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IN YOUR OPINION Senator supports David Bornemann It has recently come to my attention that David Bornemann is entering into a campaign to be the next student body president of use. I can think of no one more deserving or capable to warrant such an honor. I have known David for a number of years and know him to be industrious and hard-working, congenial in nature and a man of good character and high ambition. Moreover, he is a dedicated worker who will certainly serve you well in the coming year. As the flagship university of South Carolina, USC has a unique significance in this state. With that significance, the student body needs strong, competent leadership to maintain and build upon that status. You need someone who has an intimate knowledge of the wide variety of people and concerns on campus. In his time at the university, David has been involved with such a mix. MLK Day of Service site leader, Dance Marathon morale leader, Greek life, university ambassadors, the Homecoming Commission, Student Government — the list just goes on. This young man has the energy and desire necessary to make good things happen. I am confident that the talents and leadership skills Bornemann possesses will be an asset to the students of your university. I am excited about the upcoming election and offer my endorsement of David Bornemann as your next student body president. In addition, I look forward to continued interaction with the students of USC. JOHN DRUMMOND S.C. SENATOR, D-ABBEVILLE AND OREENWOOD It is possible to fix Student Government Let’s talk about every thing wrong with Student Government. For starters, it seems more interested in itself than the people it supposedly represents. How can I tell? Take a look at the representation. We get our key three officers — president, vice president and treasurer — all elected. So far, so good. Then we get the bulk, our Student Senate, representing the students of each college. The senators are all, at least in theory, vouching for the people, and if that was our government, I would have a weak case. But that’s not the case. Next, you have an enormous Cabinet. Does it represent? No. The Cabinet members enjoy a title and influence typically as a reward for backing the winning president in his or her campaign. Next, you have my favorite joke of all — the Freshman Council. We can thank them for the eye candy in the Russell House Gameroom. Better yet, the one flaw that gets my attention the most is what happens when a Senate seat isn’t filled. Who picks the representation? None other than the current senators. All in all, you end up with a student government maybe half-elected and probably half as effective - just like a watered-down beer. So when you look at how it’s made up, you can understand a lot of its actions. What’s the most common answer to all issues? Appoint someone in charge of handling it (like another Cabinet member) or start a committee. Heck, even the voteless Freshman Council has committees. These serve to give more titles and size to our SG and less effectiveness. If you think I’m kidding, ask Ankit Patel how he plans to solve your problems. He might just promise to give you a Cabinet position in charge of your own affairs. I might get a kick out of the dysfunctional SG, but I’m not a cynic. I actually do believe in its abilities. If we had a SG that spent as much time deliberating over the issues as it does delegating them, it would be more inclined to utilize its titles of grandeur for beneficial purposes. I think our SG has the right issues and the wrong solutions. Most of our problems, like budget cuts and getting.the Board of Trustees to open its ears to us, go back to our state legislature. We need to petition the General Assembly to assist us in every issue it can. It should stop tampering with our funding and give us a more competent Board of Trustees that will actually back the changes advocated by our Student and Faculty Senates. We can’t get the General Assembly’s attention by making appointments and committees. - Our SG should be out around the state, speaking at every town meeting and telling the voters of this state that if they want a better education, it’s time to take an interest. We need to flush the politicians out of SG and make way for the activists. ADAM HARK FIRST-YEAR HISTORY AND SOUTHERN STUDIES STUDENT. SENATORIAL CANDIDATE FOR THE COLLEGE OF LIRERAL ARTS • Submission Policy Letters to the editor should be less than 300-words and include name, phone number, professional title or year and major, if a student. Bring letters to Russell House 333 or e-mail gamecockviewpoints@hotnfail.com. The Gamecock reserves the right to edit for libel, style and space. Anonymous letters will not be published. Outside submissions supporting or opposing a candidate or a party in any election will not be run the day before or the day of an election. Call the newsroom at 777-7726 for more information. Carolina Productions Presents: 1^ , MUSIC TELEVISION* NEEDS YOU! Popular MTV program is looking | for outgoing, adventurous 1 students to appear as guest hosts for a special to be filmed on your campus. No experience necessary! 1 There will be no pay, but it is a great opportunity. Bring a current photograph (that won’t be returned to you) and yourself to Russell House (Golden Spur) on Friday, February 22nd at 2pm. We will be taking the first 100 applicants. § Sponsored by. Carolina Produ www.sa.sc.edu/c 777-7130 i ; • • WW- y-. ■ ■ ■■ . -y? ... , ... • ’>