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_ THE GAMECOCK ♦ Friday, September 28, 2001 I IN OUR OPINION I The wrong kind of cuts Give the university one thing: It knows how to find the worst possible way to cut its budget. Should the state deal USC a round of sharp budget cuts this year, it looks like the university could respond by cutting tuition waivers for graduate students. That would be foolish. At first, tuition waivers — which reduce the amount of tuition graduate assistants must pay— might seem like a trivial matter, especially for undergraduates. But such cuts could endanger USC’s viability as a research university. USC is already lagging behind the nation in making graduate assistants pay tuition — waivers at many schools give assistants a free ride. By cutting back on §ize or number of waivers it grants, the university could lose whatever is left of its competitive edge. That imperils USC’s ability to draw top graduate students. And that makes USC’s quest to gain membership into the Association of American Universities, which uses a university’s graduate schools as a major factor when deciding whether to invite a university into its ranks, nearly impossible. USC’s ability to offer enticing packages for graduate students is already pitiful. Cutting tuition waivers would erode USC’s standing as a rising star in higher education and set the university back decades. No matter how dire the university’s financial situation, such a foolhardy move can hardly be considered a solution. Cuts in tuition waivers could endanger USC’s viability as a research university. h . . Winners and Sinners PAKISTAN Agrees with U.S. on action needed to fight bin Laden. Welcome to the West. BUSH President gives boffo speech, approval rating nears 90 percent. But so did Sr.’s after the Persian Gulf War. SIZEMORE‘SECURITY* After Gamecock article about sleeping employees, fires some guards. Now students can rest peacefully instead. AFGHANISTAN Growing increasingly isolated. Feel like Saddam yet? CIA, FBI Turns out that, if they’d been looking hard enough, they probably could have seen this one coming. Oh well, you know what they say about hindsight... FORMER BURGER KING Restaurant turns into cheap parking. Oh, how the mighty have fallen. GAMECOCK CORRECTIONS If you see an error in today’s paper, we want to know. Write us at gamecockviewpoints@hotmail.com. ABOUT THE GAMECOCK Martha Wright Editor in Chief Mary Hartney University Editor Ginny Thornton Asst. Univ. Editor Victoria Bennett The Mix Editor Justin Bajan Asst. The Mix Editor Chris Foy Sports Editor Preston Baines Asst. Sports Editor Elizabeth Swartz Online Editor Aaron Hark Photo Editor Greg Hambrlck City Editor Alicia Balentlne Asst. City Editor Brandon Larrabee Viewpoints Editor Page Designers Mackenzie Clements, Crystal Dukes, Katie Smith, David Stagg Copy Editors Crystal Boyles, Corey Garriott, Jason Harmon, Jill Martin, Carolyn Rowe CONTACT INFORMATION Offices on third floor of the Russell House. Editor in Chief: gamecockeditor@hotmail.com University Desk: gamecockudesk@hotmail.com City Desk: gamecockcitydesk@hotmail.com Viewpoints: gamecockviewpoints@hotmail.com Spotlight: gamecockmixeditor@hotmail.com Sports: gamecocksports@hotmail.com Online: www.dailygamecock.com Newsroom: 777-7726 TO PUCE AN AD The Gamecock 1400 Greene Street Columbia, SC 29208 Advertising: 777-3888 Classified: 777-1184 Fax: 777-6482 STUDENT MEDIA Erik Collins, Faculty Adviser Ellen Parsons, Director of Student Media Susan King, Creative Directo Carolyn Griffin, Business Manager Sarah Sims, Advertising Manager Sherry F. Holmes, Classified Manager Creative Services Todd Hooks, Martin Salisbury, Beju Shah Advertising Staff Betsy Baugh, Caryn Barowsky, Denise Levereaux Jackie Rice, Stacey Todd Gamecock Community Affair: Karen Yip The Gamecock is the student newspaper of the University of South Carolina and is published Monday, Wednesday and Friday during the fall and spring semesters and nine times during the summer with the exception of university holidays and exam periods. Opinions expressed in The Gamecock are those of the editors or author and • not those of the University of South Carolina. The Board of Student Publications and Communications is the publisher of The Gamecock. The Department of Student Media is the newspaper’s parent organization. The Gamecock is supported in part by student activities fees. One free copy per reader. Additional copies may be purchased for one dollar each from the Department of Student k Media. PROCEED WITW CAUTION The arrogance of ‘Americans ’ EDRIN WILLIAMS GAMECOCKVIEWPOINTS@HOTMAIL.COM We can’t pick and choose when to call ourselves Americans. September 11,2001. A day that will live on in infamy for years and years to come. Citizens of this country and the world will remember the massive amount of casualties suffered by those in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania. It has been described as a “cowardly act carried out by those who object to everything that makes America great, like freedom, democracy, and power.” While I will always remember what happened on that calm Tuesday morning, I have somewhat different emotions. When I think of that day and the shockwaves it sent through our society, I wonder how this all fits into the circle of life. While the country has spent the last two weeks mourning and showing newfound patriotism, I have been trying to expose what caused the whole ordeal. What have we, as “Americans,” done that would cause a hate so powerful to fester in someone else? It has been clear to me that we have automatically assumed the innocent victim role. “We were attacked.” That has been the resounding cry of all “Americans.” Why? As “Americans,” we have grown accustomed to the idea of being immune to harm or inconvenience. Our ethnocentric practices relay a message to the world: “Americans” are head and shoulders above the rest of you. Your values, ideals and customs are inferior to ours. Therefore, you are inferior to me, an “American.” Not only are people in other countries subjected to this treatment, some natural-born citizens who happen to be of some other descent live with these rules every day. African Americans are often reminded just how “American” they are when they face racism today that is more concealed, yet stronger than at any time in history. Ask Tommy Hilfiger, Liz Claiborne or our own Maurice Bessinger for specific examples. If African Americans face this type of treatment, imagine what those who have recently gained citizenship here must go through. I have witnessed numerous ordeals that have made me ashamed to call myself “American.” Each time, the perpetrators were a group who seemed to “forget” that their great-grandparents were from Holland and felt like it was their civic duty to let me know where my descendants come from. Despite all the evils we commit in the name of “America,” we easily get amnesia when someone lashes back out at us. As I was driving past Piggie Park last week, I realized that those responsible for the events of Sept. 11 did something that the mighty NAACP couldn’t do. I looked at the big flagpole and noticed that the giant Confederate flag was gone. In the midst of a national situation, Mr. Bessinger had decided he wanted to be an “American” for once, instead of a “good ole boy.” This follows a trend I’ve noticed around the country. Our transgressions get forgotten when we need someone’s help. We have the option of putting aside all the bullshit when someone threatens our beloved “America.” How convenient! At 8:44 on Tuesday, Sept. 11,1 was a young Black man, saddled by all the assumptions, stereotypes and burdens that come along with that distinction. That’s how “America” chose to describe me. By 9:30,1 was “an able bodied American, willing and able to defend his country.” I’ve never been a fan of irony; therefore, I am not amused by this. Actually, it leaves a very bitter taste in my mouth. It is a taste that will not leave me until we as “Americans” start taking responsibility for our actions. In the next few days, our leaders will make decisions that will affect the entire world. I pray that their minds are focused on JUSTICE, NOT REVENGE!!! After all, would we condone doing to others what was just done to us. GOD BLESS THE WORLD!!! Edrin Williams is a fourth year student in the College of Liberal Arts and president of the Brothers of Nubian Descent. IN YOUR OPINION Attending events might dispel myths When I read Monday’s issue of The Gamecock and saw the front-page story on the retirement of Dr. Ken Perkins as principal of Preston, I was sure that The Gamecock had reversed its stance and didn’t regard Preston as this force of evil in the middle of campus. After reading the staff editorial of Wednesday, however, I realized that I could expect little more but the same. The problem is, however, that many of the stereotypes of Preston the staff listed are in some respects propagated by Gamecock staffers like Phil Watson, who wrote about “how hard [he laughs] when [he thinks] about Preston College.” Views of Preston as the “art dorm,” the “gay dorm,” the “snob dorm” and “the hippie dorm” have all been voiced by staffers, and at no time has any staffer thought to write an article stating what Preston really is. An open invitation stands to all members of the Carolina community to visit a Preston tea or banquet to really see what Preston is like and to see that we’re like any other dorm. What separates Preston from the Towers or Capstone or Bates isn’t the fact that we’re allowed ritzy dining in the Preston Dining Hall (where we, in fact, get what’s being served at the GMP). It’s not the newly instituted House system (put in place to allow freshmen to adapt to the environment faster) and it’s not even the fact that we have things like teas and banquets (which aren’t formal and exclusive events, but mostly informal gatherings that help get us all together). What makes Preston different is that all are welcome and all are treated equally. Those who want to live in Preston have to do little more than submit an application and let it be reviewed fairly. 1 came into Preston just this year, having lived elsewhere my freshman year, and was surprised by how readily accepted I was into the community. For the first time in my two years on campus, I felt like I had a dorm full of people who wanted to be there not to escape from home, but to experience something unique. A popular saying around Preston is that it’s a microcosm of the university — the allegations that we are the “artsy/gay/hippie/nerd” dorm are all true because we indeed respect all. Preston encourages an attitude across campus to celebrate, rather than denigrate. JUSTIN MOODY SECOND-YEAR POLITICAL SCIENCE MAJOR ♦ MORE OF YOUR OPINIONS, PAGE 5 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 gamecockview points@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. Fm going to an orgy tonight LLAYTUJN KALE CEKALE@HOTMAIL.COM Science finally confirms what music lovers have known for eons. I’m all smiles today. I’m going to an orgy tonight. It’s not my first orgy, and it won’t be my last. I try to go to at least two orgies every semester and at least one during the summer. In fact, during a recent job interview, the potential employer asked about my hobbies. I listed orgies up there with reading and yelling at the television. I like variety, so I try not to go to orgies hosted by the same people every time (although last year I was so enamoured by one particular group that I went to four orgies they hosted). I have a confession to make. I’m not really going to an orgy. I’ve never been to an orgy. I’m going to see B.B. King tonight. A news report has just given me a new way to look at music and concerts. It seems that scientists with nothing better to do have been studying the effect of music on the human brain. According to the report I read, researchers have discovered that melodies can stimulate the same reward centers in the brain triggered by acA. The chills I feel when I hear Bob Dylan’s “Shelter From the Storm” or the full-body wave of excitement I felt amid the splashing champagne and flying marshmellows when Phish came out to “Meatstick” on New Year’s Eve, 1999 aren’t just excitement. They’re orgasms. Science has just proven what music lovers have known since the birth of the drum eons ago in Africa: music feels good. This could be the beginning of the end for the pharmaceutical company hogs. The researchers say there is significant evidence that music could be put to good use in therepy sessions and might depress America’s craving for designer drugs like Prozac® and Zoloft®. “People are now using music to help them deal with sadness and fear,” says research scientist Anne Blood. Are now doing it? People have turned to music in times of stress for ages. Slaves passed endless days of hapkhrpakine work hv sinoino At funerals, it’s customary to sing powerful hymns like “Amazing Grace.” A fussy baby is lulled to sleep by a soothing melody from a music box. And we use music to enhance happy occasions as well. Music is a big part of the hype behind birthday parties, sporting events and Christmas time. It’s not something we didn’t already know, but now it’s got science’s stamp of approval. Imagine the society we’d have if everyone lived off natural highs and not the forced synthetic happiness found in soma. The headshrinkers should blast Mozart at their patients instead of handing out prescriptions. As for me, I’ll self medicate when I’m throwing gutters, and I won’t have to worry about side affects any more serious than numb ears. Even better is my new perspective on music. A concert, with thousands of people at orgasm-level excitement, is definitely an orgy. And, I can go to an orgy without worrying about catching some disease that would require me to seek the aid of a prescription-wielding doctor. So, I’ll have fun at the orgy. The next time you see someone singing their heart out at a stoplight or dancing like nobody’s looking, remember that they’re having about as much fun as a person can have by themselves.