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THE GAMECOCK ♦ Wednesday, March 27, 2002 5 SOUND OFF ONLINE POLL Create message boards at Do you understand Value www.dailygamecock.com or Centered Management? send letters to the editor to www.dailygamecock.com. gamecockviewpoints@hotmail.com - Results published on Fridays. IN OUR OPINION Lottery misuses Nearly four months after the South Carolina Education Lottery began and nearly a year and half after voters approved it, state legislators are still debating a spending plan. Voters were clear in the 2000 lottery referendum: Money should go toward higher education. But when legislators can’t even agree on a way to do it, nothing gets accomplished. And time is running out. If a bill isn’t passed soon by both the S.C. House and Senate, students won’t see any of the promised funds in the fall semester. Gov. Jim Hodges has the right idea; he’s pressing for a plan now. The state has a huge revenue source to improve our state’s education. It’s obvious that something needs to be done; South Carolina schools are suffering, and statewide budget cuts aren’t helping. State universities must be able to offer competitive scholarships to entice prospective students. They also need to provide funds for needs-based grants and financial assistance. This is a sticking point for the legislation, but it really shouldn’t be. Scholarships must be distributed fairly so that the average high school student has the opportunity to go to college that a higher-achieving student might have already taken for granted. The lottery wasn’t meant to fund existing programs and add money where it’s already concentrated. It’s money to take a chance on, to try new things with. The revenue should be used for new projects to reach out to different types of students. It must be used to make the difference it was intended for. Lottery money should be used to make the difference it was intended to make. Winners and Sinners HALLE BERRY Makes Oscar history. More importantly, makes case for Maybelline mascara. BASKETBALL JESUS Seen flag-waving and stomping at Duke game. All hail the Sideline Savior. EAST PENN AND CITRUS COUNTY SCHOOLS Pennsylvania and Florida schools sending home “your kid is fat” letters. Bumper stickers in the works. BILLY GRAHAM Lied about anti-Semetic remarks made to Nixon. Sigh. You and Public Enemy’s ! Professor Griff have more in common than we ' thought. VIOXX Kills severe pain and also people. At least Viagra only produces “la petite morte.” GAMECOCK CORRECTIONS In Monday’s paper, statements attributed to Housing Administration Director Gretchen Koehler should have been attributed to Residence Hall Association President Brad Dawgert. Honors students took 264 out of350 Horseshoe housing spaces, or 75.4 percent, Koehler said. The Gamecock regrets the errors. If you see an error in today’s paper, we want to know. E-mail us at gamecockviewpoints@hotmail.com. ABOUT THE GAMECOCK Mary Hartney Editor in Chief Ginny Thornton News Editor Kevin Fellner Asst. News Editor Mackenzie Clements Viewpoints Editor Carrie Phillips The Mix Editor Justin Bajan Asst. The Mix Editor Chris Foy Sports Editor J. Keith Allen Asst. Sports Editor Brandon Larrabee Special Projects Adarfc Beam Contributing Editor Martha Wright Design Editor Page Designers Crystal Dukes, Sarah McLaulin, Katie Smith. David Stagg Kyle Almond Copy Desk Chief Copy Editors Crystal Boyles, Andrew Festa, Jason Harmon, Jill Martin, Paul Rhine Mark Hartney Online Editor Corey Davis Photo Assignments Photo Editors Robert Gruen, Candi A Hauglum Kelly Petruska Community Affairs CONTACT INFORMATION Offices on third floor of the Russell House. Editor in Chief: gamecockeditor@hotmail.com University Desk: gamecockudesk@hotmail.com Viewpoints: gamecockviewpoints@hotmail.com The Mix: gamecockmb(editor@hotmail.com Sports: gamecocksports@hotmail.com Online: www.dailygamecock.com Newsroom: 777-7726 EDITORIAL BOARD Kyle Almond, Mackenzie Clements, Chris Foy, Jason Harmon, Mary Hartney, Brandon Larrabee, Carrie Phillips, Ginny Thornton. Martha Wright STUDENT MEDIA Erik Collins Faculty Adviser Ellen Parsons Director of Student Media Susan King Creative Director Carolyn Griffin Business Manager Sarah Scarborough Advertising Manager Sherry F. Holmes Classified Manager Creative Services Derek Goode, Todd Hooks, Earl Jones, Jennie Moore, Melanie Roberts, Beju Shah Advertising Staff Betsy Baugh, Amanda Ingram. Denise Levereaux, ^ Jackie Rice, Gloria Simpson, Stacey Todd The Gamecock is the student newspaper of the University of South Carolina and is published Monday, Wednesday and Friday during the fall and spring semesters and nine times during the summer with the exception of university holidays and exam periods. Opinions expressed in The Gamecock are those of the editors or author and not those of the University of South Carolina. The Board of Student Publications and Communications is the publisher of The Gamecock. The Department of Student Media is the newspaper's parent organization. The Gamecock is supported in part by student activities fees. One free copy per reader. Additional copies may be purchased for one dollar each from the Department of Student Media. TO PUCE AN AO The Gamecock 1400 Greene Street Columbia, S.C. 29208 Advertising: 777-3888 Classified: 777-1184 Fax: 777-6482 #§tfep; ([LL\ LOOK FoR 1 l LOOP- I V HOLeS! J / GoTtttA- \ / AND I'LL \ / FiLETHe \ COURT V challenge. . I o . ^<oc,o°C CARTOON COURTESY OF KRT CAMPUS IN YOUR OPINION Think again about SEC commissioner Wanted: One sports writer who knows what the hell he’s talking about. In a recent column, Chris Foy said Roy Kramer’s retirement as SEC commissioner was a blessing. He claims that Kramer doesn’t have the “testicular fortitude” to admit when there’s been a mistake in officiating, but the only way Foy can prove this is with two isolated Carolina incidents. His first claim was when Lou Holtz was reprimanded for speaking against the officials who missed a call two years ago. Coaches aren’t supposed to reprimand officials — that’s for the conference to do. Kramer just did his job. Foy’s second claim is that Kramer did nothing when a small officiating blunder occurred at this year’s SEC Tournament in the Gamecocks’ close loss to Alabama. The SEC has already admitted that the officials were wrong. What else can they ao.' Kepiay tne game? USC might have been screwed in that game, but that’s life. No, Kramer didn’t comment, but what Foy might not know is that there is more than one person that works for the SEC. Foy also claims that Kramer wanted to make more money the weekend after Sept. 11. That was a difficult time in everyone’s life, and many people thought the best way to heal was to move on with our lives. Even President Bush said so. I would have fully supported playing sports events that weekend had they not been canceled. Finally, Foy claims that Kramer devised the calculation formula for the Bowl Championship Series. Kramer was only a part of devising it. Though it might not be perfect, the BCS is better than what was. Can we make it better? Probably, but things like that take time. I applaud Kramer for 12 fine years as SEC commissioner and hope the SEC can find another commissioner as good as Kramer. I’m sorry, Foy, you’re wrong. PATRICK WALSH FIRST-YEAR SPORTS MANAGEMENT STUDENT We should all set positive examples I would like to applaud Edrin Williams for his Monday column that encouraged young blacks at USC to seek excellence. I’m a middle-aged white male who grew up in the South. We all have our vices, but racial equality and harmony are very important to me and to the future of South Carolina. Though each generation seems to get better, we unfortunately deal too often with bigotry from all races. Changing perceptions can be done two ways, which both require effort and education. It’s always difficult to persuade others to help people who don’t want to help themselves. Williams clearly believes, as I do, that this perception and accomplishment can be overcome by setting examples for others who are grasping to do what is right vs. what’s easy. Taking that first step is the most difficult, and asking others to come along isn’t easy for any of us. I read often that professional athletes and others feel it’s unfair to be required to “set examples” in their personal life. It’s everyone’s responsibility to set examples in all we do. Yes, we fail on occasion, but recognizing that we’re all influencing those around us and maintaining that awareness will make us a better people. Thanks for seeking the better good. CHARLES HIOTT CLASS OF 1979 Heincelman was 'more than words’ Spring break ended before it began. Two weeks ago, I was in a dreadful accident in Orlando, Fla., where I lost one of my best friends and the Carolina community lost one of its most brilliant and promising students. Traci Heincelman was the best person I’ve ever met. She was incredibly smart, caring and always generous. She helped me complete some of my research before spring break, knowing she would receive only brief recognition and a couple of beers from me. Unfortunately, I was never able to buy her those beers. She didn’t care about the recognition; she helped me because that’s what she did. She was unselfish to her core. Yet, I am being selfish for wanting her back so badly. No matter what you believe in, everyone and everything has a purpose. Her purpose was to brighten your day with her beautiful smile and giggly laugh. That is how I will remember her. At her service last Saturday, two of her friends played an acoustic version of “More than Words.” It’s the perfect description — she was more than words could ever say. I would like to thank everyone, especially the Student Affairs Department, understanding professors and the rest of the Carolina community for their support and good wishes through this tough time. Anyone who was touched, if just briefly, by Traci knows how much she will be missed and that her memory will live within us forever. FRANK HELIES FOl!RTIi-YEAR MARINE SCIENCE, STUDENT Housing policy is unfair to students It seems lately every issue of The Gamecock has included viewpoints of the new housing agreement. But many points have been missed. The new policy gives * Honors College sophomores preference over non-honors upperclassmen for Horseshoe apartments. This, however, isn’t supposed to have much effect on housing choice. I’ve heard the arguments that better housing is available elsewhere, such as the Quads, and honors students deserve added perks: I agree that honors students deserve some perks as long as they don’t interfere with other students’ campus life. But the Quads aren’t a good option for many students. I’m a rising senior in the College of Liberal Arts, and I have a Horseshoe apartment. The main reasons for my housing choice were the significant price difference and the location. The Horseshoe is the only apartment-style housing available that’s relatively close to the liberal arts classrooms. Because of the new policy next year, I won’t be able to live on the Horseshoe. I don’t agree that there should be an honors community on campus. Honors College Dean Peter Sederberg might be trying to create a family aimospnere, out uiversny is an important issue and shouldn’t be overlooked. I really don’t see how being around the same people throughout college can benefit overall growth. The honors community will consist of all of the apartment style housing on the north side of campus. A community could be made just as well using only the Horseshoe, and leaving Thornwell and Woodrow for students in the College of Liberal Arts. That would leave room for all students, instead of giving the Honors College almost all of the north side of campus. Instead, many students like myself will probably be forced to move off campus then junior and senior years. The university should try and make a honors community that doesn’t come at the expense of other students. MATT NASON THIRD-YEAR POLITICAL SCIENCE STUDENT Stop resentment of Honors College To those who have been bashing honors students in response to the new Horseshoe housing policy: Your defense mechanisms are showing. I’m tired of reading these tri weekly diatribes bent on putting down honors students based on a decision we didn’t make. We didn’t do this, so enough with the vehement letters to the editor. You’re using this as an excuse to vent your long-held resentment of honors students, but it’s useless. If you care enough to waste words, calling us talentless and snotty, then direct your attention to the university administration instead of hailing fellow students with hateful, reactionary epithets. The only reason honors students have been defending this decision is that we’re tired of your abuse. I’ve spent four years trying to hide my honors status because if I didn’t, I’d he ♦ LETTERS, SEE PAGE 6 The truth campaign hits home TAYLOR MARSHALL-GREEN GAMECOCKVIEWPOINTS@HOTMAIL.COM My father, his pride and his disease: The fact is that smoking isn’t pretty. Earlier this year, Lorillard Tobacco Co. asked courts to the “truth? advertising campaign against youth smoking. The company said in a statement, “The message of the ‘truth’ campaign has consistently strayed far afield from the facts concerning tobacco products and their effect on users.” Well, here are some facts. I used to sit in the back of my father’s 1981 Toyota station wagon and stare at his nostrils. They were magical in the way they turned the smoke gray. What was even more incredible was how his breath could always be seen. I used to brag to my friends about how my father smoked two packs of Pall Mall unfiltered. “You know those small ones in the little, red package? Yeah, he sucks ’em down to his fingernails, and then it’s only a matter of a few twists and turns from his writing calluses and the three-inch cigarette turns to a yellow sesame seed of paper.” Dad still smokes about two packs a day — has for the past 60 years. He doesn t fly. He quit going to Braves games. And he doesn’t eat at Wendy’s. Why? Because of cigarettes. Dad loves baseball — has for the past 60 years. But he’ll be damned if he’ll stand in a designated circle by vendors just so he can hurry a smoke. My dad doesn’t sound good. He has emphysema; chokes and snappy exhausts of phlegm now interrupt his wise conversations with me. “That stamp really ... HUUGH, HUUGH... belongs in the... HOO-OCK, HOO... in the Belize sect... HOCK, HOCK... Belize section, not Belgium... HUM, HUM." There are no pats on the back, no rushing to the kitchen for water, no “OK, Dad?” I couldn’t tell you what’s more stubborn: my dad, his pride or his disease. The facts are that smoking has made my father’s air sacs as elastic as a frozen tire tread. My dad could beat anyone when it comes to eating slowly. In the time he takes to add pepper to his salad, I finish mine. He indulges slowly. Now, he eats in fear. His bites are twice as slow because there are times when his emphysema causes him to puke out the freshly cooked and peppered porterhouse. It’s one of the foulest sounds you can hear. Imagine having one of those scratchy hacking attacks that any smoker gets in the morning. Or those hacking coughs that you get in class that annoy each person in the class. Your body temperature heats up when you try to suppress them. It’s like a hummingbird feather in the back of your throat, and there is no moisture to your hacking. Now, imagine heaving all the dry food stashed in your esophagus. Your trachea is begging for room, but your throat is stubborn. So both life tubes send your rejected oxygen, dinner roll and carbon monoxide out of your mouth. The fact is that I don’t know what hurts me more: knowing my father’s humiliation when he returns to the table, or seeing the small amount of energy he puts into getting the stain off the cuff of his plaid shirt. -LS— Marshall-Green is a fifth-yea r broadcast journalism student. —