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Quote of the Day ‘It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop.’ - Confucius ...... . ' Page A6 , Monday, March 27,2000 Group s Christian message funny, not preachy by Clayton Kale News Editor Does God have a sense of humor? Just ask the members of The Fellowship. The Fellowship, a campus organization, sponsors “Sunday Night Alive,” a weekly sketch-comedy act held in the Russell House The ater. SNA, as it’s known, puts together comedy skits that highlight and poke fun - although nicely - at current trends. SNA also provides local music acts a venue to play to the 300 seat RH Theater. Skits on national trends, a different band every week, special guest hosts... sounds familiar, doesn’t it? Wes Church, president of The Fellowship, said that while SNA is similar to television’s “Saturday Night Live” in form, it doesn’t try to copy those skits. “In fact, we celebrate if ‘Saturday Night Live’ does a skit sim ilar to ours,” Church said at last week’s rehearsal. Even though the skits are put on by a Christian group, their content is secular. “The skits are like SNL skits, except they’re clean,” Church said. So why is The Fellowship giving out free comedy, music and pizza to those who attend? Church said the answer is simple. “We seek to reach non-be lievers through comedy.” “Everyone wants to have a good time,” he said. “And we want to show that Christians are no different.” “We don’t try to preach,” Church said. “We aim to be set apart from being ‘churchy.’ We just want to have a good time on Sun day nights.” Guest hosts for “Sunday Night Alive” are chosen from differ ent groups in the Carolina community. Assistant men’s basketball coach Barclay Radebaugh will host SNA in April. So, where do the ideas for the skits come from? Church said the troupe meets on Wednesdays to discuss skit ideas. The skits are then rehearsed and developed throughout the week. On Sundays, the skits are performed on stage for the first time. The RH Theater is alive with anticipation leading up to the show. Those participants not on stage separate into small groups giving advice and ideas on how to make the skits better. Every mem ber is busy with preparations for the show. Some members discuss the lighting cues, some check off the props needed for each of the skits, and others look over the script one last time. The rehearsals go right down to the wire, ending with a prayer just before the doors open to let in the night’s audience. And, like a coach giving a pregame pep talk to his players, cast director Jimmy Williams gives encouragement to the cast and makes predictions of a wonderful show. The Fellowship has performed “Sunday Night Alive” since spring 1997, and the event has grown in popularity and size since then. Performances have been held in the auditorium in Gambrell Hall and in the theater at the old Booker T. Washington High School. Seven members of the cast are new to SNA this year. Church said the comedy troupe is open to new performers. They have auditions during the fall semester. For more information about “Sunday Night Alive,” visit the group’s Web site at www.in teractintemational.oig/SNA. Shows are held at 8 p.m. in the RH Theater. ‘We don’t try tp preach. We aim to be set apart from being ‘churchy.’ We just want to have a good time on Sunday nights.' Wes Church President of The Fellowship Veteran's death recalls real-life 'Saving Private Ryan' by George Watson The Associated Press New YORK - Motivated by empty stomachs, ea ger hands reached toward the rumble seat full of sacks leaking dirt. A small crowd surrounded the parked car and the contingent of Martin boys, who handed out potatoes from the heaping bags - bounty for then neighbors in Flushing, Queens, from an overnight excursion that otherwise would go unharvested on Long Island farms. It was the 1930s, the Great Depression. Every one was poor, and everyone was familiar with hunger. The potatoes meant a sure meal. The Martin boys were known for banding to gether to help out. So it was no surprise when six of them joined the Navy in World War II, even though no six sons from one family ever served I in the Navy at one time - before or, as far as Naval officials believe, since. All survived the war, and now this unusual chapter in the U.S. military’s history has closed. Charles, the last remaining brother, died earlier this year at age 81 following a lengthy illness. The boys got their spirit from their dad, who toiled at two jobs to feed a family of 13, brought starving families home to dinner, and once paid an out-of-work bricklayer to repair the family fireplace - which was not really broken - in hopes it would restore the man’s pride. like their dad, the boys believed in family and in community, in an age when many city neigh borhoods were as caring as small towns. That’s why the neighbors found it natural when most of the Martin sons went off to World War II. “Nobody questioned it,” recalled sister Agnes Martin. “Nobody thought it was anything out standing. It was always what people did.” Each time a Martin walked into the recruit ment office, their mother grabbed needle and thread and added another white star to the navy blue flag at the front window. The six stars rep resented her boys. Military historians doubt that one family will ever contribute so many sons again to a war. That is due partly to today’s smaller families. In 1930, a U.S family averaged 4.1 people; now the aver age family size is about 2.5. “Just finding six brothers of military age, well, I guess you could, but it wouldn’t be probable,” said Jerry Cooper, a professor of U.S- military history at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. “You can say the differences are more demog raphy and social change, rather than anything to do with the military.” Still, the military has changed. The country is not at war, the draft is gone, and the military has downsized. And the appeal for volunteering has faded, too. “In those days, it seemed like a respectable thing to do,” said Charles Moskos, a professor of military sociology at Northwestern University in Illinois. The Martins all fought, participating in every World War II theater involving U.S. forces. But their sacrifice pales when compared with that of the Sullivans, five brothers all killed serving together on a cruiser sunk by a Japanese torpe do in 1942. A few of the Martin boys had served togeth er at one time or another, but never all on the same ship. But early in the war, Mrs. Martin had asked one daughter to write to President Roo sevelt, urging him to put the boys together. Then she panicked until she learned her daugh Navy Brothers see page az Campus Notes Student Gamecock Club plans spring cookout The Student Gamecock Club will hold its spring baseball cookout for members after the game April 1. RSVP Mick Craw ford at 777-7784. Health and Wellness plans CPR course Health and Wellness Programs will of fer an American Red Cross adult CPR course at 5 p.m. Tuesday in the Blatt P.E Center. The class costs $20. To register, call 777-6518. Only 10 spaces are avail able in each class. Professional Rescuer CPR to be offered Health and Wellness Programs will offer an American Red Cross CPR class for the Professional Rescuer from 5 to 8 p.m. April 7 and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 8 in the Blatt P.E Center. The class costs $35. To register, call 777-6518. The regis tration deadline is April 5. Second City National Tour Company coming The Second City National Touring Com pany, a comedy company, will have a show at 8 p.m. April 12 in the Russell House Ballroom. Tickets are $5 for stu dents and $7 for non-students and are for sale in the Carolina Productions office and at the RH Infoimation Desk For more information, call Carolina Productions at 777-7130. Theta Gamma plans program, meeting The Theta Gamma chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority is sponsoring a Breast Cancer Awareness Program at 7 p.m. Monday in the Golden Spur. Tuesday will be the first meeting of the Literary Pearls Book Club. For information, call Erica at 544-3811. ■ CORRECTIONS A story in The Gamecock on Friday should have said The Wharton School is at the University of Pennsylvania. The Clothesline Project will be Wednes day only, not Wednesday and Thursday. I nlAi l I selected merchandise d novelty items Sweatshirts • t-shirts • cups The Official Bookstore I 1400 Greene Street • Russell House | Where your purchase benefits both you and the scholarship programs of the University of South Carolina 777-4160 --i-4 While we're cleaning, check out our daily specials an sale table.