Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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—M——mm—mmm—mm■——^—w————————i————————mmm——————mm————mmm——— —m ■ — ■——— WWW.DAILYGAMBC0CK.COM UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA COLUMBIA, S.C. Candidates spar over budget cuts at debate Charles Prashaw/The Gamecock Vice presidential candidate Brian Hunter speaks Tuesday at the Student Government candidate’s debate. Topics Included the potential budget cuts, parking and campus participation. All candidates were present for the hour-long debate. by Brandon Larrabee The Gamecock Budget cuts, parking and campus participation were among a variety of issues discussed by eight Student Government executive candidates at a debate Tuesday. The debate, held in the Russell House ballroom, was the first open forum for candidates to discuss campus issues. The three presidential contenders, four vice-presidential candidates and the sole person seeking the treasurer’s post all participated in the hour-long debate. Candidates clashed when asked about Gov. Jim Hodges’ proposed 15 percent budget cuts. “There’s really not that much we can do,” Donald Brock said. He encouraged students to fill out letters and lobby legislators about the cuts, but he said the cuts are inevitable. Brock, who works in the State House, said a 5 to 8 percent cut was more reasonable. “There’s just no way to stop these cuts,” he said. Angela Wilson, who served as president of BGLA, agreed with Brock. “This budget cut is going to happen,” she said. Wilson said it was best for SG to try to limit the impact of cuts on students by encouraging the administration to reconsider the way it allocates money. “Let’s focus our energy on the things we can change,” Wilson said. SG Vice President Corey Ford, who is leading a letter-writing effort against the proposed cuts, disagreed with Wilson and Brock. “I believe there is something we can do as a student body here,” Ford said. He said he believed lobbying the legislators would work to minimize the size of the cuts, if nothing else. “That is how you bring about change in a democratic society,” Ford said. State Sen. Andre Bauer, moderator of the debate and a possible candidate for lieutenant governor, didn’t take sides in the argument. But he did say in his closing comments that the budget cuts weren’t a done deal, adding that “only one person in the state of South Carolina has mentioned 15 percent budget cuts.” “You do have an influence on the General Assembly,” Bauer said. He said constituents who contact him about an issue influence his votes. “That makes a difference, and it gets my attention,” Bauer said. * On the issue of parking, the vice presidential candidates agreed there wasn’t much they could do if elected. “It’s just going to be a problem we’re just going to have to deal with for a long time,” Sen. Brian Hunter said. Freshmen Council Adviser Nithya Bala said she thinks the expanding university should build more parking lots. She used the new Greek Village as an example of an area where more parking could be located. Sen. Nathan White, while admitting there wasn’t much he could do as vice president, said, “I would suggest we build more parking garages.” Bala said SG should follow the Homecoming Commission’s example in its attempts to reach out to student organizations and encourage student participation. Bala is a member of the commission. “I believe that if we did the same thing with Student Government, that would increase their participation,” Bala said. The university desk can be reached at gamecockudesk@hotmail.com -1 House bill would •legalize tattooing in South Carolina by Valerie Matchette Tiie Gamecock It might soon become legal to get a tattoo in South Carolina under a bill amended by the slate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday. Tlie bill, which was sent to the House of Representatives for approval, would set tattooing standards and regulations under the state Department of Health and Environmental Control. The amended bill requires a tattoo artist to display “his certificate of ^successful completion of a course in infection control and liis permit issued by the South Carolina DHEC.” The permit would cost $300, and applicants would also have to pass an infection control course. The proposed amendment would also set age standards for tattooing. The legal age to gel a tattoo would be 21, and any tattoo artist who violates this would be subject to fines of up to $2,500 or up to one year in jail. Sen. William Mescher, R-Berkeley, sponsored die bill. He said tattoos are no longer taboo in our culture. “The practice of tattooing has spread through all levels of our society now,” Mescher said. He said he is pushing the bill to encourage safety standards for tattooing because many people are getting tattoos in “back-room basements and garages” in dirty and unkempt conditions. The bill, which lias passed through the Senate three times and has been killed in the House each time, “reflects concerns raised by DHEC,” Mescher said. Mescher went on to emphasize people’s constitutional rights to do anything they want as long as it doesn’t harm another person. “I think it’s a person’s own business what they do with the decoration of their body,” Mescher said. “I don’t think that we as a legislature should be out there telling people what they should do.” Sen. Clementa Pinckney, D-Charleston, agreed that people would Tattoos see page 2 S.C. might require 'draft registration to get assistance ■ Mandatory draft would apply to men 18 or older BY MARUXA RELANO The Gamecock ^ A new bill proposed by the House ■Ways and Means Committee would require men 18 or older to register for the military draft to gel any state-funded financial assistance, such as loans, grants or scholarships, or to be employed by the state. Bill co-sponsor Rep. Adam Taylor, R-Laurens, said though federal law requires men older than 18 to register for the draft, “a very large majority of people do not. ... I have never, ever seen anyone punished for it.” The bill would encourage people to register by withholding benefits from those who don’t. “If they don’t obey the law, they shouldn’t receive the benefits,” said Rep. Michael Stewart Whatley, D-Charleston, a co-sponsor of the bill. Whatley said he considers registering for the draft a civic responsibility and part of what makes this a free country. “I don’t see where the big problem is Draft seepage2 WATSON CAUGHT UP IN 'THE HEAT OF THE MOMENT' dean Kayiora/ine uamecocK USC running back Derek Watson was allegedly Involved In an assault Monday at the Blatt P-E. Center after a dispute arose between him and a student referee. The victim declined to press charges, and Watson will be referred to Student Discipline. In December, Watson missed the Outback Bowl after he was suspended by Coach Holtz for an unspecified violation. USC police say Watson pushed referee ■ Victim declines to press charges by Kyle Almond The Gamecock USC running back Derek Watson was allegedly involved in an assault Monday at the Blatt P.E. Center, according to a USC police report. According to the report, Watson was playing an intramural basketball game around 5:30 p.m. Monday when a dispute arose between him and student referee Norman Jones. With both hands, Watson pushed Jones down onto his back, stood over Jones and threatened him, the report said. Campus police were notified of the incident by George Key, assistant customer service supervisor for campus recreation, and when police arrived, there were no visible injuries to Jones. Afterward, Jones told police he didn’t want to press charges against Watson. Instead, Watson will be referred to Student Discipline, according to the police report. “I think Derek understood what he did was in the heat of the moment, and that it should not have been done,” USC Assistant Athletics Director Kerry Tharp said. “From what I gathered, he lost his cool when he should’ve walked away. It shouldn’t be blown out of proportion. Obviously [Jones] didn’t feel it was important enough to need to press charges,” Tharp said. Key said Intramural Coordinator Scott Schuttenberg told him to call the police shortly after the incident occurred, but Key refused to comment further on the incident. Schuttenberg and Jones also refused to comment about the matter. Watson and Daniel Ballin, a witness listed in the police report, couldn’t be *1 think Derek understood what he did was in the heat of the moment, and that it should not have been done.’ Kerry Tharp USC Assistant Athletics Director reached. “Coach Holtz knows about [the in cident] and tliinks as long as it’s handled by people on campus, and no charges are filed, that it was just some tempers lost in a basketball game,” Tharp said. According to Judicial Affairs Director Scott Lewis, potential sanctions for a simple assault case can vary from a written reprimand to a suspension from the university, depending on the level of assault. Watson was suspended in December for one game by Holtz and missed the Outback Bowl. Watson was reported to have violated an unspecified team rule at the time. Watson was suspended two days after crashing teammate Teddy Crawford’s car on 1-126, causing an estimated $15,000 worth of damage. The police report from the incident said Watson didn’t appear to be drunk at the time ol the.accident. Watson was Watson see page 2 Weather Coming Up Quote of the Day Online Poll Today 72 61 Thursday 76 a 57 The Gamecock looks at gang “A Sreat manV °Pen activity in minds should be Columbia. closed for repa.r.” — Toledo Blade Friday Do you care about Student Government elections? Vote at www.dailygamecock.com. Results will be published Friday.