Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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IN OUR OPINION Into the tuition increase abyss On Thursday, the board of trustees did what everyone expected it to do. Now nobody knows what to expect. In response to midyear state budget cuts, the board increased tuition by nearly $100 for every student at USC except those in the law school, whose increase will probably come from their college later. While it would be incorrect to blame the budget cuts on the university’s trustees, it would also be wrong to completely absolve the board. The university could have done without the tuition increase if they cut all departments at 2 percent. sucn a move would nave saved USC COUld the university enough money to have spared cover the cuts. We say “most of the increase if them” because the university still it had Cut all obviously thinks some colleges departments 2 are more important than others, percent The “Cathedrals of Excellence” — the College of Liberal Arts, the College of Engineering and Information Technology, the Moore School of Business and the College of Science and Math — were cut only one half percent. No one can remember when —or if — the university has previously instituted a midyear tuition increase, and no one, despite any claims to the contrary, can predict exactly what the result will be. But thanks to the chronic short-sightedness of the legislature, added to the newfound short-sightedness of the board of trustees, the university has now gone off into the tuition increase abyss. No one seems to be sure where we will land. Winners and Sinners ESPN GAMEDAY Finally finds Columbia on a map. Now, we have to make sure they come back. CITV-USC RELATIONS Back on track as Columbia releases arena money. No divorce lawyers needed, but counselors still on hold. ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS Beat the Yankees, bringing a smile to all good Southerners’ faces. BOARD OF TRUSTEES Raise tuition — again. Proof that they don’t feel our pain. USC’S HIRING Another freeze in response to midyear cuts. All quiet on the human resources front? FLORIDA Feels need to run up score against Vanderbilt. Insecure in themselves? GAMECOCK CORRECTIONS If you see an error in today’s paper, we want to know. Write us atgamecockviewpoints@hotmail.com. ABOUT THE GAMECOCK Martha Wright CONTACT INFORMATION Editor in Chief Offices on third floor of the Russell House. m h rtnev Editor In Chief: gamecockeditor@hotmail.com Mary Ha y University Desk: gamecockudesk@hotmail.com university city Desk: gamecockcitydesk@hotmail.com Gin th ton Viewpoints: gamecockviewpoints@hotmail.com A_,?y . ■ The Mix: gamecockmixeditor@hotmail.com St- Un'v- Editor Sports: gamecocksports@hotmail.com Victoria Bennett °nline: www.dailygamecock.com The Mix Editor Newsroom: 777-7726 Justin Bajan TO PLACE AN AD _ Asst. The Mix Editor The Gamemrk The Gamecock ls the 1 arm T l. , student newspaper of Chris Foy SSSSSTSTcfSSoe tba ' °f d s Sports Editor Advertising: 777-3888 ^fTu ISf Classified- 777 it ha published Monday, Preston Baines Fax 777 6482 Wednesday and Friday Asst. Sports Editor during the fall and spring semesters and Elizabeth Swartz STUDENT MEDIA nine times during the Online Editor ,rll< Collin. summer with the Erik uoiuns exception of Aaron Hark Faculty Adviser university holidays Photo Editor and exam periods. Ellen Parsons Opinions expressed in Andrew Rogers Director of Student Media The Gamecock are Asst. Photo Editor those of the editors or Susan King author and not those Greg Hambrlck Creative Director of the University of City Editor South Carolina. The Carolyn Griffin Board 0f student Alicia Balentlne Business Manager Publications and Asst. City Editor Communications is Sarah Scarborough the publisher of The Brandon Larrabee Advertising Manager Gamecock. The Viewpoints Editor Department of Sherry F. Holmes Student Media is the Rene Moffatt Classified Manager newspaper s parent Political Cartoonist/ ... organization. The illustrator t S ceB Gamecock is Todd Hooks, Jennie Moore. supported in part by Candi Hauglum Martm SaliSbur*’ B*u Sbah- student activities Graphic Artist Advertislne Staff fees. One free copy Advertising Stan reader. Additional Betsy Baugh, Caryn ___ „„„ Page Designers Barowsky, Amanda Ingram, ntirrhasedfnr Mackenzie Clements, r,enise levereaux Jackie purchased for one Crvstal Dukes Katie Denlse Levereaux Jackie dollar each from the Smith* David*' RiCe'StaC6y T°dd Department of Stagg,Sarah McLaulin Gameeock community Affairs StUdent Med'a' Copy Editor, Karen Yip Crystal Boyles, Jason Harmon, Jill Martin, Carolyn Rowe LIBRARYjJ I’M sir cut I’Ll Have „ To ASK y£>u To x LEAVE oUp, 7 ^ MILITARY Ju SEcr/orl / NoWf fe LATASHA GIBBS/THE GAMECOCK “Osama, No! That’s the anthrax! NATE CORBIN/THE GAMECOCK Prayer bill will detract from real issues CLAYTON KALE CEKALE@HOTMAIL.COM School prayer bill could become another time consuming nonissue. Rita Allison, a state representative from Spartanburg County, is building support for a bill that would legalize prayer in public schools. The state of public education in the state is reason enough to seek prayer in schools, but Allison’s attempt is pointless and will take away from time in the Legislature that could be spent on not bankrupting the state. South Carolina public schools have for many years had a mandatory “moment of silence” at the beginning of the school day. Allison’s bill would change the wording of the law to include the word “prayer.” Some are getting bent out of shape because they don’t understand what Allison is trying to accomplish. But they shouldn’t worry. Allison doesn’t care whether we pray in school or not. She’s running for lieutenant governor, and this is her bid for the Christian vote (arguably the most powerful voting bloc in South Carolina, right Mr. McCain?). When first instituted, students were told that the moment of silence was for personal prayer or meditation and to give teachers a moment of glorious silence before the chaos of the school day. Changing the name of the silent minute after the Pledge of Allegiance to include the word “prayer” does nothing but invite scrutiny from groups South Carolinians love to hate, such as the ACLU, while at the same time distracting legislators from the real work at hand. When given a choice - especially, in a major election cycle - politicians will choose to get a good sound bite over ignoring the he said-she said mess and doing what they were elected to do. Some say prayer doesn’t belong in schools. Others say our public education system needs a big fat dose of religion. Both sides forget the most important thing about religion: it’s a personal and (except in the case of the weak-minded) isn’t shaped by outside influences. My opposition to Allison’s bill doesn’t come out of personal religious background. My opposition is based on observations of South Carolina politics. In South Carolina, we allow our politicians to get riled up about issues that have no real effect on our lives. The battle over video poker and the lottery flooded the airwaves, but now, years later, are things that much different? Sure, now one can’t put his entire paycheck into a machine in the service station on the comer, but is your life better? (P.S. Part of the state’s budget crisis comes out of the banning of video poker — huge industries pay huge tax bills). Now that the Confederate flag has been removed from the State House dome, is your life different? I’m happy because the State House doesn’t look so tacky, but did all that yelling about it make food come to the table any easier? Now that the flag is gone, is it easier to get a better job? Allison’s bill, I fear, might be another nonissue that distracts South Carolinians from what’s really going on in the State House. But even more important than what our legislators are doing is the issue of freedom of religion and prayer itself. Do we really need the legislature’s OK to pray in school? A vote for a candidate is a symbol of trust from voter to legislator saying “I trust you to deal with issues that are too big for me to deal with on my own.” But I’ll keep the things I can handle to myself, thank you, and that includes when and how much I drinfc (even on Sundays), if and when I want to buy a lottery ticket, and when and how long I pray. Prayer is a private conversation that even the FBI cannot tap, which makes it an important aspect of one’s spirituality. For all anyone knows, I prayed the entire time I wrote this column. For all I know, you’re praying while you read it. Prayer is untouchable by the governors. They can do nothing, neither to stop nor encourage it. They should stick to issues they can control and leave the praying to us. Clayton Kale is a fourth year studei in the College of Journalism and Mass Communication IN YOUR OPINION Put on a good show for USC, GameDay Intercollegiate athletics are a central aspect of university, especially in the South. If this statement is true, then this Saturday is shaping up to be one if the greatest days in Carolina’s 200 year history. With the No. 4-ranked Gators in town, the Gamecocks have a legitimate shot at winning the SEC championship. Top Florida and a Tennessee loss in the Swamp, then Carolina has a date in Atlanta on December 8. The magnitude of the upcoming game is amplified by, not only the conference implications, but by the national media that will cover the game here. The game will be televised on ESPN at 7:45; even better, College Gameday will visit Columbia. I probably do not have to ask this of all of you, but please jump when “2001” starts to blare across the stadium. ESPN will be showing “2001,” the greatest entrance in college football, so we must put up a good show. Most importantly, wear black, yet the Student Gamecock Club and Student Government - the sponsors of the Blackout —believe that this unity will provide a visual effect of intimidation and awe. Saturday will be a day of firsts for the University of South Carolina. Let’s do our part. COREY FORD FOURTH-YEAR STUDENT, COLLECE OK LIBEKAU ARTS Capitalism has overrun patriotism Since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, patriotism has seemed to flood the hearts and minds of most Americans. As an American, one wonders to what level or degree this patriotism should be carried out? During the salute to the military during the half-time show at the Carolina-Wofford game, I could not help but to notice that the small American flags that were given out had the words “MADE IN CHINA” inscribed on them. This seems to be somewhat ironic and disturbing. How could an icon that symbolizes America to such vast degree, be made in another country? And yes, I do know that the Statue of LUDeriy originates irom France, but this seems to be of a different nature. Maybe this should be a question of the degree of capitalism and not patriotism. In today’s global economic maker everything is to be manufactured by the lowest costing producer, but shouldn’t there be a line drawn when it comes to a situation such as this one. If one wished to buy a shirt with the American flag or some slogan such as “God Bless America,” nine times out of then it was produced in Mexico, Haiti, Ecuador, Taiwan or China. Where is the rationale in this union of these countries? Who thought that it would be logical to produce these items in another country during such a tragic time? It seems that the focus was on the dollar and not the morality of the situation. How could China, of all countries, produce such American patriotic material along with certain parts of military-issued uniforms? This particular country, over the past few years, has been accused of stealing military and nuclear secrets. This along with having severe differences in trade and governmental actions with America. What would the option be if the differences with China or any other country became irreconcilable? Would the cheapest producer then matter in the grand American marketplace? Whatever happened to “MADE IN AMERICA”? Has America become so intertwined with the rest of the world that it now seems to be one step from being unable to be muepenueni: nas sumeune devalued American jobs so much that it has now come to the point that we as Americans cannot produce some of the simplest of life’s desires and necessities? The question I now pose to you, my fellow Gamecocks and Americans, is “HAVE OUR PATRIOTISM AND PRIDE AS AMERICANS BEEN DETERRED AND DEVALUED BY THE VALUE OF THE DOLLAR OR ARE THESE JUST THE RANTINS AND RAVINGS OF A SOLE AMERICAN?” DAVID FOSTER TIIIHU-YEAR STUDENT, COLLEGE OK LIBERAL ARTS uoa, united resolve will save America As the shock of sheer terror stalks our nation, the legacy of our liberty lies in contingency and the - future of our freedom falls to fragility. Emotions —grief, pain, sorrow—triggered by hate and contempt have and will bum in our lives, but they will not quench our quest for justice and joy. We question our pursuit for the most sufficient solution, and, with each fading moment, the perplexity of positive progression impedes the path while the rhythm of right resumes the march. The effective ness of the solution is put to the test. What is the answer, and when will it come? Standing together, with our lives devoted to our one and only Creator, Jesus Christ, and to His Holy Word, and actively joining our hands with those of our God-given leaders, our unified efforts as a • nation, as states and as individuals will undeniably be effective and ; authentic. Our consistent resolve to shield and secure our unfeigned freedom will confirm our unfurled resolution that we are “one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. ” SARAH A. FORSETH FOURTH-YEAR STUDENT, COLLEGE OF LiinbiiAb An i a 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 gamecockviewpoipts@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.