The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, November 25, 2002, Page 4, Image 4
4 . rnCj uaiviuuu^a * monaay, i\ovemoer to, tuvt
SOUND OFF ONLINE POLL
Create message boards at y°u think all residence halls
www.dailygamecock.com or should be nonsmoking?
send letters to the editor to www.dailygamecock.com.
gamecockviewpoints@hotmail.com Results published on Fridays.
IN OUR OPINION
Fill stands to
keep promise
The powers that be decided to open the multi
miUion-dollar Carolina Center on Friday night, not
with a Bruce Springsteen concert or a key SEC men’s
basketball match up, but a women’s basketball game
against Clemson. The result: the highest-attended
basketball game in the state of South Carolina, for
men or women.
The women’s program has come a long way and
rose to national prominence this past year by
maxing an appearance in tne
Elite Eight of the NCAA
tournament. Now, the
women’s and men’s teams
have a dazzling new facility to
showcase their abilities, with
room for 5,000 more fans than
the old Carolina Coliseum has.
For more than 30 years, the
Carolina Coliseum has been
the place for basketballs,
graduation gowns and concerts. USC promised it
would do two things: first, build a state-of-the-art
arena that would be the envy of NCAA schools; and
second, finish it in time for basketball season. Both
promises were kept.
Now, it’s time for students to keep some promises
of their own. This past year, the basketball teams had
trouble filling 12,000 seats for regular-season games,
but the new Carolina Center offers 18,000. For years,
students and Gamecock Club members have battled
over seats at basketball games, with students
wanting to stand and heckle the opposing teams and
Gamecock Club members wanting to sit and enjoy
the game.
If students want to have a close seating section
surrounding the floor like Maryland has, then
students need to provide the bodies to fill those seats.
Skipping out on games against South Carolina State
and showing up in droves for Kentucky won’t cut it.
If the students want an encompassing student
section, they need to show up to games in numbers
that show they deserve it.
The university did its part by building it, now all
the students have to do is come.
If students want
to have a close
seating section
surrounding the
floor like
Maryland has,
then students
need to provide
the bodies to fill
those seats.
GAMECOCK CORRECTIONS
A theater preview about “Othello” and “Macbeth” in The Mix
on Wednesday was mislabeled as a play review. It should not have
received a rating.
In a graphic in Wednesday’s Carolina-Clemson Special Section,
Aaron Hunt was incorrectly identified.
In Friday’s paper, the credit for the comic “Cheese” should have
specified that Nate Corbin is a cartoonist for The Gamecock.
If you see an error in today’s paper, we want to know. E-mail us
at gamecockviewpoints@hotmail.com.
ABOUT THE OAMEOOOK
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. Staci
Jordan, 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@hotmail.com
Sports: gamecocksports@hotmail.com
Public Affairs: gckpublicaffairs@hotmail.com
Online: www.dailygamecock.com
Newsroom: 777-7726
Editor's Office: 777-3914
STUDENT MEDIA
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
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.
A.
IU rLAUt AW AU
i lie uaineoubn
1400 Greene St.
Columbia. S.C. 29208
«uvei using. i i rjooi
Classified: 777-1184
Fax: 777-6482
SURVEY ONLY B% 4 AMERICAN XWTH cm IDENTIFX IRAQ an, a MAP....
SADDAM BETTER WATCH
OUT OR WE'RE GONNA
GO OVER THERE AND
OPEN UP A CAN OF
whoop mil
Why college is as college does
JASON L. RAPP
GAMECOCKVIEWPOINTS@HOTMAIL.COM
Saying goodbye after
four and a half years.
College, I thought as a naive
freshman in 1998, is about what
you learn in class. It’s about four
years of academic study that
should someday net a comfort
able salary. Beyond that, per
haps it is also football games,
friends and, if you’re lucky, find
ing a special someone with long
hair, fair skin and mesmerizing
eyes.
After four and a half years, I
can say, without doubt, that I
was wrong. Yes, it’s about some
of those things, and maybe all, if
you’re lucky. But even a small
amount of reflection proves that,
while I might have learned the
skills necessary to be a journal
ist, I learned significantly more
about myself.
I consider it two educations
for the price of one. I would rue
the day the bursar and the loan
companies found out. It’s always
the things you don’t expect that
hit hardest and have the most
profound impact on you.
I’ve learned that it’s not about
me. Serving others, which I’ve
been fortunate to have the op
portunity to do on several occa
sions while in college, gives me
a sense of higher purpose. I’m
blessed beyond belief — so much
more than I deserve. Giving back
feels better than anything else.
I’ve learned that I’m a work in
progress. I’ve learned that I’m
not satisfied unless I’m working
to better myself. I’ve learned that
such work is necessary because,
quite often, I fall short of my ex
pectations for myself, without
even stopping to consider how
badly I miss what God expects.
I’ve learned how important a
close circle of friends is. Mine is
wider than I ever imagined, and I
continue to be blessed by these
wonderful people — all the while
hoping that I return that favor to
at least some extent. Along with
my faith and my family, they are
everything to me. Having the
right people around made these
four and a half years.
Lately, I’ve learned the joys of
being berated by people who dis
agree with my columns. There’s
no better way to greet a new day
than by waking up to angry rants
about something I’ve e-mailed to
my editor just before he calls to
ask where my column is.
I’ve learned that people who
don’t know you can’t tell when
you re being sarcastic ana tnat
some people just don’t get satire.
Some of us could do well to relax
a little and stop taking ourselves
so seriously.
But take your best shot be
cause, ultimately, it helps us
both. It keeps me on my toes and
helps you feel better. The mar
ketplace of ideas is volatile. It
needs such exchanges.
Some final, random commen
tary for you:
1. Clemson has sucked, does
suck and will always suck.
2.1 wrote during the summer
that it’s a shame graduation has
to be held in the Carolina
Coliseum. It is still so. The
Wofford Terriers or conferring
of degrees: What are our priori
ties?
3. USC could do a world of good
if it painted discemable lines in
its parking garages and lots. The
only problem would be getting
people to stay between them.
Pressure washing some of the
buildings wouldn’t hurt, either.
Such little things have impact,
too.
I’m exceptionally proud to be
receiving a degree from this in
stitution in but a matter of
weeks. It wasn’t my first choice,
but it ended up being the best
choice. And I’d never trade it.
Rapp is a fifth-year print
journalism student.
IN YOUR OPINION
Sleep-out reveals
USC’s selfishness
In coordinating the
Homelessness Awareness
Sleep-out this weekend, I real
ized just how selfish people are.
Most of the people who came to
the event were freshmen look
ing for easy service hours.
Some even left when their
hours were completed. The up
perclassmen who attended
were either on the community
service team or friends with us.
So, because of the rain, the
sleep-out was held inside.
Inside, where 25 homeless men
and women had a warm, safe,
dry place to sleep. Inside,
where they were able to eat a
free meal and use clean bath
rooms Without being harassed
or kicked out. Inside, where
they were able to take showers
for the first time in months.
Had the sleep-out been held
outside in the rain, I could have
counted the number of partici
pants on my right hand. Maybe
I've lost my faith in humanity,
but I'm sick of hearing that peo
ple don't have an hour or two
to serve when they can easily
find four or five to attend a par
ty or watch TV.
Wake up, USC. Giving a can
to a food drive isn't enough.
Look around and see the need in
the world. What if you were liv
ing under a bridge or eating out
of a trash bin? It happens to col
lege-educated people every day.
Wouldn’t you want someone to
help you? Do something. Help
someone. But if you're still too
ignorant or selfish to act, don't
antagonize the people who are
willing to be the men and wom
en this world needs to survive.
MAURA KURTZ
TIIlkb-YBAHACCOI'XTIXO
■STIlJKxV.
‘Clan’ welcomes
Foy into its circle
Mr. Chris Foy, we, the gen
tlemen of USC — the Union of
Southern Clansmen — extend
our sincerest gratitude with an
honorary membership.
Enclosed is a white hood with
pre-lit cross for easy burning.
Brother, we applaud your
unabashed sense of brevity and
vision and your tact with
words. We know you're not sug
gesting that homosexuals be
stripped of their rights; instead,
you're stating it outright!
"Sexual preference should be
a strong consideration when
you're dealing with people who
watch over groups of teenage
boys.” God bless you, sir, and
heil Hitler! Why should we stop
there? A screening of sexual
preference should be mandato
ry for any job: garbage man,
professor or even reporter.
You also bring light to the
fact that the boys of the Scouts
aren’t required to be Christian.
Unfortunately, they can be
Jews. Not to worry: We’ve done
such a good job of keeping out
the gays and those soulless athe
ists for nearly a century that all
we have to do is tweak the by
laws — perhaps forbid kosher
hot dogs at the Weenie Roast?
Congratulations, Chris Foy.
Keep fighting the good fight,
knowing that we’ll be standing
by your side ready to champi
on that bastion of morality, the
Boy Scouts.
DAVID ARROYO
COI.IMIIIA. S.C.
Experience garners
football knowledge
This letter is in response to
Matt Geary’s letter (“LecSfe play
calling to the professionals,” Nov.
18). First of all, my “unfounded”
two cents come from four years of
observing this football program.
I have attended more than 90
percent of the Carolina games
during the past four years, a
record made possible by my mem
bership in the USC Marching
Band. I would say that I have
much more experience observing
the execution of the offense than
you do. Mr. Matt Geary is a sec
ond-year student. I was here in
1999 when we went 0-11.1 was at
USC, in the Marching Band and
taking criminal justice classes
while you were still attending
high school, going to Beta Club
meetings and taking study hall.
I do admire your optimistic, yet
naive attitude. Let me give you a
little lesson on numbers: In the 12
quarters before the Clemson game,
the offense has averaged 1.42
points per quarter. Please, Mr.
Geary, tell me a team that has a •
chance to win with that statistic.
This is something I didn’t have to
rely on my criminal-justice classes
to teach, but rather common sense!
I know I might have offended a few
people when I criticized the coach
ing staff, but let’s pull the wool
from over our eyes and quit pre
tending everything is fine at USC.
As I prepare for graduation, I
would like to tell my young coun
terpart that with age comes
knowledge, and when you become
more than a second-year student,
hollar back!
JOSH CHENEY
KOIJIITII-YKAIl GRIM INAL JUSTICE
STUUKNT
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.
Young
girls are
not sex
symbols
rwm
CATHERINE BAAB
GAMECOCKVIEWPOINTS@HOTMAIL.COM
Self-image is shaped by
society, media images.
Inside the convenience store at
Harden and Devine streets, the
Friday-night beer rush was in full
swing. It was as hard to get in the
door as it was to get out of it. The I
cashier's line snaked back to the
coolers. The aisles were littered
with thirsty frat boys and their
giggling dates, who reached for
Bud and Zima, respectively. The
air was thick with perfume,
cologne and something still head
ier. There were all the makings
of a mosh pit: a large crowd, a
small space, teenagers, sexual
tension, aggression — a recipe for
n
I stood, or rather crouched,
pinned between a young mother
and her daughter, an amorous
construction worker and the rack
of potato chips. The line had
ceased to move, ceased to exist.
There was ample time to study
my peers.
The mother was buying a soda;
the little girl clutched a candy bar.
I figured the former to be about 25
years old, the latter around six.
They were dressed almost identi
cally in bright, tight shirts; flare
leg jeans; and high-heeled black
boots. My own mother would
have shaken her head at such a
spectacle.
Almost unconsciously, l was
shaking mine.
The trend continues elsewhere,
most specifically in stores that sell
children's clothing. In the girls’
section, the clothing styles are,
primarily, miniature versions of
those found in the juniors’ and
women's departments. The outfits
are decendents of those worn by
Britney Spears and other popu
lar, supposedly sexy female
celebrities.
Lamentably, these are the
most prominent women in our
culture. They are more visible in
our national media than are suc
cessful businesswomen or female
artists.
On television and in maga
zines, they pose in manners
meant to portray them as
supremely desirable women, no
matter that they look far more
like erotic cartoons than they do
human beings. Their sexual at
tractiveness is just another mar
keting tool, i.e., this seductive
teenage body brought to you by
Pepsi. And the bodies keep getting
younger. That this kind of ex- ;
ploitation has become so common
as to be blase compounds its per
versity.
Rut wVi\t Hrocc a siv-vpflr-nlri
girl in a possibly arousing man
ner? Tight, flashy clothes are in
tended to emphasize one's adult
sexual characteristics. Little
girls are not sexual beings. They
are children who, instead, need
parental protection from that
kind of attention. These styles go
beyond bad taste. They're the em
blems of a dangerous, destruc
tive attitude.
A friend of mine, in early high
school, suffered from severe de
pression. She felt abashed and
uncertain because of her promis
cuity, which had started some
years earlier. Her sex life had
only vaguely consensual begin
nings; she often wished aloud
that she were a virgin again. She
spoke of sexual innocence as a
condition she desperately want
ed to re-enter. I wondered, silent
ly, whether that return was pos
sible at all, and not because it
would have been impossible for
my friend to simply renounce her
behavior.
I wondered whether the condi
tion truly existed ever.
Baab is a third-year English and
advertising student.