The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, February 18, 2005, Page 2, Image 2
EXTENDED FORECAST
♦ TODAY ♦SATURDAY ♦SUNDAY ♦MONDAY ♦TUESDAY
|# # Hfc # -4
> High 54 High 57 High 58 High 67 High 67
Low 29 Low 35 Low 48 Low 51 Low 39 j _ Look for The Gamecock online Tuesdays and Thursdays.
STATE
Legislature OKs bill
to restrict lawsuits
The South Carolina Senate and
-Bouse approved major legislation
- Ijmiting lawsuits Wednesday. The
: House gave second reading to a bill that
“puts restrictions on lawsuits stemming
“ Itom business dealings, shoddy housing
-construction and other issues. About
-nine hours later, the Senate approved
’ limits on medical malpractice lawsuits.
' - The House bill was approved by a
- £01-15 vote that came after two hours
• qf debate and litde opposition.
Committee approves
road-names measure
*•“ The practice of naming state roads
-and highways after notable individuals
~ would be reserved for only those who are
'dead under a bill that cleared a House
-Education and Public Works
- Committee on Wednesday.
. Earlier this month, the House
. approved a resolution to rename the Earl
; E. Morris Jr. Highway after its namesake
was convicted of securities fraud.
k
NATION
Bush pledges pursuit
of trade liberalization
WASHINGTON — Declaring that
Americans benefit from free trade,
! President Bush on Thursday promised
j to continue pursuing trade liberalization
' agreements around the world even as
•critics charge that his policies have
resulted in record buy-and-sell deficits
and millions oflost jobs. Bush’s pledge
came in his annual economic report to
Congress which argued that his
economic policies, ranging from making
his first-term tax cuts permanent to
overhauling Social Security, will lead to
greater prosperity.
Fewer unemployed
file for benefit checks
WASHINGTON — A gauge of future
economic activity slipped a bit in
January while the number of laid-off
workers filing new claims for
unemployment benefits dropped last
week to the lowest level in more than
four years. The Conference Board
reported that its Index of Leading
Economic Indicators edged down 0.3
percent last month after having posted a
gain of 0.3 percent in December. The
• decline was blamed on a jump in energy
prices last month, a weaker dollar and
cautious business attitudes about the
future. The Department of Labor
reported that a total of 302,000
Americans filed applications for
• unemployment benefits last week, the
lowest level since Oct. 28, 2000, when
the country was nearing the end of a
decade-long economic expansion.
WORLD
U.S. asks China’s aid
in disarmament talks
i
BEIJING — Top negotiators from the
United States and South Korea were in
Beijing seeking China’s help on
persuading isolated North Korea to
return to multination nuclear talks that
\ were suspended in J une.
China is sending a top communist
; party official to North Korea this week,
• the government said Thursday, amid
renewed efforts to get Beijing’s longtime
■ ally to resume stalled talks on i nuclear
, weapons program.
.
Catholic university
offers Satanism class
ROME — Worried about the lure of
the devil, a Vatican-linked university on
Thursday debuted its latest course
offering: a class on Satanism, black
magic and exorcism. The class for clergy
and seminarians at Rome’s Pontifical
Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum has
arisen from alarm about Satanic
practices among young people,
especially in Italy.
In one case in Italy in January, eight
people believed to belong to a Satanic
sect were ordered to stand trial for their
alleged role in three ritual killings.
BRIEFS FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Mandela
plans show
to take aim
at AIDS
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa
— Annie Lennox, Brian May and
India.arie will perform at Nelson
Mandela’s next concert to raise
awareness about the AIDS
pandemic.
The March 19 event in the
Eastern Cape city of George, to be
hosted by actor Will Smith, will
highlight the plight of women and
girls, who are six times more likely
than men to become infected here,
Mandela said Thursday.
May and Roger Taylor of Queen
will collaborate with Bad Company’s
Paul Rodgers.
“We do not treat our women
with enough dignity and respect,”
Mandela said. “We must mobilize to
act, and act soon, before it is too
late.”
Since stepping down as South
Africa’s first black president in 1999,
Mandela has championed the cause
of AIDS victims, especially in Africa
where about 25 million of the
world s 40 million HIV-infected
people live.
While organizers are still
recovering the cost of the first
concert held in Cape Town in
November 2003 through CD and
DVD sales, they hope this year's
more modest event will raise funds
for AIDS charities in South Africa.
Mandela’s eldest son recendy
r\Lvruvi u w i
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
South Africa’s former president
Nelson Mandela, right, and
musician Bob Geldolf appear on
stage in London’s Trafalgar
square as part of a campaign
called ‘Make Poverty History' on
Feb. 3.
died of an AIDS-related illness.
Valentine proposal
surprises Aguilera
NEW YORK — Christina Aguilera
says she was shocked when a
Valentine surprise turned into a
marriage proposal.
The 24-year-old pop diva says
music executive Jordan Bratman, her
boyfriend of two years, popped the
question at Big Sur, Calif., last
Friday after recreating a romantic
dinner the two had while touring
India in the fall.
“It was unbelievable,” Aguilera
told Us Weekly magazine. “Every
cute thing he did, I totally thought
was just a Valentine’s Day surprise
he got me!”
“He sent me on a scavenger
A y “Maybe the experience of
not being able to do it,
maybe it was the home
crowd. I give our crowd a lot
“*■“ of credit.”
Friday, February 18, 2005 DAVE ODOM
7 j 7 use MEN'S'BASKETBALL COACH ON TUESDAY’S
VICTORY OVER THE NO.3 KENTUCKY WILDCATS
IT’S A SIGN
_
• KATIE KIRKLAND/THt bAMtout-K
USC students cheer for senior forward John Chappell before the Carolina’s upset victory
against the Kentucky Wildcats Tuesday in the Colonial Center. Carolina won 73-61.
1
hunt,” she said. “My mom used to
do scavenger hunts for me when I
was a kid, so jt had sentimental
value. Each clue was a poem — and
in the final clue he proposed!”
The 26-year-old Bratman gave
Aguilera a 5-carat diamond ring
designed by jeweler Stephen
Webster, who also made wedding
bands for Mad6nna and Guy
Richie.
“I’m finishing my album, so we
haven’t set a date yet,” Aguilera said.
“But it’s definitely given me
inspiration to make my best record
ever.”
Her hits include “What a Girl
Wants,” “Genie in a Bottle” and
“Beautiful.”
Versace to attend
AIDS fundraiser
VIENNA, Austria — Donatella
Versace will present a fashion show
and appear at the annual Life Ball, a
charity gala dedicated to raising
funds to fight AIDS.
Organizers hope to raise
awareness with the May 21 event at
City Hall. The Life Ball, regularly
attended by singer Elton John, is
known for the extravagant costumes
of the thousands of guests.
“We want to give the event a new
look, to create new excitement,”
Versace said Thursday. “We can
barely wait to reach our shared goal
— $1.3 million — purely in
proceeds for the Life Ball 2005.”
Other designers who have
presented creations at the Life Ball
include Jean Paul Gaultier, John
Galliano, Thierry Mugler, Paco
Rabanne, Vivienne Westwood,
Moschino, Missoni and Gianfranco
Ferre.
Governor proposes
redistricting plan
WASHINGTON — Some of
California Gov. Arnold
Schwarzenegger’s fellow
Republicans are promoting a plan
that would let him run for
president. He’s promoting a plan
that could cost some of them their
jobs.
As Schwarzenegger visited
Capitol Hill on Thursday to meet .
with California lawmakers, his
proposal to redraw congressional
and state legislative districts was
near the top of the agenda for some
Republican House members.
vv iii.il uv du i v vu a i iiiv. v^dj/uui)
Schwarzenegger told reporters that
he hoped to accomplish “as much as
we can, I can guarantee you that.”
The governor didn’t escape
home-state political battles. He was
greeted by a full-page ad in the
Capitol Hill newspaper Roll Call
taken out by the California Nurses
Association, with whom he’s been
fighting over nurse staffing ratios.
“As soon as he got to
Sacramento, the governor put vital
health policy up for sale,” the ad
said.
Schwarzenegger began his day
meeting with House Appropriations
Committee Chairman Jerry Lewis,
R-Calif.
Schwarzenegger wants a panel of
retired judges to redraw California s
political map next year. That job is
currently done by state lawmakers,
and under the normal timeline
wouldn’t happen until after the
2010 census.
Schwarzenegger argues his plan
would result in a more democratic
process and more competitive
elections. It could also lead to the
election of more moderate
politicians, like himself, who would
be easier for him to work with in
Sacramento.
Some Republicans fear redrawing
districts in Democrat-leaning
California could cost the party seats
in Congress. Even if the GOP
managed to keep the 20 seats it now
holds powerful lawmakers who lead
in the Republican-controlled House
could find themselves fighting for
their jobs before unfamiliar voters.
“There’s a legitimate concern
about keeping tne majority in the
House, and there’s all kinds of
debate as to who would gain seats in
a midterm redistricting,” said Rep.
George Radanovich, R-Calif. “I
think there are risks.”
Even Schwarzenegger’s top
Washington ally, House Rules
Committee Chairman David
Dreier, R-Calif., has told the
governor he would prefer to wait
until after the 2010 census.
I told him my preference is to
see the census taken before they
move to the commission for
redistricting,” Dreier said.
Some national party leaders are
also wary. GOP Rep. Tom
Reynolds of New York, who heads
the House Republican campaign
committee, said the party wouldn’t
have money to defend 53
Republican candidates next year
and redistricting should be left to
the state legislature.
COMING
UP@USC
TODAY
Spring 2005 Seminar Series: 4
p.m. Jones Physical Science Center
006.
Dance Marathon: 7 p.m. Strom
Thurmond Wellness & Fitness
Center.
SATURDAY
“Lies My Teacher Told Me
About Education and Race”
Keynote Address: 7:30 p.m. Hand
Middle School Auditorium on
Woodrow Street.
SUNDAY
Women's Basketball vs.
Alabama: 2 p.m. Colonial Center.
MONDAY
Kana Yabuki Junior Piano
Recital: 7:30 p.m. School of Music
206.
Last day to drop a course or
withdraw without a grade of “WF”
being recorded
BRIEFS
Seminar to discuss
cheating methods
The Flagship Communications
Bateman Team from USC’s School
of Journalism and Mass
Communications is playing host to
this month’s teaching seminar,
“How We Cheat: A Student’s
Perspective.”
The seminar will be held
Thursday from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.
in Moore School of Business 008.
Students will give new light to
the meaning of cheating, the
newest ways students are cheating
and ways to prevent it.
Demonstrations of some of the
latest cheating tools and detectors
will also be presented.
Refreshments will be served at 3
p.m. in the lobby. Reservations can
be made by calling the Office of the
Provost at 777-2808 or by e
mailing Rhondaf@gwm.sc.edu
before Tuesday.
Seating is limited
CP to play host to
‘Real’ comedy tour
Carolina Productions will
present the “Keepin’ it Real
Comedy Tour” featuring
Roosevelt Johnson at 8 p.m.
Wednesday in the Russell House
Ballroom.
Also scheduled to appear are
Darren “DS” Sanders, B Phlat and
Co Coa Brown, who have all been
featured on shows such as Black
Entertainment Television’s
“Comic View” and HBO’s
Russell Simmons Def Comedy
Jam.”
For more information, contact
Telca Markosky at 777-3950.
POLICE REPORT
Reports taken from the USC Police Department.
Each number on
the map stands
for a crime
corresponding
with numbered
descriptions in
the list below.
DAY CRIMES
(6 a.m.-6 p.m.)
□ Violent
O Nonviolent
NIGHT CRIMES
(6p.m.-6a.m.)
■ Violent
• Nonviolent
CRIMES AT
UNKNOWN
HOURS
153 Violent
© Nonviolent
FEB.15
©Disorderly Conduct
Colonial Center, 812 Lincoln St.
The subject was grossly intoxicated
and using profanity at the basketball
game. The subject was escorted to his
dorm by officer Golston and told not
to return. The subject did return and
was still extremely intoxicated. He was
arrested.
Reporting officers: C. Knoche and
M. Gooding.
©Disorderly Conduct
Greene Street and Gadsden St.
Subjects no. 1 and no. 2 were
observed fighting each other and
creating a disturbance in a public
place. Both were arrested and
transported to Richland County
Detention Center.
Reporting officers: M. Winnington
and U.R. Snyder.
© Scalping
Greene and Gadsden streets
Victim no. 2 told repotting officers
G. Kerwin and M.P. Weiss that the
subject had sold invalid tickets to the
basketball game to her and her friend,
victim no. 1. The officer made contact
with the subject, who stated in an
excited utterance that he would sell
three tickets for $40. The subject was
carrying 13 additional tickets, as well
as $120 in cash.
jfB.16
DUI
Intersection of Pendleton and
Marion streets
Reporting officer J.M. Simmons
responded to a complaint of an
intoxicated person driving a white
vehicle with a black top. Simmons
observed the vehicle and stopped the
driver. As Simmons approached the
vehicle he smelled a strong odor of
alcoholic coming from the subject.
Simmons told the subject that the
reason he had been stopped was because
of a complaint of an intoxicated driver.
Simmons asked the subject if he was the
intoxicated driver, and the subject said
that he was. When Simmons asked him
how much he had to drink, he replied
too much.” He was told to exit the
vehicle and walk to the rear. When he
exited the vehicle, the subject nearly fell
and would have fallen over at the rear of
the vehicle if Simmons had not held him
up by his right arm. The subject was
given several sobriety tests. The first test
was the finger-dexterity test, which the
. subject foiled when he miscounted and
touched his thumb to his fingers on
incorrect counts. The next test was the
alphabet test, where the subject was
asked to say the alphabet starting with
the letter “E” and ending with “O.” The
subject failed when he performed the
test as follows: “E, F, O, P.” Simmons
then asked him to perform the one
legged stance test, which the subject
foiled because he lost his balance and
nearly fell over, at which point Simmons
stopped the test for fear the subject
would injure himself. The subject was
placed under arrest for DUI.
% 14rt t I t-* fJk £m ^.# "Who is the critically acclaimed
V^U-ll-Wldl 1 tlv Nigerian author of the book,