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I The University of South Carolina Friday, March 17, 2006 . Vol. 99, No. 73 • Since 1908 Students dressing up for 5K run Saturday Annual race could draw up to 1,000participants Joshua Rabon THE GAMECOCK Veteran road racers and anyone hoping to burn off some extra St. Patrick’s Day calories can participate in the 5K run and one-mile walk in Five Points Saturday at 8:30 a.m. The course begins on Blossom Street and moves away from Five Points until turning onto King Street. From there it follows Duncan street to Ott road, turning back onto Devine street and finishing at the St. Patrick’s Day festival entrance. Participants who have not pre registered can do so between ^ 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. Price for registration H on race day is $35, which includes a T-shirt and a ticket for admission to the festival. T-shirts are only guaranteed to pre-registered runners, but a “no T-shirt” option is available • for $30, which still includes a festival ticket. While there are a multitude ~~ of cash prizes, some USC students participating in the race are more interested in a different award: the best dressed leprechaun. First year chemistry student Curtis Hauser says he, along with some friends from his hall, is more focused on his plans to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day than to make a competitive showing at the race. “Our competitive aspirations are limited, we’re mostly doing •this for fun,” Hauser said.”We are painting ourselves green and wearing small shorts.” The top three male and female runners will receive prizes of $100, $75, and $50, respectively. First place in the Masters men and women’s races RACE • 3 Katie Kirkland! THE GAMECOCK A row of beer taps line the wall behind the bar Thursday at Delaney’s Irish Pub in Five Points. The bar is a favorite spot for revelers on St. Patrick’s Day and is across the street from Saturday’s annual festival. St. Patty's Day in Five Points k American version of Irish holiday brings beer, music, fun Justin Chapura NEWS EDITOR It’s the year’s biggest day for drinking — next to New Year’s Eve and the night before your wedding. Today marks Saint Patrick’s Day, a Roman Catholic feast day honoring the patron saint of Ireland. It’s a national holiday there, and in this country, especially this year as the day falls on a Friday, it certainly will feel like one. Curiously enough, the Roman Catholic holiday falls on a Friday during the Lent season, during which Catholics refrain from eating meat on Fridays. A large number of American bishops have granted a dispensation, allowing the faithful to eat a traditional corned beef dish. In Columbia, that can translate to bars and restaurants across the city opening their doors to revelers with cheap finger foods and an assortment of green beverages. Some students aren’t staying around town, instead making their way to Savannah, Ga., the site of one of the nation’s largest and oldest St. Patrick’s Day parades. A parade has been run through the city in some shape or form since 1813. Katie Beck, a third-year journalism student, is traveling to Savannah Thursday night with her boyfriend. “When I was a freshman, I went there and got a tattoo, but I missed the parade,” Beck said.’Tm excited about seeing the parade this year. My aunt there always throws a big party, so that should be fun.” For those who are staying local, Saturday’s annual festival in Five Points will boast the bedlam it has served up for 24 years. Entry will cost $10. Taking the stage this year are a multitude of local music acts, including some with Celtic influences, such as Mulligans Banned, Seven Nations and Loch Ness Johnny. Tracy Herzog, a fourth-year English and theatre student, is taking the festivities in from a foreign perspective. “I’m going to start drinking at 11 with the start of the Five Points Festival, because that’s how the Irish do it,” she said. Herzog spent last St. Patrick’s Day studying abroad jn Glasgow, Scotland where she shared a flat with a student from Belfast, Ireland. “I went to a pub where there ST PflTTV • 2 i ‘Shamrock’ sorority seeks a pot of gold for charity flicole Coluiell THE GAMECOCK • Kappa Delta sorority chapters nationwide have been fundraising for the Child Abuse of America charity, but this week KD is hoping to raise more awareness about the issue at USC with its annual “Shamrock Project.” The sorority raised more than $12,000 during last year’s “Shamrock Project” and hopes to raise even more this year. After a letter-writing campaign, Greek T-shirt drive and holding a Silver Sabotage between undergraduate classes, this goal seems very attainable, said third-year sports and entertainment student •Caroline Arcell. KD has been active all this week, giving out blue ribbons and stickers in front of the Russell House on Greene Street. They have been working to increase awareness about child abuse and collecting donations to support the cause. “This philanthropy says a lot for the Carolina community,” Arcell said. “We are raising awareness beyond the boundaries of the campus and reaching out to the community.” The philanthropy culminates in the popular St. Patrick’s Day annual parade held in Five Points this Saturday at 10 a.m. The parade will begin at Dreher High School and proceed down Devine Street to Martin Luther King Jr. Park. KD is heavily involved with the parade. Members help to organize the floats and march beside them to keep them in order. KD even has its own float in the parade, along with a float dedicated to child abuse that is intended to increase community awareness. KD encourages students to march in the parade, as the more people that march, the larger donation cut they receive from the Five Points Association. For more information on how to register for the parade, visitwww.stpatsinfivepoints.com. “It’s great to see how many people come together,” said Kappa Delta public relations chairwoman and second-year advertising student Meredith Swilley. “The Girl Scouts march in the parade, waving right alongside the Kappa Deltas who have worked so hard to organize it.” According to Arcell, a lot of people and families from places like Chapin and Aiken come to watch the parade. “It’s very important for members of the community to be aware of the cause we are volunteering for,” she said. KD has been fundraising for Child Abuse of America since 1984. Twenty percent of the money KD raises goes to the national offices to support nationwide programs, but more significantly, the remaining 80 percent of funds stay local and are given to community child abuse agencies. KD is also affiliated with three other organizations: Girl Scouts of America, American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons and Children’s Hospital of Richmond, Va. KD will accept donations until the day of the parade. Any donations may be brought to the KD house in the Greek Village or directed to Meredith Swilley, who can be contacted at swilleym@mailbox. sc.edu. Comments on this story? E-mail gamecocknews@gwm.sc.edu RHA BALL GARNERS LITTLE INTEREST Event could be canceled because of low ticket sales Joshua Rabon THE GAMECOCK The RHA Spring Charity Ball planned for Friday, April 7 at the Columbia Conference Center is in danger of being canceled because of poor ticket sales, says RHA senator and third-year criminal justice student Randall Phillips. Phillips said his committee has put a lot of effort into planning this ball and would hate to see this happen. Phillips also said his committee is beginning to organize a large scale advertising campaign to increase the event’s visibility. The ball is open to all USC students. Tickets for the formal cost $20 and are available at the Russell House Information Center until March 24. However, there is a chance this date will be extended. “One hundred percent of ticket sales will be donated to charity,” Phillips said. These charities are Camp Hope, a statewide camp for mentally handicapped citizens, and Camp Sertoma, which caters to speech BALL • 3 SG: Grade forgiveness ‘well-received’ by Trustees Justin Chapura NEWS EDITOR The grade forgiveness program, long touted by the past year’s Student Government as well as the current one, came inches closer to reality Thursday when Provost Mark Becker presented a report on the proposal to USC’s Board of Trustees with little objection. The Board met for their monthly session Thursday at the university’s administration building, located at 1600 Hampton St. There, they received a report on the progress SG has made in implementing the program. SG President Tommy Preston, Vice President Ryan Holt and Treasurer Jennifer Guest were in attendance. With them were Director of Student Life Jerry Brewer and Vice President of Student Affairs Dennis Pruitt. Becker said that the proposal had been submitted to the Faculty Senate and would probably receive consideration “next year,” meaning the next academic year. As currently proposed, a student has up to two opportunities to retake any course in which they made a BOARD • 3 Viewpoints Aaron Brazier says take your green beer and shove it; Chase Stoudenmire encourages us to get off our asses and do something. The Mix Eyes are smilin’ Don’t forget to don your green and head down to the 5 Points Festival all day Saturday. Sports Boyd’s back Corey Boyd’s return fires up the Gamecock football team for spring practice. Index Comics & Crossword..7 Classifieds.10 Horoscopes.7 Opinion.4 Police Report..2 a