The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, March 15, 1999, Page Page 5, Image 5
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Monday, March 15, 1999
si
)
3amccodi
na Community since 1908
IAL BOARD
im, Editor in Chief
Viewpoints Editor
distant Viewpoints Editor
istant Viewpoints Editor
ecial Projects Coordinator
icourages
list racism
l ular, and so fa
15,000 people ns
Government is tionwide hav
toting the signed the pledg
'Mm Pledge. through ONB'spn
? motion of it.
Student Go\
j rC , ernment has star
ed to promote th
i community pledge on campu
on to strive to and more than 5C
1 racism. members of th
urn
Serving the Carolli
EDITOF
Sara Ladenhe
Rob Gioielli,
Kevin Langston, A:
Emily Streyer, Ass
Jennifer Stanley, Sp
Pledge er
fight agai
Mention Birtn- _________
ingham, Ala., to HHHU
many people, and Student <
they conjure up im- prow
ages of fire hoses
and police dogs, _
part of "Bull" Connor'8
brutal suppression
of civil *
rights marches Caroline
during summer inspirati
1963. em
But the city
whose name became
synonymous with Souther]
whites' resistance to the civil right
movement has made remarkabl
progress in the past 35 years, i
town once described as the mos
fiercely segregated in the countr
has become one ot its most racial
ly progressive.
Kelly Ingram Park, where mos
of the demonstrations wer
held, has been dedicated as a plao
of "revolution and reconciliation.
A series of sculptures shocking!
yet honestly portrays the con
trasting horror and dignity of tb
demonstrations. On the south sid
of the park is the Birminghar
Civil Rights Institute, erected ii
1992 to educate people abou
the movement.
These are just physical mani
festations of the overall attitud
of Birmingham residents. Peopl
there realize problems exist be
tween black and white communi
ties. There is an understand^
that, even though we've come ver
far in the past half century, racisr
and prejudice are still very mud
alive in Alabama and the rest o
tne woria.
This attitude toward racial un
derstanding haS existed for som
time in Birmingham, but it ha
gained steam in the past year o
so with the Birmingham Pledge
The pledge was introduced i
little more than a year ago at i
breakfast sponsored by a grou]
called Operation New Birming
ham It has become extremely pop
The Birmii
I believe that every persor
I believe every person is e)
regardless of race or color.
I believe every thought and
harmful; if it is my though
me as well as others.
Therefore from this day fo
eliminate racial prejudice \
I will discourage racial pr
actions.
1 will treat an people with
will strive daily to honor t
world will be a better plao
m Be 6
^5" Serving lite Carolina
The Gamecock is the student new spaper of The Inn
Friday during the fall and spring semesters and five times du
periods. Opinions expressed in The Gamecock are those of ill
The Board of Student Publications and Communications is tf
the newspaper's parent organization.
The Gamecock
Sara Ladenheim Editor in Chief Emily Sti
Rob Gioielii Viewpoints Editor Kevin La
Kcnley Young News Editor Rachel F
Brad Walters A'eus Editor Clayton 1
Brock Vergakls S/xirts Editor Michael '
Charlie Wallace S/rorts Editor iare(j Ke
Erin Reed Eealnres Editor .
Rob Llndsey Eealnres Editor ^ va
Sean Rayford I'hoio Editor "e
Matt Ryan Online Editor Ashton J
Kristin Freestate Copy Ik-sir Chief Ann Mar
Todd Money Ctyn Editor Jennifer
Rebecca Cronlcan O-fry Editor
Student Media
Ellen Parsons Director of Jason Cut
Student Media Kalhy Vai
Lee Phipps Advertising Monaster Sherry Hi
Susan King Creative Din-dor Carolyn (
Susan Barrett (.n-atiie Sen-ices Erik Colli
Daniel Brown Cn-alive Sen-ices Jeff Stens
1,
????1 Carolina commi
nity have signed i
n We hope even more will in th
s coming weeks,
e By signing the pledge, a pe
\ son makes a simple, yet powerfi
t statement: They admit racism sti
y exists and will work to eliminal
i- it whenever it surfaces.
Some will be quick to crit
it cize the pledge, and it does ha\
e some drawbacks. It's not all-ei
e compassing ? people encounto
" discrimination for myriad reasor
y other than race. And simply sigi
- ing a little slogan is not going 1
e end racism.
e But all the Birmingham Pledj;
n is intended to be is a start, an
i it accomplishes that goal perfec
t ly. The path to racial reconcile
tion starts with admitting thei
i- is a problem. Only when we a
e agree that there is still discrim
e nation and prejudice can we s
i- down and have an open discui
i- sion about solving those problem
g We urge everyone to read th
y pledge, consider it carefully, an
n think about it over the next fe'
i days. Even if you don't make yoi
if commitment formal by signing i
incorporate the pledge into yoi
i- daily life.
e Taking this kind of attitude U
s ward improving race relations i
r especially good for South Carol
!. na. Our state has a history of prol
a lems as long as Alabama's, jus
a not as well-known. We hope w
o can make the kind of progress pe<
- pie ir Birmingham have.
tigham
Pledge
i has worth as an individual,
^titled to dignity and respectjj
\ every act of racial prejudice is
it or act, then it is harmful to
' Hi ' | '
rward I will strive daily to
from my thoughts and actions,
ejudice from my thoughts ano
dignity and respect, and 1
2.
nits pieugt, KWJivuig w
e because of my efforts.
amccork EBB
ersity of South Carolina and is published Monday' Wednesday ai
ring ihe summer with the exception of university holidays and exa
e editors or author and nut those of The University of South Girolir
ic pulslislier of The Gamecock. The Department of Student Media
MkiAAkjMiUatMf
All area codes are 803
reyer Asst.\ uvjxjiuts
ngston liditors Editor 777-3913
lelwig Asst. Mvs l/lilon gckedOsc.ed
Kale Viewpoints 777-7726
Strickland Assi. S/xirts Fxliltim Kcki'ieUitOsc.edii
lowltz News 777-7726
n$ Asst. Ivuluns Editors ncltiwus@sc.edu
i Graham Etc. 777-3913
une Ass/. Pbuto l/lilurs nchelc@sc.edu
ie Mian) Sports 777-7182
Stanley S/xcitd Itujecls neks/*,rts@sc.edu
(minlmah ^ inline / 77-2833
rry Creatitv Sendees Advertising 777-3888
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tilmes Classified Muttaaer Classified 777-1183
Griffin llttsittess Manager
ns faculty Advisor '"ax 7-6382
land (Iraduate Assistant orfuv rn-MWH
View
w w w
The (
ic_
I Dating ti
X, y^V nee more and more St. Patrick
I I Day-themed TV shows start rui
ie ning, I realize spring is here. Th
season i
J- GUERMAN ABAEV crucfol for
to columnist successfi
ZlJ relationshi
je or just
d friendship, is never easy. Although I'i
not a big expert on it, I feel I shoul
a_ share with you some wisdom on the to]
?e ic I was lucky to learn about from som
jj different gender-related-issues sp(
cialists.
First, a guy should find out if
^ woman is OK about men in general b<
s" fore going ahead and asking her ou
S. This simple procedure can be a real lift
is saver. Why? Because you can alwaj
[d come across a woman like Cynthi
w Heimel, who in her article "Brothei
ir hood Could Be Powerful" in The Villag
Voice, allows no more than two cat*
^ gories for males: "macho pigs" an
"guilty men." "Macho pigs," Heime
writes, "don't care" that women hav
D~ been oppressed for centuries "and ne\
is
at
e
3Parking
the leasi
of our problems
To the Editor:
I am writing in response to the ir
credible number of headlines in th
Gamecock recently about what one Sti
dent Government member calls the "cr
sis situation" of on-campus parking
| "Crisis situation"? Has the USC sti
dent body become so self-absorbed an
bored with life that it chooses to elevat
a minor inconvenience into a "ciisis sii
uation"? Since when did walking an ei
tra 15 or so minutes to get to class b<
come worthy of such furor and politic!
activity:
I can think of a number of other ver
pressing issues that deserve greater a
tention. If you want to talk about a r<
al "crisis," look no further than the 1
brary. For a university that aspires 1
the status of a top-notch research ir
stitution, Thomas Cooper sure is a soi
ry example of USC's efforts toward thz
goal: rude circulation staff (save for tw
? or three friendly and professional souls
!the absence of a full-time governmer
documents librarian, claustrophobi
study carrels, antiquated computer syi
^ terns, and, most annoying and fru:
trating of all, the general messiness <
is the bookshelves and the large nun
ber of "missing^' books. Having been
I circulation assistant for both a publ
library and a university library for year
lemme tell ya that there is absolute]
no excuse for the library's sad stati
The Interlibrary Loan Department:
probably the best thing there is in thi
building.
So please, Student Government, r?
solve the parking "crisis" soon and the
get back to the real business of ensu
ing a fine education for the student
you represent. While it's certainly
problem (I park nearly every day at tl:
Coliseum, although my office and clas;
?s are in Gambrell), I didn't trav<
_ #
pointf
Samecock
^((srr:?llfSrl
1 I Ljjfl
Rwpi . . '' Tjl^\|^49A|
raps ambus
's er will. Your average woman knows
i- to just ignore the macho guys unless 1
is they get in her face and she has to kill <
s [!] them." So, if you want to live, and SlJ
le you do care about women's history of
i- oppression, maybe the other category
)f will suit you better. Let's see.
ie "Guilty men," says Heimel, are those
n "who know and hate that women trac
m have been oppressed for centuries." hav<
J - However, guilty men may be even worse just
ie than "macho pigs" since they are "no non
n fun at all, because guilt causes low self- nica
esteem and general wimpiness. Guilt har
makes men clutcft tneir neaas ana mut- won
a ter, then fall asleep with their clothes sug?
il on." Yes, this could be a very disap- drui
P pointing sight to a woman, especially cate
a if she wanted to see the man naked. 5
n Secondly, check out your outfit be- "tau
d fore you actually go out on a date. Odds tria:
y are that some of your clothing acces- wav
te sories can get you in trouble. Accord- can
ing to Susan Strauss and Pamela Es- deli\
peland, authors of "Sexual Harassment Anol
a and Teens: A Program for Positive is th
3" Change," "wearing an obscene hat" is pupi
^ one of the ominous examples of "sexu- es. I
ally harassing behavior" that have been ter e
rs reported in U.S. high schools. Hmmm! minj
a I'm really starting to doubt whether I brinj
r" should wear my favorite baseball cap, whi<
'e with "COCKS" on it, for my next date, ry, y
Often, communication is a huge er, \*
d problem in relationships. Henry Beard da!r
and Christopher Cerf, authors of the I
e "Sexually Correct" dictionary and poin
dating guide, offer an off-the-beaten- little
I Letters to the editor or guest columns are welcoi
I columns should be an opinion piece of about
major, if a student. Handwritten submissions mi
telephone number for confirmation. The Gamec
Photos are required for guest columnist and can
* halfway across the country to enroll at ease
this university and then argue about sane
where to park my car. The banner cur- J
rently gracing the facade of Thomas cies
Cooper is emblazoned with the words, gani
i- "Heart of a Great University." Let's devs
g make sure that heart doesn't die of ne- hun
i. gleet. UNI
i_ ' inhil
t. Marjorie R. Asturias chei
[. Gov't & Internafl Studies tran
d Graduate student ter
t. Letter calls to
<; end 'silent war' fy?
d emb
Editor's note: This letter consists of i
y text from a petition that has been cir- spor
t- culating on the Internet. aboi
drer
i- To the Editor: in H
jo For more than a century, student spor
i- movements have had an important place it."
r. among the agents of social change. Stu- l
it dents have a histoiy of fighting for peace is a
r0 and justice. In the 1960s, students i
,); spurred debates in Congress about the Edv
it war in Vietnam and led the protests for rece
lc peace. acti<
5. Students also struggled against dis- actii
3. crimination and racism ? both in the pasi
3f civil rights movement in the U.S. and sive
i_ in the fight to end apartheid in South thes
a Africa. Now, in the 1990s, there is ty."
ic another war we must end, another
S; struggle for peace and justice in which of tl
[y we, as students, must make our voice.
es heard. agai
is For more than eight years, our gov- illeg
it ernment has been waging a silent prir
war against the people of Iraq. This righ
b- month, the U.S.-led sanctions will kill the
,n 4,500 infants and toddlers, according ong<
r_ to UNICEF reports. Today, this policy pie 1
s will kill 250 people in Iraq, as it did yes- 1
a terday... and as it will tomorrow. Since gan'
te 1991, more than one million people have a re
s. died due to the scarcity of food and med- the:
b 1 icine and the spread of water-borne dis
<*!
"(
C(
r\ *
;$?? L^"
I I>OES W J
gROR"r? ii 2
E iNP L jA
p
hunwa
m really starting
Lould wear my fa
ith COCKS' on it
k approach. They say psychiatris
2 noticed that hand drums could 1
the thing to "open up" patients wl
nally would have trouble commi
iting. Thus, men, who also find
d to share their emotions wit
len, let alone make explicit verb
jestions, might want to bring a sim
n on their next date to commur
their desires nonverbally.
Similarly, women, who have hef
ght in the Western society by pj
rchy to be nice and not to mak
es," according to Beard and Cer
find it hard to be assertive an
ier unwelcome messages of rebui
ther tool of thoughtful psychiatrisl
Le answer to this. Women can us
set surrogates to deny a man's pas;
)on't be surprised if next time, a
iloquently and passionately drun
g your emotions to your date, sh
gs out a hand-held Kermit the Fro]
:h smilingly tells you, "We're so
rou've not been approved. Howe1
re appreciate your interest in Amai
[hank you and good night!"
t's not that unusual that, at son
t, a romantic date might become
; more than just holding hands.
me from all members of the Carolina c
6Q0-700 words. Both must include na
jst be personally delivered to Kussell
ock reserves the right to edit for libe
be provided by the submitter.Call 777-7
is -- all direct consequences of tl
itions.
since 1991, United Nations agei
and independent human-rights o
zations have been reporting on tl
istating impact of the sanctions c
lan lite in Iraq, rour years ag'
CEF reported that "Sanctions ai
liting the importation of spare part
meals, reagents, and the means i
spoliation required to provide w;
and sanitation services to th
ian population of Iraq. What hi
me increasingly clear is that no si;
:ant movement towards food sea
can be achieved so long as th
argo remains in place."
\nd what is our government's r
lse? When asked on "60 Minute
it the death of half a million chi
i in Iraq - more children than die
[iroshima, Madeleine Albright r
ided, "We think the price is woxi
We say NO! The death of one chi
death too many.
\s Noam Chomsky, Howard Zin
yard Herman and Edward Sa:
ntly stated in their national call f
mi, "The time has come for a call
mi to people of conscience. We ai
t the point where silence is pa
consent ? when a crime reachi
ie proportions, silence is complit
We refuse to be silent in the fa<
lis war.
We denounce the trade sanctioi
inst the people of Iraq as immon
itimate and contrary to fundament
iciples of humanity and hum*
ts. We demand that Congress ai
president immediately end tl
ling sanctions war against the pe
if Iraq.
Ne support the University of Mich
s Student Assembly, which passt
solution in January condemnir
sanctions against the people of Ira
m
UOTE, UNQUOTE
Dur silence would be an act of
)nsent. ... [Slince this execution
ras such a landmark execution,
;ve needed to say something."
Matt Painter,
political science sophomore
Page 5
I
rKrfNS \
O FiND
PLACE" TD
lAQL/ !^? I
ry men
to doubt whether I
vorite baseball cap,
, for my next date."
ts happens. A poster at the USC Sexual
se Assault Services enter delivers a clear10
cut message on the issue. It says both
u" that sex is love and sex is not love. Love
1<: or not, it must be safe these days. So
^ psychotherapist Sharyn W olf suggests
^ a useful risk-reducing technique for
. women in her book, "Guerrilla Dating
Tactics," which is employed by one of
1J0 her patients,- Elsa. "Elsa keeps a computer
printout of her sexual partners
e in her wallet," Wolf informs us. "When
f; she's with a guy she likes, she hands
d him the list and asks for his." I beT.
lieve a true gentleman should honor
ts such a request by giving away his lit;e
tie black book.
s" I guess viewing the process of dating
as a guerrilla war is exactly right.
Most singes, at some point in their lives,
16 become soldiers of fortune, making t heir
way through the wild jungles of dating,
armed with just hand-held communi1.
cation drums and puppets, awaiting to
engage in the death match with the big,
ie scary, ruthless animal called Amore
a Verities.
It
ommunirv Tprtf'rs ^hniilrl h<j 2^0-^00 wnrrls cTiTT^r
me, phone number, professional title or year and
House room 333- E-mail submissions must include
1, style and spacy. Names will never be withheld.
'726 for more information.
ie We call upon all students dedicated
to peace to join the growing movei
ment to end the war against Iraq. Get
r- more information on how you can help
ie end the war by sending an e-mail to
in studentinfo@leb.net. Check the Web
o, site at http://leb.net/iac/students.html.
re It was the collective voice of the stus,
dents that woke our nation to the horof'
ror of the Vietnam War. We must once
a- again issue the wake-up call to the conte
science of our nation,
is
g- Submitted by
a- Brian Carnes
ie Mathematics Graduate Student
e- Groups' funding
I questioned
id
e- i o tne Editor:
Lh I truly admire the student senate
Finance Committee's noble goal of proId
moting diversity on campus by allocating
funds to organizations who enn,
courage it. However, I have to question
id the logic of saying groups such as the
br Students Associated for Latin Amerito
ca and the National Association for the
re Advancement of Colored People pros'
mote diversity.
es Yes, I am aware that "legally" these
:i- groups are open to all students. But is
this really the case? After all, how many
ce Caucasians and African Americans belong
to the Students Associated for Latin
is America? Also, how many Latin Ameril,
icans or Asians were at the last NAACP
al meeting? In fact, the very names of these
in organizations effectively limit their
id membership to people of certain groups,
le Perhaps what Clardy meant to say
o- was that the Finance Committee promotes
minority interests.
ti>d
Heath Hoppes
lg Accounting/Finance Freshman
qr