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VIEWPOINTS „ AMECOCK EDITORIAL BOARD Editor MICHAEL LaFORGIA News Editor STEPHEN FASTENAU Asst. News Editor JUSTIN CHAPURA The Mix Editor ALEXIS ARNONE Sports Editor * iONATHAN HILLYARD Viewpoints Editor BRINDY McNAIR Copy Desk Chief STEVEN VAN HAREN Design Director chas McCarthy IN OUR OPINION Network snub smarts during rivalry week Today marks the start of the countdown to the Clemson game, and after all the fanfare and buildup, students who aren’t lucky enough to have gotten tickets through the lottery can tune in on ... pay-per-view? Are you kidding us? •«* . . The television network programmers, in their infinite wis dom, have eschewed our school’s biggest match up for, among other games, LSU vs. Mississippi and Georgia vs. Kentucky. Jefferson Pilot, which broadcasts college football games around the South, said it opted for the Bulldogs/Wildcats con test because it featured two SEC schools. Regardless, the network made the wrong call. It’s bad enough that the Florida game got bumped to the crumby 12:30 p.m. time slot to cater to Jefferson-Pilot’s pro gramming whims. But now the most popular game of the year won’t even get aired on free TV. And, faced with the prospect of shelling out 30 bucks to watch the game, some Carolina stu dents probably won’t get to see it - at all. So we encourage all local bars and restaurants in the Columbia area to buy the game and play it Saturday. There’s also been talk of a .student organization paying for the game to air in the Russell House. This is an excellent idea, too. Finally, we encourage any student who got a ticket but can’t make it to the game to give their tickets away to someone else — even if you don’t know them. Don’t force your fellow students to pay a lot of money for them. Have some school spirit and some class, and leave the money grubbing to the folks who run the television networks. Faced with the prospect of shelling out 30 bucks to watch the game, some USC students probably won’t get to see it at all. IT’S YOUR RIGHT Exercise your right to voice your opinion. Create message boards at www.dailygamecock. com or send letters to the editor to gamecockopinions@gwm.sc.edu CORRECTIONS If you see an error in today’s 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. Newt 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 MIKE CONWAY, JESSICA ANN NIELSEN, MEGAN SINCLAIR Graphic Designer LAURA-JOYCE GOUGH Copy Editors CHELSEA HAOAWAY, KRISTY LAUBE, KATIE THOMPSON. JAMISON TINSLEY LIZ WHITE Online Editor RYAN SIMMONS Creative Services JOSEPH DANNELLY, LAURA-JOYCE GOUGH, MARGARET LAW, MEGHAN WHITMAN 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 C. NEIL scon Advertising Staff BREANNA EVANS, RYAN GORMAN, KATIE CUPPIA, APRYL ALEXANDER, MARY RACHEL FREEMAN, MCKENZIE WELSH, DEIDRE MERRICK CONTACT INFORMATION Offices on thirdfloor of the Russell House. The Editor’s office hours are Monday and Wednesday from 1-3 p.m. Editor: gamecockeditorQgwm. sc. edu News: gamecocknewsQgwm.sc.edu Viewpoints: gamecockopinionsQgwm.sc.edu The Mix: gamecockfeaturesQgwm.sc.edu Sports: gamecocksportsQgwm. sc. edu Public Affairs: gamecockPRQyahoo.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 of 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 purchased for $ l each from the Department of Student Media. . TO PLACE AN AD The Gamecock Advertising: 777-3888 1400 Greene St. Classified: 777-1184 Columbia, S. C. 29208 Fax: 777-6482 V ^And Remember: VfHKrHWHSiN k YouR SecM, ojvmz Clk Pr&h „ S»is In YouR S^ReT, oversea Cartoon courtesy of KRT Campus —I—■ ■ ■■■ ■ . Saving the environment one mug at a time Eco-mug would help if more people bought it, remembered it, used it A few weeks ago, Sodexho, USC’s food provider, introduced eco-mugs (short for ecological mugs, I assume) to students. The purpose of these mugs is to reduce waste on campus by providing an alternative to the wasteful, un recyclable styrofoam cups USC has been using for years. Many people (by that I mean one person who wrote a letter to the ’ editor in The Gamecock) praised this innovation, calling it a step in the right direction. And so, I decided it was my duty to my readers to try out an eco-mug, see what it’s like to use one and tell my readers what to expect. So, for the past week I roamed campus with my eco mug, getting inexpensive refdls where ever I could find them and taking mental notes of what I could relay. . The most noticeable thing about eco-mugs is that very few other people have them. Sometimes in the Russell House, I’d feel like the geeky kid in high school — them with their wasteful styrofoam cups and me with my eco mug, I almost felt obliged to let them beat me up and give them my lunch money. Speaking of feeling out of place, while on assignment, I attempted a little statistical research on how popular the cups were. I would Tim- walk back and iuciumius forth in the n . ‘ GMP, looking tourth-year . , print at PeoPles journalism tables, tying to student count how many styrofoam cups there were in comparison to eco-mugs. Typically, I would feel too weird and stop counting by the time styrofoam cups got 30. The number of eco-mugs never passed zero. Occasionally, (twice, actually) I’d run into somebody who’d say they also had an eco-mug too, but left it at home, which explained the styrofoam cup in their hand. Carrying around these mugs is a tough habit to get into. Despite being on assignment, reporting on the eco-mug lifestyle to my fellow gamecocks, I would often just forget all about the mug and buy a styrofoam cup, putting a damper on Sodexho’s environmentalist ambitions. For those of us who don’t really care about the environment but like having lots of money, these ecological mugs can double as economical mugs. While a drink in a 20 ounce styrofoam cup will cost you $1.49 for a soda and $1.59 for juice, refills for these eco-mugs cost only 99 cents. The mugs themselves cost $3. This way you start saving money after five sodas or after four juices. And further still, because the inside of the cup is black, apple juice looks like water in the cup, and water is free of charge. My principles, however, keep me from using this to its full advantage. And even if I didn’t have principles, I value my reputation too much to print such moral indiscretions in the newspaper. Another benefit of these mugs is that they are great ways to start conversations with attractive women. On Wednesday night, in fact, I chatted with three attractive women about potential pros and cons of eco-mugs. These conversations also usually involved mentioning ‘90s environmentalist cartoon “Captain Planet.” With their awesome powers of saving the earth, saving money and helping you meet potential dates, eco-mugs are not only one, but several steps in the right direction —- even more so if I wasn’t the only person using one. IN YOUR OPINION The Gamecock skews protest’s true meaning In rebuttal to a fellow student’s editorial in regards to the administration and The Gamecocks handling of the incident concerning fratty.net, it is not a disgrace to the image of Greeks, but a disgrace to the image of African-American students. Why is there no equal representation? A vital component is always missing — the black voice. It is apparent that the black population can be used for target practice when everyone feels like it and the persons in power look on without taking action. Recently, a positive black organization had a protest in front of the Russell House, and the picture in the paper made a mockery of the situation. Just for clarification, the Student Coalition Empowering African-Americans was not protesting the Greek Village, but rather a series of racial indiscretions we are subjected to daily. But how would anyone know that? If a black athlete breaks the law, you get a whole week’s worth of coverage, but a positive black group exercises its First Amendment right and we can’t get three sentences! There has been criticism of the actions of SCEA., but who else attempted to take a stand? Some ask what should be done or what rule has been violated. My answer is that sensitivity training or a computer etiquette course isn’t enough. We are thought to be equal, but how can I be proud to be an American when you won’t even let me be a Cock? BRANDI ELLIOT Fourth-year psychology student Expertise, not race, dictated coach search USC received straight F’s on the minority hiring report card released Wednesday by the Black Coaches Association (BCA). After Lou Holtz retired, USC failed to turn in an affirmative action document to the BCA. This caused an uproar in the BCA because the university failed to interview a black coach for the vacant position. Instead, we hired Steve Spurrier. The grading we received, as well as the ridiculous statements that have been made at our university, are uncalled for. This is OBVIOUSLY not an issue of race. Steve Spurrier is clearly one of the greatest football coaches of all time, and to have him here is a once in a lifetime opportunity. His records and accomplishments speak for themselves. Spurrier was clearly the chosen candidate from the get go, so why interview a prospective black coach if he’s just going to be a token? As stated earlier, his records and accomplishments speak for themselves. Getting Steve Spurrier to be your team’s coach is like getting the chance to go out with Jenna Jameson. Do you really want to stop and consider another option? The BCA needs to get over this and realize that not everything revolves around race. I doubt any coach (white, black, Asian, etc.) could do a better job than Spurrier. CHRISTIAN SCOTT Third-year music education student 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 mote information. www. dailygamecock. com Chirac faces fried French in anarchic battleground Riots in France cause president to wake up and smell camembert I’ve held off writing a column about the problems our French brethren have been □ having for a while now. Nothing is worse than writing a column about how bad things are for the French and then Ihtrd-year realizing that if prim you jjacj onjy journalism . . , . student walted a couPle more weeks things would be worse. Now comes the news that French President Chirac has announced his plan to halt the violence which has left large swaths of France covered in torched cars and broken glass. So what is the plan, you ask? How will the hundreds of rioters be quelled after two weeks of rampant destruction? Perhaps the third U.S. invasion in the last century? Surely at least the French Foreign Legion? Mr, It turns out the riotous violence will be stopped ... by a curfew. Yes, you heard correcdy, a curfew. That old parental staple intended to keep you from hanging out with that bad group of kids who smoked cigarettes in front of the school before the bell rang. I can almost hear Chirac now, scolding those ill-mannered hooligans, bricks in hand. “Shame on you! It’s after dark! Don’t you kids know nothing good happens after midnight?” Yes, now rioters face up to two months in prison, if they are arrested for their part in the mayhem. Well, “whew!” The French sure are lucky to have such a strong and decisive leader as President Chirac. Unfortunately it seems like some of the “youths” of France are going to be going to bed without dinner. Violence prompdy erupted in Lyon on Saturday night, marking the first time a major French city has been at the center of the violence. Reports of torched cars were “down” from 502 to 370 and 212 more people were arrested. I believe the French were at the international forefront of “fricasseeing” President Bush for not having the residents of New Orleans put up in the closest Hilton a couple of days after Katrina passed through. If I’m not mistaken, it was also the French who led the international chorus warning the U.S. about its “anti Muslim” bigotry in the wake of Sept. 11. Now the streets of France are overrun with mostly young, disenfranchised Arab youth seeking the overthrow (or at very least the burning) of a Western civilization.Hmmmm, is anyone seeing a recurring theme here? For years France has allowed unchecked immigration from North Africa like Algeria. They then plugged these downtrodden people into a sagging French economy which pays wealthy, educated people not to work much — and prevents poor and desperate ones from working at all. Hell, that almost makes the curfew look like a good idea.