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The University of South Carolina Wednesday, February 15, 2006 Vol. 99, No. 63 • Since 1908 Justin Chapura / THE GAMECOCK Student Government President-elect Tommy Preston, left, and re-elected Vice-President Ryan Holt celebrate their victories Tuesday night at the announcement of this week’s election results in the Russell House. Preston, Holt win with golden ticket ^ Student Government treasurer race to be decided Thursday, Friday between Guest, Setzler Justin Chapura NEWS EDITOR Students cast a vote for continuing the goals of last year Tuesday as Student Government Treasurer Tommy Preston Jr. and Vice President Ryan Holt won overwhelming victories in this year’s elections, both winning more than 60 percent of the vote for the positions of president and vice president, respectively. A runoff election will be held Thursday and Friday for treasurer between student senator and third year mathematics student Jennifer Guest and first-year philosophy student Brad Setzler. Concurrent cheers rang out after Holt and Preston’s names were called out by Elections Commissioner Chris Gainey in the Russell House’s third floor lobby around 6 p.m., confirming that the pair would have the chance to collaborate for another year on projects initiated under current president, Justin Williams. Preston climbed over chairs and tables to embrace Holt, with whom Preston ran a joint campaign focusing on a number of initiatives. Preston and Holt have been working on the 16-hour credit limit, which stipulates an extra $80 fee per credit hour over 16 that a student takes each semester. Both want to raise that limit to 18 credit hours. Preston said USC President Andrew Sorensen has been warming to the proposal. Also on the docket have been implementing the grade forgiveness plan, which would allow a student to retake three failed or “D”-grade classes to improve their GPA, and lobbying state government and higher-education organizations to stifle the rising cost of textbooks. One prerogative is rolling out SGTV, a campus television station that would broadcast SG meetings and events as well as programs produced by students and recorded student organization events. For now, Preston and Holt will celebrate their victories. “Can you believe this?” said Preston after the din died down. “Pm just so excited ... this means that we’re ready to continue to work and do the things we said we were going to do over the past year,” Preston said. * “It’s going to be a great year and we’re ready for it.” Preston received 69.99 percent of the vote, taking in 2,563 votes to second-year law student Jarvis Jones’ CLCCTIOn • >1 By the numbers Preston 2549 votes; 69.99% Jones 705 votes; 20.07% Raymond 362 votes; 9.94% vice Presidential mat: Holt 2069 votes; 61.32% Shah 1057 votes; 31.33% Goodman 238 votes; 7.14% Source: SG Elections Commission Student Senate to vote today on allocation Under proposed budget, $192,000 would be given to student organizations Jess Dauis STAFF WRITER The Student Senate will vote today to approve the largest ever allocation of student activity fee money to student organizations, amid controversy about the allocation of $41,576 to graduate students. Under the proposed budget, $1 92,83 3 of the $284,409 allocated by the Senate Finance Committee would be given to or reserved for student organizations. “It’s the goal of the finance committee to allocate all the money we can to student organizations,” Student Government Treasurer and President-elect Tommy Preston said. Sixty-four organizations were funded this semester, and $25,000 was reserved to fund organizations that become eligible for funding in the fail. Proposed allocations for student organizations range from $116 to service sorority Epsilon Sigma Alpha to $25,800 to the Dance Company. GAMMA and the Carolina Student Judicial Council also were allocated over $15,000. Of the remaining money in the budget, $50,000 would be given to intramural sports, and $41,576 would be given to graduate students. The Senate Finance Committee decided to fund part of intramural sports this year because more students participated than expected, leaving the program in a bind until next year, when it will receive more “above the-line” funding, Preston said. Above-the-line funding is money allocated by USC officials; SG handles the OLLOCflTIOn • 6 RHA OKs. money for spring formal Katie Boucher THE GAMECOCK The Residence Hall Association Senate on Tuesday passed a $10,000 financial allocation for their spring formal to be held Friday, April 7, at the Columbia Conference Center. The senate had only used 10.7 percent of their yearly budget before Tuesday; the allocation will spend an additional 43 percent of the total budget. The Towers h*a 11 government gave an additional $2,000, and East Quad’s government has given $1,000 to the funding of the formal. Renting the conference center will cost a little less than $5,000, while catering will cost $6,495. A DJ, USCPD-provided security, shuttle service to the center and other miscellaneous expenses will each cost $500 or less. The total expense for the formal is estimated at $13,762.30. “USC’s students paid the fees, so let us make the most of their money,” said Randall Phillips, a third year criminal justice student. “Any RHA money that is not used will go back to the (account number) D114 budget.” Tickets for the formal cost RHfl • >1 Justin Chapura / THE GAMECOCK From left, student Senators Scott Spivey, Kirsten Cole • man, Whit Ashley, and John Rabon discuss issues at the Grand Market Place Tuesday. The four senators are push ing to bring organic and locally grown foods to USC. Local organic foods making way to USC Justin Chapura NEWS EDITOR Third-year journalism student Whit Ashley wants to help South Carolina make you healthier. Over the past year, Ashley has been collaborating with fellow student Senators Kirsten Coleman, Scott Spivey, John Rabon and SAGE co-president Laura Sima to make eating on campus healthier and eco friendly, and lately barriers to getting organic foods on campus have been softened, but not broken. Last Friday, Ashley, Spivey, Coleman and Rabon met with business affairs director Helen Zeigler and Dining Services general manager Michael Scheffres to put organic and local foods’ best foot forward. Zeigler and Scheffres were impressed with the team’s research. “This will fit in with our goals to be a sustainable university,” said Zeigler, who has been working on the new dining facility being built near Gambrell Hall. Scheffres was realistic on possible spikes in prices. “We have the ability to buy local foods ... Menlo College has gone completely organic,” Scheffres said. He said Bill Bremer, Dining Services’ operations director, was already conversing with United Natural Foods, Inc. in Atlanta to explore some organic foods. “But it costs so much more ... Menlo saw a 20 percent increase in meal plan prices,” Scheffres said. “If we increase meal plan prices, we’re working against what our constituents want,” Ashley said. “We don’t want to say We know what’s good for you’ and change prices without their approval.” “It’s going to have to boil down to, ‘will most students FOOD • 4 Viewpoints Liz White warns against taking advice from self-help gurus; Tim McManus chronicles the last time a vice president shpt someone. ? The Mix Beatin the blues a Learn to combat those f post-Valentine’s Day blues with a brief survival guide for Feb^ 15 and beyond. Sports Renaldo rolls USCs Balkman leads Gamecocks past Crimson Tide in 67-56 win Tuesday night. ■ Index Comics & Crossword.... 11 Classifieds.14 Horoscopes.11 Opinion.8 Police Report..2