The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, February 14, 2001, Page 2, Image 2
"Che (Samecock
University
Monday, Feb. 12
■ Grand larceny, North Campus
Housing Office, 902 Sumter St. USC
housing employees said someone removed
a $920 Motorola hand-held recover, three
USC name tags and a set of university keys
from a rear storage room.
■ Breach of trust, Patterson Hall,
Room 629. Auriale Durham said she gave
her laptop to Tavare Clarke. Clarke has
failed to return the laptop, claiming it was
damaged and stolen from him. The
Gateway laptop’s estimated is $3,000.
Reporting officer: G. S. Whitlock.
■ Disorderly conduct, Bull Street
Garage. Reporting officer J. Rosier
observed USC student Samuel Davis
tampering with the exit gate. When the
officer approached the area, he smelled
a strong odor of alcohol around Davis.
Davis was later arrested.
Friday, Feb. 9
■ Larceny of debit cards, 1520
Devine St. Student Beverly Briggs said
someone removed a debit card from her
unsecured car. Reporting officer: R.
Whitlock.
■ Lost property, Patterson Hall
room 918. Catherine Baab said she
misplaced her Wachovia credit/debit card
and couldn’t recall when or where she lost
it. Reporting officer: J. Coaxum.
Columbia
Tuesday, Feb. 13
■ Simple assault, 2025 Main St. Elise
Reese said a man, unnamed by the police,
struck her in the face during a domestic
dispute. There were no visible injuries.
Reporting officer: S. Wilson.
■ Malicious injury to real
property, 2905 Columbia St.
Raymond Lee Hooten said he was
awakened at 2:30 a.m. by his car alarm
going off. When he went outside to check
the car, he discovered that someone had
broken the left rear window out.
Hooten didn’t see anyone around the area,
and nothing was stolen from his car.
Monday, Feb. 12
■ Petty larceny, 211 S. Walker St.
Myron Stubley said someone stole a 12
week-old golden retriever from his back
porch during the night. Reporting officer:
R. Millhouse.
■ Shoplifting, Sam Goody at
Columbiana Mall. Store clerks said Sarah
Penn concealed two shot glasses valued
at $9.99 in her purse. Subject was later
arrested and transported to Richland
County Detention Center.
■ Found contraband, 321 Greystone
Blvd. (Pantry Store). Reporting officer R.
Hall entered the location at about 10 p.m.
and found a clear plastic bag on the
entrance mat containing about 4.6 grams
of marijuana.
STUDENT GOVERNMENT
B Posting Violation Donald Brock received one infraction Monday for allegedly
placing a campaign poster in an illegal location in the School of Music. Brock
wasn’t present at the meeting to defend himself, and the Elections
Commission gave Brock his first infraction.
No other infractions were given Monday or Tuesday.
■H. . .
Numerous violations filed
in vice-presidential race
■ Some say filings are the work of one
candidate; count of violations exceeds normal
number filed in any other races this year
by Brandon Larrabee
The Gamecock
At least 69 alleged violations have
been fded in the Student Government
vice-presidential race, a count far exceeding
the number filed in any other races this
year.
Four candidates — SG Sens. Nathan
White and Brian Hunter, Institutional
Affairs Director Adam Bourne and
Freshmen Council Adviser Nithya Bala
— crowd the field for vice president.
Violations may be filed with the SG
Elections Commission by anyone, front
candidates and other students. The
commission deliberates and acts on the
alleged violations at its meetings.
Some candidates said they don’t agree
with the number of violations that have
been filed.
“This is just ridiculous,” Hunter
said. “I don’t know what the cutthroat
attitude is this year.”
White said he was disappointed in the
number of violations.
“It disappoints me, and I think it’s just
petty,” White said. “I really want the
student body to determine who their
officials are, not regulations.”
Bourne was also disappointed.
“I don’t think it’s a very good way
to play the game,” he said.
Bourne said he thought any problems
dealing with the posting of signs —
often a major source for violations —
should be addressed in other ways.
Candidates aren’t allowed to place posters
in certain locations, usually because of
rules campus buildings have about
posting materials.
“I think we should just take it for what
it is: an honest mistake,” Bourne said.
Many of the candidates said all four
knew each other, and several referred to
each other as friends.
“I don’t think that it’s particularly
focused on the candidates,” Bala said. She
said she couldn’t think of an “earth
shattering” or negative reason so many
violations had been filed.
All four candidates said they would
be willing to ask candidates to remove a
sign they felt was against the rules
before filing violations.
“I would be willing to do that,” Bala
said.
Two candidates said they thought the
violations were the work of one person,
but they wouldn’t specifically name who
they thought it was.
“I would say that somebody or some
group is making a concerted effort to get
people kicked out of the race,” White said.
Hunter also said he thought one
candidate was behind the filings.
“I believe that it’s the work of one
candidate,” he said.
But Bala said she didn’t believe one
candidate was behind the filings.
“I don’t think anyone is trying to get
anyone else kicked out of the race,” Bala
said. “At the same time, it’s also impor
tant for everyone to abide by the rules.”
Bourne attributed the number of
violations to the large number of
candidates.
“I guess it’s just a testament to the fact
there’s so many of us in the race,” he said.
In one incident, a total of about 60
violations were filed against Hunter, Bourne
and White. The names of those who file
violations are kept secret by the
commission, but all three sheets of
violations appear to bear the handwriting
of the same person. All the charges were
thrown out by the Elections Commission
as groundless.
Elections Commissioner Angie Alpert
said she didn’t know any specific reason
why the number of violations was as large
as it was.
“You never know what to expect in
any of the races,” she said.
The university desk can be reached at
gamecockudesk@hotmail.com
Faculty survey results not all bad,
say faculty committee members
by Brandon Larrabee
The Gamecock
Despite gloomy responses on several
issues, a recent survey of USC faculty
shouldn’t be seen as a negative view of
the university, according to those involved
in the study.
The survey, released at the faculty
senate meeting this past Wednesday, was
meant to identify areas that need
improvement and was bound to be tilted
negatively, according to. Faculty Senate
Chair Caroline Strobel.
“We were attempting to find out...
what issues faculty members have,”
Strobel said.
Because that was the focus, she said,
“what you have on the survey are things
you think might be issues.”
“We were not trying to elicit the
response [to] ‘What do you think is
wonderful in the university?”’ she said.
Survey questions were posed to focus
groups selected from the faculty. Those
focus groups created a list of issues that
might trouble the faculty.
“Anything that’s not negative on there
is sort of a surprise as being a positive,”
she said
The survey indicates several
complaints the faculty has about the
university. Low grades were given to
the university’s physical environment,
graduate student support, child care
facilities, faculty salaries, parking and
benefits.
Jerald Wallulis, chair of the faculty
welfare committee, agreed with Strobel’s
assessment of the survey. “This is to show,
again, areas that we think there can be im
provement and change,” he said.
Survey results will be used to
compile a list of five to six faculty goals,
which will be presented at the March 7
faculty senate meeting. The goals will
be voted on at the April 4 meeting.
Strobel said the survey doesn’t
apply to faculty members alone. She
said some questions touch students, too.
“I think many of the concerns... the
faculty have would be mirrored by the
students,” Strobel said.
She said the faculty’s response to the
question on salaries might not pertain to
students, but “I think all the rest of the
goals do.” )
Strobel characterized overall faculty
morale as “about average.” Almost 57
percent of the university’s faculty —
disagreed with the statement that faculty
morale is good. Just more than 43 percent
agreed. But the 15 percent budget cuts
proposed by Gov. Jim Hoc^es could change
that number for the worse.
“I think that the budget cuts are not
going to help faculty morale,” Strobel said.
Wallulis agreed.
“I think, actually, you would find
the faculty might be more worried,” he
said. The survey was taken in the fall
before talk of budget cuts began.
But Strobel said there were several
questions to which the faculty had
positive responses.
“It’s not all bad at all,” she said. “There
are some very good things.”
Among the issues that a majority of
the faculty was happy with were the
university’s fund-raising efforts, the library
and campus safety. Other things the
faculty views in a positive light might not
even be on the survey, Strobel said.
The university desk can be reached at
gamecockudesk@hotmail.com
Watson
from page 1
charged with driving too fast for
conditions and with driving with a
suspended license. Whtson’s license was
suspended earlier for not paying a
previous ticket. The athletics
department wouldn’t disclose whether
this was the reason for his suspension.
Sources close to the football team
said Watson had already dodged a
suspension bullet earlier in last year’s
football season when the team was
allowed to vote on whether to let him
play after he disappeared from team
practices following the Clemson
game. In a divided vote, Watson’s
teammates allowed him to remain on
the team for the bowl game. Watson’s
uncle had passed away during the time
he was gone, and Watson missed Fan
Appreciation Day, deciding to return the
day after.
The university desk can be reached at
gamecockudesk@holmail.com
Draft
from page 1
with registering for the draft. It
doesn’t necessarily mean you’re gonna
be drafted,” Whatley said.
“It ain’t gonna hurt anybody.. All you
have to do is follow the law.”
Whatley served in the Army from
1958 to 1960. “I was drafted,” Whatley
said. “I didn’t want to go, but I went.”
He said he would go back in a heartbeat
if he were needed, and all Americans
should feel the same way.
Taylor said ensuring registration for
the draft is important because, “who
knows what will happen tomorrow?”
Like many his age, 21-year-old Ron
Wiltrout, a third-year School of Music
student, isn’t sure whether he’s
registered for the draft.
“I have never physically signed any
form,” Wiltrout said.
Wiltrout has ethical questions about
the necessity of a draft. <
“I don’t support it because I don’t I
support war, and they are related,” J
Wiltrout said.
Though he doesn’t agree with the
principle of the draft, Wiltrout said the
bill makes sense “because the
government takes care of what’s in the
government’s interest.”
The bill will be considered
mid-March. If passed, it will take effect
July 1,2001.
The city desk can be reached at
gamecockcitydesk@hotmail.com
Dance
Marathon is
less than two
weeks away!
UDic (Samecock
wishes you /
luck l
t
t
_____ V
Apartments might
help rejuvenate
downtown area
by Valerie Matchette
The Gamecock
Columbia’s downtown will soon be
experiencing a much-needed facelift.
Several plans to renovate old
buildings and build new apartment
complexes are in the works.
According to Danielle Gadow, a
member of the Downtown Business
Association, adding new apartments is
likely to bring more commerce to Main
Street and surrounding areas. The new
downtown residents would need a place
to buy their groceries-and other
commercial goods, potentially bringing
new life to an area that has long been
financially lacking.
“I think you’ll see a new influx of
new businesses for people that live
downtown,” Gadow said.
The city held a ribbon-cutting
ceremony Feb. 7 for Kress Apartments,
which is in the upper story of the
Rising High bakery on Main Street. The
site of this project — an old five-and
dime store — is an example of how the
many historical buildings in downtown
Columbia might be renovated for
better use.
The Kress Apartments, a 32-room
complex, is one of many new projects
the city has planned in hopes of
refurbishing the entire downtown area.
The Canal Dime Savings Bank
Building, which is on the National
Register of Historic Places, will soon be
renovated into apartments. Berry’s on
Main was nominated to the National
Register of Historic Places and will be
renovated into a 20-apartment residence.
The success of Kress Apartments
bodes well for upcoming area
developments.
“The apartments we already have
in place in Kress are filled, with a
waiting list,” Gadow said.
Keely Fagen, a member of the
Apartment Association of Greater
Columbia, said some building projects
have been proposed in the Vista.
According to Columbia Mayor Bob
Coble, the residential projects will
rejuvenate the entire downtown area.
“We are excited to celebrate the
grand opening of Kress Apartments,”
Coble said. “The goal of expanding
the residential element on Main Street
is becoming a reality, and it marks the
progress we are making in the City
Center.”
“City Center” is “a rejuvenation of
the upper-story living concept,”
according to officials. “Partnerships
between the City of Columbia, local
developers and business owners have
played an integral role in promoting this
initiative.”
Rebuilding the downtown
residential district is critical in helping
Columbia’s economy, Fagen said.
According to Gadow, movement
into the downtown area from the
suburbs probably represents a cyclical
trend.
The city desk can be reached at
gamecockcitydesk@hotniaiLcom
Tattoos
from page 1
continue to get tattoos in illegal ways,
so it would be beneficial to their health
and safety if tattooing were legalized
and regulated.
“Tattooing will take place, and
there’s only so much thought-policing
we can do in the state,” Pinckney said
“It’s really a no-brainer.”
However, some committee
members opposed the bill.
Sen. John Hawkins, R-Spartanbuig,
questioned the value of legalizing
tattooing in the state.
“I like the fact that South Caroli
na doesn’t allow tattooing—I think it
speaks highly of us here,” Hawkins said
In response to Mescher’s aigument
that regulation would provide safety,
Hawkins said, “I’m not sure of the log
ic in passing a bill that regulates
something that we are against.”
He said people who want to do
illegal things will always find danger
ous ways to do them, citing drug
users as an example.
“When they sneak and do it, they
are going to find unsafe ways to sneak
and do it,” Hawkins said.
South Carolina and Oklahoma are
the only two U.S. states that still
prohibit tattooing, Mescher said.
Sen. Danny Verdin, R-Greenville,
regarded this as a positive reflection on
the state.
“That category that we share
with Oklahoma is one that we gladly
share with them,” Verdin said.
The city desk can be reached at
gamecockcitydesk@hotmailxom
www.dailygamecock.com .
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