Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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_Vol. 94, No. 74 Monday April 9, 2001_._ e Carolina Community since 1Q08 • WWW.DAILYGAMEC0CK.COM UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA , COLUMBIA, S.C. Possible Senate Run Top Democrat secures Palms Web domains m Lonsultant to governor registers six Web sites that include Palms' name by Brandon Larrabee The Gamecock A top Democratic consultant has registered six Internet domain names that include the name of USC President John Palms. Kevin Geddings, a key political adviser to Gov. Jim Hodges during his election and lottery campaigns, registered the names, including palmsforsenate.com and johnpalms.com, in the name of Scott Anderson, vice president of beddings & Phillips Communications. Geddings said the domain names were registered to prevent Republicans from snapping them up should Palms decide to run for the U.S. Senate seat Sen. Strom Thurmond will relinquish in 2003. He said GOP consultant Richard Quinn, top adviser to Republican front runner Lindsey Graham, might have registered the names and used them to post negative information about Palms if his firm hadn’t moved first. “It was sort of an inexpensive way to prevent that from happening,” Geddings told The Gamecock. The domain names cost between $40 Palms seepages Campaign seeks to end smoking by Valerie Matchette The Gamecock Some anti-smoking activists are rallying to get people across the state to kick the habit. The sixth annual National Kick Butts Day, part of a campaign to keep young people from smoking by educating them about tobacco companies’ advertising tactics, was held Wednesday afternoon on the State House steps. , The purpose of the rally was to prevent youths from lighting up and to encourage lifetime smokers to give up the habit. Kick Butts Day was funded in part by a grant from the American Legacy Foundation, which formed as a result of the national settlement against tobacco ‘Tell those who are smoking to quit smoking. Tell them you’re gonna kick butt.’ James Metts Lexington County Sheriff companies, said Cindy Ogier, director of the S.C. Youth Movement Against Tobacco. Ogier said her organization hoped the rally would increase public awareness about the marketing tactics cigarette companies use to manipulate consumers. Kick Butts seepages SHOWCASE: Food, fun and the bicentennial Aaron Hark/The Gamecock Students, parents, faculty, staff and potential students gathered for an open house at USC’s annual Showcase on Saturday. This year's event was tied In with the university's bicentennial celebration, which will continue ail year. READY TO BEGIN: USC picks company to build new arena i---■ - ■ —'—-----—--- '■ ' ■■-1 special 10 i ne bamecocK Beers Construction Co. has been selected to build USC’s new arena In the Vista The arena Is set to open In November 2002 for the 2002-2003 basketball season. Company wins bid for arena ■ After negotiations, new basketball facility will cost USC $46.4 million should be ready by 2002-2003 season by Rebecca Whitehead won the bid after it lowered its estimated The Gamecock costs from $49.2 million to $46.4 . .. . , million. The price was lowered after a USC s Athletics Department has few weeks of negoljations USC selected the company that will build its ancj BeerS) which made its initial bid new basketball arena, which is scheduled Feb. 27. to open November 2002. Pre-approved companies that didn’t Beers Construction Co. of Atlanta get the contract were Turner, FN -1 Thompson and Griffin Construction. Jim Robinson of the Office of Facilities Management said the latest bid is subject to change because one or two issues weren’t resolved, but he didn’t elaborate on what those issues were. Senior Associate Athletics Director John Moore said Beers got the project because of its bid. “This was a state project, and Beers was the lowest bidder,” Moore said. Athletics Director Mike McGee said the university was pleased that it was able to negotiate the price down to $46 million. “We’re pleased that we were able to stay within our original budget without affecting the scope of the overall project;” McGee said. The budget for the entire arena, including construction, land, furniture and scoreboards, was estimated at $70 million, with $54.3 million used in the building of the arena. According to Assistant Athletics Director Kerry Tharp, roughly $49 Arena seepages Sun Myung Moon visits S.C. as part of 50-city tour by Charles Prashaw The Gamecock Some call him a cult leader. Some call him a true messenger of God. Regardless of how he’s seen, the sometime-controveraal Sun Myung Moon spoke in Columbia Sunday as part of a 50 city tour. South Carolina was the 47th stop on Moon’s tour, which will end April 16 in Washington, D.C. The 81-year-old Moon spoke to media and held a prayer group before speaking to a small crowd inside the Adam’s Mark Hotel Sunday evening. Moon told his followers they should keep the faith, saying it was important for multiple denominations to come together “to share the gospel.” About 120 ministers of 17 denominations are affiliated with Moon’s national tour. The Korean-bom Moon founded the Unification Church about 50 years ago. Since then, the church claims that millions of people from several countries follow its teachings. Moon also says Jesus appeared to him on Easter in 1935 while he was hiking though the mountains in Korea. Moon According to Moon, Jesus asked him to continue the work he started on Earth nearly 2,000 years before. Jesus asked him to complete the task of establishing God’s kingdom on earth and bringing peace to humankind. Moon said. Teachings of the Unification Church, according to a Unification Church Web site, include: ■ The Unification Church is the only way to solve problems such as war, famine, environmental pollution, drug abuse, AIDS, family breakdown, crime and suicide. ■ The church asks women to “be fruitful, multiply and fill the earth.” ■ The church is dedicated to marriages that are committed and parents who have “true values,” which include conservative views on raising children. The church lias been criticized because it treats women as though they have a less important role in the church than men. Moon himself has been criticized by former church members who said he’s asked followers to give large sums of money to the church in order to spread its teachings. However, supporters say the church has sought racial and ethnic harmony and has been accepting of doctrines and teachings from various religions, including Judaism and Islam. The city desk can be reached at gamecockcitydesk@hotmail.com Weather Coming Up ' Quote of the Day Online Poll Today 88 65 Tuesday 87 65 i ' * A look at r Columbia coffeehouses Wednesday * "Never explain — your friends do not need it, and your enemies will not believe you anyway.” — Elbert Hubbard Should Palms retire as USC president? Vote at www.dailygamecock.com. Results will be published Friday. i >