Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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_Vol. 93, No, 8 Weanesa August 25, 1999_ Serving ina Community since 1Q08 m www.gamecock.sc.edu UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH Carolina ' Columbia, s.c. USC improves undergraduate ranking U.S. News & World Report releases newest rankings by Brock Vergakis News Editor The newest rankings in U.S News & World Report’s college guide will hit the newsstands on Monday, placing USC in the second tier of schools. • USC had previously been listed in the third tier of schools in recent years by the magazine. The magazine does not numerically rank the best schools after the top 50, but USC is rated as being somewhere be tween 51 and 120. University President John Palms was pleased to hear the new rankings. “The rankings are yet another sign that our efforts to create one of the finest living and ieaming en vironments are paying off through academic excellence of our students, a dedicated, nationally recognized faculty and alumni loyalty,” Palms said. TerTy Davis, Director of Undergraduate Admissions, said that many high school students look at the rankings when deciding where to go to school and that they should have a positive impact. “Especially for those who have lots of.options, it will help and narrow it down for them,” Davis said. The quality of students entering USC has risen in recent years, one of the factors U.S News & World Report looks for when calculating their rankings. Over the past 10 years the average SAT score for the incoming freshman class has risen by 35 points. The average SAT score at USC is currently 1100, and the average core GPA is a 3.4 for incoming freshmen. “Our students are above average with grades and SATs if you compare them to the rest of the population of South Carolina,” Davis said. The rise in the quality of students at USC has been a work in progress. The current course requirements for admissions were put into place in 1988. In 2001, four additional academic elective courses will be required for admission. While USC is rising in the rankings, its reputation is still lagging far behind other states’ flagship universities. Other Southeastern universities like the universities of Maryland, Virginia, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Georgia and Florida were all recognized as being part of the top 50 public universities, while USC did not make the list. Vice President of Student and Alumni Services Dennis Pruitt said that the rankings are something universities hate and love at the same time, depending on how they fare in them. “It’s always nice to be validated by a publication like that,” Pruitt said. According to Pruitt, U.S News & World Report changes the methodology used to calculate the rankings every year. This year, large schools with big engineering and sci ence programs seemed to fare better than in the past, he said. Harvard lost the No. 1 ranking to the California Insti tute of Technology this year. Clemson, a predominantly agricultural and technical school, was named as the 38th - best public university in the country. One of President Palms goals is to have USC become a member of the American Association of Universities, which comprises the top 63 universities in the United States and Canada. USC Vice President of Public Relations Jason Snyder said that climbing in magazines’ rankings is not a set goal of the university, but a'' the school works towards its goals of AAU membership it is something that will happen. “Comparing the two [rankings and AAU] is like com paring apples and oranges,” Snyder said. The AAU has different criteria it looks for which ex U.$. News SEE PAGE 2 ■* Source: U.S. News and World Report Brad Walters Gamecock Graphics •Opinions differ on drop/add time frame by Patrick Rathbun Staff Writer Today is the last day students can drop or add a course from their schedules with out receiving a “withdrawn” on their tran script. As with previous years, some students • say they don't like the limited amount of time they're given to i._~e that decision, and they think an extension would be in or der. “I think you should have longer [to de cide],” said business marketing junior Jason Moms. “I've always felt I wanted more time.” Anthropology senior Laura McFarland agreed, saying students need more than just a few days to decide whether they want to drop or add a course. "A lot of times, when students come in, they're not sure of what classes they're go ing to take, and they need a few class peri ods to decide," McFarland said. i ou need more than two or three class periods to decide if you want to drop a class without a ‘W’ [showing up on the tran #> script]." Others aigue that the current drop/add date is fair and that it shouldn't be changed. “The other side [of the argument] is, if a student waits too long before waiting to decide to take another class, that he or she will be so far behind that it’d be difficult to catch up,” said Ernest Wiggins, a journalism professor. Last spring, Student Government Vice President Chris Dorsel proposed the post ponement of the drop/add date to Univer sity Provost Jerome Odom. The proposal was then sent to the Coun cil of Associate and Assistant Deans, which decided to retain the drop/add period. Odom and Assistant Provost Don Grein er then agreed with the council. The administration cited several reasons •for their rejection of the proposal. "Students register for classes that they intend to drop in order to have time to 'shop' for a schedule they deem to be comfortable," Greiner wrote in a letter to Dorsel, citing the reasons for rejecting the drop/add date change proposal. Greiner went on to write that "anoth er factor complicating the drop/add period [change] is the student practice of register ing for 'any 12 hours’ so that financial aid and scholarship awards are activated in full DROP see page 2 I Crafts fair offers a variety of dorm decorations —----1 Sean Rayford photo editor Sophomore Jen Tamalone, left, and junior Beth Bridges stop and look at a crafts table outside of the Russell House on Tuesday. NAACP Boycott Boycott supported by USC chapter by Clayton Kale Associate News Editor As the leaders of the South Carolina chapter of the Na tional Association for the Advancement of Colored Peo ple work with legislators on the removal of the Confeder ate battle flag from the Statehouse dome, the USC chapter of the NAACP says it doesn't know yet whether it will plan on participating in the NAACP's proposed boycott of the state tourism industry. Douglas Wilson, president of USC's NAACP chapter, said the chapter supports the S.C. NAACP's decision to boycott the state. He didn't know whether they will make any plans for participation in the boycott. “The NAACP is always working to protect everyone's civil rights, not only when there is something like Rodney King [in the news],” Wilson said. The boycott, which the state NAACP proposed dur ing the national NAACP convention, will be voted on by the national board at its next meeting in October. "The Confederate flag will be a hot issue, depending on how things go in the coming months," said Thomas Rivers, adviser of the Association of African-American Stu dents. The boycott, set to begin Jan. 1, calls for people to can cel conventions and avoid tourist activities in cities like Myrtle Beach and Charleston. South Carolina's tourism industry makes $14.5 billion annually. Wilson, an exercise science junior, said the oiganiza BOYCOTT see page 2 Off-Campus Issue University technology fee frustrates many off-campus students Universal $50 fee paid to USC regardless of address by Mackenzie Craven Senior Writer Some off-campus students say they’re frustrated that they have to pay the same technology fee as stu dents who live on campus when they don't rely on the university's computer and network systems. Every USC student pays up to $50 toward his tu ition for the technology fee, regardless of where he lives. The board of trustees decided about about four years ago to charge the fee. Theater sophomore Mardi Sykes, a University Com mons resident, said she doesn’t like having to pay the technology fee. “I don't think it's fair that I have to pay for on-cam pus students to use the computers when I'm not using them at all,” Sykes said. George Terry of the Division of Libraries and In formation Sciences said he understands why students are upset, because off-campus students don't get the full advantage of the computer technology fee as do those who live on campus. “I am very sensitive to students off campus,” Ter ry said. “I understand that the students who are on cam pus have free Internet access, and off-campus students don’t have that advantage.” Some students said that they will never use com puters on campus and that they simply disagree with paying the technology fee. “I have my own computer in my apartment, and I don't see why I have to pay when I don’t use the tech nology of the university,” Sykes said. Others are satisfied with the current technology fee. “I kind of think it's fair because when I am on cam pus, I still want to be able to use it if I need to do some thing while I'm down here,” said psychology junior Henley Ellis, who lives off campus. Computer Services gets about $2.5 million in tech nology fees, which is divided among three categories: • Network maintenance, Ethernet access, technol ogy support, online registration and libraries, $500,000 • Hardware for computers in the 12 colleges, $1 million • Funding of upgrades and the wiring system used for the Ethernet connections, $1 million The hinds cover the cost of upgrading the VIP Web site, which all students can use to register for classes, keep up with their college records, check their grades and print copies of their class schedules. “Technology is very expensive, and we have to constantly upgrade in order to stay abreast with the in dustry,” said Joe Taylor, the director of Financial Services. One way Computer Services plans to do this is by adding new choices to the VIP Web site. Most recently, a credit-card payment option was added. “We are the only school that 1 know of in the state that is taking credit cards, applying financial aid and debiting your checking accounts at the same time,’Tay lor said. “Our students get their financial aid 10 days ahead of time directly into their bank accounts. Every body is happy.” Weather Inside Datebook Online Poll Today 88 73 HURSDAY 93 75 I Preview ! of men’s soccer f exhibition. - Page 10 Today •Poster Sale, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., RH Ballroom •Last Day to drop class without a “W” •Student Senate, 5 p.m., RH Theater •“Shakespeare in Love,” 9 p.m., RH Theater I Thursday •Poster sale, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., RH Ballroom _ NAACP, 6 p.m SALA, 7:30 p.m. •“Shakespeare in Love,” 9 p.m. RH Theater •Last day to register for one-pitch and co-rec softball and sand volleyball , How will the Gamecocks | do this season? Go to www.gamecock.sc.edu to vote in this weed’s poll.