Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Quote, Unquote ‘I have a Contract for Carolina and I’m just asking all the students to sign on.’ Jotaka Eaddy, student government presidential candidate I_ " ’ \ Whe (Bmtcock Serving the Carolina Community since 1908 Editorial Board Kenley Young • Editor in Chief Brad Walters • Managing Editor Brock Vergakis • Viewpoints Editor Peter Johnson • Assistant Viewpoints Editor Emily Streyer • Editorial Contributor Voters should examine SG platforms closely Candidates running for executive Student Government offices have made their campaign speeches and promises, but many of them are full of holes. Presidential candidate Mark Hartney has great visions of improv ing parking if he’s elected president. However, no SG president has the power or the means to improve parking on campus. No matter how many committees are formed, or studies are done, SG can’t im prove parking. Hartney also has USC joining the Association of American Universities as part of his platform. Once again, SG can not do anything to meet this goal. Admission into the AAU is based on graduate school research, not SG activity. Another part of his platform is extending the drop/add date, something the administra tion will never go for. * .» i: j _. • _* j* .1 i fiii. /\llUUiei ecuiuiuaie i milling un cAiciiuuig uic uiuy/auu uaic 15 Katie Taylor. While her slogan is “Realistic Change,” expecting the add date to be extended is completely unrealistic. Taylor also wants to start a safety task force. SG already has a safety committee, and nothing she can do will make it any-more useful. The only thing she can accomplish by creating another committee is wasting time and money that can be better spent elsewhere. Presidential hopeful Mike Scott has no platform because he’s waiting on students to tell him what they want. If Scott has no ideas of his own to make USC better, he can’t possibly implement them. We all know how apathetic this campus is, and if he expects students to tell him what they want, then nothing will ever be accomplished. A president must demonstrate leadership capabilities, not passive lis tening skills. While presidential candidate Jotaka Eaddy has a “Contract for Carolina,” one of her four points might be difficult to get signed by campus officials. Eaddy wants the Shuttlecock’s hours extended to pick up students who have night classes. This will be a difficult task to accomplish, but one that is feasible. Eaddy must overcome some of the same hurdles that have made the Safe Ride program impracti cal, including liability, cost and staffing concerns. Four students are running in this year’s vice presidential race - sophomores Dan Dixon, Corey Ford, Tom Winslow and graduate student Elliot Smith. The candidates have announced platforms fo cusing on campus safety and student activism. But the main require ment for the job is to successfully run student senate.The student body vice president has influence in the grand scheme of things, but he can’t accomplish anything without the consent from the student body president.The most qualified candidate to run senate is the most qualified candidate to be the next vice president. Ricky Shah and Tony Holcak, both current senators, are running for the office of student body treasurer. According to the SG Consti tution the treasurer’s job is to “record all receipts, expenditures, and appropriations of monies from Student Government,” and to serve as a nonvoting member of the senate Finance Committee. Treasurers have little to no control over the appropriation of student activity fees and only a slight influence on how much money is appropriated to student organizations. And finally, executive candidates, let’s try to get through at least one year without an impeachment scandal. If it wasn’t former presi dent Jamel Franklin trying to fire the Elections Commission in the spring of ’98, it was ex-treasurer Susanne Newman breaking into a towing lot to free her car in the fall of the same year. 1999 proved to be no exception, either, as current treasurer Elizabeth Fordham flirt ed with impeachment for failing to keep a paltry requirement of 10 office hours per week. Their mistakes (misuse of power, ignorance of SG regulations, disrespect for the law, mismanagement of time) were simple offens es that could have been avoided with more discretion and foresight. As interesting as these proceedings are for us to cover, they bog down normal SG activity, which already crawls along at a painfully slow pace. Learn from your predecessors so that this university won’t have to suffer from the same old mistakes. __ iiii about Us The Gamecock is the student newspaper of The University of South Carolina and is published Monday, Wednesday and Friday during the fall and spring semesters and nine times during the summer with the exception of university holidays and exam periods. Opinions expressed in The Gamecock are those of the editors or author and not those of The University of South Carolina. The Board of Student Publications and Communications is the publisher of The Gamecock. The Department of Student Media is the newspaper's parent organization. The Gamecock is supported in part by student activities fees. Address The Gamecock 1400 Greene Street Columbia, SC 29208 Offices on third floor of the Russell House. Stuoent Media Area code 803 Advertising 777-3888 Classified 777-1184 Fax 777-6482 Office 777-3888 Gamecock Area code 803 Editor gckeddsc.edu 777-3914 News gcknewsdsc.edu 777-7726 Viewpoints gckviewsdsc.edu 777-7181 Etc. gcketcdsc.edu 777-3913 Encore! gamecockencoredhotmail.com 777-3913 Sports gcksportsdsc.edu 777-7182 Online www.gamecock.sc.edu 777-2833 Submission Pouch 09 Letters to the editor or guest columns are welcome *8 om all members of the Carolina community. Letters should be 250-300 words. Guest columns should be an opinion piece of about 600-700 words. Both must include name, phone number, profes sional title or year and major, if a student. Handwritten submissions must be personally delivered to Russell House room 333. E-mail submissions must include telephone number for confirmation. The Gamecock reserves the right to edit for libel, style and space. Anonymous letters will not be pub lished. Photos are required for guest columnist and can be provided by the submitter. Call 777-7726 for more information. i nt VjAMECOCK Ken ley Young Editor in Chief Brad Walters Managing Editor Brock Vergakis Viewpoints Editor Clayton Kale News Editor Brandon Larrabee Associate News Editor Rebecca Cronican Ann Marie Miani EtCetera Editors David Cloninger Jeff Romig Sports Editors Kristin Freestate Copy Desk Chief Renee Oligny Copy Editor Kevin Langston Encore Editor Student Media Ellen Parsons Director Susan King Creative Director Kris Black Julie Burnett Todd Hooks Betsy Martin Kathy Van Nostrand CreativetServices Kenton Watt Advertising Manager Carolyn Griffin Amy Goulding Travis Lynn Photo Editors Will Gillaspy Online Editor Peter Johnson Asst. Viewpoints Editor Kelly Haggerty Patrick Rathbun Ass/. News Editors MacKenzie Craven Asst. EtCetera Editor Shannon Rooke Asst. Sports Editor Rob Fleming Asst. Encore Editor Charles Prashaw Shawn Singleton Charlie Wallace Senior Writers Emily Streyer Editorial Contributor Business Manager Sherry Holmes Classified Manager Erik Collins Faculty Adviser Jonathan Dunagin Graduate Assistant Robyn Gombar Gina McKelvey Melissa Millen Brantley Roper Nicole Russell Advertising StalT College Press Exchange National Issues MTV favors Satan in 2000 The fol lowing tran script is the second in stallment of a quasi-fiction al account of what might happen if Sa- Jeremy Touzel tan and Jesus ( ... , is a mathematics both ran for thepresiden- senior. He can be cy of the reached at game United States cockvtew ofAmerica: points@hotmail.c DALY: om What’s up, ' " ‘ everyone? I’m Carson Daly, and I’d hke to welcome you to MTV’s “Choose or Lose 2000.” We’re here in Times Square with Satan and Jesus, and we’re going to let mem bers of our studio audience ask the can didates some questions. Let’s get started. GIRL 1: Hello, my name is Pamela Smith and, like, omigod, I love ‘N Sync - Whooooool! DALY: That’s great. Do you have a question for either of the candidates? GIRL 1: Urn, whatever. I just think JC should run for president - he’s so cute! I LOVE YOU, JC!!!! DALY: Me, too. [Pause] Did I say that out loud? Damn. Next question. BOY 1: Everybody knows you’re a fruit, Carson. Anyway, my name is Michael Foley and I wanna know how the candidates feel about abortion. JESUS: That is a wonderful question, Michael. I don’t know if you’ve ever heard of this book I wrote, the Bible, but in the book, I mention quite a few times that thou shalt not kill, so I’m going to break party lines and side with the Re publicans on this issue. SATAN: I would like to clarify some thing, Carson. Everybody knows that Je sus did not author the Bible, so I think he needs to stop claiming that. Sure, it’s the “word of God,” but it’s from the “pen of Man.” For starters, look at the Old Tes tament. Embellishment, one of my great est creations, was instrumental in what we now know as the Old Testament. Plus, people like my version of the Old Tes tament better than Jesus’ dad’s version. And the New Testament? I mean, come on, Jesus. My right-hand man, Paul, was a big part of that. By the way, I’d like to thank Paul for those revisions we talked about [winks at camera], DALY: OK, next question. BOY 2: My name is Mark Calloway, and I’d like the candidates to tell me their opinions about physician-assisted suicide. SATAN: Well, Kevorkian has really been bringing in a lot of people recent ly, so I don’t see any reason to stop it. JESUS: I’m going to have to agree with Satan on this one. I think people should be able to choose how they die. I mean, I chose to die on the cross. SATAN: Good point, Jesus. JESUS: Thanks, Satan. GIRL 2: Hello, my name is Emily Ruiz, and want to know what Jesus thinks about the “Sensation” exhibit. JESUS: Actually, I’ve been to the ex hibit quite a few times - it’s really amaz ing. I went home last weekend and asked Mom how she felt about the painting, and she said she was quite pleased with the way it turned out. I think it’s beautiful. DALY: That’s great. Now I have a question for you Jesus. There’s no way you’re going to get elected unless you pick up more votes in the Southern states. How do you, as an African-American, in tend to do that? JESUS: Well, I think my biggest ob stacle in the South is convincing voters to vote for a Jewish candidate. I don’t think being black has anything to do with it. I think Southerners would vote for an African-American. [Crowd erupts in unmitigated laugh ter] JESUS: What are you guys laughing at? [Laughter continues for a few min utes before dying down somewhat] SATAN: It’s obvious you haven’t been there in the past 50 years. JESUS: You mean some people wouldn’t vote for me just because I’m black? But I’m Jesus!! DALY: [still laughing] Sorry, Jesus, I don’t think it matters. OK, we have time for one more question. GIRL 3: My name is Laretta Sypolt, and I wanna know tho candidates favorite bands. SATAN: Well, they sold their souls to me, so right now I’m going to have to go with the Backstreet Boys. JESUS: Personally, I think it’s hard to choose between Michael Bolton and Boyz 2 Men. CROWD: Boooooooo!!! JESUS: C’mon, give me a break. CROWD: Boooooooo!!! JESUS: [starts singing “End of the Road”] Although we’ve come [starts danc ing] to the end of the road... 4 1 - .... State Issues Flag not a symbol of hatred The Con federate battle flag is a symbol of southern her itage. It is what separates the North from the South. The flag is not a symbol of hate and slav ery, but a sym bol of Southern hospitality, sweet tea, and good country home cooking. [ That’s one view I’ve heard on the subject. Another is that the flag is a symbol of how far behind South Carolina is from the rest of the country, and how much hate and racism still exists in our state heading into the 21 st century. These are two very strong opinions and I'm sure their supporters can debate on the subject all night, but over the past couple of months, I’ve formed my own opinion over the whole flag issue. If the fl^r offends the majority of the population in South Carolina both black anH u/hito u/hv chmilrl it cf i11 hp nn tnn nf the Statehouse dome for everyone to see? Shouldn’t it be removed if the major ity wants it down, since we live in a ma jority-rules type of society? Outsiders visit our state and think South Carolina is a redneck, racist state, and that is far from the truth. We have some of the nicest and friend liest people you will ever meet, but the Confederate flag gives South Carolina a bad name. How many more millions of dol lars will the state have to lose from the NAACP boycott before the flag comes down? If South Carolina is ever going to Catch up with the rest of the country, the flag has to come down. I know the supporters of the flag view it as history, and that is exactly why it be longs in The South Carolina State Muse um on Gervais Street. The proposal of putting the flag on the Statehouse grounds . is not acceptable, because people can still see it. It doesn’t belong in a place where everyone can see it The flag is a cruel reminder of the Civ il Mr and how more people were killed in the Civil Mr than any other war (ex cept Vietnam) in American history. And why was the Civil Mr fought? Bottom line, it was fought over slav ery and anyone with half attain knows that slavery was wrong a*d immoral. So if the flag symbolize*^ these things, why does it still fly i«the wind? If flag supporters would just admit to believing in the institution of slavery, and that is what the flag symbolizes when you break everything down, maybe this whole issue could die down. Letters Business school still financially competent I read with interest and concern your editorial about the business school in the Feb. 4 issue of The Gamecock. 1 am puzzled by your conclusion that “The financial debacle... has scared away prospective students and donors.” Consider these counterpoints: Undeigraduate enrollment in business increased about 10 percent from 1998 to 1999. Graduate enrollment increased about 2 percent from 1994 to 1998, but decreased about 14 percent from 1998 to 1999. Graduate admissions for fall 2000 are up, and 180 prospective master’s students were on campus, Feb. 11, at their own expense, for a day-long information ses sion. The Capital Campaign goal of $55 million for the Darla Moore School of Business has not been reduced, and expectations are that the goal will be met or ex ceeded. 1 am not aware of donors being “scared away.” Admittedly, for a variety of reasons, we have a fi nancial problem, and let me assure you that we are ad dressing the issue. The School of Business provides excellent programs and top-quality research and scholarship with less fund ing than most of our competition. Also, the School of Busi ness is unique because a portion of the revenues are self generated from enrichment fees based on graduate enrollments. In addition, the rapid growth in undeigraduate en rollment has resulted in additional budget pressures. All of us in the business school welcome your inter est in repotting both our problems and accomplishments. Accurate assessments of our successes and failures is a healthy endeavor. We all need to improve, but 1 think we sometimes dwell on the negative rather than the positive. RodRoenMdt Interim Dean Daria Moore School of Business Columnists sentinels of the truth I’m a freshman here at USC, and I just wanted to say that I thouroughly enjoy reading Pete Johnson and Brock Veigakis’ columns every week. They are funny, entertaining, sometimes filled with the truth, or just something that makes me want to say, “Ohhh my gosh, he’s so right.” I think I love the attacks on people just because they either (1.) deserve it (2.) oth er people should know about them and I guess (3.) a lit tle bit of humor never hurts anyone. Good job guys!!!! Kendra Boehme Business Freshman Keyes supporters renew faith in political system The recent visit by Ambassador Alan Keyes to the University of South Carolina on Feb. 10 failed to reach the status of newsworthy according to The State News paper (no mention could even oe round in rnday s edi tion). But don’t tell that to Will Grimsley. A senior at Duke University, Will and his father Paul made the trek from Durham, N.C., arriving early to be as sured of appropriate seating. The fact that Keyes was 15 minutes late hardly fazed this young man who was thrilled to be a part of the capacity crowd. Awestruck by his stirring message of morality, an occasional “Amen” rose from Grimsley’s wheelchair as Keyes reached both his climax and con cluding remarks. “I wish people would open their eyes and see that he [Keyes] is the only truly qualified and deserving candi date out there,” Will said, as he and his dad made their way back to the van in preparation for their return home. In recent weeks, Keyes’ supporters have multiplied, and he continues to attract loyal followers like Will across the country. It is not simply Keyes, but individuals such as Will, who have given this reader a renewed faith in the political system. My only wish is that voters who turn out in this pri mary year will be vote for a candidate not because of a promise of a platform, but because their candidate offers them the same inspiration and integrity that guided Will Grimsley to Columbia late one Thursday afternoon. Norm Jones International Studies Sophomore