Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Over the summer, a lot has happened on campus. Here’s a brief look: City Council to vote on zoning changes east of campus A sweeping zoning change for a large area east of campus could pre vent property owners there from di viding large houses into apartments and renting the space to students. A proposal by the Columbia Plan ning Commission, which is expect ed to go to a City Council vote Sept. 8, would rezone the area so that only duplexes and single-fam ily homes could exist there. The plan would allow property owners to con tinue renting to students for at least 50 more years, however, meaning that no current students would be forced to leave. Prosecutors school comes to USC In July, the National College of District Attorneys moved its main offipe from the University of Hous ton, where it has been for 30 years, to USC. The privately funded col lege will combine its programs with those of the National Advocacy Cen ter. The move will create about 20 legal and administrative positions. USC gets $19 million for new projects USC will reap $19 million for con struction projects from a bond bill signed in June by Gov. Jim Hodges. The bill, which allows South Car olina to borrow more than $1 billion for school and college construction projects statewide, will give USC $3.5 million for a new school of pub lic health, $7.5 million for a new are na, $3 million for the Strom Thur mond Fitness and Wellness Center, and $5 million for a new law school. Cameras installed on all levels of Blossom St. Garage Cameras have been installed on all levels of the garage to curb crime there, and the USC police depart ment will monitor the cameras 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Ernie Ellis, USC’s director of law en forcement and safety, said cam eras eventually will be installed in all garages. Club Mercedes shuts its doors for good By Bra0 Walters Editor in Chief The owner of a nightclub near cam pus agreed in late June to shut down the club permanently after it was or dered temporarily closed in a court hear ing. According to Columbia Police Chief Charles Austin, the owner of Club Mer cedes wrote him a letter explaining that the club would close effective immedi ately. “The owner [Mitchell Reid] did apol ogize for any inconvenience he may have caused to businesses in the area,” Austin said. “He feels it is appropriate to close the club.” The club has seen dozens of crimi nal incidents, including the shooting death of a security officer, since its open ing in April 1998. Since then, USC President John Palms has written letters and signed affidavits complaining about the dan ger of the club and the noise sur rounding it. “The club menaces the university’s efforts to provide a safe living, learning and working environment, and I appeal to the city to take immediate action con cerning its continued operation,” Palms wrote. USC spokesman Jason Snyder said the university supports the club’s de cision to shut down. Despite the club owner’s willingness to cease operations permanently, Austin said the city will still follow the proper channels to get the club legally shut . down. “If it’s left to him [the owner] to make I the decision to close the club, he can al ways renege on that,” Austin said. I Science I S Complex g> "f Devine 6 * fasn Towers Blossom I IIWIU 1AIIIUI Club Mercedes (map and photo above) shut its doors permanently June 25. Violence outeide the club prompt ed USC President John Palms to write a letter to Columbia officials asking for action to be taken. Director of UNIV 101 retires; classes to rely more on technology By MacKenzie Craven Senior Writer The new directors of USC’s Uni versity 101 program have some changes in mind for the class after former di rector John Gardner retired in June. Co-directors Mary Stuart Hunter and Dan Berman are now in charge of the program. Berman has had the chance to clean up some areas that students had prob lems with last year. For example, some students had problems getting around the career center. He’d like the career center to make sure every student re ceives a torn- of the center instead of a PowerPoint presentation. He said he also has nlans to increase the technological aspects of the class. As part of the course requirement, he’d like students to create a Web page. The university already has added a second computer classroom in the Thomas Cooper Library as part of the Univer sity 101 curriculum. John Gardner left his position as director of USC’s University 101 pro gram, saying he’s decided to become more involved with the program on a national level. Looking back on his tenure, Gard ner believes the University 101 pro gram has taught students about the university and, through research, it has taught the university about the stu dents. “I think initially it has made us more clear on the focus of the first year stu UNIVERSITY continued on page 7A Businesses hope to cash in on Holtz By Adam Dawkins Staff Writer _ The excitement surrounding the debut of USC head football coach Lou Holtz has local restaurant and hotel owners thrilled about the splash Holtz is expected to make — and hoping that some of the splash spills into their profits. A sizeable increase in some local hotels’ business during home game weekends already is becoming evident Many people think this is, in large part, because ot the onset of “Lou mania.” “Our book ings are definite ly going faster this year,” said Bill Ellen, a part ner in the Clari on Town House. “A lot of Game cocks fans are matting tnetr reservations a lot earlier than they used to.” “Lou is certainly not going to hurt our business.” David Williattson Cellars Resaurant While some hotel spokespeople, like those from the Adam’s Mark and Governor’s House, said they’re “wide open” for the weekend of Sept 18, when USC plays its first home game against East Carolina, the Town House is one of a host of Columbia hotels already booked solid for the weekend. Restaurant owners also are excit ed about the projected rise in business, and they say they’ll be stocking up on the rush of Gamecock fans. Even restaurants outside of down town Columbia expect to see a rise in business this season. “We definite ly look for more reservations and for a busier season,” said David Williamson, executive chef at Cellars Restaurant on the northeast side of town. “Lou is certainly not going to hurt our business.” John Antun, an instruitor in the School of Hotel, Resta u-ant, and Tourism Administration, said he be lieves that Lou-mania” yjn affect many areas of Columbia business. “All this increased interest mght make tail-gaitmS parties more popular and in general raise the popularity of every thing related to football.” While hotel operators aid restau rateurs ate optimistic, som USC pro fessors doubt whether “L*u-mania” will have a pronounced imiact on Co lumbia’s hotel and restauant scene. “It seems that most fais can come to Columbia and go honk on game day,” said Charles Boswei, assistant chairman °f CSC’s Schol of Hotel, Restaurant and l'ounsnAdminis tration. “Tailgating cuts ito restau rant sales 4 Piece Bedroom Suit Suit includes: Headboard, Dresser, Night Stand and Mirror SI u 5 Piece Lamps t urmture Liquidations Quality Pre-Leased Rental Returns Midlands Shopping Center • 2638 Two Notch Rd. 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