Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

__Vol, 94, No. 51 ^Wednesday February 7, 2001_ m Serving the Carolina Community since 1Q08 WWVV.DA1LYGAMEC0CK.COM UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA ' COLUMBIA, $.C." "•"W5 ■' v, ... mmmmMmmm.. -. k N . / ' Measure would prevent large tuition hike by Valerie Matchette The Gamecock Tuition increases at USC would be limited to about 4 percent under a measure passed Tuesday by the S.C. House Subcommittee on Higher Education. ♦ The “proviso request,” approved by the panel on a 2-1 vote, would prevent the university from instituting a tuition increase of 32 percent, which USC President John Palms has said would be necessary if Gov. Jim Hodges’ proposed 15 percent state budget cut passes the General Assembly. The proviso must be approved by the General Assembly and signed by Hodges before it becomes law. Under the proviso, USC can’t raise tuition more than the increase in the t Higher Education Price Index. Rep. Tom Keegan, R-Horry, said the measure meant USC could raise tuition by no more than 3.7 percent. USC spokesman Russ McKinney was pleased by the results of the subcommittee vote. “We’re encouraged that the committee members realize we’re facing a budget crisis.” McKinney said. For universities where tuition is below the state average, tuition could be increased by an unlimited amount, according to Keegan, who chairs the subcommittee. This will affect several South Carolina colleges, including Clemson, The Citadel, College of Charleston, Coastal Carolina and Frances Marion. USC’s tuition rate is above state average, so it BUDGET BATTLE The fight over USC’s state funding could only increase tuition a small amount. Keegan said universities should be judicious in their decisions about how to deal with the funding cuts and take the effects of raised tuition into account. He said increased tuition would drive away students and decrease enrollment. “Colleges and universities understand that in order to continue, they must have students and they cannot price themselves out of existence,” Keegan said. He said the measure would give universities some flexibility in the way they choose to handle the proposed budget cuts. The proviso passed Tuesday also says that if any institution raises its tuition higher than the Higher Education Price Index, it may not make any further increases until the price index has gone up accordingly and matches the fee increase. Rep. Denny Neilson, D-Darlington, dissented on the proviso. “I just don't think this is the way to go,” Neilson said, adding that universities unregulated by the index are likely to increase tuition rather than cut programs to save money. The city desk can be reached at gamecockcltydeskOhotmalLcom Tuition increase could be limited C2000-01 Kgg What a 3.7% WM What a 32% yearly HH tuition hike H tuition hike tuition would mean H would mean Bm1(W 53,788 j $4,974 Out-of-state tuition Out-of-state $5,750 tuition (with $5,962 scholarship) $7,590 DERBY DAYS KICKS OFF - -■ _ >_,_ Travis Lynn/Tiie Gamecock Richie Raccoon, a mascot for the Children’s Hospital at Palmetto Richland Memorial Hospital, collects donations from students on Greene Street SEE RELATED STORY, PAGE 3. 22-year-old treated, released after stabbing at Elbow Room by Charles Prashaw The Gamecock A 22-year-old man has been released from the hospital after being stabbed in the back in a fight with several other men during a cultural event at Elbow Room early Saturday morning. According to police reports, Anker Desai, 22, was in Elbow Room with nearly 600 people of Indian heritage when several Asian men entered the crowded night club around 12:30 a.m. Police said the Asian men got into a veibal altercation with Desai. Several witnesses said a fight broke out between the group and Desai. In the middle of the fight, one of the Asian men reportedly took out a knife and stabbed Desai in the lower back. Desai was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the stabbing, according to police. But police didn’t say whether it contributed to the fight’s beginning. Witnesses called police and an ambulance after bouncers broke up the crowd. When police arrived, the group of Asian men had fled in an undetermined direction. Reporting officer A. Gomez-Rivera said in the incident report that upon arrival to the scene, he found Desai lying behind the bar counter area on the floor. He was bleeding heavily, and Gomez-Rivera reported that shortly after he got there, EMS services arrived at the Elbow Room and transported Desai to Palmetto Richland Memorial Hospital. Paramedics said the stab wound wasn’t life-threatening, and later at the hospital, police questioned Desai. Desai said he couldn’t identify the suspects. Police examined the crime scene, but the knife involved in the incident wasn’t found. Desai hasn’t been confirmed to be a USC student by police or USC officials. None of the suspects is believed to be a USC student. The city desk can be reached at gamecockcftydesk@hotmail.com Journalism School Deanship Threat of budget cuts prompts candidate to reject USC’s offer by Charles Prashaw The Gamecock One of the principle candidates for the posi tion of dean of USC’s College of Journalism and Mass Communications has dropped out of the run ning for the position. William Norton, journalism dean at the University of Nebraska, wrote in a Jan. 29 letter to Provost Jerry Odom that he doesn’t want the dean’s position at USC. The letter implied the university offered the position to Norton. But Norton said the recent talk of higher education budget cuts by state leaders had made it “clear that the university is under much more severe budget constraints” than he previously thought. “Despite many personal reasons for wanting to lake the position, I will not be able to accept your kind offer,” Norton wrote. Norton also said in the letter that he got a letter from USC, dated Jan. 18, that proposed “generous budget increases” for the journalism school. Odom was unavailable Tues day lo talk about the situation. “I told you 1 wanted to be a part of a developing program with a lot of promise and build it into a first-class operation,” Norton continued in the letter. Interim Dean RnnalH Norton Farrar has run the College of Journalism and Mass Communications since October 2000, when Judy VanSlyke Hirk said she wasn’t returning to the school. T\rrk was dean for eight years. Farrar is expected to retire by this summer. “This is a terrible loss. [Norton] is a first-rate man,” Farrar said. But Farrar referred further questions about Norton to the provost’s office. “Of course, this isn’t your ideal situation,” Farrar said about complaints in finding a perma nent dean for the journalism school. The university desk can be reached at gamecockudesk@hotmaiLcom Football season might boost enrollment figures ■ Admissions Office hopes successful 2000 gridiron campaign will increase 2001 incoming class size by Mary Hartney The Gamecock USC’s Office of Admissions is hoping for an increase of 500 students next fall, thanks to national attention brought by the Gamecocks’ winning football season. Denise Wellman, director of the USC Visitor Center, is reluctant to connect the successful 2000 football season to increased enrollment potential, but she said the attention the university received gave USC some prominence on the national scene. “The publicity we received from a winning football season enhanced our visibility across the country,” Wellman said. “Football gave us the opportunity to show our strength nationally.” Terry Davis, director of undergraduate admissions, said USC has been progressing in strength in recent yean and that any time the univenity receives national recognition, people are going to take notice. Sarah Jones, president of University Ambassadon, a student organization that helps recruit potential students, agreed with Davis. “I’ve heard people talk about the football team,” Jones said. “They are excited about Lou Holtz and winning games. I don’t know that it is making people come here, but they are talking about it.” Char Davis, director of Enrollment Management, said it’s common knowledge that a sports team’s success attracts more people to a school, but its overall impact is immeasurable. Admissions seepages Weather Today Tuesday , 69 51 ICOMING iUP A look at ^ some of South ^ Carohna’s wackiest laws Friday “Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time.” — Steven Wright Online Poll Should USC include sexual orientation in its anti-discrimination policy? Vote at www.dailygamecock.com. * Results will be publisl xl Friday.