Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Wnt (Bamtcock University i Thursday, Jan. 18 ■ Accidentalfire, LaBorderoom.5ll. RA Kevin Snyder contacted USCPD and said there was a fire at LaBorde. The reporting officer, R. Osborne, confirmed there was a fire on the balcony of room 511. The fire was extingished by the reporting officer and the Columbia Fire Department was called Upon arrival the fire department determined the fire had started when someone threw a cigarette on a pile of cloths. ■ Mafidous injury to personal prop erty, Bull Street Garage. Reporting officer R. Osborne, while on routine patrol of the garage, observed a vehicle wrapped in plastic and painted with symbols. Police later contacted the owner of the car, Kurt Newbar The estimated damage to the car is $ 1,500. ■ Disorderly conduct, Carolina Plaza. Reporting officer C. Taylor entered Carolina Plaza's lobby and found Willie Smith, 43, incoherent and on the floor. Smith had an odor of alcohol about him and a bottle of alcohol on him. He was later arrested and transported to Richland County Dentention Center. Thursday, Jan. 18 ■ Suspicious information, Bates House room 304 B. Reporting officer L. Morales, along with another officer and an RA, investigated a suspicious smell at the incident location. A witness at the scene said James Scott and Omari Thompson had been smoking marijuana, which both men denied. The room had been sprayed with deodorant, and it was hard to determine if marijuana had been smoked. No arrests were made because the police had no solid evidence. Economy from page 1 creating a ripple effect. Alumni also contribute money and jobs to the South Carolina economy, according to the report. Their estimated impact is an additional $2.4 billion and 31,600jobs. A USC bachelor’s degree generates a 3.45 percent return for the state, and a graduate degree brings a 6.79 percent return to the economy, according to the study. The individuals, however, benefit even more than the state. The average cost to earn a degree is about $42,625, and the lifetime average earnings are about $639,830. Therefore, alumni who remain in South Carolina get more than a 20 percent return on their education. “Higher education is an investment that pays benefits to the state and individuals,” Woodward said. “It’s something you invest in that pays returns. We are at a point of threshold to gain more leverage, and now is the time to look at what the USC system can do for the state. Every area benefits in the whole state, not just the Midlands.” Woodward said Gov. Jim Hodges’ proposed 15 percent budget cuts to the university would have a devastating impact on the state. But lie said he’s more concerned with the message such cutbacks would send about the state’s commitment to education. “We don’t want to move in the other direction,” he said. Woodward said budget cuts’ “effect on morale and climate,” concern him as well. USC President John Palms said the university is ready to reinforce its role in the future as the state’s flagship university. “The teaching, research and public service at this university contribute greatly to this state’s economic power and progress, and this report affirms our role,” Palms said in a statement released by the university. The university desk can be reached at gamecockudesk@hotmaiLcom Election from page 1 “That way they would have to face the music when they mess up,” he said. But other Republicans see problems in changing laws and procedures that have been in place for years. “We aren’t opposed to the possibil ities of change [to election procedures]. But where were these people calling for corrections two and three election cy cles ago?” Republican State Committee Member Bill Prince said. Prince, who served as one of South Carolina’s eight electors in this past elec tion, said there isn’t anything broken with our election system, so there’s really no need to fix anything. “Tins is a classic example of people trying to reinvent the wheel when they don’t like the results,” Prince said. “This shows a big dilference between Repub licans and Democrats. Republicans don’t start correcting things without thinking things out first.” However it works'out, both Re publicans and Democrats will have to wait for the suggestions made by the task force. The task force will hold several meetings in the coming months and then submit recommendations to Hodges by March 2. Hodges then could take the sugges tions and propose a bill mending elec tion rules to the General Assembly, which could vote to change election rules by this summer. The city desk am be reached at gamecockdtydesk@hotmail.com Attention Student Organizations! Does your student organization receive student activity fees? Would you like to receive money to provide programs to USC students? C&re you tke new treasurer of your organization and need kelp? Then, you Cl attend one of these Treasurer's Workshops to be eligible! Spring 2001 Treasurer's Workshops Thursday, January 18th 3:30pm RH 322/326 Monday, January 220 3:30pm RH 315 Wednesday, January 24th 3:30pm RH 315 *Wednesday, January 24th 5:00pm RH 315 Thursday, January 25th 3:30pm RH 302 **Thursday, January 25th 6:00pm RH 302 Thursday, January 25th 7:00pm RH 302 * This session is designated for sports clubs. ** This session is designated for international clubs. Contact the Student Government office at777-2654 or drop by Russell House Room no for more information. if you are planning on receiving student activity fees for the 2 001-2002 school year, your treasurer MUSrt attend one of these workshops! Department of Student Life Division of Student and Alumni Services University of South Carolina SOUTH^ROLim — City Sunday, Jan. 21 ■ Operating uninsured vehicle, 1300 Whaley St. Reporting officer J. Vanhouten saw Treasory Rivers driving at the location. The officer originally stopped Rivers becuase of expired tags. Rivers was unable to produce any information about being insured properly. He was later arrested and his car was towed to the city impound lot. Saturday, Jan. 20 ■ Unlawful possession of firearm, 1034 Harden St. Clarence Colson, 20, was seen in possession of a firearm by numerous patrons of an unnamed bar. When reporting officer D. Bowman arrived, he found Colson and the weapon, which was in his waistband. The gun was described in the incident report as be ing a semi-automatic with an unknown caliber. Friday, Jan. 19 ■ Pump and go„ 831 Harden St. Comer Pantry. Cashiers at the store say an unknown black male in his mid-twenties put $24.01 worth of gasoline into his blue Buick automobile and left without paying. The car is described as having South Carolina plates and tag 848 LWT. Group uses books to help children by Maruxa Relano The Gamecock Volunteers of America of the Carolinas will distribute 35,000 free books to disadvantaged children in North and South Carolina in a partnership with other non-governmental oiganizations. The Carolina chapter of Volunteers of America is donating the books to combat poor reading ability among young children. According to a study from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, children with poor reading skills might experience developmental consequences, including low self-esteem and learning impairment. By distributing the books in the Carolinas, Volunteers of America and its associates hope to lower the states’ high illiteracy rates. The books will be provided through a book grant program by Scholastic, Inc., an international publisher of children’s books. The company frequently donates books to diverse literacy initiatives across the country, including Reading is Fundamental, the largest literacy organization in the United States. Several other groups will also participate, including First Steps, Reach Out And Read, and the Columbia-based Step Into Reading, which has a key role in the organization of the program. “The program initiated by Scholastic and Volunteers of America of the Carolinas is unique in that its goal is to provide high-quality books and reading materials to children at no cost, who could not otherwise be able to afford them,” said John Baker of Step Into Reading. The criteria for book distribution l haven’t been set, but Volunteers of America already has distribution partners in Charlotte and Wilimington, N.C., and Charleston, S.C. According to Rliett Simmons of the organization’s Carolina chapter, donations have been plentiful. “Right now, we have 15 tons of books, and we are sorting them out by age and subject,” Simmons said. Baker agreed that organization is crucial for the project now. “The next step is to identify the children who need the books and then to get the books into their hands.” The groups behind this effort might distribute the books to homeless shelters or the Children’s Garden. Another alternative is to allocate books based on PACT scores, standardized performance scores in different subjects for elementary school children in South Carolina. Book distribution is expected to begin in about a month. Volunteers of America, which was founded by Christian social reformers in 1896, is a national organization providing local human service programs. Its aim is to “reach and uplift” the American people. The Carolina chapter of the group began operating in 198 7, with the grant of a state adult corrections center in Columbia. It has continued to provide local human service programs, like quality affordable housing and long-term nursing care, as well as opportunities for individual and community involvement. The city desk can be reached at gamecockcitydesk@hotmail.com Campus Calendar Tuesday, Jan. 23 ■ Celebration: Chinese Lunar New Year, 7:30 pm, RH Ballroom. Wednesday, Jan. 24 ■ Meeting: Bisexual Gay Lesbian Alliance, 8 pm, Gambrell 201. To submit an event for the Campus Calendar, please e-mail us at gamecockudesk@hotmail.com. Space limitations might prevent running events more than once. Local man uses sword to prevent burglary Staff Reports The Gamecock Around 11:30 p.m Thursday, a local man woke to hear two burglars in his apartment. The burglars, who were dressed in masks and leather gloves, were attempting to rob the apartment. Police later identified one of the suspects as Curtis McArthur Gant, 29, of Columbia. The apartment, at 4427 Blossom St., is part of the Hampton Park Apartment complex. The man, whose name hasn’t been released, took matters into his own hands instead of calling police. He grabb a souvenir samurai sword and attacked the two burglars. The man caught the criminals by surprise and stabbed the sword into Gant’s chest while the other ran from the scene. When police arrived at the apartment, they found Gant lying on the floor. EMS arrived and took the injured burglar to Palmetto Richland Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 12:10 a.m. Police are looking for the other burglar but haven’t released a description or drawing of the suspect. Anyone with any information is asked to contact CrimeStoppers at 799-8477 or the Columbia Polj Investigative Division at 733-8385. The city desk can be reached at gamecockcftydesk@hotmaiLcom i Remember the deadline for submitting applications 2001 Summer Undergraduate Research Internship University of South Carolina and Palmetto Health Alliance offer an undergraduate level student program for hands-on experience working with USC faculty and PHA staff in various research disciplines. The program runs from May 21 to July 27. A $2,000 stipend is provided. . For information and application, contact the office of Dr. Stanley Fowler at 733-3331 or visit the USC School of Medicine webpage at http://www.med.sc.edu Deadline: February 15, 2001^ |*