Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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_vol. 94, no, 63 ^clnesday march 7,2001__ ■: Serving t WWW.DAU.YGAMBCOCK.COM UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA .COLUMBIA, S.C. Student Government President ‘This is what it’s all about’ by Brandon Larrabee The Gamecock It was a chance encounter. Student Government President Jotaka Eaddy was sitting under the Tree of Kr^Vledge on Greene Street when she began talking with a student who was waiting for someone else. Not knowing who Eaddy was, the student began to talk about how impressed the student was with Student Government’s activities. “At that moment, I was like, ‘This is what it’s all about’’” Eaddy said. “I cry every time I think about it.” At the end of this month, Eaddy’s term as SG president will end, capping one of the most active administrations in recent history. Eaddy’s administration has seen I three of her four main goals implemented, while another could clear faculty senate by April. Eaddy ran on her “Contract for Carolina” platform, which included: ■ Systems for safety: Eaddy proposed extending shuttle hours. Parking services made that a reality in August, extending shuttle hours to 12:30 a.m. ■ Service 101: During her campaign for the SG presidency, Eaddy said her administration would start a class that would give students credit for community service. The class will be offered this fall semester. ■ Sixth Man Club: This special student section cheered for the Gamecocks in four home basketball games this season. Eaddy see page 2 -1 Photos by Travis Lynn/The Gamecock Student Government President Jotaka Eaddy confers with her Cabinet during their weekly meeting. Together with the Cabinet, Eaddy, above right, has accomplished three of the four goals outlined In her “Contract for Carolina” —the Sixth Man Club, extended shuttle hours and a Service 101. Her fourth campaign promise, an extended drop date, probably won’t pass the full faculty senate before the end of Eadd/s term. Group plans to build resorts in space by Valerie Matchette The Gamecock Travelers seeking adventure destinations other than sandy beaches, snow-capped mountains or bustling cities might soon find themselves vacationing in zero gravity, 400 miles above the Earth, in a rotating space station. Plans to create livable resorts in space have been in the works for the past 25 years, according to Space Island Group president Gene Meyers. Space Island is a group based in West Covina, Calif. Meyers spoke to a group of high school students Saturday at the Adam’s Mark Hotel in Columbia as part of a journalism conference. Meyers said space stations could efficiently and economically be constructed out of old fuel cylinders from space shuttles that normally crash into the ocean or are pushed back into the atmosphere. Under the Space nd Group’s system, the cylinders would be tethered I ‘Two years ago, they considered it fantasy; now they consider it real, not because of aerospace technology, but because of that movie.* Gene Meyers Space Island Group President on 2001: A Space Odyssey together to create a space station. Though this might seem a daunting task fit only for science fiction novels, Meyers said it’s just like any other construction venture. “We see ourselves as commercial real estate developers,” Meyers said. Author Arthur C. Clarke, who wrote 2001: A Space Odyssey, is working with the company on the project, Meyers said. He said the movie made from Clarke’s novel I had a lot to do with how much people believed humans could achieve, as far as space travel, and the coming of the year 2001 serves as an omen of change. “Two years ago, they considered it fantasy; now, they consider it real, not because of aerospace technology, but because of that movie,” Meyers said. He said in the company’s estimates, by the year 2012, there should be Space see page 2 Special to The Gamecock The USC Police Department Is trying to Identify this individual. If you can help the police, please call 777-4892. Indictments don’t change procedures by Rebecca Whitehead The Gamecock USC’s Purchasing Department and Controller’s Office don’t plan on making any changes despite three indictments earlier this month involving the misuse of funds that came from those departments, Assistant Director of Purchasing Ann Lyles said. Controller John Campbell said the problems didn’t originate in his office. “The problems were more internal,” Campbell said. “Our processes are the ones that help catch [false vouchers].” Douglas Dobson, Sara Grayson and Betty Sue Branham, all of the Institute of Public Affairs, have been indicted for submitting false expense and travel vouchers to the Controller’s Office and Purchasing Department. The institute handles public policy research and public service, according to Associate Director Mike Witkoski. Witkoski said he didn’t want to Purchasing seepages * « 0 Proposal would add liberation flag ■ Idea to change historical monument leads to controversy by Valerie Matchette The Gamecock A proposal to add a black liberation flag to, the African-American History Monument on the State House grounds caused a stir of controversy TUesday at the Senate Judiciary Committee meeting. The argument stemmed from a proposed amendment to the bill from Sen. Andre Bauer, R-Lexington, who wanted to add plans for a Southern history week. He said his addition to the bill was not an attempt to stop it from going through legislation, but that an amendment would simply serve as a vehicle to get more done. “I’m not trying to kill this bill,” Bauer said Sen. Daniel Verdin, R-Laurens, said he was uncomfortable with the bill as it was. He said he’d researched the black liberation flag and come out more uncertain than he’d been in the first place. “The more I look at the flag in and of itself, the more questions I have,” Verdin said “At this time, I’m just not inclined to support this bill.” Sen. Maggie Glover, D-Florence, said the bill is the culmination of years of hard work on her part. “I said when I first introduced this that this was simply the continuation of what the heritage act gave to us,” Glover said Sen. Robert Ford, D-Charleston, said the legislature needs to take action on the bill instead of arguing. “We need to start being leaden,” Ford said. He emphasized the fact that July’s confederate flag compromise was not a compromise at all, or a way of placating people on both sides of the issue. Instead he said it was just his way of promoting heritage for both black and white citizens. Sen. Scott Richardson, R-Beaufort, advocated sending the bill to subcommittee so it wouldn’t be rushed through the system too fast, because it deals with such an “explosive issue.” The amendment was tabled with some dissension, but the bill was given a favorable report. The judiciary committee also discussed a racial profiling bill, which had been brought up in last week’s session and sent back to subcommittee for review of subsection H, which contained ambiguity. Sen. Ford spoke on behalf of the bill, which would provide public records for what law enforcement agencies in what areas of the state have the most incidences of racial profiling. “Government agencies need that information,” Ford said. He said this legislation would provide them with a tool to get those statistics, adding that though racial profiling specifics are not yet known, the release of these facts is vital so that there can be more public . awareness of the practice. “We don’t know what exists, but we do know something has to be done.” Sen. Darrell Jackson, D-Richland, wanted to emphasize to the committee that the bill would only provide information. It would not actually create any legislation to punish officers who target people in specific racial groups. “I just want us to be clear as we leave here what we are voting on and what we are not voting on,” Jackson said. “We are passing legislation that will collect data on racial profiling.” He went on to say that legislation “with teeth” is needed to give consequences to those who commit racial profiling. Ford, however, believed that the bill would be a bigger step than Jackson thought, because no trooper would consciously pull over a driver who had done nothing wrong; because the officers’ actions were being recorded statistically he would have to be able to justify them completely. This alone would cut down drastically on racial profiling, according to Ford. “This is important legislation and it does more than the senator from Richland says it does,” Ford said. Bauer had an issue with the bill, saying it might cause officers to pull over innocent people so that their numbers wouldn’t come out skewed. The university desk can be reached at gamecockudesk@hotmail.com University says it’s complying with ADA by Rebecca Whitehead The Gamecock USC certainly has its fair share of ramps and automatic doors designed to facilitate mobility for handicapped students, faculty and staff. But most students aren’t aware of the many legal requirements about handicapped access. “It is a running battle,” Director of Disability Services Karen Pettus said. Bobby Gist, executive assistant to the President of the Office of Equal Opportunity Programs, said every measure is being taken to make the campus compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. USC also works to comply with Titles I, II, III and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Not all campus buildings are completely compliant, however. Buildings built since the enactment of AD\ are required to follow guidelines pertaining to accessability, but older ‘When you’re the person that needs the ramp, you think your need is more important.* Karen Pettus Director of Disability Services buildings might need renovations, according to Gist. For example, he said the Coliseum might not be completely compliant, but it’s still accessible to the handicapped. He said the new Coliseum will be completely ADA compliant. Funding problems remain an impediment to ADA compliance. “One of the big problems with ADA is that it was mandated by Congress, but ADA SEE PAGE 2 Mothers Against ^ Drunk Driving fight college binge drinking Friday “Don't worry about the world coming to an end today. It's already tomorrow in Australia.” — Charles M. Schulz Does the football team have too many discipline problems? Vote at www.dailygamecock.com. I Results will be published Friday.