Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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_ Vol. 93, No. 59 Monel February 7, 2000_ by Brad Walters Managing Editor Tbe Gamecock polled 213 students on whether they think the Confederate flag should be removed from the Statehouse. When asked whether the flag should stay atop (he dome, 62.8 percent of students polled favored removing the flag. Of those, 42.6 per cent wanted to see the flag honored in some way, while 20.2 percent said they would pre fer not to see it honored in any way. According to political science professor Jerel Rosati, the fact that an “overwhelmingly strong majority” of people wants the flag re moved isn’t surprising. “Most people in South Carolina are at the point where they’re saying they want the flag down,” Rosati said. “The question is, what ex actly do they want to do with it?” Fourteen point eight percent of students said they favored keeping the flag flying atop the Statehouse, and 22.4 percent said they didn ’t care whether the flag was removed. The banner was raised in 1962 during the civil rights movement and the Civil War cen tennial. Many of its detractors say it represents racisifi and slavery, while supporters have called it an important emblem of the state's heritage. Of those students polled, those who con sidered themselves Republicans were slightly more likely to want to keep the flag up than Democrats or those who don’t identify with ei ther ideology. “If you make the assumption that Republi cans are more conservative, you’d expect the Republicans would have the greater tendency Flag Poll see page a2 POLL RESULTS: OVERALL VOTE B Remove flag from dome, but honor it in some way ■ Remove flag from dome without honoring it ■ Keep flag flying over Statehouse dome □ Don’t care Poll's margin of error: +/- 6.7 percent ► ' The flag is a symbol of times when Afncan | Americans were enslaved. It is a symbol of little industry in the South and of a time long ago." -Jodi Anderson, biology junior ► "I'm sick and tired of hearing about it." •Lee Kain, engineering senior ► "It wasn’t meant to stand for racism; it was meant to stand for Southern pride and war I commemoration. I don’t see why it has to be so controversial." •Katie Smith, accounting sophomore ► "There are far more important things to be concerned about than whether a flag is flying or not." -Maryanne Rhett, inti studies senior ► "When so many South Carolinians want it down, why not take it down?" -T.aurpti Rich, lihpral arte frpshman ► "I think it deserves to be remembered and honored, but I don't think it needs to be on top of our statehouse with the other sovereign flags." -Ryan Hoesly, engineering freshman ► "It represents the South, and a lot of us had forebears who fought in the [Civil] War. The war wasn't about slavery.... I'm proud of being a Southerner, and that's part of the heritage." -Robert Lamb, law student ► "I didn't even know it was up there until [the media] made a big deal out of if." •Demand Sanders, computer science sophomore ► "[The South] lost the war. They should just get over it." -Gina Caruso, journalism freshman - • :_ ■ v' .,.. . . - AXO presents Singled Out 2000 by Torry Lyons Staff Writer What do free food, prizes, and a hundred screaming students have in common? Ask any member of Alpha Chi Omega at USC and she’ll tell you. For the second year in a row, Alpha Chi Omega will ^ he*their version of MTV’s “Singled Out” to raise mon ey for Sistercare. Sistercare is a local center for women that offers counseling, legal services, and shelter to vic tims of domestic violence. Last year’s “Singled Out” was a great success, ac cording to Alpha Chi Omega members. “1 was really pleased with the turnout and thought the contestants had a good time,” said public relations sophomore Ann Bender, the 1999 chairperson. The reenactment of this game show was the first of its kind at USC and takes place the week before Valen tine’s Day. Undeclared sophomore Tiffany Elser, the “Singled Out” 2000 chairperson, said this year’s event will be a little different. “This the first year we have made it a weeklong event,” Elser said. During the week there will be events promoting the awareness of domestic violence and opportunities for students to sign up to participate in “Singled Out.” Students will start by deciding if they want to par ticipate as an actual contestant in the game or be a part of the crowd. Crowd members and contestants will pur chase tickets and both will be eligible to win prizes. Last year’s “Singled Out” crowd witnessed contestants per form a variety of stunts to prove that they deserved to be the winner of the grand date package. As five male contestants learned last year, deliver ing your best pick-up line though a mouth of sallines isn’t as easy as it seems. The girls were simply asked to smile. This may seem easy but Scott Summers added five Oreos to the equation and suddenly the girls could only wish to have pearly white smiles to show their prospec tive dates. “Singled Out” ended with a happy couple out to enjoy a party provided by area vendors. Sistercare was provided with a monetary donation and several gifts to be used in their Columbia location. This year’s “Singled Out” events start today. Purple ribbons will be given out on the Pickens Street bridge and in front of the Russell House today to increase aware ness of domestic violence. A “Walk Out on Domestic Violence” will lake place Tuesday evening at 7:30. The walk will start on the Greene Street side of the Russell House and will continue to the state capitol. Wednesday will feature a carnation sale from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The actual “Singled Out” event will take place on the Russell House patio at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and will be hosted by WNOK deejay Scott Summers. Business freshman Erin Coomer said “Singled Out” raises issues that concern all students. “We have worked hard and hope to get a lot of sup Singled Out see page as Candidates for SG treasurer discuss ideas BY KENLEY Y OUNG Editor in Chief Business junior Tony Holcak and chemical engineering sophomore Ricky Shah are squaring off this year in the race for Student Government treasurer, an office that has seen its share of hard ship in recent months. Last semester, impeachment charges were brought against current Treasurer Elizabeth Fordham, who some senators claimed had failed to keep sufficient of fice hours. The SG Court of Impeachment dismissed the charges, and Fordham was able to complete her term. Despite the problems Fordham has endured, Holcak said he’d like to build on the work she’s accomplished. If elected, Holcak said he wants to see SG eventually shift to a “paperless office.” He said he plans to publish the treasurer’s manual and newsletter online, a move Holcak claims will save SG hundreds of dollars. He also said he wants university organizations to be able to conduct bud get transfers online. i minx in aiuoeni uovemmeni we need to move to more of an online busi ness practice because that’s the trend right now,” he said. “Student Government needs to get back into step with the rest of the university.” Holcak’s other platform goals include extending the drop/add date for classes and working to expand the “claw and spur” artwork on Greene Street. Holcak said the key to accomplishing these goals is to establish a good working relationship with SG and the USC administration. “I believe that my knowledge and ex perience only go so far,” Holcak said. “It’s your ability to work with other people — to motivate them, inspire them. That’s how 1 plan to get things done.” Some of the people Holcak said he’d be working closely with include Fi nance Committee members and the Stu dent Government president. He said every one must be “on the same page.” According to Holcak, he has the sup port of both the current and former Fi nance Committee chairpersons. “Both [former Finance Committee Chairman] Timothy Clardy and [current chairwoman] Sally Ballentine encouraged me to run because they think I’d be right for the job,” Holcak said. “I’ve gained a lot of respect from them over the past years, I think, and I’m proud to say that I have their endorsement.” Ballentine said experience is a ne cessity for an incoming treasurer because it helps things run more smoothly. “We encouraged someone off the Fi nance Committee to run because they will have worked with it for a year and gotten familiar with the process,” Ballentine said. “It [the financial process] is very com plicated, and if you’ve never seen this stuff before, it can get really confusing.” If elected, Holcak said he’d draw from his experience as a member of the Finance Committee, as well as the knowledge he’s gained as a business major. Shah, too, said he plans to use his experience as a guide, should he be elect ~A “I’ve been thinking about doing this for a while,” Shah said. “I’m treasurer of my fraternity, I love working with num bers and I’ve been involved in senate for a year now with the Academic Commit tee.” Fordham has “done the best that she could” this past year as treasurer, Shah said, and he’s open to any advice she can offer. Shah’s primary platform goal is to “keep an open door” for anyone who needs his help, claiming that he’ll use student feedback to effect changes in university life. Shah said he’d also focus on campus safety if elected. “Safety is a priority,” he said. “I want to make sure that groups that already pro mote safety receive appropriate funding [from Student Government] to continue doing what they’re doing.” Like Holcak, Shah said he wants to implement online services for SG, in cluding an online budget submittal and al location process. “I don’t think it’s feasible that by next year we can go totally paperless, but it’s a good thing to work for,” he said. Treasurers see pace u Holcak Shah Flu epidemic spares USC by Phil W atson Staff Writer USC hasn’t seen an unusually high number of flu cases so far although this year’s flu season has been among the worst in recent years nationwide, according to the Thomson Student Health Center. The health center has reported nine cases of influenza since November. Ac cording to Cicely Jenkins of the health Center, this number is nothing out of the ordinary. Most cases were Influenza A, the most common type of the flu. Even though the flu season is almost over, the health center is still offering flu shots. There’s a limited supply left, so the center is urging those who want the shot to get it as soon as possible. “It's best to get the flu shot before the flu season peaks,” Jenkins said. “This way, your immunity will be built-up and ready.” Getting a flu shot and taking common sense precautions are the best way to avoid the flu, Jenkins said. So far this flu season, the health cen ter has given 1,525 free flu shots. Of those, 788 were for students, the highest num ber ever given in a flu season, according Flu SEE PAGE A2 Inside Datebook Online Poll Today 61 38 Tuesday I Gamecock women B get second |j SEC win % Page B1 Monday • The Gamecock, 4 p.m. RH333 • CP, 3:30 p.m. • Fraternity Council, 4 p.m.,RH 322/326 • Sorority Council, 5 p.m., RH 322/326 Tuesday • AAAS, 6 p.m., RH The ater •FOCUS, 8:15 p.m., Women’s Club • S.C. Student Legisla ture, 9 p.m. • RHA, 7 p.m., RH 307 Should USC require pro fessors to post their syl labuses online? Vote at www.gamecock.sc.edu. Results will be published Friday.