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‘Frats at Bat’ benefits children with cancer f BY ALEXIS STRATTON THE GAMECOCK , USC’s Delta Delta Delta sorority brought home the dough for chil dren’s cancer research Sunday, raising thousands of dollars through “Frats at Bat,” a softball tournament at Pacific Park behind the Greek Village. The fourth annual event, which took place from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., brought together participants from 13 fraternities and sororities for competition with a number of spectators from around the USC community. Registration was $50 per team, and admission to the event cost $5 per person. The group also re ceived corporate and alumni do nations. Last year, “Frats at Bat” raised almost $8,000. The final amount for this year will not be calculated un til later this week, because of the continued collection of mail-in do nations. ‘“Frats at Bat’ is especially im portant to Tri Delta,” said Jennifer Barclay, a third-year print jour nalism student and Tri Delta member. “Philanthropy is at our heart. We love working with the children, and we visit them every week. That’s really what we’re all about.” Tri Delta members coached the seven teams formed for the tournament. Those who did not coach served food, collected money and sup ported the team members. Second-year business student Sarah Will, Tri Delta “Frats at Bat” coordinator, was proud of the tournament. “It was actually a bigger suc cess this year due to the bands and the location,” she said. Columbia musical acts Madison Fair, Flyby and Brett Tracey performed for free, when previous years lacked entertain ment. “It wasn’t bor ing, but there was nothing to really do besides watch the game,” Will said of years past. “The bands were awesome. It was a lot fun having them out there.” The winners of the tournament were Lambda Chi and Sigma Nu, which combined to make one of seven teams participating. The winners received free pizza, doughnuts and a trophy, which will be delivered at their next chapter meeting. Anne Cooper Ellefson, a second year chemistry student and Tri Delta member, said she had fun cheering on participants. “It was kind of in a better venue” this year, she said. “It had bleachers and a more baseball-sta dium kind of feel.” The Blatt P.E. Center double-booked the space the Tri Delts attempted to reserve, so the event was held at Pacific Park, she said. Entertainment aside, the Tri Delta sorority said that children’s cancer research is the cause that counts. “It’s one of the reasons a lot of us joined the Tri Delts,” Ellefson said. The money from this event will be divided equally between St. Jude’s Hospital and the Palmetto Richland Hospital. “It’s been our philanthropy since forever basically,” Will said. Nationwide, Tri Delts have act ed as volunteers for the same cause since 1974, raising over $10 million for children’s cancer hos pitals, research facilities and can cer camps. USC’s own chapter has raised almost $70,000 since last fall . through events such as Bowl for ' Cole, Dance Marathon and Tub-a thon. Comments on this story?E-mail gamecocknews@gwm.sc.edu “We love working with the children, and we visit them every week. That’s really what we’re all about.” JENNIFER BARCLAY TRI DELTA MEMBER Life is calling. How far will you go? The Peace Corps can help you jumpstart your career with assignments in a variety of work areas. Join Peace Corps representative and former Volunteer Keith West to learn more! Richland County Library Information Session & Rim Presentation Bank of America Room Wednesday March 24, 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. University of South Carolina Information Session & Film Presentation USC Career Center H. William Close Bldg., 6t(iFloor Thursday, March 25, 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. For more information or to arrange an interview: email kwest@peacecorps.gov - or call 800.424.8580, option 1 / ext. 23473 Peace Corps www.peacecorps.gov • 800.424.8580 I Do you know a student, administrator, staff or faculty member at USC who is helpful, caring, _ and knowledgeable in assisting others have a positive experience at USC? In other words, someone who "lights up" I Is there a person at USC who has been instrumental in your path to success or made a difference in some way? Is there someone who helped you excel in a subject in which you were I struggling? Is there a person who always has the right answer? Is there someone who has helped make your life become better organized, more positive or more successful? Is there a coach or maintenance worker, an RA or TA, an advisor or friend, a desk attendant or teacher who has been extremely helpful to you and others? If so, nominate that USC person for a You Light Up USC award via e-mail to: alphald@gwm.sc.edu or print and mail to: Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society, Student Government Office, Box 195, USC, Columbia SC 29225 I Clearly and succinctly state in 300 words or less: I 1. Your name and e-mail address. I 2. The name and title (if applicable) of the person you are nominating, and building of department where he/she works/resides. I 3. Your reasons for nominating this person. I 4. Your relationship to the nominee (i.e. "student," "resident," "friend") Fifty or more awards will be presented annually in the spring. The deadline to nominate for 2004 is March 31. You Light Up USC awards are sponsored by USC's national award winning honor society, Alpha Lambda Delta. Scholarship CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Vietnam last month to begin what he called “a healing process” — including forming a commission on civil discourse. The 35-member group first went against university adminis tration last year over a series of monthly newsletter articles ac cusing homosexuals of squelching free speech by pushing for hate crimes legislation. The administration froze the College Republicans’ money for two days. Nirschel said in turn, he received threatening letters claim ing he was suppressing the group. Then another article critical of Kwanzaa, which celebrates the history and heritage of Africa, sparked a complaint by a multi cultural student group. Before the Student Senate had a chance to deal with that issue, the College Republicans came up with the whites-only scholarship. Mattera, who is of Puerto Rican descent, said the scholarship was a parody of minority scholarships. Mattera himself was awarded a $5,000 scholarship from the Hispanic College Fund, he said. The whites-only scholarship generated national publicity, which angered university officials and many students who worried their school was being labeled as racist. Minorities make up less than 10 percent of the 3,400 full time undergraduates. The scholarship was criticized by the state Republican Party and Ed Gillespie, chairman of the Republican National Committee. In a Feb. 17 letter to , Mattera, Gillespie said the schol arship conveys a “message of ex clusion” that doesn’t represent the party’s values. He suspend ed the group’s right to use the party’s symbols. Nirschel, who says he’s eager to attract more minority students and faculty members convened a town meeting on campus he said at tracted more than 500 people. His commission on civil dis course includes faculty and stu dent members and has already de cided to organize a debate team and create a journal. Increased donations raised the scholarship. The American Civil Liberties Union backed the group’s right to free speech after the Student Senate considered taking away its funding after the scholarship was awarded to Adam Noska, a 21-year-old junior from Weymouth, Mass. The Senate set aside the issue. 2910 Devine Street 254-7900 Solving Problems Including: DUI Criminal Defense Auto Accidents Cromer Law Offices A General Practice of Law J.L. "Bubba" Cromer, Jr. Former S.C. State Representative T/iank you to t/i/s year's Caro/ina Carn/va/e sponsors! V ^F 2004 Sponsors: Columbia Place Carolina Alumni Association Carolina Collegiate Credit Union Gamecock Bi-Lo Mac-Gray Sodexho Prize Donations: Beezer's California Dreaming Career Center New Orleans Restaurant Campus Recreation Regal Cinemas Papa John's Pizza Capital City Bombers • • • Remember Housing Online Sign Up is March 22nd through 29th on VIP! I University Housing I J©in \he Qdebmim^.Live ©n Campus