The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, April 16, 2003, Image 1
asggggssag1” Wednesday, april 16,2003
Airlines,
.banks let
students
pay less
BY ALYSON GOFF
TIIKtiAMKOOOK.
College students seeking discounts are normal
ly directed to movie theaters and museums, but
banks and airlines are also among the businesses
that offer a world of student savings.
Wachovia offers a plan that requires no mini
^num balance apd no monthly service fee. South
Carolina Federal Credit Union offers the same, but
also rewards students by paying dividends on a
balance of $150 or more. Students also receive a
credit card with no annual fee, which allows them
to build credit.
♦ DISCOUNTS, SEE PAGE 5
Housing to put freshmen
in upperclassman halls
BY ALEXIS STRATTON
THE CJAMECOCK *
USC plans to avoid using hotels
for freshmen housing next year by
reserving spaces in generally non
freshman residence halls, includ
ing Capstone House and McBride
Quadrangle.
Gene Luna, USC Housing di
rector, said that guaranteeing
freshmen on-campus housing is
“fairly standard,” but “last year,
there was not enough space re
served for them.”
“We’ve had this guarantee for
freshmen for some time,” Luna
said. “We actually have a rule on
the books that says freshmen are
required to live on campus unless
they are commuting from home.”
Luna said that USC makes this
guarantee to first-year students be- ■
cause they, more than anyone,
*ieed the structure and support
provided by on-campus housing.
In order to keep the freshmen
on campus and out of hotels next
year, USC is reserving four to five
floors in Capstone and 225 spaces
in McBride and South Tower for
freshmen only.
Tim Coley, residence life direc
tor, said the construction of the
Greek housing would ensure these
freshmen spaces would not be tak
en from upperclassmen. “It’s not
so much that we’re taking spaces
away from anybody else for fresh
men,” he said.
Coley also said the number of
seniors and juniors applying for
♦ HOUSING, SEEPAGE 4
PHOTO BY JOHNNY HAYNES/THE GAMECOCK
By reserving rooms In typically non-freshmen residence halls, University
Housing promises not to place freshmen in hotels.
USC services,
local shops offer
bike protection
BY MARY PINCKNEY WATERS
TUB (iAMKCOCK
While bicyclers usually don’t
worry about finding a spot on the
bike rack, the threat of bicycle
theft remains a concern.
Statistics from Factory
Enhancements Corp., a security
company, show that more than 1.5
million bicycle thefts occur each
year in the United States, with
only 20 percent of bicycles recov
ered. According to the USC Police
Department, 27 bicycles were
stolen on the Columbia campus
last year at a total value of $5,897.
“What we’ve found is that it
^doesn’t necessarily have to be one
of those high-quality mountain
bikes for it to get stolen. It can be
the biggest piece of junk, and
somebody will still want to steal
it,” said Lt. Henry Garbade, of the
USCPD's Crime Prevention and
Community Relations Programs.
“The thieves that really want
to take your bike are going to find
a way somehow or another,” said
USC alumnus and bicycle-riding
Beezer’s delivery man “Turbo”
Tim Moser. “I’ve heard of a bike
stolen that was attached to a sign
post, and thieves pulled UP the en
tire post just to take the bike.”
Although bike thefts are not un
common, bicyclers can take pre
cautions to ensure the safety of
their property.
“The first thing is to lock your
bike up, but there’s more to it than
that,” Garbade said. “A lot of
times, we’ll see a $500 bike with a
cheap $10 lock that can be cut with
bolt cutters. The more expensive
the lock, the more durable.”
Bicyclers can take advantage
of a variety of theft-prevention bi
cycle locks, depending on the
amount of protection they want
and the price they are willing to
pay. Columbia’s Cycle Center, at
616 Harden St., sells U-locks, ca
ble locks and huge chain-shackle
locks.
“U-locks are definitely the most
♦ THEFTS, SEE PAGE 5
PHOTO BY DAVID STAGG/THE GAMECOCK
U-locks, like the one shown above, are generally more
expensive than other kinds of locks, but many say they provide
the best defense against bicycle theft.
PRO-TROOPS RALLY
PHOTO BY DAVID STAGG/THE GAMECOCK
Stacy Ryan, left, a first-year biology student, pins a yellow ribbon on first-year psychology
student Kristin McCraw at the pro-troops rally yesterday on Davis Field. Supporters at the
rally shared opinions on the war, protestors and the future of the Iraqi government.
USC rally
shows
support
for troops
BY WENDY JEFFCOAT
THE GAMECOCK
Around 100 USC students and
Columbia residents showed their
support for American troops at
the Yellow Ribbon Rally on
Tuesday evening in front of the
Thomas Cooper Library.
The rally, sponsored by the
USC College Republicans, was
originally scheduled for this past
Tuesday, but was postponed be
cause of rain.
“We think it’s important
amidst all the anti-war protests
that they (the troops) know the
majority of us are behind them,”
said Wes Donehue, political ad
viser for USC College
Republicans.
Supporters displayed yellow
ribbons and American flags as
several speakers took turns at the
microphone to show their support
for the men and women serving
the United States in the war with
Iraq.
“Without the soldier, we would
not be free,” said Sen. Jake
Knotts, R-Lexington.
“It’s not the press that gives
you freedom of speech; it’s the sol
dier,” he said.
Knotts, who served in Vietnam,
said “freedom is not just a one
man show — it’s a community ef
fort,” and the citizens of America
need to make sure they protect
that freedom.
Speakers shared their views on
the war in Iraq, protesters at
home and abroad, and what
should be done now that Saddam
Hussein has been removed from
♦ RALLY, SEE PAGE 4
No strings attached
BY ALEXIS STRATTON
THE I1AMECOCK .
From its name, one might ex
k. i
pect Punch and Judy or
Pinocchio; however, USC’s
Puppet Regime produces and per
forms a number of plays every
year — with no strings attached.
While the name has caused
confusion about the group’s pur
pose, the 20-year-old student-led
theater group was created to give
students more hands-on theater
experience.
“The original founders were
dissatisfied with the structure of
the Theatre Department because
they used to have a lot more con
trol over what the group did or
did not do,” said Alison Hogue,
Puppet Regime president. “At
some point, they really tried to set
themselves apart and form their
own puppet government, so that’s
how it became the Puppet
Regime.”
The organization is open to stu
dents of all majors, and the 40 to
50 active members vary in age
and experience.
“There are a lot of theater ma
il
jors in the organization, but it’s
open to everyone,” said Hogue, a
fourth-year theater student. “We
view our productions as a learn
ing experience, and we encourage
people to take risks and do what
they want to do and have fun with
it.”
Independent of the Theatre and
Dance Department, the Puppet
Regime produces plays that are
often pre-published or student
♦ REGIME, SEE PAGE 3
Index
Comics and Crossword12
Classifieds15
Horoscopes12
Letters to the Editor 9
Online Poll _ 9
Police Report 5
Weather
TODAY
High 81
Low 54
TOMORROW
%**&JT
High 80
Low 55
I
In This Issue
♦ NEWS A fire that killed five
Ohio college students is
thought to be arson. Page 5
♦ VIEWPOINTS Brook Bristow
gives students the reci pe for
dressing successfully at
Carolina. Page 9
♦ THE MIX Seize the summer!
The Gamecock taste-tests
Columbia’s ice cream. Page 10
♦ SPORTS A look at three
divers who have led USC to top
| 25 finishes in the NCAAs.
Page 13