University of South Carolina Libraries
_ Vol. 93, No. 37 Fri November 5, 1999_ e Carolina Community since 1Q08 USC Communications Campus warns students of ‘misleading’ phone services by Patrick Rathbun Senior Writer A recent long distance service’s flier mailed to residence hall students is creating concern at USC Communications. United Telesis, a student long-distance ser vice, mailed the fliers the week of Oct. 11. The fliers were tilled “Gamecock Telecom” and said 11 t . long-distance rates available for students living in campus housing are “well above market average.” The letter also said that the service has a flat rate of 9.9 cents an hour and that students can save up to 60 percent without monthly fees or hidden costs. But USC Long Distance Coordinator Janet Stokes thinks the flier was misleading. “[United Telesis] made the letter look like a university service,” she said. USC Communications blocked service to Unit ed Telesis’ sign-up 1-800 number Oct. 19 and sent out letters to residence hall students Oct. 25 ad vising students not to attempt to access this long-dis tance service. The letter said United Telesis “didn’t fully dis close all the information you need when com paring long-distance services and rates” and didn’t include “a universal service fee, 3 percent feder al excise tax, or state sales tax.” The letter also said United Telesis’ Web site “reveals absolutely no information whatsoever as to the company’s identity.” United Telesis President Glenn Renkowski said the essential information was revealed in the let ter. “Everything is fully disclosed,” he said. “We very clearly stated that it’s part of the College Tele phone Network, and there are no gimmicks or hid den fees.” According to the USC letter, United Telesis “attempts to suggest an association with Carolina” by appearing to call itself Gamecock Telecom and using USC’s colors. Renkowski denied any wrong doing by the company. “It was not our intention to deceive anybody,’ he said. “What we do is no different than what AT&T does.” Stokes feels differently, saying USC is inves tigating possible trademark infringements made by United Telesis. Stokes also said that because AT&T clearly identifies itself with logos, its service of fers are valid. The long-distance company has also sent flien to Stonehill College in Massachusetts, Salve Regi na University in Rhode Island, Miami University of Florida, Yale University, Keene State College in New Hampshire, Drew University in New Jersey, University of New Mexico, Northern Iowa Southwest Texas State University and the Uni versity of North CarOlina-Charlotte, according tc - « Stokes. Stokes said United Telesis is using each uni versity’s colors and mascots in the flyers, and says she hopes students “didn’t switch over” because of this. Renkowski said the company’s service is on ly offering an alternative to students. “We consider ourselves the good guys,” he said. “Students are adults and should be allowed to choose.” He also said the company would respond to the university’s treatment by providing “great prices and great service,” and that it wasn’t the compa ny’s intention to “battle the university.” roil results support night buses by Brandon Larrabee Staff Writer Students voted in favor of Safe Ride and overwhelmingly in favor of an on campus late-night shuttle system in on line elections conducted Monday and Thesday on USC’s VIP system. When asked whether student activi ty fees should be used to fund a late-night shuttle from Five Points, more than 53 percent of those voting said yes. However, when asked if activity fees should be used to fund a similar system to shuttle students around USC, the plan garnered 76.4 percent of those vot ing. Student Sen. Melissa Fletcher, who ^s co-chairwoman of the Senate Student Services Committee has helped spearhead this year’s Safe Ride proposal, said the vote showed support for her committee’s plans for an on-campus shuttle. “That shows that... there’s a need for a campus shuttle at night,” Fletcher said. She said misconceptions about the Safe Ride program, such as the idea that it endorses drinking, might have con tributed to the smaller support for the Five PninK svsteni “That’s [drinking] not what it’s about,” she said. “It’s about getting people home safely.” But Fletcher said the on-campus sys tem would help everyone. ^ “Every single student can benefit from it,” she said. Students also said Safe Ride would be “a useful service” if it were funded through university funds instead of activity fees. Almost 85 percent of the student body agreed with that statement. Meanwhile, both plans are still up in the air, and an off-campus shuttle seems less likely in the near future. Under the original proposal, mem bers of USC’s parking and finance divi sions had agreed to provide an old Shut tlecock bus and transportation maintenance for the program. With the university’s help, Fletcher estimated that operating Safe Ride would have cost Student Gov ernment no more than $200. However, the university ran unto prob lems with insurance coverage and sup plying buses to transport students. And Fletcher said Student Govern ment Adviser Woody Carothers recent ly told her that USC couldn't provide everything it had promised. The university was concerned about liability and financial issues, Fletcher said. For example, the transportation costs alone for the Safe Ride program would in Safe Ride SEE PAGE 2 1 Delta Delta Delta sorority raises money for local children’s cancer center 1 _! —jump—■—■■■p—l—■■I -_ Sean Rayford photo editor Left to right, Senior Erin Pigg and sophomores Jen Gesimondo and Courtney Rakes of Delta Delta Delta Sorority pile into a bath tub on the Pickens Street Bridge Thursday to raise money for the Palmetto Richland Memorial Hospital Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders center. This fund raiser was revived last year, after the sorority stopped having it three or four years ago. borority raises funds for cancer by Kelly Haggerty Senior Writer Members of Della Della Delta soror ity sat in bathtubs on Greene and Pickens streets Thursday as part of their annual Tub-a-thon to raise money for the Pal metto Richland Memorial Hospital’s Chil dren’s Cancer and Blood Disorder center. According to Vice President Kather ine Robson, Tri-Delta members started the event more than 15 years ago. How ever, three or four years ago, they stopped having it. “Last year, we revived it because we needed a big fund-raiser. We looked at years past and chose to have the 'Rrb-a thon again,” Robson said. Last year, the women sat in tubs that were filled with water, but cold weather prevented them from doing that again this year. Instead, members used water guns on each other and blew bubbles for passers by. Vice President of Public Relations Tra cy Bonds said that all members partici pate and typically enjoy the event. “I think using bathtubs makes it a fun way to raise money. Seeing girls sitting in bathtubs in the middle of the street grabs people’s attention, and hopefully they will come over and give donations. We’d Fund-Raiser see page 2 Flag forum sparks debate by Kelly Haggerty Senior Writer Omicron Delta Kappa held a fo rum, “To Fly or Not To Fly : The Con federate Flag Legacy,” Thursday night as part of Creed Week. Jake Knotts, Lexington House District 88 representative, and Lon nie Randolph Jr., president of Co lumbia’s National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, presented differing views on whether the Confederate flag should fly above the Statehouse. Knotts said he thinks the flag eventually will come down. But he also said the NAACP poses a threat to the flag, which only hinders its re moval. “A war was fought because of a threat, and the flag will not come down because of a threat,” Knotts said. Randolph, however, said he doesn’t think the flag will be flying over the Statehouse much longer. “It will come down soon,” Ran dolph said. “Not because the NAACP wants it to come down, but because the people of good conscience, good will and good faith in this country see the need.” The men disagreed with each oth er on what the flag represents. Knotts said he thinks it stands for history and civil rights. Randolph said he thinks it symbolizes racism. But both men want the issue to be resolved quickly so legislators can focus on other issues. “I want this issue to go away,” Randolph said. “1 want to see the state do well. I want to see the state progress.” At the forum, several students made suggestions that involved tak ing down the flag so the controversy can be put to rest. One student asked about the pos sibility of replacing the Confeder ate flag with the Stars and Bars, an other version of the Confederate flag. Knotts said this could be looked into, but he also said he doesn’t think the NAACP would be satisfied. Knotts also said moving the Con federate flag to a memorial on the Statehouse grounds wouldn’t please the NAACP, either. Randolph offered no comment. ODK Vice President of Special Programs Callee Kaiser said she or ganized the event because the issue is a pertinent topic. “It’s a heated issue, and it will be a heated issue no matter how it is han dled,” Kaiser said. “It’s important to have it out in the open, though.” ODK President Carrie England said this is why ODK created the event. “As students practicing the creed, we felt that this subject was an ap propriate one for a forum,” she said. “It’s pretty obvious that this is sue is one that people need to com promise on and get a better under standing of. That’s what we hope to achieve at the forum.” Biology and chemistry sopho more Damien Washington said he thinks the forum came at a suitable time. “Being that it is Creed Week, I Creed see page 2 1 Mind, Body and Spirit Festival Amy Goulding The Gamecock Left to right, Director of Parent and Student Involvement programs, Rick Gant, graduate Assistant in the Office of Alcohol and Drug Programs Felicia Law and student Jennifer Francis work at the Mind, Body and Spirit Festival, Wednesday on the Russell House Patio. Rain and cold weather forced the festival to end 45 minutes early. Weather Inside Datebook Online Poll Today 72 36 Saturday 1 72 ? 45 i Money i invests in j| NCAA foot si bull playoff Page 8 Saturday • Round Table Gaming Society, Noon to 11:45 p.m., RH. Sunday • Sunday Night Alive, 7 p.m., Booker T. Wash ington Auditorium. • PALM Worship Ser vice, 5:30 p.m., 728 Pickens St. Will our men’s basketball team rebound from last season?