Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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www.dailygamecock.com WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6,2004 v"L9sLT,m IN THIS ISSUE passes away Famed comic and movie star Rodney Dangerfield passed away from heart problems. Page 2 ♦ NEWS Panel discusses Patriot Act Media Arts department sponsors a presentation of “The Price of Freedom" by visiting filmmaker Chip Duncan. Page 4 ♦ VIEWPOINTS Put a face on ^our grades Curtis Chow says lISC should replace its letter grading system with instant messenger smiley faces. Page 7 ♦ THE MIX Jam band has classic sound Southern California band Ten Mile Tide rolls into Columbia with a sound that mixes classic rock with jam band cool. Page 9 | ♦ SPORTS Soccer squads half way home Jake Broom and Matt Nagy recap the first half of the men’s and women’s soccer, seasons and preview what’s still to come. Page 12 WEATHER ♦ TODAY ♦ WED. High 73 High 77 Low 55 Low 49 FOR EXTENDED FORECAST. SEE PAGE 2. INDEX Comics and Crossword.J. 1 Classifieds.14 Horoscopes.11 Letters to the Editor.7 Online Poll.7 Police Report.2 1 i DeMint visits Russell House ■ Senate candidate doesn’t address comment that gays shouldn’t teach By TAYLOR SMITH THE GAMECOCK About 60 USC students packed into a room of the Russel] House to hear Republican U.S. Senate candidate Jim DeMint and former U.S. House Majority Leader Dick Armey talk about social security. DeMint spoke just one day after his debate with Democratic candidate Inez Tenenbaum, when he said gays should not be allowed to teach in public schools. DeMint did not speak about his controversial comment or take questions. Student Government President Zachery Scott, who is gay, attended the news conference so he could ask DeMint to clarify his statement. “I know in a debate you can say things off the top of your head and it not come out right,” Scon said, “He had the opportunity to retract that and he has not, so I don’t think that is the case.” Scott said he felt DeMint’s statement was like “trying to divide South Carolina likeitwas 1964 instead of2004.” “I think that most South Carolinians will agree that being a dedicated teacher has nothing to do with being male or female, black or white, Democrat or Republican, gay or straight. And I think a man of his credentials should know better than to say something like that,” Scon said. DeMint did use the 20-minute news conference with the USC College Republicans to discuss the “ailing” Social Security system and DeMint’s proposed plan for fixing it. “It is very important right now,” said Randy Dargan, co-chairman of the USC College Republicans. “Because it isn’t the people who are about to get Social ♦ Please see DEMINT, page 6 SARAH ZILINSKY/THE GAMECOCK Jim DeMint speaks about Social Security during Monday’s news conference, as former GOP House leader Dick Armey looks on. Students question fire drills' necessity By JON TURNER THE GAMECOCK USC’s fire marshal said complying with fire drills can be a problem at an institution that requires drills and is plagued by false alarms. Todd Griffin, a Columbia fire marshal who is assigned to USC, said minor accidents and false alarms could contribute to the problem but, for the most part, alarms serve a crucial role acquainting USC students with emergency evacuation procedures. Matthew Roberts, a first-year ♦ Please see FIRE, page 5 HOMECOMING 2004 I ‘ ' . .aMMi'. • \ ... ^_a__ - t__rc:^-.^._iShaHHH NICK ESARES/THE GAMECOCK Amy Buchanan-Feinberg, a fourth-year Spanish student, works on her make-up backstage at the Koger Center before the Carolina Showcase. Behind the Showcase scenes By LaDONNA BEEKER THE GAMECOCK The curtain was about to rise in USC’s Homecoming Showcase, and backstage the 10 finalists waited for their introduction. They could hear fans yelling names and cheering from the other side of the curtain. The finalists wished each other luck while waiting their turn to be introduced by USC alumnus Darci Strickland to the judges and show off their business attire. Most of the contestants never participated in an event like the showcase, so they found themselves deciding which outfit to wear. But most importantly, they were hoping the judges liked the talents they displayed. The finalists chose talents that were extracurricular activities or speeches that were expected to encourage the audience. “I have danced all of my life, but never in this context,” said Ginni Campbell, a Yourth-year business student. Many finalists agreed with Campbell when she said that although she performed in front of an audience plenty of times, this audience was different because it was full of their classmates, friends and family. The cheering from the audience was uplifting for the contestants, they said. “It was truly an unexpected boost of energy,” said Cori Alston, second runner-up for King and a fourth-year criminal justice student. After each finalist completed the talent section of the Showcase, they asked each other nervously if anyone knew what the interview question would be. Tyler Jeffrey, a third-year advertising student who was named Homecoming King, was the last ♦ Please see SHOWCASE, page 6 VICE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE Cheney, Edwards clash on Iraq By TOM RAUM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS CLEVELAND — Sen. John Edwards accused the Bush administration Tuesday night of bungling the war in Iraq and presiding over a historic loss of jobs. “Your facts are just wrong,” Vice President Dick Cheney shot back in a crackling campaign debate. In a clash at close quarters, Edwards accused Cheney of “not being straight” with the American people about the war. He said U.S. casualties are rising monthly and the United States is bearing 90 percent of the cost and suffering 90 percent of the dead and wounded. Cheney promptly challenged those figures, saying the Iraqi security forces had taken nearly half of the casualties. “For you to demean their sacrifice is beyond the pale,” he said to Edwards, seated a few feet away. “Oh, I’m not,” Edwards protested before the vice president cut him off. The debate format encouraged give md-take, and neither the vice president nor Sen. John Kerry’s running mate shrank from the task. “Frankly, senator, you have a record that’s not very distinguished,” Cheney said to the North Carolina lawmaker after accusing him of a pattern of absences in the Senate during his one term. Edwards summed up his points like the former trial lawyer he is. In a jab at the Bush-Cheney campaign’s claim on experience, he said, *Mr. Vice President, I don’t think the country can take four more years of this type of experience.” He also said that as a member of Congress more than a decade ago, Cheney voted against Head Stan and canning plastic guns that can escape detection in metal detectors. Edwards was on the attack from the ♦ Please s|e DEBATE, page 3 ycm* “Frankly, senator, you have a record that’s not very distinguished.” DICK CHENEY VICE PRESIDENT “Mr. Vice President, I don’t think the country can take four more years of his type of experience.” JOHN EDWARDS VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE f 8 O Ui 2 < 0 UI X 1 o to Q > < Q > m u X Q <