Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Quote, Unquote ‘I would say that somebody or some group is making a concerted effort to get people kicked out of the race.’ Nathan White, SG vice presidential candidate Ww (Bamecock Serving the Carolina Community since 1Q08 Brock Vergakis Editor in Chief ■ Brandon Larrabee University Editor1 Erin O’Neal Spotlight Editor Kyle Almond Sports Editor Brad Walters Design Editor Valerie Matchette City & State Editor Amanda Silva Spotlight Editor Charles Prashaw Asst. City & State Editor Martha Wright Copy Desk Chief Faculty discontent damaging to USC It seems students aren’t the only ones complaining about park ing. In a recent faculty survey, 74.7 percent of the respon dents said they disagreed with the idea that parking was ade quate. That wasn’t all. Large majorities of those surveyed didtf*t think faculty salaries were competitive or didn’t think the uni versity was doing a good job retaining its quality faculty. Students should be concerned about the mindset of the univer sity’s faculty. The less happy they are, the less likely quality fac ulty are to stay at USC. If most of the university’s quality faculty leave, the value of our education will go down. The university needs to do something — anything — to im prove the plight of its faculty, and it needs to do it now. The leg islature could help; the 15 percent budget cuts being proposed by Gov. Jim Hodges seemed reckless enough before the survey. We now know cuts would only make a bad situation worse. But the largest share of responsibility lies with the university. USC is at a point where it can either become a solid public uni versity or languish in mediocrity. If it doesn’t give better support to its faculty, it has clearly chosen the latter. Time to change sex laws is upon South Carolina Ctiis past Friday, The Gamecock published a piece on ‘strange laws.” Some were laughable; some were too ar :haic to be believed. Among the laws whose time has passed is the sodomy law. Upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in a 5-4 decision in 1986, sodomy laws make oral and anal sex illegal. Originally, would-be bastions of legislated morality wanted to criminalize sex between men. But sodomy laws also apply to consensual sex acts between men and women. True, these laws are rarely enforced; you’d never see a team of cunnilingus cops going door-to-door to bust perpetrators. But even if these laws aren’t enforced, they must be repealed. In 1997, South Carolina voters removed a similarly unenforced con stitutional ban on mixed-race marriages, and this situation isn’t any different. The how, when and who of having sex is about as personal and private as you can get. Eradicating sodomy laws would be a sound victory for adults' right to privacy. The Gamecock is the student newspaper of the University of South Carolina and is published Monday, Wednesday and Friday dunng the fall and spring semesters and nine times during the summer with the exception of university holidays and exam periods. Opinions expressed in The Gamecock are those of the editors or author and not those of the University of South Carolina. The Board of Student Publications and Communications is the publisher of The Gamecock. The Department of Student Media is the newspaper's parent organization. The Gamecock is supported in part by student activities fees. Adorem The Gamecock 1400 Greene Street Columbia, SC 29208 Offices on third floor of the Russell House. Stuoeht Media Area code 803 Advertising 777-3888 Classified 777-1184 Fax 777-6482 Office 777-3888 Gamecock Area code 803- 777-7726 Editor in Chief gamecockeditor@hotmail.com University Desk gamecockudesk@hotmail.com City/State Desk gamecockcitydesk@hotmail.com Viewpoints gamecockviewpoints@hotmail.com * Spotlight gamecockspotlight@hotmail.com Sports gamecocksports@hotmail.com Online www.dailygamecock.com Letters Poucv The Gamecock welcomes letters to the editor from any point of view. Letters should be less than 400 words, e-mailed or clearly handwritten and include the author's phone number, professional title, year in school and college, or place of resi dence if not affiliated with the university. Handwritten submissions must be personally delivered to Russell House 333. Anonymous let ters or those with pseudonyms will not be printed. The editor reserves the right to edit for length, clarity, style and libel as well as the right to pub lish letters exclusively on The Gamecock's Web site. Submission does not guarantee publication. The Gamecock Aubrey Fitzloff Ann Marie Miani Jennie Moore Katie Smith Fran Wood Mark Yates Page Designers Cristy Infinger Charles Tomlinson Senior Reporters Travis Lynn Sean Rayford Photo Editors Mackenzie Clements Jason Harmon Copy Editors Betsy Baugh Sara McLaulin Community Affairs ■ STWOI!Kr MraA v;.v % m| Erik Collins Faculty Adviser Ellen Parsons Director of Student Media Susan King Creative Director Sean Oe Luna Todd Hooks Melanie Hutto Emilie Moca Martin Salisbury Creative Services Carolyn Griffin Business Manager Sarah Sims Advertising Manager Jannell Deyo Robyn Gombar Kera Khalil Denise Levereaux Nicole Russell Advertising Staff Sherry F. Holmes Classified Manager Only two letters to the editor per student will be printed in a semester. Staff columns take priority over guest columns, unless the guest columnist offers expertise on a subject, or if the subject's relevance is limited by lime. Guest columns and letters may be submitted by e-mail to gamecockviewpointsOhotmail.com. Call 777-7726 for more information. !r -and THANKS. 1 secReT seRVice G\fiB? F6r so EFFecriveur KeePiNGCRftzeo SUNMeN FROM TH6. J WHiie House GRoUNOSj -\__ _ ( PRESENT 'Co/APANT \ •SXCEPTeD-; _' Members of Greek community dispel writer’s ideas To the Editor: I am writing in response to Eddie Hill’s letter, which states “All Greeks Suck.” After reading this letter, my first inclination was not to justify such driv el with a response, but I figured that peo ple like Mr. Hill were in such desperate need for attention that I would reply. Hopefully, all who read Eddie’s comments, Greek or non-Greek, realized that a letter so inept could only be brought about by someone who is suffering from petty jealousy and extreme immaturity. How could anybody take someone seriously who uses the word “wanker” in his daily vocabulary? Plus, the vulgar and insensitive comments he makes about women automatically classify him as a first-rate sexist. 1 ao applaud Mr. Hill lor coming up with such witty acronyms as “grinding professor average.” I am pretty sure he was kidding about that one; at least I hope he was. I would also like to inform Eddie that GPA does indeed stand for grade point average in the Greek community, and that the all-fraternity and all-sorority GfAs are considerably higher than that of the all-student average, the category to which Eddie belongs. Finally, as for your comments on Greeks paying for friends, you might want to think about paying people for friendship because otherwise I am not sure you’ll have any. I would like to extend an invitation to Mr. Hill to at tend any Fraternity or Sorority Council meeting, which are held every Monday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in Russell House room 322-326. Maybe this way he can get some factual knowledge about the Greek communi ty instead of relying on biased and inane opinions. Edward H. Bender Fourth-Year Student College of Liberal Arts Former Fraternity Council President To the Editor, i really tried to hold back from writing this letter so our new friend Eddie Hill wouldn’t get a big head, but I just couldn’t resist. Don’t you hate it sometimes when freaks like him decide to write a letter that makes no sense and has no point to it? Well, it’s people like him who have no clue about fraternities and sorori ties who only write such letters to gain more attention for their own pathetic little lives. I am a sorority girl who has a boyfriend who is not in a fraternity. I go to school wearing gym shoes, my hair pulled back and no makeup, because that is what I am the most comfortable in. I’ve played sports my entire life, and have pretty much grown up as a tomboy. I am one of the few sorority girls who doesn’t always show up for the weekly meetings, but I have enjoyed the people I’ve met and the things our chapter does. I might not know or get along with every girl in my sorority, but that’s life. However, the stereotypes that go on are ridiculous. I’m from Hilton Head Island, so right off the bat, I’m rich and stuck-up. I can’t help it if I drive a nice car or have mon ey to spend on things I like to do. I de cided to join a sorority because I know when I look back, I will be happy that • I did something fun with my life while I was in college. The money I put for ward helps to fund the things that we do, not pay for friendships. I also don’t sit and giggle about my sorority or talk about how cool Greek life is, but I do laugh at people like you. I can just picture you now, Eddie. You’re probably one of those freaks with multi-colored spiked hair, baggy pants, and one of those silver chains that dangle from your pants. You probably hang out in that open area by the GMP taking up too much of our space. The only salvation you have in your lonely life is to write about the Greek system in hopes of gain ing some attention in your pathetic life. So you see, it goes both ways. There will always be those airheads walking around campus or even in your classes, but not all of them are sorority girls because you can find people like that just about everywhere. I’m sure there are a few in whatever your little circle of friends con sists of. But who am I to say such things —I’m just a RICH, STUCK-UP SOROR ITY BITCH... Dana .Shannon Fourth-Year Student College of Liberal Arts To the Editor Why does Eddie send a sobbing letter to the editor? Because he couldn’t get a bid from a fraternity and he has no basis for what he is talking about. First of all, I’m nowhere near rich, I don’t beg for grades, my hair isn’t pretty and when I walk into class late, I don’t have to take a dump. Eddie, you didn’t use the best examples, and we have no idea what you are talking about. As for the mosquito-bite breasted girls kissing up to professors, I have seen several big-breasted girls begging for grades as well as small-breasted girls. I don’t think Eddie has to do any calming when he wants to kick a “bastard” fiat boy in the head, because he strolls away in fear that he would have his ass handed to him. Personally, I would love to see Eddie try to kick me in the head. Ed, you need to stop making as sumptions and find yourself a friend. I don’t pay for friends, I pay for parties and dues, just like any other organiza tion does. Grow up, stop being so bitter, and appreciate those sorority girls. As for me, I could care less if you like me, because I’m having a great time. Zach Roach Second-Year Student College of Journalism and Mass Communications Member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Gay students do face discrimination To the editor 1 am alarmed at the number of people within the USC community who believe their fellow bisexual/gay/ lesbian/transgender students are not at risk. These students are being discrimi nated against on this campus — many instances have crossed the line of harassment into violent behavior. Does USC have to be like Gallaudet University where four months ago, a gay freshman was brutally murdered in his own dorm room, before any action is taken here to address these students’ needs? I certainly hope not. I encourage my fellow students to understand that these students live with a sense of clear and present danger on a daily basis. Why should they? What kind of learning environment is USC if these students are constantly having to worry about their safety? Having to won der what kind of discrimination or hate crime lies around the comer, all the time knowing the university they attend doesn’t even officially recognize their existence. USC has no benchmark from which to address the needs of bisexual/gay/ lesbian/transgender students, as opposed to those set for gender, racial and religious differences. What does it take to have some equal consideration around here — a martyr? Weatherly Thomas Fourth-Year Student College of Journalism and Mass Communications • Letter writer uses ‘convoluted logic’ To the Editor I was deeply offended by David Richardson’s letter to the editor printed in the Wednesday issue of The Gamecock. He used convoluted logic to make some points that are homophobic and offensive. He likened the BGLA to Nazis and the KKK, evidently uninformed that both of these groups are historically vehemently anti-homosex ual. Because of the lack of clarity in his arguments, the reader is unable to make important distinctions. He might have actually been insinuating that some religious organizations would like to start an anti-gay alliance at USC, but have now been obstructed as the student gov ernment passed the anti-discrimination resolution on Wednesday evening. ben. lyson Nettles made some on color comments opposing the bill, as quoted by the online Gamecock. He stated that oppression of gays doesn’t need to be addressed because sexual orientation is a choice, as opposed to race or gender-based oppression. This shows his refusal to acknowledge this oppression as an issue. Even if sexual orientation were considered a choice by most, the fact of the choice doesn’t jus tify oppression. This implies that those who “choose” to be gay deserve the oppression they experience in everyday life. He also said this bill “discriminates against people and belittles the rights that we do have.” Excuse my confusion, but wasn’t this specifically an anti-dis crimination bill that we’re talking about? I’m glad the resolution passed in a landslide vote in the senate, and hope I don’t have to see such blatant homophobia expressed on campus again. Somehow, I have the sickening feeling that I will. Hope Donny-Clark Biology and German senior E-mail letters to gamecockviewpoints@hotmail.com Anti-Discrimination I’m no fan ofBGLA or whining Maybe I just started off on the wrong foot with the BGLA. I’ve never actually been intro duced to a member of the organization, but they certainly intro duced themselves to me. A week or so ago, the BGLA covered the Horseshoe bridge with chalk advertisements. Perhaps I saw one pink triangle too many or I just didn’t appreciate the color scheme, but the graffiti annoyed me. Loud and flamboyant is how I would describe it. But I’m a pretty freewheelin’guy, so the chalk messages didn’t really bother me too much. What does bother me, though, is all of this I anti-discrimination jaw-flapping that has started. If it’s one thing I can’t stand, it’s jaw flapping. That, and whining. So it appears to me the BGLA has two strikes against it. Even though all the BGLA is asking for is a slight change in USC’s anti-discrimination policy, I can’t seem to find it in my heart to support them. My dislike for the BGLA isn’t on the basis of sexual preference. I don’t find homosexuality immoral or wrong; I just think it’s disgusting. The same way a vegan would find my habit of eating huge bacon sandwiches disgusting, or my friends find my obsession with Bob Dylan disgusting. If you get your kicks by ditching one gender for another (cosmetically or surgically) or by sticking body parts where they don’t belong (consensually, of course), I’ve got no problem with that. “It ain’t nobody’s dirty business,” as Mississippi John Hurt would say. I’m a civil libertarian to the core, so what you do behind closed doors is up to you. As long as everyone involved is human, an adult and consenting, you won’t find me picketing your residence or calling the cops. Heck, I even go so far as to support “civil unions” if that’s how you want to spend your life. But there is a line crossed when you think homosexuality should be protected from discrimination. No matter how you spin it,' homosexuality is, has always been and always will be a choice. There is a reason why it is called a “sexual preference.” I don’t believe preference is established prior to your birth or is set in your genes. It’s just a decision each individual makes. And I don’t believe any personal choices should ever be protected from discrimination. That includes choices about your sexuality. There is a distinction between aspects of your life you can control and ones you can’t. For example, you can’t choose your race or gender, and therefore discrimination for such reasons is wrong. But I certainly think that personal choices can be the basis for discrimination. If you cover your body with tattoos and apply for a job, I see no problem with an employer not hiring you. If you don a KKK robe and board an airplane, I see no reason why you can’t be removed from that flight. If you are a fundamentalist Christian and carry a sign proclaiming that homosexu ality is the world’s greatest evil, I think the owner of the local gay bar has every right not to let you through his doors. These things are all personal choices, no different from homosexuality; they are all fair game for discrimination. As per their Web site, tne BuLA s purpose is “to provide support and a social network for the gay/lesbian/bisexual/ transgendered community on campus, and to educate the University community and the community at laige on issues relating to the lives and the needs of the LGBT students on campus.” Nowhere in that mission statement do I see anything about changing policy. I think the BGLA would be better off sticking to that mission statement. They should educate others rather than legislate their beliefs. I think the BGLA’s mission statement is a noble goal, and it’s one I certainly support. I have even entertained the idea of attending a meeting. I’m sure it would present the chance for some lively debate. But if they didn’t want to let a guy like me through the door, I wouldn’t blame them.