Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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VIEWPOINTS_ EDITORIAL BOARD Editor STEVEN VAN HAREN News Editor JUSTIN CHAPURA Assistant News Editor . JACKIE ALEXANDER The Mix Editor ALEXIS ARNONE Design Director chas McCarthy Sports Editor STEPHEN FASTENAU Viewpoints Editor BRINDY McNAIR Assistant Viewpoints Editor AARON BRAZIER IN OUR OPINION ‘Brokeback’ aims high with love story twist x. . Be careful: If you see “Brokeback Mountain,” you’ll catch gay. In a despicable move, Hollywood again is twisting reality by featuring two men in love. Cowboys. In a picturesque Wyoming. In the 1960s. Already, there are three strikes going against “acclaimed” director Ang Lee’s latest cinematic orgy. Everyone knows gay people weren’t around in the 1960s, gay people weren’t in Wyoming and gay people ‘Brokeback’ is in the same vein as a lot of doomed relationships in movies. certainly never loved each other. They still don’t. They’re only in it for the sex, and to convince others to turn gay. Please. Let’s cut the crap. “Brokeback Mountain” is being touted as the movie of the year by a lot of people, ana we re pretty sure tnat every single mm critic in the world isn’t a raging homosexual or bleeding-heart liberal. The movie looks pretty good, and at least one Gamecock editorial board member, a very straight male with a loving girlfriend, saw it and liked it. Last we checked, he’s not cheating on his girlfriend with a big, beefy guy named Bruce. “Brokeback” is in the same vein as a lot of doomed relationships in movies, except it’s about two guys. And while hate mongers should stop spewing their “gay agenda” drivel, “Brokeback” supporters shouldn’t fault people for not seeing it, either. Non-attendance does not necessarily signify homophobia, but rather, a lack of desire to see two guys swapping spit. The movie could be more powerful than “Saving Private Ryan” and sadder than “Gone with the Wind,” but some guys just won’t go. And that’s OK, but judging the movie on its merits and not on its sometimes-discomforting content would help a lot more people discover a solid film — nothing more, nothing less. People shouldn’t start slinging mud at this movie until they’ve seen it. We promise, it’s the most fun you’ll have at a gay cowboy lovefest set in the mid-1960s all year. IT’S YOUR RIGHT Voice your opinion on message boards at wunv.dailygamecock.com or send letters to the editor at gamecockopinions@gwm.sc. edu CORRECTIONS In Wednesday’s “Eye specialist to offer weekly services,” the main clinic should have been listed at 4 Medical Park Road. The Gamecock regrets the error. If you see an error in today’s paper, we want to know about it. E-mail us at gamecockopinions@gwm.sc.edu ABOUT THE GAMECOCK Editor STEVEN VAN HAREN Design Director chas McCarthy Copy Desk Chief AARON KIOD Newt Editor JUSTIN CHAPURA Assistant News Editor JACKIE ALEXANDER Viewpoints Editor BRINDY McNAJR Assistant Viewpoints Editor AARON BRAZIER The Mix Editor ALEXIS ARNONE Assistant Mix Editor KRISTEN TRUESDALE Sports Editor STEPHEN FASTENAU Assistant Sports Editor ALEX RILEY Photo Editor NICK ESARES Assistant Photo Editor KATY BLALOCK Page Designers MIKE CONWAY, KATE FENWICK, MEGAN SINCLAIR StaffWriters AJ. BEMBRY, JESS DAVIS, TIM McMANUS, MARJORIE RIDDLE, GINA VASSELLI Copy Editors ELIZABETH PARHAM, PATRICK MASTERSON. BETHANY NICHOLS, KATIE THOMPSON, JAMISON TINSLEY, KRYSTAL WEBBER, LIZ WHITE CONTACT INFORMATION Offices located on the third floor of the Russell House Editors office hours are from 2-3 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays 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@yalsoo.com Online: www.dailygamecock.com Newsroom: 777-7726 ; Sports: 777-7182 Editors Office: 777-3914 STUDENT MEDIA Director SCOn LINOENBERG Faculty Adviser ERIK COLLINS Creative Director SUSAN KING Business Manager CAROLYN GRIFFIN Advertising Manager SARAH SCARBOROUGH Classifieds Manager SHERRY F. HOLMES Production Manager C. NEIL scon 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 purchased for SI each from the Department of Student Media. ib*^1**^ Courtesy KRT Campus WWHKD: What would Heidi Klum do? Showing skin can be positively profitable, artistically enhancing I use my body to make money. I’ve been doing it for about two months. It gets easier every time. Now they are asking me to take it all off. And I’m asking myself, “What would Heidi Klum do?” I got started modeling at the city art museum after I was approached by one of the artists at an exhibit. My hair was down; I didn’t look like an ape that evening, so she asked me to model. The first day was about standing still. As was the second, the third and so on. I wear whatever I want to work. They put me in a basement with a spotlight. There are usually a dozen artists; they form a circle around me and draw. Each session lasts two hours, and I love every minute of it. Occasionally, when I am posing I’ll get an itch or need to sneeze. My leg will fall asleep or I’ll have to fart. Of course, I cannot do any of these things. My bodily functions are forced to be put on hold. Some of the sketches look exactly like me. And TECLfi some of 1116 IRRRHOSHV s k ,e 1 c h e s Second-year ™ake , me public look llke a relations man, a series student of circles or like I have 10-foot arms. The art produced from my modeling could appear anywhere; I release all rights. The artist could hang his or her work in a gallery, sell it or display it in a restaurant in the Vista. I imagine myself to be the next great muse; the Mona Lisa of the Columbia metropolitan area. I’ll be on the wall of Nonnah’s watching you eat your cheesecake, and you’ll be looking at my boobs. Modeling is not about being beautiful. Actually, I’ve always considered myself quite strange looking. As a child I looked like a square with baby fat and big features on a bobble head. But in modeling, strange sells. And since I am lazy, crazy, weird-looking and generally do not listen, it’s an easy way to make money. The question is, do I do it? Do I strip down on that square in the basement and allow strangers to sketch my body in the nude? Spotlights aren’t exactly sympathetic. If a body is a temple, does that mean if I show my skin that I destroy the sanctity of my temple? Then I got to thinking about Heidi Klum. Heidi has made a whole career out of highlighting her physique. Thanks to global fame and zoom lenses, we know every curve, mole and freckle on Heidi Klum. Yet, we know virtually nothing about her. If Heidi can keep the “real Heidi” hidden while showing almost every inch of her body, then I can certainly do the same for a group of 12 friendly artists. Separating my body from my brain, I need to see my arms, legs, breasts and butt as a vessel. A body is a tool — like a hammer or a car. And if I or a bombshell like Heidi can use this tool to make money, then why not? I’ve got to pay for beer somehow. Freedom — worst use of democratic process? Palestinian election proves problematic for Western politics , In what can only be construed as an attempt to unseat the German people for the title of “worst use of the democratic process ever,” last week Palestinians voted Hamas, a radical terrorist organization, to lead their government. Hamas’ margin was overwhelming, claiming 76 of 132 parliament seats in a pure democratic vote, a victory that shocked many western observers. Of course, these were the same people complaining that the winner of the popular vote didn’t win the presidency in 2000. Want to go ahead and agree now that maybe the Founding Fathers were on to something with that whole Electoral College thing? Hamas did run on a very convincing, diverse platform of nursing homes, nightclubs and public transportation. Specifically, that all three of those things would be blown up with far more regularity under their rule. I 'slim.11 Just to throw this out there in case you’re keeping score, the number JACOB DRUIS of radical Third- Islamic-fascist year print governments journalism dedicated student to the destruction of the West elected by the Palestinians: 1. The number elected by free, democratic Iraq: 0. Former President Jimmy Carter was quick to express the hope that “these elections will mark a decisive move for the renunciation of violence by all groups and toward addressing corruption and other issues that are central to improving the lives of Palestinians.” To put this in perspective for Carter, the idea that electing Hamas to power, no matter how democratic the fashion, will somehow lead to a reduction in Palestinian/Israeli violence is akin to leaving the fox to guard the hen house and expecting smooth sailing for your farm. “There is no solution for the Palestinian question except through jihad. Initiatives, proposals and international conferences are all a waste of time and vain endeavors. The Palestinian people know better than to consent to having their future, rights and fate toyed with The elimination of whatever “gray areas” observers of the conflict might have once seen is the situation’s silver lining. As ruthless as Hamas is, at least they are honest about their message and hold none of the pseudo peace posturing of the former ruling Fatah party. While Fatah’s rhetoric talked of peace while doing nothing to clamp down on the increasingly bloody suicide war being waged against Israel, Hamas makes no such claims. The Palestinian people have freely elected an openly violent terrorist organization bent on the West’s destruction to represent them at the international level. At least we can be grateful that Carter is polishing his “peace prize” at home and not in the White House. Freshman year 4 cant speed by quick enough for some of us Hassles of college life make students restless for summer, graduation I survived my first semester of college. Before you clap, I have at least seven more ^ ahead of me. Every morning I wake up □ and wish it were time for spring break. I daydream about not being in class. I walk around campus between classes JflfllCS ionging to be Firs,-year somewhere print else. I am journalism tired of doing student homework. I am tired of waiting for the elevators in ^| my dorm. I am sick of almost getting hit by wild-driving people as I cross the street. I do not know how long I can stand overflowing showers. The food at the Russell House is no longer appealing to me. Work is becoming a task instead of a job. The walk from my dorm to Bates is becoming longer and longer every time I go to get my car. I am beginning to miss my room, my bed and my digital cable box. I am tired of sharing a room. I am just™ plain tired. I know I sound cynical and non-appreciative, but the end of this semester is just not coming soon enough. And even when it comes, I will still have three more years to go. The reality is that I am here to better myself. And a component I must improve is my patience. I should cherish these times I have at this school and take the rest with a stiff upper lip. ^ I am grateful to be here™ at Carolina, and I am trying to take each day as it comes. Yet, when I tell myself these things, my restlessness is not drowned out. Instead, it grows even more enraged, and nothing seems to soothe ir As I write this, I wonder if other freshmen are feeling the same way. Is this something that will haunt me for the rest of my collegiate experience, or will it go away with time? Is this feeling of discontent destined to be with me for the rest of my life? Is this discontent m manifestationofsubconscious feelings that are buried deep within my mind? The answers to my questions will only come with time. I just hope that I can get over this hump and not miss out on important events that will shape my college career. Submission policy Letters to the editor should be less than 300 words and include name, phone number, profes- ^ sional title or year and major, if a ^ student. E-mail letters to game cockopinions@gwm.sc.edu. Let ters will be edited. Anonymous letters will not be published. Call the newsroom at 777-7726 for more information. Online Do you think Pom Sunday and other pornography POLL deference programs are necessary at USC? * 4 J • L- - - - „. ._ '.7 . . - . . *. ....,wr1