Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

Dining CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Helen Zeigler of USC Dining Services said Sodexho's interest in refurbishing dining facilities was a major reason they won the contract. "We asked the vendors what kind of investment they would make," Zeigler said. "They came in and talked to us ... We're very happy with the choice." Bohlke said Sodexho plans to dis play signs in campus dining areas during the school year to inform students about the progression of changes and construction. "We've enjoyed a great relation ship with USC for the last 20 years," Bohlke said. "We were thrilled to continue to work with them." But even though change is sched uled, Sheffries is adamant that the good parts of USC dining will re main intact. "Cancel Chicken Finger Wednesday? No way. I don't know what would happen if we did that." Although familiar eating spots may give way to different venues, most USC students look forward to the new food selections and menu variety that will be coming to USC in the next few years. Comments on this story?E-mail gamecockudesk@hotmail.com The Highlights: Some additions and changes Sodexho plans for USC ▲Expanding the walls of the Grand Marketplace to reach the concrete poles on the sidewalk surrounding It ▲Moving the mailboxes from the hail outside of tire GMP to make room for a sub shop, a store, and a Cinnabon ▲Opening Capstone for Sunday brunch ▲Offering more vegan and vegetarian choices ▲Opening a "smoothie concept" at the new Strom Thurmond Wellness Center ▲Opening Preston College Dining Hall to faculty during lunch hours ▲Expanding the fast-food choices on the second floor of the Russell House, possibly to include Burger King, Einstein Bagels and an Asian restaurant Note: USC has issued an intent to accept the Sodexho contract, but plans will not be final until the contract's legal protest period has ended. Plutonium CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 indefinitely and ordered law en forcement officials to physically blockade the South Carolina border and turn back the trucks carrying plutonium. U.S. District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie ordered Hodges to allow the trucks through because a physical altercation between fed eral trucks and South Carolina Highway Patrol officers presented a potential terrorist target by itself. Governor Hodges also questions the safety of the building to be used for storing the plutonium. Although cracks were found in the structure in several places in July 2000, the building was deemed suitable for the long-term storage described by the DOE. A similar study conducted in May of 1992 said that the building was in fact structurally sound enough to withstand an earthquake. The report concluded, as report ed by The State, that "the reactor building was designed and con structed to provide the required pro tection." Comments on this story?E-mail gamecockudesk@hotmail.com 100 Riverbend Drive W. Columbia, SC 29169 Enjoy a campus atmosphere without the dorm atmosphere. • State of the Art Fitness Center • Swimming Pools • Multi Station Computer Lab • Tennis Court • Fax & Modem Station linked • Catering to Students to USC Campus • Lounge Area • Two On-site Laundry Facilities • On-site 24 hr. Maintenance 794-2948 n it I , • -ii Fax 794-0017 Call about our move-tn special! www.riverbend@bhproperHes.com Now Open for Lunch 7 Days a Week! • Hearty Steaks • Award winning RBQ Ribs • Delicious Prime Rib • Upbeat Atmosphere • Killer Ribs • Ice Cold Beer 2 locations to serve you! 400 Columbiana Dr. M-Th 4-10:30pm 8304 Two Notch Rd. Jfc- 407-6670 Fri-Sat 1 lam-11:30pm 788-5384 Sunday llam-10:30pm if you am under the age of 21. it is against the law to txiy aleofK>?ie aeverages. ABC regulatfons enforced. University of Georgia uses new classifications to motivate students toward degrees BY KRISTEN WYATT ASSOCIATED PRESS ATHENS, Ga. - Hoping to em barrass slackers who take more than four years to get a degree, the University of Georgia will start re ferring to students by the number of years they have been enrolled and may take away parking and football-ticket privileges after their senior year. The university will call students "first-years," "second-years," or even "seventh-years," rather than fresh men, sophomores or seniors. School officials said overcrowding is a major reason for the changes. University of Georgia students take an average of 4.3 years to grad uate, which is actually below the na tional average of 5.3 years. But too many students are taking up dorm and classroom space in the 33,000 student university, where tuition for state residents is $2,800 a year. One problem is that Athens - with its nightlife, mild weather and music scene - may be a little too pleasant. "Athens is a great place to live, and I think for some of our students it's kind of a joke to stay" said Hugh Ruppersburg, an associate dean who leads a committee charged with getting students out on time. "They want a fifth football season. They don't want to leave their friends. And this is a very afford able education, so it's not like it costs $40,000 a year to stay." Nineteen-year-old freshman Drew Perry said: "Kids just want to have fun and stay in Athens. They don't want to grow up and get a job. I don't either, but I still want to get out in four years. It really is crowd ed on the buses and the dining halls and all." Provost Karen Holbrook said a recent survey that found students average just 13 hours a week in class and six more hours studying. "What are they doing with their time?" she asked. "Certainly many of them work and are involved in extracurricular activities. But we think with the caliber of our stu dents, they can take a much heftier program and do very well at it." Under a proposal that still needs university approval before taking effect, those who spend more than four years in college would be put behind freshmen in line for covet ed parking spaces and football tick ets. The most recent national figures from the U.S. Education Department show that college stu dents are taking longer to complete degrees. About 30 percent of those who were college freshmen in 1993 took six years or longer to graduate, up from 25 percent in 1977. Interested in working for the Gamecock? e-mail: gamecockeditor@hotmaii.com