University of South Carolina Libraries
Creation-evolution fight extends to textbooks BY ANDREliv BELL UNIVERSITY DAILY (TEXAS TECH U.) LUBBOCK, TEXAS (U-WIRE) - Early next month, a decision will be made about whether biology textbooks should have equal space explaining both the evolution and creation theories. The Discovery Institute is pushing for the inte gration of the intelligent-design theory within biology textbooks. Many evangelical Christian col leges have introduced intelligent design theory, or creation theory, into science courses. The next stride would be to introduce the theory into textbooks, according to The Chronicle of Higher Education. The movement coalesced in 1996, when the Discovery Institute established the Center for the Renewal of Science and Culture. The center, which is largely fi nanced by Christian foundations, spends about $1 million per year to support research, advocacy and publications on intelligent design, according to The Chronicle of Higher Education. The focus on textbooks is in Texas because the state hasa large influence on textbooks through out the nation. Harvey Madison, president of the Lubbock, Texas, chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, said California and Texas have a large amount of influence with other states over the content of their textbooks. “The reason there is so much focus from pro-creation camps is because Texas is very powerful when it comes to textbooks,” Madison said. “Publishers print a lot for California and Texas, and other states get what the compa nies print.” Some professors have said they believe an effective rebuttal to in telligent-design theory must in clude a discussion on the philoso phy of science. Although scientists do not wish to broach topics involving reli gion, design advocates often ap peal to the public by arguing that Darwinism precludes the exis tence of God, according to the Chronicle of Higher Education. In response, many intelligent design proponents believe there is a conspiracy to keep their ideas out of scientific circles. “I’ve been in public life a long time,” says Bruce Chapman, pres ident of the Discovery Institute. “This is one of the most blatant forms of viewpoint discrimination that I have seen.” Madison said the ACLU has dealt with this issue for years. The main concern he and the organization have is that the issue involves the separation of church and state. He said teaching cre ation in school the injection of re ligion in school. Chairman of the biological sci ences department John Zak said the problem with introducing cre ation into biology textbooks is the understanding of both topics. He said evolution is stated as a theo ry, while creation is stated as a be lief. Creation cannot be addressed through a scientific method. Zak said although he does not feel cre ation in the Bible is wrong, the topic should not be placed in a sci entific text. “As a Texan and a father of young teens, by including both it gives a false impression as to what science is or what it isn’t,” Zak said. “It is not science as we define science.” Many organizations have tried similar efforts in the past, Madison said. One example was four or five years ago. Members of schools boards throughout the state tried to get their own school prayer policies and religious agen das in schools and textbooks. In response, the Texas Legislature reduced the power of the school boards from reviewing textbooks to checking the factual accuracy within the books, Madison said. In the event that the proposal passes on Nov. 5, he said the ACLU will take action. If the proposal is passed, the ACLU will file a lawsuit against J the organizations involved with ^ getting the proposal to be passed, Madison said. “The lawsuit could be filed in a state or federal court because it would be against the state and the national constitutions,” he said. Tickets CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 the game is held here, most stu dents are able'to get a ticket. “Everyone who wanted to go last year, as well as the last three or four years the game has been at USC, has gotten tickets to the Carolina-Clemson game. This doesn’t necessarily mean that this will be the case this year though,” he said. Massaro said the earliest the system would change is nex.t year because of the planning and costs it would require. “A new system would cer tainly be costly because it would involve fairly significant com puter programming. We don’t know how costly it would be just yet,” Masarro said. Whether, the system will be changed and how it will be changed is mostly up to the stu dents. Both Dreiling and Kronsteiner say student input will be the deciding factor. “It’s especially important that we hear from student voices. We need to pick a system that’s go ing to be efficient and that’s go ing to work for them,” Kronsteiner said. Comments on this story?Email gamecockudesk@hotmai l. com hley’s Alley A Full Service Salon \ 91 5 Lady Street Columbia, S.C. 29201 Located in the Vista P — \ Bring a friend and split the cost of highlightsl \ $30.00 each! \ Call to make your appointment. Call Marcy Price for an appointment @ 779-7561, ext 214 E-mail: slraightasstring@aol.com Homecoming CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 weekends. The first Friday night pep rally took place before the 1938 Homecoming game. Pep rallies were held in subsequent years in the old field house where the Coker Life Sciences building now stands. No pep rally was scheduled in 1950. But after a group of cheer leaders met the Carolina Band on campus to work on some routines the night before the game, more than 1,500 followed the music and assembled to join in the fight song and cheers. The pep rally led to a procession to the North steps of the State House, where the crowd became so loud that it disturbed a late-working Gov. Strom Thurmond, who walked outside to give a few impromptu remarks. The pep rally was converted to a student variety show in 1962 called Carolina Capers, which ran until 1971 when it was replaced by Cockfest, one of the university’s youngest Homecoming traditions. “It’s interesting to see what tra ditions have lasted here and what things have changed,” University Archivist Elizabeth West said. West said the Homecoming event that has been celebrated the most times over the years has been the Friday afternoon parade. The first parades in the early 1930s were much less extravagant than today’s parades. Alumni would march behind the band and wave to the crowd. Parade floats were unheard of at the time. lit'i l; Jfls, Coastal CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 observation system would help the researchers to better assess what is going on in the coastal en vironment and would help gather data from hurricanes to aid emer gency planners. “That is certainly our goal,” he said. “There is a lot of expertise out there, but we know that we are taking a leadership role in these efforts.” This grant money comes from a NOAA program called Coastal Observation Technology System, which was created to help devel op regional observation systems in hopes of building a national sys tem. The Coastal Services Center in Charleston has given out $24 million in grant money to coastal observation projects. Comments on this story?E-mail gamecockudesk@hotmail.com fcj Women's Skechers 631D Harden St. (803) 254-9488 The Shoe Market a www.studentadvantage.com Q HHHHKS rfmm ffiPSS fS'-.1 li > /i JLM ▼/ \-- ~ "inPnBWI PHOTO BY FORREST CLONTS/THE GAMECOCK Sororities sell baked goods at Spurs and Struts to raise money for their organizations. A 1938 editorial in The Gamecock described that year’s parade as “Columbia’s annual ver sion of Mardi Gras.” The parade didn’t become a per manent Homecoming fixture un til 1963. By that time, floats had be come common to the event. It was also the year that floats were dis continued from entering the foot ball stadium at halftime, as stu dents had begun building them so big that they wouldn’t fit through the entrance tunnels. Mary King was elected USC’s first Homecoming Queen in 1941 representing Alpha Delta Pi. The University Archives staff scoured catalogued yearbooks and old copies of The Gamecock to find information on the origins and evolution of Homecoming. “It’s a fun exhibit; it’s meant to be lighthearted, just something you can come in and spend a few minutes looking around and tak ing in the history,” West said. The concept of Homecoming originated from a university’s alumni returning to their alma mater to support their team. Homecoming games were often scheduled after the completion of a streak of away games so as to make it a homecoming for the players as well. The University of Illinois claims to have invented Homecoming, citing some October 1910 student newspaper articles referring to the new con cept. The University of Missouri claims to have the most widely attended annual Homecoming celebration. Comments on this story?E-mail gamecockudesk@hotma il. com ...jijl—1^—II . PHOTO BY MORGAN FORD/THE GAMECOCK Clean Carolina drew a record crowd Tuesday afternoon. -— ; 7 zn 3hroom W/fh a V /«w o/er beers °n /lew cfownfown, pref^-els, z)ppe-j-|'jL_er3y fhe whole Mellow experience. -fr<3 °Mir: Delicious Specialty Pizzas Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream Fresh Baked Calzones 24 high-quality "Shroom Taps" Spring Water Dough Pretzels (draught beer) Monumental Hoagies Over 50 draught dodgers (bottles) Scrumptious Salads -■ . ArSb .i.^ I open 7 c/zVa 2) ri«<ek / 5(IfOOto 2^nc[ Aoofn j’^f\6^0C|'j'’ca)ll ziheiyf arW beaf file rc±»h/ \ooj Gre-f^su'js, zrf -4 m/ntrf'e for |-(oo) from ^.-SA Cleanup CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 from all over South Carolina will go to different areas around the state to pick up litter. The challenge begins immedi ately and will last until Sept. 5, 2004. “We were quite happy to see such a big turnout for this semester's Clean Carolina Kickoff Event, and the students really seemed to enjoy it,” said Student Government President Katie Dreiling. Student Sen. Carson Bacon spearheaded an effort last year to make the Kickoff Event a part of Homecoming but didn’t have enough time to make it happen, Dreiling said. SG was delighted to have the idea finally come through this year. Organizations interested in signing up for the Clean Carolina Challenge can come by the SG of fice, located in Russell House 227, for more information. Organizations can still participate in Clean Carolina without partic ipating in the Clean Carolina Challenge. Comments on this story?E-mail gamecockudesk@hotmail. com