necessary to snoop around in other countries' affairs. If those countries stonewall us, there is always hell to pay. We keep flexing our muscles to keep the smaller countries in check. It's typical American behavior. What do you expect from a country that professionalized wrestling? The entire situation reeks of cockiness. We should not be over there. Perhaps it would be better for the world to respect us for our ability to leave countries to their own devices. Everybody hates a bully. i ninuniiy. They must be between 650 and 750 words in diver all submissions to Russell Mouse room 333. or call e full name, phone number, professional title or year and major if a e room 333 E-mail lellers must include the author s telephone nunv lever lx withheld. To me, this is all very upsetting. To sit here and watch a wall that I have seen my whole life be torn down for dorms makes me feel sick. The article that I read had a little "our opinion" box. In it read, "Its destruction helps us look toward the future, not past glories." If it was not for those "past glories," USC would have never been the school it is today. See: i-U J I 1J _ ilsA mg umi wail eveiy uay siiuuiu give uic coaches and players of the football team incentive to work even harder to bring another Heisman to South Carolina. I Jessica Johnson Psychology Freshman > *