Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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wivw.dailygamecock. com _WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1,2004 IN THIS ISSUE (Q» NEWS Republicans say country in good hands First lady Laura Bush and Calif. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger praise President Bush Tuesday at the Republican National Convention in New York City. Page 4 ♦ VIEWPOINTS Trying to bury ^Pitchfork Ben wJustin Simmons discusses South Carolina's sordid political past, and Kristen Gilmore addresses a doughnut controversy in South Florida. Page 5 ♦ THE MIX S.C. readying for the storms When it comes to hurricanes, the better the preparation, the » better the chances of survival. Caitlin Coker investigates the possible effects of a monster storm. Page 6 ♦ SPORTS Linemen look to dominate Stephen Demedis breaks down the USC and Vandy offensive lines. Page 9 WEATHER ♦ TODAY ♦ THURS. > High 85 High 81 Low 71 Low 67 FOR EXTENDED FORECAST. SEE PAGE 2. IND£X Comics and Crossword.8 Classifieds.,.11 Horoscopes..8 Letters to the Editor.5 Online Poll...5 Police Report.2 I t GPS shuttle system online By THOMAS CHANDLER THE GAMECOCK USC’s NextBus system became fully operational Friday after several years of planning. The technology allows bus riders to see up-to-the-minute bus arrival times at shuttle stops and displays the shuttle’s location on a map at the NextBus Web site, www.nextbus.com. According to Chris Howard with USC Vehicle Management and Parking Services, parking has spread to the edges of campus, which he said called for improving the network of bus transportation within the campus. “We just wanted to make the most efficient shuttle system,” Howard said. Having seen similar bus-tracking systems in other cities, USC took bids from three providers. California based NextBus Information Systems won the job. Parking Services joined with the Justice Department, USC’s Department of Business and Finance, the Division of Law Enforcement and Safety and Student Government, which contributed $30,000 to install the system. Here’s how it works. Satellites triangulate the location of the GPS unit on each bus and relay the bus’s position and ID to the wireless Information Center. Computers then organize arrival times, passenger messages and transit management problems. They then send this information to the Web site, to the transportation headquarters and to stops along routes or nancmeia receivers such as personal digital assistants via wireless communication. On the Web site’s map, bus positions update every 90 seconds or 200 meters. The map viewer can see bus names, routes and predicted arrival times, or see stops, route loops and route overlaps at stops by moving the cursor. This tool allows students to locate nearby stops, find the most convenient pickup times and compare bus routes. NextBus’ arrival prediction system continually records arrival times as a bus makes its rounds. A computer makes predictions about the time to the next stop based on previous times, theoretically becoming more accurate as it records more and more rotations. That prediction travels wirelessly to the Internet and to signs at each stop so students waiting there can know when to expect their ride. Student response is difficult to gauge, Howard said, but what has trickled in to parking services has been positive. 1 revor Hartley, a second-year business student who parks at the Coliseum, said about the system, “Since I know the approximate arrival time instead of hopelessly waiting for a bus, I’ll more likely use” the buses. For more information, visit the link in the Vehicle Management and Parking Services Web site or try the new program out at www.nextbus.com. Comments on this story? E-mail gamqcocknetvs@gwm.se. edu “We just wanted to make the most efficient shuttle system.” CHRIS HOWARD use VEHICLE MANAGEMENT & PARKING SERVICES The NextBus information seen on electronic boards at each bus stop can now be accessed on the NextBus Web site, WWW. nextbus .com JASON STEELMANJTHE GAMECOCK Students assist in reading program By GREG WEBSTER THE GAMECOCK At South Kilbourne Elementary, the scene at the end of the school day is just one step ahead of chaos. Students race to a school bus or their waiting parents as the teachers try their best to keep the children in line. All they can seem to do with the 8-year-olds is herd them. But when a young student named Emit walked into his first grade class last year, there was no such enthusiasm. While most students jumped at the opportunity to listen to teacher Abba Wallace read a story in her distinct West African accent, Emit would only put his head down. Something was obviously wrong; Emit couldn’t even spell or sign his name. To Wallace, his situation seemed beyond desperate. Then a USC student named Tom walked into Wallace’s classroom and something changed. Emit began looking to Tom as a father like figure. They would play football together at recess and Tom would help him with his schoolwork. Emit became a different student. Instead of rolling his eyes or sleeping through his school day, he would work diligently so he could spend time with Tom. As Emit’s former teacher Abba Wallace said, Tom got “the child thinking, inspired ... There’s no way that child could have done as well as he is now.” A year later Emit would forever be influenced by Tom and the program that paired the two together in Mrs. Wallace’s first grade classroom. The program, America Reads, is a federal program unveiled in August 1996 by President Bill Clinton. The program uses federal funding, largely at the state’s discretion, to promote literacy in children pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. During an Internet town hall meeting in 1999, Clinton said the reasoning behind this program was to focus “on giving our citizens the tools and conditions they need to make the most of their own lives. And at the same time we challenge our own citizens to take a far more active role by serving in our ♦ Please see READS, page 3 BAR PATROL JASON STEELMAN/THE GAMECOCK Police presence in Five Points is on the rise because underage drinking has become a greater problem, officials say. The Alcohol Enforcement Team issued 30 tickets on the first day of classes to minors in possession of alcohol in the downtown area. Team targets underage drinkers By LaDONNA BEEKER THE GAMECOCK The next time you’re out drinking with friends, keep an eye open for men in blue shirts and badges because they could charge you with illegal drinking if you are under 21. The Alcohol Enforcement Team issued 30 tickets on the first day of classes to minors in possession of alcohol in the downtown area, said Shannon Anderson, Lexington Richland Alcohol and Drug Abuse Council program director. “I spend most of my time reading advertisements from businesses that are targeting college kids,” Anderson said. The advertisements provide an idea for where most students go to have a good time. The enforcement team includes the USC police department and Lexington and Richland counties’ sheriff’s departments. The task force is present to encourage vendors in the downtown area to end underage drinking and to stop students from harming themselves, said USC Law Enforcement and Safety Director Ernie Ellis. The vendors include convenience stores, restaurants, clubs and even local parties, Ellis said. “We respond to any tip,” he said. “We work all of them.” With a mutual aid agreement, any officer, regardless of which county, has authority downtown. The enforcement team has ♦ Please see ALCOHOL, page 3 Bracelets honor cancer survivors By JULIA SELLERS THE GAMECOCK Yellow, a hue traditionally associated with cowardice, has come to represent a cancer awareness campaign begun by cyclist and cancer survivor Lance Armstrong. As part of the campaign, retailers are selling yellow bracelets, resembling a hospital bracelet, engraved with Armstrong’s mantra of “Live Strong.” The bracelets, which sell for $1, have now become a local craze. Throughout campus and Columbia, one can easily spot people sporting the yellow bracelets. Brian Curran of Outspokin’ Bicycles, a cycling shop on Devine Street, said he has been overwhelmed by the demand for the bracelets. “I bought the first 150 bracelets, figuring if I sold , 50 of them, I ♦ Please see BRACELET, page 3 JASON STEELMAN/THE GAMECOCK Keith Iwinski, general store fnanager of Outspokin’ Bicycles on ( Devine Street, wears a wrist band in support of cancer research.