Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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_Vol. 93, No. 20 Fl'iciciy September 24, 1999 ina Community since 1Q08 WWW.GAMEC0CIC.SC.EDU UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA Columbia, S.C. Housing University housing still short on RAs by Charles Prashaw Staff Writer More than a month into the acade mic year, resident advisors are still being hired in two of the university’s 20 resi dence halls. At the beginning of the year, eight RA positions were available, and spaces still remain in Douglas and Moore halls. The university usually tries to fill these positions during the summer so that RAs will receive the necessary training for their upcoming jobs. One of the reasons for the unusually large number of vacancies this semester is that additional funding allowed Hous ing to add 22 RAs. An extra RA was added in each floor of Moore, Patterson and Dou glas. Plans are to continue to keep the same number of RAs for next year. According to Residence Education Coordinator for Training and Assessment Susan Prior, no problems are expected to occur with the current shortage of RAs, since those floors only had one RA in the past. “[The addition of RAs] was not done for negative reasons; it was done for positive reasons. It was done to provide better service to the students,” Prior said. The positions were added to those particular halls because the buildings are designated as ffeshmen centers, and pre vious RAs in these buildings have had more work in helping first-year students with the transition from high school to college. Second floor Douglas RA Marsden Johnson said he thinks the extra RAs will be beneficial to the floor, as well as add to the diversity of the hall. “It simplifies the responsibilities on the floors and adds diversity. Instead of hav ing one viewpoint, you have two view points,” Johnson said “Academically and sports-wise, there are two different people from two dif ferent fields.” According to Douglas Residence Hall Director Eric Jewell, Douglas is notori ous for having considerable damage done to it in the past. In previous years, many judicial cas es came from Douglas where people would pull fire alarms, destroy rooms and tinker with fire equipment. Jewell said “They [the additional RAs] have been like extra police, and this year the number of incidents is way down than last year.” However, Tiran Thomas, a fifth floor RA in Douglas, said he thinks the extra RAs are needed for a different reason. “More RAs are needed because of the simple fact [that] RAs have to regulate and manage the halls, and one RA is not suf ficient for the amount of residents per hall,” he said. Business freshman Dave Wfelch recently had an RA added to his floor and feels that the addition is unnecessary. “There hasn’t been any trouble yet,” said Welch. “It’s not like they are-having a bunch of problems keeping us under con trol or anything. What is the point of hav ing two RAs for one hall? Besides, it is not like the halls are huge.” Another reason for the trouble with finding RAs is the fact that this is the first year the university has employed one ' person solely for the job of reviewing the hiring process for RAs. As a result, the process to become an RA got a little tougher according to Pri or. “This year, we have a 2.5 grade min imum ... and this year, I had the oppor tunity to be a little more stringent with making sure everybody had the grades we expected,” she said. “I think a lot of people did not end up getting hired who would have gotten hired previously.” ~1 Students are unhappy with the University Bookstore being closed on Sundays Travis Lynn The Gamecock Criminal Justice freshman Ryan Varga shops at the University Bookstore located in the Russell House. The bookstore isn’t open on Sundays. Bookstore managers say their isn’t enough student interest Bookstore hours upset students by John Huiett Assistant News Editor The Russell House Univeisity Book store’s limited weekend business hours have been frustrating for some students, especially those who live on campus. The store closes at 2 p.m. on Sat urday and is closed all day Sunday, while other bookstores, such as Addam’s and SC Bookstore, are open. This has led some to ask why the official book store of USC does not offer more ac commodating weekend hours for on campus residents, many of whom have hectic weekday schedules and limited means of transportation to other stores. Freshman Christina Dullman, an economics major living on campus, said the bookstore doesn’t take into account that students often have inadequate time during the week to shop for needed sup plies. “It’s ridiculous that they aren’t open on Sunday,” Dullman said. “When do we have any other time to go? We have classes, jobs and extracurricular activ ities.” Journalism major Frances Nebus, also a freshman and campus resident, agreed. “Sunday is homework day and the day to prepare for the week. I need to buy supplies to do my homework, and it’s frustrating because the bookstore isn’t open,” Nebus said. And for exchange students like Louis Jones, who have no personal trans portation and little knowledge of the Columbia area, the limited weekend hours can be doubly frustrating. Jones, a sophomore from England majoring in history, recalled a recent Sunday when the store’s hours hindered him front completing an assignment. “We needed a book, and we couldn’t do the work because we couldn’t buy the book,” Jones said. “It hurt not having that extra day.” But according to Russell House Bookstore Director Mike McLauchlin, other than extended store hours on Sat urdays when the Gamecocks have home football games, the store’s attempts to offer regular weekend business hours have been met with little success. “We’ve done it before, but the sales are just not there to drive the budget for labor,” McLauchlin said. “The rule of thumb is after two o’clock the foot traf fic dies.” McLauchlin blames drive-by cus tomers’ limited access for the store’s lackluster weekend business. “One of the biggest problems we have ... is parking,” McLauchlin said. “There is no place for customeis to park. We know we lose those customers. Sat urdays and Sundays are really bad. It kills our traffic.” Bookstore see page 2 ‘We’ve done it before, but the sales are just not there to drive the budget for labor' Mike McLauchlin Russell House Bookstore manager Palms welcomes neighbors with picnic at his home by Kelly Haggerty Staff Writer Horseshoe residents had an opportu nity Wednesday to eat in the garden be hind President John Palms’ house. They gathered for the Horseshoe Neighbors Picnic, a birthday party of sorts for the residents. President Palms was called away on an emergency the previous night, so he was unable to attend. He did, however, videotape a message for his guests. Norma Palms, the president’s wife, said, “The students mean a lot to us. We love to meet them, especially those that live here, because we come across them daily.” Pinckney-Legare resident Samantha Harter said, “This is my first time here, and it’s so overwhelming. It is really in teresting, even though [Dr- Palms] couldn’t be here.” Of the 350 students invited, less than 100 attended. A birthday cake was shared among those who attended. “It’s a way for the Palms’ to say ‘Hap py Birthday’ to all their neighbors and show us that they care,” said Woodrow resident Russell Brewton. Some on-campus students who don’t live on the Horseshoe wonder why they didn’t get the opportunity to eat at the president’s house. According to university spokesman Jason Snyder, the President is involved in numerous other activities where he can meet other students. He mentioned that the Palms’ hold receptions for every grad uate, athletes, honors students, freshmen, and more. “Every student has an opportunity to go to a reception or a picnic or a party with the President,” Snyder said. “The ■easoning behind this is that these are the "oiks the Palms’ live with. This picnic is i sign of hospitality and a way for the Palms’ to kick off the new year with their leighbors.” Moore resident Corinne Baglio is one itudent who would have wanted to attend. ‘It would be nice if the President invit jd the other dorm residents to come join the picnic so that they get to meet rim and other people,” Baglio said. Capstone resident Amario Bennett PICNIC SEE PAGE 2 Travis Lynn The Gamecock Service sorority holds fall rush by Valerie Matchette Staff Writer Omega Phi Alpha, a national service sorority, held the third rush for its Chi chapter on September 14 and 21. All Carolina women were invited to join this oiganization, which was found . ed at USC on April 19,1998. Omega Phi Alpha prides itself on be ing “Greek, but unique.” Instead of fo cusing on the more traditional aspects of college life, such as parties and mixers, it’s primarily a service oiganization with three basic principles; friendship, leader ship and service. It provides an alternative for those who might be interested in Greek life, but not so much for its social aspect. “I did rush for the other sororities and I didn’t like it,” marketing major Jennifer Pesce said. “I’m not a typical sorority girl.” Biolnev maior Meredith Casev was also interested in the other sororities. “I dropped out in a part of the rush,” she said. “I just decided that it wasn’t for me and I wasn’t going to waste any more time.” Because of its smaller scale and few er members. Omega Phi Alpha is easier to afford than most social sororities. Casey said dues are “a whole lot less. We don’t have the big social functions that a lot of the bigger sororities have.” Omega Phi Alpha dues are around $65 per semester with a one-time activation fee. Many of Omega Phi Alpha’s mem bers joined because they wanted to make a difference in the community. Casey said that she joined this sorority “because it’s community service based.” She went on to explain how she had gained knowledge about Columbia by do ing service projects. “I’m not from $outh Carolina, so I learned a lot about the area just from go ing out into the community.” Prijat journalism major Maya Hollinsnead echoed the viewpoint that service projects are a positive experience. “I like helping the citizens of Co lumbia,” she said. “It’s very rewarding. SERVICE SEE PAGE 2 Weather Inside Datebook Online Poll Today 81 48 Saturday 81 57 Sports looks at USC vs. MSU. Page 8 Today Red Zone Challenge intramurals begin. 1 Saturday Football vs. Mississippi State, 7pm at Starkville, Miss. Singles and team tennis begin. Emeiging Leaders Rope Course. Round Table Gaming Society, noon to 11:45 p.m., Russell House. 4 Would you like to see the University Bookstore open on Sundays?