University of South Carolina Libraries
January 19, 2001 J Former student poses for centerfold ■ In an interview with The Gamecock, Lauren Hill discusses her recent Playboy photo shoot by Brock Vergakis The Gamecock In many ways Lauren Hill is like a lot of USC students. She works, likes to travel, has a boyfriend, misses being at home with her dog and wants to get a allege degree. However, most USC students don’t grace the pages of Playboy magazine as Miss February. Hill is making her second appearance in the magazine after landing on the cover in October. But this time, she’s appearing as a nude Playmate and is featured on the centerfold. But Hill’s body isn’t the only thing Playboy is featuring. Accompanying the photo spread is an article touting her as a USC cheerleader and jour nalism major. But there’s one problem — Hill ■ hung up her pompons nearly two years ago fp&s&’M when she withdrew from USC. Slijig|| “I am not in school, and Playboy knew that KgSj when I decided to do it,” Hill said. “I had no con trol over the angle he chose to write the ®ig|§ story, but they did know I was not in school.” H Playboy doesn ’t seem anxious to promote that fact |||§j| In the Tuesday edition of The Gamecock, a half page advertisement read: “USC cheerleader Bpl Lauren Michelle Hill is Playboy’s Miss February.” Throughout the article in Playboy, Hill’s Ejpj attendance at USC as a student and cheerleader is ||§ continually referred to in the present tense. “Lauren makes sure that the South Carolina Gamecocks give it the old college try. Eghty thousand Centerfold see page 2 Special to The Gamecock Lauren Hill, who was featured on the cov er of December's Playboy magazine (left), Is Miss February In the upcoming Issue. The Issue Is available In stores. Building a Greek Village ■ Greek Village nears reality as groups enter under contracts to build by Cristy Infinger The Gamecock Apian for a Greek Village is closer to reality after years of negotiation between Greek organizations and the university. “The current fraternities under contract for the Greek Village are expected to begin construction this June with an anticipated opening date of August 2002,” Director of Greek Life Gena Runnion said. Four groups are under contract with the r. university to build houses in the future Greek Village near the Strom Thurmond Fitness and Wellness Center. Alpha Tau Omega, Sigma Nu, Sigma Alpha Epsilon and the Kappa Alpha Order have picked their lots on the Greek Horseshoe. Members of the Zeta Tau Alpha sorority and representatives from their national office will meet Jan. 27 with university officials to pick their lot from the remaining 11 to become the first sorority in the Greek Village. Currently the only sorority with the funding for a house, ZTA hopes to encourage other sororities to join the Greek Village. ZTA’s funding is provided by its National Housing Fund. r “I hope that this will make ZTA stronger and hopefully push others into joining,” said Jessica Hood, ZTA president. “Zeta Tau Alpha has been waiting a long time for this, but we don’t want to do it alone. We will do anything that we can to help the other sororities to get to this point.” Four more groups are expected to choose a lot within the next 18 months. Many sororities and fraternities have fund-raising campaigns underway, with heavy participation by alumni. The university is “anxiously awaiting the addition of more groups to the Greek Housing Project,” Director of Student Life Jerry Brewer said. The proposed Greek Village will be reminiscent of the Horseshoe, with the houses following a similar architectural theme and the path of the houses following a horseshoe shape. University officials hope the buildings will also resemble those on the Horseshoe. The construction guidelines are in place to “go along with the university’s Master Plan to beautify the school and to create some sort of theme throughout the campus,” Brewer said. An architectural board reviews the plans for the houses before approval to keep a fluid theme within the Village. Each of the houses should take about 11 months to complete. If the groups break ground during the summer term this year, the members can expect to move in during the fall 2002 term, Runnion said. Greek seepages Blossom Street f£>|p£P % km** \BiSRS1 I 1 GatfMteti $tI06< ..^ * "' *«*««*» '"*" "".vs^"' *— Uficoto S»ee< The Greek Village will follow the design of the Horseshoe, both In layout and architecture. Four fraternities - Alpha Tau Omega, Sigma Nu, Sigma Alpha Epsilon and the Kappa Alpha Order - have chosen lots already. Zeta Tau Alpha sorority members are set to pick from the remaining 11 lots. State of the "State Gov. Hodges focuses on education ■ Politicians give mixed reactions to governor's address, proposed budget * by Adam Clark and Valerie Matchette The Gamecock Gov. Jim Hodges focused on the recent achievements of South Carolina’s K-12 educational system and specified plans for lottery funds Wednesday night in his State of the State address. Hodges outlined a four-part plan to use funds from the state lottery, which passed in November’s election. The program, dubbed “The People’s Plan,” would provide free technical-college scholarships to qualifying students and $2,000-a-year scholarships to universities. It would also give funds to teachers who want to earn their master’s degrees. Additionally, the money would be used to improve classroom technology. “700,000 people voted for the lottery,” Hodges said. “That is a home run for education. The people of South Carolina have demanded an education lottery.” Hodges praised the state’s recent gains in SAT scores, emphasizing that South Carolina ranked first in the nation in improvement on the lest. He also announced a variety of upcoming plans for the Hodges see page 2 ‘700,000 people voted for the lottery. That is a home run for education.* Gov. Jim Hodges Friends, family push for increase in campus safety ■ USC student still in coma; family questions police's handling of case by Meredith Key The Gamecock The friends and family of Daniel Duke, a USC student injured on Pickens Street last month, are seeking help from the university and students for ways to show support for Duke and campus safety. Meanwhile, relatives of Duke said they were unhappy with the way Columbia police handled the incident. . Duke was injured while walking along Pickens Street. He was apparently hit by a fast-moving object, likely the mirror of a car, police said. There are conflicting accounts as to whether Duke had been drinking before the incident. Matt Gaetz, a friend of Duke who was with him several hours before the incident, said Duke had been drinking. However, family members and Heather West, who found Duke, said he had not. West said she is focusing on helping Duke and his family in any way she can. West has decided to take this opportunity to make students aware of what they can do in order to help a fellow USC student. West is a member of Alpha Chi Omega, and on Tuesday night she spoke to her sorority sisters about the incident, safety on campus and the importance of the Greek system giving back to the Carolina community by showing support for Duke and his family. “We have put up all this big talk about how being Greek isn’t just about partying ... I think this is a perfect opportunity to show this,” West said. West is also speaking with the sisters of Zeta Tau Alpha on Monday night in hopes of spreading this story and its message even further. “1 am meeting with Carl Johnson Friday to discuss what the Greek system as a whole can do to show support ... ” West said. “Student Government has also shown an interest in getting involved with this campaign. Hopefully, in some part of the university, we can get some funding for this project.” Gaetz is also concerned about this case and the safety of USC students. “As a group of friends, we got very comfortable walking back and forth Injury sc page 2 Weather Coming Up Quote of the Day Online Poll Results Today 72 63 Saturday 65 34 Report highlights university’s contributions to state’s economy Monday “The only real failure in life is not to be true to the best one knows.” — Farrar Did you attend the bicentennial celebration? v 4 There was a celebration? 43% No, I didn’t attend 37% Yes, I attended 20% & y