Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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6 THE GAMECOCK ♦ Wednesday, January 21, 2004 Online.POll ' ( j is one of the most fun Should the USC law school . re,ever done as far as ex' raise admission standards to tracumcular activities go.” be nationally competitive? BECCA PAYNE WWW dailveamerork com eighth-grader at bryson middle school in www.aanygamecocK.com. simpsonville on her participatio] Results published on Fridays. first lego league challenge at . • ■ ■ * ‘ ' . • . f In.Our.Opinion Don’t forget Liberal Arts Following last week’s announcement that our university has hired renowned scientist Richard Webb to lead the nanotechnology initiative on campus, it would be easy to forget about the College of Liberal Arts, which has long been the cornerstone of USC’s reputation as South Carolina’s flagship university. Liberal Arts, which is soon to become the College of Arts and Sciences under the merger deal approved last year, seems to have become a footnote to the research campus push being advocated by USC president Andrew Sorensen. Obviously, USC’s leadership is The push for glvmg pnonty t0 a project mey __ . believe is crucial to the future research on campus cannot of use and the state by be done at the creatively finding new sources expense of Of education funding, departments such We believe the research as Liberal Arts, campus push will bring in top professors and contribute to the overall health of the university, but schools and departments that do not have ready sources of outside funding should not be gutted or ignored. The university’s health is dependent on a reliable source of funding, and since South Carolina seems unable to guarantee a balanced budget, USC is forced to look to someone other than the taxpayer. South Carolina is in desperate need of innovation to bring new businesses and industries te the state, and . hopefully programs like the nanotechnology initiative will do just that. Collaboration between USC and the state will ensure that tuition does not continue to rise because of falling tax revenues. Compared with sciences, there is less grant money available to the liberal arts, and so it would be dangerous to tie the welfare of the English department to the ability of its members to find outside funding. The endowed chairpersons program established through South Carolina’s lottery is good so long as the program is not used solely for the sciences that are able to provide a direct economic payoff to the university, at the expense of Liberal Arts. r i Gamecock.Corrections In Friday’s The Mix, Lewis Black was incorrectly identified. In Friday’s Sports, the Men’s Basketball story should have been credited to Jay Pou. If you see an error in today’s paper, we want to know. E-mail us at gamecockopinions@gwm.sc.edu. AboutJhe.Gamecock Editor in Chief Adam Beam Copy Desk Chief Gabrielle Sinclair Design Director Shawn Rourk News Editor Michael LaForgia Asst. News Editor Alexis Stratton Viewpoints Editor Patrick Augustine The Mix Editor Meg Moore Asst. Mix Editor Jennifer Sitowski Sports Editor Wes Wolfe Asst. Sports Editor Jonathan Hillyard Photo Editor Morgan Ford Asst. Photo Editor Johnny Haynes Page Designers Erin Cline. Staci Jordan. Brian Ray, Brad Senkiw, Mary Waters Copy Editors Allyson Bird, Jennifer Freeman, Jessica Foster Steven Van Haren Wire Editor Z'Anne Coveil Online Editor James Tolbert Public Affairs Kimberly Dressier CONTACT INFORMATION Offices on third floor of the Russell House. Editor in Chief: gamecockeditor@gwm.sc.edu News: gamecocknews@gwm.sc.edu Viewpoints: gamecockopinions@gwm.sc.edu The Mix: gamecockfeatures@gwm.sc.edu Sports: gamecocksports@.gwm.sc.edu Public Affairs: gckpublicaffairs@hotmail.com Online: www.dailygamecock.com Newsroom: 777-7726 . Editor's Office: 777-3914 STUDENT MEDIA Director Scott Lindenberg Faculty Adviser Erik Collins Creative Director Susan King Business Manager Carolyn Griffin Advertising Manager Sarah Scarborough Classified Manager Sherry F. Holmes Production Manager Amber Justice Creative Services Whitney Bridges, Robbie Burkett, Trenholm Ninestein Advertising Staff Adam Bourgoin, Latoya Hines, Jesica Johnson, Caroline Love, Ben Sinclair The Gamecock is the editorially independent student newspaper of the University of South Carolina. It is published Monday, Wednesday and Friday during the fall and spring semesters and nine times during the summer, with the exception of university holidays and exam periods. Opinions expressed in The Gamecock are those of the editors or author and not those of the University of South Carolina. The Board of Student Publications and Communications is the publisher of The Gamecock. The Department of Studei Media is the newspaper's parent organization. The Gamecock is supported in part by student-activity fees. One free copy per reader. Additional copies may be purchased for $1 each from the Department of Student Media. TO PUCE AN AD me GamecocK 1400 Greene St. Columbia, S.C. 29208 _ Advertising: 777-3888 Classified: 777-1184 Fax: 777 6482 CARTOON COURTESY OF KRT CAMPUS I will not fix your computer Throughout the college experi ence, very rarely will one en counter an adversary as worthy as “The Term Paper.” Typically, you spend days (or, in my case, a few rough hours prior to class) heavily researching the topic; studying your foe — taking note of weaknesses _ and drawing ^BB^^ out your plan of attack. KjgZgjlj Like a pro fessional box er, you dance around the I "“f'i"'!!? CURTIS CHOW with your ar- , . , ticulation and ™{l£$ar weaving your science way through student. counterpoints. Your paper is perfectly written — in a way that penetrates the very soul of the reader. When the final round is over, you stand tri umphantly over your enemy, scarred from battle, but victori ous. You move to hit the “print” button, when suddenly you are caught by a surprise attack! The dreaded “blue screen” pops up, laughing at you, mocking your ef forts with the utmost impunity. It might say “System Error” fol lowed by a stream of hexadecimal figures — just enough to taunt you with the hope of revival and restoration, but encoded in some alien language. Alas, you fought the good fight, but you were suck er punched at the decision. At this point you might be tempted to call upon your fa vorite IT-sawy friend, but before you do, allow me to make one point perfectly clear on behalf of geeks all over the world: No, I will not fix your computer. Well, I take that back. There are situations where I don’t mind lending my assistance; I just want ed to say that for the dramatic ef fect. Seriously though, there are many instances in which I per sonally find it disdainful when someone asks for computer help. Let me help you understand by presenting a few key points: Each IT professional has their own area of expertise; it could be Unix, Windows, hardware, pro gramming, networking, main frame, etc. Just because people work in the IT field does not au tomatically make them experts on Windows 98 or HP printers. Many IT professionals under go extensive training to achieve distinguished technological cer tifications. When you ask some one to “fix your computer” on an excessive basis, you have effec tively summed up their profes sional technical achievement and hard work in three words: “free workstation support,” which, to many, is somewhat insulting. A computer emergency on your behalf does not necessarily constitute one on mine. Getting angry with me because I’m too busy to fix your computer at your convenience will only give me further incentive to not help you. Furthermore, just because I know what is going on does not consti tute it as my fault that the E Machines you purchased for $300 broke. Besides, most computer problems are because of what we call “ID-10-T user errors” (take out the dashes and figure it out). This isn’t to say you shouldn’t ask your friends for help if you need it. I am more than willing to help my friends with computer problems. But unless you are a close friend or are an attractive member of the opposite sex, be prepared to receive a mighty em phatic scowl if you ask in excess. I assure you that great are the number of geeks who are fed up with people who take advantage of their talent. It would not hurt to think before asking. In.Your.Opinion Business fraternity offers experience Attention business and HRSM majors: Are you ready to make more of your college life? Would you like to feel more pre pared to enter the job market when you graduate? Maybe it’s time you join an organization designed to help you do just that. Delta Sigma Pi is an international, coed, pro fessional fraternity that can help you gain an edge in today’s job market. With over 200,000 members worldwide, Deltasig is a widely recognized group known for its accomplishments in business. Entering its 75tn year on USC’s campus, the Beta Gamma Chapter allows stu dents of commerce to be in volved in their community, grow socially, and apply skills learned in class. Members serve the Carolina community, as well as Columbia, by volun teering with Clean Carolina, the SPCA, Oliver Gospel Mission, and more. The fraternity also allows members to meet contacts at re gional and national conferences and participate in chapter events including formals, re treats and beach weekends. Furthermore, the Beta Gamma Chapter strives to promote professionalism by hosting speakers from local companies, holding work shops on interviewing, resume writing and touring local busi nesses. Deltasig offers the best parts of a fraternal community while equipping members with the knowledge and skills needed to put them ahead in the workplace. Having inducted over 1,750 members into our chapter since 1929, we eagerly welcome this semester’s membership class. To be considered for member ship, applicants must be en rolled as a business or HRSM major, have at least a 2.5 GPA, plan to graduate no earlier than December 2004, and attend at least three of our five recruiting events. rnese events wm occur on the evenings of Jan. 26 through Jan. 30. Locations, times and more information can be found on our Web site, http://www.business.sc.edU/d eltasig. If you’re serious about fur thering yourself professionally and using your time in college to equip you for the commercial world, I encourage you to come to our recruiting events to learn what Deltasig can do for you. Meet our members next week and consider joining the world wide network of distinguished men and women who proudly call themselves brothers of Delta Sigma Pi. MARK SMTHER THIRD-YEAR MARKETING AND MANAGEMENT STUDENT. Need experience in design, editing or writing? Work for The Gamecock. Come to our interest meeting tonight at the Russell House Room 305 at 8 p.m. Can’t make it to the meeting but still interested? E-mail: gamecockeditor @gwm.sc.edu ' 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 gamecockopinions@gwm.sc.edu. Letters will be edited for space, possible libel and style. Anonymous letters will not be published. Call the newsroom at 777 7726 for more information. Iowans confound political forecasts While most people in these ^ parts were settling down after a 0 long weekend Monday night, a monstrous upset was taking place in the plains of America’s heartland. Over a month ago, I called the Democratic nomination for Howard Dean, the once obscure governor from Vermont who as cended to the place of front-run ner in the previous weeks. [And although I’m not a gam bling man, I re marked to my roommate that we should start a pool for who would win Iowa. Dean was my pick. It’s a RYAN HOLT fTLw"8 1 * First-year didnt become a f political fortune-teller. “ science Although all student. is not lost with Dean, an enor muub puxxixuai upncdvcix gxccxixy diminished his lead. The unique Iowa caucus system (somewhat akin to the primaries of the other states) is rumored to be unpre dictable and this time rumors rang true. On Monday morning, Howard Dean, Senator John Kerry (MA), Senator John Edwards (NC), and Congressman Richard Gephardt (MO) were neck-and-neck. But when I saw the news reports with Kerry at 38 percent, Edwards at 32 percent, and Dean at 18 percent—I was blown away. What does this mean now? Kerry is one of the happiest men 0 on earth. His lead in Iowa will bring him formerly hesitant . donors who waited until the first caucus to see whom the best can didate was. Edwards now has enormous potential. As the only Southern candidate (the only other Southern candidate is Gen. Wesley Clark, who did not par ticipate in Iowa) to experience a primary so far, the senator has gained extreme credibility; and with the need for every president to win the South, Edwards has more of a chance. uepnarui iiaa uiuppeu uui. Perhaps the candidate who has done more for Iowa than any oth er, Dick Gephardt, in my mind, 0 should have won. Yet without Iowa, the campaign road would be far too long and far too painful. Then there’s Dean. Even after his loss, I felt somewhat that he didn’t lose. He assumed the plat form at a rally filled with cheer ing friends, shouting that he and his following would take the coun try back. Was he angry, sad, or ex cited? Can anyone answer? I can’t say whether Dean’s the front-runner. He still carries the clout he once did, yet perhaps the voters of Iowa have said to the rest of the country that ex tensive media attention and an gry rants aren’t the definitions £ of a would-be president. * Perhaps John Kerry’s seri ousness (which I once thought was one of his obstacles) has been the driving force to his suc cess in Iowa. in nis musical me music Man,” Meredith Wilson writes the lyrics to a song called “Iowa Stubborn”: “We can stand touch ing noses for a week at a time and never see eye to eye.” Have we underestimated the Hawkeyes? Iowa is only the beginning of what is to come in American pol itics. More candidates will drop. Other candidates will surge and then falter. Despite the polls you see, Iowa is proof that polls aren’t always what they seem. Predictions anyone? Winners.and. Sinners UNIVERSITY HOUSING Proves it supports diversity with new triangle Technicolor signs. LEGOS USC competition brings back the exciting blocks; NASA plans to use them to build new Mars space shuttle. JOHN KERRY Proves that acting like JFK really does play well with people in Iowa. PARIS HILTON Tops worst dressed list for 2003; plans a new video to defend her good taste. CELEBRITY ENDORSEMENTS Does anyone care what Ashton Kutcher thinks about politics? COLUMBIA Bans skateboarding while trying to improve image — good job Mayor Bob.