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ONLINE POLL Who should be USC’s starting quarterback? Go to www.dailygamecock.com to vote. Results posted on Friday. THBi%Alk COCK EDITORIAL BOARD EDITOR COPY DESK CHIEF Adam Beam Gabrielle Sinclair DESIGN DIRECTOR VIEWPOINTS EDITOR David Stagg Wes Wolfe NEWS EDITOR SENIOR WRITER Michael LaForgia Kevin Fellner THE MIX EDITOR ASST. NEWS EDITOR ^ Meg Moore Jon Turner IN OUR OPINION Health officials prevent panic When first-year business student Kirkland Darby contracted meningitis, the possibility of a mass panic on campus was creat ed. The disease, which college students are at a higher risk for, is often fatal and very contagious. But USC Health Services responded immediately and handled the situation well, prevent _ ing a campus wide panic that would have resulted in an unnec W essary number of students rushing to get vaccinated. First of all, Health Services officials responded quickly. As soon as Darby was diagnosed, USC Health Health Services officials, along Services responded with housing and administra professionally to tion officials, contacted Darby’s the threat Of friends and family members to meningitis on have tilem receive medication to CampUS. prevent the spread of the dis ease. USC officials released several public notices and news releases to make sure the student body, as well as the Columbia com munity, were aware of the situation and understood its implica « tion. The Thomson Student Health Center had adequate P amounts of medication, and always had more the morning after it ran out. Best of all, USC officials did an excellent job of publicizing which students were at risk and who should receive medical treatment. This helped prevent a mad rush for medication that could have .potentially overwhelmed health officials, who wise ly screened students seeking medication to see if they merited vaccination. Officials also provided vaccinations to students who were not deemed “at risk,” but at the individual’s expense. It’s reassuring to know that when a medical emergency happens, USC health officials are ready with the training and the organization to respond accordingly. | IT’S YOUR RIGHT 1 Exercise your right to voice your opinion. Oeate message boards at www.dailygamecock.com or send letters to the editor to gamecockopinions@gwm.sc.edu GAMECOCK CORRECTIONS On Friday’s front page, the picture of John Edwards should have been credited to Jason Steelman. The Gamecock regrets the error. If you see an error in today’s paper, we want to know. E-mail us at gamecockopinions@gwm.sc.edu. ABOUT THE GAMECOCK EDITOR : Adam Beam CONTACT INFORMATION design director Offices on third floor of the Russell House. ^ David Staee The Editor’s office hours are Monday and ■ 66 Wednesday from 3-5 p.m. ^ copy desk chief Editor: gamecockeditor@gwm.sc.edu Gabrielle Sinclair News: gamecocknews@gwm.sc.edu news editor Viewpoints: gamecockopinions@gwm.sc.edu Michael LaForgia The M'X: gamecockfeatures@gwm.sc.edu Sports: gamecocksports@gwm.sc.edu ASST news editor Public Affairs: gamecockPR@yahoo.com Jon lurner Online: www.dailygamecock.com viewpoints editor Newsroom: 777-7726; Sports: 777-7182 Wes Wolfe Editor’s Office: 777-3914 THE MIX EDITOR STUDENT MEDIA The Gamecock is the Me« Moore editorially independent sports editor ®l:RE,?yoR student newspaper of Jonathan Hillyard Scott Lmdenberg the University of South asst. SPORTS EDITOR faculty adviser Carolina. It is Daniel Kerr Erik Collins published Monday, Wednesday and Friday S: du«,a"a"d ousaii niiig spring semesters and photo editor business manager nine times during the Jason Steelman , Carolyn Grlffin summer, with the sports photo editor exception of university Katie Kirkland advertising manager holidays and exam PAGE designers Sarah Scarborou8h periods. Opinions Erin Cline, Jennifer classified manager expressed in The Logan. Chas McCarthy, Sherry F. Ftolmes Gamecock are those of . Jessica Ann Nielsen, the editors or author B Staci Jordan production manager and not those of the ■ copyeditors Patrick Bergen University of South Jennifer Freeman, creative services Carolina. The Board of Anna Huntley, Daniel Burke Lauderdale, Student Publications Regensheit, Jason Chelsea Felder Laura and Communications is , Reynolds, Jennifer Gough, Joseph' the publisher of The M Sitowski, Steven Van Dannellu Kristen Gamecock. The JB Haren, Joey Wallace Williams Department of Student M online editor Media is the Brian Cope advertising staff newspaper's parent PIIRLIC affairs Robert Carli' Ryan organization. The Jane Fielden, Katie Gorman, Caroline Love, Gamecock is Mj)es Jesica Johnson, Katie supported in part by ^ Stephens student-activity fees. . One free copy per TO PLACE AN AD reader. Additional The Gamecock Advertising: 777-3888 copies may be 1400 Greene St. . Classified: 777-1184 purchased for $1 each Columbia, S.C. 21208 Fax: 7/7-6482 from the Department of _____ Student Media. -A-t-1—--r THREAPED MUZZLE & FLASH SUPPRESOR I--1 BAYonetU* mount HIGH CAPACITY AMMUNITION MAGAZINE ----<pl _ ASSAULT WEAPON ^/UF30 CARTOON COURTESY OF KRT CAMPUS Long gone memories open wounds ■ Some people need to reinvent themselves to move forward in life The first year of college is a time for us to proverbially find ourselves. It’s a time filled with late night conversations about reverse Darwinism and the meaning of life. College offers each person the opportunity to reinvent their pre college identity. For some the processes of reaching down into their depths to find that new persona is more difficult then others. The prospect of conforming to anything that does not resemble their past is more plausible. Why do I cringe at the thought of seeing an old acquaintance in a campus the size of use? At the risk of embarrassingly incriminating myself I am going to reveal a rather infantile story with two disclaimers. This story is not in chronological order, and it reflects no vast amount of bent feelings on my part. In the summer of 2000 I had the pleasure of meeting a girl whose name for the sake of this column will be Mary Margaret. Yes, it’s safe to assume that the double name is an indication of a very attractive Southern girl. Mary Margaret and I worked together that summer. We didn’t exactly hit it off, but as the summer progressed we became friends. In addition to working together, we had a weekly Saturday class. Hence, that summer I saw her quite often. As the school year advanced, we probably JULIAN saw each other MALASI * couple°f times. I he FOURTH-YEAR Christmas INTERNATIONAL ._• „ yp^ JOTF.ls dance is a very STUDENT lame semi formal at my high school, but since I had to attend it, I decided to invite my new friend. The reply was yes. I don’t remember greatly anticipating the night, but to a sexually inexperienced guy like myself the opportunity of spending quality time with her seemed very appealing. Picking Mary Margaret up at her parents’ house was nor bad. Dinner was actually enjoyable; we had a decent dialogue. I know, you are probably thinking I should make my point, right? I’m getting there. When we get to the dance the prissy Southern girl acts contrary to the way I had expected. She becomes ill and we leave the semi-formal almost 20 minutes after we first arrived. I remember being confused. Was it something I did? What went wrong? Her alleged sickness was a charade. I am certain there was nothing physically wrong with her, but like a good sport I acknowledged it and took her home. Reinventing yourself is often a self-inflicting process. My case is the exception. Moving from the other side of the Atlantic fueled my change. The girl in question happens to be in one of my classes, and this forces me to come to terms with my own idiosyncrasies. In class I consciously find myself trying to avoid looking in her direction. I pretend to stare at something — a blank wall will do. I stare intently at a posting that does not exist in the elevator as we share the small space. With college being a new chapter, I face the reality of growing as an individual while still being reminded of the past. I have branched out of my comfort zone, affiliated with different people and settings. In the process I have hopefully become something original. Changing into something new is an uncomfortable uphill battle, but when one reaches the top, one become something new. While some individuals are willing to undergo change, some remain the same infantile beings they once were. They perceive themselves to be something genuinely better, consequendy leading to alienation. They attempt to become the idea of coolness in their minds, even though that something is often not really them. IN YOUR OPiNION Flag debate distracts from today’s issues I write this in concurrence with the only sensible point made by Craig Link (“Dwelling on the flag doesn’t help anyone,” Wednesday). The other points Mr. Link makes, including the statement that African-Americans are not meaningful in this era, are so deeply rooted in ignorance that they deserve no response. Yet Mr. Links shows a flash of intelligence when he suggested that it’s “high time” that South Carolina “moves on” to other issues. Mr. Link, I agree with you whole heartedly that it is high time we put the history behind us and deal with issues that are going to shape the future, and this is exactly why the Confederate flag should not be on the grounds of the State House. While I have never been there, I am certain there is no swastika on the capital building of Berlin. Millions of Jews were killed in Nazi Germany, and millions of Africans were killed in the Middle Passage alone. I could continue, but the reason for this letter is not to “dwell” on history. The reason is to highlight the intelligence in Mr. Link’s argument. Thus, in the spirit of Mr. Link’s argument, let us all get together put 1 on a smile, parade all of the historical pieces on the grounds of the state house down Gervais Street and shove them into the museum. Maybe then, we will be able to consider some of the more important issues in this state, like why the only public post-graduate law education in South Carolina has an ever increasing, in-state price tag of over $14,000. JERMAINE D. JOHNSON Graduate student in the Law School Graduates students deserve ticket policy I am writing in response to The Gamecock staff editorial “Football ticket plan unfair to Undergrads,” from last Monday’s issue. First, The Gamecock asserts that it is unfair that USC has a policy that makes graduate students and undergraduates unequal. No one ever claimed all students are equal and rightfully so. In the Law School, in-state students pay over twice the tuition of undergraduates, and out of-state students pay nearly $10,000 more than non-resident undergraduates, and this affords graduate students privileges unavailable to undergraduates. The paper is correct in the assertion that USC deems not all students equal. However, every student in the Law School was once an undergraduate. If an undergraduate wants to gain the privilege of graduate student status, they should work hard and apply to a graduate program. Further, it is in the university’s best interest to provide perks to graduate students to assist in quality of life and recruiting. Second, law students do not have the luxury of choosing their class schedule or course load. Given the rigors of the schedule and course work, it is not feasible for law students to go to the Russell House. Third, the paper is mistaken regarding the ticket “reservation” process. The Gamecock editorial implies that each student in the Law School is guaranteed a ticket, and that is untrue. Since Law School students have to proactively have their ID scanned, nearly every one who has a ticket uses it or gives it to another student to use. The University has established an administrative process for obtaining block seating for football games. The Law and Medical schools did the work to go through this process. If other graduate schools or organizations wish to gain block'seating, they simply need to organize and go through the appropriate channels. ERIN BAILEY Graduate student in the Law School 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. Anonymous letters will not be published. Call the newsroom at 777 7726 for more information. The haves must reach out to the have-nots ■ Haiti citizens need help after destruction and political instability We can save many lives by caring enough to help. This simple but short statement needs to become a reality for the people of Haiti. n Haiti needs help. Haiti, which is located in the Caribbean, is the poorest nation in the western hemisphere where 80 percent of its inhabitants live in poverty, according MARK to the CIA, and MCLAWHORN are feeing an THIRD-YEAR unimaginable POLITICAL humanitarian SCIFNCF STUDENT crisis because of Hurricane Jeanne. The situation to date includes over 1,500 people dead, over 1,200 people are missing and an estimated 300,000 people left homeless. The large death rate is attributed to mass-scale deforestation, which contributes to volatile landslides. Moreover, the death rate is expected to rise because of the unsanitary conditions of decaying bodies still submerged in the floodwaters. Years of political instability have created a continuance of negative consequences. This crisis of epic proportions inspired me to write this column to urge people to help the plight of the Haitian people who have suffered so extraordinarily. It is disheartening to see how the people of Haiti have barely existed because of inhumane poverty. With a gross domestic product per capita rate of $ 1,600, the Haitian people have to battle a life of poverty, compared to other industrialized nations like Luxembourg whose GDP per capita rate is $55,000 and the United States, whose rate is at $37,800. When I was a child, I heard many news stories and conversations about the extremely poor conditions in Haiti. I believe it comes to a point to stop talking and to start producing tangible solutions for Haiti’s welfare. Although the standard of living in Haiti is considered one of worst in the world because of political turmoil, we refuse to allow Haitian refugees to seek asylum in the United States as compared to other refugees confronting similar atrocities. In addition to the poverty in Haiti, deforestation, which was a major cause of this current humanitarian crisis, needs to be addressed with specific solutions to correct this trend. Deforestation is a process in which soil because loose because of the loss of trees’ roots. Thus, the loose soil combined with heavy rains creates landslides and floods. The sad thing about the deforestation is that the trees aren’t being cut down for development but for the basic action that is essential to sustaining of life, food. Haiti’s desperate economic situation encourages the Haitian people to cut trees to produce an energy source for food preparation. To improve the prospects of preventing such a natural disaster caused by deforestation, Haiti’s government needs to think proactively by encouraging alternative sources of energy and the planting of trees to replenish the environment. I was happy to hear that the United States has increased Its initial humanitarian assistance from a meager $60,000 to nearly $2 million. Personally, I am asking student organizations as well as individuals to be the answer to the solution of poverty in Haiti by making donations to the Haitian people. Donations can be made to the U.S. Funds for UNICEF and other approved aid organizations. One may ask why should I donate to a place that I know little or nothing about? My answer is because it is the right thing to do. Imagine if you were one of those 300,000 persons who were homeless, or your family members died or were missing. I know how I would feel if I was living in a situation of this magnitude. I encourage others to bring hope to this despair by lending a helping hand. COLLEGE QUOTE BOARD THE PITT NEWS I^UNIwRlTY OF PITTSBURGH NeseYork assemblyman James Tedisco, R-Schenectady, has badmouthed the condiment that has made Pittsburgh so tasty for the past 135 years, saying that he would boycott ketchup — Heinz ketchup, to be specific. He added that eating Heinz tartid ketchup is tacitly voting for John Kerry, because of Kerry’s wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry. THE OLD GOLD AND BLACK WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY But on behalf of the people of the United States of America, I ask for forgiveness and understanding. It is not our fault. Each election we are offered a progressively blander slate of uninspiring candidates. This year, we are privileged to have the worst choice between two presidential hopefuls in our nation’s history.