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Ut THE GAMECOCK ♦ Monday, February 24, 2003 SOUND OFF ONLINE POLL Create message boards at Should John Palms still be www.dailygamecock.com or on USC’s payroll? ’ send letters to the editor to www.dailygamecock.com. gamecockviewpoints@hotmail.com Results published on Fridays. i . -- , . - IN OUR OPINION Rethinking our priorities The installment of Biometric Hand Readers at the Strom Thurmond Fitness and Wellness Center should serve its purpose of filtering out the influx of nonstudents who abuse the visual ID check system. While the Hand Readers usher in a new era of security at the university, it is questionable whether the fitness center is a good place to introduce it. The hand readers, priced at $3,000 apiece, will protect the students while they are exercising, but There is what about when they are something to be sleeping? There is something said about a to be said about a priority list priority list that that deems a high-tech weight deems a high-tech room more important than weight room more residence halls. important than The fitness center, however, residence halls, should not abandon its new • X 11V XX L1XVUU WXXWX XU xuxxvtvvt XXXX VMQ1X student-activity fees, so the university is not wasting money during a budget crisis. But if the technology has been around for so long, with the University of Georgia and Mississippi State University having used the system for years, why is it that the fitness center is the first facility on campus to use the system? The Hand Reader system is good for the university and good for the fitness center. It will allow students to leave their IDs at home when they want to go work out. But for University Housing to lag the fitness center in security is ridiculous. Co liege Quote Board DAILY PENNSYLVANIAN ELIOT SHERMAN, UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA “I hope you all had fun last week buying duct tape and plastic at the behest of the ‘Department of Homeland Absurdity.’ For those of you who don’t know, the Bush ad ministration informed us of the sudden and immediate need for duct tape and plastic after our national threat level rose from ‘fuchsia’ to ‘a lovely shade of violet based on the warnings of a captured al Qaida suspect who later flunked a lie-detector test.’ ” THE DAILY TROJAN NOEL ANENBERG. UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA “How shall we respond to this 21st-century tyranny? Will we cower behind the cause of our safety, or will we show the courage required of a free peo ple and destroy the evil forces arrayed against us? “Will we be noted as the generations of Americans who said, ‘Give me liberty or give me death,’ or that generation that said, ‘Take my liberty but make me safe’?” liAlVl £j U U vJ i\ liUilntitiTlUJNB The final score was missing from a recap Friday of the Citadel USC baseball game. USC won 7-5. 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 CONTACT INFORMATION Jill Martin Offices on third floor of the Russell House. Managing Editor Editor in Chief: gamecockeditor@hotmail.com Charles Tomlinson News: gamecockudesk@hotmail.com Viewpoints: gamecockviewpoints@hotmail.com News Editor The Mix: gamecockmixeditor@hotmail.com Adam Beam Sports: gamecocksports@hotmail.com Public Affairs: gckpubiicaffairs@hotmail.com Asst. News Editor 0nMne: www.dailygamecock.com Wendy jeffcoat Newsroom: 777-7/26 Editor s Office: 777-3914 Er*nO’Neat STUDENT MEDIA The Gamecock is the trm u iNeai editorially independent Faculty Adviser student newspaper of The Mix Editor Erik Collins the University of South Corey Gamott Carolina. „ ,s ... Director of Student published Monday. Asst. The Mix Editor Media Wednesday and Friday Meg Moore Ellen Parsons during the fall and spring semesters and Sports Editor Creative Director nine times during the Matt Rothenberg Susan King summer, with the exception of university Asst. Sports Editor Business Manager holidays and exam Brad Senkiw Carolyn Griffin periods. Opinions expressed in The Photo Editor Advertising Manager Gamecock are those of Johnny Haynes Sarah Scarborough the editors or author. and not those of the Asst. Photo Editor Classified Manager University of South Morgan Ford sherry f. Holmes Carolina. The Board of . _ _ , Student Publications Head Page Designers Production Manager and Communications Sarah Mclaulm, Katie Patrick Bergen is the publisher of The Smith, David Stagg Gamecock. The Creative Services Department ef Student Page Designers Derek Goode Media ig the Justin Bajan. Samantha Ear| j0nes. newspaper’s parent Hall, Staci Jordan. Julia Sean O'Meara, organization. The Knetzer, Shawn Rourk Anastasia Oppert Gamecock is supported in part by Slot Copy Editors Advertising Staff student-activity fees. Crystal Boyles. Tricia John Blackshire. One free copy per Ridgway. Emma Ritch Adam Bourgoin, reader. Additional Bianca Knowles, copies may be Copy Editors Denise Levereaux, purchased for $1 each Jessica Foster. A lyson Jacqueline Rice. from the Department Goff. Mary Waters Stacey Todd of student Media. Bessam Khadraoui TO PLACE AN AD i The Gamecock t Advertising: 777-3888 Community Affairs 1400 Greene St. Classified: 777-1184 KiranShah Columbia, S.C. 29208 Fax:777-6482 JupO^yvY CU6MT 15 Mot N f A Te^oe|5T AMP OMIT HAP A' / vegV lWoce»T RetAT\0)J5HlP TO l Th£ fturzAiep That cuc?5^p , \ POWM P.C., M£iM Y<?£^ AMP/ ' War drums beat in academia PATRICK AUGUSTINE GAMECOCKVIEWPOINTS@HOTMAIL.COM Educators don’t have all the answers, either. Public debate is a necessary component in the decision-mak ing process in democratic coun tries. Although most everyone committed to a democratic gov ernment would agree with this statement, it also highlights one of the tensions within democracy itself. I am speaking here about what now appears to be the impending conflict with Iraq. The Chronicle of Higher Education recently ran an article in which it considered the role of institutions of higher education in the formulation and articulation of public opinion about matters of import, such as war. Although academics dis agree about the need to go to war and the duties of faculty and in stitutions in making statements about such matters, I feel they fail to consider a few vital points. First, the anti-war movement that is apparently growing in re sponse to the drums of war sounding from the Pentagon is poisoning the well of public opin ion instead of fostering an in creased and open debate about the morality of such a war. The vast majority of our parents and professors had their formative years at college overshadowed by the specter of Vietnam, a war that, by most examinations, was unjust. This reality affects their view of war as never an accept able choice, in total ignorance of the fact that one of the roles of a state is to protect its citizens, and furthermore that there are just wars that must be fought to bring about a greater good. Second, I firmly think that though the aims of the peace movement are noble, they are short-sighted in that they fail to prescribe an alternate path. If we want world peace, we must first pursue a foreign policy based on the premise that armed conflict will most assuredly con tinue until all states are demo cratic, and thus committed to a world order based on democratic ideals. I am not suggesting that glob al democracy will eliminate con flict, but it is the vital first step to ward this goal we hold dearly. Third, if colleges and universi ties issue statements opposing the war, they are cowing students and faculty who support action into silence. In this age of terror, no one wants to be viewed as pro moting violent means, and no doubt many supporters of mili tary action hold well-reasoned thoughts on the topic. When academia claims that its rational examination of issues elevates it above question, it is committing science’s mortal sin in making normative judgments and ex pecting others to toe the line. Finally, if my education has taught me anything, it is that the more I learn, the more I realize my own limitations and igno rance. This is where academia fails if it makes statements about the war — a Ph.D. never guarantees one’s transcendence of humanity’s shortcomings. We can never know all the facts about Iraq, even if we happen to specialize in foreign policy of the Middle East, the ethics of war or the botany of the Euphrates. Nor would I want to know all the in telligence that the NSA and CIA have on our maniacal friend in Baghdad. I like to sleep at night, and the more political I get, the less I am able to do so. So, make your voice heard, but don’t have the audacity to label those who think other wise as unenlightened or inhu mane. Augustine is a third-year political-science student. Students still await ‘parking utopia’ Thank you for the editorial addressing the parking situa tion during the Jimmy Buffet concert. I live off campus, and when I arrive for class at the Coliseum, where half my classes are, I ex pect to see some of the lots blocked off for events at the Coliseum or Carolina Center once in a while. But that day, I was appalled to see that all four lots were blocked off all day and cost $5 or $10 to park in. The university tells students to park on the perimeter of cam pus, and I remember an article in The Gamecock last fall say ing officials were promising stu dents a “plethora” of parking when the new Carolina Center opened. And usually there is, until someone decides to take it all away without notice. The Carolina Center has plenty of its own parking. It’s a complete slap in the face to hog it all for a concert.Where did they think hundreds of stu dents were going to park that day? Who knows how many students were late for tests or missed class altogether because there was no parking? This university and its new president claim to be dedicat ed to academic excellence and cutting-edge research to make USC a leading university in the state. Technology centers and business partnerships are pop ping up everywhere. But, when it came down to simple cour tesy toward students and mak ing sure it was possible for stu dents to attend their classes, they really messed up. USC and its officials obviously care less IN YOUR OPINION about academics than about concerts and sporting events, and that’s a shame. To any students considering attending USC — especially for journalism; hotel, restaurant and tourism management; or information-science — I say take this parking situation as an example of how students are treated here, and think seri ously about going to another university. ANGELA DIAMOND FIFTH-YEAR ADVERTISING STUDENT Democracy doesn’t exist under Bush The time has come for us to mourn one of the founding principles of our great nation. I thought we elect our gov ernment officials with the con fidence that their efforts will be protecting our best interests. So when hundreds of thou sands of Americans peaceably assembled this past weekend in cities across the nation to ex press their anti-war sentiment, you would think someone in the White House would be lis tening to what citizens want. Instead, Bush has said he won’t be deterred by global protests against war in Iraq, saying, “I respectfully dis agree.” That’s all fine and dandy Mr. President—I think we already know where you stand on this issue — but I also thought part of your duty was to represent Americans. Don’t get me wrong. In this letter, I am not saying war is completely unjustifiable or that Iraq is not a threat to our peace. i am merely asking people to oo serve the obstinate behavior of our leader. I think at this point, he is ac curately representing the 38 peo ple in Florida who actually elect ed him president. LIZ GARBY FIRST-YEAR BUSINESS STUDENT Political bashing is unnecessary, wrong After reading what Adam Hark had to say about Wesley Donehue, I was really disap pointed in him. All this political bashing of other candidates is un called for. I know Wes personally, and I don’t think he would ever resort to violence. Bashing someone else for political gain is just wrong. J.D. and some of his sup porters have bashed everyone from the current Student Government president to Wes Donehue. When are you going to realize it’s not helping your cam paign; it’s hurting it? You’re not getting anyone’s respect for it. Can’t we just stop all this neg ative campaigning and say “may the best man win”? As for Wes, he has my vote for SG president because I think he can make a difference. ROBBIE MALONE SECOND-YEAR SPORTS-MANAGEMENT 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. Anonymous letters will not be published. Submissions are limited to two per person per semester.Call the newsroom at 777- r 7726 for more information. Tyson is on top of thefood chain TYLERJONES GAMECOCKVIEWPOINTS@HOTMAIL.COM ‘Iron Mike’ is the best of all media spectacles. Bom in Brooklyn, Mike Tyson entered the world on June 30, 1966, and nothing has been the same since. Much has been said about the two-time heavyweight champion in the past week, and I, as a personal friend of “Iron Mike,” must weigh in my opinion. The phone rang at a disas trously early hour Monday. It was Shelly Finkel, Mike’s manager and financial leech. “Tyler, don’t worry. The fight has been postponed, but it is just a ploy. I promise that the fight will be on by the end of the week. Oh, and by-the-way, Mike’s tattoo is very intimidating.” Hearing these words flow out of the mouth of a very rich man made me uneasy. I almost entered the realm of nausea, but I gathered myself and turned to good, old fashioned introspection. Was this fight just another saga in the in termittent novel that has become “The Life of Mike Tyson”? How, with a vulgar and lopsided war about to rage, does this obstinate fool receive such a media circus? It all goes back to the American thirst for voyeurism. Sure, reality television gives us a chance to rubberneck and watch the metaphorical train wreck every night, but Mike Tyson is a differ ent kind of reality show. Not only is he the longest-running reality show on television, but he is also the most outrageous ot tnem au. Before “Joe Millionaire,” before “The Real World,” Tyson cornered the market. He made rape, ear de vouring and general malaise a Pay-Per-View spectacle. The same media-saturated world that brought us Tu i King and Michael Jordan also brought us Michael Gerard Tyson. The wonderful me dia explosion that occurred dur ing the Reagan administration was inevitable, but casting a spot light on the world’s most notori ous thug was simply a case of wrong idol, right time. Today, Tyson is the most polar ized individual on the media mar ket. You either love him or hate him with a passion that would make paint jump off the wall. Me, well, I love him. Not for his garish attachment to his 2,000 pigeons or his volatile behavior; I invest time and faith in Tyson because he is the standard bearer for our de mented and misguided culture. Think about it: Tyson is paid millions to be a beast, and when he acts like a savage outside of the ring, he is vilified. It is won derful how the legions of arm chair quarterbacks criticize Tyson and lament his psychotic actions, only to shell out $59.95 for his next fight. Despite what you think about Mike Tyson, he is the weak side of your personality. He is that in secure and violent side that lurks in all of us, and that is the reason he will always be a curious and hated entity in the televised his tory of humankind. We have fos tered a need for the villain, and Tyson, a simple anti-hero, fits the bill as good as any. So bring on the ridiculous tat toos and feed us more of your in sidious rants, Iron Mike. I, for one, am willing to accept you for your ineptitude, because the world is becoming more and more like your absurd mental disposition. The phone’s ring broke my train of thought. “Tyler, get to Memphis. Mike has two tickets waiting for you.” And so I go, off to follow the fol ly. By the way, Tyson won. Jones is a graduate student in the College of Mass Communications j and Information Studies.