Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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p * 1 _ 'r — — - J September 8, 2000_ ina Community since 1Q08 v Basketball recruit arrested by Eugene Rodillo The Gamecock Some students were shocked and dis i appointed by news of USC basketball play er Rolando Howell’s recent arrest for plac ing fake purchase orders, while campus athletic officials are remaining tight-lipped until more information concerning the ar rest surfaces. The Columbia Police Department would not release the details of Howell’s arrest be cause the case is still under investigation. However, students didn’t seem to need de tails to express opinions about the situation. “It was a pointless fall from grace,” said education junior Christopher Middle f r\n Business fresh man Jake Low ery agreed,say ing that if the allegations are true, it would be an enormous waste of talent. “It was a shame. He had a full scholar ship to play Di vision I basket ball. He had everything go ing for him, and it’s wrong for someone in his position to do something like this,” Lowery said. USC Basketball coach Eddie Fogler lim ited his comments, opting to hold his tongue until Howell’s guilt or innocence is proven. “I recently became aware of this situa tion and have been kept informed through out the process,” Fogler said. “This matter is now in the hands of the legal authorities and therefore I will have no additional com ments while the legal process runs its course.” However, Assistant Athletics Director Kerry Tharp confirmed that Howell has been suspended from “any basketball-related ac tivities” until the allegations are resolved “in accordance with USC Athletics Department policy.” Journalism freshman Landon Jones said the Howell arrest is evidence of what seems to be a trouble epidemic among athletes. “It seems like a lot of good athletes are getting in trouble for things like this. He could be making big bucks in the NB\. Why would you mess your life up now, when you could make the money to have whatever you want?” Jones said. Among students, there are opposing ideas on what might happen to Howell. “I don’t think they will convict him, and he will probably get off with a slap on the wrist,” Middleton said. “I personally hope he doesn’t get convicted, though.” Chemistry junior Mark Hartney’s com ments were harsher. “1 think he should not be allowed on the court this year, and if he is lucky he will get to wear a jersey next year,” Hartney said. Some students believe the arrest could have a negative impact on the entire bas ketball team. Despite differing opinions on Howell’s punishment, some students remain sympa thetic about his situation. Sports adminis tration major Blair Shropshire said he wishes the entire ordeal can be put to rest soon. The city/state desk can be reached at gamecockcitydesk@holmail.com. 1 I'MBBnBMl Howell USC sanctions pre-game prayer ■ Chaplains Association stays within bounds of U.S. Supreme Court by John Huiett and Brandon Larabee The Gamecock The prayer preceding last week’s Game cock season opener against New Mexico State was not unconstitutional, according to campus religious leaders and the Amer ican Civil Liberties Union of South Car olina. Campus United Methodist Minister Tom Wall, who coordinates pre-game prayers with the Athletics Department, said a court ruling earlier this year prohibiting prayers before sporting events didn’t deal directly with USC. He said the Athletics Depart ment invited the Chaplains Association to say the prayers before football games. Wall said a balance had to be found be tween the separation of church and state and the idea that “people of faith” can’t re move spirituality from their public life. While religion is a private matter, Wall said, it also has a place in public life. He said the pre-game prayers show the university understands this concept. “It shows that the university understands that religion is a vital part of human life,” Wall said. Religion and education have similar goals, since both are a search for truth, Wall said. “Certainly, there should be some intersec tion.” The Carolina Chaplains Association tries to have representatives of several reli gions and denominations give the prayers, Wall said. He added that the prayers are done in a way that doesn’t try to force any par ~ ticular religion on those attending the game. “We try to do it in a way that’s inclu sive, a way that’s non-sectarian,” W&ll said. Whll said he is “minimally” concerned . aboufthe prospect that the ACLU might challenge the prayers in court. While he stressed that any concerns about a court challenge were speculative, and would de pend on whether the university was will ing to take the issue to court, he said the university would have to follow any court ruling about the prayers. “That will be the ruling that university will have to abide by,” Wall said. A court ruling prohibiting prayer could be a long time coming, said ACLU spokes woman Laveme Neil. While Neil stands be PRAYER see page 2 CAREER FAIR HITS USC Amy Goulding The Gamecock Scott Duerksen, left, talks to criminal Justice senior Gilbert Gallegos at the Border Patrol stand during the career fair Thursday at the Coliseum. Council approves green spaces, construction by John Bailey ’ The Gamecock The Columbia City Council approved a USC proposal Wednesday for streetscaping and walkway additions around campus. The proposal includes the construction of two pedestrian bridges, one over Blossom Street and another over Assembly Street. The purpose of the bridges is to ensure safe ty to those walking to the future Strom Thur mond Fitness and Wellness center. “The walkways will make the campus and the Wellness Center more pedestrian friendly, more scenic,” Vice President of Student Life Jerry Brewer said. The Council gave preliminary approval to the bridge proposal by a vole of 4-2. The bridges are expected to cost USC $10 million. “Accompanying the bridge proposal was a proposal for streetscaping,” Brewer said. “That was pretty encompassing.” “The council voted to approve the proposal as a concept,” City Spokeswoman Leshia Ut sey said. According to Brewer, the university wants to separate pedestrians more effectively from traffic. Brewer said some sidewalks could be moved from being directly adjacent to the streets to being separated from the streets by a row of trees or another blockade. Sumter, Greene, Blossom and Bull streets are some of the streets involved in the pro posal. Part of the slreetscaping plans include re moving the gates from Greene Street in front of the Russell House. According to the proposal, Greene Street would remain open during the school day, but the speed limit could be as low as five miles per hour. Also, Sumter Street would be narrowed to two lanes, and the median on Blossom Street would be extended toward the wellness center. The project will also eliminate some on street parking around campus, which worries some city planners who feel the elimination of the parking might put stress on existing spots throughout the rest of the city. “We want to go in and make the streets as pedestrian-friendly as possible,” Brewer said. “Vvfe want to make the campus more scenic and separate pedestrians from traffic by putting in a row of trees or something like that. This makes it safer and more visually pleasing. It has a calm ing effect.” Though the proposal passed, Council mem bers and the city did show some apprehension. Officials fear the bridges might deteriorate into eyesores. “Some members of the Council did have some questions, specifically concerning the landscaping portion of the proposal,” Utsey said. “However, it was approved pending changes to the concept.” The city/stale desk can be reached at gamecockcttydesk@hotmall.com. Americans get sex ed from friends, survey says by Betsy Baugh The Gamecock One-third of Americans first learned about sex from their friends, according to a survey conducted by the Yankelovich Partners, the nation’s largest mail-order distributor of erot ica. The major concern growing among health care professionals is that the misleading in formation young people receive causes the spread of STDs, said Katy Zvolerin of adamcve.com, the company that commissioned the survey. This spread is most common among col lege students who do not practice safe sex. “What’s concerning so many young peo ple learning about sex from their friends is that they may not be receiving accurate informa tion,” Zvolerin said. “It may be that one of the reasons some Americans are uncomfortable with erotic material is that they were intro duced to sex as a dirty secret rather than the natural and healthy act it is.” Other experts agree, such as Alex Tay lor, a certified sex therapist quoted in adamcve.com’s press release announcing the results of the survey. Taylor said the source of most sex education is seriously lacking. “Most people get an extremely poor ed ucation from both school and friends when it comes to developing healthy attitudes as they pertain to sex and relationships,” Taylor said. The problem is also affecting USC stu dents. 1,803 cases of STDs were reported last year on the USC campus. 139 of these cases were herpes, 594 were human papilloma virus and 951 were chlamydia. A majority of the people infected with STDs are unaware they have one, according to information provided by the USC Office of Sexual Health and Violence Prevention. These numbers should at least double to get an accurate estimate of how many USC students arc infected, office reports conclude. Survey seepages Weather Inside Ratebook Online Poll Today 84 65 Tomorrow 87 68 Five Way Friday to play at Elbow Room, Pavlov’s this weekend Page 7 Friday • Men's soccer at FILA/Maryland Soccer Classic • Women's Soccer vs. Nor Carolina • Memorial Service for Bruce "Smith” King in Rutledge Chapel, 7 p.m. Saturday • Football vs. Georgia, 3:30 p.m. • Great Gamecock Tailgate Party Will USC beat Georgia this weekend? Voiconlincutwww.gumccock.sc.cdu. Results will be published each Friday. —■"