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Vol. 93, No. 33 October 27, 1999_ ina Community since 1Q08 Campus Safety * USC police questioning strangers by Kelly Haggerty Senior Writer University police officers are continuing to question people on campus who they suspect jhouldn’t be there. ® University President John Palms presented this idea at a board of trustees meeting Oct. 14. However, this has been a policy of the USC Police Department for some time, according to Di rector of Law Enforcement and Safety Ernie Ellis. University police officers have already been randomly asking people on campus to say why they’re there and show identification if they say they have a reason. “The way we do it now is to have our patrols about campus, and when they greet people, they ask for identification. We do it very professional ly and pleasantly,” Ellis said. If someone has no business being on campus, they’re asked to leave immediately. “This is not a case of students having to fear getting kicked off campus,” USC spokesman Jason Snyder said. According to Ellis, when officers have greet ed a student, faculty or staff member, the officer has received thanks and appreciation for trying to keep campus safe. Criminal justice junior Summer Campbell doesn’t think this policy is effective. “If a patrolman casually asked someone to leave, nine times out of 10, they are going to say ‘OK’ but never really leave. Someone would need to es cort them off campus,” Campbell said. “Personally, I don’t think showing identifica tion is necessary. I’m here during the day, and I feel safe,” she said. Ellis said that lately, more people have been on campus unnecessarily. “Quite recently, we have had a number of non students on campus with no business here,” Ellis said. “We’ve made several arrests of these people for various reasons.” In the past six to eight weeks, more patrols have been added or reassigned, especially during the night. They have also been concentrating more on the areas surrounding residence halls and parking garages. Ellis said this was because of recent problems. Political science sophomore Tim Smoak thinks the current procedure of having to show identifi cation works well. “I think it’s a good idea. With all the people getting attacked and mugged, maybe it will help. It’s a step, at least,” Smoak said. Business sophomore Elizabeth Ham said she rarely feels safe on campus, but there’s nothing any body can do to stop people from staying on cam pus if they aren’t supposed to be there. “I don’t think you can keep all the trespassers off campus. It’s just too spread out. Unless you gate up the whole place, which they won’t do, it won’t work,” Ham said. Snyder also said he believes that Palms’ goal is also to make sure people know when they have en tered campus. He said signs might help with this. Computer science sophomore Matt Brice likes that Palms continues to create new ideas for cam pus safety. “It’s a good thing the president is coming up with these ideas and looking into them. Otherwise he wouldn’t be the president,” Brice said. At the meeting Oct. 14, Palms said he also want ed to contact the mayor and other city officials to arrange a plan of action to improve safety on and Police see page 2 As the weather turns colder, now is the time to get a flu' vaccination •students aavisea to get flu shots by Philip Burt Senior Writer The Thomson Student Health Cen ter is advising students to get flu vac cinations before the flu season arrives xt-—u— *11 i » VIIIWVI. Carlos Anrrich, a registered nurse at the center, said that al though the flu season j lasts from November until April, when weather is colder, the Reason appears to be starting a little earlier this year. Flu symp toms include body soreness and aches, fever, fatigue, conges-; lion, coughing, and chills, Anrrich said.; According to the health center, some people are at higher risk for contract ing the virus than others. Someone who becomes short of breath after light ex ercise or has low resistance to infections is more likely to be at risk. If someone already has health problems, the flu or its complications could lead to serious 11 ness or death. The center recommends that any one in either of these categories receive a shot before the season begins. However, Anrrich said some people need to be careful when con sidering a flu shot. People who are al leigic to eggs shouldn’t get the shot be cause the virus is egg-based. People who have had a se rious reaction to a previous flu shot should consult a doctor before tak ing the vaccine, he added. He said that since there are many variations of the virus, people should get a flu I shot once a year. “Once it [the vaccine] is in your body,the _ body detects the virus, anu 11 pro duces antibodies against it,” Anrrich said. He said there’s a greater risk of get ting the flu at USC because students are often close together in classes and dorms. “In the wintertime, you’re staying indoors more, so that presents a greater opportunity for the virus to be spread from one person to another,” Anrrich Shots seepages ‘Jf y°u’jn* ajraady sick, • tt you're allergic to eggs, you can’t get a shot Consult your doctor for details. Source: Natl Foundation for Infection* Disease* Amy Goulding The Gamecock Naomi Hayes receives a flu vaccination from nurse Karen Shelly. The Thomson Student Health Center Is encouraging all students to get a shot before Halloween. Master Plan Update Journalism school's move to Petigru on track by Clayton Kale Associate News Editor Journalism majors who are freshmen this year might not have to walk as far to their classes when they’re seniors. According to the assistant director of facilities man agement, Donna Collins, the College of Journalism and Mass Communications could be in Petigru Col lege on Greene Street in as little as three years. As a part of the university’s Master Plan, the reg istrar’s office, currently in Petigru, would move off campus. Petigru would then be renovated to suit the journalism school before it moves out of the Colise um. “1 would say that within one or two years, you should see construction [renovations being started in Petigru],” Collins said. “It should be about two or three years before the move takes place.” Kent Sidel, associate dean of the College of Jour nalism and Mass Communications, said moving from the Coliseum to Petigru is “part of a long-range plan.” “There is a lot of strategic planning involved in it [moving the college],” he said. Sidel said that moving the college is only a small part of the Master Plan. He said the date of the move depends on when the registrar’s office can move. “We can’t move until the folks in Petigru move out, and they can’t move until they have an office ready for them,” Sidel said. Sidel said he thinks Petigru College will have to be gutted before the College of Journalism and Mass Communications can move in. He said the renovations will be specific to fill the needs of the journalism school. “Journalism needs unusual space configura tions,” he said. “We seldom have the chance to de sign space to best fit our students. “We have a chance to reshape the building to fit our needs,” he said. “It gives us a tremendous oppor tunity to configure space, attune to our specific col lege needs, which is a very exciting prospect.” University officials are meeting with architects to discuss possible renovations to Petigru, according to Sidel. PetiQRU see page 2 ‘Journalism needs unusual space con figurations.' Dr. Kent SI del, Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies, College of Journalism BGLA kicks off » Creed Week by Amanda Silva Staff Writer South Carolina’s best female imperson ators will take center stage Thursday night as the Bisexual, Gay and Lesbian Associa tion kicks off Carolinian Creed Week with its second annual revue. Creed Week, sponsored by the Student Judicial Program, is designed to promote awareness of the Carolinian Creed and what it stands for. The BGLA is holding the show to highlight the clause from the Carolinian Creed that states: “I will discourage bigotry, striv ing to leant from differences in people, ideas and opinions...” The BGL A’s graduate student adviser Pat Patterson said he hopes people will walk away from the show entertained and educated, hav ing seen something they’ve never seen be fore. Patterson said the show was named after the movie “The Birdcage,” which is a spinoff of the play “La Cage Aux Folies” and stan Robin Williams. He advises those who want a preview of the revue to watch the opening and ending sequences of the film. i ius ycai a anuw win icaiuic ma jjiuica sional female impersonators in addition to special guest appearances. Each entertainer will perform an individual act as well as a group number. Impersonations range from Bette Midler to Tina Turner to Cher, ac cording to Patterson. The show will end with a question and-answer period between the audience and performers. “The reason we have the question-and answer period is to discourage stereotypes,” Patterson said. He said it’s important for people to un derstand that these performers aren’t trans vestites, but professionals who have careers in addition to being impersonators. “A transvestite is simply someone who dresses in clothes of the opposite sex,” Pat terson said. “This show isn’t a sexual thing; it’s an artistic thing.” Nicole Roberts, one of four performers who will be returning this year, said, “Peo ple just need to realize that female imper sonators are people, just like everybody else.” Roberts, who appeared as Bette Midler BfflDT SEE PAGE 2 Hodges promotes early tuition payment program by Charles Prashaw Staff Writer Gov. Jim Hodges promoted the Pre paid Affordable College Education Program on Tuesday with an appearance at Hand Middle School. Hodges was in attendance when two families from the school were the first this year to enter the program. Later in the week, Hodges will be promoting the pro gram in Greenville. “I am committed to making higher ed ucation affordable to all South Carolinians,” Hodges said. “1 intend to spread the word about PACE so parents can begin prepar ing for their child’s future, starting today.” The FACE program, formerly the Tuition Prepayment program, was created by the General Assembly in 1997. PACE allows families to pay in advance for tuition at any South Carolina public college, but doesn’t guarantee tuition to private col leges. The cost of dorms, textbooks and meal plans aren’t included. Parents make monthly payments so they’ll have money to pay for college when their children come of age. The payments range from $150 to $300, depending on the child’s age and whether plans include a four year or two-year college. The four-year college program partic ipants in South Carolina are The Citadel, Clemson, Coastal Carolina, the College of Charleston, Francis Marion University, Lan der, the Medical University of South Car olina, South Carolina State University, USC HODQES see page 2 ....... Weather Today i 77 * 40 Thursday k 75 i 45 Inside Women’s basketball preview. Page 1B Today •Student Senate, 5 p.m., RH Theater •Emerging Leader Program assembly, 6 p.m. •"Rocky Horror Picture Show,” 9 p.m., RH Theater ) Thursday •NAACP, 6 p.m. — »SALA, 7:30 p.m. .• "Rocky Horror Pic ture Show," 9 p.m., RH Theater 4 Do you feel safe walking 1 to Five Points at night? I I I I Go to www.gamecock.sc.edu to vote in this Peek’s poll.