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University of South Carolina MOMnAV OOTORFD 01 0000 Vol.96.No.28 www.dailygamecock.com IVIUINUMl, Uu I UDLI\ Z 1, Z\J\JZ Sincel908 Sniper might have left phone message Doctors are optimistic after victim’s surgery to remove bullet BY ALLEN G. BREED TIIK ASSOCIATED PRESS ASHLAND, VA. — Authorities think the Washington-area sniper left a message with a telephone number at the scene of the latest shooting in Virginia, The Associated Press learned Sunday. Police appealed to the person who left the message to contact them. "To the person who left us a message at the Ponderosa last night. You gave us a telephone number. We do want to talk to you. Call us at the number you provided. Thank you," Montgomery County, Md., Police Chief Charles Moose said in a televised briefing. Moose made his cryptic state ment as sniper task force investi gators said they were working on the assumption that the sniper has expanded his geographic reach after shooting 11 people, nine fatally, in the Washington area since Oct. 2. Surgeons succeeded Sunday night in removing the bullet from the 37-year-old man shot at the Ponderosa in Ashland, Va., on Saturday night, and turned it over to investigators for testing. Hospital spokeswoman Pam Lepley did not know the bullet's condition. The victim remained in criti cal condition after three hours of surgery. Lepley said doctors were cautiously optimistic but expect the man will need more surgery. Public schools in the Ashland and Richmond area will be closed Monday, affecting more than 200,000 students, "based on the volume of parent and communi ty concern," school officials an nounced late Sunday. After the earlier sniper slayings, schools restricted activities but did not close. Moose refused to elaborate or take questions about the message left at the steakhouse or how it was left. But he asked the news media to "carry it clearly and car ry it often." After the briefing, Officer Joyce Utter, spokeswoman for Montgomery County police, said Moose's statement "should make complete sense" to the person who left the message. "That is the only person Chief Moose wants to talk to," she said. A law enforcement source close to the investigation said the person who left the message is probably the sniper who is re ♦ SNIPER, SEE PAGE 4 Celebrating Creed Week The Blue Dogs, Including Bobby Houck, above; Blackbeard's Truck; and the Palmetto Pans performed Sunday on Davis Field. USC kicked off Carolinian Creed Week Sunday night with back-to-back concerts featuring local artists. The music will continue Monday when MTV brings Its Homecoming Tailgate Party 2002, featuring Cllpse and Ms. Jade. Other events during the weeklong celebration will include a step show sponsored by the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity and the Bates-area hall governments on Thursday at 7 p.m. PHOTO BY CANDI HAUGLUM/THE GAMECOCK Rachel Bolend, right, and Felicia Snider, both of Carolina Productions, put up the stage for Monday’s MTV party. Index Comics and Crossword 8 Classifieds _ 11 Horoscopes_ 8 Letters to the Editor 5 Online Poll_ 5 Police Report _3 Weather TODAY TOMORROW High 70 Low 53 Jt Inside ♦ VIEWPOINTS Pop music is terror to some ears. Page 5 ♦ THE MIX Rappers Clipse and Ms. Jade will perform on Davis Reid for MTV’s Homecoming Tailgate Party 2002. Page 6 ♦THE MIX Tinkers Punishment journeys from Denver to Columbia to play Senate Park Tuesday night. Page 7 ♦ SPORTS The football team was overwhelmed by LSU in the third quarter of a 38-14 loss. Page 9 ♦ Events to teach about domestic violence BY JESSICA CLANTON THE GAMECOCK Calling on USC students to “be come part of the solution,” the Office for Sexual Health and Violence Prevention is holding events this week to promote Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Shannon Hunnicutt, program director for the office, said this week’s events are meant to raise awareness about relationship and dating violence and the ser vices her office offers. “I think the relationship vio 1 lence at USC is about the same as it is at other colleges, but it is a problem everywhere,” Hunnicutt said. “I think, when most hear of domestic violence, they think of adults and families, but it can happen in young relationships.” In a study released by the Violence Policy Center, South Carolina ranked third in the na tion in men killing women dur ing 2000. The study was the most recent crime analysis by the Violence Policy Center, a nation al nonprofit organization work ing to fight gun violence. Hunnicutt used the study to * show the need for educating stu dents about relationship violence. “We want to provide education on how to have healthy and non violent relationships and show students the opportunities they have to get involved to eradicate relationship violence,” Hunnicutt said. “We want to give USC students the opportunity to become part of the solution.” Monday through Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.,as part of “These Hands Don’t Hurt,” stu dents can paint or trace their hands on a banner as a sign of their commitment not to partici pate in violence against women. First-year graphic design stu dent Kimberly Adams said, “I feel that this month is very beneficial, and am proud that people at USC have taken the initiative to in form students of such an impor tant issue.” A display honoring women who have died because of domestic violence is set up in the second floor lobby of the Russell House. A table with eight place settings is corded off with yellow crime-scene tape with eight place settings. ♦ VIOLENCE, SEE PAGE 3 THE AGONY OF DEFEAT PHOTO BY ROBERT GRUEN/THE GAMECOCK Quarterback Corey Jenkins looks to the sideline for play calls during Saturday’s 38-14 loss to LSU. FULL STORY, SEE PAGE 9. Winthrop cuts degree requirement BY COREY GARRIOTT THE GAMECOCK At Winthrop University, grad uate biology students seeking a master of science degree can now replace their research require ment with 12 hours of class work; but USC’s biology faculty said the switch hurts the degree’s value. Winthrop will now grant the de gree to both students who com plete a thesis and students who do not. A nonthesis master’s provides an advanced degree to students who intend to go into practice rather than research. It is similar to a professional degree or a mas ter of business administration. Though smaller universities nationally have been adding non thesis options to their degrees, MIT, Harvard and Yale do not of fer nonthesis master’s degree. Winthrop University is in Rock Hill, 70 miles north of USC. Though the wording of the de gree itself says it is nonthesis, Winthrop assistant biology pro fessor Paula Mitchell said it will be indistinguishable from a the sis degree on resumes. USC’s Biology Department has discussed the nonthesis option. “In the past, we’ve voted that an integral part of a biology degree is research,” said Sarah Wood in, in terim department chairwoman. The Biology Department does offer a master of arts in teaching ♦ BIOLOGY, SEE PAGE 2 CAROLINIAN CREED WEEK EVENTS Iraq: A humanitarian perspective ♦ Internationally known human-rights advocate Rania Masri will speak about Iraq on Monday at 6 p.m. in Gambrell room 153. Diving into diversity ♦ RHA will present international hits and give out door prizes Tuesday at 7 p.m. in the Russell House Ballroom. Family Feud ♦ Student organizations will battle it out in USC’s version of the classic game show Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the Golden Spur. The Birdcage, Gamecock style ♦ A revue featuring South Carolina’s finest female impersonators will take place Wednesday at 8 p.m. in the Russell House Ballroom. Steppin’ with South Campus ♦ Learn about stepping on Thursday at 7 p.m. in the Bates West social room. Source: Carolina Student Judicial Council