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•_vol. 94, no. 64 Friday march 9,2001_ * Serving the Ca rolina Community since 1Q08 m .—r——.,. . r im i - riiiiiiiiijiiiuijimmjiuumijiiJUUJJJiJiiiiniiwriinir iiiimmiiiinimiuiuiimiiiimiixj WWW.DAILYGAMEC0CK.COM UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA - * COLUMBIA, S.C. BUDGET CUTS: The University prepares for a possible loss of funding Palms issues warnings about budget ■ Palms says at faculty senate meeting that budget cuts might be permanent ^ by Brandon Larrabee The Gamecock USC President John Palms gave the first indication Wednesday that cuts to the university’s state funding might be permanent. Palms made the comments at a faculty senate meeting. “Essentially, this is a re-established base that we’ll have to work from,” Palms said during his comments to the senate. After his comments, Palms was asked whether that meant the budget cuts would be permanent. “The blunt answer to that is, ‘yes,’” Palms said. Palms’ comments to faculty senate focused on the budget cuts. Gov. Jim Hodges has proposed a 15 percent cut to the university’s state funding, a loss of about $26 million, according to Palms. The House Ways and Means decreased that cut to 10.5 percent in their version of tiie budget, which the full House will likely vote on later this month. “We’ve been struggling with what we’ve been hearing from the legislature about the budget,” Palms said. He said the cuts from the House Ways and Means Committee are likely the kinds of cuts tiie final House budget will contain. The cuts, and subsequent tuition increases, likely mean the university will lose about 8 percent of its stale funding at best, Palms said. Cuts see page 2 Proposed budget reductions The 10.5 percent budget cut proposed by the House Ways and Means Committee would lead to a mom than $25 million budget cut for the university system for the next fiscal year. USC Columbia School of Medicine USC Aiken USC Spartanburg USC Beaufort USC Lancaster USC Salkehatchie USC Sumter USC Union $156.7 million $24.6 million $10.6 million $12.6 million $2.4 million $2.9 million $2.3 million $4.3 million $1.1 million $18.1 million $2.8 million $1.3 million $1.5 million $280,000 $340,000 $280,000 $510,000 $140,000 Total (all campuses) $217.6 million $25.2 million Brad Walters/The Gamecock ■ USC releases Palms' memo outlining how university plans to deal with cuts by Brandon Larrabee The Gamecock USC will likely use a “combination of measures” to make up for the budget cuts the university is facing, according to a memo from University President John Palms released Thursday. The memo also says “a maximum tuition increase at this time is crucial to reducing the overall cut to the university.” The memo, dated March 2, is the most detailed look yet at how the university might deal with the possibility of having its state funding slashed by 10 to 15 percent. However, it still lacks many specifics that will depend on how deep the cuts are. “We are seeking management tools appropriate to an academic community that will enable us to avoid imposing a large, across-the-board cut on July 1,2001, and to provide adequate time for us to consider strategic adjustments to our budget,” Palms wrote in the memo. According to the memo, the university likely will have to consider eliminating positions. But he said USC would use other measures to soften the blow. “If we were required to absorb a cut of this magnitude as of July 1,2001, our only recourse would be to eliminate positions,” Palms wrote. “As the sole solution, this method is not acceptable to us; therefore, we are investigating a combination of institutional measures — Memo see page 2 Student Government * SG passes resolution on health center hours by Mark Hiner The Gamecock Student senate concluded its term Wednesday by passing two resolutions, one urging the Thomson Student Health Center to extend its hours and another recognizing the efforts of departing SG President Jotaka Eaddy. The senate will reconvene March 28 with newly elected officials. Sen. Brook Bristow, College of Journalism and Mass Communications, sponsored the health center resolution, wliich passed with little opposition. Bristow spoke before the senate, explaining his concerns with the center’s limited hours ol operation. “I thought it was unhealUiy, considering that this is such a big school,” lie said. “Weekends are a prime time for sickness and injury. I think this is a good step towards improving student life.” The health center is open to students Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 4-8 p.m. for “uigent conditions only.” The center is closed Saturday. *■ Students who require after-hours medical attention are told to go to a local hospital’s emeigency room at their own expense. A second resolution, passed unanimously by the senate, recognized President Eaddy’s accomplishments. Eaddy is leaving office on March 20. After a round of applause, an emotional Eaddy said her term as president “was a truly unfoigettable experience” and that she hoped to work with the senators again in the future. She commended her SG colleagues for their work throughout the year, saying they did a “tremendous job with legislation.” Eaddy also urged that returning legislators continue to support extending the drop date, an issue she stressed in her agenda. The university desk can be reached at gamecocku desk@hotmail.com NEWSPLEX AGREEMENT: Journalism school signs deal Ann Marie Miani/The Gamecock SCETV CFO David Crouch, Ifra CEO Gunther Bottcher and USC Provost Jerry Odom sign a partnership agreement Wednesday night to build the $1.5 million Newsplex facility at SCETVs communications headquarters. USC journalism students will hfeve the option to attend class In the Newsplex when It’s completed in 2002. USC, European company Ifra to build ‘journalism laboratory’ by Charles Prashaw The Gamecock An international media company is partnering with USC’s College of Journalism and Mass Communications to bring cutting-edge journalism training to the school. hra, an international non-proOt media corporation, is joining with the school to build a $1.5 million facility, called the Newsplex, inside South Carolina Educational Television’s tele communications headquarters on George Rogers Boulevard. Ifra, formed in Germany in 1961, focuses on publishing strategies and technologies, especially for the news media. According to lira Executive Director Kerry Northrup, the Newsplex will assist international news industries and journalism academia in mastering news presentation techniques emerging from the convergence of print, radio, television and online media. “The center will be a news laboratory,” he said. The Newsplex will help train the next genenrlion of journalists and evaluate technological advancements that could change how news is gathered and disseminated during the next century, according to Northrup. When it is completed in 2002, journalism students will have classes in the building and produce news from the facility. At a reception celebrating the signing of the agreement Wednesday, Northrup explained the design of the two-story, 2,500-square ft. facility. Northrup said the bottom lloor will contain a news flow desk and lire upper lloor will contain areas for news research, reporting and news preparation. According to Northrup, students at the journalism school will participate in two-week, elite-level courses taught by a combination of USC faculty and Ifra-provided instructors. The focus on the courses will be using the Newsplex and its resources for cross-media news gathering and story presentation. In addition, USC and Ufa will make the Newsplex available for training professional journalists and other communications professionals from around the world. Ifra will also use the Newsplex to develop and evaluate new methods, skills and technology in newsgathering and presentation. After the presentation, Ifra’s CEO Gunther Bollcher, SCETV Triad Vice President David Crouch and USC Provost Jerry Odom signed an agreement making the three group’s partnership in the Newsplex official. “We are very excited about this partnership,” SCETV Higher Education Director Mary Holderman said. “We will be happy to share some space with the new Newsplex.” Holderman explained SCETV’s role in the partnership as one of support services. SCETV will provide receptionists and other office equipment and services to the Newsplex. “SCETV is very interested in the future of merging technologies in mass media,” Holderman said. “The Newsplex will help explore the possibilities of diese technologies.” The university desk can be reached at gamecockudesk@hotmail.com New RHA officers elected by Cristy Infinger Tiie Gamecock The Residence Hall Association elected new officers Tuesday. The president, treasurer and secretary for the next year were chosen, and a new affiliate program was proposed and welcomed. President-elect Brad Dawgert of Woodrow Hall has worked with RHA for three yean. He’s president of the South Carolina Organization for Residence Education, secretary for RHA and runs WRHA, the housing cable channel. Dawgert received a majority vote over RHA president Myra McPhee. "I want to provide support and publicity to the individual residence halls and co-program with more organizations,” Dawgert said. i reasurer-eiect Burton muon oi Preston College has also been involved with RHA for three years. Hilton said he will allocate funds to other oiganizations and make sure all monies are used efficiently. "My platform included maintaining fiscal responsibility and helping allocate money better by checking with the different oiganizations and how they spend the money,” Hilton said. Secretary-elect Ashley Jones of Maxcy College ran unopposed. One candidate ran for vice president but didn’t receive a majority vote. The position will be voted on again at the next RHA meeting. The affiliate program proposed during the meeting was CTV, a student-run television show that will run on WRHA. CTV will be a 15- to 30-minute show, featuring topics such as “What Will Students Do for a Dollar?” and “Student Cribs.” Duke Taylor of Preston College will be in chaige of CTV. This new pregram won’t cost students extra, Assistance Director of Residence Education David Pittman said. The treasurer will allocate funds from the student activities fee that all on-campus students pay in their tuition bill, he said. The university desk can be reached at gamecockudesk@hotmail.com Weather Spring Break Quote of the Day Online Poll Today 60 37 Saturday 60 41 The Gamecock wishes all its readers a safe and enjoyable spring break. “Do not follow where the path may lead. Go, instead, where there is no path and leave a trail.” — Anonymous Does the football team have too many discipline problems? Yes: 39% No: 61 % Look for next week’s question at www.dailygamecock.com