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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11,2005 Stomach illness strikes campus By TAYLOR SMITH STAFF WRITER The Thomson Student Health Center was busy Thursday treating students afflicted with a stomach virus that put some USC students on IVs and others in local hospitals. Bill Hill, director of the Thomson Student Health Center, said the center admitted between 40 and 60 with stomach I problems. “They were throwing up and of those,” Hill said, “15 were given IVs at the health center.” Hill said several were then treated at local hospitals because of excessive weakness and vomiting. Lab results revealed that the ill students had a virus rather than the bacterial infection doctors first anticipated. “We are certainly keeping an eye on it,” Hill said. “We think it is viral, but the kids are coming from all over campus and the lab results were indicative of that.” Paul Edwards, a second-year exercise science student, had never visited the health center until Thursday, when he was examined for a stomach virus that began affecting him the night before. “It was awful. I was throwing up blood,” Edwards said, “and it felt like someone had ♦ Please see VIRUS, page 3 Volunteers to dance for charity By ELIZABETH AKRIGHT THE GAMECOCK Volunteers anticipate this year’s annual Dance Marathon to benefit Palmetto Health Children’s Hospital will be a success, with more than 600 students already participating. Dance Marathon is a student-run project sponsored by the Children’s Miracle Network and Greek Life. Children’s Miracle Network is a nationwide organization of 170 hospitals for children and organizes nonprofit events to help fund medical costs for children in need. Not only does Palmetto Health Children’s Hospital benefit from the event, participants do too, Josh Black, a fifth-year biology student and program director, said. “It is encouraging to work in an organization that contributes to others’ well being,” Black said. Dance Marathon will be held from Friday, Feb. 18 at 7 p.m. until Saturday, Feb. 19, and will take place at the Strom Thurmond Wellness & Fitness Center. Many activities are scheduled, including ♦ Please see MARATHON, page 4 JON TURNER/THE GAMECOCK Columbia Mayor Bob Coble fielded questions from audience members following his speech Wednesday in the Russell House. Coble’s Commitment Columbia mayor pledges to work with USC to reduce neighborhood crime rates By JON TURNER NEWS EDITOR Columbia Mayor Bob Coble spoke to USC Student Government representatives Wednesday about campus-safety concerns and the importance of fostering communication among community leaders. Representatives from the city of Columbia, Columbia Police Department, USC administration, USC Student Government, the National Advocacy Center and local neighborhood associations attended the meeting, l held in the Russell House auditorium. The special SG meeting was held in hopes of finalizing a senate resolution initiated by SG President Zachery Scott to hold a formal town hall meeting on the subject of safety. Coble praised the idea. “I would endorse this resolution and say the town meeting should happen as soon as possible,” he said. Coble said he had met with USC President Andrew Sorensen and Campus Safety Director Ernest Ellis, but “the one thing that has been missing is students.” He suggested not only that the proposed town-hall meeting be held as soon as possible, but a continuing series of meetings should be held on a regular basis. “I think crime is a very serious issue in Columbia,” Coble said. “We’ve had three teenagers murdered in our city, and that’s serious.” Though he praised the Columbia Police Department’s efforts to put robbers behind bars, he focused on student awareness as a key to crime prevention. Like it or not, he said, the first step to cleaning up local neighborhoods is to follow the city code. “It can be right controversial, but I think there’s nothing more important,” he said. _ n»*—h l ^ JON TURNER/THE GAMECOCK Coble speaks to student government members about the importance of a combined effort between USC and the city to combat crime. Coble said the city tries to target one neighborhood at a time in its efforts to create a safe and law-abiding community. He described the lighting project at University Hill as a long term possibility for other neighborhoods. “The next area we look for is probably going to be in the Waverly, Martin Luther King Park area,” he said. Coble also mentioned that he would like to see Columbia’s mass transportation system working more closely with USC’s shuttles. John Stucker, University Hill Neighborhood Association president, said he was glad Scott had proposed the meeting. “We’ve had meetings before, but we’ve never had student cooperation on this level, and that’s vital,” he said. Scott said he had been considering the possibility of a town-hall meeting for a long time, but that the adoption of his resolution by the SG Senate was just “the first step to a long process.” ♦ Please see COBLE, page 3 Treasurer hopefuls air views By TAYLOR SMITH STAFF WRITER Student Government treasurer candidates debated issues Thursday night, reiterating platforms in an attempt to communicate fiscal responsibility. An SG treasurer is expected to keep record of all SG finance committee meetings, spearhead funding and make executive-level financial decisions for the organization. The platforms are diverse and work experience is varied, but each candidate claims to be qualified for the job. Anna Fox After serving on the SG minority affairs council for two years, third-year political science student Anna Fox cites her experience as' the tool to separate herself from her opponents. “I think that what me makes me different is leadership in the school,” Fox said. “And it is not only from that experience in SG that makes me a better candidate to serve the student body.” Fox said one issue with which she plans to deal is fiscal responsibility among students. “We have a shrinking budget and growing student body, so obviously there is a shortage of funds,” Fox said. “Part of my responsibility is to teach students financial skills.” Fox said fund distribution demands a method, and she would fully support any new SG legislation that would create such a method. Jenna Cook Third-year biology student Jenna Cook said while many sources of funding exist at USC, she would look off-campus for more funding opportunities. “I am looking outside the university for co sponsorships,” Cook said. “If organizations need things like food, then there are places in Five Points that would provide that.” Cook said if she were a constituent, she would have trouble communicating with the other treasurer candidates. “I don’t feel like I could sit down with the other candidates,” Cook said. “I think I am more of a people person.” Although her primary plank is bolstering funding of first-year student organizations, Cook said she wants to hold monthly meetings with treasurers from student organizations. “I want these organizations to see me so I can see what is going on,” Cook said. “To have personal relationships with these I students, I can pur a face on them and know what they need.” Although Cook was only able to start serving in SG this fall, she said her experience in other areas is noteworthy. “I have been in senate since this fall, and although I haven’t put any big legislation through like Tommy Preston, I didn’t want to push anything through that wouldn’t pass or [ help students.” Victoria Moore With an urge to help student organizations, second-year elementary ♦ Please see HOPEFULS, page 4 PHOTO SPECIAL TO THE GAMECOCK USC evolutionary biologist Timothy Mousseau found genetic abnormalities in barn swallows exposed to radiation following the nuclear disaster in Chernobyl. USC scientist gauges Chernobyl aftermath By RYAN JAMES THE GAMECOCK USC evolutionary biologist Timothy Mousseau has found genetic deficiencies in birds exposed to nuclear radiation that may have important implications for humans. Mousseau studied barn swallows affected by the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in 1986. Mousseau, who received a $40,000 grant from USC’s School of Environment to study the ecological consequences of the radioactive event, said there might be serious consequences for humans affected by the disaster. “There have been relatively few studies on the long-term effects of low levels of radiation. This will provide some interesting opportunities to study evolutionary biology,” he said. Mousseau said birds are convenient subjects of study and are excellent for making drawing comparisons with humans. “Birds are a good model for humans. They are a vertebrate and have similar biological and physiological structures,” Mousseau said. “Birds are easy to see and relatively large. You can put out nest boxes for them. They also have relatively short life spans. There have been 18 generations (of barn swallows) since the disaster.” Effects of the radiation included small patches of albinism, which are thought to affect mating rituals dependent on physical appearance. Mousseau and his colleague, Anders Moller, conducted the study during a five-year period in Ukraine, observing the birds’ nesting habits. Barn Swallows are philopatric, meaning <hey return to their nest year after year. Scientists generally assume that if they do not return to their nests, they have died. Mousseau and Mollers were able to track the birds’ reproductive and survival rates through continual observation of nesting and tests taken from blood and eggs. These tests showed high levels of antioxidants, which cause deformities in sperm. Mousseau said the research represents a relatively new area of study for him. He added that he sees the research as an original opportunity to study the effects of radioactive material on living things. Mousseau’s study was funded in pan by contributions from the National Science Foundation, the National Geographic Society and the Samuel Freeman Charity Trust. Comments on this story? E-mail gamecocknews@gwm.sc. edit IN THIS ISSUE ♦ VIEWPOINTS Catch a flick The Mix now has movie listings for local theaters. Check out the hot new movies for this weekend like ‘Hitch’ starring Will Smith. Page 6 ) ♦ SPORTS Playing the field The Gamecock Sports staff breaks down the baseball team’s position players for the 2005 season. Page St WEATHER ♦ TODAY ♦SAT. High 5 3 | High 6 l Low 2 9 Low 3 4 FOR EXTENDED FORECAST, SEE PAGE 2. INDEX Comics & Crossword..5 Classifieds.12 Horoscopes..8 Letters to the Editor..5 Online Poll..5 Police Report....2