The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, February 21, 2001, Page 7, Image 7
This Week in USC History
Feb. 21, 1990 — USC released a report uncovering six
incidents of steroid use among football players between 1983
and 1987.
Wednesday, February 21, 2001 ^ Page 7
• •
Artist reveals ode to firefighters
by Brooke Bryenton
The Gamecock
“I know what’s under there,” warned Sal
Cilella Jr., director of the Columbia Museum
of Art. “If you see some big dogs around, head
out,” he said.
Just as the words left Cilella’s mouth, two
fire trucks came screaming down the street. The
crowd of more than 300 confused people
huddled to make room for the trucks, not re
alizing the sirens were part of the show.
Moments later, a crane lifted a giant tarp to
reveal Columbia’s wackiest fountain to date —
a 350-ton, four-story tall silver fire hydrant.
The Museum of Art’s Sunday event
unveiled Columbia artist Blue Sky’s latest
creation at Taylor and Marion streets.
AgFirst Farm Credit Bank, which
commissioned the project, occupies the city
block, now named “Busted Plug Plaza.” The
bank, which has been in Columbia since
1916, first hired Sky in 1975 to add some
pizzazz to their property.
The AgFirst building is the canvas of Sky’s
first painting, “Tunnelvision,” and the adjacent
building displays “Light at the End of the Tun
nel,” which was completed this past year.
“This is a landmark. It’s the third and
most grand piece of art by Blue Sky on our
property,” AgFirst CEO Andy Lowrey said.
Many Columbians are quick to admit their
appreciation for the unique culture Sky has con
tributed to the city.
“His presence is felt everywhere,” Mayor
‘It’s gonna take a really
big dog to pee on it.*
Daniel Bower
Fourth-year student
Bob Coble said.
Though only a handful of USC students at
tended the event, those who did loved what
they saw.
“It makes sense in terms of pop art,” fourth
year College of Liberal Arts student Daniel
Jones said. “I thought water would be shooting
out more profusely, but I can understand why
it’s not. I think it’s gonna bring a lot of people
downtown and become a landmark.”
His roommate, Midlands Tech junior Jerad
Dunlap, said, “It has craziness and a chaotic
effect.” Dunlap’s father, Charlie, worked on the
water and lighting effects of the fountain.
Continuing the running joke of the night,
USC fourth-year student Daniel Bower said,
“It’s gonna take a really big dog to pee on it.”
Robert Cole, a fourth-year College of
Liberal Arts student, offered some insight on
what people would think about the fire hydrant
in 20 years. “I think people are gonna wonder
why it’s here, but I think it’s beautiful,” he said.
Virginia-based installation artist Mark Rogers,
who was in town during the event, said, “The
scale is really great, given the buildings. It adds
so much more character to the space. It’s
really witty, and the water is killer. Las Vegas
would love this.”
The quiet artist and designer, who wore a
beard and suede hat, stayed true to his name by
adding a solid, sky-blue tie to his earth-toned
suit.
Sky’s only comments were given early
on, before his sculpture was revealed. “I want
to dedicate this piece to my deceased father,”
he said, saying his father had served as state fire
marshal for several years.
The spotlight desk can be reached at
gamecockspotiight@holiiiail.com
^J_I
Brooke Bryenton/The Gamecock
Columbia artist Blue Sky unveiled his 350-ton,
four-story' tall silver fire hydrant on Sunday. The
creation is located at Taylor and Marion streets.
Indian Cultural Exchange solicits help of USC
College Press Exchange
Jan. 26’s earthquake was the worst to hit India in half a century. ICE is
soliciting the help of the USC community because many Indian students
still have family living in India.
■ Assistance would help Indian earthquake victims;
donations may be made at the Coker Life Science building
by Amanda S i lva
The Gamecock
USC’s.Indian Cultural Exchange, in association
with the Red Cross, is soliciting the help of students,
faculty and staff to assist victims of the recent
earthquake in India.
“The State of Gujarat has recently been ravaged
by a violent earthquake, leaving many local
residents homeless and in great need of help,” ICE
President Ratish Patel said.
ICE will be in th% Coker Life Science building
Tuesday and Wednesday collecting monetary and
clothing donations to be sent to earthquake victims.
“Any amount of support is greatly appreciated.
There is no such thing as giving too little or too much,”
Patel said.
Student Government candidate Nithya Bala, a
member of ICE, said many Indian students at USC
still have relatives in India.
“The shock of India’s earthquake was especially
felt here in the United States because nearly all
Indians living in this country have relatives residing
in India. Many students here on USC’s campus have
relatives, whether they are immediate family or
distant relatives, still in India,” Bala said.
Though Bala had no family living in the affected
areas, there was uncertainty over whether all her
relatives were safe shortly after the earthquake hit.
“For a few days following the quake, many
people that my family talked to were unsure whether
their family members had been affected by the tragedy
or not. Luckily, no one in our family was injured in
the earthquake. There are, however, other students
here at Carolina who were not so fortunate,” Bala said.
Reactions to this tragedy and outreach to its
victims serve as reminders of the diverse student
community at USC, Bala said.
“Students are perpetually reminded that we are
one community here at Carolina and that we are a di
verse body of individuals. The importance of this is
heightened right now as Indian students on this
campus attempt to raise awareness and aid over this
issue,” she said.
Donations may be made at the Coker Life Sci
ence building from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. If you are un
able to make a donation on Wednesday or Thursday,
contact ICE to make special arrangements.
The spotlight desk can be reached at
gamecockspotlight@hotmail.com
African-American Studies
offers unique perspective
by Kamille Bostick
The Gamecock
Black History Month is a time of
celebration and education, but some
believe the history is too rich to be
fully covered during the shortest month.
The African-American Studies
program offered at USC provides
students with the resources, instruction
and opportunity to expand their
knowledge and appreciation of black
achievement on a yearlong basis.
LaFaith Miller, a third-year College
of Science and Mathematics student, has
taken one African-American Studies
course and is enrolled in another.
Miller said the knowledge she gains is
“extra-special” because it’s not the
standard, general knowledge presented
in most courses.
“It’s rare ... most of us grow up
wAth thp hacir nr mnrA nnmtlar fartQ hilt
-- r “I—
don’t know all the contributions made
by blacks — there’s a lot to be learned,”
Miller said.
USC boasts one of the strongest
African-American Studies programs in
the region, combining strong
interdisciplinary studies in subjects such
as history, anthropology, religion,
English and political science to create a
complete analysis of black perspectives,
culture and history.
The program offers 14 distinct
courses, many of them cross
referenced with courses offered by
other departments. The African
American Studies Department plans to
begin a lecture scries featuring faculty
members starting next fall.
This year marks the program’s 30th
anniversary and its efforts to promote and
provide African-American Studies in a
variety of disciplines. The program is
experiencing the greatest amount of
growth in its history of the number of
students choosing it as a major.
African-American Studies acts as
more than just a “filler” branch of
learning. It offers what director and
“scholar-activist” Dr. Cleveland Sellers
calls a “really unique” and complete
discussion on the African-American
experience.
Students like Miller feel they are
receiving this.
“The things we learn in African
American Studies allow us to understand
why things are the way they are in
America, why certain people have a
certain status and feelings about race —
[it teaches] very real things that happened
and happen that you don’t get to learn
about otherwise,” said Miller.
The spotlight desk can be reached at
gamecockspotlight@hotmail.com
Clothesline Project lets victims
speak out about violence, abuse
by Amanda Si lva
The Gamecock
In recognition of Women’s
History Month, USC’s Office for
Sexual Health and Violence
Prevention is sponsoring an annual
display dedicated to women who have
been victims of violence and abuse.
The Clothesline Project
encourages women to paint a T-shirt
as a way of expressing feelings about
the violence or abuse that they or a
loved one has suffered.
“The Clothesline Project is a
national project started in
Massachusetts with the idea of airing
your dirty laundry,” said Patricia Phaup,
director of the Office for Sexual Health
and Violence Prevention.
The T-shirts are color-coded to
represent the different types of vio
lence suffered by women, including
I... .,
File Photo/The Gamecock
The Clothesline Project offers victims of rape, abuse and violence
and their families and friends a way of “airing out [their] dirty
laundry.”
those who have been assaulted, those sexually abused or
those who suffer discrimination because of their sexual ori
entation.
“It provides folks with the opportunity to
anonymously express wherever they might be in their
healing process,” Phaup said.
There are five colors in all — white, for example,
represents those who have died as a result of violence.
Started in 1995, the Clothesline Project has become an
annual tradition at USC and across the United States. While
other campuses schedule their projects at different times
throughout the year, USC traditionally sponsors the event
in time for Women’s History Month, according to Phaup.
“It’s a way of empowering women,” she said.
The theme of the project is rooted in breaking the
silence surrounding relationship violence and sexual abuse
and expressing a topic that has been kept quiet, she said.
The project will continue into March, with a series of
events scheduled for after spring break. An ex-NFL player
will give a speech on March 29 about abuse of female ath
letes entitled “You Throw Like a Girl.”
Before the T-shirts are displayed, women are invited to
attend a free self-denfense workshop on March 27.
For those wishing to paint a T-shirt, there are three
workshops remaining.
On Tuesday from 7 to 8:30 p.m., women may paint
T-shirts in the Columbia Hall or Sims classrooms.
On Wednesday, the workshop will be in room 322/326 of
the Russell House from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
All T-shirts will be displayed March 28 on Greene Street.
The spotlight desk can be reached at
gamecockspotiight@hotmaiLcom
What’s Happening
Wednesday, Feb. 21
Blue Martini: Skipp Pearson and
Jazzology
Decisions: Muddy Quarters
Delaney's: Kenny Floyd (of Shades of
Grey)
Dianne’s on Devine: Ross Holmes
Elbow Room: Hank Williams III
Mac’s on Main: The 4th Element Jazz
Showcase
New Brookland Tavern: Perfect
Sleeper, Super'Bike, Will Hoge
Road Runners: Open Jam w/Steve
Kemp
Art Ban NUVIBE
Billy G’s: Beach & Boogie Night w/DJ
Butch Davidson
Crocodile Rocks: Ladies Night
Group Therapy: Wild Wild
Wednesdays
Knock Knock/Flip Side: College Night
Tavern on the Greene: Listening Party
Thursday, Feb. 22
Art Bar: Motion Rotation (Dancing to
the DJs)
Delaney's: Harry 0 Donoghue
Decisions: Open Mic Night w/Chris
Richards
Elbow Room: Col. Bruce Hampton and
the Code Talkers
Mac’s on Main: Gentleman Jack s
Blues Jam
New Brookland Tavern: Goth Night
Crocodile Rocks: Dueling Pianos
In The News
■ Walt Disney World
to celebrate 100th
birthday of founder
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla.
(AP) — Happy birthday, Whit!
Whit Disney World will begin a
yearlong celebration marking the
100th anniversary of founder Whit Dis
ney’s birth on Oct. 1.
“It’s a great milestone, and we
certainly love to market milestones
around here,” Whit Disney World
spokesman Craig Dezem said.
Disney was bom on Dec. 5,1901,
in Chicago. He died in 1966.
Disney isn’t revealing many details
of the event, other than saying it will
feature “new entertainment and at
tractions” throughout the Disney re
sort.
, Disney-MGM Studios will be the
center of the celebration, with a 122
foot-tall hat of Sorcerer Mickey from
the animation movie Fantasia, which
will stand at the end of Hollywood
Boulevard in front of the Chinese The
ater.
Disney officials said the entertain
ment surrounding the celebration will
include four new parades and the new
attractions will be mostly small-scale
rides, such as the previously an
nounced Aladdin ride at Magic King
dom, set to open this summer.
Disney World, which opened in
1971, could have chosen to celebrate
its 30th anniversary but selected Dis
ney’s birthday instead.
“It’s really something special, and
it’s only going to come around one
time,” Dezem said last week. “This is
the resort that bears his name.”
■ ‘Archie Bunker* to
get lifetime award
for achievement
NEW YORK (AP) — Television’s
Archie Bunker will receive a Life
Achievement Award from The
Christopher Awards on Thursday.
Carroll O’Connor is being hon
ored “for his seminal contributions to
the business and spirit of TV comedy
and drama for the past 30 years,” the
organization said in making the an
nouncement.
O’Connor, 76, is the sixth person
in the 52-history of the Christopher
Awards to receive the Life Achieve
ment Award. He starred as Archie
Bunker in the sitcom All in the Family
and was one of the stars of the TV dra
ma series In the Heat of the Night.
The Christopher Awards annually
honor writers, producers, directors and
illustrators in publishing, fdm, broad
cast television and cable industries
whose works “affirm the highest val
ues of the human spirit.”