Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Deans must defend their colleges With even more budget cuts, all programs are under review BY GINNY THORNTON THEUAMECOCK In the wake of recent state bud get cuts, USC leaders have formed a committee to evaluate how the university’s resources are used and the quality of what those re sources produce. The Strategic Directions and Initiatives Committee (SDIC) was formed this summer to examine the structure of USC’s colleges and programs, and will work this fall to recommend changes to the board of trustees by the end of2001. The committee’s scrutiny comes at a critical time for the uni versity. Recent state budget cuts, with the possibility of more cuts coming later this year, have left USC with an uncertain financial future. “We’re not certain what changes will have to be made,” said committee member Gene Luna, Student Development and University Housing director. “But we view this committee as an ex citing opportunity to develop a clear focus of the university’s strengths and to understand how to make it run more efficiently.” The committee has been meet ing since early August, according to member Jeff Cargile, Human Resources Programs and Services director. “We’re really just getting start ed,” Cargile said. “We’re looking for ways to make the university better.” The committee has wasted no time. After several organization al meetings, the committee has been meeting twice weekly. “It’s a lot of time,” Luna said. “But we want to do this well.” “We’re really just getting started.... We’re looking for ways to make the university better.” JEFF CARGILE HUMAN RESOURCES PROGRAMS AND SERVICES DIRECTOR During the fall semester, many of USC’s college deans and pro-, gram directors will be able to dis cuss the strengths and weaknesses of their programs with the com mittee. They will defend their pro grams based on a 10-question list devised by the committee. It ad dresses such aspects as size, rev enue, productivity, impact and de mand. ♦ COMMITTEE, SEE PAGE 4 PICK-UP GAME LANDS STUDENT IN HOSPITAL - A friendly football game between rival residence halls Maxcy and Preston resulted in the hospitalization of Preston quarterback Nathan Furr, a second-year student, above center. Below left, Furr prepares to throw a pass in the play immediately before his injury. Paramedics arrive at Davis field within a few minutes, below middle. Teammates watch as Furr was taken to Palmetto Richland Hospital, below right. As of press time Tuesday, Furr was in the hospital, but he said he is expected to make “a full recovery.” Because of the game’s abrupt end, Maxcy won, 8-3. photos by aaron hark kappa Alpha Thetas relinquish charter On their hall in South Tower, Kappa Alpha Theta’s composite with pictures of ji current members was removed this week after the sorority relinquished its charter. PHOTO BY ANNIE LEE BY ADAM BEAM THE GAMECOCK A spokesperson from the na tional headquarters of Kappa Alpha Theta confirmed Monday that USC’s Zeta Kappa chapter of the sorority no longer exists. “The chapter has voted to re linquish their charter, and the Grand Council has voted to ac cept it,” Liz Rinck from Kappa Alpha Theta’s national office said. The Zeta Kappas are still con sidered Thetas, as they are infor mally known, and will remain part of the national sorority — just not on USC’s campus. Despite having one of the largest sorori ty rushes in USC’s history, Rinck cited declining enrollment as a reason for the chapter’s depar ture. She did not comment on oth er reasons. Although the Zeta Kappas are no longer recognized as a sorority on campus, they will be allowed to continue ljving in their hous ing at South Tower, Sorority Council President Alice Kimball said Tuesday. “Every girl that is housed on the floor in South Tower will be able to remain living there this year,” Kimball said. USC’s chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta was founded on Jan. 27, 1990. All current Theta members will still be allowed to wear their Greek letters, but will not be al lowed to participate in anything as a chapter. “The chapter has dissolved. That goes for everything. Offices, what they do socially wise and community wise, everything like that,” said Kimball. “They didn’t do anything wrong. It wasn’t like the chapter came in and stripped them of their letters; it was just an internal problem.” “Just because the Theta chap ter has closed here, these girls are still Thetas for a lifetime,” Kimball said. “Once they gradu ate they will be able to apply for alumni status. Right now they are Kappa Alpha Thetas, the chapter just isn’t active.” By pulling out of rush this past week in the third round, the quo tas of the other sororities were raised to compensate for Kappa Alpha Theta’s withdrawal. “For all of us, what we’re try ing to do now is to find a place for every girl here at USC,” said Kimball. “It has had a blow, but to all of us they are still Thetas. To us, their status hasn’t changed, although their organi zation isn’t recognized on campus anymore.” Although the Theta’s depar ture has had a profound effect on the Greek community, Kimball is optimistic that the members themselves will still be able to find their place in the Carolina community. “Those girls, the important thing about them is that they are not only involved in Kappa Alpha Theta,” said Kimball. “Even thought the organization is gone, they are still going to be active parts of the Carolina community because they will just use their resources'in other parts of the community.” Director of Greek Life Gena Runnion confirmed Sunday that USC’s Kappa Alpha Theta chap ter had pulled out in the middle of rush last week. She said the na tional Theta office had made the decision for the chapter at USC. The Zeta Kappa chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta declined to comment. users PAST AUGUST 21,1965: Henrie Monteith became the first black student to graduate from USC since 1877 and USC’s first female blatj^ graduate. , WEATHER -T Today, Tomorrow Isolate! T- Isolated T storms, 92/72 storms, 92/72 INSIDE TODAY’S ISSUE Football season < Women slug it out just around corner The “female invasion” hits the Gamecock Sports has the low world of amateur boxing, down. k ♦ PAGE 7 . ♦ SPECIAL ifcCTION The West Wing USC to build ‘West Quad’to accommodate student influx BY ADAM BEAM THE GAMECOCK In response to the recent in crease in student population, University Housing is undertak ing an estimated $25-million build ing project to build a new resi dence hall, possibly located be tween the Blatt P.E. center and South Quad. Tentatively titled West Quad, the new residence hall will be de signed with student input from selected student workshops, much like the East Quad design in 1995. “We were very pleased with the way that turned out, but the most important part is that the students were pleased,” said Housing Director Gene Luna of East Quad. “That’s why we’ve seen more up per-class students want to stay on campus than ever before.” The student workshops are tentatively scheduled to meet the week of Sept. 11, and student body president Corey Ford has been assigned to fill those work shops. “I definitely want a good cross section of the campus put in these groups,” said Ford. “I think We’ve made great gains in housing and we have to have a representation of all different groups on campus in order to continue that.” According to Luna, the new res idence hall will have three com ponents: upscale amenities, such as furnishings, appliances and pri vacy; a living and learning com munity atmosphere; and sustain able or “green” features that are environmentally friendly. USC selected The Boudreaux Group, a Columbia architectural firm, to help plan the new build ing. Boudreaux hired Little End Associates, based in Charlotte, N.C., to help design the building’s “green” features. They were “hired as design ar chitects,” said Jim Gleeson from Little End. “That means we have lots and lots of experience with living and learning and also have the LEED experience,” Gleeson said. Gleeson' said he has experience in sustainable building techniques ♦ WEST QUAD, SEE PAGE 2 ONLINE POLL Do you think Derek Watson was given the correct punishment? Vote at www.dailygamecock.com. Results are published on Fridays.