Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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4 THE GAMECOCK • Friday, April 19.2002 SOUND OFF ONLINE POLL Create message boards at Which side do you sympathize with www.dailygamecock.com or in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict? send letters to the editor to ISRAELIS 59% gamecockviewpoints@hotmail.com PALESTINIANS 41% IN OUR OPINION Homophobia is alive on campus i This week was USC’s first Homophobia Awareness Week, and it has proved that homophobia is alive - and well on campus. It’s not a surprise that a university in South Carolina has more than its fair share of homophobia, but it’s still a disappointment. During the rally Wednesday afternoon on Greene Street, a number of bystanders callously heckled the speakers. This could have been an isolated incident of bigotry — but it’s hard to tell because so few students attended the rally in the first place. This paper doesn’t support the endless proliferation of weeks covering every imaginable Awareness Week showed they cared about something more than just going to class. It’s sad that most students don’t have the initiative to do the same. It’s sadder that they can’t show a minimal level of respect to those who do. Even if people don’t agree with their agenda, they should have enough respect for the First Amendment to allow them to voice their opinions without harrassment. True, students who don’t agree with the week’s organizers also have a right to express their opinion, but it shouldn’t be done at the expense of another person’s rights. The Bisexual, Gay and Lesbian Alliance and the League of Alternative Minorities have said all along that they intended to call attention to homophobia. Sadly, some USC students helped by providing real life examples. Now that the week is over, it’s time for students to find a way to remove bigotry from campus. social issue, but after this week, it’s apparent that the USC community still has problems with prejudice and discrimination. If a week is necessary to help eradicate that, then so be it. Regardless of their social agenda, the organizations behind Homophobia It’s sad that many students don’t have the initiative to unite behind a cause. It’s sadder that many student show minimal respect to those who do. Gamecock Quotables “Higher education is the soil in which we plant the seeds of three of our most precious ideals: freedom, opportunity and equality.” JOSEPH UEBERMAN U.S. SENATOR, D-CONN., DURING HIS SPEECH TO USC LAW SCHOOL DEMOCRATS “We’re all for the same goal: to gain acceptance within the community as a whole.” ROD SCOTT-PADILLA LEAGUE OF ALTERNATIVE MINORITIES PRESIDENT, ON HOW THE BISEXUAL, GAY AND LESBIAN ALLIANCE AND LAM COLLABORATED TO ORGANIZE HOMOPHOBIA AWARENESS WEEK 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 Ginny Thomton 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 trading CAW”’ SHOW^ T£7-L, ^ ~SViaP?'| ^saTT] -X—— If r~"f T L rpjp gof^oe^ fx ^^-11X^1 T^Efcl CARTOON COURTESY OF KRT CAMPUS The increasing reality of TV CLAYTON KALE GAMECOCKVIEWPOINTS@HOTMAIL.COM But don’t we turn to TV to escape life’s reality? A close friend visited last weekend and made an interesting observation. “You can turn the television on at any given moment in the day and find a reality show,” he said. The observation itself isn’t necessarily interesting, because with cable, at any given moment, I can tune into sports or news or movies. I could even watch 24 hours of sitcoms if I choose on stations devoted entirely to sitcoms. The mere fact that an entire day could conceivably be spent watching reality television is unimportant. But it’s important to consider why reality television is ubiquitous on the airwaves. Theater critic Clive Bames said, “Television is the first truly democratic culture — the first culture available to everybody and entirely governed by what people what. What is terrifying is what people do want.” If we assume Barnes’ premises are true, we must ask, “Why is it that reality television is such a large part of TV programming?” The television is exalted in our culture for its ability to remove us from reality. Had a bad day? Watch “I Love Lucy” reruns on Nick at Nite and you’ll chuckle your blues away. Even sports offer a port for embarking on an audio-visual voyage away from impending deadlines, bill collectors or the mental echo of a boss’ admonition. So if reality television is an escape from reality, why is programming increasingly becoming reality-based? One could argue that it’s popular because TV producers are charging along with the reality fad (not to mention that reality programming is relatively cheap to produce). But there are other arguments. A colleague offered an insight that I hadn’t thought of when I initially started to write. Ours is a “voyeuristic society” he said, and his observation is on the mark. Could there be a better way to explore your own fears than by watching someone else experience the horror? However, it would be too simplistic to write off our fascination with reality television as a fetish where we get off watching others living through their troubles. In addition to this desire to watch others suffer (example: watching a girl break up with her boyfriend over the telephone on MTV’s “The Real World”), we still desire to experience things for ourselves. Yet, we’re glued to our television sets. If we television viewers are a part of a virtual democracy as Barnes suggests, the increase in quantity of reality TV programming indicates that we are suffering from reality withdrawal. While we could plan a trip to raft down the Colorado River, we instead choose to watch the cast of MTV’s “Road Rules” do it for us. It seems that television’s passive nature has provided for us a proxy vacation from our real world of bills and tests and jobs, but without the irritations of cold water, mosquitoes and, most importantly, the active role required by personal experience. Why is television becoming increasingly reality-based? Perhaps it’s because we re tired of the unreality provided to us by our favorite family member, the glowing box. We’ve become used to the idea of looking to the television to provide for us an exciting world unlike our own. And in doing so, we’ve forgotten the importance of experiencing the world we’re given. As it seems now, we look toward the television to provide for us what it has already deprived: reality. Kale is a fourth-year print journalism student. IN YOUR OPINION Parking, security falling short at USC Several things have happened in the past few days that I want to address. First, I now realize why the Board of Trustees doesn’t discuss the parking situation; they don’t have to worry about parking. Drive around the Capstone parking lot — it seems like at least 10 parking spaces are reserved weekly for the Board of Trustees. It seems that if they had to ride around for 30 minutes looking for parking, parking would be on the board’s next meeting agenda. Second, Sizemore has once again betrayed us. Why are guards letting potential threats to security enter our buildings? Let me tell you, I sleep in comfort knowing that security guards are asleep at their desks and that my classmates are in potential danger. The point of security is to keep people who don’t live there out, unless they’re welcome. My advice: Get rid of the Board of Trustees’ reserved parking. And when the board tries to solve the parking situation, it should also end USC’s contract with Sizemore Security. Sizemore isn’t doing its job. Find another company that is more dependable, with guards who will provide a secure place for students to live. BRANDON J. RAY SECOND-YEAR HISTORY STUDENT Freedom includes right to Christianity I’m very passionate about religion and had to share my two cents. Though I agree with Wednesday’s letter to the editor from Yvette Burke — schools shouldn’t infringe on students’ freedom of religion or on the separation of church and state guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution — I also have to agree with Lark Patterson’s letter on last Friday. Americans are touchy about anything they feel uncomfortable about and almost immediately cry to the American Civil Liberties Union because they feel then rights have somehow been violated. Our country was founded on the principal of freedom, not of freedom until someone disagrees or because they saw or heard something they don’t want to deal with. If everyone cried infringement each time they encountered something they disagreed with, then we would have no rights left at all. I felt Cylde Purcell’s letter on Wednesday was moving toward this perspective. People forget we have the right to turn away from things. We’re not forced to participate in events we disagree with or don’t support. We’re not forced, as in some countries, to follow a particular religion (even though America was founded on one). Don’t like a television evangelist? Change the channel. Don’t like the letter you’re reading? Turn the page. Don’t want to be “preached to?” Walk away. Our country protects this right and it’s up to individuals to exercise it. However, I can image that someone reading this will point out that you can’t ignore violations of rights. I’m not advocating that in the least. I’m one of the loyal “subscribers” to what some people call the “Christian program," and it requires that I witness to those who don’t agree with me. No one can force you to listen to me; it’s up to you. Purcell needs to realize that you can’t escape Christianity, which is a universal religion. I will continue to advocate Christianity and speak the name of Jesus until my death, which is my right as an American and my aesire as a lover ot (jod. mrceu and others like him have the right to turn the page, change the channel or walk away. You make the choice to be “bombarded” by Christianity, but Christianity is everywhere, regardless of your reaction. Check the currency you use and the pledge of allegiance. Christianity and those who are active in it aren’t going to fade or go away just because you’re tired of hearing about it. ADRIANNE NEWBER SECOND-YEAR MEDIA ARTS STUDENT 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. E-mail letters to gamecockviewpoints@hotmail.com. Letters will be edited. Anonymous letters will not be published. Call the newsroom at 777-7726 for more information. A review of recent events ANN MARIE MIANI GAMECOCKVIEWPOINTS@HOTMAIL.COM I’ve got easy solutions for current problems. I’ve got so many things to write about and so little time to do it. And with everything going on in the world and on campus in the past few weeks, I decided to write about my favorite news topics. 5. PEDOPHILIC PRIESTS: I’ve always been a supporter of lifting the celibacy rules for Catholic clergy. The problem of pedophilic priests might not end if these rules are lifted, but there’s a better chance priests won’t take their sexual frustration out on children. Letting clergy marry will also help modernize Catholicism. For example, when a couple is married in the Catholic Church, they’re required to attend marriage counseling by a priest. How can a priest know what marriage is like if he’s never been married? Celibacy rules are antiquated, useless and seem to result in sexual abuse. 4. SLAVE REPARATIONS: This is not only ridiculous, but it’s also a waste of the court system’s time and money. News flash: Every large corporation in this country made money from the labor of oppressed people. Corporations made money from slave labor, but also from the labor of European and Asian immigrants in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. When these immigrants came to America, they had the worst jobs and work for the lowest possible wages for more than 12 hours a day in filthy and often fatal conditions. Should their relatives receive reparations from places like Standard Oil because John D. Rockefeller got rich off of their sweat? Sounds ridiculous, doesn’t it? 3. COMMIES AT USC: Last time I checked, I was living in the United States, not in communist China. In this country, we have a little thing call the First Amendment, which says, “Congress shall make no law abridging freedom of speech... or the press.” I was seriously disheartened to see that USC has elected a communist regime to Student Government. Only those who don’t believe in the U.S. Constitution could possibly try to pass a bill that would try to censor the campus newspaper. Do the poor saps at SG think their codes or bills can override the U.S. Constitution? Maybe certain members of SG should read it before they propose a contradictory bill. And is it appropriate to try to pass a bill that’s so anti American when we’re at war with people who hate America and all its freedoms? I think USC should form an Anti-American Activities Committee to take care of this communist regime. Maybe they could take care of the Housing fees problem, too. 2. WAR IN THE HOLY LAND: I’m not an expert on foreign affairs, but hasn’t this war been going on for more than 2,000 years? I have an easy solution for this problem. Israel, give the Palestinians the frickin’ West Bank and get on with your lives. Palestinians, stop with all the suicide bombings. You’re getting nothing accomplished except for getting yourselves killed. Now, was that so hard? 1. A DREAM COMING TRUE: With all the problems over the past few weeks, I wanted to end on a happy note. A longtime dream of mine will come true in 24 days. I’m going to see Paul McCartney live in concert in Atlanta. See, life’s not all bad. Miani is a fourth-year print journalism student.