Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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USC English professor wins top literature award BY ASHLEE RICKARD ~ THE GAMECOCK USC writer-in-residence Janette, Turner Hospital’s latest novel, “Due Preparations for the Plague,” recently won a Queensland Premier’s Literary Award for top fiction. The Queensland Literary Awards are particularly mean ingful to Hospital because Queensland, a state in northeast Australia, is her home state. The awards were created in 1999. Nine awards are given, with the $25,000 top-fiction award being the highest honor. Aside from meaning a great deal on a personal level, Hospital also regards the award as impor tant professionally. “It is very good for a book pub lisher to put a nice gold sticky on the cover,” she said. , . It also “sends two signals: that it (‘Due Preparations’) is a book prizewinner and that it is highly respected,” Hospital said. The novel centers on 10 hostages from a hijacked plane, which is destroyed. The people are kept for negotiating purposes, yet each knows he or she may not live through the experience. Each hostage tells a story in prepara tion for dying, she said. The idea for the book began in _ 1988 when Hospital, who came to USC in 1999, was watching a TV documentary on World War II. “There was a short clip of peo ple huddled together in an air-raid shelter in London during the Nazi Blitzkrieg. There were about a dozen people in a very small, dark space, and everyone was wearing a gas mask, and I was startled by the eerie sci-fi quality of the scene. You couldn’t tell who was male, who was female,” Hospital said. “There was something disturb ing and slightly monstrous about the figures,” she said. “I suddenly found ijlyself pondering this ques tion: What would it he like to be trapped and confined for a really lengthy period of time with a small group of people, all wearing gas masks and padded suits, all know ing that death and destruction were on the rampage outside the cramped shelter, all knowing they might or might not get out of the shelter alive? How would they deal with fear?” Thus was the beginning of her novel, the sixth for the celebrated author. In “Due Preparations,” Hospital explores how people deal with traumatic events in their lives. Her first draft was almost fin ished around the time of the Sept. 11,2001, attacks, which “did have a bearing on the final section of the novel,” s.he said. The ending was originally gloomy, she said. But when the me dia uncovered phone calls hostages made to their loved ones on Sept. 11 and the conversations actually turned out to be calm, it gave her a less gloomy view of events, she said. While writing the work, Hospital had no expectations. “All my novels begin with the collision of an image and an idea,” she said. There’s white light, heat, fission — kaboom. The moment of conception is like an explosion in side my head. Not just my head — my body, too. I’m in a state of intel lectual excitation. I’m riveted by an image; I’m obsessed by an idea, and the idea always takes the form of a burning question that I feel a com pulsion to answer for myself. The novel is my search for an answer.” Comments on this story?E-mail gamecockudesk@hotma il. com Unanimous SG vote passes spending plan BY MICHAEL LAFORGIA THE GAMECOCK The Student Senate voted unan imously Wednesday to approve leg islation that will put nearly $190,000 toward solving such prob lems as campus safety and park ing. Treasurer Ben Edwards dis covered an unused surplus of stu dent-activity fees sitting in a bank account about two months ago. After the discovery, Student Government President Katie Dreiling said USC administrators ' told her to spend the surplus on one-time projects that would not establish recurring fees. Dreiling said the executive of ficers spent more than a month and a half coming up with a bud get, a plan that includes more : lighting on Greene Street, a Global Positioning System for USC shut tles and a two-year newspaper readership program. According to the officers, the money wasn’t simply divided among student organizations be cause not every USC student is a .,’ member of an organization. However, those organizations that did receive money, such as WUSC, will benefit all students, Dreiling said. “It’s our ultimate responsibility to see this goes to the students,” Dreiling said. “One of Student Government’s main jobs is to make sure the quality of students’ lives is always improving.” Some senators voiced discon tent over not being included in the formulation of the budget. Vice President Zach Scott said the ex ecutive officers wanted to move quickly to get SG “on the band wagon” of some initiatives that were going to happen anyway, such as the installation of GPS sys tems at shuttle stops. Edwards added that the officers wanted to avoid attracting too much media attention and possi ble outside pressures on spending decisions. A handful of senators also ques tioned the need to spend the new found money all at once. Edwards said, however, that if SG allowed the money to sit in the account, it will only lose value be cause of inflation, something he called “simple economics.” Comments on this story?E-mail gamecockudesk@hotmail. com : BRIEFLY Muslim association ° to hold discussions The Muslim Students Association will hold a series of lectures and discussions about Islam in an attempt to increase the mutual understanding be tween students from different re ligious backgrounds. ♦ Friday, Oct. 10 at 7:30 p.m., Russell House Room 203, “Peace within the Family” — The Holy Scriptures’ approach to having peace in the family ♦ Friday, Oct 17 at 7:30 p.m., Russell House Room 203, " Rally ' CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 opposing groups. Wolfe said he thought the protest was successful and left with his fellow supporters at 6 p.m. as planned. By then, four police of ficers had arrived on the scene. “It’s great that we’re allowed to express our opinions, and I hope “Religion and Health” — reli gious views and guidance about important health matters; the connection between the purifi cation of the body and the eleva tion of the spirit ♦ Friday, Oct 24 7:30 p.m., Russell House Room 203, “The People of the Book” — how does Islam Relate to Christianity and Judaism? What does the Quran say about the people of the book? How did the prophet of Islam address the similarities and the differences between the religions? Dinner and beverages will be served at each event. people realize that if they were in a different country, it wouldn’t be like that,” he said af ter the rally. Wolfe said he plans to obtain a permit and continue “ protesting on Wednesdays at t the same time, despite the presence of the peace protesters. Steve Skeldon, a participant in the Women in Black peace vigil, which included some U.S. war veterans, said he was upset by the FDD group’s noise. “Our method is that we have a silent vigil,” Skeldon said. “We support their right to express themselves, but this is deliberate ly disrespectful.” Virginia Sanders, also part of the peace vigil, was upset by the FDD protesters. “It’s easy for people with no ex perience with war to ring a cow bell,” said Sanders, whose hus band is a Vietnam War veteran. The Women in Black organiza tion was founded in Argentina in 1977. A Columbia chapter formed last October to oppose the war in Iraq. “We wanted to be a presence for peace,” said Rebecca Rogers, a member of the Columbia group. Rogers said the group created a men’s auxiliary branch so that both genders could be involved. Jeff Fuller, a first-year inter national business student and FDD protester, was concerned about a few of the Women in Black members’ comments to the group. He was confronted specifi cauy Dy one displeased member. “They just wanted to fight,” he said. “That’s not the way to address the matter.” The Women in Black rally every Wednesday, and Wolfe said he hopes to also have his rally every Wednesday, from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. “There are groups right now which are against the occupation of Iraq, and we believe that there needs to be a presence in Iraq in order for democracy to grow,” said Wolfe, a fourth-year Russian and mathematics student. Wolfe Said part of his job is making students’ voices heard who support U.S. military actions against terrorism. “We feel that we should provide the opposing side and provide an other voice so that the people of South Carolina and the people of the United States have a way to choose about the options that are out there,” he said. Comments on this story?E-mail gamecockudesk@hotmail.com “It’s great that we’re allowed to express our opinions, and I hope people realize that if we were in another country, it wouldn’t be like that.” JEREMY WOLFE FOUNDATION FOR THE DEFENSE OF DEMOCRACIES REPRESENTATIVE FORUSC Merger CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 academic.” Not so fast, says Liz Ruiz, a sec ond-year English student. “I’m taking 15 hours, thank you very much,” she said. “And I can tell you right now that lib eral arts students don’t want to take math and science classes.” Ruiz, along with Marie Russ, also a second-year English stu dent, were taking a break from their English 287 class in Gambrell Hall on Thursday af ternoon. Both agree that when they have to take science class es, they take the “dummy sci ences,” like astronomy and ge ology, or as Ruiz puts it, “rocks for jocks and self-paced astron omy, where you can slack off and do it all at once.” “It’s pointless to merge the two schools,” Russ said. “I don’t know anyone in liberal arts who wants to have anything to do with math and science.” USC had a college of arts and sciences up until 1973. The two colleges split because the math and science college felt it could attract more funding as a sepa rate college. Now that the colleges could reunite, some liberal arts students worry about their col lege having to share funds during a budget crisis. “I don’t want them to be using our money,” Ruiz said. But the possibility of a merger hasn’t sparked a mass protest from the students. Erin Hyatt, a second-year biology student, didn’t even hear about the merg er possibility until Thursday af ternoon while she was studying for her organic chemistry quiz. “Right now everyone is trying to get all of their exam stuff done,” Hyatt said. She said the only way she would be against the merger is if it changed the number of credit hours she needs to graduate. Russ says most students don’t care because it wouldn’t matter if they did. “We could all storm up there and say, ‘don’t do this,’ but if they want to do it, they are going to do it anyway,” she said. Comments on this story?E-mail gamecockudesk@hotmail.com Forbes CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 the salary earned in the five years after graduation; and the cost of attending, including tuition and forgone salary, which is the mon ey students would have made by working instead of going to school. The survey showed that grad uates of USC’S business school could expect to see a return on their degree investment in a lit tle more than three years. It also showed that the average salary increase for business graduates was from a pre-M.B.A. $33,000 to $98,000 in 2002, five years after graduation. Bob Markland, the associate aean tor ad ministration at the Moore School of Business, says the Forbes ranking will definitely bene fit the school. “Prospective students will look at us much more tavoraoiy Decause they’ll see that the opportunities to come here, get their degree and then to quickly increase their salary are very good,” Markland said. “They’ll look at us very pos itively, so this will help us a lot m me recruit ing area.” This is the third time Forbes has conducted the report, but the February 2000 and October 2001 reports separated pub lic and private scnoois. me ivioore scnooi oi Business ranked 18th among the public schools in the October 2001 report. “They’ll (prospective students) look at us very positively, so this will help us a lot in the recruiting area.” BOB MARKLAND ASSOCIATE DEAN FOR ADMINISTRATION AT.THE MOORE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS The Forbes report is not the only recognition the USC busi ness school has received. In August, U.S. News and World Report released “America’s Best Colleges Guide,” in which the Moore School was ranked 39th. The ranking was up four spots from the previous year and 10 spots from two years ago. USC was also ranked No. 1 in undergraduate international business education. For a complete listing of the U.S. and non-U.S. schools, visit www.forbes.com. Comments on this story?E-mail gamecockudesk@hotmail.com Cancer CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 people here are excited, cooper ating, energetic, enthusiastic and creative. These are the ingredi ents for large-scale success, and I plan to be a part of it.” Colorectal cancer has the sec ond-highest mortality rate of cancer in the United States, with about 155,000 new cases and 58,000 deaths annually. Lung cancer has the highest death rate. In South Carolina, about 800 people die each year of colorectal cancer, and 2,000 are diagnosed annually. Berger said colorectal cancer is more common in blacks than whites, but that black males are affected the most by the dis- , ease. Therefore, the research cen ter can have a huge impact on South Carolina because it affects such a large number of the popu lation. According to Berger, colon cancer is treatable if found in the early stages. He said it rarely has any symptoms, however, which makes it difficult to de tect. The research center will con tinue to receive the grant money during the next few years. It plans to hire more staff and pur chase additional equipment to continue the growth and success of the center. “Good things are happening here, and more is clearly on the horizon,” said Buckhaults. Comments on this story?E-mail gamecockudesk@hotmail.com Sunday, Oct. 5 ® AUTO BREAK-IN, LARCENY OF CD PLAYER, 1321 WHALEY ST. The victim came to the USC Police Department’s headquarters to report that his vehicle had been broken into. The victim said that while his vehicle was parked, someone forcefully removed the driver’s side lock, entered his car and took a Panasonic CD player from the dash. Part of the dash was damaged. Reporting officer: J.R. Merrill. Monday, Oct. 6 ® LARCENY OF LICENSE PLATE, WHEAT AND PICKENS STREETS. The victim said someone took his license plate from his car. Reporting officer: D. Pardue. ® MALICIOUS INJURY TO PERSONAL PROPERTY, DOUGLAS LOADING AREA, 614 MAIN ST. The victim said someone keyed his car along the front passenger’s-side fender and front passenger’s-side door. A dent and paint smudge about 12 inches by 6 inches was also made on the passenger’s-side door. Reporting officer: D. Pardue. Tuesday, Oct. 7 O INFORMATION - ANIMAL CONTROL, CLIFF f APARTMENTS, 1321 WHALEY ST. The complainant said a chicken was locked inside, the playground behind Cliff Apartments. Police said the chicken had been injured. Maintenance responded and removed the chicken. Maintenance later reported that Richland County Animal « Control picked up the chicken j and that because it was injured, it was put to sleep. - Reporting officers: G. Kerwin and B. Timbers. Wednesday, Oct. 8 © LARCENY OF TEXTBOOKS, POSSESSION OF STOLEN GOODS, 900 BLOSSOM ST. ^ The subject, Richard Tyler C Gillian, admitted to stealing four books from the Russell House bookstore and trying to sell them to Addam’s Bookstore. The subject was seen by officer Mitchum in the parking lot and was placed in investigative detention. The subject was also found in possession of a South Carolina driver’s license that had been stolen during an auto POLICE REPORT iese reports are taken directly from the USC Police Department Dmpiled by Adam Beam. Each number on the map stands for a crime corresponding with numbered descriptions in the list below. DAY CRIMES (6a.m.-6 p.m.) □ Violent O Nonviolent NIGHT CRIMES (6 p.m.-6a.m.) ■ Violent • Nonviolent CRIMES AT UNKNOWN HOURS E Violent © Nonviolent break in. Investigator Patterson arrived on the scene and arrested the subject for possession of stolen goods and larceny of textbooks. Estimated value: $376. Reporting officer: J. Patterson. Q AUTO BREAK-IN, LARCENY OF RADIO FACEPLATE, 1423 WHALEY ST. BATES HOUSE PARKING LOT. The victim said that when she returned to her car, she saw the passenger’s-side window had been shattered. The victim said the subject removed the faceplate from a black JVC radio. Estimated value: $150. Reporting officer: Clinton. House committee approves $87 billion for Iraq BY ALAN FRAM TliKASSOyiATKU PRESS WASHINGTON - A House com mittee handed a victory to President Bush on Thursday by approving nearly $87 billion for Iraq and Afghanistan and fending off lawmakers who wanted Iraq to eventually repay some of the aid. The Republican-led House Appropriations Committee ap proved the legislation by 47-14, paving the way to likely approval by the full House next Wednesday or Thursday. All 14 “no” votes were from Democrats, but 15 Democratic members voted for the measure. The Senate plans to vote next week on its own, similar package. A week of White House lobby ing paid off as Republican advo cates of using loans rather than grants ended up not even forcing votes on their proposals because of certain defeat. In recent days, many commit tee members heard personal pitches from Secretary of State Colin Powell, national security adviser Condoleezza Rice and Bush himself that loans would slow tile rebirth of Iraq’s econo my and sow suspicion that the United States wanted to control the country’s oil. “He was passionate yester day,” Rep. Zach Wamp, R-Tenn., a loan proponent, said of his ses sion with Bush. “My God, if his eyes had been lasers, mine would have been burned out.” The bill has about $65.3 billion for U.S. military expenses in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere, and $21.6 billion to rebuild those two nations and aid other countries in cluding Liberia. Most of the mon ey from both categories is for Iraq. Though the House measure largely mirrors the proposal Bush sent Congress last month, law makers gave it their own imprint. They approved an amendment by Rep. Frank Wolf, R-Va„ to re quire more detailed reporting on how the money will be spent. Also adopted was an amendment by Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Md., re quiring the administration tc show Congress details of no-bid contracts before they are award ed. By voice vote, members in cluded a provision by committee Chairman Bill Young, R-Fla., that in effect prohibits Rice from ad ministering the funds. The presi dential adviser did not need Senate confirmation for her job, and lawmakers said they want the money controlled by an offi cial they could compel to testify to Congress, such as Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.