University of South Carolina Libraries
IN OUR OPINION University looks racist It’s time for the university to start answering luestions about its racial record. At a Thursday meeting, the student chapter of the 'JAACP highlighted another dismal part of USC’s juestionable employment practices: the ncreduously low number of black faculty members. Fifty-nine of USC’s faculty members are black; :hat’s 3 percent. By contrast, African-Americans nake up 16 percent of the student population. Tormer professor Aretha Pigford made a similar complaint when she resigned in September of 1998.) The university’s It>s embarrassing that a hiring practices universitythat has one of the reek of the Old highest percentages of South, not the minority students among _. _ public institutions in the New South we . ... *... region should do,so poorly shou d be , .. , ,. . when it comes to hiring pursuing, minority faculty members. But the number of minority faculty isn’t the only questionable aspect of USC’s hiring practices. In August, 26 members of USC’s maintenance department filed suit against the university, alleging discrimination in pay and promotion after the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission found there was reason to believe the employees had been discriminated against. But USC hasn’t answered the charges. Instead, they have resorted to demonizing the EEOC and cavalierly insisting that the employees’ suits are groundless. But they give no reasons for their denials. They seem to believe that students should accept their word at face value, instead of using the thinking skills they claim to encourage. The university’s hiring practices reek of the Old South, not the New South we should be pursuing. And if the administration insists on meeting every allegation of racism with callous indifference, it will increasingly look like a racist institution willing to ride roughshod over the constitutional rights of people who don’t look like them. WINNERS AND SINNERS Because it appeared in Wednesday’s edition, “Winners and Sinners” will not appear this week. It will return next Friday. GAMECOCK CORRECTIONS Two photos credited to Aaron Hark in the Sports section in Wednesday’s edition should have been attributed to Travis Lynn. Also, the mugs of Kalimba Edwards and Phil Petty should not have been attributed to Hark. Phil Watson’s column should have said Preston houses were named after houses in Harry Potter, not characters. The Gamecock regrets the errors. If you see an error in today’s paper, we want to know. Write us at gamecockvie wpo in ts@hotma il.com. ABOUT THE GAMECOCK Martha Wright CONTACT INFORMATION Offices on third floor of the Russell House. Editor in Chief: gamecockeditor@hotmail.com ary a * University Desk: gamecockudesk@hotmail.com mversi y i o city Desk: gamecockcitydesk@hotmail.com . _ Viewpoints: gamecockviewpoints@hotmail.com Th M-3 Frtitn Spotlighf.gamecockmixeditor@hotmail.com Sports: gamecocksports@hotmail.com . _ Online: www.dailygamecock.com Chris Foy .. „ . Newsroom: 777-7726 Sports Editor Dmi-tnn Diinac _ , .. . _ The Gamecock is the Asst. Sports Editor TO PLACE AN AD ftudent newsPaper of the The Gamecock University of South Elizabeth Swartz 1400 Greene Street Carolina and is published Online Editor Columbia, SC 29208 Monday, Wednesday and Advertising: 777-3888 Frida* durin8 the fa" and Aaron Hark Classified: 777-1184 sPrm® semesters and nine Photo Editor Fax:777-6482 times during the summer with the exception of GregHambrick STUDENT MEDIA ^am^nod^ Opinion's City & State Editor exam Penoas. opinions Erik Collins, Faculty Adviser expressed in The Brandon Larrabee Ellen Parsons, Director of Gamecock are those of Viewpoints Editor Student Media the editors or author and Susan King, Creative not those of the University Page Designers Director of South Carolina. The Crystal Dukes, Katie Carolyn Griffin, Business Board of Student Smith, David Stagg Manager Publications and Sarah Sims, Advertising Communications is the Community Affairs Manager publisher of The Betsy Baugh, Karen Sherry F. Holmes, Classified Gamecock. The Yj Manager Department of Student p Media is the newspaper's Copy Editors Creative Services parent organization. The Crystal Boyles Todd Hooks, Martin Gamecock is supported in Jason Harmon. Jiil Salisbury, Beju Shah part by student activities Martin, Carolyn feea' °"? Fr“ per Rowe Advertising Staff reader. Additional copies Betsy Baugh, Caryn may be purchased for one Barowsky, Denise Levereaux, dollar each from the Jackie Rice, Stacey Todd Department of Student Media. i' HERBLOCK’S CARTOON -IT’STHE SPEAK-LOWW-ANP-POKE-'EM-WITH- A BIG-STICK POLICY'1 r iS> . “C'MON, YOU GUYS, MOVE/ IT'S FOR OUR NATIONAL SECURITY-1 HAVE TO GET TO THE MALL" «>*.i6i sawtev (Hcrblock in on vacation) THE WASHINGTON POST ‘My intentions... were innocent9 HEIDI ONDO GAMECOCKVIEWPOINTS@HOTMAIL.COM I realize that I am more than the picture of myself in Playboy. I am writing this column in response to a call from a member of The Gamecock asking to do a personal profile of me. I am one of the girls claiming to represent the SEC in the college edition of Playboy magazine. I declined to comment because I feel that I failed my university in the representation portrayed in . that magazine. I will admit that at the time of the offer, I was blinded by the fact that it was a nationally known, best-selling magazine — forgetting that it was, in reality, disrespectful pornography. I am not saying that I have experienced a divine intervention and now damn the magazine. However, my intentions for participating in the shoot were innocent and naive and supported by my friends’ feelings — as well as my own — of how cool this opportunity was. I look at that picture now and realize that to the average person, my innocent intentions cannot be seen. In addition to these intentions, I do feel that I represent the university, not simply by that picture, but again by things that cannot be captured on film — like the passion that I have for my major, fashion merchandising, and my drive for knowledge and success. I am better than the girl in that picture, and I can guarantee that every girl on this campus is better than that, too. I am embarrassed that the people of Playboy claim that I represent the SEC simply by showing a cute picture of my derriere. Please, do not get me wrong —I had the time of my life, and I do not regret a thing. I do feel, however, that an explanation is in order. And I do not feel a simple personal profile by a stranger could even begin to capture the essence of who I am. So, I am sorry for having to turn down the interview. I hope people remember that every newspaper story involves not simply empty words in well written paragraphs, but also will always involve the well crafted lives of human beings who are so much more than what meets the eye and so much more than anything that can be put on paper. And, Mr. Warhol, I do not count this experience with Playboy as my fifteen minutes of fame because I know I can do much better than that. I will represent this university with my hard work and accomplishments and my head held high (not slightly “cocked” to the side with my rear-end sticking out). QUOTABLES “It’s a favorite of Playboy readers.” JODY GRIMALDI, PLAYBOY SPOKESMAN, ON THE COLLEGE ISSUE OF THE MAGAZINE “You don't give people money and tell them how to use it. You give them the money and let them decide where it is needed most.” HEAD FOOTBALL COACH LOU HOLTZ, ON HIS $25,000 GIFT TO THE THOMAS COOPER LIBRARY “I was in the right place at the right time.” use FOOTBALL PLAYER RASHAD FAISON, WHO PICKED UP A BLOCKED KICK AND RAN IT 82 YARDS FOR A TOUCHDOWN IN THE GAMECOCKS’ SEASON OPENER AGAINST BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY SATURDAY “This was an exceptionally difficult year for faculty retention.” UNIVERSITY VICE PRESIDENT FOR RESEARCH BILL HARRIS ON THE 1 PERCENT GROWTH IN RESEARCH FUNDING FOR UNIVERSITY FACULTY, WHICH HE CALLED "RELATIVELY SMALL” “I was also honored I was the Democratic Party’s ninth choice. That’s a high honor.” FORMER COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON PRESIDENT ALEX SANDERS, ANNOUNCING THAT HE WILL RUN FOR THE U.S. SENATE SEAT BEING VACATED BY STROM THURMOND IN 2003 SOURCES: THE GAMECOCK (4), ASSOCIATED PRESS IN YOUR OPINION Will officials react to USC lawsuit? What could the USC administration be thinking about? Here we go again! In the May 2,2000, Metro article in The State, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission found reason to believe USC had discriminated against 26 African-American employees, denying them promotions and equal salaries based on their race. USC spokesperson Russ McKinney had the audacity to add insult to injury when he opened his big mouth and stated the EEOC investigation was a “drive-by ruling.” Now, 15 months later, Mr. McKinney has refused to put his foot in his mouth again regarding this lawsuit. I watched USC’s Bicentennial ceremonies earlier this year; very impressive for the public image. However, what has USC really accomplished? It does not appear to have accomplished much in the area of race discrimination. This is such an embarrassment for a first class institution. In light of recent articles in The State newspaper concerning promotions and salary inequities in state government in regard to African-American employees, my message to the 26 involved, I admire your courage and determination and wish you much success in this endeavor. Hopefully,, your efforts will spark others - perhaps, legislators, Gov. Jim Hodges or Attorney General Charlie Condon, who has recently stated that race discrimination will not be tolerated in state government. LASHAWNA GREEN use GRADUATE Submission Policy Letters to the editor or guest columns are welcome from the Carolina community. Letters should be 250-300 words. Guest columns should be about 600 words. Both must include name, phone number, professional title or year and major, if a student. Deliver handwritten submissions to Russell House room 333, or send e-mail to gamecockviewpoints@hotmail.com. The Gamecock reserves the right to edit for libel, style and space. Anonymous letters will not be published. Photos are required for guest columnists and can be provided by the submitter. Call 777-7726 for more information. Hoping we don't look like a meal CLAYTON KALE CEKALE@HOTMAIL.COM To prevent getting attacked by sharks, just use common sense. Almost as omnipresent as Gary Condit in this summer’s news have been stories about shark attacks. There were several shark attacks this summer from the tip of Florida, up along the Carolina coasts and on into Virginia. Most of the reports this writer saw focused on the human element of the story. “So-and-so was killed. So-and-whoever got severely bitten.” There has been little or no mention at all about why there have been so many shark attacks. The reporters are either not doing their jobs by asking the right questions, or (more likely) nobody knows why. Despite the lack of information in newspapers and on TV, theories abound. One theory suggests that the populations of the bigger cold water sharks have been reduced by commercial fishing fleets a) killing them and b) over-fishing. Sharks are cannibals, and big sharks eat little sharks, the theory goes. With less big sharks in the sea, there’s more room for the smaller Bull Shark (11 feet, 500 pounds), which is the suspected culprit in most of the recent shark attacks. Others say the ocean’s assassins have simply discovered an aminnant new food supply. Whatever the cause, sharks are attacking vacationers who are oblivious to their presence. People don’t like to die, especially while on vacation. Yet, still they tread into the surf. Some want to know what can be dorje to keep sharks away from public beaches or if any preventative measures can be taken. Rationally, there’s nothing that can be done. Sure, a policy of genocide could be enacted and sharks could be killed on sight, but it’s to be hoped that humans in the 21st century wouldn’t enact a 19th century policy (think buffalo) against the animal “nuisance.” It would be immoral and stupid to do such a thing. The key to avoiding shark attacks lies in the remarkable human ability to think and use common sense. Sharks in the water? Swim in the pool. The beach might be a vacation favorite, but humans don’t belong there in the biological sense. Sharks are designed for nothing more than to swim the oceans and eat whatever passes by, be it fish, crab, human, whatever. I don t claim to De a marine biologist, but I’ve seen enough “Shark Week” on the Discovery Channel to know their entire purpose in life is to eat whatever passes in front of them and to cull the fish population. Humans have a tendency to anthropomorphize animals, including sharks. But that can be dangerous. Humans haven’t become better targets because we make a tasty snack; we’ve been attacked for a split second, our foot looks like food, or our shiny bracelet gleams like fish scales. So we have two options if we don’t want to go out like an extra in Jaws. We can brave the waters and look out for that telltale dorsal fin and hope and pray that we don’t resemble fish to hollow shark eyes, or we can use our gift of organized thought and stay out of dangerous waters and what lives underneath.