University of South Carolina Libraries
Panel explores cost of U.S. war BY CHARLES TOMLINSON THE (IAMECOCK On Thursday, USC’s Gambrell Auditorium was the site of a roundtable discussion on “The Causes and Costs of the War on Terrorism,” about the events fol lowing the Sept. 11 attacks. Brett Bursey, a moderator and South Carolina Progressive Network director, asked, for thoughtful dialogue and said, “I love my country, but I don’t trust my government.” GINT professor Jerel Rosatti said people tend to trust the gov ernment and “rally around the flag” in matters of foreign affairs, even if they distrust the govern ment in general. He said the United States was acting “too hastily” in its bombing of Afghanistan. While Americans were ex tremely sensitive to the deaths in the World Trade Center collapse, Rosatti said they tended to be un sympathetic to the Afghan vic tims of American bombing. “When will Americans truly try to understand ... the suffering of others?” Rosatti asked. Michael Berg, an economics graduate student, explained the costs of the “war on terrorism.” He described an economic cost, the eroding of civil liberties and a human post. He said it even might have a “moral cost” on the United States. “As more people die by American bombs,... the status of (Osama) bin Laden grows,” he said A student who was supposed to appear on the panel wrote it’s “unfair to hurt innocent people.” Harry Rogers, a Carolina Peace Resource Center represen tative, examined the economic costs of the war in further depth. He said the U.S. military’s budget will increase from $20 million to more than $400 million by 2002, five times more than what the U.S. spends on nonmilitary diplo macy. “Will half a trillion dollars buy us security?” he asked. Nirav Mehta, a Students United for Rights and Equality representative, said people “don’t want to understand” the reasons for U.S. retaliation. He encour aged people to become better in formed about the actions against Afghanistan. - Journalism professor Ernie Wiggins criticized the media for what he called the “Olympic cov erage model” of the events in New York and Afghanistan. He said the situation was being portrayed like a rivalry between sports teams. Wiggins said his biggest con cern about the events is “an as tounding lack of clarity ... over what our national interest actu ally is.” “I don’t buy it,” he said about a national interest in the eradica tion of terrorism. The media and the government are wrong to sti fie citizens’ debate over the course of national affairs, he said. Kevin Gray, a Harriet Tubman Freedom House of Columbia rep resentative, described the U.S. for eign policy as hypocritical be cause he said the U.S. supports dictatorships, theocracies and oth er nondemocratic governments. After the discussion, the floor was opened for questions. The discussion was sponsored by the GINT department, the South Carolina Progressive Network, SURE and the Graduate Student Association. Comments on this story?E-mail gamecockudesk@hotmail.com. Tourism Governor will seek more advertising CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 largely to the slumping sales of the industry.” Sponseller said, however, he didn't know of any businesses that have been forced to close down because of the slump. Hodges has taken other actions besides announcing the special month for tourism. Last month, he spent $750,000 from his execu tive budget to aid coastal areas and said he would designate an additional $4 million in tourism spending in his executive budget next year. The governor said he also plans to ask the State Budget and Control Board for more funds to help the industry. He said he would try to put $2 million into travel and tourism advertising and promotion, which would in clude such things as TV adver tisements and free travel packets • that showcase destinations around the state. Dr. Steve C. Morse, a professor in the School of Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism Administration thinks these aids, along with South Carolina's loca tion, will slowly help the indus try recover from the effects of the Sept. 11 attacks. “No matter how much is spent on advertising and promotion, people aren't going to travel un til they feel safe doing so,” Morse said. “But it is good to keep tourism in the minds of con sumers for when they do feel safe. In the long run, it is good for brand image.” Morse said the state's posi tion could be worse. “South Carolina is in better shape than other tourism states such as Florida because South Carolina is a drive-into state and depends less on airlines to commute its tourists. Therefore, there is less impact on South Carolina's tourism.” South Carolina Parks, Recreation and Tourism will par ticipate in a nationwide free ad mission weekend at all state parks from Nov. 10-12. Comments on this story?E-mail gamecockcitydesk@hotmail.com. POLICE REPORT • Each numbered symbol on the map represents a single crime that corresponds with the numbered descriptions in the list below it. DAY CRIMES f □ Violent crimes ■ 1 NIGHT CRIMES (6a.m.-6 p.m.) q Nonviolent crimes # j (6 p.m.-6 a.m.) □ © CRIMES AT UNKNOWN HOURS Saturday, Oct. 27 ® ILLEGAL USE OF TELEPHONE, 1501 GREENEST. The victim said an unknown male caller left an obscene message on her voice mail. The investigation continues. Police gave the victim a log to document the calls. Reporting officer: J.R. Merrill. You pick up a lot of important survival tools in ROTC. Starting with a tuition check. First things first. Pay the bills, get through college, then get on with the rest of your life. Fortunately, joining Air Force ROTC can help you do all this and more. You could earn up to 100 percent of your tuition, fees and book costs — plus up to $400 of additional spending money every month. Not to mention gaining skills you’ll use your entire career — like leadership, team-building and physical fitness. To find out how, visit AFROTC.COM or call 1 -800-522-0033, ext. 2091. U.S. AIR FORCE R'O'T'C Alan Day Ph.D., Chemistry Monday, Oct. 29 © AUTO BREAK-IN, 918 BARNWELL ST. The victim said someone broke the front driver side window of her 1990 red Toyota _ Tercell. The suspect apparently W tried to get the CD player by going through the glove box, but the victim said nothing was missing. Reporting officer: J.D. Patterson. © MALICIOUS INJURY TO REAL PROPERTY, 816 HENDERSON ST. The complainant said someone smashed all four tires of a Ford F-150 truck assigned to the Locksmith Shop. Estimated value: $400. Reporting officer: A.R. Ross. © LOST PROPERTY, 712 MAIN ST. The victim said she placed her silver Samsung cell phone in a seat in the Physical Science building. When she returned, she couldn’t find the cell phone. Reporting officer: A.R. Ross. ^ Tuesday, Oct. 30 O LOST PROPERTY, 1621 GREENE ST. The victim said she lost a wallet containing $40. She said the wallet was last seen at the Nursing Building. Reporting officer: J.A. Henry. Wednesday, Oct. 31 (?) LARCENY OF HEDGE TRIMMERS, 1600 SENATE ST. The complainant said someone took two Stihl hedge trimmers from the Senate Street Garage’s equipment storage area. Total estimated value: $422. Reporting officer: C.N. £ Ettenger. Thursday, Nov. 1 ® LARCENY OF PORTABLE CD PLAYER, 1423 WHALEY ST. The victim said a Panasonic portable CD player with Sony headphones was missing from his Bates House dorm room. The victim said he last saw the CD player before he went home for the weekend. Later reports show that the victim’s roommate had borrowed the CD player. Reporting officer: R.A. Whitlock. ® GRAND LARCENY OF LAPTOP COMPUTER, 500 SUMTER ST. The victim said someone took g* her Compaq Notebook computer W from her locked South Quad room. Estimated value: $1,200. Reporting officer: R.A. Whitlock. Friday, Nov. 2 0 ILLEGAL USE OF TELEPHONE, 1520 DEVINE ST. The victim said someone made obscene phone calls to her Patterson Hall dorm room. Police gave her a log to document the calls. Reporting officers: J.A. Clarke and Z.S. Voulgarelis. 1 -; l THE GAMECOCK WE’VE GOT USC COVERED. WWW.DAILYGAMECOCK.COM ♦ 4