University of South Carolina Libraries
Carolina News Budget stumbles on First Steps by Jim Davenport Associated Press Four Democrats on Thursday helped House Republicans reject Gov. Jim Hodges’ request for an extra $10 million for his early childhood edu cation program. Hodges’ First Steps plan failed to get the extra money on a 62-60 vote as Republicans railed against it during debate on the $5.8 billion state budget bill. In addition to $20 million allo cated to the program in next year’s bud get, Fust Steps has about $17 million in unspent funds from this year’s budget. First Steps Director Marie-Louise Ramsdale said early childhood educa tion programs statewide need millions of dollars in grants. Greenville Coun ty is asking for at least $2 million, she said. In North Carolina, a similar pro gram awards grants averaging $3 mil lion per county, Ramsdale said. House Majority Leader Rick Quinn, R-Columbia, said the debate over Fust Steps is less about early childhood education and more about politics. “Wfe’re talking about how we’re shap ing the election that we are moving in to in November,” he said. Hodges said House Republicans were the ones playing politics. “You shouldn’t support First Steps Just because Jim Hodges wants you to,” he said “You should support Fust Steps because it is the right thing to do.” However, one Democrat voting against the extra money, Rep. Ted Brown of Georgetown, said he opposed the measure in part because of pres sure from Hodges’ office. Other Democrats voting against Hodges’ proposal were Tun Wilkes, of Winnsboro, Harry Stilley, of Due West, and Herb Kirsh, of Clover. But House Minority Leader Gilda Cobb-Hunter, D-Orangebuig, was quick to point out that seven Republicans voted for the extra funding. She also said that despite controlling the House, Republicans needed four hours of de hate to kill f’.ie measure. “Look how long it’s taking them to win,” Cobb-Hunter said. But the vote also took its toll on one Democrat who sided with Repub licans. After the vote, House Democrats were circulating copies of a news sto ry published Wednesday about Brown being sued by a woman who borrowed money from him. Brown wouldn’t discuss the law suit, but said he was frustrated by his i - a — L ‘ .._» .1 L, > tKrt |Jcii ly a lcatuuu w uu unu uj v..v expectation that black Democrats should vote as one block. ’ “I haven’t seen very many black legislators question white Democrats for voting on other sides of issues,” Brown said. He said he supports First Steps and expects it to get full funding when the bill comes back from the Sen ate. “The process is not over yet.” House Republicans were quick to seize on Democrats’ infighting. “There are things going on in this chamber and outside this chamber that are despicable,” House Speaker Pro Tern Terry Haskins, R-Greenville, said. The House continued debate on the budget bill into the evening. Studies show students divide into drinkers, non-drinkers by Dane Schiller College Press Exchange Dallas - College campuses are becoming more divided into camps of serious drinkers and non-drinkers, a new national survey suggests. The number of frequent binge drinkers and the number of students abstaining from alcohol both are increasing, according to a national survey by the Harvard School of Public Health released Tuesday. The survey of 14,000 students showed that almost one-fourth are frequent binge drinkers and almost one-fifth abstain from alcohol, said Henry Wechsler, director of college alcohol studies at Harvard. "Revulsion against the more extreme forms of drinking may be driving some students away from the binge-drinking scene entirely," he said. On South Padre Island, Nadia Trevi no, 23, said she agreed with that conclu sion, even as other students around her celebrated spring break as a traditional drunken rite of passage. "I have cut down. People are saying no," said Trevino, a junior at the Uni versity of Texas at Austin. "I am having more fun sober and watching everyone else get plastered." Wechsler's study did show that seri ous college drinkers are getting drunk more often. The study was conducted at 119 four-year schools in 39 states. Binge drinkers account for two-thirds of alcohol consumed on campus and were defined by the study as men who chug at least five drinks back-to-back or women who have at least four drinks back-to back at least every other week. Wechsler concluded that frequent binge drinkers increased from 20 to 23 percent from 1993 to 1999, while the number of abstainers increased from 15 to 19 percent during that same period. Schools have had some success with on campus programs to reduce drinking, but more could be done to counter estab lishments that offer low-priced, high-quan tity drinks, said Wfechsler, the study's chief investigator. In North Texas, some students said drinking has played a lesser role in their lives in recent years, but for some of their classmates, getting drunk seems as much a college pastime as ever. "I can have fun without alcohol," said one Southern Methodist University pre med student who gave up alcohol his fresh man year. He asked not to be identified. "There's a lot of people who party a lot and go to the bars. It is pretty normal at a college," he said. The University of North Texas chap ter of Theta Chi fraternity was suspend ed by the school and by its national head quarters earlier this month after several arrests for violations of alcohol and haz ing policies. According to police, some underage pledges were given alcohol dur ing hazing. Jay Perrin, who is pursuing his doc torate in speech and hearing science at the University of Texas at Dallas, said there's little time to drink among his friends. "I am around more serious people," Per rin said at the Coffee Haus on Hillcrest Avenue. "But I get a glimpse of the younger people, and it seems they are do ing just as much partying." Gage Paine, SMU's dean of student life, didn't have ready statistics on drink ing by SMU students but said binge drink ing "is still a concern, no doubt about it." Paine said students are at least talk ing more about choosing not to drink. "I am hearing more conversations by students choosing to abstain," she said. "It is becoming more of an option." Among the steps SMU has taken to encourage sobriety are a zero-tolerance policy at residence halls and programs to help students combat alcohol abuse and understand the risks of heavy drinking. Mandalyn Clark, an SMU sophomore, said she believes figures on binge drink ing are overstated. She said she believes most binge drinking occurs at get-ac quainted parties and rush parties at the be ginning of the school year. "But then it goes down-," she said. "As far as I have seen, people don't sit around partying.... They drink, but it's more so- . rial drinking." Shawn Fouch, a senior at SMU, said the amount students drink depends on their social circle. "You see more of it on fraternity row," he said. "I'm part of the theater depart ment, and there's more problems with drugs than alcohol." « . Conference seeks to improve college 'climate' for women by Tabari D. McCoy College Press Exchange Cncvnoi—Students and faculty pant ing to help advance the careeis of women in higher education will get their chance, by participating in a national telecon ference to be hosted by the University of Minnesota. So far, more than 20 colleges and universities nationwide - including the universities of Iowa and Michigan, Cal ifornia State University at Hayward and Thomas Nelson Community College in Viiginia - have agreed to support the event, scheduled for March 27 and 29. Organizers say the conference is the start of a national initiative to improve campus climates for women. Among the topics up for discussion are the creation of collaborative partnerships; the es V tablishment of campus policies that bet ter support women as teachers, work ers and students; the development c strategies for career advancement fc women educators and the formation c a national agenda for women in highe education. •’ The discussion will be accessible t any college, university or intereste group with a satellite dish, organizer say. Registration is required, and fee vary from $ 10 to $50. depending on th campus. Participants attending the tele conference via satellite will get to in teract in real-time with discussioi panelists. For more information about the con ference, check out its official Wfeb site http://www 1 .umn.edu/women/wihe.hfrr , or call (612) 625-2385. E-mail inquirie canbesehttowihe@tc.umn.edu. ---—■ SCollegeClub.com BLBL*-'" s all l . J|j