Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Serving the Carolina Community since 1Q08 * WWW.DAILYGAMEC0CK.COM UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA . COLUMBIA, S.C. WIS-TV anchor discusses racism ■ Susan Aude risher talks about her faith's view by Rebecca Whitehead The Gamecock Susan Aude Fisher, a WIS-TV news anchor, spoke to about 35 people Wednesday about her faith’s views on racism. Fisher’s speech, “Eliminating Racism: Why It is Important to Me as a White Woman,” sponsored by USC’s Baha’i Club, focused on the Baha’i faith’s beliefs about racism FlSHER and uniting all of humanity. (l The meeting opened with a tape recorded prayer. The prayer was in a foreign language and sounded harsh. “Does anybody recognize that prayer?” Fisher asked. No one did. The prayer was the Lord’s Prayer spoken in Aramaic, the language from Jesus Christ’s era. Fisher had chosen it to demonstrate that people tend to be scared off by anything foreign-sounding, even if it’s actually something they know by heart. Fisher continued by explaining the Fisher see page 2 ^Business program secures No.2 rank by Desmond Jenkins The Gamecock USC’s graduate international business program has been ranked No. 2 in the U.S. News and World Report top graduate school rankings. This is the 12th straight year USC has taken one of the top two spots. ^ The ranking appeared in the April 9 issue of “America’s Best Graduate Schools.” USC is tlie only public university in the top five. Trailing USC in international business are the Univeisity of Pennsylvania, Columbia University, Harvard Univeisity and New York University. Tlie Thundeibird Graduate School at the University of Arizona clinched the No. 1 ranking. “Tlie Darla Moore School of Business is committed to the education of students who will be leaders of tlie global economy,” said Joel Smith, dean of the Darla Moore School of Business. “This ranking recognizes the role that USC played in the 20th century in developing one of the Ration’s finest international business Programs and the leadership position that our university holds in the 21st century in international business education.” “This ranking also recognizes our IBUS SEE PAGE 3 | Weather U| Today 77 59 Saturday 83 * 62 Brawl erupts in Russell House by Charles Prashaw and Brandon Larrabee The Gamecock A fight involving several fraternities broke out inside the Russell House ballroom and had to be brought under control Thursday night by more than a dozen USC Police and Columbia Police officers. The altercation started around 8:45 p.m. during a scheduled event sponsored by the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. At least two people suffered injuries and were taken to the hospital. One of the injured, USC student Erin Johnson, was reportedly hit in the head with a chair. Johnson was taken to Palmetto Richland Memorial Hospital. “She’s here and being seen by the doctor,” a hospital staff member said. The incident drew several USC and Columbia police can, medics and an officer on horseback. One officer was heard on police frequencies yelling, “I need backup! I need backup!” When the dispatcher told the officer backup was on the way, the officer responded that he needed more. Director of Law Enforcement and Safety Ernie Ellis said USCPD was investigating the matter, but no arrests had been made. “It would be premature for me to say that any arrests might be pending,” Ellis said. Greek Life Coordinator Carl Johnson said his office would begin investigating the incident Friday. Police and members of the Department of Student Life remained outside McBryde during Alpha Phi Alpha’s ceremony. “We’re maintaining the safety and security of [McBryde Quad],” Johnson said. The Columbia Police Department was called for backup purposes by USCPD but made no arrests. According to Maggie McAllister, a Russell House information desk employee, the fight started when members of Alpha Phi Alpha were performing a skit mocking other fraternities. According to several witnesses, the event was being held as part of Alpha Plti Alpha’s coming-out ceremony for newly initiated brothers. McAllister said members of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity started the fight; an aigument ensued, and chairs started flying. After the fight, several members of Phi Beta Sigma fraternity gathered on the Russell House patio and performed an impromptu step routine, chanting, “Wfe don’t run ... We stay and fight,” Sigma member Lee Hughes, a graduate student in the College of Liberal Arts, insisted liis fraternity wasn’t involved in the incident. “Violence does not define [the Sigmas],” Hughes said. “We are above that.” The university desk can be reached at gamecockudesk@hotmail.com Aaron Hark/The Gamecock A horseback officer from the Columbia Police Department clears out a crowd on Greene Street after a fight Inside the Russell House. BOARD OF TRUSTEES: Two issues dominate meeting Palms still indecisive on U.S. Senate run by Brandon Larrabee The Gamecock USC President John Palms hinted at aboard of trustees meeting Thursday that he was closer to making a decision about running for U.S. Senate, and trustees prepared for his possible resignation. Palms gave little substantive indication of whether he was any closer to a decision than he was when he faxed a letter to trustees March 28 telling them he was “inclined to run” for the U.S. Senate. “I’m about two weeks closer,” Palms told The Gamecock after a full meeting of the board. “It’s got to be a pretty thorough process.” At an earlier press conference between a meeting of the board’s executive committee and the full board, Palms said lie would make a decision by the first week of May. “If and when I make my decision, I’ll be sure to give due notice to the board so they can get an acting president,” Palms said. But Palms said he was pleased in the role of university president. “I love the job I have,” Palms said. “My heart is with this school, this community.” Palms said he hoped his now-public party affiliation wouldn’t hurt his ability to serve USC. “I hope any political affiliation, by itself, would not disqualify me as president,” Palms said. Board chairman Mack Whittle said having an acting president liadn’t hurt USC in the past and wouldn’t do so now. “It will not be a stand-still time for the university,” he said. An acting president would likely be appointed shortly after Palms resigned. Wliittle said he didn’t know how long the search for a permanent replacement would take should Palms resign, but the average length of such a search is about 12 months. The conference took place after the committee went into executive session. Palms said lie hid used dial time to “express my thought process about running.” He Palms seepages Photos by Aaron Hark/The Gamecock (Top) Mack Whittle, chairman of the university board of trustees, and USC President John Palms discuss Palms’ possible Senate candidacy. (Bottom) Board of Trustees members Herbert Adams, A.C. Fennel, and Othnlel Wlenges. Palms gave trustees little Indication of whether he was any closer to a decision than he was when he faxed a letter to the board March 28 telling them he was “inclined to run” for the U.S. Senate. Palms unveils plan to boost freshman class enrollment by Brandon Larrabee The Gamecock A plan to boost freshman enrollment by nearly 500 students was unveiled by USC President John Palms at a meeting of the full board of trustees Thursday. According to Palms’ report to the board, the plan to increase enrollment to 3,000 and maintain that level could have an impact of $19.3 million on the university’s finances by fiscal year 2007. If USC continues its current trend, Palms’ report says, it will lose nearly $8.1 million. But it will pick up $11.2 million if it increases enrollment by 458 students. “This carefully implemented measure and its corrolary factors are critical to the financial vitality of this institution and its academic mission, particularly in the context of probable and sustained budget cuts to the university.... Increasing freshman enrollment without increasing total enrollment offers us a prudent course that I believe is in the university’s best interest,” Palms wrote in the report. Since 1997, the number of new freshmen entering USC has dropped from 2,988 to 2,542 in 2000. The total number of undergraduates has also dropped from 15,915 in 1995 to 15,266 in 2000. “We are not increasing the enrollment overall,” Palms said at the meeting. He said the university would control enrollment at its graduate school, making up for the increased number of freshmen. The extra funding would come from several sources, including: ■ An increase in the amount given to the university under the state’s performance-based funding. The Enrollment see page 2 Palms’ plan: By the numbers ■ 3,000: The total number of freshmen who would be enrolled next year if nearly 500 more students enroll than last year ■ 20 PERCENT: How much Palms wants to increase freshman enrollment ■ $11.2 MILLION: How much money the university could make if it maintains that level for five years ■ $8.1 MILLION: How much USC could lose if freshman enrollment stays the same Coming Up Quote of the Day Online Poll A look at the USC/Clemson baseball game Wednesday “Friendship improves happiness and abates misery, by the doubling of our joy and the dividing of our grief.” — Cicero Should John Palms resign the USC presidency? Yes, he should run for Senate 17% Yes, he should retire 21 % No, he should stay at USC 46% No, he should be named our basketball coach 17% Vote at www.dailygamecock.com. Results will be published Friday.