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-■ _Vol. 94, No. 79 Monday April 23, 2001__ ^ Serving the Carolina Community since IQ08 Woman sexually assaulted by Charles Prashaw The Gamecock HI A Lexington County woman was sexually assaulted early Saturday alter a man broke into her boyfriend’s apartment off St. Andrews Road, several miles from campus. The incident look place around 6:30 a.m. in the couple’s Stoneycreek apartment at 18 Berryhill Road. Reports give the following account of the incident: The 26-year-old victim was cooking breakfast while her boyfriend slept in a nearby bedroom. She heard a noise and turned to see a man wearing a cloth mask, police said. The man had a gun and tried to rob the couple. After the victim told the gunman she didn’t have any money, the armed man locked her boyfriend in a room and told her to go to another room. The gunman then hit the woman on the head and threatened to kill her. He then forced her to perform a sex act on ^im. Police oflicere said the man had been watching llie womin for several days before he broke into the apartment, and they’re investigating how the man entered the apartment. ttC UU tuuirv guj iiiaj unvc been watching this victim for a couple of days, because he made a comment that he knew she had a boyfriend,” assistant Richland County SherifiTnn James said. Columbia and Richland County police are working together on the case because they diink the incident could be iinked to similar cases that occurred last year in nearby apartments, James said. Last year, a man sexually assaulted and robbed two women and tried to rob another woman in their apartments off Broad River Road. In another incident, .^re man shot a dog and ran when a woman round him in her apartment. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the Lexington County SlterilFs Department at (803) 359 8230 or CrimeStoppers at (888) 559-8477. The city desk cun be reached at gamecockcrtydesk@hotmail.com FUN IN THE SUN: Residents enjoy nice weekend weather Aaron Hark/The Gamecock Andy Salwinsld, a Sunday school student at Fellowship Baptist Church In Lexington, files his kite Sunday during Earth Day festivities at Finlay Park In downtown Columbia. Web site lists state’s delinquent taxpayers Delinquent taxpayers V The groups that owe the state the most money: ■ William and Cathleen Gilliam of Telluride, Colo., $1,964,716 ■ Smoky Mountain Secrets Inc. based in Tennessee, $1,063,020 ■ Dane Jones of Aruba, $419,127 ■ Robert Ledford of Pauline, $351,827 ■ James and Belinda Cooke of Lancaster, ' $338,494 ■ GSI Management Company at Benedict College, $321,305 Sourc«: State Department of Revenue ■ Site will list names of up to 100 who owe South Carolina taxes by Charles Prashaw The Gamecock Tlie S.C. Department of Revenue hopes a little cyber-shame will persuade some South Carolinians to pay more than $24 million in back taxes from individuals and businesses. The department has started to list the names, addresses and amount owed by 63 taxpayers who owe large amounts of money to tlie state. The names are listed under “debtor’s comer” on the department’s Web site at www.sclax.org. Elizabeth Carpentier, revenue department director, said more than 100 delinquent taxpayers owing more than $24 million were notified about their outstanding debts. They had 30 days to satisfy their debt, to make arrangements to pay or have it be published on the Internet. So far, 37 have ‘The money these people owe could be paying for the essential services that all the citizens of South Carolina depend upon.* Elizabeth Carpentier Revenue department director paid or set up payment plans. The Web site will be updated biweekly, and a list of up to 100 delinquent taxpayers will be kept on the site regularly. “Delinquent taxpayers hurt all of the citizens of South Carolina,” Carpentier said. “The money these people owe could be paying for the essential services that all the citizens of South Carolina depend upon.” Carpentier said information about delinquent taxpayers is public information because the Department of Revenue files tax liens with tire Clerk of Court or Register of Deeds in the debtor’s county of residence. “Especially in a year of budget cuts, revenue from all taxpayers is necessary,” Carpentier said. Carpentier said in some cases, the individuals and businesses have failed to pay state taxes for several years. Carpentier said she got the idea after hearing about similar programs in other stales. South Carolina joins nine other states that have similar debt-posting programs, according to Carpentier. She said the program has been successful in other states, bringing in millions of previously unpaid taxes. The city desk can be reached at gamecockcitydesk@hotmail.cofn - % Potential Budget Cuts Construction bonds face opposition ■ Finance chairman wants to cut bonds from House version of higher-ed budget by Brandon Larrabee The Gamecock As higher education leaders braced for die possibility of a significant reduction in state funding, die chairman of the Senate Finance Committee said he didn’t support issuing bonds that would partially pay for USC construction projects. The finance committee will take up the budget, wliicli would include any bond issue, this week. The budget must pass the Senate, be reconciled with the House version — which slashed USC’s funding by about 12 percent — and tlien be signed by Gov. Jim Hodges to become final. Under the House bill, the state would issue nearly $395 million in bonds. The bond bill would earmark millions of dollars for construction projects at USC, including $10 million fora new School of Law center and $20 million for renovating the Gibbes Green area behind McKissick Museum. But the state is close to breaking a statutory borrowing limit and has already authorized about $1 billion in bonds that have yet to be issued, Senate Finance Committee chairman Hugh Leatherman, R-Florence, said. He also said South Carolina typically issues liiout $250 million in bonds every year and it would take four years for the bonds to be issued. “So what’s the big hurry for a bond bill this year?” Leatherman asked. USC has said since the beginning of the discussion on budget cuts that it would have to institute large tuition increases to make up for decreased funding. A proviso being considered by the Legislature would allow die university to raise tuition-above the rise in the Higher Education Price Index, which some universities must follow under stale law. But any college that does so would be forced to hold tuition Construction see page 2 Postal Service commemorates USC bicentennial BY BKANDON LAKKABbc The Gamecock The U.S. Postal Service will issue a stamped postcard commemorating USC’s bicentennial Thursday on the Horseshoe. The ceremony, scheduled to take place at 9 a.m. in front of the Faculty House, will dedicate the card, which is the 52nd stamped postcard in USPS’s Historic Preservation Series. The 20-cent stamp will be available at the ceremony and at Columbia post offices Wednesday. Other post offices and Philatelic Centers will begin carrying the postcard the next day. “The U.S. Postal Service’s commemoration of [USC’s] bicentennial is indeed a tribute to the university, for it not only honors our lieriUige, but it also recognizes the contributions that this university has made to our suite and our nation,” said USC President John Palms. US. Postal Service Director for Public Affairs Joyce Carrier, who will be the dedicating official for the event, said the card honors USC’s history. “[The postcard] pays tribute to one of our nation’s best-preserved and most historic learning institutions,” Carrier said. Columbia postmaster Lawrence Jordan will serve as the event’s master of ceremonies. Olliers attending die ceremony include Postal Service Vice President of Operations for the Mid-Atlantic Area Henry Pankey, Postal Service District Manager for the Greater South Carolina District Larry Jones, Columbia Mayor Bob Coble and state Sens. John Courson and Nikki Setzler, who serve on the W tV* *<» t UftUU How to order the first-day postmark Purchase the new stamped cards at the Thursday cere mony or at the post office, address it and place it in an envelope addressed to: USC Stamped Card Postmaster 1601 Assembly St. Columbia, SC 29201-9991 The Postal Service will return the stamped cards through the mail for free. Deadline is May 26. Bicentennial Commission. Other USC and local dignitaries are expected to be on hand. Designed by Etltel Kessler of BeUiesda, Md., the stamp features a detail of a T. Ulor painting of the Horseshoe. Ulor painted the picture around 1820. The “Old Campus District” at USC is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The university desk can be reached at gamecockudesk@hotmail.com Weather Coming Up Quote of the Day Online Poll Today 82 62 s Tuesday b 82 r 59 What’s up with all the herbie-curbie larcenies? What is a herbie-curbie? mBr This Week “The shortest distance between two points is under construction.” — Noelie Altito Should USC increase freshman enrollment to save money? Vote at www.dailygamecock.com. Results will be published Friday. h ' .