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USC maintenance workers Sherman Stewart, Larry Barnet, and Ron Derrick participate in the NAACP forum in the Russell House Thursday, photo by michelle dosson NAACP Workers hope suit will help others CONTINUED FROM PAGE X None hold management posi tions, though some are supervi sors. No African-American has been selected for a management position in the maintenance de partment for more than 40 years. Derrick said the university hid management information in a re sponse to an EEOC request. “The EEOC asked the univer sity for a list of all the managers it had on staff in order to investi gate. “But instead of sending them a list of all of the managers, which would have shown that there were no African-Americans in man agement, the university sent a list that included the managers and supervisors, which included some African-Americans,” Derrick said. The EEOC is still investigat ing this. The workers say the suit is an attempt at justice and wasn’t filed because of personal grudges against the university. “Our intention is not to hurt the university,” said Sherman Stewart, one of the maintenance workers who attended the fo rum. “We have been ignored for three years by the university. This institution has not been fair. “If we get nothing out of this, at least we can make it better for someone else, and we can at least make it better for our sons and daughters who may come here in the future.” Comments on this story?E-mail gamecockudesk@hotmail.com. Afghanistan Deposed president could return soon CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 . Mullah Mohammed Omar, sought to portray the Taliban’s recent retreats from urban cen ters as part of a larger strategy aiming to destroy America. “If God’s help is with us, this will happen within a short period of time - keep in mind this predic tion,” he said in an interview with the BBC, conducted over satellite phone. “The real matter is the ex tinction of America, and God will ing, it will fall to the ground.” Omar ruled out taking part in a multiethnic government like the one the United Nations has proposed for Afghanistan. “The struggle for a broad based government has been go ing on for the last 20 years, but nothing came of it,” he said. “We will not accept a government of wrongdoers. We prefer death than to be a part of an evil gov ernment.” In Quetta, Pakistan, across the border from Kandahar, an anti Taliban Afghan source — speak ing on condition of anonymity — said anti-Taliban forces had cap tured Kandahar’s airport and urged that the Taliban hand over bin Laden. The source’s claims could not be independently con firmed. In the north, alliance comman der Gen. Daoud said his forces wanted to persuade low-ranking Afghan Taliban in Kunduz to sur render. He said foreign forces in the city — believed to include Arabs, Chechens, Pakistanis and Chinese — were pressuring Taliban fighters not to surrender. Franks told a Pentagon news conference that the pocket of re sistance around Kunduz includes 2,000 to 3,000 al-Qaida fighters,* whom he described as “some of the more hardcore people.” Outside the city, traffic was an incongruous mix of fleeing refugees, some' of them barefoot women in burqas, and alliance fighters crowded onto truck beds, headed for the front. With the Taliban abandoning Kabul on Tuesday, speculation has grown that Burhanuddin Rabbani, Afghanistan’s president from 1992-96 and titular head of the northern alliance, will return to the capital. Anwari, the Shiite Muslim northern alliance commander, said Rabbani was remaining for the time being in the Panjshir Valley, a staging ground for the alliance during its long anti Taliban campaign in the north, because of the alliance’s promise not to take power in the capital. In the western Afghan city of Herat, captured by the northern alliance earlier this week, many businesses were doing a brisk business Thursday in CDs and tapes that had been forbidden by the Taliban. . Televisions and satellite dishes also were retrieved from hiding; residents Whtched live as Iran played Ireland for a berth in the World Cup soccer championship. Just four months ago, Herat businessman Abdul Ahmed said the Taliban threw him in jail be cause they found a cassette tape on him. “I was held for four days in jail. I was beaten so badly that you can’t even imagine,” he said. Blood Drive Red Cross workers keep donors happy CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 this year than before. “This event has been on every news station this week, and some of the radio stations have come out and done shows on sight,” he said. According to Bixler, the most suc cessful addition to this year’s blood drive has been the option of making a donation appointment. “As far as I know, every time slot was filled this week,” he said. “I think a lot more people have come out and given because of what’s been happening in this country recently,” Bixler said. First-year student Mary Hall, who donated blood on Wednesday night, said she wasn’t nervous at all. “I wanted to give blood to help people and to beat Clemson,” she said. “All of the volunteers and" nurses made it really fun for me.” Hall said she didn’t have to wait in line long and didn’t feel sick af ter donating. Frederick Vansant of the American Red Cross organized the waiting room on Wednesday night. He said creating a relaxed atmosphere at the blood drive was a major goal for the staff members and volunteers this year. “Everyone out here has been in good spirits, and we have tried to entertain the donors as they come through,” Vansant said. “When people see that you’re relaxed and you’re smil ing and having a good time, it tends to put them at ease.” Vansant said he was pleased by the number of students who volunteered to donate. “This is absolutely incredible, to see the support of the students, and we’re due for a win this year,” he said. In October, the American Red Cross publicly asked donors to wait to give blood after blood banks received an overflow after the Sept. 11 attacks. Much of the blood couldn’t be used right away or stored long enough for proper use. But Brown said the organi zation is once again seeking qual ified donors to replenish blood banks. “We always need the blood, because it only has a 42-day shelf life,” she said. Bixler said next year’s blood dri ve could still use improvements, in cluding “more beds, more nurses, more availability to make appoint ments.” He said the Fraternity and Sorority councils are ready to do anything it takes to beat Clemson. Clemson has defeated USC 12 out of 16 years in the blood drive, including last year's competition. The results of this year’s compe tition will be announced at the football game on Saturday. . Comments on this story?E-mail gamecockudesk@hotmail.com. CIEMSjfrN 215 Spencer Place Cayce, SC 29033 (803) 739-0899 FAX: (803)739-0883 ~71 GefeOrallon of cS ero/ce... JAe Office of Community Service J^royrams cordially invites you to attend JAe JlicentennialJfoliday Jree BiyAtiny Ceremony Wednesday, 0Covem6er2S) 2001 (5/jr o ’clod in tAe even iny 'University of SoutA Carolina Jlistoric JforsesAoe 803-777-5780 Don Uforytlh briny yourfiltaiftbciinys amfpict up an anyefb at/opt. Thanks to all the USC students who have taken the time this week to give back to the Carolina Community. This year we're out S' for blood! ^ The Fraternity Ik Sorority Councils Tbe 17tb Annual CAROLINA/CLEMSON AMERICAN RED CROSS Blood Drive Get your T-shirt JUST LIKE COCKY r 1 Wanna know how to take on our rival without even trying? Prepare beforehand. Come down to the Blatt PE Center and work those muscles. www.sa.sc.edu/pecenter/crec.htm 777-5261 B* SL Andrews • Five Points • Spring Valley U 271t Bread RwM 619 Hardan St 9009 ha Natch M. 798.7799 258.0557 71UM2 U Rated SC's Best le* Cycling & fitness U m Sales & Service Hours M-Sat 10-6 Sun 1-5 (•*■) H p http://cyclecenter.com H w/Ad We’ll Pay $30 On Bike Layaway^| JJBBBHk ™MW# "We don't just sell bikes...we ride them." 3223 Devine Street 903-234-9797 Clearance Sale Now in Progress BEAT Clemson From your friends at SC Bookstore and Carolinas BOOKSTORE 801 Main St. Comer of Greene & Main Columbia, SC 29202 Phone: 799-7406 799-7188 ^r-gOQKS ♦ SUPPLIES ♦ uscclothingR-^ Dancing to Celebrate Carofina's newest tradition Oct.' IJSC 2002 22-23 Get ready to have the time of your life while helping children