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VIEWPOINTS ■AM ft COCK EDITORIAL BOARD Editor MICHAEL LaFORGIA News Editor STEPHEN FASTENAU Asst. News Editor JUSTIN CHAPURA The Mix Editor ALEXIS ARNONE Sports Editor JONATHAN HILLYARD Viewpoints Editor BRINDY McNAIR Copy Desk Chief STEVEN VAN HAREN Design Director chas McCarthy IN OUR OPINION Wanted: healthy food, not deep-fried garbage With obesity washing over the South like hot oil over okra, let’s take a quick inventory of healthy dining options available in USC’s student hub, the Russell House University Union. On the second floor — or Gamecock Park, as Dining Services has dubbed it —- students can choose from Burger King, Chick fil-A, Mien Bowl, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell, eateries where the average entree weighs in at a hefty 462 calories and 23 grams of fat. Downstairs, the Grand Market Place fares little better, offering burgers, fries and greasy macaroni and cheese. Only occasionally does a rotisserie chicken breast make its way under the sneeze guard. Last week, The Associated Press reported that Americans are get ting fatter fastest in the South, and — at least on this campus — its no small wonder why. Students need to take responsi bility for what they eat. It’s entirely your fault if you gain the freshman 15 this year, or the freshman 20 or the freshman 30. Take the stairs to that class on the fourth floor. Going to Chick-fil-A? Pass over those crispy nuggets and waffle fries for a chicken salad sandwich once in a while. Refilling that Coke? Try water. However, Dining Services needs to do its part, too. It should add more healthy, appetizing, affordable food options to campus cafete rias. After all, when healthy alternatives to the 710-calorie Whopper consist of day-old yams, cold roughage and million-dol lar sushi, BK’s going to win out every time. It doesn’t have to be anything elaborate — maybe just a little more grilled chicken and wild rice in the GMR Perhaps something not double-batter dipped and fried. At the very least, there should be as many healthy dining options as fatty fast-food joints. If students don’t start taking responsibility for what they eat — and if Dining Services remains complacent in serving troughs of unhealthy food — the problem’s only going to get bigger and big ger. At the very least, there should be as many healthy dining options as fatty fast food joints. ITS YOUR RIGHT * Exercise your right to voice your opinion. Create message boards at nrww. dailygamecock. com or send letters to the editor to gamecockopinions@gwm.sc. edu CORRECTIONS If you see an error in todays paper, we want to know. E-mail us at gamecockopinions@gwm.sc.edu. ABOUT THE GAMECOCK Editor MICHAEL LaFORGIA Design Director chas McCarthy Copy Desk Chief STEVEN VAN HAREN News Editor STEPHEN FASTENAU Asst. News Editor JUSTIN CHAPURA Viewpoints Editor BRINDY McNAIR The Mix Editor ALEXIS ARNONE Sports Editor JONATHAN HILLYARD Asst. Sports Editor ALEX RILEY Photo Editor NICK ESARES Sports Photo Editor KATIE KIRKLAND Page Designers JILLIAN BARIS, JESSICA ANN NIELSEN, MEGAN SINCLAIR Graphic Designer LAURA-JOYCE GOUGH Copy Editors CHELSEA HADAWAY, KATIE THOMPSON Online Editor RYAN SIMMONS STUDENT MEDIA Director SCOTT LINDENBERG Faculty Adviser ERIK COLLINS Creative Director SUSAN KING Business Manager CAROLYN GRIFFIN Advertising Manager SARAH SCARBOROUGH Classified Manager SHERRY F. HOLMES Production Manager GAREN CANSLER Creative Services LAURA-JOYCE GOUGH, JOSEPH DANNELLY, MEGHAN WHITMAN, MARGARET LAW Advertising Staff BREANNA EVJvNS, RYAN GORMAN, KATIE CUPPIA CONTACT INFORMATION Offices on third floor of the Russell House. The Editor’s office hours are Monday and Wednesday from 1-3 p.m. Editor: gamecockeditor@gwm.sc. edu News: gamecocknews@gwm.sc.edu Viewpoints: gamecockopinions@gwm.sc.edu The Mix: gamecockfeatures@gwm.sc.edu Sports: gamecocksports@gwm.sc.edu Public Affairs: gamecockPR@yahoo.com Online: www.dailygamecock. com Newsroom: 777-7726; Sports: 777-7182 Editor’s Office: 777-3914 THE GAMECOCK is the editorially independent student newspaper of the University of South Carolina. It is published Monday, Wednesday and Friday during the fall and spring semesters and nine times during the summer, with the exception of university holidays and exam periods. Opinions expressed in THE GAMECOCK are those of the editors or author and not those of the University of South Carolina. The Board of Student Publications and Communications is the publisher o/THE GAMECOCK. The Department of Student Media is the newspaper’s parent organization. THE GAMECOCK is supported in part by student-activity fees. One free copy per reader. Additional copies may be purchasedfor $1 each from the Department of Student Media. The Gamecock 1400 Greene St. Columbia. S.C. 29208 TO PLACE AN AD Advertising: 777-3888 Classified: 777-1184 Fax: 777-6482 \m?mam 0Ffem>ep &y vocxo& oeesiry A^tce piuzs ) OWlaimT with Thp 57ATP p/* -ZXT7~7^Z7\ -r--H/ UOPK- A :e c>fjci wAKt&f/ towakn V(7t/ x° VJ&16HT How I learned a big lesson in journalism Misidentifying church in column rant provides learning experiences Remember that old saying, that the most important lessons you learn don’t take place inside the classroom? It’s true. I’ll sign my name to that. Last April, someone published a column in the paper including two paragraphs that were a direct personal attack on myself. Understandably, I wasn’t entirely thrilled. Ironically, I’ve now found myself on the other side of a similar situation. Inspired by an encounter with two men on campus, I wrote a rather harsh column last week about evangelical techniques I have issues with. Two men had identified themselves as representatives from a local church — specifically, trinity Cathedral” — and proceeded to entertain me with images regarding the afterlife I would soon be spending in eternal flame. Delayed only by the 10 minutes it took to stand in line at Chick-fil-A, I clicked my way over to my trusty friend Google, which then pointed to a “Trinity Episcopal Cathedral” less than a mile away on Sumter Street. I called the church during the business week attempting to speak to the youth director or other official regarding the incident, but was unable to get anyone on the phone. Instead of waiting a week for direct confirmation that the church really does think I’m going to burn, I wrote. That was a mistake. Immediately after the column ran, Trinity Episcopal contacted me to assert that they . do not endorse the actions of those two men. The church later denied any involvement with those CHOSE two whackos STOUDEMRIRE on Greene Street. history ^ such> 1 student feel obliged to clear something up: I’m unhappy with the men who approached me — not Trinity. This is something I didn’t make clear. Their youth director was not on the street condemning students in the name of his church. By all accounts, two whackos were on the street condemning students in the name of Trinity. I’m not the shyest guy you’ll ever meet. Accordingly, I throw my opinions out to the masses every week via columns for The Gamecock. That is, I willingly, consciously and deliberately put myself in the spotlight. Ask any actor, performer or, in this case, writer what the spotlight does for you. They’ll tell you this. It lets everyone around see you at your best, in your best moments. Inversely, it lets everyone around you see you at your worst, in your worst moments. Naturally, I’ve been seen at my worst by lots of people. Two weeks ago, I ran a column specifically highlighting my track record for making mistakes, and my hopes to put an end to that trend. I’m here today to say that I’ve pulled a Kerry — I’m changing my mind. Mistakes are awesome. Really. How do we know that we shouldn’t make clothing out of poison ivy? Because someone made a mistake. How do we know that we shouldn’t blow dry our hair in the bathtub? Because someone made a mistake. Someone who spends their entire life making mistakes might end up being more useful than someone who spends their entire life doing nothing. As such, I’ve accidentally learned a lot of lessons. First, don’t take self-paced astronomy. True, I’m not the only person who’s made that mistake, but I’m pulling for the whole “strength in numbers” idea right here. Second, don’t wear the same pair of sandals almost every day for a year. They start to stink. Third, and .most recently, don’t be mean. Somewhere in this country, a great philosopher works at a bumper sticker manufacturing plant. Although I don’t know his name, 1 think we all can appreciate his masterpiece, “Mean people suck.” I’m acutely aware of my imperfections. Assuming that an expert is nothing more than a person who has made every possible mistake in a specific area, I should be considered one step closer to becoming an expert journalist. I think A1 Franken said it best. “Mistakes are a part of being human. Appreciate your mistakes for what they are: Precious life lessons that can only be learned the hard way. Unless it’s a fatal mistake, which, at least others can learn from.” This one hurt, but luckily, it wasn’t fatal. So to the evangelists, I hope you got the message. And to Trinity, I’m sorry I tied you up in that message. IN YOUR OPINION Fulton could teach USC loyalty lesson What in the hell is wrong with USC? When I read that Bob Fulton had been dismissed from his consulting job, I couldn’t believe what I was reading. It’s unheard of that a person of Bob Fulton’s stature cannot leave on his own terms. This man was and still is USC’s biggest fan, supporter, ambassador and promoter. Whoever did this needs to be tarred and feathered and run out of town on a rail. When money was used as an excuse to get rid of Bob, I had to laugh. Money is the least of our problems at USC. We’ve got plenty of money. What we have is a team that is not on the same page, starting with the top administrative officials and on down to the players. It’s always been this way at Carolina. USC, have you ever heard of loyalty? Bob has been loyal to USC for more than 50 years, and you repay him by dismissing him? What planet are you from? I have been a USC fan since 1957 and received a full basketball scholarship in 1960. I had a great time at USC and had a great career there. However, I had four coaches in four years — nothing but turmoil from 1960 until 1964. When I graduated in 1964, I had a desire to play pro ball and probably could have, if I had had a coach to stand up for me and promote me, but that was not to be. Now 45 years later, nothing seems to have changed. Controversy, turmoil, disloyalty and bad decisions abound. When is this school going to learn? What is it going to take? An earthquake in Columbia? I’m a former USC athlete, first team all-ACC, and a member of the USC Athletic Hall of Fame and the S.C. Athletic Hall of Fame, but who at USC really cares about their former athletes or loyal followers? I’ve about had it. RONNIE COLLINS 1964 USC graduate 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. www. dailyvamecock. com ^. Look back at parking crisis shows horses, trolls But lately, officials have been gracious in granting 8 new spots USC’s overarching problem in the 200 years it has been preparing the future leaders of America has been parking. In order to fully understand the parking situation, one needs to understand RfIDRCIU the history of BERTZ parking at USC. Third-year Throughout international the 1800s, studies and Horse music student sole purpose was to make students move their horses at all hours of the night and walk to City Barn — now known as City Garage — to retrieve their horses. When cars were invented, the University immediately decided to capitalize on the invention by creating Parking Services. It was founded by several trolls descended from the one that refused to let the Billy Goats Gruff cross the bridge. In the modern era, destruction of parking lots has been the theme. There used to be parking in front of the Thomas Cooper Library, but that was removed so endless lighting construction could take place around a putt-putt esque fountain. Last year we all witnessed the removal of parking behind Preston College in favor of a large field. We’ve all encountered the pernicious meter maids and their astonishing ability to know when the meter will run out. We’ve all come to learn that to get a spot at the Coliseum lots on a Monday morning, you have to arrive by 5 a.m. And most of us know the City Garage (formerly City Barn) employees by name. Many argue that the main problem is that there is no parking near the center of campus. This is true. The department of Horse Services, the trolls and finally the destruction period coalesce to form the problems we now have. Many students think their concerns fall on deaf ears, that the upper echelon of the university is only concerned with making money and trying to make the university look good on paper. In a sudden about-face, the administration has proven that notion completely wrong. The university has given the students a spacious new parking lot behind the Russell House Bookstore. Sure, the construction of the lot ate up a good number of parking spaces on Bull Street. And granted, there are only eight spaces, and it’s always roped off, and even when it’s open only those who can prove by sworn affidavit that they are going to buy books from the bookstore can park there. But think of all the students who will benefit from this lot in the future. For my part, I want to rescind all those nasty notes I have sent to Parking Services over the years and thank them for responding to students’ concerns in such a visible and helpful way. In the meantime, I anxiously await my invitation to arrive in that little orange envelope.