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The University of South Carolina Wednesday, November9, 2005 VoL 99, No. 39 • Since 1908 Kappa Sigma member resigns amid criticism Offensive message boardposts prompt close scrutiny by university officials Jess Davis STAFF WRITER A member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity resigned Tuesday and was disaffiliated by the national organization, Vice President for Student Affairs Dennis Pruitt said. Kappa Sigmas national office will also conduct a racial sensitivity training ^^program for the USC chapter before Thanksgiving and has directed its members to no longer participate in message boards at fratty.net. A spokesman for Kappa Sigma said he did not know anything about the situation. Pruitt said he anticipates other Greek groups in question at USC will also discourage their members from participating in the message boards. Interventions with individuals have already taken place, and additional actions will take place if the review of the case warrants, Pruitt said. The case has been referred to the Office of Student Judicial Programs, and, if warranted, will be sent to the Office of Equal Opportunity Programs to determine if the law or university policy has been violated. Appropriate intervention will take place based on those reviews, Pruitt said. Controversy over the Web site erupted after the offices of Greek Life and Student Life raised concerns over what Student Life Director Jerry Brewer called “racist and obscene” comments posted by individuals who appeared to be members of USC fraternities and sororities. USC officials were alerted to the message board by Student Government President Justin Williams. The comments included derogatory statements about many organizations in the GREEK • G of a drag queen An inside look ^ at the wild world of Patti O Furniture Jackie Alexander FOR THE GAMECOCK A banker and a small business owner might have walked into P.T.’s Cabaret last night, but two fierce women walked out as Paris LeFeris and Patti O’Furniture headed to USC’s “The Birdcage.” Pat Patterson, as he’s known during the day, lives under five layers of makeup, five pairs of pantyhose and the persona of Patti •O’Furniture. I Patterson began doing drag while at a conference. “It was a dare,” Patterson said. “When I worked at USC, I went to a conferment with other higher education professionals and ran into a bunch of grad school friends. For fun, we decided to put on a funny drag show and raised a lot of money.” That dare came back to the university as “The Birdcage,” named after the famous 1998 movie and play. Patterson has been performing drag for seven years, the last two at local P.T.’s Cabaret. As he begins his third layer of makeup, he asks LeFeris if he brought him a birthday cake. “It’s my drag birthday,” Patterson said. A Makeup, or getting painted, takes up to ^two hours although some performers, such as Samantha Hunter, only need 20 minutes. “It takes a long time to look this ugly,” Patterson said. Patterson is sponsored by MAC Cosmetics, who donates money to AIDS charities. Patterson can use up to $500 in makeup a year. Patterson performs “campy” drag that emphasizes a more comedic aspect of drag. “Everything I do has a comedic slant,” Patterson said. “Later tonight, I’ll be Jesstca Beltman /TilK < JAM MMKJK Pat Patterson, aka Patti O’Furniture, has been performing drag for seven years, including the last two years at P.T.’s Cabaret. Patterson performs on weekends at 10:30 p.m. doing Britney Spears’ ‘Toxic’ and I’ll be wearing a trash bag saying ‘toxic waste.’” LeFeris does a more feminine type of drag, with a full face of striking makeup and a black cat suit. To cover his eyebrows, Patterson applies clown white. Paris chimed in “I get mine done,” while Patti added “in the dark by a monkey.” — i -- Patterson uses Atlanta drag group the Amorettes as his drag influence. He said it’s important for new drags to have a “drag mother.” “When I first started doing drag, an entertainer gave me a step by step of what I was supposed to do,” Patterson said. “I didn’t use it. I can’t follow directions. My DRR6 • 6 AshUigb Quick / Til K < I AM K< KM !K Career Center mannequins George and Mavis help show students ideas for proper interview style. Belk Inc. donated the mannequins. Mannequins show students proper dress Career Center helps with interview attire Nalyn Palmer FOR THE GAMECOCK George and Mavis are the newest members of USC’s Career Center team, but students shouldn’t expect any career counseling from them. They don’t have heads. Affectionately named by the career center staff, George and Mavis are mannequins dressed in suits. Belk Inc. donated the forms and clothing for the display, the career center’s latest approach to showing students how to dress for interviews with future employers. Larry Salters, director of the career center, said students are encouraged to dress for the job they want, and a conservative suit is the best option. “Suits serve well for any position,” Salters said. George models the best suit for a young man seeking a job. He is wearing a dark, pin-stripe suit with a white dress shirt and red tie. Men should avoid brightly colored shirts and wacky ties. Mavis is wearing a dark, knee-length skirt suit with a plain shirt underneath and closed-toe shoes. Women should avoid heavy jewelry, heavy makeup, and should keep their hair up and out of their face. Facial piercings are also something to avoid for men and women. “You should get rid of anything on your body that draws attention to itself, rather than your skills for the job,” Salters said. Employers such as Cynthia Steele, director of USC s Office of Academic Enrichment and DRCSS • 4 Official says budget cuts, mishaps led to jailbreak (Deg Hinnard THE ASSOCIATED PRESS The director of the Corrections Department said Tuesday that budget cuts and failure to follow procedures led to last weeks maximum security prison break. Jon Ozmint told Gov. Mark Sanford’s cabinet that budget cutbacks forced his department to cut 800 security positions, leaving some areas such as the trash compactor and loading dock unmonitored by officers. Authorities think Jimmy Causey and Johnny Brewer escaped from the Broad River Correctional Institute on Nov. 1 by hiding in an outgoing trash delivery truck. Authorities captured them Thursday at a Ridgeland motel. Ozmint said the prisoners had been observing trash compacting procedures and “knew that we weren’t compacting the trash like we ought to” before it leaves the facility. Ozmint said that the trash bin “doesn’t fill up in the course of a week” and isn’t always compacted. Ozmint said the escaped convicts “knew even if, on a given morning, they hid in the trash, as long as the Dumpster’s not full, that (the compactor of) 9,000 pounds-per-square inch is not going to kill them.” According to Corrections’ Web site, the agency’s budget was reduced by 21 percent BRCRH • 6 INSIDE Viewpoints Steven Van Haren smokes a fratty; Joseph Reese sets the record straight on gay men. 9 The Mix Take a look around Tim McManus recounts history for those who like to wander around campus. 10 Sports Spurrier not breaking Despite consistent prying Steve Spurrier will not say USC’s game against UF is marked on his calendar. 1 13 Revamped RA interview process moves to Web Gina Uasselli STAFF WRITER The Department of Residence Education is changing the resident adviser selection process to make it easier for students to apply to be RAs. The application process is now almost entirely online, allowing potential RAs to visit housing.sc^rdu, attend an online informational session and apply. “We’ve just made it infinitely easier and more accessible to apply for the job,” said Sean McGreevey, assistant director for Residence Education. Applicants were once required to attend an informational session to get an application, turn in the application by a specific date and could only intervietv once a year. The application has changed from an essay to a resume with a cover letter. The Web site will assist those applying with creating their resumes. Interview sessions will now be held in the spring and fall. The new process allows selection committees to create a pool of eligible candidates to choose from. “(We’ll have) candlAates standing by for the position,” McGreevey said. “We can say, ‘Hey, do you want a job?’” “It won’t affect us as much since we can immediately fill the slot (if an RA leaves their position),” said Thurmond Bell, office manager of Residence Education. Bell and McGreevey said the RA selection process usually RD • 4