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4 THE GAMECOCK ♦ Friday, April 12, 2002 _ _ ONLINE POLL soundoff TTITTTT^A VTmOi Did you know about the $125 fee I I J ' 1 /a / I W m B 'll ' before you signed up for housing? Create message boards at I I / ■ / | * ■ ■ % I YES, I WAS MAD BEFORE ANYONE ELSE 31% www.dailygamecock.com or I I ' i »/ %/ I 1 M W I i 1 N0> 1 COULDN’T READ THE DISCLAIMER 13% send letters to the editor to I I J V V ■ \ / a Ik/ THERE WAS A $125 HOUSING FEE? 25% gamecockviewpoints@hotmail.com —■-■-^ w » —■— ^ 1 —r |’M A SENIOR. I DON’T CARE 31% ' ___ ___ ■ - IN OUR OPINION More unity, fewer weeks Today wraps up Unity Week, which celebrates connections shared within the Carolina Community. While the organizers of Unity Week surely had good intentions, the entire celebration has been anything but unified. There was no unifying theme or purpose. Nobody seemed to understand what the celebration was about, its timing or the reasons behind each event. What exactly do a Better than Ezra concert, a Congaree Swamp cleanup and a “Big Man on Campus” pageant have to do with unity? Better yet, what do these events have to do with each other? Instead of having activities to underscore and focus on USC’s connections, Unity Week organizers scoured campus for already-planned events and threw them under a banner with little regard for unity. Part of the problem is that USC — and America in general — has too many “weeks” already. This week is also Greek Week and No Boundaries Week, and next week is Homophobia Awarness Week. We need a Break Week, to give us time to rest without thinking about a dreaded disease or social issue or organization. Are there really 52 issues that everyone cares about enough to designate weeks for? Unfortunately, some feel they need to throw their events to the forefront by designating weeks instead of letting the issue’s importance stand for itself. And, as long as that trend continues, the battalion of pointless weeks will march valiantly on. Unity Week, Greek Wfeek, Homophobia Awareness Week... We need a Give us a Break Week. Gamecock Quotables “A hundred and twenty-five dollars is a lot of money for college students to come up with, especially with no advance notice.” MARIA SWINTON FOURTH-YEAR SOCIOLOGY STUDENT, ON THE NEW HOUSING SIGN-UP FEE “We’re just not going to let them endorse with the money that students pay.” GINNY WRIGHT COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS SENATOR, ON HER BILL THAT WOULD STRIP FUNDS FROM STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS THAT PUBLICLY ENDORSE POLITICAL CANDIDATES “If it rains, you get wet. You deal with it.” JAMIE WALTERS SECOND-YEAR POLITICAL SCIENCE STUDENT. WHO SAT ON A SCAFFOLD FOR SEVERAL HOURS TO RAISE MONEY FOR CHARITY “We’re not a very good team right now. But I didn’t think we would be, coming out of spring. We’ve got a lot of improving to do.” LOU HOLTZ use FOOTBALL HEAD COACH, ON THE TEAM’S PERFORMANCE IN SPRING PRACTICE GAMECOCK CORRECTIONS 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 Glnny 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 Adam 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 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: gamecockmixeditor@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 PLACE AN AD The Gamecock 1400 Greene Street Columbia, S.C. 29208 Advertising: 777-3888 Classified: 777-1184 Fax: 777-6482 Qpyy(^ STot7y Serous LACK £*£^ClSe IHAM&VCA? f Voc?o<^ 5mo y he kxjas Pfzocascy Go^e y f'ofZ qaY5 teef-odG /^\n,ofi~eo J~ JoT(ceo ahYthih^ u/fto^J KJO '/ \jJ0*JQ6<Z... V 7 Joj-M L\K6 i / :VH,A1- >r CARTOON COURTESY OF KRT CAMPUS Workers deserve student respect EDRIN WILLIAMS GAMECOCKVIEWPOINTS@HOTMAIL.COM Arrogance shouldn’t be excuse for disrespect. Ah, the joys of being in college. As USC students, we’re granted so many advantages. From free pizza to T-shirts to the respect of our hometown, we’re all recipients of certain privileges simply because we’re in school. Naturally, we have a tendency to let this go to our heads. But the line should be drawn when this arrogance affects others in a negative way. Because of that arrogance, little or no appreciation is shown toward the service professionals who work at this school. Maintenance workers, housekeepers and dining-hall cashiers are regularly disrespected and degraded from — students and, sometimes, faculty and staff. This isn’t new. I’ve noticed it for some time, but some recent events made it clear that something needs to be done. Most recently, I saw a student verbally degrade a service worker in a residence hall. The student went on her way, but I stood there shocked, waiting for the worker’s response. The worker didn’t say a word, but in her expression, I saw something scary. She was clearly hurt by the exchange but tried not to show it. Perhaps she’s used to such treatment. I also saw a look of helplessness; she didn’t know what to do. I’m sure if she wasn’t afraid of losing her job, she would have dealt with it in the proper way. However, because this university seems to place little value on its service workers, I’m sure that any conflict between a student and a worker would result in the student’s favor. After all, students generate revenue. This is an issue that needs to be addressed by the administrators soon. Service professionals provide a valuable service to USC, and they are deserving of much more respect than they get. This message should reach minority students and faculty with particular meaning because the overwhelming majority of service workers are black. These workers aren’t very different from my mother, my grandmother or any other member of my family. They faithfully come to work every day and work under conditions that can be uncomfortable to provide for their families. The pay isn’t the greatest, and we’ll save the issue of benefits for another time. These men and women are assets of this university. Given proper treatment from students, who are supposed to be progressive intellectuals, they will continue to grace us with their services. Otherwise, we will be facing problems. No amount of pay is enough to let someone compromise your humanity. Williams is a third-year African American studies student. Fees shouldn’t be used to censor ADAM BOURNE GAMECOCKVIEWPOINTS@HOTMAIL.COM Universities should be havens for free thought. As a former Student Government elections commissioner, I supported the right of The Gamecock and other student organizations to endorse candidates in the recent election that I was charged with supervising. I wasn’t alone. The Board of Student Publications and Communications formally recognized the right of the student paper to endorse candidates. But it seems that SG President Ankit Patel stands in opposition to the basic free speech rights of all students at Carolina. I’m no lawyer, but it’s clear that the U.S. Constitution protects the freedom of political expression—particularly from the institutions and individuals that receive government money. Student activity fees must not be allowed to be used as a means of censorship. Suspending an organization’s right to student activity fees in response to an endorsement is tantamount to extortion. The fees that students entrust to SG are its only true mechanism for control of student organizations, and using that power of the purse to censor anyone is just as dangerous as using the power of the sword. If you don’t buy that argument, here is another: Universities are supposed to be havens for free thought and expression. Ideally, students attend Carolina to debate as much as they’re here to learn. Our university’s tenure system serves to protect professors’ rights to freedom of expression in their writings and publications. And, despite the objections of any student who pays fees to the university, professors are allowed to speak their minds in print and in person with the aid of university funds. If we’re to sign on to Patel’s argument that student money shouldn’t be used to endorse candidates, then we must fire any professor who’s ever taken a controversial stance on a political issue and reduce our university’s intellectual prestige to nothing. USC is on the rise as a national university. But to attain true national status, we must not allow the censorship of anyone on campus. An intellectual community is home to liberals, conservatives, people of measured wisdom, and outright nuts. I urge Patel and the rest of SG to stand up for intellectual and political freedom on campus. SG might end up standing for censorship, but, once again, it will be standing alone. Bourne is a fourth-year political science student and former SG elections commissioner. IN YOUR OPINION Patel should focus more on real issues I’m very pleased that Ankit Patel is making such wise use of his time as Student Government president. It’s refreshing to know that in times of budget cuts and tuition increases — over the (course of my two years as a USC student, my overall expenses have increased by about $2,000 — that there’s someone in office focusing on the real issues. I’m glad that he’s trying to ensure that The Gamecock doesn’t use “taxpayers’” student activity fees to endorse candidates. (Please note my liberal use of sarcasm.) It seems that Patel has already forgotten about the “student body” part of being student body president. I enjoy the fact that I don’t have to go to the debates in order to find out about the candidates. Also, the last time I checked, the term “student activity fee” meant that the fees are paid by students, not by taxpayers. Patel needs to start focusing on real issues like rising costs and hidden fees. He shouldn’t have enough time on his hands to worry about who gets press in The Gamecock. ALAN WOOD SECOND-YEAB CHEMISTRY STUDENT Society is sensitive about Christianity I decided to write this letter after reading Martha Wright’s column in Monday’s paper. While I fully support the separation of church and state, I’m amazed by the sensitivity of society when it comes to matters of Christianity. Why is society so mortally offended by prayers to the Christian God? I’ve been to celebrations where prayers were offered to Allah, Mother Earth and other powers I don’t believe in, but I wasn’t offended. I simply listened respectfully while choosing not to ♦ LETTERS, SEE PAGE 7 SG SPEAKS Reform is on its way ANKIT PATEL GAMECOCKVIEWPOINTS@HOTMAIL.COM Student guidance, input, support are needed first. We must reform Student Government. Not a simple changing of codes, but a systematic overhaul of the way in which we govern. Our current system is failing us. Student leaders are faced with a growing number of hurdles each year that prevent them from performing their duties. Twenty percent of the student body won’t be represented in the newly elected Senate. Our codes lack a clear set of principles and rules. We haven’t passed any statutes since the SG Constitution was ratified. And the list goes on. It’s easy for us to blame the administration or even the students for SG’s inability to achieve its goals, yet the fault lies with SG alone. i ms um geumug piuuiem nas led to countless editorials describing SG as weak, ineffective, isolated and even pointless. Student involvement is being replaced with student apathy, and the voice of the students continues to be drowned. SG should be a reflection of the students. The vicious cycle of distrust and apathy must be stopped. As our Founding Fathers said in the Declaration of Independence: “Whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government... as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness.” While our Founding Fathers described this as a right of the people, I call it an obligation. I make my commitment to correct these errors. We need to re-evaluate the duties and responsibilities of the president, vice president, treasurer and senators. We need to bridge the gap between elected leaders and student organizations. We need to change our election process to make it more representative of the student population. This isn’t an impossible task. SG has made progress in its own right. Everything from Clean Carolina to the Strategic Directions and Initiatives Committee resolutions proves our leaders’ desire and dedication. But reforms this large can’t be made alone. I call on not just the student leaders of this campus to join in this effort, but also all students. After Sept. 11, we’ve come to . better appreciate the freedoms and liberties that we’ve often taken for granted. The ability to make one’s ovm decisions about law, politics and society was a radical notion in the 1700s. For many parts of the world, it still is. We’re truly blessed. Yet, many see democracy as a sport, with political strategies and maneuvers. While often this might often be true, it’s important to remember that democracy isn’t a spectator sport. As SG president, I ask for your help. Our SG leaders can’t fulfill their duties without your input. With your guidance and support, we can reshape SG into an institution you can proud of and fit to serve the needs of the student body. This might seem like a pessimistic outlook, but it isn’t. I have the highest confidence in our students and our elected officials. We might differ in opinion, but I promise that hope and optimism will pave our path for the days to come. Patel is a third-year political science student and SG president. This is a modified version of his March 20 inaugural address.