Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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SOUND OFF ONLINE POLL Create message boards at Are you going to attend the first www.dailygamecock.com or _ football game of the season? send letters to the editor to www.dailygamecock.com. gamecockviewpoints@hotmail.com Results published on Fridays. — .. ■ ■■ ■ ■ ' -- 1 ■■ .1 - 1 ---. 1 ?- --^... -■ - ' ' "■ ' — - IN OUR OPINION Turn on the Greene light Walking down Greene Street has been a perilous adventure. The sparse path lighting is so dim in some places that pedestrians essentially must feel their way through the darkness on their way to or from Five Points. But, finally,the Columbia City Council has decided to enhance the lighting on Greene Street, and the improvements are well overdue. The suggestion to add lighting to Greene Street has cropped up numerous times over the years. Because of the poor lighting, parts of Greene Street have become a hotbed of crime on the USC campus. Students have been attacked and mugged, and Michael Messner, a _ federal prosecutor, was killed a Because of the .. . „ year ago on his way from Five parts of Greene Points to the National Street had Advocacy Center on campus. become a hotbed The lighting improvement Of Crime, should lessen the criminal . activity on Greene Street, which will make students generally feel safer as they walk around campus after dark. The sad part is that it took a death to finally goad City Council to remedy the lighting situation. Moreover, this death occurred a year ago. The problem has been evident for years. It shouldn’t take that long to react to a situation that has caused so much crime. In the future, USC and City Council should work together efficiently to alleviate student concerns around campus, especially when students’ safety is at stake. And the changes should be implemented as soon as possible. Winners and Sinners NEW MEXICO STATE Coming all the way from Las Cruces just to get their butts kicked. CLEMSON Ranked No. 1 in Princeton Review’s 345 Best College Rankings in marijuana use and intramural sports. Go Cows... er... Tigers! ARIZONA STATE Some fraternity members allegedly involved in a sexual scavenger hunt with pom stars. Incriminating videotape catches them with their pants down. PRO BASEBALL Tempting the fates with yet another strike. Try increasing batting averages instead of salaries for once. LIBRARY MOLD Infesting Thomas Cooper Library. Are you sure it’s not just dust? DEREK WATSON For missing his court date. See, if you were still a Gamecock, you could’ve written the date down in your Mortar Board. GAMECOCK CORRECTIONS In an article Wednesday about Bid Day, Alpha Chi Omega, Alpha Delta Pi and Delta Zeta were left out of a list of sororities that will be moving to the Greek Village in the next year. 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 CONTACT INFORMATION Editor in Chief Offices on third floor of the Russell House. Adam Beam Editor in Chief: gamecockeditor@hotmail.com News Editor News Desk: gamecockudesk@hotmail.com Viewpoints: gamecockviewpoints@hotmail.com Emma Ritch The Mix: gamecockmixeditor@hotmail.com Asst. News Editor Sports: gamecocksports@hotmail.com Online: www.dailygamecock.com Chrl8 F Newsroom: 777-7726 Viewpoints Editor Editor s office: 777-3914 Erin O Neal STUDENT MEDIA The Gamecock is the Asst. Viewpoints Editor student newspaper of Erik Collins the University of Justin Bajan, Faculty Adviser South Carolina and is Charles Tomlinson published Monday, The Mix Editors Ellen Parsons Wednesday and Director of Student Friday during the fall Kyle Almond Media and spring semesters Sports Editor ancj njne times during Susan King the summer with the Matt Rothenberg Creative Director exception of Asst. Sports Editor university holidays Carolyn Griffin and exam periods. Candl Hauglum Business Manager Opinions expressed in Photo Editor The Gamecock are Sarah Scarborough those of the editors or Katie Smith Advertising Manager author and not those Head Designer of the University of Sherry F. Holmes South Carolina. The Page Designers Classified Manager Board of stU(jent Ann Marie Miani Publications and David Stagg Creative Services Communications is Derek Goode, Todd the publisher of The J'll Martin Hooks, Earl Jones. Gamecock. The Copy Desk Chief Jennie Moore, Department of Melanie Roberts, Student Media is the Copy Editors Beju Shah newspaper’s parent Crystal Boyles, organization. The Karen Vaught Advertising Staff Gamecock is Adam Bourgoin, .supported in part by Bessam Khadhraoui Justin Chappell, student activities Online Editor Amanda Ingram, fees Qne free copy Denise Levereaux, per reader. Additional Klran Shah Jackie Rice, Stacey copies may be Community Affairs Todd purchased for one TO PLACE AN AD dollar each from the Department of The Gamecock Student Media. 1400 Greene Street Columbia, S.C. 29208 Advertising: 777-3888 Classified: 777-1184 Fax: 777-6482 ^ GfoBBLeHEADS CARTOON COURTESY OF KRT CAMPUS Embracing individualism TERRANCE BEEKS GAMECOCKVIEWPOINTS@HOTMAIL.COM Risk rejection from the majority; be yourself. “Don’t be fooled by me. Don’t be fooled by the face I wear for I wear a mask. I wear a thousand masks; masks that I’m afraid to take off and none of them are me.” — Charles C. Finn The above quote is an excerpt from the poem “Don’t Be Fooled By Me.” A teacher of mine gave me a copy of the poem while I was in high school. It didn’t mean much to me at the time. I most likely stuffed it in my book bag and continued about my busi ness. Recently, a friend e-mailed the same poem to me. It’s funny how past events have a habit of re peating themselves, especially if you choose to ignore them. I gath er that both my teacher and my friend thought the poem would help me deal with issues I had tried to ignore. My second read ing of the poem really hit home. I firmly believe we should al ways reinvent ourselves. We should build upon the founda tions from which we were formed in order to improve the quality of our lives and the lives of those around us, even if it means set ting ourselves apart from the crowd. I haven’t been doing that at all. I wear so many masks that even I have forgotten exactly who lam. It is our human nature to want to be accepted and to fit in. We are inclined to feel we will be more accepted if we ignore all those things that set us apart from the norm. We strip our selves of any hint of individual ism if it doesn’t fall in line with whatever happens to be “in” or “cool” at the time. It seems that our culture embraces diversity, but steers clear of individualism. All people are allowed to partake in the circle, no matter their eth nicity, religion or background, as long as they all dress, act and think alike. We all wear masks. Masks are our tickets to being accepted and fitting in. Those of us in the mi nority become part of the major ity because of the masks we wear. Some of us wear more masks than others, depending on what we feel we need to cover up. We put forth a front that all is well within us, and that we are secure and happy, when clearly we are not. We are terrified of exposing our true faces. We cower and hide behind our proud masks for fear of rejection and shame. No one wants to be an outcast. We would rather choose weakness behind a superficial front than being true to ourselves ana removing the veil. • I have complied with society and conventional thought for long enough. It’s time that I lived according to my beliefs and not behind a mask. I don’t like shield ing my true self. I can’t change the way that I am; believe me, I’ve tried. I want those closest to me to know me for who I really am, not someone I created in hopes of gaining acceptance and love. It won’t be easy. I understand that I risk rejection, hate and dis appointment, but it’s time for me to bow out of the parade of mas querades. I am laying mine down. I once heard someone say it’s bet ter to be hated for who you are than loved for who you are not. I agree. I encourage you to do the same, whatever the reason you wear your mask. Be true to your self and to other people. Beeks is a fourth-year political science student. IN YOUR OPINION Mitchell’s description of USC “myths” wrong When did everybody at USC get so negative? I’m referring to the Monday, Aug. 26, edition of The Gamecock, presumably the first edition many incom ing freshman will see. The "Senior Dispels College Myths" article didn't exactly sell the school. In fact, it made me want to pull a Cobain im mediately after reading it. I hope the author isn’t a mar keting major. Look, man, I know three years of classes at the Coliseum can make a guy bitter, but hell, you made this place sound more like a con centration camp than a uni versity. That’s why it is my duty to dispel the myths that you cre ated by dispelling the myths that really weren't myths in the first place (thus making them myths, I guess). People, listen to me now and feel me later: USC is the bomb. I'm talking Hiroshima. You will make lifelong friends. You will learn tons about yourself and become a better person in the process. You will take hun dreds of fascinating classes and sleep through them all. Is parking hard to find? Sure. Do Bates House chicken sandwiches look more like hockey pucks? Of course! But it's all part of the not-so-unique experience that is USC. And let's not forget the re wards. If it wasn't for the stel lar education I received I nev er would've scored this awe some job where I can not only read the e-mail edition of The Gamecock but type a letter to the editor and listen to “Back Dat Azz Up” while doing so, all on company time! Was it Shakespeare, or was it Billy Madison who said "Stay here as long as you can. For the love of God, cherish it." Freshmen, you will love it here, I promise, if not for any thing else than to try to explain to your mom on parent's week end why everyone's wearing shirts that say "You can't lick our Cocks." To the author of "Senior Dispels College Myths," I say put down those pills, untie that rope from your ceiling rafters,and have a great senior year. I had two of them. MIKE MONZITTA COPY WRITER. CLASS OF “2000 Guest football tickets unreasonably priced I was surprised to learn to day, while standing in line for my student football ticket, that validations for guests will not be given out. I had already picked up my 2002 student football ticket in formation packet, followed the instruction^ listed inside for bringing a non-student guest to a USC game (which includes presenting another student's ID and then paying cash to vali date that ticket for a guest) and braved the lines in the Russell House, all in the name of Gamecock spirit. I was told, however, that in dividual validations for student tickets would not be given out, and anyone wishing to bring guests would have to pay $154 for a date coupon book (in creased apparently from the $134 listed in the packet). This "coupon" book would al low me to bring a guest to each football game throughout the year. Problem is, my guest is only coming down for this Saturday's game. Had I known this would hap pen, I would not have bothered; this seems to me to be another vain attempt on the part of the university to make more money for an already sold-out season. I understand that the demand for tickets is high, but I'm not looking to validate a guest for a Tennessee game. I followed pro cedure and was willing to pay for one ticket. However,becuasel can't afford to shell out $154 for just one game, I guess I will not be showing my support at the Gamecocks’ season opener. USC athletics, you just lost two loyal supporters. CAROLYN PEROZZI FOURTH-YEAR BI0LOGY/POLITICAE SCIENCE STUDENT Want to voice your opinion? E-mail gamecockviewpoints @hotmail.com 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. Clinton to blame for bad economy > / CHRIS FOY GAMECOCKVIEWPOINTS@HOTMAIL.COM Bush Jr. can’t be completely at fault. The economy is an issue that has always intrigued me. As we approach a new election, I’m fas- * cinated by the argument (brought up mainly by Democrats) that President Bush is the reason our economy is slumping. In fact, I re ally have to question whether Democrats could have won any election in the past 10 years if they hadn’t used the economy as one of their main platforms. The fact of the matter is the president has little control over the current economy. I can cer tainly acknowledge that a presi dent’s policies will cause fluctua tions in the economy — but they won’t have immediate effects. But the American people as a whole aon t realize tms. People buy into the liberal no tion that President Bush Sr. really had control over the mild recession / in the early 1990s. People buy into the notion that President Bill Clinton’s policies were the reason we had a good economy for most of his tenure. And the most sicken ing thing is that people don’t real ize the economy had already begun a downward spiral before George W. ever stepped into office. I understand that, if the tables were turned, Republicans would probably be making the same ac cusations, but I still have to ques tion why. Maybe in eight years, we’ll have a run-down economy be cause of some stupid decisions made by President Bush. But to blame him now for things beyond his control is just flat-out ridicuy lous. What is he going to do now? Encourage Alan Greenspan, chief of the Federal Reserve Board, to cut interest rates again? Perhaps he can suggest another tax cut. Of course, that solution would auto matically be shot down by the same people who frequently are critical of the current economy. He can’t control it, at least not right now. __i: have been in existence for a while, and enough time has passed for them to have had an actual effect on the economy, then, by all means, pick up the pitchforks and burning sticks. But for now, we have to realize it’s not up to Bush to make these changes. What he can do is lay down stricter laws about corporate scan dals such as WorldCom and Enron. Or even Martha Stewart and her alleged insider trading. A large part of our economic slump can’t be pulled up until things make a recovery from the post-9/11 hit on the market. What happened in September has made a big difference in the money we spend. There is more hesitation in many markets. So someone tell me, aside from asking the American people to spend more money, what can President Bush actually do? He could always raise taxes, but that would result in more people hold ing onto their money. The president of the United States might be our nation’s leader, but sometimes we have to be real istic in our expectations about that office. He might be in charge, but screaming for him to do something about the economy is asking him to do the nearly impossible. He does have an effect, don’t get me wrong. We’re just not going to see most of his contributions to the economy, probably, until he’s out of office. If Democrats want to point the finger at someone for the state of our economy, they should point it at Bill Clinton. Foy is a fourth-year entreprer, eur management student.