Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Quote, Unquote ‘It’ll take all of Columbia's finest to stop the stu dents from taking down the goalposts.' Corey Ford, student body vice president Wk (Bamcock Serving the Carolina Community since 1Q08 Editorial Board Brock Vergakis • Editor in Chief Kevin Langston • Viewpoints Editor Nathan White • Asst. Viewpoints Editor Patrick Rathbun • Editorial Contributor j Brad Walters • Editorial Contributor Student Government makes right decision The recent decision by Student Government to convert the gravel lot between Bull Street Garage and East Quad was an at tempt to reach a compromise between the two most popular op tions of Student Government’s online poll. Most students voted either for decals (172 votes) or meters (142 votes) on the online poll. The reason for this compromise was to prevent residents of dorms in the area from parkihg at the lot for extended periods of time as well as to at least give residents a chance to park some where without having to compete with commuters using the me ters. inis compromise is prooaoiy ror tne oest. by aiviaing tne lot, it gives students many options. If the lot were only decals, stu dents living in that area would most likely leave their vehichles parked there for indefinite amounts of time. If the lot was entirely metered, the lot would be available to all persons, including facul ty and people not even affiliated with the university. Having the lot split between both options gives students an advantage over non-students in having a place to park. By making only half the parking lot metered, it will probably prevent the new lot from becoming another vulture lot. Already though, the parking lot shows signs of overcrowding as students have begun parking on the grassy knoll. This new parking lot and the problems that have and will arise from it are a small microcosm of an ongoing problem here at USC. The efforts of the university to beautify the campus are creating a squeeze on the number of parking spaces available. While the ad ditions of green space improve the overall splendor of USC, the administration must also be sensitive to the parking needs of those persons who commute to school and those who cannot afford to park in the parking garages. T-» 1 1111 . rans snouiu ceieorare, but practice maturity For the first time in two years, the University of South Caroli na football team is actually favored to win a football game. The Gamecocks are an eight-point favorite over the New Mexico State Aggies. While fans still have their fingers crossed, there is a legitimate chance for a Gamecock victory. The 2000 season opener might prove to be the end of a 21 game losing streak. During this streak, the football team has had a change of coaches, different uniforms and a controversy over the fight song. Nothing has seemed to pull the Gamecocks out of the depths of this losing streak. Perhaps Saturday will deliver redemp tion. If the Gamecocks snap their losing streak there is no doubt that a massive celebration on the football field will ensue. While there might be additional security, only a loss could stop all the fans in Williams-Brice Stadium from storming the field and tear ing down the goal posts. Fans should try to keep the celebration under control. While a victory certainly calls for a celebration, we must keep the party inside the stadium. Practicing respect and concern for the safety of oneself and of others could only guarantee the celebration will be one with nothing but positives. gi£&;V- About Us ■ The Gamecock is the student newspaper of The University of South Carolina and is published Monday. Wednesday andVriday 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 a 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 Tmb fiAMfmrx 8 mxmimmtmwmmmm The Gamecock 1400 Greene Street Columbia, SC 29208 Offices on third floor of the Russell House. Student Media Area code 803 Advertising 777-3888 Classified 777-1184 Fax 777-6482 Office 777-3888 Gamecock Area code 803-777-7726 Editor in Chief gamecockeditorehotmail.com University Desk gamecocudeskehotmail.com City/State Desk gamecockcitydeskehotmail.com Viewpoints gamecockviewpointsehotmail.com Spotlight gamecockspotlightehotmail.com Sports gamecocksportsehotmail.com Online www.gamecock.sc.edu Submission Policy V Letters to the editor or guest columns are welcome from all members of the Carolina community. Letters should be 250-300 words. Guest columns should be an opinion piece of about 600 words. 8oth must include name, phone number, profes sional title or year and ma|or. if a student. Handwritten submissions must be personally delivered to Russell House room 333. E-mail submissions must include telephone number for confirmation and should be sent to gamecockviewpoints©hotmail.com. The Gamecock reserves the right to edit for libel, style and space. Anonymous letters will not be pub lished. Photos are required for guett columnist and can be provided by the submitter. Call 777-7726 for more information. Brock Vergakis Asst Spotlight Editors Editor in Chief Amy Godding Brandon Larrabee Photo Editor University Editor Sean Rayford John Huiett Sports Photo Editor City/State Editor Miranda LaLomte Kevin Langston Ann Marie Miani Viewpoints Editor Brad Walters Jason Harmon Edi,ors Martha Wright Will Gillaspy Copy Editors Online Edita Jared Kelowitz Kyle Almond Sports Edita Asst. Sports Editor John Bailey Charles Prashaw Asst. City/State Edita Senior Reporters Amanda Silva Jacquelyn Poston Asst. University Edita Writing Coach Nathan White Asst. Viewpoints Edita MacKenzie Craven Meredith Davis Snrawr Menu _: js|g|g||MgHK||g Ellen Parsons Robyn Gombar Director Melissa Millen Susan King Brantley Roper Creative Director Nicole Russell Sean De Luna Advertising Stall Todd Hooks Carolyn Griffin Melanie Hutto Business Manager Emilie Moca Sherry Holmes Martin Salisbury Classified Manager Creative Services Erik Collins Kenton Watt Faculty Adviser Advertising Manager College Press Exchange i >*■ , I' $8BBm PRICE $ BBBH increase i ™ IN VALUE I OF RICHARD I CHENEY'S OIL I STOCK. OPTIONS I TffwinwtTWW!?i!Wi!inTnnTTFiniiTiTrww?!f!f^ ncnxu i iuiio Four-legged link to childhood passes I still remem- tmmMBammmmmmm ber the day clearly. My older brother and I had just got back from camp, and we were standing rather impa tiently at the end of our dri- Pete Johnson veway. My is a senior jour mom and our nalism major and neigliborhadset writes eveiy out on a 5-hour Friday. He can be trek that mom- reached via The ing from our Gamecockat: busy little town k of Port Wash- gamecockview ington, NY to {“©hotma.I.c buy a purebred 0,11 ; WW Wfelsh Terrier It jJ was a hot July • ’ *■ **■ mmmm afternoon in 1985 and I had just finished the second grade. My first memory of the puppy was his frightening ability to jump. He was jump ing in with excitement when my mom brought him to the back yard for us to see. Sure, he was tiny, but he could jump high er than my head and that was intimidating for a little kid. My brother fittingly named him ‘Jumpin’Jack.’ For the remainder of the summer, we spent most of our time playing with Jack. As fun as it was, summer had a bittersweet ending as my parents decided that it would n’t be fair for a young puppy to be caged up all day while they worked and we went to school. Therefore, Jack was given to our grandparents in Pennsylvania, where he could run free all day long. My brother and 1 would visit for weeks at a time over the summers, picking blue berries in August and swimming in the lake. That same lake would freeze over in the winter and Jack would run across the ice, stopping close to us when he had ex hausted himself. We’d then hold him to keep him warm. When my grandmother would go to the store, Jack would leisurely chase the car down the street at 25 miles per hour until Oma pulled over and let him in. My grandfather, Poppi, was a very coarse man, and there was no way he was going to let a stupid, little dog win his heart. How wrong he was. Jack had a knack for making an im pression. He was cuter and had better tim ing than that dog on Frasier and I can’t imagine ever having a better pet. I’ll ad mit I am biased, but to those who have met him, Jack will not soon be foigotten. He had personality and a charm about him that remains unmatched by any person I have ever met to this day. After the death of my grandparents, we brought Jack back to Port Washington. I was in high school at the time and would often come home and fall asleep in the den while watching cartoons. I was nev er late for dinner, though, because Jack would always wake me up with a loud shrill in my ear. He was always an hour early, and I would occasionally get up and run across the house, selecting an obvious hiding place. This turned out to be a fa vorite pastime of ours and he never seemed to catch on that I was in the same three spots each time. I guess most of you have picked up on my use of the past tense to describe Jack. Unfortunately, Jack died this week. It saddens me greatly to have lost the best friend I’ve ever had. Jumpin’ Jack of Blackraven was bom on March 29,1985 and he died this Tuesday evening, August 29,2000. He was exactly 15 years and five months old. I’m not ashamed to admit I cried like a baby, and I don’t consider it strange that I was just as upset as when my grandmother died. Jack had been a fami ly member for 15 years, and I actually knew him longer than I knew my grand mother. Jack was the most significant link to my childhood and a dear friend and mem ber of our family. Even up until last fall, Jack still had the livelihood that made him a puppy at heart. But infected paws led to inactivity that pretty much le(l to kidney and liver failure and a weak heart. My par ents knew he wasn’t going to live much longer. I was told that our other dog, Jil lie, stood over him on Monday and began howling in pain. Apparently my family weren’t the only ones who knew he was dying. So, on Tuesday evening, my parents and brother took Jack on one last trip to the vet. They scratched under his chin just the way he always liked, and they rubbed his belly the same way they had when he would roll over, curl his paws up and beg for it. They kissed him on the bridge of his nose and said their final good byes. I just wish I could have been there. Part of me will always regret not being there when he went. The hardest part is knowing that I’ll never see Jack again, yet I am still struggling with the perma nence of his death. I had heard from my brother earlier that afternoon and he told me that they would be going to the vet between 7 and j 7:30. The flood of emotions that followed was very untimely, as I had to be at work Tuesday evening. It was no surprise that at exactly 7:20, the rains came. Fast and furious, the storm lasted for about 2 minutes. Later that night, talking to my brother, he told what time the vet had put him to sleep. I don’t think I really need to say what time that was. I think you already know. Letters unemisiry acciaent should serve as safety reminder To the editor, Having worked as an industrial hy gienist in the Safety Department at a Iaige, well-known University, I was interested in reading the explanation of an accident and personal injury to a USC student that occurred during chemistry research. Tetrahydrofuran (THF), the chemi cal that caused the injury, is a highly flam mable liquid, and can form peroxides. Peroxides can present an explosion or fire hazard. Peroxides can form in THF as a result of age, heat, improper stor age, or exposure to light. When peroxides are present in the THF solution and the solution is evapo rated to dryness, a fire or explosion can result because the peroxides present are sensitive to high heat and can decompose rapidly or explosively. THF is not an air or water reactive material so that the THF would not have caught fire as a result of tiie exposure of the THF to water or air. A guess for the cause of the accident is that the THF was distilled to dryness involving the reactive peroxides, or the THF was spilled or its vapors allowed to accumulate near the heating device re sulting in vapor ignition. The presence of the sprinkler system probably saved the University (and their insurance company) a building, and pre vented severe financial loss. This accident clearly demonstrates the importance of sprinkler fire protec tion systems in University buildings and laboratories. There have been many seri ous incidents at schools and hotels where a fire protection system was not available. This accident illustrates the impor tance of hazard recognition among all sci ence educators and students. As was indicated in the article, chem istry can be a very dangerous field, but a humanities’ student walking to class must be aware of the oncoming cars and traf fic along our streets, or an accident can occur by getting hit by a car. All students and faculty need to read and become familiar with the material safety data sheets (MSDS) that describe the hazardous properties of the materi als that persons may handle. This accident also demonstrates to University administrators the importance of an effective university-wide health and safety program. Thank you, Gavin Burdge Certified Industrial Hygeniest, Certified Safety Professional Article illustrates balanced reporting, capable writing To the editor, Congratulations to MacKenae Craven on a well-written article. I found the big words.com article to be well written. Both sides of the issue were present. Good re porting. CarmelaCarr, Director of Russell House University Union \ Parking Issues The pains of parking never end I told you so. I ' ' hate to say it but, I told you so. This past sum mer I wrote a col umn stating that there was going to be a problem with parking this fell, but did anyone listen? Since a major ity of you weren’t here this summer, I decided that this would be a great time to tell you again. Screw green space, I want a place to park my car! The parking problem became apparent to me when I was in my car driving around the Coliseum parking lots for 30 minutes trying to find a place to park. i aiu ajuuummiu siuucm <uiu 1 live OH campus. I have classes all day on Tues days and Thursdays at the dungeon, oth erwise known as the Coliseum. So in order to be a good student and go to class, I need to park at the Coliseum. Well, I can’t do that because there are no parking spaces at 9 a.m. I have almost been late for my first class at the Coliseum since classes began. I guess those spaces outside the Russell House and library were helping, weren't they? Parking officials told commuter stu dents to park at the Coliseum parking lots since they would be eliminating the park ing on-campus. Well that is great in theo ry but if you combine the commuter, on campus and Journalism students there are too many cars and not enough spaces. It was a problem in the past, but not to the extent it is now. People are parking everywhere. In the lots, on the gravel strip behind the lots and down Devine Street. The problem is only going to get worse as the university replaces parking lots with green space. They have already started the deconstruction of the spaces behind the Horseshoe and, from what I hear, the EA garage and parking lots are next on the list for the change from slabs of cement to slabs of grass. I guess all the business students and fac ulty will be fighting for the metered park ing that line Senate and Barnwell streets. I know what all of you green space ad vocates are thinking, “The green space is so pretty and it makes the campus look more like a college campus. And you should just suck it up and walk to class.” First of all, if you have ever had a class at the Coliseum you would know that it is virtually impossible to walk from there to anywhere “on-campus” if your profes jyj'-i uui j uaiiuaccuiiu^ late. Second of all, if you want rolling green hills and wide-open spaces, go to Clemson. I hate to break it to you people, but we are in a city. The last time I checked, rolling green hills and wide-open spaces didn’t be long in a city. Honestly, if you didn’t want to live in a city, why did you come to USC? You knew before you got here what the cam pus looked like and that it was in the mid dle of downtown Columbia. Columbia is the capital city. I have come up with a solution that practically eliminates the parking problem here at USC. Think vertical. Come on, people, I know you can do it if you try really hard. Now that you are thinking vertical, think about parking garages. Are you fol lowing me? Now that you are thinking vertical and about parking garages, think about the two together. What a concept! If you haven’t figured it out yet, make the parking garages taller. If USC can have buildings that are 17 floors, why can’t the parking garages be taller? They do it in every other major city in this country, why can’t we do it here? In conclusioi .give me parking or give me death!