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Quote of the Day ‘Most people would succeed in small things if they were not troubled with great ambitions.’ 9 - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow PhOtOS Dy D ROCK VtnuAlUa IMt VaAMcCOCK Students from across South Carolina enjoy the Carolina Cup on Saturday afternoon in College Park. A group gathers by the racetrack’s railing (above) to listen to Five Way .Friday perform after the races are over. (Below) A crowd leans up against the fence in College Park to try and catch a glimpse of the horse races only to realize they are too late, and will have to wait for the next race. by Brock Vergakis Viewpoints Editor CAMDEN - Every year, thousands come to Camden to watch the annual Carolina Cup steeplechase. This year, 71,000 people turned out, the largest crowd in American steeple chase history. Despite the large turnout, however, most of those at tending didn’t see a horse the entire afternoon. For many, “The Cup” isn’t about the races; it’s about the opportuni ty to see and be seen, dress to impress and have a great time at the state’s largest tailgate party. The crowd was filled with women wearing spring sun dresses and sun hats, and men wearing their best shirts and ties. Near the grandstand, a couple killed time until the races began by playing bocce ball, while others set up elaborate tailgates that could easily have been mistaken for a profes sional catering company. Around the grandstand, the most (expensive plots for parking and tailgating were set up. The Bank of America, which sponsored the event, had a laige presence in an area restricted to corporate sponsors. Here could be seen professional catering companies serving out expensive delicacies. On the opposite side was College Park. There, frater nities from schools all over the state set up tents, with kegs of beer and liquor flowing freely into the cups of thirsty, ea gerly awaiting college students. As more and more cars arrived, a sudden workforce seemed to come out of nowhere. As if taking a step back in time, a small African-American boy wearing a ripped T shirt and jeans lugged two coolers nearly as big as he was for two white fraternity members wearing coats and ties. After carrying the two coolers nearly 100 yards, both of which were filled to the lid with ice and beer, he the boy got his reward — $3. The boy, who called himself Crazy Willy, said he hoped to make $50 that day. “I want to make me some money and all these white people have it,” Willy said. “I want to make at least $50, but even $3 is better than nothing.” The dominant presence of whites was prevalent in the crowd. A quick glance saw perhaps two African Americans. John Wilkins, an African American from Atlanta, said he couldn’t remember a time when there was more than a hand ful of African Americans at the Cup. “I’ve been coming here for years, and the crowd’s al ways the same,” he said. “It’s always a bunch of rich peo ple and a bunch of college kids who are all white. I come here because it’s fun. But, I’m not surprised that a lot of other blacks don’t come because they wouldn’t feel any more comfortable here than a white man would going to a rap concert where everyone there is black.” Music was an integral part of the experience for many. Car doors were left open, as people everywhere listened to the radio or their favorite CDs. Two bands used the Cup as an opportunity to gain some more fans and promote their music. The group Dead Agent Caper played a few rows of cars behind the rail in College Park, attracting a small gath ering of fans who had never heard them before. “I just heard them playing, and I decided to walk over. It just adds to the atmosphere so much,” said Jennifer Moore, a 23-year-old Charleston resident. After listening for a minute, she quickly left when one of her friends grabbed her and said it was time to actually go see a horse. By the time the band Five Way Friday went on stage near a rail in College Park, all the horse races were over. A group of girls shrugged when they realized this. “We’d rather see Five Way any day over races,” one member of the group said. “Horses are a dime a dozen, but a drunken time at the Cup with an awesome band only comes around once a year.” Police presence felt at the Carolina Cup - *** —..... ’"■MPa Brock Vergakis The Gamecock Camden police officers were a large presence at the Cup. The prima ry charge was disorderly conduct, which ranged from fighting to swearing. A ■ } > by Brock Vergakis Viewpoints Editor Editor’s Note: The following is a firsthand account of what happened outside the National Guard Armory in Camden, which temporarily housed those who were arrested at the Carolina Cup. CAMDEN - While having a good time at the Carolina Cup steeplechase might have been the goal of most of those in attendance Saturday, that goal was often spoiled by various law enforcement agencies. At College Park, undercover police officers and SLED agents patrolled the tract of land along the out er rail, searching for underage drinkers. Those who thought they were safe by staying in one spot near a car or underneath a tent were often surprised when police asked to see their identification. Those who were caught drinking underage were either issued a ticket or taken to the National Guard Armory, the holding cell for all who were arrested at the Cup. Underage drinking wasn’t the only problem for law enforcement officers to worry about. Fights were breaking out everywhere at the Cup — in College Park, the infield and even near the sponsors’ area. Young and old were arrested at a rapid pace for dis orderly conduct. For police officers, disorderly con duct included drinking, fighting, public urination and even cursing. When one attendee asked an officer which words could and could not be said, the officer responded, “If I don’t like what you’re saying, you’re going to jail. And I don’t like that tone you’re taking with me right now, so I think you’re coming right now.” As I listened to this, the officer looked at me as if he were waiting for me to say something so I could be arrested. Five hours later, the person who got arrested for using the wrong tone of voice emerged from the two story brick National Guard Armory, waving his hands in the air and shouting, “Freedom!” As he walked with his friends toward his car, he gave some advice to some new arrivals waiting on their friends to be bailed out: Don’t think Camden law enforcement knows what the First Amendment is. i Outside the armory, a crowd of about 75 gathered in the parking lot, waiting for their friends to be re leased. A sense of camaraderie among those waiting began to emeige as stories of injustice and police bru tality were told. A man from Charlotte had red eyes with tears still evident from being pepper-sprayed by an undercov er police officer after he attempted to break up a fight. He said the officer didn’t apologize for pepper spraying him, but did say he was lucky he didn’t get arrested for disorderly conduct himself. Brian Putzar and Jarrod Sisk, both of Charlotte, were both pepper-sprayed when an officer saw one of them putting the other into the figure-four leg lock, a move made popular by professional wrestler Ric Flair. When the two tried to explain to the officer that they were just good friends horsing around, they were pepper-sprayed for resisting arrest. An air of tension between law enforcement and those waiting on friends to be released grew as the evening hours slowly passed by. The man who served as an unofficial liaison between the public and law enforcement was a National Guardsman. A tall man with a friendly smile and a knack for dealing with the public and identifying with others, he quickly gained the reputation among the crowd as being the one person in authority who would listen to reason and try his best to get whomever was needed out of police custody. As those who were arrested came out, the man was often thanked with a hug. “I’m doing my best. I want to go home, too,” the seigeant said. “They [officers inside] do, too. They just want to make sure they get their money first.” Lines formed at local ATMs as people drummed up money to release their friends. Only cash could be accepted as bond payment. The average fine for dis orderly conduct was about $225, but the fines for var ious offenses were often inconsistent. Two men who were arrested for fighting were charged only $125, while a man who commented on his friend being ar rested as “fucking bullshit” was charged $250. During a lull when there were very few people being brought in, a group of Camden police officers I r stood outside the armory smoking cigarettes until some one in the crowd made a comment that the scene might as well have come out of the “Dukes of Hazzard” tele vision show. A police officer with cigarette in hand came over and told the person he was no longer al lowed to talk and had to go sit in a car, leaving the property of the state-funded armory. Many bystanders were told they had to leave when police officers heard them say something the officers didn’t agree with. Some were told to leave when they approached the armory door to post bond for their friends because only law enforcement officers were allowed on the armory sidewalk. As mumbles from the crowd grew into vocal dis sent, some officers grew frustrated with the mainly college-age crowd in sundresses and ties. A plain-clothes police officer, who wouldn’t say his name when I asked him because he said it wasn’t anyone’s business, said the public was required to show respect for law en forcement at all times, and that he wouldn’t tolerate anyone criticizing police actions in any way. When I informed him that the Supreme Court case The New York Times vs. Sullivan and the First Amendment gave everyone the right to criticize the actions of public of ficials, he seemed unimpressed. “I don’t care who any of you are, you have to respect the law,” he said. “Don’t give me any of that legal mumbo-jumbo. I know the law, and I won’t hes itate to throw you in jail. You can’t say anything if I don’t like it, and I don’t want you to.” As a girl with tears falling from her eyes ran out of the armory after being released, she hugged friends who were unaware of why she was arrested. She then told those around her why she had just spent six hours being detained by police and fined $225. “I said that the cops here suck ass,” she said. f r