Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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University of South Carolina VA/rnMCCnAV OPTHDCD Q OfiflO Vol.96,No.25 www.dailygamecock.com VVLUINDOUHT, UUIUDLR Zf, ZUUZ Sincel908 BY BLAKE CLANCY THE GAMECOCK Two candidates in the Nov. 5 state elections, as well as other candidates’ representatives, spoke to members of the Association of African American Students in the Russell House Theater Tuesday night to discuss issues, such as higher education, important to younger voters. AAAS sponsored the forum so that candidates running for state offices could discuss issues affecting college students in the upcoming election. Democrat John Long and Republican Richard Eckstrom were the only candidates who attended the forum in person, but three other can didates sent representatives to the pro gram. Representing Gov. Jim Hodges was Joanie Lawson, who is also the execu tive director of the South Carolina Democratic Party. Lawson’s speech concentrated mainly on education, a focus of both Hodges’ administration and his campaign. “The governor feels very strongly about the role of education in moving South Carolina forward,” she said. Lawson discussed Hodges’ success es in education, including scholarship funds raised by the lottery, increases in the average SAT score and the high increase in nationally certified teach ers. ♦ AAAS, SEE PAGE 2 PHOTO BY CANDI HAUGLUM/THE GAMECOCK Claire Sweeney, a second-year broadcast journalism student, asks John Long what his goals are If he is elected on Nov. 5. # A PEACEFUL PROTEST PHOTO BY JOHN RABON/THE GAMECOCK Daniel Regenscheit, a first-year journalism student, lies on Davis Field pretending to be a casualty of war as part of Monday’s teach-in held at Preston College. Students, faculty protest Iraq invasion Teach-in at Preston College opens floor for diverse views about war BY MICHAEL LAFORGIA THE GAMECOCK Drawing comparisons be tween President Bush and Adolf Hitler, USC students and professors gathered on the steps of Preston on Monday for a teach-in against an Iraq in vasion. The teach-in featured com ments by Professors Hal French of the Honors College, Robert Thompson of the Government and International Studies Department and Peter Sederberg, dean of the Honors College, along with various professors through out the day. French; whose class on peaceful protest organized the event, began by asking students to consider the circumstances in Iraq. “Is this a just war or just an other war?” he said. Students, who didn’t shy away from the microphone, expressed diverse views on the situation in Iraq. “This is an incredibly com plex situation, and it’s not be ing discussed in a complex way,” said Joey Oppermann, the third-year history student who helped organize the event. “If people are threatened and war is justified, then I support war. I don’t feel that’s the case in Iraq.” Fourth-year English stu dent Elizabeth Catanese said the teach-in was organized to educate and to provide stu dents with a forum for speak ing out. “As Americans, it’s not only our right, but our obligation to have our voices heard,” she said. “This war is unjust.” Catanese went on to say that Bush’s desire for the unilateral ability to declare war is uncon stitutional, and even compared the president’s ideas to those of Hitler during the rise of Nazi Germany. But the teach-in was not one sided; students from both sides ♦ TEACH-IN, SEE PAGE 3 Columbia approves % Greek house plans BY KIMBERLY HUNT THE HAMMOCK Putting to rest concerns tha the Greek Village is in a histori cal district, the City of Columbi; approved all plans for the Greel residence halls in its meetini Monday night. Just like all buildings ii Columbia, the building plans fo: the Greek Village have to be ex amined by the City of Columbia Design and Development Review t Committee. Greek students were worried about whether their new i building was in a historical dis ; trict. They feared construction ; would halt, or at least be delayed, in order for plans to be redrawn t ♦ GREEK VILLAGE, SEE PAGE 3 5 Points to get security cameras Digital video allows officials to monitor street safety in area BY COREY GARRIOTT THE GAMECOCK Columbia police will begin in stalling outdoor security cameras in Five Points this month. Paid for by the Columbia City Council, the $117,000 installation ac companies a $500,000 improvement in-city lighting. Both are part of a safety effort that began after last year’s shootings of two lawyers who were training at the National Advocacy Center. i he cameras can store a month of digital video. Placed above pub licly marked street comers, they will be used to archive data on crimes that patrolmen don’t see and as a live monitor on busy nights. The proposal is an old one, said Matt McMillan, the former Five Points Association security chair man. “Initially, it wasn’t a Five Points thing, but a discussion between the Five Points Association, the USC po lice and the Columbia police,” he said. McMillan said he first proposed the cameras two years ago, but the council didn’t get around to the idea until the recent safety improve ments began. The USC Police Department has also entertained proposals for cam eras, officer Jesse Rosier said. He said using cameras to monitor cam pus parking lots would free up pa trolmen who must otherwise stop by the lots .to check for car burglar ies. Rosier pointed out that from atop Capstone, it is easy to view the park ing lot behind Columbia Hall, one of the most frequently vandalized lots on campus. “We think something could sit up there and watch, pretty unde tectable,” he said. Most of the restaurants in the dis trict support the change. India Pavilion, like many other restau rants, already uses video cameras inside its dining area. ♦ CAMERAS, SEE PAGE 5 Survey seeks to aid young voters Columbia is one of six sites for study by Project Vote Smart BY KRISTEN MOORE * THE GAMECOCK A national political archive hopes to cure the slack in young adults’ voting with a survey to determine how much youth know about the midterm elec tions, which are less than a month away. Project Vote Smart, through a major grant from the Pew Charitable Trusts, has partnered with more than 100 other youth oriented organizations to form the Young Voters Program. Under the program, 18- to 25 year-olds in six cities, including SURFYOURSELF www.vote-smart.org Columbia, will be asked Project Vote Smart. Vote Smart, at www.vote smart.org, is a national online library of information about more than 40,000 public office candidates varying from United States president to local elected officials. The organization aims to correct misleading political ♦ VOTE, SEEPAGES Shooting Spree in D.C. Area Eight people have been shot by the same sniper in the past week. D.C.-area shootings leave residents fearful BY DAVID CRARY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS BOWIE, MD. — Playgrounds and parks were empty, shoppers darted warily across parking lots and shaken parents escorted chil dren to and from school Tuesday, a day after a youngster was wounded by the sniper roaming suburban Washington. "Usually I’m embarrassed to walk around and hold my mom’s hand, but I don’t care today,” said Amanda Wiedmaier, 13, whose Benjamin Tasker Middle School was the scene of Monday’s shoot ing of a classmate. Security firms across the re gion reported a surge in interest. About 50 Starbucks stores re moved their outside seats. And mental health counselors scram bled to set up crisis hot lines for people upset by the string of shoot ings that have left six people dead and two wounded since last week. The latest victim, a 13-year-old ♦ SHOOTINGS, SEE PAGE 2 Index Comics and Crossword10 Classifieds 13 Horoscopes10 Letters to the Editor7 Online Poll 7 Police Report 3 Weather TODAY High 74 Low 65 TOMORROW High 74 Low 65 . # Inside ♦ THE MIX The Christian music industry establishes its credibility with talented emerging artists. Page 8 ♦ THE MIX Music historian Barry Drake will lecture on “'60s Rock: When the Music Mattered.” Page 9 ■ ♦ SPORTS Jenny Lake is racing for her fourth straight cross country win. Page 11 ♦ SPORTS Baseball adds many new faces for the 2003 season. Page 11 wmmmmmmmrMmmi*