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SOUND OFF ONLINE POLL Send letters to the editor to who wouW win a between ^ gamecockviewpomts@hotmaU.com men’s and women’s basketbaU teams? or create message boards at www.daUygamecock.com. www.daUygamecock.com. Results blished on Fridays. THE LEADER Committee offers hit-and-miss plan With a goal of transforming USC into “an efficient, nationally respected, comprehensive research university,” the Strategic Directives and Initiatives Committee produced a list of hurried recommendations designed to completely restructure the university. With recommendations of this magnitude, it is essential that students understand what is right — and what is wrong —with the process. The great compromise The committee deserves praise for its handling of McKissick Museum. After first entertaining thoughts of closing the nationally recognized museum, the committee listened to the outcries of the university’s faithful friends and faculty and produced an excellent compromise. Recognizing the appeal of McKissick’s presence on the historic Horseshoe, the Transforming committee suggests relocating McKissick M useum Visitor Center from and eliminating the AsM,HySMt(lte d ranSI 100 eaf McKissick building. Instead of Program represent ,. . . .. the best and worst facing vehicular manslaughter Of the SDIC plans, on the busiest street near campus at the start of university tours, future freshmen would get their first look at USC from the comforting landscape of history. While the museum will have to undergo some changes, the museum would remain open and provide another bragging point for university officials as they continue their attempt to enter the AAU. The not-so-great cut But while the committee recognized the importance of compromise in arts, its eyes are still closed to the importance of equal education in South Carolina. Another committee “money-saving” recommendation is to eliminate the Transition Year Program. Designed to give students who don’t meet admissions requirements the opportunity for higher education, Transition Year allows 200 students admission who have special capabilities but fall short of some academic standards. The program is not designed as a college welfare institution; it serves as an academic adjustment to college for students who have strong SAT scores and low high school GPAs, or vice versa. It gives students with potential the power to succeed. The committee tries to justify cutting the program as a way to increase student quality and meet the board of trustees’ goal of an average SAT score of 1175 for incoming freshmen. But if denying South Carolina students the chance for higher education is deemed behavior becoming a flagship institution, then maybe USC needs to rethink its scramble for the AAU. GAMECOCK CORRECTIONS If you see an error in today’s paper, we want to know. Write us atgamecockviewpoints@hotmail.com. ABOUT THE GAMECOCK Mary Hartney CONTACT INFORMATION Editor in Chief Offices on third floor of the Russell House. Glnny Thornton Editor in Chief: gamecockeditor@hotmail.com University Editor University Desk: gamecockudesk@hotmail.com City Desk: gamecockcitydesk@hotmail.com Kevin Fellner Viewpoints: gamecockviewpoints@hotmail.com Asst. Univ. Editor The Mix: gamecockmixeditor@hotmail.com Sports: gamecocksports@hotmail.com Mackenzie Clements Online: www.dailygamecock.com Viewpoints Editor Newsroom: 777-7726 Carrie Phillips The Mix Editor STUDENT MEDIA The Gamecock is the student newspaper of Justin Bajan Erlk Co,,,ns the University of South Asst. The Mix Editor Faculty Adviser Carolina and is published Monday. Chris Foy Ellen Parsons Wednesday and Friday Sports Editor Director of Student during the fall and Media spring semesters and Preston Baines njne times during the Asst. Sports Editor Susan King summer with the Creative Director exception of university Brandon Larrabee holidays and exam Special Projects Carolyn Griffin periods. Opinions Martha Wright Business Manager expressed in The Production Manager Gamecock are those of Sarah Scarborough the editors or author Mark Hartney Advertising Manager and not those of the Online Editor University of South Sherry F. Holmes Carolina. The Board of Page Designers Classified Manager Student Publications Crystal Dukes. Katie and Communications is Smith. David Stagg. Creative Services the publisher of The Sarah McLaulin Todd Hooks, Jennie Gamecock. The Moore, Martin Department of Student Copy Editors Salisbury, Beju Shah, Media is the Kyle Almond, Jason newspaper’s parent Harmon, Jill Martin, Advertising Staff organization. The Paul Rhine Betsy Baugh, Caryn Gamecock is supported Barowsky, Denise in part by student TO PLACE AN AD Levereaux. Jackie activities fees. One Rice, Stacey Todd free copy per reader. The Gamecock Additional copies may 1400 Greene Street be purchased for one Columbia, S.C. 29208 dollar each from the Advertising: 777-3888 Department of Student Classified: 777-1184 'Media Fax: 777-6482 'ANYTHING BiS ENOUGH Tb COVeR A BUNiPeR STiCK€R?...' COURTESY KRT CAMPUS Trapped in a Southern time warp katie McClendon PRESIN2016@YAH00.C0M Southerners need to discourage bigotry. After moving away from Alabama, I defended my culture when others would assume Southerners were racist, incestuous, gay bashers — that is, until I moved back to the South. When I first arrived to South Carolina, my older brother said, “You’ve just stepped back in time 50 years,” meaning that while I thought prejudices toward Southerners were based on the past, backward behavior continues today. After months of hard work by USC’s BGLA and Student Government, the faculty senate passed a recommendation last semester to make it against school policy to discriminate based on sexuality. One of the few professors to disagree cited state law, which outlaws fornication and “buggery.” (For those of you not living in the 19th century, that’s another word for sodomy.) What he and others fail to realize is that not only do many heterosexual people break this law when they have oral sex, but society doesn’t persecute them. The Equal Opportunity policy protects people (by age, gender and race)—not their actions. Furthermore, Michael Mungo, a member of the USC board of trustees, said not only that he wouldn’t pass the faculty senate’s recommendation, but also that gays and lesbians “are trying to take over the world.” That a man who decides many things about my education is ignorant enough to believe and say that leaves me speechless. What’s sad is that I’ve almost begun to expect to hear things like that in South Carolina. Perhaps what Mungo failed to understand is that in areas where gays, lesbians and bisexuals aren’t discriminated against, they are more free to “come out;” therefore, their numbers are higher than somewhere where they have no protection. Rather than “taking over the world,” they’ve actually been here all along, just afraid to say anything. I was raised to be an Auburn Tiger. My family still tells me it’s never too late to transfer. Not that I ever considered it, but after an incident at a fraternity Halloween party there, not only could I never be an Auburn Tiger, I’ve also wondered where I fit in within Southern society. Can I refuse my heritage? I’m not going to say that people outside of the South aren’t racist; that would be bullshit. But I’m willing to bet that nowhere outside the Deep South would someone be so arrogant as to think it would be socially acceptable to dress as a Ku Klux Klan member for Halloween with a friend dressed in blackface. I imagine racist activities occur often on campus; I especially remember an experience during my freshman year when I attended a fraternity party with some friends, one of whom was black. It was made plain to us that he wasn’t welcome while the other males with us were. Everyone who knowingly let that sort of behavior continue was equally at fault. Why did no one speak up and ask him what kind of beer he would like? Every member of a fraternity that is known for racist beliefs is a racist. By being a member, you are guilty by association. It’s time for Southerners to start thinking about how our activities are looked upon by others. There’s a reason why outsiders are astounded when they read about things like the event in Auburn. When I move after graduation, I want people to treat me as a person, not as a Southern girl who is racist and homophobic. I want people to think of Southern hospitality, small hometowns and football. There are so many wonderful things about being Southern. Nowhere else do people smile and say hello to strangers on the street. I love the South; too bad I can’t stand its mindset. McClendon is a third-year student in the College of Pharmacy. IN YOUR OPINION Student senate is wrong to reject bill As an involved student, I must say that The Gamecock hit the issue of campaign finance dead on, noting that the student senate “did the wrong thing, for no real reason.” For the first time thus far this year, the student senate, under the leadership of Sens. Brook Bristow and Chrissy Stauffer, had the opportunity to make a positive impact on the university and the way we run elections. Unfortunately, a series of parliamentary games won out over the best interest of the university and only further exacerbated the many questionable practices of student government. Seemingly, the bill’s co sponsor, Brook Bristow, acted as the John McCain figure of the senate, attempting to restore honesty and integrity to an electoral system at USC that has become just like the rest of the world — about money and money alone. Do the students not deserve to have the most qualified candidate and not the candidate who has the most financial means? Apparently, 21 senators gave a resounding NO to that question last semester. With voter turnout at USC so incredibly low already, should we not do anything within our means to create more legitimacy in the process? I do think, however, that it takes an issue like this to increase voter turnout. That is why I ask all of you to take note of those who support this bill and take note of those who contributed to its demise. This February, when elections take place, vote and send a message to the candidates that we do care and we do want to have a legitimate electoral process. In an election for student body president, nothing is personal, especially campaign finances. If you plan on outspending the other candidate, at least let the students know. In the end, Sen. Bristow was right when he said, “We can do better,” and when it comes time to vote next semester, I think we should all remember this. J.D. SHIPMAN FIRST-YEAR STUDENT COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS Gamecock victory inspires fan’s poetry I just wanted to share a little song I wrote while riding through the sleet, snow, and freezing rain on the way home from Tampa. Congratulations to Lou and the Gamecocks on another victory over Ohio State! Oh the weather outside is frightful, But Lou Holtz is so delightful, And since we won the Outback Bowl, i Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! Brewer didn’t show signs of stopping, Those Buckeyes he was chopping, And since we won the Outback Bowl, Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! When we left Tampa and said goodnight, I didn’t think we’d really see snow, But the Cocks won so it’s alright, And all the way home I was warm! Well the Buckeyes were slowly dying, Until the fourth they weren’t even trying, Thank God we made the last field goal, So let it snow, let it snow, let it snow! Happy Lou Year, USC! Go Cocks! REBECCA LERCH SECOND-YEAR GRADUATE STUDENT COLLEGE OF EDUCATION 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 provided by the submitter. Call 777-7726 for' more information. The Bush boy who cried wolf GREG HAMBRICK HAMBRICKGl@HOTMAIL.COM Read my lips: No new presidential promises. Never say never. Man, how many times have you heard that one? Among movies, music, television, books and magazines, we hear it everywhere. It’s sage advice if I ever heard it. Unfortunately, President Bush hasn’t gotten the message. Memories are coming back to me of a younger, less experienced Greg Hambrick who had the sense to never say never. MOM: “You’re never going to do drugs, are you?” GREG: “Mom, it doesn’t appeal to me now, but I can’t say I’ll never try it.” It isn’t a response Nancy Reagan would be proud of, but it satisfied my mother. Her 17 year-old son was holding off experimenting for the next day? month? year? While she really couldn’t be sure, at least I was honest about it. It gave hope that, if she were to ask another day, I might tell her the truth again. For our friends in the Bush family, it’s a hard lesson to learn. A little more than a decade after Papa Bush demanded “read my lips,” Lil’ George excitedly told a California crowd recently, “Not over my dead body will they raise taxes.” Easy for him to say — he’s not getting anthrax in the mail. Well, Papa’s words might have had a bit more panache, but Lil’ George’s assertions seem to work on the American people (remember his promise to find Osama “dead or alive”?). Unfortunately, if anyone believes that mess (be it from 1988 or the present), then I’ve got some land on the Congaree flood plain to sell you. You see, the awful truth, something those who can think back only to that $300 check last summer won’t remember, is that sometimes taxes have to go up. Sure, we’d like to live in a world where everybody’s share continuously goes down, but that just isn’t the real world. Now, there are ways to avoid it. A lottery might work, but that tends to upset conservatives because it’s taking the poor man’s dollar. Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman is appeasing conservatives by avoiding a lottery. But how’s he doing it? With a $160 million tax increase for improvements in public education. It seems state government is much like the lottery — they all can’t be winners. To his credit, at least Siegelman avoided the “no new taxes” pitfall. He never said never. At least this guy has integrity. It was a lesson we thought Bush had learned. Once you’re in office, don’t promise anything. Promises are for the campaign trail, and even then you only have to follow through on the ones the media remembers. While in office, you “review” and “study” everything. Drilling in Alaska? Under review. Stem Cell research? Requires close study. You don’t make promises. Mark my words: As sure as we will never hear Palms say, “Not over my dead body will they raise tuition,” this one will come back to bite Lil’ George. Mom doesn’t ask about drugs anymore. Seven years later, she’d still get the same answer, but a level of respect has grown out of the honesty—a respect Bush will wish he had come 2004. Now, what was that story about the boy who cried wolf? Hambrick is a fourth-year student in | the College oj Journalism and Mass Communications.