Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Quote, Unquote - ‘Don't equate my integrity and trustworthiness to that of Bill Clinton’s.' George W. Bush, presidential candidate Page A7 Whe (Bamcock Editorial Board Kenley Young • Editor in Chief Brad Walters • Managing Editor Brock Vergakis • Viewpoints Editor Peter Johnson • Assistant Viewpoints Editor Emily Streyer • Editorial Contributor McCain's decision to pull ads honorable r he race for the Republican nomination has taken an unex pected turn. One week before the S.C. primary, Arizona Sen. John McCain vowed to run no more negative adver tisements attacking his main opponent, Texas Gov. George W. Bush. McCain asked Bush to stop the ads, as well, but Bush declined, saying he thought he should continue to defend his record. Less than a week ago, McCain was tossing mud right along with Bush, saying Bush “twists the truth” like President Clinton. But McCain realized his mistake and decided to take the high road. The decision, while politically unwise, shows once and for all that McCain’s character surpasses Bush’s. r If Bush (and candidate Alan Keyes, for that matter) would join McCain in pledging to run an attack-free campaign from this point on, the voters could hear some solid ideas rather than being dis couraged to vote. By running negative ads, politicians are effec tively saying: “I don’t care if my ads lead to fewer voters going to the polls, I just want to make sure those who do go to the polls vote for me.” Not only are these ads run on the assumption that people are too stupid to realize when words are taken out of context (as they often are), but they also assume that people don’t pay attention to the news media enough to make informed decisions. People are far more intelligent than that. It takes courage and dignity to keep the negative ads off the air, and we applaud McCain for taking the high road for the rest of this race. SG voting easier than ever this year Student Government elections begin at 9 a.m. today and last until 5 p.m. Thursday. Although voter turnout hasn’t been particularly stellar in past elections, The Gamecock encour ages all students to cast their ballots this year. The advent of on line voting has made the process easier than ever, and each of us should be able to find five minutes during the day to take advan tage of it. As students, we owe that much to our university. I The Gamecock also wishes to remind the student body that, as the universal voice for all students at USC, it refrains from en dorsing any SG candidates. Although we do reserve the right to critique candidates’ platforms - to point out what we perceive as errors, discrepancies and, yes, even beneficial ideas - it would be unfair for any one candidate to have an entire newspaper at his or her disposal to support a campaign. That’s why we run the SG Elections Special pages every year - so that all candidates can have the same opportunity on the cam paign trail to make their voices heard. By voting, students, too, have a wonderful chance to make their voices heard this year at USC. Don’t let apathy stand in the way. ^— __.;l 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. Studbit Media Area code 803 Advertising 777-3888 Classified 777-1184 Fax 777-6482 Office 777-3888 Gamecock Area code 803 Editor gckedOsc.edu 777-3914 News gcknewsOsc.edu 777-7726 Viewpoints gamecockviewpointsOhotmail.com Etc. gcketcOsc.edu 777-3913 Encore! gamecockencoreOhotmail.com 777-3913 Sports gcksportsOsc.edu 777-7182 Online www.gamecock.sc.edu 777-2833 SuBMttstON Policy Letters to the editor or guest columns are welcome from all members of the Carolina community. Letters | sh<< ' 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. IHEUAMECOCK Ken ley Young Editor in Chief Brad Walters Managing Editor Brock Vergakis Viewpoints Editor Clayton Kale News Editor Brandon Lanabee 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 Creative Services Kenton Watt Advertising Manager Carolyn Griffin Amy Goulding Travis Lynn Photo Editors Will Gillaspy Online Editor Peter Johnson Asst. Viewpoints Edita Kelly Haggerty Patrick Rathbun Asst. News Editors MacKenzie Craven Asst. EtCetera Edita Shannon Rooke Asst. Spats Edita Rob Fleming Asst. Encae Edita Charles Prasha* Shawn Singleton Charlie Wallace Senia Writers Emily Streyer Editorial Contributa 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 Start College Press Exchange . v .wwit ---i i i 'war*r cm VIWE % GOfEOERKfE w> m to sm wwse \ WCUHE THPfU 6E | Local Issues Every day different on Main St. jvery day M walkfron J-JGreene tc N. Main Stree on my way t< an internship and what I set and hear alonj the way change; every day. What I heai and see ever) day are the peo pie of Colum bia. I cui through the Horseshoe anc because I’m ear ly for work, 1 Room next to the Caroliniana library, where the National Association for the Ad vancement of Colored People would like to move the Confederate battle flag on the Statehouse. And less than a block away is the flag itself. I cross over Pendleton Street onto Statehouse grounds and watch as a group of legislative pages walk to work. Amaz ingly enough, they were all white middle class girls. I say hello and walk by them just long enough to hear them say how great their jobs will look on their resumes. I couldn’t help but laugh as I thought about how marketable someone who an swers phones and files things is. I guess it makes a difference when you’re answering phones, filing and fax ing for a state senator. It wouldn’t have sur prised me if they were all public relations majors, too, because when you come right down to it, PR majors are those who as pire to be glorified secretaries because they can’t cut it in the journalism or business world. As I continued my walk through the capitol’s grounds I pass by the capitol build ing itself, something that couldn’t have been done only a year ago when renova tions were being done. On the north side of the building, a group of school children sat and listened to their teacher talk about the capitol. A little blackgirl asked her teacher when the flag is going to come down. The teacher only shook her head and said she didn’t know. Maybe by the time the little girl is my age she won’t have to see the flag flap ping in the wind every day as I do. ' On the opposite side of the capitol by the Confederate Soldiers memorial on Gervais Street is an old man holding a sign showing his disapproval for abor tion. Bible in hand, and hike fetuses draped around his neck, he silently protests the Roe vs. Wade decision. He doesn’t speak a word, only pacing back and forth as some motorists honk in approval, while others give him the finger. This was a pleasant surprise because it’s usually people either protesting or sup porting the Confederate flag getting honked at or being given the finger or various four letter words describing sexual acts with mothers and goats. No matter what your opinion on any subject is, you have to be grateful we live in a place we can express it, finger and all. Just past the Statehouse on Main Street I run into an old friend of mine. It’s a home less black man who calls me the friendliest white boy he ever did see. I usually see him about once a week and talk with him for a minute or two. He gave me that gracious title because one time when he was very hungry I ran across the street and bought him a Chick-Fil-A sandwich. Not all homeless people are the monsters they’re made out to be if you give them a chance. When I finally get to work, I’m grate ful for the people I met along the way. And I can’t help but laugh, as they’re some of the very people of Columbia I’ve just been assigned to write a story about for an out-of-state newspaper. stop ana play frisbee with some friendly Florida girls who were having a good time. They say they’ve been stressed too much lately, and the gorgeous weather gave them a great opportunity to blow off some steam. One of the things that had ticked them off is each of them were accused of being Yan kees by some “Southern frat boys.” A kid from Virginia overheard this and said he gets called the same thing con stantly. Even my own roommates like to say I’m from “yankee” Carolina, instead of North Carolina, especially because I was bom in Virginia. It seems that nobody can really agree on who’s what at USC. Realizing I had to get to work eventually, I continued my walk. I walk past the Confederate Relic Brock Vergakis is a journalism junior and Viewpoints editor. He can be reached at game cockviewpoints® hotmail.com Letters Mockery of Christianity not appreciated It seems to me that Jeremy Touzel was trying to be Dave Barry in his juvenile col umn, [Feb. 14] “MTV favors Satan in 2000.” Well, Dave Barry he is not. I did not find it funny in the least. His mock presidential debate between Jesus and Sa tan was sacrilegious and childish. I am tired of opening the paper and seeing my be liefs mocked and made fun of. It makes me ashamed to go to USC. Jeremy Touzel insinuates in his col umn that Satan inspired the Old Testament of the Bible and inspired the apostle Paul to write his portion of the New Testament. I find this offensive and cannot see where it has any basis in reality. When Christ is asked his view on assisted suicide he says, “I'm going to have to agree with Satan on this one. I think people should be able to choose how they die. I chose to die on the cross.” Neither of these statements has any basis in reality. Jesus did not choose to die on the cross. He did what he had to do, because that is what God wanted. He died to save us from our sins. Jesus and the Virgin Mary are further mocked when Jesus is asked in the column his opinion of the elephant-dung painting in the New York Mueseum of art. Jesus replies in the column that he "asked Mom what she thought of the painting and she said she was quite pleased with the way it turned out." I am outraged at seeing my Lord and Savior characterized as a back ward idiot, who cannot even tell when He's been insulted I have only mentioned a few of the ways that Mr. Touzel has mischar acterized, mocked, and poked lun at my religion, which to me is the most impor tant thing in my life. 1 am very displeased about seeing this in my school's paper, but will contin ue to read so that there will at least be someone to provide equal time if this hap pens again. If others were offended by this, I encourage them to write, also. Jason Cromer Computer Science Sophomore Columnist wrong for supporting flag Where do I begin about Jonathnan Dunagin’s [Feb. 11] column ? I am writ ing a response because I hate ignorance, and I hate to see one of the dumbest columns I have ever read be thrown out for public view without a challenge. How could he be “as opposed to the state's insistence on flying the Confeder ate flag as any member of the National As sociation for the Advancement of Colored People” if he is willing to let it fly? I love the expression “Heritage is not hate” because our Southern heritage has never been anything but hate and sacrificing one race for the benefit of the other. And why does the flag have the connotation it does? The meaning of a flag or symbol is given to it by the society from which it arises. One thing I find captivating is the way he words, “for South Carolina, remov ing the flag now signifies to the rest of the world, ‘Hell yeah, we’re racist.’” It’s a flag that the South used during the Civil War, which was fought over money. The South’s economic structure was based on agri culture, which was based on the need for cheap labor, which made slavery the key to the South’s economic base, which made slavery the primary reason for succession. The Confederate flag sums that up in two bars and three little stars, so no mat ter what anyone says, the flag is racist. Mr. Dunagin’s solution is to leave the flag where it is. He seems to think ig noring the problem will make it go away. That’s never worked in the past, and I don’t know why he thinks it’ll work now. Dunagin also seems to think that having state pride is better than being moral or just. "Any South Carolinian who sup ports agroup boycotting our state doesn’t have any state pride.” So, is it better to sup port the constitutional ideology that all men are equal regardless of race, or to be pissed off that my home state is being boy cotted? See, state pride is not all-impor tant. There are some books you can read in the library about pride-filled citizens following blindly wherever the state leads, and most of them mention this artist from Vienna, what was his damn name? Oh yeah, Hitler. So, let’s say there’s nothing wrong with state pride as long as it’s some thing that we should be proud of. I was just wondering, is a tradition of segregation and degradation something to be proud of? I hope not. David Campbell Journalism Junior State Issues Meeting Bush good opportunity I experienced something ex citing; it was a chance opportu nity. I met George W. Bush. Many of you might want to stop reading with a sarcastic “Big deal.” You should ask yourself this question before moving on: Who wants to meet a would-be world leader? I do. And I did. 4:35 pjn.: 1 was about to begin the clos ing shift Thursday at the customer ser vice desk at Columbiana Centre. As I came in, three news trucks were crunched around the small entrance out side the food court. My boss Jeff and oth er managers were milling around. When I found out from my boss, Jeff, that “He” was coming, I gave him my tVDical “I-don’t-dur-nolitics” reaction. “Oh, no, and I had to be the one working today,” I said with a smirk. After clocking in, I received more details. George W. Bush intended to buy a Valentine’s Day card for his wife. It was hours later when I realized how incon ceivable that sounded. Imagine a profes sionally-dressed Bush with a swarm of supporters, Secret Service agents and Texas Rangers following him in a huddle through Ann’s Hallmark. I’m still debating whether that’s a "Kodak moment” or something suitable for “America’s Funniest Home Videos.” 5:35 pjn.: There were about 50 peo ple hanging around the desk. Many car ried blue signs that read, “South Carolina is Bush Country.” The tell-tale white earpieces of Secret Service agents distin guished the guards from ordinary folk. Two security officers’ conversation over our desk’s walkie-talkie grabbed my attention. The passengers of a bus wanted to keep it parked in a fire lane. After the receiving officer refuses, the first re sponds, “This isn’t a media bus... it’s George Bush’s bus.” Needless to say, the bus stayed. 6 p.m.: My boss is nowhere in sight. I spotted him around the food court some time ago with his wife... and a camera. The crowds were growing anx ious. Later, a woman passed out Bush signs to a group of people. “Only seven more minutes,” she told them with a grin. My view, although slightly obscured, was still the best in the area. Finally, one of Bush’s bodyguards entered the food court. His face was expressionless as he slowly began to clap. The crowd erupted into applause and chants of “Wfe want Bush!” Bush finally entered, and time slowed. 6:45 pjn.: Note-taking was forgot ten. However, my disappointment was growing as the minutes passed. Bush wasn’t heading toward the desk like I’d hoped. Bush stood on a chair and gave about a two-minute thanks to the crowd. He stepped down and turned as if he were heading outside. My mouth gaped in wonder. He was coming towards me. 7 pin.: I grabbed the front section of that day’s The State. His light blue tie looked dazzling. All I could think about was that he winked at me, and he was reaching out to get my paper. It seemed as though he looked at it, then glanced at me slightly puzzled. After signing what probably seemed like a thousand books and signs, a newspaper may have been a welcome, although unusual, change. He signed it quickly, gave me a brief smile and moved on. I remember thank ing him with a huge smile, but afterward, the night seemed like an insignificant but happy dream. I asked news reporter Heather Hoopes if she remembered me from previous chance meetings. I think she actually did. I spotted a “WWJD” bracelet under her business suit sleeve. Much later, I was surprised as a middle aged man entered the mall holding a John McCain sign. I know, it was a moment that lasted two long hours, but it was one I will nev er forget. This may or may not affect my vote on Saturday, my 21st birthday. But at least it will make for some in teresting conversation in the polling lines.