University of South Carolina Libraries
4 _ THE GAMECOCK ♦ Friday, October 11, 2002 SOUND OFF ONLINE POLL Create message boards at Should freshmen be allowed to have cars www.dailygamecock.com or on campus? send letters to the editor to YES, IT'S A “PARKING UTOPIA” 35% gamecockviewpoints@hotmail.com NO, WE NEED MORE SPACES 65% IN OUR OPINION I Empowering young voters Project Vote Smart selected Columbia as one of six cities in which to test its Web site, designed to encourage young voters to go out to the polls. The national political archive targets young adults and has partnered with more than 100 youth-oriented organizations to form the Young Voters program. The program offers a much-needed solution to one of the most disheartening problems facing America today. Since 1972, voter turnout among citizens ages 18 to 24 has plummeted from 50 percent to 32 percent. Among 25-lo 44-year-olds, turnout also dropped off significantly, from 71 percent to only 49 percent. A January 2000 study from the Panetta Institute showed If college-age students don’t vote, candidates have no incentive to propose policies in their favor. that college students have little interest in politics. And the survey showed that, on the whole, college students tend to view politics as irrelevant to their lives and to the issues they care about. By making its resources available to voters, Project Vote Smart is attacking a large part of the problem: apathy. If students don’t vote because students don’t care, then perhaps helping them to be more educated about political issues will allow them to see a greater importance in politics. If college-age students don’t vote, candidates have no incentive to propose policies in their favor. Such programs as Project Vote Smart provide more chances for students to step on and participate in elections; and if more students are interested in voting, perhaps candidates will be more interested in students. Gamecock Quotables ii you love to kiiock tne living daylights out of somebody and get knocked down... then this is gonna be a wonderful Saturday.” LOU HOLTZ USC HEAD FOOTBALL COACH. ON PLAYING THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY “I was rooting for the (USC) baseball team in the nationals last year when President Bush was rooting for Texas.” ANDREW CARD BUSH CHIEF OF STAFF, ON HIS SUPPORT FOR USC DURING THE COLLEGE WORLD SERIES Anyrnmg inai proviues more security for the drunk people who are down here is good. People need to be watched when they are drunk.” MARC WAIDE CO-OWNER OE GRACIE'S AND DOCTOR ROCCO'S, ON THE NEW SECURITY CAMERAS IN FIVE POINTS “I think policies should be harsh for people too lazy to do their own work.” STACEY IVOL FIRST-YEAR COMPUTER ENGINEERING AND MARINE SCIENCE STUDENT, ON PLAGIARISM 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 Editor in Chief Mary Hartney News Editor Adam Beam Asst. News Editor Emma Ritch Viewpoints Editor Chris Foy Asst. Viewpoints Editor Erin O’Neal The Mix Editors Justin Bajan, Charles Tomlinson Sports Editor Kyle Almond Asst. Sports Editor Matt Rothenberg Photo Editor Candi Hauglum Head Designer Katie Smith Page Designers Samantha Hall, Julia Knetzer, Sarah McLaulin, Shawn Rourk, David Stagg Copy Desk Chief Jill Martin Copy Editors Jennie Duggan, Tricia Ridgway, Holly Totherow, Karen Vaught Online Editor Bessam Khadraoui Community Affairs Kiran Shah CONTACT INFORMATION Offices on third floor of the Russell House. Editor in Chief: gamecockeditor@hotmail.com News Desk: gamecockudesk@hotmail.com Viewpoints: gamecockviewpoints@hotmail.com The Mix: gamecockmixeditor@hotmaiI.com Sports: gamecocksports@hotmail.com Online: www.dailygamecock.com Public Affairs: gckpublicaffairs@hotmail.com Newsroom: 777-7726 Editor’s Office: 777-3914 STUDENT MEDI/ Faculty Adviser Erik.Collins Director of Student Media Ellen Parsons Creative Director Susan King Business Manager Carolyn Griffin Advertising Managei Sarah Scarborough Classified Manager Sherry F. Holmes Creative Services Derek Goode, Earl Jones, Kimberly Myles, Melanie Roberts Advertising Staff Adam Bourgoin, Justin Chappell, Bianca Knowles, Denise Levereaux, Jacqueline Rice, 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. B TO PLACE AN AD i ne vaamecocK 1400 Greene St. CGjtimbia, S.C. 29208 Huvemamg. i i i-joo Classified: 777-1184 Fax: 777-6482 CARTOON COURTESY OF KRT CAMPUS Where are all the activists? BROOK BRISTOW GAMECOCKVIEWPOINTS@HOTMAIL.COM Stand up and do more than salute your shorts. Maybe it’s just me, but the re cent surge of activism on campus reminds me of a time when peo ple cared enough to make a dif ference. It also reminds me to leave my bell-bottoms and love beads in the attic where they be long. I have to compliment the USC chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the organizers of the anti war teach-in at Preston College. Both of these groups have not been afraid to work for and edu cate people about the different causes they believe in. Although you might not agree with what has been said by either group, you have to acknowledge their right to be heard. Today, activism is just anoth er lost art. People don’t have time to care about themselves, much less a cause. The only time they are willing to lift a finger for someone else is when they flick other people off on their com mute to work. Activism on this campus, un til recently, was about as rare as a student not sunburned after this past Saturday’s fun-in-the sun edition of Gamecock foot ball. But with a renewed spirit and a full box of colored chalk, advo cates are making their voices heard more often than Nelly’s “Hot in Herre” at Flipside. So, they’ve had their fun; now it’s my turn. Here are some of my activist-like ideas for a bet ter, more efficient South Carolina; 1. When the egg-salad sand wiches in the GMP change col ors, like autumn leaves from yel low to orange, it’s time to throw them out. And for those playing at home, if your bologna does have a first name, it has to go, too. 2.1 don’t like the State Fair. I have never liked the State Fair. But, if I am dragged down there, I don’t want to have to trip on three mullets to get through the gate, OK? 3. I always wondered why there is Braille on drive-up auto mated teller machines. But when I see how a lot of people drive in this state, it is starting to make sense. And, by the way, the right lane is for slow and the left lane is for fast. Got that, Speed Racer? 4. There are a few state laws that need to be repealed. First, the Greenville city law that states “the drinking age on Furman University campus is 60 years old” is a little unfair. Let’s not forget those disgruntled 45-year old administrators. You know, to be involved in a cause greater than yourself is a good thing. Although it can be tough and frustrating, it will, generally more often than not, pay off. Determination, dedication and dependability usually do pay div idends. Although some people need to see the line between be ing a passionate activist and just being a complete pest, there is something to be said for not be ing apathetic. Now, if you’ll leave me alone, I have to get back to my bowl of chocolate-chip cookie-dough ice cream and the 17-hour “Hey Dude” and “Salute Your Shorts” marathon. Bristow is a fifth-year advertising student. IN YOUR OPINION Columnists should check information In response to Jason Rapp's “Raising a stink for no reason” column on Monday, I would like to point out that he needs to obtain the correct informa tion before publishing it. Rapp said, “Where were USC’s non-Greek student orga nizations?” I'm involved in the Residence Hall Association, a non-Greek organization, which submitted two applications for Showcase. Both applicants were very qualified and both were minorities. Yet, three hours after all 55 applications were turned in, the two learned they were not selected. I'm not complaining because members of RHA were not se lected; I’m only pointing out that non-Greek organizations and minorities were partici pating. Columnists like Jason Rapp need to get their infor mation correct before publish ing a column that makes them look ignorant. REGINA GOODWIN FOURTH-YEAR POLITICAL SCIENCE .STUDENT Hippies need some conservative love I’ve noticed that President Bush’s call for an attack on Iraq has really upset the liberal hip pies on our campus. On the pedestrian bridge over Pickens Street, “drop Bush, not bombs” had been written in chalk — among other phrases. I have to wonder what these people would say if our nation fell vic tim to a chemical or biological attack from Saddam’s regime. The Sept. 11 attacks showed that our country is not immune to such terror, and it is vital that we do whatever is neces sary to ensure our safety. These anti-Bush students are certainly entitled to their opin ion because that is what the First Amendment is all about. A good dose of Bill O’Reilly, however, might be beneficial to them. ALBERT ARD FOURTH-YEAR I'OI.ITICAI,SCIENCE STUDENT Hotel housing less than satisfactory I would like to express my extreme distaste for my hous ing assignment at the Holiday Inn. Since moving in Aug. 17,1 feel as though my college expe rience has been cut short. Although the “Inn” might be considered on campus, I have a 15-minute walk to my nearest class. It’s not necessarily the walking that irritates me; it’s the feeling of being disconnect ed from all of the college expe rience. Could I pick my resident ad viser out of a crowd? No. Could I tell you the names of anyone on my hall? No. Is there mold forming on the carpet from wa ter seeping up through the floor? Yes. All of this for the ex tremely low price of $2,200 — a steal, right? I do not have the worst of it, though. Many people live in the Adam’s Mark Hotel on Hampton Street, which is quite a hike to any of the university properties, much less some one’s class. What impression does the university give to an out-of-state student who was dropped off from middle-of nowhere North Dakota, whose parents are paying $10,000 only to worry about their kid getting harassed by hobos at the comer of Main and Hampton streets at 2 a.m.? By accepting too many fresh men this year, USC has thrown numerous kids into social exile, increased the parking problem and left this hometown boy ques tioning what the university might do to him next. The Housing Department has offered an alternative, a room in the Roost, which might be even further from classes than the Inn, but I declined. In hindsight, I wish I had taken it. Dining at the Roost is far superior to that of any other on-campus facility. Thank goodness I have friends I made before coming to school who have allowed me to stay in their nonmolding, nonleaking room that is a mere stone’s throw from most of my classes. One so lution might be to tell seniors who are milking on-campus hous ing for all it’s worth to grow up and get a job so they can pay for some off-campus housing. In conclusion, I will not be staying on campus for the fall 2003 semester, or for any subse quent semester, for that matter. I do not wish my experience on anyone, and I hope USC changes its intake policy for future un dergraduate students. SAMUEL BOWEN FlllST-YKAU JOURNALISM STIIDKNT 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, t Life was simpler back in the day * . -• f ft, STEPHANIE THREET GAMECOCKVIEWPOINTS@HOTMAIL.COM Fair’s magic brings back childhood memories. One essay, two midterms, one paper and a big, fat cold made up my week. But, hey, it was a good time — the fair’s in town. There’s something about that lemonade—which costs a fortune — that makes me feel better; something about those vinegar fries that puts a smile on my face. There’s something about walking with him, my hand in his big hand — the people around us aren’t even there. There’s some thing about knowing the week is over and, after a night of magic, I’m homebound. How is it that the fair makes us feel better? If only for 15 minutes, it makes us feel like children again — like there’s no better place in the world. It’s eating vinegar fries with a close friend, the way he looks at the top of the Ferris wheel with those beautiful eyes, how he pulls out his wallet just one more time to try to win that teddy bear. The fair makes us all happier for 10 days. Just knowing the fair is in town makes the rain seem evil. Although rain is usually wel comed around here, it is hated on fair nights, and it’s disappointing to many when the rides don’t have lines filing out to the ele phant-ear stands. oumcnuw, uicihiui.cj.uk> uiauy peared and the stress faded as soon as I walked through the gate in time for the nightly fireworks. I felt like a child again, giddy at the sight of lights, and I remembered when my grandma used to take me to the county fair when I was younger. f I used to be so scared of the rides, but so happy about the cot ton candy. And, when I looked down this year to see the kids run ning around, I wished I could be little again. I wish Mommy and Daddy would hold my hands and swing me, and hold the funnel cake for me. Then I looked over at Jennifer, who had the funnel cake, vinegar fries and caramel apple, and my dark prince, who had the teddy bear, and realized these are the best years of my life. I can’t always walk through the fair with a child’s eye and my parents’ hands. In a couple of years, my kid will be on my arm. holding his funnel cake and lemonade. Mommy ana rnaay won t al ways be there to hold my hand, but when I do need them, I know I can just drive an hour to find them waiting for me to come home, which is exactly what I’ve been looking forward to doing this whole week (after the magi cal evenings at the fair, of course). Four nights at home to do what? Absolutely nothing. Well, there’s that psychology paper I have due, or I could study for next week’s exams. OK, so for a day, I could do ab solutely nothing. Lots of sleep will help finally kick this cold, and I can take Mommy to help me get my Halloween costume. I’m going to be the best Tinkerbell ever. ^ This weekend’s going to go by too fast. Threet is a second-year public relations student. Missed this week’s poll? Vote next week at WWW.DAILYGAMECOCK.COM.