University of South Carolina Libraries
VIEWPOINTS TH#%AMECOCK EDITORIAL BOARD r 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 College kids don’t mix with assault weaponry Clemson students looking for a great conversation piece at their next kegger are in luck. The Tiger Town Observer, a Clemson student newspaper, will begin a drawing next week for an AK-47 and a handgun, as well as a few hours of gun training and some instructional literature. The drawing is being held to celebrate the Second Amendment and increase gun safety and awareness. Anyone 18 or older without a criminal record can enter. We’re a little disturbed by this drawing — not because they’re trying to increase gun safety and awareness, but because They re offering rifle to college kids who an assault rifle to jj^y setLfree Pizza and 1-shirts when they enter college kids who raffles. usually get free tl£" "things pizza in raffles. hunting and collectors. An AK-47 seems more appropriate for infiltrating a beachhead bunker. Now imagine some goofy Clemson frat guy brandishing a semi-automatic and leading the infiltration. It’s like being led into battle by Carrot Top. Southerners usually help give gunowners across the country a better name; they’ve been raised in rural communities and know the importance of treating guns with deadly respect. Clemson is undeniably rural, and the winner of the drawing will most likely be a responsible gunowner or hunter. But the chance that the winner could be a moron is a little unsettling. The second prize, a .22 Magnum Marlin rifle, is a far more logical choice. All guns are deadly, but you can’t use a .22 to mow down an entire marching band when you get bored. The AJC-47’s sheer power is nothing to give away by chance. We’re glad that responsible gun lovers are allowed to own high-powered weaponry, but we’re scared of who might claim the prize. Increasing gun safety and awareness is a noble goal; unfortunately, in trying to attain that goal, The Tiger Town Observer is exercising the same Clemson intelligence that makes 2 + 2 = COW. IT’S YOUR RIGHT Voice your opinion on message boards at tvww.dailygamecock.com or send letters to the editor at gamecockopinions@gumi.sc. edu CORRECTIONS In Wednesday’s News, Geoffrey Edwards was misidentified as Trey Goodwin. 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 KIDD News Editor JUSTIN CHAPURA Assistant News Editor JACKIE ALEXANDER Viewpoints Editor BRINOY MCNAIR 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 Public Relations Director ROSE GREENE Page Designers MIKE CONWAY, KATE FENWICK, MEGAN SINCLAIR StaffWriters AJ. BEMBRY, TOM BENNING, JESS DAVIS, TIM McMANUS, MARJORIE RIOOLE, GINA VASSELLI Copy Editors CAROLINE DESANCTIS, BETHANY NICHOLS, ELIZABETH PARHAM, KATIE THOMPSON, JAMISON TINSLEY, KRYSTAL WEBBER, LIZ WHITE CONTACT INFORMATION Offices located on the thirdfloor of the Russell House Editor's office hours are from 2-3 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays Editor: gamecockeditor@gurm.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@yahoo.com Online: wurw.daifygamecock.com Newsroom: 777-7726 ; Sports: 777-7182 Editor's Office: 777-3914 Fax: 777-6482 STUDENT MEDIA Director SCOn LINDENBERG 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 Advertising Services APRYL ALEXANDER, KATIE CUPPIA, BREANNA EVANS, MARY RACHEL FREEMAN, DEIDRE merrick, mckenzie WELSH i 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. Courtesy KRT Campus Bending it like Beckham beats U.S. pigskin America finally gets real worldwide sport, physical challenge Today there is a rapidly growing movement in America. A movement that is insidious, corrupting and brainwashing kids. It is something that can’t be stopped. It is the rise of association football. Soccer, as it’s known to Americans, is fast becoming the most played child’s sport. Millions upon millions play in Pee Wee leagues around the country. Traditional American sports, like baseball and hockey, are declining in popularity. In terms of sports, that means America might actually play proper games now. No “world series” featuring only one country’s teams. The USA men’s team is pretty decent, meaning that people start watching its matches against tough opposition that aren’t Grenada or St. Vincent. Despite the U.S. men’s team being humiliated by a weakened England — insert smug grin here — they have every chance of success on the world stage. But more importantly, soccer as a sport trails only swimming RPROn as the ideal BRAZIER all-around r . activity. You tourth-year 1 philosophy can 10 S e student weight, build muscle, gain stamina and work out every part of your body. Professionals run around for at least 90 minutes a game. Covering miles of grass to spend, on average, a minute with the ball is insane — so insane that you might like it. Intramurals have started, too, meaning that I’m the keeper. The backfield at the Blatt is terrible, but everyone seems to have fun. From the cryptofascist referees, whose judgment is final, to the overweight irate English goalkeeper, we have great fun. People have told me that soccer is a girl’s sport in America, which is obviously patronizing. Just last week at an intramural, the opposition goalie broke his arm in a challenge. I felt sick from a single glance, and every person on the field seemed worried. The poor guy lay there without screaming or anything. I guess it’s the whole physical game without padding thing. Helmets? Hot diggity. Cracking heads together is part of competitive soccer. Bert Trautmann, a Manchester City goalkeeper, played a tournament final with a broken neck. Let me say that again, to show how awesome Bert Trautmann was. He broke his neck and carried on with the game. Undoubtedly in the past when American football had 11 guys on defense and offense someone played on with an injury. But damn, a broken neck, that’s not just cool, it’s brutally insane. The world sports of rugby and soccer are growing in popularity, and within a generation or two, they’ll be up there in playing time. I strongly advise you to drop the pretense that soccer is a weak sport. It’s dangerous; it’s insidious, but it’s here to stay. I’m incredibly excited about how good America could be if the resources were aimed at producing a top team. Maybe the USA could compete in international competition. Sorensens got ‘bling-bling, ’ professionalism President plays active role in students’ lives, everyday USC issues He lives on the Horseshoe. He plays with the marching band. He spends time at the Russell House. He’s even on Facebook. Sounds like your typical USC student, right? Wrong. We’re talking about a man far beyond your average Joe — we’re talking about Andrew Sorensen, president of the University of South Carolina. I’m sure half of the students on this campus don’t know his name. The other half probably wouldn’t recognize him even if he rode around in the back of a diamond encrusted golf cart with “Mr. President” painted on the sides. This past Monday night was pretty standard, until I received an e-mail telling me I was having lunch with Sorensen in 14 hours. n Sorensen periodically gathers a group of student leaders CHASE together to STOUDEAnilRE ?eet and „ . discuss our history feelings student about thlngS going on at the University. And while this provides a wonderful opportunity for students’ input to be heard, it, in my case, also provides an even greater chance to say or do something stupid. I surprised no one by asking him how he felt about his alter-ego “Dr. Sorensizzle,” whom we’ve all come to know and love via Facebook. Without skipping a beat, he proceeded to describe his familiarity with and affection for Dr. Sorensizzle, bling-bling and all. I don’t know about you, but I think any professional educator over the age of 30 who feels comfortable using the term “bling-bling” is quite possibly the coolest person I know. People complain about the university all the time — including myself. But we have people working here who truly care about students, and we should be grateful for the work they do, not critical of what still needs to be done. Our president truly cares for and respects his students. That, above all else, is the mark of a great leader. So on behalf of all the other students he met on Tuesday, I’d like to thank him for practicing what he preaches — for being active, caring and for accepting all of our friend requests on Facebook. Sorensen claims he doesn’t know who’s behind that profile. But I would be willing to bet that he or she is extremely handsome, intelligent and charming. Just like the man himself. Online Poll Do you think the media has given too much attention to Dick Cheney’s hunting accident? YES M^78% NO 22% Total votes: 180 Mike Conway /THE GAMECOCK ' M 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 more information. Y’all should show pride in Southern lifey twangy drawl Down here, we like our sub-tropical weather, hospitable neighbors For years, I denied being Southern. When the infamous “y’all” escaped my lips, I’d pretend it was just a fluke; I was too sophisticated to be Southern. But lately, I’ve begun to like being defined as Southern. IDRRJORIE I don’t like RIDDLE that my home Fourth-year State was the print first to secede journalism from the student Union. j d()n,t like that we’re stereotyped as dumb and small-minded. But I love how it can be 70 degrees 12 months a year. I love when you pass someone on the street you’ve never met, and you still say hello or nod in acknowledgement. I love that we’re known for our greasy foods that spark three-hour dinners, which inevitably include great stories. And let’s face it, as much as we don’t like to admit it, we love that “y’all.” I had yet another conversation the other day about being Southern. My roommate accused me of emphasizing my Southern twang over the phone with my aunt. And as I was about to deny my sounding more Southern, I defended it instead. I finally realized, after years of downplaying my rich heritage that I’m proud to be from the good ole South. I kind of came to the same conclusion a few years back when I visited Seattle. In the presence of my Anderson-native aunt, her Northwestern friends delighted in my Southern drawl. T 1 1 i can iiuncsuy bay it sometimes bothers me to hear more rural Southern dialects; the use of “it went good” or “I reckon” makes me cringe internally. But, our accents reflect where we were raised, and barring unfortunate circumstances that may make you want to forget your birthplace, we should generally embrace our accentual distinctions. Next time you Northerners say “pop” when you mean “coke” or say “dontchaknow” instead of “ain’t that right,” remember that some people may think you talk funny, too. Hey, without us Southerners y’all wouldn’t have half the heart disease via over-greased foods or the charm and genialness of us Southern belles and gentlemen. And you wouldn’t have the opportunity to go to a college with a Gamecock mascot. You know you like walking around up north, wearing the T-shirt with “Cocks” across the front, warranting disturbed stares. Next time someone accuses me of my accent getting stronger, whether I’m tired or drunk or just plain emphatic, I might get right up in their face and tell 'em, “You’re dang right I’m Southern,” smiling daintily in the process. Southern gals and guys out there, embrace your Southern ways and never deny them; they make you who you are, and y’all, that’s something to be proud of.