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November 15, 1999 SG official approves of COI decision i by Brandon Larrabee Staff Writer The court of impeachment’s decision to dismiss charges against Student Body Treasurer Elizabeth Fordham amounts to an acquittal and can’t be over turned, according to an opinion by Student Gov ernment Attorney General Chris Dorsel. # Dorsel’s decision was prompted by a controversy that broke out during Wednesday’s student senate meeting. When the court announced its decision to dismiss the charges, senators questioned the court’s right to do so. Sen. John Tidikis said the court of impeachment had to recommend acquittal or conviction instead of simply throwing out the charges. I - "Is that a recommendation, or what?" he asked. According to Dorsel’s opinion, the court’s de cision amounts to an acquittal. "In this case, the COI found on all charges that Ms. Fordham had not committed any acts worthy of impeachment," the opinion read. "In short, they ac quitted her." Dorsel said the senate can’t hold a trial after the court’s decision because that would mean double jeopardy. "Ms. Fordham’s case has already been tried once," Dorsel wrote, "and to bring her case and the rec ommendation from the [court of impeachment] of acquittal to the Student Senate would not only vio late her rights, but also the laws of our state and our nation." Finally, Dorsel recommended a change to the SG Constitution in his statement. The change would deal with the portion of the constitution dealing with the court’s decision. "Conviction or acquittal shall require a two-thirds (2/3) concurrence vote of the recommendation of the Court of Impeachment by the Student Senate," the constitution reads. Dorsel would change the clause to keep the stu dent senate from voting on the articles of impeach ment if the court chooses to acquit. "It needs to read along the lines of ‘If the Court of Impeachment recommends conviction, than conviction or acquittal shall require a two-thirds I (2/3) vote by the Student Senate, the opinion read. “ Judiciary Committee Co-Chairman Patrick Gear man said he was pleased with Dorsel’s opinion. "I’m glad he supports the court of impeachment," Gearman said. Gearman said the Judiciary Committee was al so considering recommending a change in the con stitution. "I don’t know if I supporUhat exact change," he said. "We are considering something along those lines." Fordham also said she agreed with the deci sion. “1 feel like there’s a double jeopardy clause, _ and I can’t be tried for the same thing twice," she Impeachment see page 2 ' USC receives $4 million federal grant by Gray Stevenson Staff Writer ^ South Carolina universities were awarded a $4 million federal grant in October for improvement of their teacher training programs. The U.S. Department of Education awarded the grant to Benedict College, Furman University, Winthrop University, USC and the preschool through 12th grade schools in Richland County. These schools will be collectively known as the Partners for the Enhancement of Clinical Ex periences in Teacher Education as they share the grant for their teacher education programs. The funding period is from Oct. 15,1999, to Oct. 15,2004. Dr. Jane Zenger, USC grant director, explained the principal goals of the partners. The first of the goals is to create a “standards based model” that will improve teachers’ under standing of the educational process as well as tire utilization of new technology in the classroom. Sec ond, “clinical sites and field requirements” will • be established to meet state and national standards. Also, the collaboration of the faculties of the universities and P-12 schools will be en couraged to promote the “re newal of P-12 schooling and teacher development.” Finally, the spread of the work of the “South Carolina Network for Educational Re newal to other school and uni versities” will also be initiated. Zenger said she hopes the development of these programs will lead to a strong commit ment from trained teachers to remain in South Carolina to fur ther improve the educational system. Also, the spread of new and effective ways to train teachers will provide South Carolina with a “consistency across the whole slate,’’Zenger said. With their allotted funds, each school will pursue the de velopment of one of these goals and will eventually incorporate every goal into their program. Furman will organize internships for student teachers Benedict will look at creating new strategies for discipline and development of academic skills for special needs students. Winthrop will focus on the expansion of men toring programs, for which 42 people have already joined. USC is responsible for long-term evalua tion of the various programs’ objectives and how to improve them. USC will also host summer seminars where stu dent teachers, first-year teachers and teachers who have earned master’s degrees will be able to train together. Seminars will include areas such as classroom management and preparation of students for stan dardized testing. Theresa Kuhs, principal grant investigator and chairwoman of the Department of Instruction and Teacher Education, said the focus of the pro gram is to work to prepare USC graduates to be bet ter teachers through “teacher education courses [that require students] to go out and work in a school setting.” USC has worked with schools in Richland Coun ty for other projects. But no schools have agreed to participate in the program yet. “In the past, we have had the opportunity to work with [schools such as] Meadowfield Ele mentary School, Crayton Middle School, and Dreher High School,” Kuhs said. The schools that agree to be in the program will be known as the Professional Development Schools i and will help with recruiting new teachers and al lowing teachers to learn how to work with special needs students. Students may contact Dr. Zenger at jzenger@sc.edu or at 777-6239 with questions about the developing teaching programs at USC. All Photos By Sean Rayford, Photo Eoito Above: Heathwood Hall private school ninth grade physics teacher James Morris experiments with friction, gravity and horizontal force. Left Students at McCants Elementary School, a public school, participate in an after-school program that begins In the schooPs cafeteria USC signs 15-year Baruch environmental contract by Denise Levereaux Staff Writer USC researchers will be able to maintain a close watch on the environment because of a 15-year con tract between USC and the Belle W. Baruch Foun dation. The contract, signed Nov. 5, allows USC to con * linue working with the Baruch Foundation at the Baruch Institute for Marine Biology and Coastal Re search. The agreement also lets USC use the Kimbel Conference Center and the Marine Field Laborato ry, near Georgetown. Established in 1969 by USC and the Baruch Foun dation, the Baruch Institute for Marine Biology and Coastal Research provides a place for USC and the Baruch Foundation to conduct joint research of en vironmental conditions at the S.C. coast. One research focus is the effect of human ac tivity in the coastal area. The impact of human presence along South Car olina's coast is studied in various aspects, from changes in the microscopic makeup of the area to the ecosys tem as a whole. One of the most notable results of the contract is the continuation of one of the world's most com plete and ongoing sets of measurements for a coastal ecosystem, according to the USC News website. The Baruch Institute's data on the biological, physical and chemical makeup of the area are mea sured and evaluated by staff researchers to aid in the understanding of ecosystem stability in the coastal area. "The results of our basic and applied research have contributed new information critical to the wise use and management of coastal resources," Madilyn Fletcher said. Fletcher is the director of USC’s Baruch Insti tute for Marine Biology and Coastal Research. As an individual part of the College of Science and Mathematics, the Institute's headquarters and laboratory are at the USC Columbia campus. The field laboratory is at the east coast, about 150 miles from Columbia. The 2,630-acre field site is comprised of a multitude of habitats, including tidal salt marshes, beaches, islands and swamps. These habitats are home to more than 120 species of fish and 130 species of algae. Although the institute's main focus is the North Inlet estuary, research is conducted nationally and worldwide, as well. The institute has more than 90 projects in progress, covering several environmental issues. One project analyzes the effects of dinoflagel late Pfisteria, a type of phytoplankton. Pfisteria are unique in that they survive by eat ing other organisms instead of by photosynthesis. The toxic Pfisteria is believed to be the cause of more than half of the fish kills in North Carolina. Another project monitors the quality of golf course water. Studying this water leads to an understanding of the effects on underdeveloped areas of minerals found in fertilizers that are associated with more developed areas. Along with research, the institute provides pub lic information through seminars, outreach programs ^ and education workshops given by its Continuing Education Program. Funding for the Institute’s programs comes from federal agencies such as the U.S. Department of De fense and the National Science Foundation, as well as from private foundations. Spirit Week Activities I MONDAY • Blood Drive 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Russell House Ballroom • Clemson tickets available from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., RH 205 I 1 UfcSDAY • Blood Drive 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Russell House Ballroom • Carolina Productions and LoU’s Crew giveaways all day outside RH Ballroom • Clemson tickets available from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., RH 205 | WEDNESDAY • Blood Drive 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Russell House Ballroom • Carolina Productions and LoU’s Crew giveaways all day outside RH Ballroom ) THURSDAY • Blood Drive 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. RH Ballroom • Carolina Productions and LoU’s Crew giveaways all day outside RH Ballroom > FRIDAY • Carnival 11 a m. to 3 p.m. Greene Street • Tigerburn Grill-Out 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. RH Patio • Tigerburn 6:30 p.m. State Fairgrounds > SATURDAY • Great Gamecock Tailgate, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., next to Seawell’s • USC vs. Clemson, 12:30 p.m., Williams Brice Stadium Weather Inside Datebook Online Poll Today , 60 48 Tuesday 63 ' 38 Gamecocks get chopped by Gators. H Page 10 Today • 3-on-3 basketball be gins • Entries open for bas ketball • Fraternity Council, 4 p.m., RH 322/326 • Sorority Council, 5 p.m., RH 322/326. •CP, 3:30 p.m. Tuesday • AAAS, 6 p.m. •FOCUS, 8:15p.m., Women’s Club • S.C. Student Legisla ture, 9p.m. • Dance Marathon, 8 p.m. • Spring Board, 5:30 p.m. • RHA, 7 p.m., RH 307 ► Would a specific student section benefit the USC basketball teams?