University of South Carolina Libraries
SOUND OFF ONLINE POLL Create message boards at Should marijuana be legalized? www.dailygamecock.com or YES, LET THE REVOLUTION BEGIN 40% send letters to the editor to NO, DRUGS ARE BAD 60% gamecockviewpoints@hotma il. com www .daily gamecock.com IN OUR OPINION Drug OKfor medical use Wednesday night’s marijuana debate sparked campus interest, with more than 1,000 showing up to hear two experts speak about whether the drug should be legal. Although this topic is controversial, there seemed to be little disparity among the opinions of the USC students who attended. Many questions and comments questioned the reasoning behind current laws. Former Drug Enforcement atiuu agci 11 ivuuci i oiuuiicui o SLaicinciiL that most college students want marijuana to be The nation should make marijuana legal for carefully monitored medical use. legalized seemed accurate, judging by the opinions the attendees expressed. Although conflicting arguments were nresented. both speakers agreed that people should be allowed to use marijuana at least for medical uses. Arresting and imprisoning sick people who use the drug to relieve symptoms of multiple sclerosis and glaucoma is unfair. But more research into the drug’s side effects , and benefits is needed before legalization is considered. With the legalization of marijuana for medical use. the United States would need to carefully regulate the way the drug is dispensed so that it is not abused. Perhaps its use could be restricted to doctors’ offices, where physicians could oversee patients’ marijuana consumption. As for “all-out legalization,” there is no way to know the effect it would have on American society. We can look to the Netherlands and London for examples of how culture changes in response to marijuana legalization, but there is no telling how Americans would react or how crime and drug use would be affected. Gamecock Quotables UT J__X_X _ 1_1_1_ I UT -- x ixvsxi x warn juu w iuivo uvug hits before your calculus exam. It’s that stupid stoner attitude that holds us back.” STEVE HAGER HIGH TIMES EDITOR. SPEAKING IN FAVOR OF THE LEGALIZATION OF MARIJUANA IN THE GREAT DEBATE “Anything you can lay flat made of cloth, I can print.” KEVIN SCHUMACHER OWNER OF EAT MORE TEES. ON HIS ABILITY TO PRINT THINGS ON JUST ABOUT ANYTHING A UV11 t ov-v U U1UV1 VUl Tennessee team. I see the same Tennessee team that I have seen in the four years that I have been here.” LOU HOLTZ use FOOTBALL COACH, ON FACING TENNESSEE THIS SATURDAY “I’m not going in that junk by myself.” ANTONIO ARCHIE 9-YEAR-OLD, ON VISITING MCBRYDE'S -TRICK-OR-TREAT WITH THE GREEKS" GAMECOCK CORRECTIONS In an article Wednesday about the General Motors marketing internship, the time students will be working on the project was incorrect. Students will work on the project for six months. The Gamecock regrets the error. 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 PONTAPT INFORMATION 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 Kbadraoui Community Affairs 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@hotmail.com Sports: gamecocksports@hotmail.com Online: www.dailygamecock.com Public Affairs: gckpublicaffairs@hotmail.com Newsroom: 777-7726 Editor's Office: 777-3914 pti ■ rvrtrr ki rrvi a ■ uvbii i mbvin Faculty Adviser Erik Collins Director of Student Media Ellen Parsons Creative Director Susan King Business Manager Carolyn Griffin Advertising Manager Sarah Scarborough Classified Manager Sherry F. Holmes Creative Services Derek Goode, Earl Jones, Sean O'Meara, Anastasia Oppert Melanie Roberts Advertising Staff Adam Bourgoin, Justin Chappell, Bianca Knowles, Denise Levereaux, Jacqueline Rice, Stacey Todd i ne uamecocK is me 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 Feader. Additional copies may be purchased for one dollar each from the ruran snan —.— TO PLACE AN AD student Media i ne uameuuun 1400 Greene St. Columbia, S.C. 29203 Hovemamg. i > «-_>o«w Classified: 777-1184 Fax: 777-6482 ELECTION 2002 — — . • « • • Your generation s mission SEN. TOM DASCHLE GAMECOCKVIEWPOINTS@HOTMAIL.COM Support your nation by going to the ballot box. In 1968, I sat in a car with three friends and drove for hours to hear Robert Kennedy speak. We had no air conditioning, our IJUUi LVX M V V/* WlllJk/UU ■' ~ were running late, with no time to get out and stretch our legs. On the drive back, not one of us doubted that the trip had been worth every mile of discomfort. That speech, and others like it, helped clarify the challenges that faced my country and my genera tion, and helped convince me that I could make a difference. The course that had first been plotted with John F. Kennedy’s election * had finally led me, and many oth er members of my generation, to the realization that we had to take an active role in addressing the problems of our world. I believe your generation’s mis sion came into greater focus on Sept. 11,2001. The events of that tragic day shocked and horrified us all, causing an entire nation to wonder how this could have hap pened and what could be done to help in its aftermath. Sept. 11 also gave a new generation cause to wonder what differences it could make in the future of our country and our world. The unity and sense of com mon purpose that swept the country created an opportunity to strengthen our nation in every sense of the word by working to gether to promote real and posi tive changes. If the only lasting change in our behavior is our willingness to arrive at the air port earlier, we will have failed to seize that opportunity. Every elected official, Democrat and Republican, un derstands that the safety and se curity of the American people is our first responsibility. Democrats, however, also un derstand that the challenges we face go beyond national security and homeland security. They in volve the protection of the quali ty of our air and water; help in af fording college tuition, the type of jobs and the strength of the economy waiting for you when you graduate; the status of wom en’s rights and workers’ rights and civil rights; the integrity of our system of capitalism; and the future we’re building for today’s seniors and tomorrow’s workers. Some of you are helping to meet these challenges already, by vol unteering your time, by organiz ing campus events or by mentor ing neighborhood children. For all that you do, however, there is one simple activity that can influ ence everything else. You can ex ercise your right to vote. I was first elected to Congress by 14 votes out of a quarter of a mil lion votes cast, so I know in a very personal way how much every vote counts. In the 2000 presiden tial race, the whole country learned how breathtakingly im portant just a few votes can be. And this year, your vote could be the one that tips the balance of power in Congress and defines the direc tion of our national policy agenda. There are real differences to be decided in this election, and real differences between the can didates. More than ever, what course we choose will make a dif ference — to you, your lives and your future. So, I urge you to get involved m this year s elections, regardless of your party prefer ence. In 1787, near the end of the Constitutional Convention, Benjamin Franklin was ap proached by a woman who asked him, “Dr. Franklin, what have you given us?” “A republic,” he replied. “If you can keep it.” Now is your time to not only keep our republic, but also to strengthen it. Now is your time to shape America to your ideals, and that work begins at the bal lot box. Daschle, D-S.D., is the Senate majority leader. He is not up for re-election. His column is a special submission to The Gamecock. IN YOU’R OPINION Dude, embrace the meathead within I was greatly disturbed by Mr. Watson’s column(“Dude, you’re getting the ax,” Oct. 23) regarding the termination of Steven by Dell and the result ing end of an incredibly suc cessful marketing campaign. Actually, what disturbs me is Mr. Watson’s lashing out at Steven, as indicated by his derogatory comments and poo pooing of Steven and the relat ed ad campaign. I am disturbed by the fact that Mr. Watson (heretofore to be referred to as “Dude”) main tains a childlike exterior at the expense of his inner meathead. Dude, you have to accept the meathead within. See, Dude, Steven was an iconic, larger-tnan-me, sym bolic representation of the la tent — or, for some, outright— meatheadedry that permeates the inner psyche and outward behavior of every college guy. Dude, you know, as all col lege guys know, that life isn’t about making the grade or suc ceeding in life. It’s about solv ing your computer quandaries and jumping Mrs. Lindsey’s bones (see the first commercial that started the magic). What does this mean, you ask, Dude? It means that the manifestation of your aggres sion toward Steven is simply an unhealthy redirection of your anger derived from your subliminal meathead thoughts (such as, “Mrs. Lindsey is kin da hot, maybe”). Dude, we guys all have these meathead thoughts, and we all absently act out upon them. Don’t suppress the meathead within, Dude. Let him grow. Just like Mr. Bigglesworth, you have to love your meathead: Love him, stroke him, pet him — but you cannot eat him. Dude, quit trying be what you are not. You are a college guy and, thus, invariably a meathead. Wait until college is over to suppress the meathead within. Don’t knock Steven be cause your meathead is not bal anced. Come on, Dude, that’s just bad meathead ju-ju for the rest of us guys. If you keep up the suppression, we guys won’t be able to compete with a meat head-suppressing gentleman like vonrsplf Throw us a frickin’ bone here, Dude. In closing, I offer you some advice, Dude. Get back on your Instant Messenger and ask Steven to help you with your meathead quandary. And, hopefully, afterward you can say, like I have, “Thanks, Steven. Thanks.” NATHAN WHITE (iRAI)IIATK STIIDKNT, I’OUTICAL SCIKNCK Jokes undermine inequality issues In response to Wednesday’s editorial, “Awareness is pre vention,” I would like to add that an overall increase in re spect for women woi 'Id also low t er the frighteningly high statistics of rape incidents. I was pleased that the editorial was acknowl edging that sexual assault is a se rious concern and that awareness does, in fact, lower the statistics of rape. With this perspective, The Gamecock showed a sense of com passion for those who have been in this traumatic situation. However, as I shifted my eyes downward to the “Winners & Sinners,” I found myself very dis appointed. Labeled as one of the sinners, a feminist prime-time re port found that marketing is geared toward an “adolescent boy’s fantasy world.” The callous remark ‘Where’s the problem?’ was jokingly stated afterward. Besides the obvious problem, that the joke was disrespectful to ward women, it also shows the clear hypocrisy to the editorial If 1 he Gamecock is going to show sensitivity to rape victims (and women in general) in the column above, why not be consistent with these values? Making light jokes about gen der inequality is not goingt0 helP stifle these crimes. And itcer tainly is not humorous. LAUREN VINCENT SECOND-YEAH I'UUUC IIEU'TI(,NS STUDENT Submission Policy Letters to the editor f^^pho^e'^" 300 words and include nam number, professional title ° ters tQ major, if a student. E^a' a.Lcom. will not be published. ‘ ti °m at 777-7726 for more Sniper's family is not relevant ROB SEAL GAMECOCKVIEWPOINTS@HOTMAIL.COM There just isn’t enough news to fill 24 hours. On Wednesday night, Larry King had the ex-wife of the sus pected Washington, D.C., sniper, John Allen Muhammad, on his show. He also featured the ex wife’s lawyer. And Muhammad’s son and his nephew. And his ex wife’s fiance. They supplied infor mation about Muhammad. King unearthed the fact that the man’s ex-wife had seen him only once in the past 10 years. He also discovered that the accused was a ntness nut, and was an advocate oi healthy eating. According to his ex-wife, Muhammad had an anger problem “at times.” Their mar riage, which ended 18 years ago, was turbulent, and there was a vi cious custody battle over their son, who chose to have his face in shad ows for the interview. According to his ex-wife, Muhammad was “al ways interested in something, he just didn’t know what it was.” Neither Muhammad’s ex-wife nor his son, whom he had seen only twice during the past 18 years, was surprised when he converted to Islam and changed his name. Muhammad’s ex-wife’s fiance revealed that he had shared a re lationship of mutual respect with Muhammad in the past, but was surprised to hear that he might have been the sniper. At the beginning and end of each segment, a picture of Muhammad was shown. Several times during the course of the show, a trailer was shown for a Wolf Blitzer report on the role of the media in the sniper shootings. At this point, I changed the channel. I felt there was something vaguely embarrassing about watching any more. MSNBC chose not to report on Muhammad’s extended family, but instead concentrated its journal istic efforts on the Winona Ryder shoplifting trial. The channel had legal analysts looking at the situ ation and giving their opinions on whether she will De convicted. That trial is big news these days. It’s not as if she was caught on camera or anything. One channel up from MSNBC, there was an infomercial for Paaws, an anti-aging drug for pets. Two channels up from that there was an infomercial for a calcium supplement that apparently cures cancer. A preventative treatment for hair loss was on a different channel. Realizing that, because of the late hour, the TV choices were limited to infomercials “Wild On, or the news, I Went back to CNN I landed back on the channel just in time to see King answering a telephone call from a viewer King: “Hello, what’s your ques tion?” Caller: “Hello?” King: “HELLO?” Caller “Are you there?” King: “HELLO!?” Caller: “Well, I was wondering -uh” King: “GO AHEAD!” Caller: “If he is convicted — doesn’t get the death penalty ■■■ Well, if that means... well,what does that mean?” King: “I don’t understand your question.” King then asked the ex-w11® whether she will visit Muhammad in prison if he receives a lde term' She was not sure. Webster’s Dictionary’s definition of the word gawk is "to gaPe> or stare stupidly.” The sniper is big news, and for a good reason. I just didn’t see any value that came out of the reminis cences of a family that Muhammad hadn t seen in years. Seal is afourth-year print journalism student.