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f . 7 Online.Poll k “Because the dean is going to Should South Carolina extend ** <afMUSC) doesn’t necessarily the LIFE Scholarship to five mean that one sch°o1 is better years? ‘ than tbe other. This is not an in www.dailygamecock.com. ter-collegiate athletic contest.” Results published online. ANDREW SORENSEN use PRESIDENT. ON THE IMPLICATIONS# A W POSSIBLE PHARMACY MERGER In.Our.Opinion Life Sciences billflawed When the General Assembly overrode Gov. Mark Sanford’s veto on the Life Sciences bill, which would provide at least $220 million for research at the state’s major universities, it highlighted the hurdles education faces in the state. On one hand, the additional funding will aid USC, Clemson and the Medical University of South Carolina in setting up research programs to attract knowledge-based industries to the state, which in the long term will bring higher-paying jobs and increased tax revenues. The trade-off, however, is that legislators added riders to a good bill, making it nothing more than an example of pork-barrel politics. Our elected representatives in the State House knew that if Gov. Sanford vetoed the bill, it Despite the pork barrel politics involved, the Life Sciences bill would benefit USC by providing additional research money. would look poorly for him politically. When the governor sent the bill back to the legislature with his veto, and they subsequently re-voted to override it, the only losers in the process were fiscal responsibility and common-sense lawmaking. Gov. Sanford’s threat to sue the legislature over the amendments to the bill is yet another reaffirmation that he has not tried to work with his neighbors in the State House to get his agenda passed. Instead, mistrust and bad feelings have resulted from poor communication and the hard headedness of Sanford and the leaders of the House and Senate Conversely, adding unnecessary and expensive items to the Life Sciences bill is irresponsible, and technically illegal, for the legislature to do. South Carolina politics have for too long supported the status quo, which is compromise at the expense of tough decisions and logical decisions that benefit the state’s residents. South Carolinians are right to demand more mature leadership from their representatives, and the Senate’s bottleneck is an insult to all of us who depend on them decisions for a functional government. SOUND OFF Create message boards at www.dailygamecock.com or send letters to the editor to gamecockopinions@gwm.sc.edu Gamecock.Corrections If you see an error in today’s paper, we want to know. E-mail us at gamecockopinions@gwm.sc.edu. AboutThe.Gamecock Editor In Chief Adam Beam Copy Desk Chief Gabrielle Sinclair Design Director Shawn Rourk Asst. Design Director Staci Jordan 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, Brad Senkiw, Mary Pinckney Waters, Chaz . McCarthy Copy Editors Allyson Bird, Jennifer Freeman, Jessica Foster, Steven Van Haren, Joel Wallace Wire Editor Z'Anne Covell * Online Editor James Tolbert CONTACT INFORMATION Offices on third floor of the Russell Hou^f. 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 Vacant Creative Services Whitney Bridges. Robbie Burkett, Burke Lauderdale, Paul Koska Advertising Staff Robert Carli, Kate Femino, Latoya Hines Caroline LovefJesica Johnson, David Weatherford Public Affairs Kimberly Dressier 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 Student ^ Media is the jm newspaper's parent jIF organization. The Mg Gamecock is supported in part by gp student-activity fees.^B One free copy per reader. Additional copies may be purchased for $1 each from the Department of Student Media. TO PUCE AN AD The Gamecock S 1400 Greene St. Columbia, S.C. 29208 Advertising: 777-3888 Classified: 777-1184 Fax: 777-6482 /AAzXT'x ''''A ( it-.*****A v / Thati/wacw^ ! JlUwt i l ice A6£ is Jj \ 5f^5 u5<K^ "/ x. 7/e^ / A7 / v I If AT^ ( I " II II TSJ$W\ semctfV/ey CARTOON COURTESY OF KRT CAMPUS I waste space like bloggers do I think it’s time we all do a lit tle reflecting on the semester that-should-have-been, and not the semester-that-was. I planned on accomplishing a few things this semester (straight As, good atten dance records, building a suc cessful nuclear reactor and winning the Pulitzer Prize), but only ac complished DAVID STAGG one thing Third-year worth men- rnedia arts .. . T student tioning: I suc cessfully man aged to not enter the Thomas Cooper Library for a full semester. Not once did I set foot in the place. I rule. I know what you’re thinking-. It’s not an accomplishment to avoid the library. Well, what with the Internet and all, I’ve found other sources of material for research papers (along with a whole lot of viruses, dating services and that random scant ily clad girl who always ends up on that one ad on Hotmail’s Web site). But in my pursuit of glory and accomplishments (and glo rious-successes at failing), I have noticed a common trend among college students, facili tated by the “profile” option of Instant Messenger: blogs. What’s the deal with these on line journals? At the beginning of the semester, when I first went on an Instant Messenger diet, [which eventually turned me into Messengertarian (one who does not use the Internet for messenger systems [I’ll tell you about why some other time (if you have enough modifiers to your sentence, you get to use brackets)])] you could see the seeds of personal journaling tak ing hold, soon to blossom into a beautiful forest of ideas and in timate thoughts. One of my really close friends, who we’ll call Zane Ullman No. 2 to protect his iden tity, was the first person I knew to start to putting his “diary” on an Internet site. At first, he re ally went all out with it. He was saying some seriously personal stuff that I wouldn’t have the ca hones to broadcast to let the public read, let alone for people mentioned in his journal to read, let alone anyone to read, let alone the Pope to read. And Lord only knows what the Pope would do. Probably make you wear a dunce hat. Because they look like his. And his isn’t cool. Fashion faux paw, Pope, major fashion faux paw. But now, everyone got a blog site — even Jesus Christ. Who knew? Well, I guess he did. And * I guess God did, too. But they’re the same person anyway. Nothing gets past them. Regardless, the problem now is that most of the time, blogs don’t say anything serious at all. I don’t want to read about your lunch at Taco Bell. I want to know who. you have a crush on! Come on! Give me the gossip! I guess I was spoiled when Zane #2 set the bar on blogging. Oh well, it’s a stupid word anyway. • In conclusion, I respect all of you out there who blog, but I im plore you to make it worth the readers’ time. Use words like implore. Normally, I would read blogs to waste time when I should have been doing home work, but now, I feel as if I’m REALLY wasting my time read ing them. And because I’m not a big — oh, how do you say — “thinker,’.’ you probably won’t see my blog anywhere in the near future. But the second a blog earns someone the Pulitzer Prize, count me in. In Your Opinion Band, WUSC need campus support Two recent submissions struck a sour note with me that I wish to comment on (“WUSC’s broadcasts don’t serve students,” Monday, and “Replace USC band with CD samples,” Friday, April 16). With regards to the former, I suggest that if Mr. Bowen wish es to express his opinion, that he at least takes the time to have an informed one. If he were to have taken the time to know what he was writing about instead of just sharing his thoughts, he would know that the purpose of WUSC is to educate the Carolina commu nity of other styles of music i that exist beyond the same ten songs that saturate the air waves of every other radio sta tion across the country. Or, j perhaps he is so close-minded that he cannot comprehend en joying anything more than what the commercial media will offer. In any case, if it’s not to your liking, then change the station, or turn your radio off. Regarding the latter letter, the USC Marching Band is as much a part of the football team as the offensive line. Aside from the many sacrifices and hours of dedicated practice, the mem bers of the USC Marching Band are students, too, and have the same right to attend every foot ball game, contrary to what Mr. Ekman believes. These individ uals embody the fighting spirit of USC, both here, and at distant campuses, proudly supporting our football team. Are you to say that USC should marginal ize that spirit and loyalty into a thin plastic disc? Never. In my opinion, Mr. Ekman, nothing shows more loyalty to the university than giving one’s self to perform something dear to every Carolinian. These indi viduals exhibit more school spir it in one autumn Saturday in support of USC than all of the “Gamecock” T-shirts you and I could ever buy. JEFFREY GARCIA FOURTH-YEAR CIVIL ENOINEERINO STUDENT Edwards sets poor example for USC I was appalled after reading the statements made by former Student Government Treasurer Ben Edwards in the Monday edition of The Gamecock. Mr. Edwards was honored with the prestigious Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award during the Awards Day ceremony April 15, and was asked to re flect on the honor bestowed upon him. He stated that he participated in the various ac tivities, referring to those that led to his winning the award, because he “wanted to get into a good law school.” In addition, Mr. Edwards also stated that one of the only reasons he was excit ed to win the award was because it “may make a difference in my (law school) application.” After reading the column, I was ashamed that our school would give such an honor ta^ ] someone who appears to have act ed out of purely selfish reasons. While it is a fact that most stu dents participate in extracurric ular activities in order to enhance graduate school or job applica tions, it is by far not the only rea son behind becoming involved. Instead of thanking the university for his education and the oppor tunities to help others he was priv ileged to have had, Mr. Edwards’ statements show that he only, act ed out of self-interest when he par ticipated in the activities that now enhance his law school applica tion. I hope Mr. Edwards was mis quoted, and that he does not tru ly have this attitude toward help ing others. I also hope the rest of our generation does not possess this same attitude. If so, the future does not look bright. MARIE VERMILLION FOURTH-YEAR HISTORY STUDENT 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. Bringing back the draft for fairness I must admit, when I first heard mention of reinstituting the draft over a year* ago I thought it was somewhat hu ■ morous. Maybe it was because it came from Congressman Wrangle and our beloved Sen. Hollings, but more than likely it was because I knew it had about the same chance as happening as me winning the Pulitzer Prize However, the situation in Iraq has caused me to wonder if the Pulitzer isn’t completely out of my reach. Now don’t get me wrong, I am not clean ing off a space on my shelf yet. JUSTIN 14 ^ust seems SIMMONS like the arf Third-year “given for political the draft are science student starting to hold • more rele vance. There are a few reasons I be lieve a draft would be a good idea, at least in the current situ ation. I know it’s not often that you find an argument for the draft in a college newspaper (es pecially post-Vietnam) but I be lieve when the current national security problem is looked at ob jectively, and you really think about the ways a draft could be beneficial, the reinstitution of the draft begins to make sense. The most pressing reason for a draft is the critical need for manpower that the armed forces now finds themselves in. Whether you believe this short age comes from too many .de fense department budget cuts or the over-commitment of our mil itary, we are asking a lot of our troops — even if being a soldier is their chosen profession. The defense department is trying to help the situation by re-evaluat ing the need for our troops in Korea and Germany, but long term policy changes are not enough to help our over-worked soldiers now. Another good reason just to begin a dialogue on the reinsti tution of the draft is the way it will increase political involve ment. If this were the sole reason, it would be highly manipulative to dangle the chance of a draft over the head of the American electorate simply for the sake of better voter turnout. This case, however, is simply an externality caused by the necessity of ex panding our military strength. America has had successful and unsuccessful drafts — the success being determined by the perception of the war into which Americans are being drafted. Few men refused to go fight in Europe or the Pacific during World War II, given the obvious threat that was posed by an Axis victory. Vietnam was a far less popular war, and in the eyes of many, a far less needed one. If you want to find out if the American people perceive the war in Iraq as needed, reinstitute the draft and you’ll have your an swer come November. A final reason, to reinstitute the draft is purely intrinsic, and yet is something that could be very beneficial to my generation. If we look at the veterans from World War II, I believe one char acteristic that was present in them, but yet which my genera tion lacks is fortitude. Nothing steels the nerves quicker than the possibility of facing great re sponsibility. Whether drafted or not, each person will be forced to scrutinize their beliefs and re evaluate the cost of living in a land so richly blessed. 1 can’t see how that would be a bad thing. Online. Poll Should USC consolidate the pharmacy school with MUSC? Yes 14% No 68% I don’t know 18% “Yes, because If you replicate the process < it’s wasteful.” I CHUCK HOFFMAN THIRD-YEAR INTERNATIONAL STUDIES STUDENT “No, i think it should remain here.” ETAI ESHEL THIRD-YEAR NURSING STUDENT “I don’t really have an opinion.” MONIQUE MORPHIS FIRST-YEAR MARKETING MANAGEMENT STUDENT RESULTS FROM WWW.DAILYGAMECOCK.COM