Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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THE GAMECOCK ♦ Wednesday, October 3, 2001 IN OUR OPINION Breaking up a community The university is always eager to trumpet the diversity of living options for students who choose to spend their college years on campus. Among the “crown jewels” of university housing are Preston, which boasts live-in faculty and other faculty who dine with residents, and Nada, a community where international students and students from the U.S. live together. However, Nada residents might not be living together for much longer. The university, trying to avoid renovation costs, is community, and it isn’t good for USC. Nada is innovative for allowing the students to live together; separating the community into two disparate locations renders that part of the Nada experience moot. One of the things that makes the Preston experience unique is that the members of the Preston community live under the same roof, often for more than one year. This is vital; communities are built on the interaction of their members, not on the sharing of a name. The university’s excuse for closing the Blue House, the Nada building in question, is that it will be cheaper to renovate the building for office space than for residential space, which must meet living standards. Obviously, the university only believes in “communities for living and learning” as long as those communities don’t cost too much to maintain. The university promised the residents of Nada a unique experience; they should not renege on that promise. To do so would show that housing is just one of the many areas — including parking, tuition and the drop date — where the university’s drive to gain recognition and save money trumps what is in the best interest of its students. GAMECOCK CORRECTIONS In a “Week in Review” item in Monday’s edition, the “What’s Next” section should have said USC possibly could be 7-0, not 6-0, before games against Tennessee, Florida and Clemson. The Graduate Student Fair will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 4, in Russell House Ballrooms B and C. The event’s date was wrong in an earlier issue. The Gamecock regrets the errors. If you see an error in today’s paper, we want to know. Write us at gamecockviewpoints@hotmail.com. considering closing one of Nada’s two remaining houses and “expand” Nada into one or two floors of an existing residence hall. In doing so, the university would split Nada and destroy everything that makes it special. That isn’t good for the The university’s plan for Nada would split the community and destroy • everything that makes it special. 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 Hambrick City Editor Alicia Balentine Asst. City Editor Brandon Larrabee Viewpoints Editor Page Designers Mackenzie Clements, Crystal Dukes, Katie Smith, David Stagg Copy Editors Crystal Boyles, Jason Harmon, Jiil Martin, Carolyn Rowe Political Cartoonist/ , Graphic Artist Rene Moffatt TO PLACE 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 Director Carolyn Griffin, Business Manager Sarah Sims, Advertising Manager Sherry F. Holmes, Classified Manager Creative Services Todd Hooks, Jennie Moore, Martin Salisbury, Beju Shah, Advertising Staff Betsy Baugh, Caryn Barowsky, Denise Levereaux, Jackie Rice, Stacey Todd Gamecock Community Affairs Karen Yip Graphic Artist Candi Hauglum CONTACT INFORMATION Offices on third floor of the Russell House. Editor in Chiefrgamecockeditor@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 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 Media. RENE MOFFATT/THE GAMECOCK IN YOUR OPINION Coming conflict is war for liberation I would just like to respond to a flyer distributed to USC students last Friday entitled “6 Reasons Not to Go to War.” I would like to respond not just as a USC student, but also as one of the many men and women who wear our country’s military uniform. The coming war is not a crusade. We do not feel some divine call to convert Afghanistan into a Christian state. This war is not a territorial grab such as the model of 19th and early 20th century Europe. Rather, this is a war of liberation against a regime that has infinitely less legitimacy than the Nazis. Hitler was voted into power, the Taliban took it at the point of an AK-47. On the flyer, reason number one not to go to war in Afghanistan is Afghani children. I say this is the first reason for war. The Taliban regime has come to power under the right of the gun. They have oppressed their mothers by forcing them to wear restrictive clothing, banning them from earning a living, denying them access to adequate healthcare and education. The result has been women forced into prostitution (and, if caught, publicly executed) or begging for food to feed their children. The result of the illegitimate Taliban regime’s policies is the starvation of the country’s children. i nrougnout tne pamphlet, it decried violence as an ill advised and inadequate way of dealing with the terrorists. It asks: “Are U.S. bombers and cruise-missiles really going to find bin Laden and unknown associates?” The answer is no. Much like a cowardly rat, bin Laden has probably taken to the caves outside of the range of our bombs. Secondly, after the Soviet invasion and the ensuing civil war, there is little of value left in the country. The community of nations has given the Taliban money to rebuild. Instead, the Taliban has used these funds to celebrate their brand of “pure” Islam. The savageness of which belongs on the dustbin of history next to the Spanish Inquisition and the Holocaust. Lastly, the pamphlet ends with this veiled threat: “War will reduce the security of U.S. citizens.” Lee Greenwood answers this best: “ ... I will gladly stand up next to you and defend her still today...” A1C ANTHONY KLENKE FOURTH-YEAR STUDENT; USAF USC students should be ready Only in America can you find two articles of such contrasting viewpoints as in the Sept. 21,2001 issue of The Gamecock! When I read Denise Levereaux’s column (“Students must get ready to sacrifice”) I too, was sickened at the thought people would take advantage of such a tragic situation. Unfortunately, I am old enough to know this is a very common occurrence these days. But it was Taylor Marshall-Green’s article (“To get bin Laden, bomb the innocent) that really caught . my attention. What a flashback to the ‘60’s he provided me! USC was filled with students with the same feelings back then concerning the Vietnam War, and, gee, no one had managed an attack on the USA! Unfortunately, Ms. Levereaux’s article is closer to reality than Mr.Marshall Green’s well-written sarcasm. You are going to be called on to contribute to America and this new mission. Sadly, it may be with your life, not just some pocket change for a slice of pizza. You are of the perfect age to fight a war: young. My high school and college years saw young men going off to Vietnam. During my late 30s, I saw my husband shipped out to participate in the very earliest stages of Desert Storm. Now my middle-age years will see my only son probably being sent overseas to fight this “war.” His chances are a lot greater than Mr. Marshall-Green’s at this time — he is a member of the National Guard of South Carolina. Am I ready to give bin Laden my only son? No, but I have little choice in the matter now. He was raised to be patriotic and to know that serving your country is an honorable thing to do. Every day now his chances of being activated again increases. Having just seen him graduate in May 2001 and finally beginning the job he has wanted since he was eight years old, it rips my heart out! Watching the WTC collapse and realizing how many thousands of people died simply becausejthey showed up for work early clutched at my heart as well. Innocent people will die — that’s what makes war hell. My 16-year old daughter asked me to tell her everything was going to be all right and that her life wasn’t going to be any different than what it was before Sept. 11,2001. How I wish I could have. But the attacks on America have changed life as we all know it forever. Enjoy that campus life while you can! Good luck to all the young men at USC — may the draft not be reintroduced! May your mothers and fathers not have to worry about having to answer the door to military personnel sent to deliver heartbreaking news. May your world not be affected by this event, but be ready, just in case! DIANE K. PINA SCHOOL OF EDUCATION, 1979 Take pride in our school, stadium Following the win over Alabama Saturday, I was appalled to see the number of fans, including many students, carrying large pieces of the end zone hedges with them. While tearing down the goalposts is certainly more expensive to the university, it is a long-standing college football tradition and is not surprising after an important win (although I question the propriety of it Saturday). However, destroying * the hedges is nothing more than vandalism and a flagrant sign of disrespect. I cannot believe that fans would purposely deface and vandalize the stadium under the guise of celebration. Have some pride in our school and its athletics facilities. ROB GROSS use 1994,2001, COLLEGE OP JOURNALISM ic MASS COMMUNICATIONS Alumnus praises student spirit As an alumnus of 1992 and a season ticket holder now, it is so nice to see a student section that is into the games like never before! Congrats, students! And, although you may be getting chastised on Internet message boards for tearing down the goalposts, it is so awesome to see the enthusiasm you have! Keep the GAMECOCK guys above the tunnel so they can keep getting on TV! Make some more posters! That is what makes'it fun. Keep it up, students, you keep the youngness in us alumni alive! Now, if we could just get the Athletics Department or Student Services to buy you some garnet and white pompon shaker things... why can’t we make that happen? GO COCKS! STEVE THOMPSON CLASS OF 1992 Recent editions lewd, tasteless In recent editions of The Gamecock, there has been an onslaught of both lewd and tasteless journalism. From the “Fetish Ball” in the Vista to the nighttime lesbian interview sessions outside of Beezer’s, The Gamecock is straying away from reporting newsworthy information to the student body. Please exercise a little more dignity in choosing topics for future issues so that The Gamecock is regarded as a credible newspaper and not a grocery-store tabloid. BRAD HENRY FOURTH-YEAR STUDENT, COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ART ♦ MORE LETTERS, PAGE 6 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 proved by the submitter. Call 777-7726 for more information. Creed Week’s mascot PHIL WATSON WATSONPHIL@YAHOO.COM Christmas has Santa, Valentine’s has Cupid - meet C. Creedian *. I went jogging the other night around nine. After a few minutes, the chilly air made my sweat get cold. As my cold sweat ran down my forehead, which was sunburned from the game Saturday, I realized the wonderful month of Shocktober is upon us. It’s nice to see that the heat of summer is fading away. But my favorite part of Shocktober is the holidays. There are so many great holidays during this month. For starters, it’s Domestic Violence Awareness Month. But there’s so much more. Shocktober is also home to Halloween, April Fool’s Day, and of course, Columbus Day. But I have to admit; my favorite thing about Shocktober is Carolinian Creed Week. It’s so great to have a week where we can put our differences aside and love one another through the teachings of the sacred Carolinian Creed. USC has sbt up so many great events for this hallowed week, I don’t even know how I’ll find time to do my homework and study up on the university’s sexual harassment policy book. I wish there was a mascot for Carolinian Creed Week. Christmas has Santa, Valentine’s Day has Cupid, and St. Patrick’s Day has the drunk Irish midget... what’s his name, oh yeah, the leprechaun. It only seems fair that Carolinian Creed Week get a mascot. Maybe we could come up with a character that has a trait from every ethnic, racial, religious and sexual group on campus. The mascot’s name could be C. Creedian, after the Carolinian Creed. We could start a famous story about him, like the story of Santa. During Carolinian Creed week, C. Creedian comes to all the houses and dorms of USC students, giving multicultural gifts to those who embrace diversity. The naughty students who don’t appreciate the valuable lessons that can be learned from cultural diversity have to sit through a sensitivity training workshop led by C. Creedian. If they don’t chose to bow down before the bronze god of multiculturalism after the workshop, C. Creedian will torture them to death with his magical PC scepter in the name of tolerance. After all, if we’re going to be diverse, everybody has to have the same opinion about diversity. For me, Carolinian Creed Week has been a blast. I don’t want it to end. I’ve met a lot of new and interesting people and enjoyed eating non-assuming foods with them while listening to their view on why America is bad. One of the highlights of my week was eating tofu, drinking Fruitopia and reading the Carolinian Creed with a masochistic Hindu lesbian. She’s good people. dui Hanging out wirn masochists, Caucasian males and other mistreated minorities isn’t all I’ve done this week. No siree bob. Aside from hanging out with fundamentalist Muslims and discussing how great Israel is, I’ve gone the extra mile by wearing a Carolinian Creed Week ribbon on my hemp shirts. Not only does it show people that I support the Carolinian Creed, ♦ CREED, SEE PAGE 6