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» i concerns Some upset over ;racist’ comments; no disciplinary action planned • - Jess Davis STAKE WRITER What some are calling “racist and obscene” comments from several of USC’s fraternity and sorority members on a Web site message board have come under fire from the Office of Student Life and several Greek organizations. The Web site, fratty.net, gained popularity nationwide for its sarcastic take on Greek life. Categories include “Dressing Frat,” “Fratting Like A True Lady,” even a “Frat Dictionary.” A message board was added to the Web site during summer 2005. Much of the'message board content in question revolves around the Omega Psi Phi fraternity building a house in USC’s Greek Village. Some white fraternity and sorority members posted antagonistic messages about the black fraternity moving in to the village. “I propose throwing a cotton picking party for them when they move in. A thousand pounds of cotton in the front yard. Sure Jesse Jackson will be here in a heart beat, but it will be funny as hell watching them pick it up,” an anonymous poster said under the screen name gamecock527. Jerry Brewer, director of Student Life, was alerted to the message boards by several concerned students. He called a meeting with presidents of each Greek chapter and their advisers last Monday to discuss the message board. At the meeting, Brewer discussed how the Greek leaders could respond to the postings. “I told the group these were fellow students posting this information and the leadership of the Greek community should let the individuals know this type of behavior is unacceptable,” Brewer said. Since concerns were raised about the postings, several of the fratty.net message board members have de activated their accounts. Brewer said that USC has requested the identity of the message board participants from the domain holder, and that he “would like to have a conversation with the individuals who posted this information to express my thoughts and to understand their reasons for posting the information.” Though the message board membership is open to anyone, Brewer said in a prepared statement that “most of the participants (whose comments are in question) do appear to be knowledgeable about the Carolina Greek system, which leads me to believe they are part of our community.” Not all of the messages on the boards were negative towards the Omega Psi Phis; several students spoke out against the racist comments. “The crude things said on this board are disturbing in this day and age. I guess the anonymity offers the protection to say whatever no matter how outrageous or false. I would hope that the members of the black greek orgs know that not all white greeks feel this way and that there are plenty of I1IEB SITE • 2 Steppers •strut stuff at AAAS function USCgroup partnered with Carolina Productions in Township event • Albany Gault FOR TUB UAMRCOCK The Association for African American Students partnering with Carolina Productions, held Step-Off 2005 Friday at the Township Auditorium. Step-Off 2005 was hosted by Charlemagne Tha God from WHXT Hot 103.9. Before the show began, members of USC fraternities and sororities took to the floor strolling also called “party walking” as friends and families took to their seats. “As usual, AAAS put on a great show and I thoroughly enjoyed it,” said Courtney Earle, a third-year English major. USC’s chapter of Zeta Phi Beta was first to perform. The group’s theme was “Blue Robin Hood”. Zetas started the show to the music of Sean Paul’s “We • Be Burnin”. In darkness, the group glowed as they danced under a black light wearing white gloves and belts. The members of Zeta Phi Beta helped Blue Robin Hood to her grandmas’ house by taking roads to show their appreciation to the male fraternities by replicating their trademark steps. They visited streets such as 1906 Alpha Lane, 1911 Kappa Drive, and 1911 Omega Road. Finally, Blue Robin Hood reached her ^—destination. Next up were South Carolina State University’s Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. As they were introduced, the steppers received various calls from fellow fraternity members. They entered to the music from the movie “Scarface” wearing black slacks, shirts, and hats with gold ties. They began their step with the Three Six Mafia’s “Stay Fly” and the audience grew excited. The crowd was impressed with the way they used their bodies to create a bench, and even a bicycle. Following Alpha Phi Alpha was S.C. State’s Zeta Phi Beta chapter. The •steppers had an African stage set up with a big portrait of Africa along with faux lion, cheetah and zebra. The group entered the stage, hair in afros, wearing all black with African sashes and belts, to the music of Akon’s “Bananza (Belly Dancer) to represent the “motherland”. The Zetas said that Zeta Phi Beta was the first sorority to open a chapter in Africa. The steppers even performed blindfolded without missing a step. RflflS • 2 Marine among us Special to'UW. GAMBCOCIK Third-year finance student and Iraq war veteran Campion Usry, center, poses with fellow Marines in Iraq. Iraq war veteran returns to classroom at USC Jess Oavis STAFF WHITER They’re in your classes and you see them at Russell House, yet USC students who are also Iraq veterans blend in, their experiences unknown and unnoticed by their peers. Third-year finance student Campion Usry served as a member of the U.S. Marine Corps for more than four years, beginning in 1999. In January 2003 Usry, an infantry squad leader for the 3rd Battalion of the 1st Marine regiment, 1st Marine division, traveled to Kuwait and waited for the call to invade Iraq. In March, his division was part of the takeover of Baghdad. There, he entered buildings around the city, searching for insurgents. Among the most vivid memories Usry has of that time was “just climbing through glass and busting out windows and searching for insurgents and killing them, then setting up security ... and going on to the next city.” “All kinds of images” flood Usry’s memory when he thinks about that time, he said, and they’re often gruesome and heartbreaking. Once, for a day and a half, Usry and his fellow Marines had to sleep next to a rotting dog. Though living in an atmosphere of constant danger, Usry said he was unafraid. UETGRRR • 2 Usry s limeline I jan. 2003 - Usry travels - to Kuwait as infantry squad leader March 2003 - U sty's division involved in takeover of Baghdad INSIDE Viewpoints Tim McManus ruminates on the evolution of ‘Yo’ mama’ jokes; Jacob Davis laments the state Legislature’s latest crack down on seat belt violations. 8 The Mix Down in the dumps A study finds that depression seizes young women more often than young men. 5 Sports Bowl Bound Carolina became bowl eligible with a win against Arkansas. i Baptist Collegiate Ministry center moves to new Main Street location (Ilex Riley THE GAMECOCK After five years of wait, wondering and working, the new Baptist Collegiate Ministry student center was dedicated Sunday to an overflow audience of more than 200 people. Dozens of executives from throughout the Baptist ministry system attended, as alumni were guided around the new center by USC students. “I’m not sure that any of us thought it was going to happen,” said Jane 6 www.dailygamecock.com Poster, BCM director. “It was truly a community-, state- and university wide effort.” Poster, who has been involved with the campus ministry group for 34 years, recalled that when the building was originally shown to the committee who would approve its purchase, wires and the smell of ink from the printing company that had previously occupied the building filled the air. After those involved were informed of Posters plans for the building, the BC1II«3 REFORMED NEO-NAZI TO SPEAK TONIGHT Event to take place at business school, will kick off Creed Week Jachie Alexander and Sydney Smith FOR THE GAMECOCK A reformed Neo-Nazi will speak to USC students tonight at 7:30 p.m. in BA 002 as part of Carolina Creed Week programming. T.J. Leyden, known for giving “straight talk” on his former beliefs, will talk about the brutality with which he used to beat people just because of their race in his presentation “Turning Away From Hate.” Leyden was once one of the most successful leaders in the white supremacist movement, and is currently the only former skinhead actively working against the movement. He acted against Jews, Latinos, African Americans, homosexuals and other minority groups. The Office of Student Judicial Programs and Carolina Student Judicial Council found Leyden listed as a speaker on www.campusspeak.com, and decided to bring Leyden to campus after researching his talks and Web site and checking his references. Kelly Eifert, Coordinator of Judicial Programs, said the talk is expected to last an hour, with most of the time allotted to Leydens “straight” lecture and some time reserved for a computer presentation. CRCCD • 3 Football player charged with DUI From staff reports USC football player Scott Morgan was arrested in Columbia early Sunday morning and charged with driving under the influence, Lt. Alec Sharp with the Columbia Police Department confirmed. Morgan, a 21-year-old redshirt junior from North Augusta, is the starting long snapper for the Gamecocks field goal team. He snapped the ball on USC’s winning field goal last week against the Tennessee Volunteers. Morgans arrest makes him the 14th USC football player arrested since January. The most recent was Oct. 9 when defensive end Josh Johnson was arrested for the second time this year and charged with simple assault, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, interfering with police and possession of an open container of alcohol. Comments on this story? E-mail gamecocknews@gwm.sc. edu