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'Che ©amecock Arena from page 1 i million is being used for “hard construction costs,” the actual building of the arena, and the other $5 million is for preparing and clearing the site. He said preparation of the site includes soil testing and surveying. Robinson said work has been going on for a while. “We’ve been working on tlie site for four months,” Robinson said. Robinson said around $ 100,000 went into relocation of utilities, including telephone, electric and gas. The remainder of the $70 million budget will be used for the interior of the 18,000-seat arena. The money will go into the new scoreboard, concession stands and furniture for offices, among other things, according to Tharp. Beers has a reputation for building huge sports facilities. Its projects include Philips Arena, the Georgia Dome and Turner Field, all located in Atlanta. “We’re excited about Beers,” Moore said. “Beers is one of the largest construction companies in the country.” Tharp echoed those sentiments. “They’re one of the best around,” Tharp said. USC will use the same superintendent who worked on the Philips Arena for Beers, according to Tharp. Robinson said he estimated Beers to start breaking ground next week. The ceremonial groundbreaking is set for April 25. University officials expected the official signing to take place over the weekend. “We’re committed to building an outstanding facility that is a showcase for the university and community, is fan friendly and cost-efficient,” McGee said. The university desk can be reached at gamecockudesk@hotmail.com Applications to work at IDlt (BaniCCOCk in fall 2001 will be available in RH 343 beginning Thursday. SPECIAL ADVANCE SCREENING COLUMBIA PICTURES nesenu a HAPPY MADISON/ROBERT SIMONDS pkooocdon 'JOE DIRT DENNIS MILLER BRITTANY DANIEL andCHRISTOPHER WALKEN "SWADDYWACHTEL ^MICHAEL DILBECK -82SIADAM SANDIER, JACK GIARRAPUTO DAVID SPADE tPREDWOLf "““^ROBERT SIMONDS ~~ joedirt.com ""SDENNIE GORDON pictures!!] r«’H_ _ • FRFF, MOVIE POSTERS Pick Up FREE Passes Tuesday, April 10 Checkout Russell House 4 8:30 PM CINEMAX.com Info Center Russell House for a chance to win a ivw/l Theater portable DVD player Presented by |AW 4 or other great prizes! Carolina Productions HOGAt1 ^ HOLY WEEK MASSES PALM SUNDAY WEEKEND (April 7-8) Saturday 4:30p.m., Sunday 11:00 a.m. & 7:30 p.m. # HOLY THURSDAY (April 12) Parish Supper 5:00p.m., Mass 7:00p.m. GOOD FRIDAY (April 13) Service of the Lord's Passion 3:00 p.m. Tenebrae Service 7:00p.m. HOLY SATURDAY - THE GREAT VIGIL 8:30 p.m. (April 14) EASTER SUNDAY (April 15) - 11:00 a.m. Haven't been to church in a while? Welcome back! \ jr Palms from page 1 and $100 through the Virginia-based Internet registration company Network Solutions Inc. Geddings said he had talked with Palms about the possibility of a campaign, but didn’t consult with Palms before registering the names. The registrations didn’t indicate whether Palms had made a decision to run, Geddings said. Saying Palms was still considering whether to campaign for the Senate, Geddings echoed Palms’ earlier language that the president was “inclined to run.” “He’s definitely excited about the possibility,” Geddings said. Palms knows what it will take to win, but still needs time to make a decision, Geddings said. “This is a life-changing decision,” he said. “I don’t think anyone would make this decision just in a day or in a week. ... [The decision] hasn’t been made yet.” Geddings said he would be willing to serve as a consultant to Palms’ campaign, as some have suggested. He mentioned the election of Gov. Hodges, the approval of the lottery and Sis consulting job with U.S. Rep. John Spratt, D-S.C., as signs of his success in South Carolina. “We’ve got a pretty good track record of electing Democrats in a Republican state,” Geddings said. A seventh Palms-related domain name has been registered by a Columbia businessman. Real estate businessman Jim Morrison said he registered palms2002.com as a favor for the USC president. “All I did was help a guy out,” said Morrison, a Democrat. “I’ve called his office and told him I have it.” Morrison said he was impressed when Palms showed up.for the retirement party of a school secretary. “He was kind enough tQ come to that lady’s retirement party,” Morrison said. “I made up my mind that if I could do something for him, I would.” Mack Whittle, chairman of the board of trustees, said he could understand Geddings’ registering the domain names. „ “I would suspect Geddings... thinks Palms would be a strong candidate,” Whittle said. Meanwhile, trustees prepared to question Palms Thursday about whether he will run. The board had scheduled a meeting of both the executive committee and the full board to discuss expanding freshman enrollment by 500 students. Palms’ decision will be an additional topic of discussion. Palms has said he would decide * whether to run by May 1, but trustees have pressured him to decide by Thursday’s meeting. Whittle said he was with Palms April 1. “I was with him Sunday night,” Whittle said. “I told him we needed to bring it to some definitive resolution as quickly as possible to move ahead with the university’s business. ” Some discussion will likely take place in executive session, but university spokesman Russ McKinney told The State that the board might also discuss the issue publicly. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Write the university desk at gamecockudesk@hotmailcofn Kick Butts from page 1 According to Ogier, the number of people who start smoking every year is laige enough to make anti-smoking groups like hers take the initiative to show people how misrepresentative cigarette ads are. “Every year, 15,000 youths under the age of 18 become regular smokers,” Ogier said. “Six thousand South Carolinians die a year from tobacco-related disease,” Qgier said. “If we don’t change youth access and marketing strategies, 66,000 youths will die prematurely.” According to statistics from the S.C. Tobacco Collaborative, 36 percent of South Carolina’s high school students smoke, a number local law enforcement hopes to decrease significantly by cracking down on sales of tobacco products to underage I teenagers. “We can help with compliance cjiecks,” Richland County Sheriff Leon •Lott said. He said the 85 percent score convenience stores in his county received for checking IDs before selling cigarettes wasn’t high enough. “Education is the key to-solving the problem with the young people we’ve got using tobacco,” Lott said: “We can kick butts, and law enforcement is going to be there to help.” Lexington County Sheriff James Metts agreed, warning youths that it won’t be so easy to buy cigarettes after area merchants are properly educated about ID checks and the police begin enforcing stricter compliance checks. “You better have ID, because they’re gonna check your ID,” Metts said, adding that young nonsmokers can also do their part by uiging their friends to quit smoking. “It’s not the right thing to do — it’s not a big thing to do,” Metts said. “Tell those who are smoking to quit smoking. Tell them you’re gonna kick butt.” Dr. Phil Michels offered a medical perspective to the push to quit smoking, calling cigarettes more addictive than marijuana, heroin or cocaine. “Nicotine truly is one of the most addictive drugs around,” Michels said. He cited the movie The Insider, which revealed .that cigarette companies have been proven to add chemicals such as DDT and formaldehyde to cigarettes to make them more addictive. He said the legality and popularity of cigarettes doesn’t justify smoking. “Smoking is definitely bad news, and just because it’s sold in stores doesn’t make it better news,” Michels said. Metts conveyed the main idea of Kick Butts Day: “The message loud and clear to youth is to stop smoking.” The city desk can be reached at gamecockcitydesk@hotmaiLcom Get Involved!