Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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The University of South Carolina Wednesday, February 1, 2006 Vol. 99, No. 57 • Since 1908 - ■ * « RHA says no to changes in codes of constitution Some senators objections ignored; visitation policy changes to see legislation soon Hatie Boucher THE (JAMECOCK □ Despite some RHA senators’ urging that their constitution needed Organization, the Senate voted not to pass the legislation that would add “constitutional codes” to the constitution. Most of the objections brought up during the debate argued that the meetings run smoothly without the codes. “It is good enough as is. The codes may or may not do anything,” said Cale Bonner, a second-year □biology student. The legislation needed a three-fourth’s majority vote to be passed. Changes to university housing’s visitation policies, which were the focus of discussion last week, are in the process of being developed into legislation. The Senate passed a financial allocation which granted $1,500 to Bates House to be used on improvements to the game room. A Bates House representative said they want to replace the felt on the pool table and install a light over it. They also want to buy a new foosball table and air hockey table, as well as rug, chairs and tables for the use of the residents. The total cost is estimated to be around $3,600. This weekend, RHA will host the South Carolina Organization for Residence Education conference. SCORE is an organization that coordinates programs and communication designed to improve on campus life. Next week, RHA will play host to a Student Government debate by the candidates running for president, vice president and treasurer. The debate will feature a discussion and will be open too the public. There will be a series of questions followed by an open discussion. The debate will be held in room 201 of the Calcott building at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 7. Comments on this story? E-mail gamecocknews@gwm.sc. edu Dean hopeful prescribes ‘near-sighted’ blueprint Jackie Alexander ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR James Ely, finalist in the engineering school dean search, concluded interviews with USC officials Tuesday. Ely presented a plan for the college in Amoco Hall Monday, which was followed by a reception at the Inn at HJSC. Attended by faculty and staff members of the engineering college, Ely’s seminar targeted various areas of his focus. Ely titled the presentation “Vision 20/40” in reference to his own vision, which requires him to wear bifocals. He said it was, like his prescription, a near sighted view of frontiers in engineering and how the college might reach them. Ely outlined his ^Bnanagement style as a combination of autocratic and democratic, depending on the situation. He said, “In a university we do not manage, we administer.” The university’s mission statement, Ely said, greatly impacted his decision to apply for the position after being extended an invite by the search committee. “The university and college are firmly committed of excelling the two functions of the university,” Ely said. “First is excellence in education and the second is excellence in research. The heart of the university is in the right place.” Ely also said the university is growing and looking to the future. “I think USC is an institution, from the administrative standpoint, where vision has a chance to become reality,” Ely said. Ely also cited growing problems in the engineering community including DCfffl • 6 Katy Blalock-/ THE GAMECOCK Hossein Namdar, left, gestures next to Akbar Atri, leader of Iran’s student movement, Tuesday in Gambrell Hall. Namdar and Atri briefed students on the history of Iran’s struggle from monarchy to theocracy and their efforts to forge democratic change. Rising up Iranians speak about past, protests Rshleigh Orthen THE GAMECOCK Students assembled in Gambrell Hall Tuesday night to hear Hossein Namdar and Akbar Atri explain what it is like to fight for democracy for more than a century. Namdar and Atri clarified in their lecture, sponsored by Students Defending Democracy, why many influences have deprived their ancient country Iran of freedom, and what it is like to brawl for something Americans were born into naturally. According to the CIA World Fact Book, Iran, known as Persia until 1935, became an Islamic republic in 1979 after the ruling monarchy was overthrown and the shah was forced into exile. Conservative clerical forces then established a theocratic system of government with ultimate political authority. The result has been a drastic change; for example, Iran’s theocracy allows women to be stoned to death for performing certain actions. “The old regime was better than the new theocracy because the new theocracy takes away social freedom, and it stole the LCCTURC • 1 Report: Iran obtained documents on how to build atomic warhead George Jahn THE ASSOCIATED PRESS VIENNA, Austria — The U.N. nuclear watchdog agency said in a report Tuesday that Iran obtained documents and drawings on the black market that serve no other purpose than to make an atomic warhead. Tehran warned of an “end of diplomacy” if plans to refer it to the U.N. Security Council are carried out. The report by the agency, ahead of a meeting of its 35-member board Thursday, also confirmed information recently provided by diplomats familiar with the Iran probe that Tehran has not started small-scale nUCLCHB • 6 HOUSING PLANS REVEAL HONORS PERKS New freshman/ sophomore dorm to have private rooms • V - HimRuprecht THE GAMECOCK The freshman residential halls known as the Towers are undergoing preparations that will give the site a new name — the Honors College. Gene Luna, director of student development and University Housing, said the Towers have been tentatively approved to be demolished this summer to make way for the construction of a new residential community for Honors freshman and sophomore students scheduled to open in fall 2008. A decade ago, USC’s housing department implemented a master plan or development and renovation for student living, emphasizing “living and learning, community and privacy,” Luna said. This housing plan was geared at establishing and- renovating thousands of new living spaces to suit students’ needs and requests. The plan was aimed at providing students with access to advances in technology that can be incorporated into education while instilling the sense of a smaller community within the university. Over the years, the building and expansion of new student living spaces, like the Greek Village and South, East and West Quads, have turned over a high success rate for this housing plan. These housing additions will influence what goes into this new living Housine • 4 Alito wins Supreme Court confirmation afier fight in Senate DauidCspo THE ASSOCIATED PRESS WASHINGTON — Samuel Alito took his place on the Supreme Court Tuesday after winning Senate confirmation, a personal triumph for the son of an Italian immigrant and a political milestone in President Bush’s campaign to give the judiciary a more conservative cast. The 58-42 Senate vote was largely along party lines as Democrats registered overwhelming opposition to Bush’s choice to replace Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, whose rulings have helped uphold abortion rights, affirmative action and other legal precedents of the past 50 years. Bush hailed Alito as “a brilliant and fair-minded judge who strictly interprets the Constitution and laws and does not legislative from the bench.” “It is a seat that is reserved for few but that impacts millions,” said Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist moments before the Senate sealed Alito’s place in history as the nation’s 110th justice. Alito, 55 and a veteran of 15 years on the appeals court, watched on television alongside Bush at the White ALITO • A Ron Edmonds / The Associated Press Samuel Anthony Alito Jr. walks on the White House grounds on Tuesday after watching the vote on his nomination to the Supreme Court with President Bush and others. Alito became the nation’s 110th Supreme Court justice, confirmed by a Senate vote of 58-42. Viewpoints Liz White tackles a double standard in journalism; Archana Pande Lamichhane calls citizens to attention about injustice in Nepal. , The Mix Disc jockeying ( CDs are still in heavy rotation, but DVDs and \ MP3s threaten to take their places in the music j world,. Sports Off the court Todd Green goes one-on-one with USC reserve point guard Stephen McDowell. i INDEX Comics & Crossword.... 11 Classifieds..14 Horoscopes..11 Opinion..8 Police Report.. 2