The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, March 02, 2001, Page 7, Image 7
This Week in USC History
Mar. 2, 1992 - Prop comedian Carrot Top performed at
the Russell House Ballroom for $1. The -event was
sponsored by Carolina Program Union.
Alcoholism: A new solution
by Michelle Pittman
The Gamecock
Editor’s Note: Students’names have been changed
to protect their identities.
ulia Fallows has a drinking problem. According
to Alcoholics Anonymous, her weekend
drinking might become a habit. Every day
for the rest of her life, this woman will be enticed
by the evils of alcohol.
Or will she? Ever since the legal drinking age
in America was bumped from 18 to 21, law
enforcement officials have been looking for ways
^ to punish underage drinkers. As tickets and
fines have proven futile, movements have been
made toward more active punishments.
Fallows, a 20-year-old who was recently
ticketed outside of Columbia’s popular Flip Side
night club, doesn’think she has a problem. “I
see no reason to throw healthy, stable young adults
who are looking to unwind on a Friday in the same
class as those who have chosen alcohol as the most
important thing in their lives,” she said.
Pre-Trial Intervention and AA meetings are
the simplest ways for college students to
dismiss their tickets, often saving money and a
traffic record. Many people are questioning this
option: Does it work, and is it necessary?
The answers aren’t so apparent. Who hasn’t
heard stories of slack counselors and missed classes?
“You’re supposed to show up on time for
everything, pay attention and leave when you’re
dismissed. It doesn’t quite work that way,” Fallows
said.
Another underage drinker, Marcia Smanning,
talked about her punishment for a ticket she
- received at a tailgate. “One of the girls who was
with me had not been drinking at all, but there
was alcohol in her vicinity, and she got a ticket.
We entered into the trial together, hoping to get
a lesser punishment, and it worked.
“We were sentenced to 100 hours of
community service apiece, with no fines. We
should have been done by January [2000]. Neither
one of us had done more than 15 or 20 hours by
February, but no one was checking up on us. I
stopped service, and I haven’t heard anything
since,” Smanning said.
State Law Enforcement Division has beefed
up its presence in Five Points this year, and though
more tickets are being handed out, many offenders
are slipping through the judicial cracks.
“I got a ticket a few weeks ago, but I lost
my copy. I’m not too worried about it. Can’t
I just claim that I was drunk and foigot?” asks one
student.
“It’s not that the classes are a total waste of
time, but that many of the people there are on
another level,” Fallows says. “I’ve seen those
people who would sell their souls for a drop of
liquor, but I’m not like that. I don’t crave alcohol.
I don’t drink alone. It’s a rarity that I get wasted.”
Fallows seems to be in the majority at USC.
As some groups point out, most students don’t
party all the time, and when they do, they do so
responsibly. USC’s Office of Alcohol and Drug
Programs has run advertisements in The Gamecock
touting that 71 percent of USC students have four
beers or fewer when they party.
“I’d be more concerned with the kids who
don’t go out. If you’re underage and at the bar,
you have to stay in control,” Smanning said. “It’s
when you’re sitting at your friend’s house with
nothing to do and nowhere to go that you get
fucked up.”
Many people with serious drinking problems
choose not to flaunt them. “I’ve met people whose
families have begged and pleaded with them to
stop drinking. They’ve been through interventions.
How could they not be resentful to some bratty
college kid who got busted because they were
stupid?” Smanning said.
The effects of these different groups on one
another have yet to be noted accurately. They’ve
changed their ways, but many have not. “I even
know a girl who got depressed over her legal
problems and started drinking more,” Smanning
says. “I guess everyone reacts in their own way,
but the people who really need help don’t realize
it. They say there are as many types of alcoholism
as there are alcoholics.”
The complexities of alcoholism and the legal
system don’t make this dilemma one that’s easily
solvable. There are major flaws in the
rationalization of sending weekend drinkers to
meetings with those who’ve messed up their entire
life, but that’s not an excuse for bypassing the law.
“It’s harder than you would imagine to drink
underage,” said Fallows. “Maybe if you’re putting
that much effort into it, you have a problem —
even if you think you don’t. And trust me, if you’re
doing something wrong, you will eventually get
caught.”
The spotlight desk can be reached at
gamecockspotiight@hotniail.com
‘Radical’ reconstruction
■ Important era
in USC history
largely unknown
1 by Kamille Bostick
The Gamecock
As USC celebrates its bicentennial,
it also celebrates the special place that
African-Americans hold in its history
and continue to provide for its future.
The period deemed “radical” in USC
history is detailed in university accounts,
but isn’t widely or well understood. To
some, the events from 1873-77 would
seem like a step in the right direction.
During Reconstruction, under the
direction of the Legislature and at a time
when the country was healing from the
division of the Civil War, blacks were
admitted to the university. While this
integration was short-lived, it’s integral
in the university’s liistory.
“There were very well-educated
students attending, as well—both white
and black. The teaching of slaves was
illegal, so many of the fomier slaves that
entered USC after the war were provided
with additional courses to bring them up
to task in what was regarded as a ‘sub
freshinan class,”’ Bicentennial Associate
Director Harry Lesesne said.
For these four years, USC was one
of the few options in the South for blacks
who sought quality higher education.
Black males composed nearly 90 percent
of enrollment, and some managed to get
degrees before the school closed.
Several graduates went on to become
presidents of other state colleges after
receiving their degrees during USC’s
open enrollment.
The first black man to receive a
degree from Harvard, Richard Greener,
was USC’s first and only black faculty
member during the “radical” period.
Greener, a professor of philosophy, went
on to improve the library’s oiganization
after the previous director left without
notice.
Despite Gov. Wide Hampton’s closing
of the school and expulsion of students,
the contributions to USC by African
Americans and the effects of their
education at USC helped to change the
course of education in this state.
Though another black wouldn’t have
USC alumni status for nearly 86 years
— when Henri Monteith, Janies Solomon
and Bob Anderson would enroll—USC
shares a rich legacy with African
Americans.
The “radical” days of USC remain
embedded in history and mystery, where
they aren’t common knowledge even to
present-day students.
“I’m surprised to know that, and
embarassed,” said Danita Heyward, an
undeclared first-year student.
But she isn’t alone. Chaunsy Harrell,
a third-year student in the College of
Liberal Arts, said he was “shocked” that
he wasn’t informed about the complete
history of USC.
Harrell wishes “to see more
celebration and participation between all
people” during Black History Month.
“I appreciate Black History Month
because you always learn more about
black people and their contributions,”
Harrell said.
Blacks have made history and are
making history every day. Just because
. Black History Month has passed, many
thinkthe education and celebration
shouldn’t stop.
“There’s a lot of room for
improvement... [to stop] getting away
from things and forgetting our past,”
Heyward said.
The spotlight desk can be reached at
gamecockspotlight@hotniail.com
Festival to feature
eight music stages
by Erin O’Neal
The Gamecock
Kool & The Gang, Taj Mahal and
the Phantom Blues Band, Three Dog
Night, Cravin’ Melon, John Michael
Montgomery and Better Than Ezra
highlight the lineup of bands expected
to perform at this year’s 3 Rivers
Music Festival.
The three-day event, which begins
April 6, showcases talents in
alternative, classic rock, country, jazz,
blues, R&B and gospel. The festival’s
eight stages will include a stage for
family-oriented bands and unplugged
performances.
“Last year’s festival exceeded
everyone’s expectations,” said Frank
Monk, chairman of the festival. “This
year, we have all new acts that will
continue to showcase the spirit and
diversity of Columbia.”
The lineup features big names in
a variety of genres.
■ Kool & The Gang, best known
for their hit single “Celebration,” will
headline the BellSouth R&B stage.
■ Grammy nominee Taj Mahal
and the Phantom Blues Band will
headline the Wachovia Jazz and Blues
stage.
■ Three Dog Night, whose 1970s
hits include “Joy to the World,”
music
FESTIVAL
will headline the Pepsi/Publix &
WOLO Classic Rock and Country
Stage on opening night.
Gov’t Mule, Ratdog featuring
former Grateful Dead members Bob
Weir and Rob Wisserman, Dr. John
and Hie Bar-Keys are also slated to
perform at the festival.
Three-day advance tickets are
available for $27.50 at local
Ticketmaster outlets until 5 p.m. April
6. One-day tickets are $20.00 and are
only available after 6 p.m. on April
6. For more information on the 3
Rivers Music Festival, visit their Web
site at www.3riversmusicfestival.oig.
The spotlight desk can be reached at
gamecockspotiight@hotmaH.com
Elbow Room prepares to be Guided By Voices
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Indie Rock
purists.
Columbia has
a special treat
from the Dayton,
Ohio, indie gods
— lovingly called
Guided By
Voices. They will
be packing ’em in
the Elbow Room on Friday night in
support of their upcoming album,
Isolation Drills. The initial leg of the
tour only includes eight stops, and
Columbia is second on the list. Doors
open at 9 p.m.
GBV played their first South
Carolina show this past January and were
well-received. They must have been so
impressed that they decided to return
and destroy our eardrums all over again.
It’s probably best to bring some earplugs
and no expectations, but it would be safe
to assume that we’re going to hear some
new material with this show.
That was the case with their New
Year’s Eve show at the Cat’s Cradle in
Carrboro, N.C. Older GBV standards
were replaced with stuff from the
upcoming album. This might be the case
Friday night. Either way, it’s going to
be a loud ;md encigctic show.
These guys were showing children
half their age that they knew how to
rock. Alter watching them, it was no
surprise to learn the band looks up to
The Who. You’ll see similar antics from
these middle-aged rockers on Friday. It
might not be Maximum R&B, but it’s
easily Maximum Indie Rock. My ears
were in bad shape for three days after
that show, and I don’t think they’ve been
the same since.
GBV frontman Robert Pollard, one
of the most prolific songwriters of his
time, has been known to sketch out 50
songs in one sitting.
He’s the envy of many a bandleader
and songwriter. It’s a good thing lie quit
his old job as a fourth-grade teacher to
pursue a career as an indie-rock god.
Some bands will never reach 50
songs in a career, but Pollard easily
churns them out day after day and
somehow finds a way to keep them fresh.
Isolation Drills is not Do the
Collapse, Part II. It’s a progression, and
why shouldn’t it be? The songs are being
called some of the most personal of
Pollard’s career.
It might be more polished, but if
you can get around that, you might hear
one of the finest efforts of GBV.
That’s really up to you, but there are
some strong songs here. Interestingly
enough, Elliott Smith plays piano and
organ on a few of the album’s tracks and
ex-GBV member Tobin Sprout makes
a brief appearance.
But enough about the album. Only
a few of us arc lucky enough to know
how it sounds.
However, you are sure to get a good
idea by coming out to the Elbow Room
on Friday night. Elf Power will open for
GBV, making this a very strong show.
It’s not very often you get the benefit
of a strong opener to such a great show.
Elf Power is a worthy partner, and they
should offer an impressive set of their
own.
If you’re still having reservations
about the new album, you might want
to know that producer Rob Schnapf (Foo
Fighters, Beck, Elliott Smith) let them
drink beer during the recording process.
Knowing GBV as the beer-loving guys
they are, this should be some good news.
Expect to see the boys down a number
of ‘em Friday night.
Don’t worry. They’re trained
professionals.
Tlic spotlight desk aut Ik reached at
gamecockspotiight@hotmail.coni
What’s Happening
Friday, March 2
COCK PIT, The Ultimate Jazz
Experience
DELANEY’S, Davey Clark
ELBOW ROOM, Guided By Voices, Elf
Power
HEMINGWAY’S, Break the Silence
JAMMIN’ JAVA, Danielle Howie
JULIAN'S, Red Sky
MAC’S ON MAIN, ISabor! Latin Jazz
ROADRUNNER’S, Joe Davis Band
SKYLINE, Along for the Ride
SUNDANCE, King Konga, Pause for
Effect
UNCLE DOCTORS, Corrosion of
Conformity, Clutch, Throttlerod, Spirit
Caravan
Saturday, March 3
ART BAR, Play
DELANEY’S, Davey Clark
ELBOW ROOM, Daxnummy, Death to
VanGogh's Ear
HEMINGWAY’S,3-D Monday
JAMMIN’ JAVA, Lindsay Fuller
MAC’S ON MAIN, Page II Jazz
Ensemble
NEW BROOKLAND, Nute, Pawnshop
SUNDANCE, Maywater Rum, Stewart &
Winfield
DECISIONS, No Stage Fright Karaoke
VENUE 44, Dance Party
Sunday, March 4
CHERRIES, Karolina Laser Karaoke
COLUMBIA MUSEUM OF ART, Czech
Trio
CRACKER JACKS, Boogie & Blues
Fest w/The Griff Band
DECISIONS, Blues Jam w/Brainstorm
DELANEY’S PUB, Team Trivia
DRAFTER’S, Open jam w/Rick Stevens
HOUSE THEATER, Joe Torry
PUBLICK HOUSE, Traditional Irish
Session
ROADRUNNERS, Open Jam w/John
Scallon & Smiley Park COMEDY
RAY’S PLACE, Cat's Karaoke
In The News
■ Academy mails
balds to Oscar voters
in more secure way
BEVERLY HLLS, Calrt (AP)
Attention Academy Awards voters: Your
Oscar ballots are in the mail. And this time,
Oscar overseers expect them to arrive.
About 4,300 ballots went out
Wfednesday for members of the Academy
of Motion Picture Aits and Sciences who
live in California Roughly 1,400 ballots for
members outside California were mailed
last week.
A year ago, ballots for California
academy members got lost in the mail. The
academy invalidated them, sent out new
ones and extended the voting deadline by
two days.
The missing ballots eventually turned
up at a postal center in a Los Angeles
suburb, where they had been mistakenly
mixed in with bulk mail shipments.
Oscar organizers traditionally have
dropped off the ballots in canvas sacks at
the Beverly Hills post office.
“The post office, to riiake sure it didn’t
happen again, came and picked them up
this time,” said Robert Rehme, academy
president.
The lost ballots were the first of
several Oscar problems last year. A
shipment of 55 Oscar statues was stolen off
a loading dock, with all but three recovered
later.
■ Theatrical haven
hoping to ne-estabish
glory days of 1940s
NEW HAVEN, Com (AP) -The
Shubeit Performing Aits Center hopes its
Broadway premiere of a new musical will
help re-establish its claim to fame as “The
Birthplace of the Nation’s Greatest Hits.”
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
started a two-week premiere run at the
Shubert on Tuesday. The musical is
scheduled to open later this year at
Broadway’s Minskoff Theater.
In the 1940s and’50s, the Shubert
showed world premieres of OklalK)ma!
Annie Get Your Gun, South Pacific, My
FairLady, The Sound ofMusic and other
Broadway hits.
“It feels like you are in the middle of a
historic place, really tire Betlilehenr of
musicals,” said Tom Siwyersongwrilcr
Don Sclililz.