Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

Quote, Unquote - ‘There is a widespread sentiment that the faculty is indeed underpaid.' Dr. Ezra Greenspan, English professor Whe 0amecock Serving the Carolina Community since 1Q08 Editorial Board Kenley Young • Editor in Chief Brad Walters • Managing Editor Brock Vergakis • Viewpoints Editor Peter Johnson • Assistant Viewpoints Editor Emily Streyer • Editorial Contributor Suspension for Cocks hat intolerable An eighth-grade student in Ohio received a three-day suspen sion for wearing a USC baseball hat with the word “Cocks” on it to his high school basketball game. It’s the same hat thousands of USC students wear every day on their way to class. The student’s principal said the hat was vulgar and inappropri ate, using a definition from the dictionary that makes reference to the word’s phallic symbolism. This is a completely ludicrous argu ment made by an ignorant educator. The student’s First Amendment rights have been completely vi olated by a principal hellbent on redefining and banning words he considers morally questionable. This suspension sets a dangerous precedent for the principal to further violate student’s First Amendment rights. What’s next, banning the Oregon State University Beaver’s hat? Or how about the U.S. Naval Academy Seamen? What about the other USC’s Trojan hat? Will he ban it because it makes a refer ence to a brand of condoms? Will he ban Clemson Tigers T-shirts and hats because they can be construed to make reference to a “pussy” cat? Or maybe he’ll even ban students from supporting Morehead State University because of references to oral sex. The uneducated can change the meaning of anything if we let them, and we must not. Suspending this student for wearing a hat only en courages the level of ignorance plaguing public schools across the country. The hat was signed by USC running back Ryan Brewer and is, as we all know, a proud representation of the University of South Carolina. The student’s suspension is a blatant insult to USC, the state of South Carolina and intelligent people everywhere who know the true meaning of a shortened word. We cannot and must not stand for this. As students of the school whose hat he was sus pended for wearing, we wholeheartedly support him. Let this be a lesson to everyone else who would try to tarnish USC’s reputation that we won’t stand silently while you try and lick our ‘Cocks. Housing fouls up on early dorm closings The Department of Housing has inconvenienced many stu dents by setting an unreasonable deadline for students to leave residence halls for spring break. All dorms are closing at 8 p.m. Friday and will reopen at noon Sunday, March 12. Students who must travel long distances will either have to drive all night or spend wasted money on a hotel room. Housing should allow students to stay through early Satur day in case students have to make long drives to their destinations. According to the flier circulated by Housing concerning spring break, students wishing to stay on campus longer could have spo ken with their residence hall directors to make arrangements. However, these arrangements involve being set up in one of the “nine month” dorms that don’t close for break — which is hardly convenient for students. Even though keeping residence halls open an extra day might inconvenience Housing staff who have to complete health and safety inspections during break, that inconvenience will be small compared to the problems residents are experiencing because of the early closing. 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. Aoorem The Gamecock The Gamecock 'ITnrlT?, **<**** 1400 Greene Street otTwn T™“ Columbia. SC 29208 Brad Walter* Photo Editors j mi Ir, .... Managing Editor Will Gillaspy Offices on third floor of the Russell House. Brock Vergakis Online Editor Stuoeht Media Area code 803 Viewpoints Editor Peter Johnson Advertising 777-3888 Clayton Kale Asst. Viewpoints Editor Classified 777-1184 News Editor Kelly Haggerty Fax 777-6482 Brandon Larrabee Patrick Rathbun Office 777-3888 Associate News Editor Asst. News Editors Rebecca Cronican Mac Kenzie Craven Gamecock Area code 803 Ann Marie Miani Asst. EtCetera Editor Editor gckedQsc.edu 777-3914 EtCetera Editors Elizabeth Rod News gcknewsQsc.edu 777-7726 David Cloninger Asst. Sports Editor Viewpoints gamecockviewpointsQhotmail.com Shannon Rooke Rob Fleming Etc. gcketcQsc.edu 777-3913 Sports Editors Asst. Encore Editor EncorelgamecockencoreQhotmail.com 777-3913 Kristin Freestate Charles Prashaw Sports gcksportsQsc.edu 777-7182 Copy Desk Chief Shawn Singleton Online www.gamecock.sc.edu 777-2833 Renee Oligny Charlie Wallace Submission Policy Copy Editor Senior Writers 4 . , Kevin Langston Emily Streyer Letters to the editor or guest columns are welcome Encore Ejitor Editorial Contributor tr°m all members of the Carolina community. Letters Student Media ^uid be 250-300 words. Guest columns should be an _ CiL . L. .♦ cnn -7nn ^ Ellen Parsons Business Manager "P'hion piece of about 600-700 words. 0,>ectof Sherry Holmes Both must include name, phone number, profes- Susan Kjng Classified Manager sional title or year and major, if a student. Handwritten Create Director Erik Collins submissions must be personally delivered to Russell Kris Black Faculty Adviser House room 333. E-mail submissions must include Julie Burnett Jonathan Dunagin telephone number lor confirmation. Todd H°°*cs Graduate Assistant tu o . .. . .. . ... g ... , Betsy Martin Robyn Gombar The Gamecock resenres the right to edit for libel. ^ Van Cine McKelve, style and space. Anonymous letters will not be pub- Creative Services Melissa Millen lished. Photos are required for guest columnist and can Kenton Watt Brantley Roper he provided by the submitter. r Advertising Manager Nicole Russell Call 777-7726 for more information. Carolyn G'iffin Advertising Stall College Press Exchange ■. i oat-^Niaegyrwg*-' .. ....„ ,, ' BUTTHEV / I \ TW?N®W^ / 6f&MC AT &C& DOWN JfcNESUNlVBSm. imcmr APPROVE Or INOERRACIM- . I Social Issues Spring brings out best in S.C. Frozen drinks, tanned bodies and the smell of co conut took over my senses as I walked home from New York Bagel Sunday morning. I waved to the joggers and lis tened to the birds chirp, when suddenly a certain nos talgia kicked in. It was an unmistakable air I breathed in the mornings during spring break last year on my runs through downtown Ocho Rios. It was a papaya-laden Jamaica that sang to me in our semitropical Carolina dew on Greene Street, and as I closed my eyes, I was there again. Comparing Jamaica to our state’s capital seems immiscible until you take a chance on Columbia’s virtues. Sparing some time to appreciate this week that’s been custom-made for baseball games and the immersion of fresh air is imperative for the joyous momentum of USC life. Waiting for later can’t capture the moment of true ecstasy for the enjoyment of life’s lit tle gifts. Late Monday, I ventured to Five Points with two of my buds, and we opted to take a safe walk down there instead of driving, a no-brainer because of the beautiful outdoor ac commodations. By the time we got - “home” to Jungle Jim’s, we were in toxicated by the Carolina air. Dave Matthews and Guns N’ Roses quickly followed, and our low-key bonding en deavor soon transpired into the hot spot for three 21st birthday celebrations. The summer Southern comfort al lured some diverse, random passers-by into the hole-in-the-wall establish ment, and yes, even the regulars at Pavlov’s superceded their home court with the bar more conducive to the soft breeze. With the open embrace of such un paralleled weather comes its conse quences, of course, as I experienced Monday with my history classmates. Our teacher told us that 27 of our 70 students didn’t show up Friday, when nature’s ambrosia commenced, as did Rough Draft’s afternoon beer-drink ing population. He attributed it fully to the weather because it is a 1:25 class, so no number of Thursday night mar garitals and Bud Lights would excuse sleeping in that late. The class left in shame, but the dis may was overturned when the doors of Gambrell swung open, revealing the richest combination of sun, wind and sweetness. Suddenly, I heard two guys talk about going down to the Blatt P.E Cen ter to practice their soccer shots. When 1 went to my afternoon smoothie-blend ing job in the center of Five Points short ly after, my co-worker and I reveled in watching those Rough Draft fans prac tice a different set of shots. Projecting spring break excitement to our cus tomers, we were elated to serve Co lumbia’s best nonalcoholic frozen fruit beverages to a spring-ready crowd, and • work was so fan. The point is, while trying not to undermine the power of a proactive scholastic overachiever, that life could be so enhanced by using Mother Na ture’s gift by drinking a beer, throwing a Frisbee, or writing a sonnet under a tree on the Horseshoe. Simply going through the everyday motions of same ness and ignoring the spontaneity of a sudden passion for living a fall day could be destructive. * No, skipping class and disrespect ing the time our professors put into our courses might not be the most overall beneficial manifestation of an inner uige to love the world, but in a mod ern fable by Paulo Coelho, “The Al chemist”, a strong point is made: “When each day is the same as the next, it s because people fail to recognize the good things that happen in their lives every day that the sun rises.” Columbia isn’t Jamaica, but if you’re “stuck” here for Spring Break, things could definitely be worse. A Gamecock column from last week touched upon South Carolina’s down falls in the eyes of people from differ ent states, but didn’t adequately por tray the sigh of relaxation and appreciation that tourists most often let out, and it’s one of awe. Let’s not foiget what our state flag sports - a palmetto tree and a crescent moon. Who could ask for more? IF 'WW WM Meredith Davis 1 is a journalism junior. She can be reached at Merdavis50@aol. com Letters Columnist not funny or original Hey, I was just wondering why nobody has stopped those little columns about Satan vs. Jesus for president from ap pearing in The Gamecock. The only offense I take from it is the fact that you guys think I have that bad a sense of humor. It’s just that it is not funny at all. I mean, seriously, if you guys at The Gamecock are hav ing trouble coming up with funny material, I can help you out. I can at least come up with something funnier than that as long as I have a free half-hour. I mean, hey, I might not be that funny of a guy, but I know I can at least come up with something a little more clever than a blatant “South Park” rip-off. Jonathon Hipp-Mercer Philosophy Sophomore NAACP hurls racial harmony Thank you, Brandon Gaskins, for your truthful column. Most people don’t have the balls to stand up against mi nority organizations in fear of being labeled a racist. Your column is the truth. Most people don’t know anything about politics or the National Association for the Advancement of Colored Peo ple, but they think it’s doing them well. Lately, the NAACP has done nothing but hamper racial harmony. The flag issue is one of power and nothing else. No one can give any facts otherwise. It only forms a larger gap between the races that only time will heal. I’m sure you’ve gotten enough hate mail from this, but realize that there are many people out there who back you. I’m sure you’re fighting a losing race because any thing you said in this article will be labeled racist by the NAACP. Sure, there are racial issues, but if one side can give its opinion, why can’t the other? Good luck in your fight. James Nittel Business Sophomore # Attack on NAACP ignorant On Feb. 28, Brandon Gaskins wrote a column on the Student Government Finance Committee’s unjust appro priations of Student Activity Fees to the National Associa tion for the Advancement of Colored People. He made a valid point that financial codes prohibit the funding of a po litical oiganization. However, I found Gaskins’ attacks on the NAACP to be ignorant of the policies and programs of our nation’s laigest civil rights group. Gaskins believes the NAACP is a racist oiganization that does not have programs to help the African American community. The NAACP has programs that promote edu cation, health care and employment among, not only African Americans, but other minorities, as well. Not only does the NAALr address the problems af fecting the African American community, but it does have a progressive agenda, that includes taking down the flag on top of South Carolina’s Statehouse and increasing black characters on network television. Its purpose in having a progressive agenda is to see the views and senti ments of the African American community represented in our society. I agree that if funding of a political organization is pro hibited by Student Government, the NAACP should not be funded. But Gaskins’ ad hominem remarks against the NAACP do not have anything to do with the Finance Com mittee's decision to break SG financial codes. I think Gask ins’ view on the unjust funding was inarticulate and could have been justified by facts instead of opinions. Elizabeth Fisher History Sophomore Coca-Cola breaks promise The Coca-Cola Company broke its promise to use re cycled plastic to make soft drink bottles sold in the United States. As a result, billions of Coke bottles are landfilled or incinerated that could be new bottles. They could use new technology to make new bottles from recycled plas tic. It’s time for consumers to demand Coke -Take it Back and Use It Again! Marissa Dancer Advertising Freshman State Issues Campaign puts S.C. in bad light Corey Ford is a liberal arts sophomore. He can be reached at gamecock viewpoints® hotmail.com With both George W. Bush’s and John McCain’s campaign blitzes in Feb ruary, the national media inundated the Palmetto State to cover the criti cal Republican primary,' which Bush won handi ly. Every political re porter and pundit seemed to-descend upon South Carolina after McCain surprisingly abused Bush in the New Hampshire primary. The state’s primary, the first in the South, has basically de termined who the Republican nominee would he since 1980. although with McCain’s upset in Michigan, this trend could change. Despite the national spotlight, a couple of issues during the primary campaign shed a neg ative light upon the state. The Republicans’ re fusal to call for the Confederate flag’s removal and Bush’s visit to the nonaccredited Bob Jones University became the talk of the evening news and the focus of the laige newspapers. Appar ently, McCain’s portrayal of Bush as anti-Catholic because of his visit to the Greenville university — the school has a notorious history of bigoted rhetoric against the pope and the Catholic Church - paid off among Independents in Michigan. Even Democrats A1 Gore and Bill Bradley began to oliimo in ijiTomrf tlifl flair ■...c-—c What can I say? Whether the media rail us about the flag or how socially conservative Bob Jones University is, the state itself seems to be painted in a stereotypical light And if other Amer icans forget how “backward” we are, they can always point to our proud education system. With dismal rankings in overall education, the state can never climb out of the 40s in educational categories. Democrats joke that former Gov. David Beasley’s motto on education was “Thank God for Mississippi!” So are the national media justified in de scribing South Carolina in this manner? More importantly, are they right? Are we just a bunch of backward, intolerant people who still have not recovered from the Civil War? Hell, no! I am proud to be a South Carolinian. Sure, the Palmetto State has some significant problems like race relations and inadequate schools, but what state does not have serious problems? Every state in this nation has difficulties of its own, yet the media do not flash their predicaments and shortcomings to the rest of the country. Looking at the positive aspects in every state, South Carolina should be viewed for the good it has to offer the rest of the nation. Nobody — particularly at the national level — mentions the unprecedented, booming economy that has tak en place this decade laigely because of a sub stantial surge of foreign investment. Being a right to-work state, South Carolina, with the aid of the government, looks to attract “worker-friend ly” businesses and corporations, therefore rid ding the state of the threat of an oversized union expansion. With more affluent tax bases, rev enue for education is bound to increase over the nnvt A rtf'Art Many of the newcomers move from the northern part of the nation, and while some citizens despise this influx of “foreigners,” most embrace those from the North. This inflow of newcomers certainly not only strengthens our economy, but also adds to our diversity. Also, the state should be proud to possess one of the most diverse populations, with near ly a third of South Carolina’s residents being African American. What the national media fail to mention is that an overwhelming majority (nearly 65 percent, right at two-thirds majority) of the state’s citizens favor the removal of the Confederate flag from the Statehouse dome. Dis playing more courage than his weak predeces sor, Democratic Gov. Jim Hodges has not backed down in his proposal to bring down the fltg — Republicans and special-interest groups coerced Beasley to drop his proposed compromise to re move the flag. And Hodges touts a progressive education record in his short term as governor by creat ing First Steps, a program designed to aid disad vantaged preschoolers, and by pushing for a state run lottery to fund scholarship programs. Hard to believe as this might seem, the harsh social conservatives do not outweigh the voices of pro gressive South Carolinians. Yes, we have some major issues to address in South Carolina. But with a unique diversity, a beautiful natural environment and a robust economy, the Palmetto State’s characterization must be one of improvement and success. And only by removing the Confederate flag and strengthening our schools can we have this.