University of South Carolina Libraries
4 THE GAMECOCK ♦ Monday, February 17, 2003 SOUND OFF • TTT^TTTTl/^TIVTnn C< ONLINE POLL Create message boards at I ■ l\ / I-* I I I \ I Should Annika Sorenstam be www.dailygamecock.com or I I ' J ■ / %/ I ■ill I l allowed to play on the PGA Tour? send litters to the editor to IIJWW I \ # ■ I ■ I L I www.dailygamecock.com. gamecockviewpoints@hotmail.com —® ® ^ ®^S ^ 1 —®— ' '—^ Results published on Fridays. IN OUR OPINION Stars aren’t war experts As tension has grown between the United States and Iraq, many musicians and actors have used their high profiles to influence politicians and citizens. But Americans need to evaluate the artists’ anti-war rhetoric with some skepticism. In December, Mike Farrell, famous for his role on the TV series “MASH,”, was one of 104 people—most of them celebrities—who signed a letter to Washington to protest the war. Other signers included David _ - i _1 __i jL/uunuviiy, ouacui ocu aiiuuii aiiu comedienne Janeane Garofalo. Farrell is a longtime political activist, but Garofalo is famous for telling jokes, not for her involvement in politics. It’s a constitutional right to petition the government, but some in show business use then publicity to blow smoke. Before the Iraq conflict, many celebrities suggested they would leave the country if Bush were elected. Pierre Salinger, a TV journalist and former press secretary to President John F. Kennedy, said he’d move to France — and he was the only one to make good on his promise. Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder also said he would leave, but only made it as far as Hawaii. Rock musician Dave Matthews argues against the war in a letter on his band’s Web site. Even British artists such as Massive Attack and Thom Yorke of Radiohead have offered their two cents. Most of these artists are short of any solutions other than letting the U.N. inspectors do their jobs. While war might not be the solution, Americans need to determine their own stances on the war and take the celebrities’ rhetoric only at face value. Americans neea to evaluate celebrities’ anti-war rhetoric with some skepticism. College Quote Board UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN CHRISTINE ROBINSON. UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS “Consensual oral and anal sex between members of the same sex is included in Kansas’ definition of‘criminal sodomy,’ and the penalty is a prison term of as much as six months and possibly a fine of as much as $1,000.... This law is blatantly dis criminatory and unjustifiable from any reasonable stand point.” THE DAILY COUGAR ALEX WUKMAN, UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON “If we show children the out come of warfare and weapons, then they may not be so eager to settle their disputes with vi olence. If we show them an HIV/AIDS survivor group, then they may not be so willing to engage in unprotected sex. We mustn't sugarcoat these ideas; often the most shocking and mind-blowing lessons are the ones best remembered.” GAMECOCK CORRECTIONS In a news brief on Friday, Jessica Tzerman’s name was misspelled. 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 Jill Martin Managing Editor Charles Tomlinson News Editor Adam Beam Asst. News Editor Wendy Jeffcoat Viewpoints Editor Erin O'Neal The Mix Editor Corey Garriott Asst. The Mix Editor Meg Moore Sports Editor Matt Rothenberg * Asst. Sports Editor Brad Senkiw Photo Editor Johnny Haynes Asst. Photo Editor Morgan Ford Head Page Designers Sarah McLaulin. Katie Smith, David Stagg Page Designers Justin Bajan, Samanth; Hall, Staci Jordan, Julie Knetzer, Shawn Rourk Slot Copy Editors Crystal Boyles, Tricia Ridgway, Emma Ritch Copy Editors Jessica Foster, Alyson Goff, Mary Waters 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: 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 Production Manager Patrick Bergen Creative Services Derek Goode, Earl Jones, Sean O’Meara, Anastasia Oppert Advertising Staff John Blackshire, Adam Bourgoin, Bianca Knowles, Denise Levereaux, Jacqueline Rice, Stacey Todd The Gamecock is the editorially independent student newspaper of the University of South Carolina. It 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-activity fees. One free copy per reader. Additional copies may be purchased for $1 each from the Department of Student Media. TO rLAUt AN AO The Gamecock 1400 Greene St. Columbia, S.C. 29208 Advertising: 777-3888 Classified: 777-1184 Fax: 777-6482 / L-Oo^, (Sh'T \ *7 T«AT WHAT '5- \ / Hl5'NAMe...THg \ c / ACTof WH0'5 BCEN * MOMliOAT^P foe AI7/J 05CAf Foe 0F5T / ft V A^rt-wAe 7 U ■kT'Wpem CARTOON COURTESY OF KRT CAMPUS When Iraq came a-rapping DAVID STAGG GAMECOCKVIEWPOINTS@HOTMAIL.COM Bush and Saddam are friends nevermore. Once upon a midday dreary, while Powell argued strong and clearly, For the evidence of an Iraq state that was breaking rules, While we watched CNN, sur prisingly shut out again, He explained his stance to us when the U.N. was played for fools. “I promise this is true,” he muttered, “you’re being played for fools — “Wholly this, and nothing more.” Ah, distinctly I remember, it was in a past September, When each separate dying em ber fell from the Two Towers. It was here the war had start ed; Iraq and al-Qaida parted; Afghanistan bombed whole hearted to start the show of U.S. power — For the protection of the civil ians living domestically by the hour — To be picked on, nevermore. But now the war’s focus has changed to the country who’s al ready maimed From the economic sanctions placed after the Gulf War; So that now, to still the beat ing of our hearts, we are con stantly repeating “We don’t need to be entreat ing at the edge of Iraq’s shores — “We don’t belong there, en treating, we don’t belong there anymore — “Anymore, nevermore.” But recently, our souls grow stronger; Bush is hesitating now no longer; Willing to go without the United Nations, he implores. But the fact is that Iraq isn’t napping; hiding weapons, quick ly trapping Weapons inspectors while they’re tapping, tapping at their . heads so sore — “Where are the weapons they aren’t scrapping? Are they be hind some door? “We want this, and nothing more.” And we have a weird situa tion, not only do we have a rogue nation, But half the U.S. army’s sta tioned, stationed in the Persian Gulf— A standoff of large propor tions, wond’ring if it’s a distor tion, Some hoping that it leads to abortion, abortion of the U.S. in the Gulf— “Are we already fighting? We already seem so engulfed — Is it this, or is there more?” But I have come to tell you clearly, the truth of why we fight so dearly, Fighting for what seems to be yearly, yearly conflict in the area; Yes, I was there on that night, that Bush and Saddam had the fight, The fight over what started this anxiety hysteria — It was what you’d not expect to cause mass hysteria — Unexpected, evermore. Yes, it has ended relations be fore, and left people with bitter sores, To only remind them of why they fought, which ends with feelings new; Bush and Saddam were once good friends, now fighting to the bitter end, Fighting until the friendship bends, now helpless, snapped in two — “If only Saddam had let me have control of the remote,” Bush said, “It was only this — nothing more.” Stagg is a second-year media-arts student. IN YOUR OPINION Discrimination in all forms is wrong In his letter to the editor, (“Affirmative action isn’t un American,” Feb. 12) Professor Robert Stokes asks the ques tion: “Do you see any social pol icy as being more important than the parochial rights of the individual in society?” My an swer is an emphatic, yes! Affirmative action was a beneficial program that served a much-needed cause. At its conception, affirmative action helped this country take great strides toward equality and jus tice. Notice my use of the past tense. Our society is now much more diverse and multi-cultur al. Anyone with the right mo tivation can earn a college de gree, and more people from ev ery walk of life are going to col lege now than ever before. Stokes has a valid argument; ProciHpnt RncVi wpc crivcm nrpf erential treatment from various colleges and other institutions. But in trying to raise an exam ple of unfairness in our society, Stokes proved my point. Of course it is not fair that Bush or any other person should be ac cepted to college not because they meet admissions require ments, but because of an exter nal factor which has no effect on their scholastic aptitude. It is also unfair to admit any student with sub-par qualifica tions on the sole basis of their ethnicity. It is unfair to other more qualified candidates, and it is unfair to the underquali fied applicants themselves. Academic regulations are set up for a reason, they provide a standard that a person must meet in order to have a good chance of succeeding. Stokes also makes a comment regarding our responsibility to “personal sacrifice.” He thinks it is my duty to embrace being denied admission to a universi ty for which I am qualified so that less qualified applicants can take my place. I challenge some one to explain how a person who is being unjustly kept from something they deserve is doing “their part in helping to forge a better society.” CHRIS SPEAKS SECOND-YEAR RELIGIOUS-STUDIES STUDENT SG needs Donehue to make a change I was really excited to hear that Wesley Donehue is con sidering a possible run for stu dent body president. I am an active member of \^uiiegc Acpuuncauo anu x know Wesley Donehue person ally. Wes has been a strong leader in our organization for many years. He is one of those people who will go out of his way to listen to you and to make you feel welcome. I know Wes will be a great student-body president, and I give him my full support in whatever he should decide to do. Wes is a leader in the truest sense of the word and he will get things done. Wes has a great desire to make a differ ence on the Carolina campus. He’s willing to take advice and to take the much-needed steps to make the USC commu nity better and safer for all stu dents. Wes sees the ways he can help and wants to act on his ideas. He can and will speak for every student’s need on this cam pus. I’m ready for real leadership in Student Government. Are you? ALLISON HICKS FIRST-YEAR POLITICAL-SCIENCE STUDENT Situation in Iraq cannot be ignored Detractors of the proposed war on Iraq have really come out of the woodwork over the past few months. These anti-war activists have said that such a conflict is unnecessary because war solves nothing. My question to them is what has diplomacy accom plished over the past 12 years? Saddam Hussein has repeat edly ignored U.N. resolutions im posed on his regime since the con clusion of the Gulf War, which he started by invading Kuwait. Even if he had complied with U.N. de mands, it would have taken well over a decade to do so. If no punishment is levied against this dictator, the message will be sent that adherence to U.N. resolutions is optional. This is a message that must not be sent, and continued diplomatic failures will only hamper such a goal. ALBERT ARD FOURTH-YEAR HISTORY AND POLITICAL-SCIENCE STUDENT 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. Anonymoua letters will not be published. Call the newsroom at 777-7726 for more information. Senate race is already exciting BEN EDWARDS GAMECOCKVIEWPOINTS@HOTMAIL.COM Fritz Hollings needs to watch his competition. A field of Republican candi dates is shaping up to challenge Sen. Fritz Hollings in 2004 if he de cides to run again. A good deal of speculation has emerged that Hollings might decide to forgo an other race for multiple reasons. The senator is not only 81 years old now, but also faces the daunt ing prospect of having to struggle against President Bush’s sizeable coattails in the 2004 Presidential election. In typical Southern fashion, South Carolina has voted in creasingly Republican in the past thirty years. From 1970 to 1996, Democrats lost strength in the South Carolina General Election every year. Some speculation has emerged that Hollings might de cide not to run again in a politi cal climate that seems to be stack ing the odds against Democrats. On the other hand, Hollings will not be easily unseated with the se niority he has amassed in his 35 plus years in the U.S. Senate. So far, four Republican candi dates have announced they will run for his seat. Congressman Jim DeMint from Greenville looks most likely to win the nom ination after a merely formal pri mary. His opponents all lack ei ther the ability to win or the ex perience necessary to be credible. Thomas Ravenel, the son of state Sen. Arthur Ravenel, to the best of my knowledge, has never been elected to a public office be fore. His success in real estate does not qualify him for the U.S. Senate. Former Congressman Tommy Hartnett lost to Hollings in 1992 by three percentage points. Having the same candidates face each oth er again would invite the same re sult as last time — a Republican , loss in a conservative state. Mayor Mark McBride of Myrtle Beach does not have the name recognition or the legislative ex perience of DeMint. At this point, all signs point toward DeMint winning the Republican nomina tion after an easy primary. His odds of beating Hollings look better and better as the sen ator continues to grow older and the state becomes more Republican. Americans for Tax Reform awarded DeMint the “hero of the taxpayer” award for his legislative record. His Social Security plan would protect ben efits for seniors and offer younger workers personal savings ac counts. South Carolina is a conserva tive state and DeMint has the highest lifetime conservative rat ing in the South Carolina delega tion. He will not be the type of can didate that Hollings can take lirrh+lv The 2004 election seems even more likely to generate an upset because of the different political landscape. President Bush will be on the ballot; his approval ratings are higher than the national av erage throughout the South. The young Sen. Lindsey Graham, who will not be facing an election until 2008, will be much more effective in stumping statewide for Republican candidates than Sen. Strom Thurmond was in his lat er years. Gov. Mark Sanford, coming up for re-election in 2006, will also be able to travel the state and rally support for the Republican nomi nee. All these factors combined will make it very difficult for Hollings to retain his seat. In my opinion, DeMint can go ahead and order senatorial stationary. Edwardl is a fourth-year * philosophy student.