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ONLINE POLL Should Syvelle Newton be USC's starting quarterback? Go to www.dailygamecock.com to vote. Results posted Friday. THIPKAMECOCK 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 RHA methods raise questions Some questions need to be raised about the RHA Senate cut ting funding from Carolina Television last week. The Residence Hall Association, of which every on-campus student is automatically a member of and pays fees to support, has a Senate, much like the SG Senate, which passes legislation and decides how to spend money. Last week, senators voted to deny CTV, a student organization that produces short news shows aired on WRHA, channel 8 on campus, a $7,500 request. Instead, the Senate allocated $1,100 to WRHA to replace CTV. Brian Wayne, representing WRHA, cited the “lack of pro duction from CTV in the past” as the reason for dropping the group’s funding. RHA Treasurer Deirdre McCabe said, “Students don’t watch, and most of them don’t even know what CTV is. If WRHA could produce what CTV does for less money, it cannot help but benefit our constituents.” We have no qualms with RHA dropping funding for CTV on those grounds. But we do have questions concerning the way RHA decided to cancel CTVs funding. The week before the budget passed, the Senate voted to do away with affiliates’ and executive officers’ voting rights and discussion privileges. Because of this, CTV was helpless to defend itself from seeing its funding removed. The vote was close, 34-16, barely meeting the required two-thirds majority to approve the budget. If affil iates and executive officers had voted, the outcome might have been different. RHA has a right to decide how to spend its money, but it also has an obligation to fair play. By removing affiliates’ voic es, that fair play is in jeopardy. RHA has a right to decide how to spend its money, but it also has an obligation to fair play. IT’S YOUR RIGHT \ Exercise your right to voice your opinion. Create message boards at www.dailygamecock.com or send letters to the editor to gamecockopinions@gwm.sc.edu GAMECOCK CORRECTIONS In Monday’s News, Mandy Torres’ name was misspelled. In Monday’s The Mix, the feature on blogs should have read that “A J School Year” is for all students in the journalism school. The Gamecock regrets the errors. 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 Stags The Editors office hours are Monday and 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 Mix: gamecockfeatures@gwm.sc.edu Sports: gamecocksports@gwm.sc.edu asst, news editor Public Affairs: gamecockPR@yahoo.com Jon Turner Online: www.dailygamecock.com viewpoints EDITOR Newsroom: 777-7726; Sports: 777-7182 Wes Wolfe Editor's Office: 777-3914 ™E M,'fEDIT0R STUDENT MEDIA The Gamecock is the MegMoore editorially independent. sports editor ?IRE?!0RJ ^ 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, „D1TC. Wednesday and Friday SENIOR WRITER CREATIVE DIRECTOR rf, ,rlr,o (ho fall anrf Kevin Fellner Susan King during the fal and 3U mug spring semesters and PH0T0 editor BUSINESS MANAGER nine times.during the Jason Steelman Caro|yn Qriffjn summeri with the sports photo editor exception of university Katie Kirkland advertising manager holidays and exam PAGE designers Sarah Scarborough periods. Opinions Erin Cline, Jennifer classified manager , expressed in The Logan, Chas McCarthy, Sherry F. Holmes . Gamecock are those of Jessica Ann Nielsen, ’ the editors or author Staci Jordan production manager and not those of the copyeditors GarenCansler University of South Jennifer Freeman, Anna creative services Carolina. The Board of Huntley, Daniel Regenstieit, Burke Lauderdale, Student Publications Jason Reynolds, Jennifer Chelsea Felder, Laura . and Communications is Sitkowski.Shana Till, Steven Gough Joseph the publisher of The Van Haren, Joey Wallace rvmneiiv Kristen Gamecock. The ONLINE EDITOR Williams' Department of Student Brian Cope Media is the advertising staff newspaper's parent PUBLIC affairs Robert Carli, Breanna organization. The Jane Frelden, Katie Evans, Ryan Gorman, Gamecock is Caroline Love, Jesica suppoded in pad by Johnson, Katie Stephens student-activity fees. ■; — One free copy per TO PLACE AN AD reader. Additional The Gamecock Advedising: 777-3888 copies may be 1400 Greene St. Classified: 777-1184 purchased for $1 each Columbia, S.C. 29208 Fax: 777-6482 from the Depadment of ,___ Sgjdent Media. IfeGfflrifcfefa "Research foApEMB... nmw I V/IDER THIS I iwEo.an’ V/ITHIE9S Nooculer.,. UZLISSMWL_J B ^ELEK^ (CKTCaWW Voters have duty to elect good leaders ■ Bush’s foreign policy debacles demand that citizens pay attention The Kerry-Edwards versus Bush Cheney election campaign is increasingly wearing me down. Perhaps I sometimes take politics too much to heart. I realize that unrealistic or even false vote-seeking promises are common practice in most elections. The promises are glaringly obvious on both sides here — from Kerry’s so called flip-flopping to Bush’s middle class tax break proposal that his own administration admits cannot possibly be paid for. Yet I am deeply worried with 2004’s unusually aggressively negative campaigns. There have been less-than honorable accusations and character assassinations — chiefly and shamefully from the Republican side. In addition, the media’s relentless coverage and too frequent questionable interferences, such as advertisements, devaluing John Kerry’s leadership in Vietnam and CBS’s flawed report on George W. Bush’s service in the National Guard have contributed to submerging real politics in a frenzy of spin and scandal. These features damage the credibility of politics and encourage voter disillusionment. This is incredibly frustrating for me because I believe that the outcome of the presidential election is vital this year, given the extraordinarily serious international situation. For example, the fact that North Korea is awaiting the outcome of the election before it negotiates with international authorities over KIM nuclear PATRICK "eapo,ns illustrates how SECOND-YEAR important a HISTORY , _ • i t c EXCHANGE change in U.b. STUDENT leadership could be. Even if you do not believe or have no interest in Democratic or Republican ideals or their platforms, it is vital that you express your approval or disapproval of what Bush’s Republican administration has done in the past four years. Regardless of how much you follow political discourse through television, movies, radio, books, newspapers, magazines or even within classes at USC, you have a valid opinion on whether America is a better place today: opinions on being richer or poorer, more or less equal, safer or more threatened from domestic crime or terrorism, admired or despised by the outside world — by whatever criteria matters personally to you. If you believe that a state politician or the president has made serious errors of judgment — whether personally or by following the advice of others — he or she must be replaced. Democracy allows and demands it. I would be more than happy to offer a monologue on how far I believe the president has structurally damaged the American economy and run it into dire straits, or how he has embarked on an ill-conceived “war against terrorism” that is now manifesting itself as a “clash of civilizations” previously unknown to our post-Cold War generation. These arguments are all well publicized. Apparent good intentions and strong, consistent leadership should not be immediately favored when, so far, these have created such evident disasters in Afghanistan and Iraq. Nearly 1,200 American troops and civilians have died in these two countries to date, as have around three times as many Afghani and 10 times as many Iraqi civilians. Both countries are now experiencing bitter civil wars that will yield more terrorism before democracy. American-led action there, added to the deadlock between Israel and Palestine, has further destabilized the Middle East. I believe that the carnage evident after only four years under Bush speaks for itself, that the stakes are much too high for second chances. Re evaluation, flexibility and patience could provide an alternative answer to these most difficult of challenges and responsibilities faced by America at home and abroad. You have a duty to your, fellow Americans and to civilians around the world to vote for what you believe in. IN YOUR OPINION • - . • • • i Student section not loud or intimidating What is going on with our student section? You know the section where the students, the “hardcore” Gamecock fans, are supposed to be sitting. For the past two home games, I have been seeing a lot of things that are such. an embarrassment to the true Gamecocks fans. Instead of seeing a sea of garnet and black, I see dots of green, yellow, blue and (of all colors) pink. The “Southern debutantes” that are so hyped up about what ESPN GameDay said about their being so formal and trendy are letting us down by wearing dresses that have colors and patterns that hurt my true USC eyes. I see “fans” who obviously care more about drinking, fighting and socializing then cheering on their team. Worst of all, there are students who sit throughout the entire game and don’t even cheer. Is it because it’s not a big game? Is it because we’re not on TV? I don’t understand. I think a lot of USC students need to think about why we have a student section. You see Tennessee, Georgia and Clemson student sections in a plethora of the schools’ colors. It’s intimidating and it shows school spirit. I came to this school because I thought that the fans of the Gamecocks were some of the best in the nation, and I’m starting to have second thoughts. For once, I want to come to a game and get chills because I see a student section that truly cares for the football program and for the school. I want to see that garnet in the day and black at night every game. I want everyone to be proud that they are Gamecocks. LAUREN SMITH Second-year electronic journalism student No shame in being young, liberal As Election Day nears, I find myself appalled at the number of young people — not just at USC, but across the country — who take pride in calling themselves conservatives or big Republicans. They proudly display their W ‘04 stickers or DeMint buttons to express their political affiliation. In class, at lunch, in the halls 1 constantly hear students discussing how they dislike all of the so-called liberal media. In fact, in my English class last semester, most of the students utterly detested CNN because they felt it was “liberal.” Some girls on my floor had the audacity to tear down my Kerry sticker and to write obscene messages on my board about politics because I am “too liberal” for them. The question that leaps to my mind is, “What is going on?” Young people? Afraid of being liberal? Winston Churchill once said, “Show me a young Conservative and I’ll show you someone with no heart.” I believe if he were to see the political mindset of America’s youth at the present he would most certainly be as aghast as I to know there are so many people with no hearts. Moreover, what is wrong with being liberal? Why do Republicans use it as a term of condescension? Throughout the course of history, liberals — because they have hearts — have always fought for the underdog causes: abolition, women’s suffrage, civil rights, feminism, disability rights, aiding the poor, environmentalism. Liberals never stopped fighting for people and never will stop. I take pride in being a liberal and a feminist. Thanks to liberals of the past, I am able to come to college, write this letter, express my opinion, vote in this election, make friends of different ethnicities at this school — all while striving for the future. And the bad side to this is ...? LAURA KOTTI Second-year English 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. Anonymous letters will not be published. Call the newsroom at 777 7726 for more information. Freshman sense of style indicative of ignorance ■ Guilty party identified by Hollister uniforms and exposed mid-riffs It seems USC students are constantly being barraged by adversities, whether it’s the lecherous, miscreant peeping Toms or the demonic, damnably unacceptable avarice, incompetence and stupidity of □ our own beloved Parking Services. However, it seems as though this semester, there is a new foe, and it is with a heavy heart that I must CUKI lb once ag^n cdl CHOW all students to arms. FOURTH-YEAR No ;t>s not ECONOMICS ’ STUDENT feminazis, frat boys or the elderly that has me so worked up — the new enemy is much darker and more sinister. Born from the ancient and unspeakable evils of boy bands and Britney Spears, our campus is being invaded by the teeny-boppers. The uniform of the invading force is easily distinguishable. The boys invariably bear the mark of their evil masters emblazoned across their chest — the Vile Lord “Hollister” and the malevolent “Abercrombie and Fitch.” They wear their marks as badges of honor proudly for the world to see, often with colorful belts and pants. They are never seen in violation of the dress code for fear of the unspeakable ramifications (i.e. a haircut, increased IQ, a coherent conversation). They are often sighted at the gym, where they arrive in vast quantities with meager frames to occupy the equipment in ways that are counterproductive to physical health, for the sole purpose of depriving the real gym-goer the opportunity to use the equipment. They then mercilessly roam the campus with inflated egos (but not muscles), calling complete strangers names such as “dawg” or “playa” as if we did something to merit such a verbal assault. The female counterpart is likewise easily identifiable. She is always adorned as one who is vehemently ready to give herself up to the sweet, sensitive guy she just met at a sleazy club. She always travels in a. pack (or herd — I forget which) and talks incessantly of fashion, MTV and other things that have the propensity to make me want to set them on fire (not in a violent way but in the festive cartoony sorta way). Perhaps the most distinguishing characteristic is the visibility of either a mid-riff or lower bun cheek at any given moment and angle or perspective. It seems as though the incoming freshman class has decided to bring high school with it. As delightful as their antics can be, with them come, unfortunately, the externalities of bad music, pretentious and shallow terms of endearment — and an inversely proportional effect on my class attendance. They stroll about campus and interact as if everyone in the world just walked off the set of MTV’s “Real World” — as if it were remotely socially acceptable to talk/dress/act like a complete idiot. Congratulations, you’re all tools. I know, perhaps I’m socially inept and don’t have a sense of what’s “cool” and “hip” nowadays, but on the other hand, I’d much rather be out of touch with the mainstream than sell out to the materialistic, idiotic brain-failure that is idiosyncratic to the teeny-bop culture. Don’t get me wrong — college is supposed to be a fun time; however, it is more so supposed to be a time of academic achievement and increased maturity. Ladies, dressing like a prostitute isn’t going to catch you a good man. Gentlemen, acting like you’re brain dead is bloody annoying. Cut that crap out. I / WINNERS AND SINNERS PARKING SERVICES Hooray for the new parking lot on Whaley Street. HEALTH SERVICES Reacts quickly to meningitis s scare with free screenings and plenty of antibiotics. , FLORIDA STATE The Seminoles put one more nail in Tommy Bowden's coffin and send Clemson to a 1-3 record. % SODEXHO Almost four weeks after the GMP gets a C health rating, the Bates Carolina Diner gets slapped with a C rating. DEMINT STAFFER u.s . Senate candidate’s director of operations reprimanded for making derogatory comments about lesbians in an e-mail. NORTH KOREA Stalinist nation announces it has capabilities to make nuclear weapons. - >