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na Community since 1Q08 Five Points Safety Safe Ride might begin trial runs soon by Brandon Larrabee Staff Writer A new trial Safe Ride proposal has been sent to uni versity officials and could be in place sometime this se mester, according to student senators. The plan proposes using a single Shuttlecock to bring students back from the Five Points area every Friday and Saturday night. The Shuttlecock would be obtained when the university switches to a new set of shuttle cocks sometime in the near future. The bus would run from 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. Friday nights and 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. Saturdays. Each trip would begin at the Five Points fountain, then go to Bates, the Towers, the Russell House, and Capstone. Students wanting to ride the Shuttlecock would have to show their USC student ID card and would allowed to take one guest with them. Student Senators Rebecca Ann Payne and Melissa Fletcher, who co-chair the Student Services Commit tee, said they believe the month long trial will be ap proved and will begin this semester. “Wfe are waiting on various forms of approval,” Payne said. “ We are very hopeful for it.” However, Fletcher said: “The buses aren't go to be available for a few weeks.” Under the plan, motor pool drivers, who currently drive the buses during the day, would operate the Safe Ride bus, Fletcher said. The trip would lake about 35 to 40 minutes, Payne said. After one month, the program would be assessed and could then become final. Payne said this year's proposal differed from last year's proposal, which was never approved. That plan would have allowed students to use vouchers to pay for taxi rides. "This is completely different," she said. "It's a bus system." However, Fletcher said she didn't know where funds for the program would come from should the program become permanent. "I'm not sure exactly where the money is coming from," she said. "It’s going to be fund ed on a trial basis only." She said it’s hoped the program would cost no more than $200 each night the buses run. But Fletcher and Payne did say Student Government would fund Safe Ride should it become a permanent program. “We will have to allocate money for it,” Fletcher said. Payne agreed. “If things work out, then we will find funds for the rest of the year,” she said. Both sounded confident the service would be ap proved by Derek Huggins, who oversees the Shuttle cock system. They said they have the supporUof Den nis Pruitt, vice president for student affairs. “[Pruitt] did say it looked good,” Payne said. “This isn't definite, but it's moving in a very positive direc tion at this moment.” “[Huggins] seemed interested, but we haven't met,” ^ afe Ride see page 2 | 9rUiiw9t I Brad Waiters oraphics editor * Banks charge hidden ATM fees by Patrick Rathbun Senior Writer Some area banks popular with stu dents might have hidden charges or stip ulations within their account agreements. Bank of America, Carolina First, Carolina Collegiate Credit Union, First Union and Wachovia all have fees that might not be immediately obvious to patrons. Some of the banks require minimum initial deposits. Bank of America re quires $25; Carolina First, $100; and First Union, $50. Carolina Collegiate Credit Union and Wachovia have no minimum deposit. Bank of America has a minimum account balance of $500 and charges customers $5 per month if it’s not main tained. Carolina First’s minimum balance is $250, but there’s no monthly main tenance fee. First Union, Carolina Col legiate Credit Union and Wachovia have no minimum balances. First Union and Bank of America have monthly service charges of $2(with out direct deposit) and $5. The other three banks have no such charges. Using other banks’ ATMs can cost customers at the above banks. Bank of America and Wachovia charge $1.50. First Union’s fee is $2.00. Carolina First and Carolina Collegiate Credit Union account holders pay the surcharge of the outside bank When asked to discuss the fees, the managers of the Gve banks’ local branch es would not go on the record to discuss the fees, saying it was against bank pol icy. Some banks charge for teller trans actions or any transaction at the bank’s actual location. If you make more than one teller transaction per month at Bank of Amer ica, the fee is $3. Carolina First and the Carolina Col legiate Credit Union have unlimited teller transactions. First Union charges $8 for every teller transaction over one per month. Wachovia offers two free teller transac tions per month and charges $5 for ex ceeding that limit. Biology freshman Shannon Lebby expressed displeasure toward the banks’ fees. "I think a lot of things they do are ridiculous," she said. "They take money away from you, and I don’t see a reason for that." Valerie Mitchell, a nursing fresh man, thought the banks were unjustified and unfair in charging students. "Bank of America is charging me $5 a month if my balance is under $500," she said. "It’s supposed to be a student ac count. Just because they’re the biggest bank in America doesn’t mean they have to lake advantage. They shouldn’t put that cost on students." Music education freshman Kimberly Smith also viewed the banks’ charges as unnecessary. Fees seepages Matthew Lukens The Gamecock Kristin Shaw makes an ATM transaction at the Bank of America station located by the Russell House. USC joins health alliance group by Brock Vergakis News Editor The USC School qf Medicine, Pal metto Richland Memorial Hospital and Palmetto Baptist Medical Center an nounced Tuesday that they’re combining their research facilities and campuses to create the South Carolina Cancer Center. Hospital and school officials hope to create one of the largest cancer programs in the Southeast. Palmetto Health Alliance Chief Ex ecutive Officer Kester Freeman Jr. said South Carolinians can’t waste any more time in their fight against cancer. “South Carolina has some of the na tion’s highest mortality rates for certain cancers. This is simply unacceptable,” Freeman said. According to the Palmetto Health Al liance, about 19,000 cancer cases are di agnosed annually in South Carolina. “A collaboration like the one we are announcing today has the potential to make a significant difference in increasing the quality of life and lowering mortality rates,” Freeman said. One of the goals of the center is to at tract renowned specialists to Columbia. “Cancer specialists want to come to cen ters that treat a lot of patients and treat them well,” Faulkner said. “The S.C. Cancer Center will be attractive to these folks.” The partnership’s combined number of patients will make Columbia eligible for clinical trial tests, which 'Will pro vide patients with new treatments and al low studies to be conducted aimed at im proving prevention. Director of Research for the center Dr. William Woods said the use of coop erative clinical trials has increased the na tional cure rate of childhood cancer from 25 to 75 percent. The cancer center already accounts for half of all pediatric cancer cases in the state. Dean of the USC School of Medicine Dr. Larry Faulkner said: “Having re searchers and caregivers work so closely and in the best interests of Columbia can cer patients is a relationship that many other medical facilities in (he nation would hope to emulate.” Undeigraduate students might have the opportunity to learn from some of the specialists. Each summer, Palmetto Richland Memorial Hospital offers students a 10 week internship program. While students might benefit from the prestige of working with the cancer cen ter, the primary benefit will be to the can cer patients of South Carolina. “There’s a saying that says nothing succeeds like success,” Wxxls said. “And, certainly, our childhood cancer treatments have made such a difference in the lives of children in the Midlands.” 1 Details tour visits USC. ,. - " I Matthew Lukens photo eoitor George Hoemlg performs bicycle tricks during the Details tour. Hurricane won't affect academic schedule by Patrick Rathbun Senior Writer USC and Coastal Carolina students son’t face of ficial make-up days for classes missed because of Hur ricane Floyd, according to the Office of the Registrar. USC Registrar Baibara Blaney said, “There is no plan to change the academic calendar in any way. When things like this happen, each professor has to work it out.” Chris Martin, Coastal Carolina University admin istrative assistant to the provost, released a similar state ment. “For classes that have been canceled or missed at Coastal Carolina University as a result of Hurricane Floyd, individual faculty members may arrange make up times with their classes on an as-needed basis,” Mar tin said. "The university will not institute specific make-up days,” he said. USC Associate Provost John Olsgaard explained the reason for not making up the hurricane days. He said there was very little that could be done to mandate make-up days. “A lot of students commute or work, and if we held classes on Saturday, there would be a significant num ber of students who wouldn't be able to [attend]. Al so, people made plans for fall break,” he said. Some USC students agree. Advertising sophomore Logan Stewart was happy about USC's decision and sympathetic toward students at coastal schools. Journalism sophomore Becca Whitehead expressed displeasure at the thought of having to make up days. “This isn't high-school,” she said. “It's more of a professional atmosphere, and pro fessors can make up for lost time.” Leslie Ianuario, a nursing sophomore, questioned make-up days. “Why should we have to make up school? It's not our fault the weather's bad,” she said. “I'm glad we don't have to take any days off Christ mas,” she said. “I feel bad for my friends at other schools who'll have to make up days,” she said. College of Charleston students could be among those. They might have to change their plans for fall and ClM1E« see page 5 ‘I'm glad we don’t have to take any days off Christmas.’ Leslie lanuario Nursing Sophomore Weather Inside Datebook Online Poll Today 85 66 Thursday 85 65 1 A look at St. Augustine, Florida Page 9 Today Student Senate meeting, 5 p.m. RH Theater. -,— Thursday ■| Gamecock HtCetera meeting, 5:30 p.m. RH . 333. How often do you participate in community service activities? Go to www.gamecock.sc.cclu to • vole in this week’s poll. 1 4 T