Atmosphere is essential for college romance
BY JUSTIN CHAPPELL
TIIK (iAMKCOCK
It’s a combination of sweaty
palms, eye contact and body
movement that shapes the in
stinctive side of a hot or cold date.
And with USC located in the heart
of Columbia, there are just as
many rationales for a specific
place as there are overall dating
locations.
“I like Five Points — dancing
at Rafters,” first-year criminal jus
tice student Anne Ahuja says. A
night of dancing presents a re
laxed environment and allows
easy communication.
“You can get to know the per
son without the stress of being
one-on-one.”
Voicing a similar opinion,
first-year international studies
student Stephanie Jones agrees
that dancing dates are good, al
though she expresses different
reasoning.
“Clubs are fun because you get
to see if the other can dance,”
Jones says.
Places to take a date range from
a raucous Friday night at Five
Points to a cool, quiet evening on
Main Street.
Commenting on the Jammin’
Java coffee shop on Main Street,
third-year media arts student
Nick McDonald says he likes to
research the local music scene in
preparation for a date.
“Not hard rock,” McDonald
says. “A good acoustic show, like
at Jammin’ Java.” McDonald says
“middle-of-the-road” music is the
best style for those special out
ings.
For the performance-minded
folks whose dating preference lies
in the live arts, third-year chem
istry student Ileana Strauch sug
gests the Trustus Theatre, located
in the Vista.
“It’s a laid-back atmosphere
with La-Z-Boys, popcorn, and at
the same time, it’s hip and risque,”
Strauch says.
For those of us who aren’t spec
tacular on our feet and don’t fancy
the fine arts, first-year pharmacy
student Thien Kim Ho has some
suggestions for a date with a con
versational tone.
“Not a club,” Ho says.
“Somewhere intimate where you
can talk: restaurants, malls and
parks.”
While all of the previously men
tioned locations will probably
have some out-of-pocket expens
es, it’s apparently not a major dat
ing mistake to grace the campus’
student union.
“I’d take my date to the Russell
House, straight to the Gimp, and
use my meal plan,” second-year
electronic journalism student
Jason Grant says.
However, Grant also offers a tip
on how to flatter your date if it’s
going well.
“If she’s pretty, I’ll get her the
32 ounce drink, too,” he says.
Speaking of using campus re
sources, second-year electrical en
gineering student Ceedric
Chapman says the traditional din
ner-and-a-movie approach works
well.
“First, we’d go to the Russell
House Theater — because the
movies are early,” Chapman
says.
He offers another low-cost
method to top-off the evening:
“Then we could get a McFlurry at
McDonald’s,” he says.
Whether it’s a first date or an
other outing with an old flame,
there are options for everyone
from the hot-toed dancers to the
budget-minded meal-planners.
Next time that special someone
asks for a night on the town, ig
nore the sweaty palms and enjoy
the McFlurry.
Comments on this story?E-mail
gamecockudesk@hotmail.com
PHOTO BY MORGAN FORD/THE GAMECOCK
Amy Foweler and Jay Begg enjoy the afternoon on the
Horseshoe, h popular spot for couples.
Dinner
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
Judaism, Christianity, Wicca,
Hinduism, Buddhism and the
Baha’i faith will all be represented
at the Interfaith dinner.
The purpose of the Interfaith
Student Council is to enhance
students’ understanding of differ
ent religions and to promote ac
ceptance and tolerance of the var
ious religious groups on campus.
The dinners help the council with
this mission.
Rosansky said the interfaith
dinners show students a different
aspect of religion, while broaden
ing their understanding of differ
ent faiths. “It opens your eyes to
a side of religion that people often
forget about. Religion is not just
political but also cultural,”
Rosansky said. “It’s important for
students to attend the dinner be
cause it increases diversity and
shows them there is more than
just Christianity on campus.”
United Methodist Campus min
ister Tom Wall said he thinks the
interfaith dinners make religion
more accessible for students
through the telling of stories in
stead of the teaching of doctrines.
“I think many students are not
aware of the various faiths and re
ligions around the world, and
there is nothing like meeting and
hearing people to learn about
their religions,” Wall said. “The
informal storytelling is better
than just reading a book about re
ligion.”
The interfaith dinners also give
lesser-known religions a chance
to educate others about their faith
and views.
“While the Baha’i is the second
most widespread religion, the num
bers are not that high,” Bahiyyih
Young, a fourth-year psychology
student and Baha’i Club member,
said. “Baha’i is especially not well
known in South Carolina, and the
dinner gives us the chance to share
with other people.”
For more information on the
interfaith storytelling potluck
dinner, contact Rosansky at
rosansky@mailbox.sc.edu.
Comments on this story?E-mail
gamecockudesk@hotma il. com
â– uliicaHB
=3
The Editor in Chief is responsible for all
operations of The Gamecock, USC's student
newspaper that is published three days a week
during the Spring semester. Duties include
overseeing editorial content, recruiting and
supervision of the editorial staff.
Applications and job descriptions are available at the Office of
L the Director of Student Life, Russell House 115, or online at
L www.sa.sc.edu / studentmedia.
DEADLINE for completed applications is
Wednesday, November 12,2003 @ 4:00 p.m.
tl frwrito
Quick, Healthy and Fresh!
Burritos, Tacos, Salads, and Soups!
Affordable, so saddle up...
934 Harden Street / Five Points
765-2188
The Fraternity & Sorority Councils Present
The 19th Annual
CAROLINA/CLEMSON
' “A
4
AMERICAN RED CROSS
Blood Drive
November 17-21,2003
The Russell House Ballroom
1 11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Appointments may be made by e-mailing carolinablooddrive@yahoo.com
+ American
Red Cross