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www.ilailygamecock.com ' WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27,2004 “USS =—■—■ -—- — ---==^=^== IN THIS ISSUE ♦ NEWS % Habitat house returns to USC After a three year hiatus, USC’s Habitat for Humanity is building a house on Greene Street. Page 4 ♦ VIEWPOINTS Tenenbaum makes her case Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Inez Tenenbaum explains why she wants to be South Carolina’s next senator. Page 10 ^ ♦THE MIX Conjuring the cool costume Students look to popular culture, venture into local thrift stores for the best Halloween get-ups. Page J_1 ♦ SPORTS use vs. UT 3 days away Stephen Fastenau talks about the importance of field position in Saturday’s annual SEC East match-up. Page 13 WEATHER ♦TODAY ♦THURSDAY High 75 High 75 Low 59 Low 59 FOR EXTENDED FORECAST, SEE PAGE 2. INDEX Comics and Crossword.13 Classifieds.16 Horoscopes.13 Letters to the Editor.10 Online Poll.10 Police Report.-,...2 A parking attendant waves cars into the Bull Street parking garage as Jenny Lacus, a third-year public relations student, drives out of the garage. Lacus, who has been on a waiting list for a garage spot for three years, said she spends about $7 to $8 a week in parking fees. Raised garage fees due next month ■ USC officials say extra money will be used to pay for new garage By TAYLOR SMITH STAFF WRITER Some students will be paying as much as 44 percent more for their parking garage spaces next semester as Parking Services announced higher rates to pay for the new parking garage being built on Blossom Street. Students have until Nov. 12 to pay the new rates, which are $220 for Pendleton Street and Senate Street I-■-—--333-< . ' garages, $240 for the Blossom Street garage and $260 for the Bull Street garage. The USC Board of Trustees approved the increase last October. The proceeds will benefit the new parking garage to be located just behind the Bull Street garage. Herbert Adams, chairman of the USC Board of Trustees, said because the new parking structure is funded entirely by parking fees, the increase came partly from the need for the new garage. The board approved the garage last October, but soon found the price to build the garage was higher than expected, so the board approved the parking increase in June. “The fees are set on what it-cost us to build a structure like this,” Adams said. “So we can either start restricting how many cars kids can take to campus or we 1 ♦ Please see PARKING page 4 Debate shows sides of flag controversy By TAYLOR SMITH STAFF WRITER In the first RHA-sponsored debate in recent memory, disagreement over the Confederate battle Hag took center stage and, despite the controversial background, those who attended described it as educational and eloquent. Moderated by Student Government President Zachery Scott, second-year electronic journalism student Terence Washington and second-year political science and philosophy student Jarrett Calder faced off in the Calcott building during a 70-minute debate that discussed the historical significance of the flag and the racial connotations it holds for minorities. “I was extremely surprised at how well it went,” said Adam Hark, president of the Residence Hall Association. “I never thought we would fill it up like that.” Hark said the debate was scheduled “I was extremely surprised at how well it went. I never thought we would fill it up like that.” ADAM HARK PRESIDENT OF THE RESIDENCE HALL ASSOCIATION because of a column that Washington wrote in The Gamecock. Two issues later, Calder responded in a letter to the editor and that’s how the idea started. “We picked them because they were outspokenly aligned to a particular side of the issue, which was evident in The Gamecock,” Hark said. Washington was upset because of the way the Confederate flag was flown during ESPN’s College GameDay on the weekend of the Georgia game. “In an opportunity for our school to ♦ Please see FLAG, page 9 SARAH ZILINSKY/THE GAMECOCK Terence Washington, left, and Jarrett Calder, right, debate issues related to the Confederate flag issue Tuesday night. The event was sponsored by RHA. Parking price increases 2 < o UJ 'MURMli'g , agyanpi X ' t: O Following a review of other university parking fees, The Board of g Trustees has approved a tiered rate system for parking garage fees for the ‘04-’05 school year (old prices were $180): I Pendleton garage: $220 ($55 per month) § Senate garage: $220 ($55 per month) m Bull Street garage: $260 ($65 per month) | Blossom garage: $240 ($60 per month) % cr . !: .r ;W_ - ■ •__ . _ O Building a computer might be better option narrs h#> fnr a rnmnntpr By MICHAEL KENNEDY THE GAMECOCK Adam Sleister, a fourth-year exercise science student, found a cheap way to replace his worn-out laptop. For about $600, Sleister built himself a computer that would usually retail for closer to $900. “My laptop just wasn’t cutting it anymore, but I needed a computer to type my papers on,” Sleister said. “I needed it check to my e-mail. I needed it to work on Blackboard — I just needed a hew computer to get by in school.” Having only about $600 to invest in a computer, Sleister began buying separately and putting them together. Motherboards, processors, empty computer towers and other parts can be found in computer stores such as CompUSA, but Sleister chose to use the numerous Web sites offering the same products at lower prices such as PriceGrabber.com, eBay.com and tigerdirect.com. These sites are not directly connected with the purchase, but they serve as a forum where users can buy and sell products. They incorporate a seller rating system that allows users to post reviews of various merchants to alert potential traders to the reliability of the individual they are looking to ♦ Please see COMPUTER, page 4 Maintenance director addresses mold concerns By JACOB DAVIS STAFF WRITER The director of USC facilities management spoke to the RHA Senate Tuesday night to respond to senators’ concerns about mold and other health issues at campus residence halls. James Sherry began by stating that he saw communication between residents and the administration as the key to solving problems. “We sincerely care about what you have to say, and very soon we in the administration will be having a meeting with RHA leadership to discuss these’issues,” Sherry said. He went on to quote statistics on the work order completion rates by maintenance, and stressed that every possible effort was being made to fix the problems on campus. “Starting July 1 and running through (Monday), we have received 5,865 work orders, and to date 5,462 of those have been completed, a 93 percent completion rate. Last year we received 16,175 work orders and had a 98 percent completion rate,” Sherry said. Creating dialogue and open communication lines were keys, as Sherry said some reports were the ♦ Please see RHA, page 3 CREED WEEK i ~ 1 JASON STEELMAN/THE GAMECOCK Thad Chrenshaw, third-year international business and marketing student, left, and Kendall Robinson, a third-year finance student, help the “Fill the Bus” campaign on Tuesday as the band Anguish plays in the background as part of the Creed Week festivities. Some students skeptical of Creed’s significance By JON TURNER THE GAMECOCK Creed Week is half over, but most students Tuesday were unaware it had ever begun. Second-year engineering student Matt Vane said he had no clue it was Creed Week, or that such a week existe^ “I had to read it once, though,” he said. What’s the Carolinian Creed about? “Being honest and not cheating and respecting people and stuff,” Vane said. Vane’s summary was fairly accurate. Second-year English education student Josh Harris said he practices personal and academic integrity, respects the dignity and property of others, and he certainly wouldn’t call himself a t>igot, but he didn’t remember what the Carolinian Creed said at all. Vane said he doubted students paid much attention to the document. “I don’t think the Creed itself plays much of a role in shaping the average student’s behavior,” he said. “Something like the Creed should be a ♦ Please see CREED, page 4