Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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NAACP official: S.C. ‘by definition’ backward Rev. Nelson B. Rivers on Saturday delivers harsh political rebuke Jess Dauis STAFF WRITER The Rev. Nelson B. Rivers, chief operating officer of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, spoke Saturday at the Prince Hall Masonic Lodge on Gervais Street for an event aimed at registering new voters and encouraging South Carolinians to take control of their state’s future. The South Carolina. Progressive Network sponsored “Democracy Day,” featuring various speakers, workshops and a fish fry. A voter registration card was the only requirement for entry, and registration was available on-site, even for the homeless. Inside, the 250 spectators might have gotten more than they bargained for, as Rivers spoke about the problems facing the state. He and other speakers encouraged already-registered South Carolinians to be more politically active. Rivers’s speech was a condemnation of the state’s political views. “South Carolina by definition is anti progressive,” Rivers said, commenting on the irony of the network sponsoring his speech. “This state’s whole history is about going backward and staying backward.” Rivers, a former preacher, commanded the attention of the audience as he spoke about the need for South Carolinians to take their government from its current leaders. He said most people in the state are in a “political stupor” and need to speak out against things such as the gay marriage amendment on November’s ballot. “When they move against one, you must understand they move against all,” he said, his voice rising to a yell. Ken Hubbard of the South Carolina Equality Coalition and board member of Umoja, a gay rights group, said amending the constitution to define marriage would lead to laws targeting gay adoption and then moving against women. Gay marriage is already illegal in the state, but because it is not addressed in the Constitution, courts could still rule to support same-sex unions from other states. USC alumna Jett Belton, who earned her bachelor’s degree in 1977 and a master’s degree in 1981, said she agreed with Rivers that the General Assembly focused on issues that didn’t matter. Belton named health and education as her two biggest concerns. A nurse, Belton said she’s seen the problems with health care up close and said the solution to many of South Carolina’s problems is leadership. “We need to elect people that are for all people, not just some people,” she said. Matt Kimbrough, student government president at South Carolina State University, said leadership needs to come from the young people in the state. “We must take the charge now,” he said. “Young people need to start their own movement.” Kimbrough, a fourth-year political science student, said college students should tackle issues like the proposed tuition cap and health insurance. He was optimistic about the future of South Carolina, but said progress could only come if students “come together like a collective body.” But Daniel Regenscheit, a fourth-year political science student at USC, said he doesn’t think change is a realistic goal in this state. “I think it’s right, but I don’t really know if we have a good chance of making it happen, at least around here,” he said. “Our state is horribly conservative.” ® Regenscheit, who came to the event as a supporter of the Progressive Network, said the network is fighting an uphill battle for change that must happen “for us to get anywhere.” He said the fish fry was a good event for reaching out to the community “beyond the activist crowd.” Belton agreed, but said the network should reach out to different neighborhoods and communities that wouldn’t necessarily go to events A such as Democracy Day. ^ She said many people who have voted feel disappointed by what she says is a lack of concern from the General Assembly. “People feel like, ‘What’s the use?’” she said. Comments on this story? E-mail gamecocknews@gwm.sc. edu RELAY • COATIAUED FROfll 6 for the relay, and her group, service sorority Epsilon Sigma Alpha, raised about $8,000, both the top totals of the night. Overall, the event raised more than $43,000 for the American Cancer Society to research cancer cures, nearly quadrupling the amount raised at the first relay only four years ago. Teams walked around the track from 7 p.m. to a little before 7 a.m. With themes ranging from the silly, “Sweatin’ to the Oldies,” to the serious, “A Walk to Remember,” the teams were encouraged to decorate their tents and keep spirits high through the night. Most teams came from sororities or residence halls, and though they raised money before the event, fundraising didn’t stop until midnight. By selling hot dogs, ice cream and cookies, offering a milk-chugging contest, or pulling relay participants in a wagon so they wouldn’t have to walk, the teams kept giving. Relay for Life co-chair Lauren Harper, a fourth year public relations student, estimated the teams raised more than $5,000 on-site. One of the events aimed at keeping energy up through the night was the Mrs. Relay competition, where a man from each team dressed in drag and competed to see who could collect the most money in his purse. Sporting pigtails and a triangle of chest hair peeking out from his bikini top, second-year media arts student John Cooper pranced around the track for half an hour, collecting about $80. “Raising money for charities, especially medical research, is important, and supporting the family and loved ones of cancer survivors is very important,” Cooper said. Many relay participants, who, through the themed laps and loud music, kept the hope of beating cancer in their thoughts, echoed Cooper’s sentiments. “It’s really powerful and significant even if you don’t know anyone personally,” said second-year exercise science student Naomi Schmalz. “Everyone can get together and know they’re making a difference, and everyone has a good time.” For Howell, the night was about being with her friends, as well as honoring her dad. “It’s just been so much fun,” she said. “It’s a big party with your closest friends that support you the most. Everybody here has contributed a lot.” Committee co-chair Clarence ‘Trey’ Schiltz estimated about 600 students came to the event, though there were only about 400 on the track at any given time. Participants didn’t have to stay the whole time, though someone from each team walked or ran on the track for all 12 hours of the event. Themed laps included a crazy hat contest and rounds of limbo and poker. When not walking, team members played card and board games, Frisbee, soccer and baseball. Friday’s relay was a far cry from the first relay, held in Tacoma, Wash., in 1985. Then, one Tacoma doctor circled a track for 24-straight hours, raising $27,000 over the 83 miles he ran and walked. Since then, the American Cancer Society has made .Relay for Life a focal point in its fundraising efforts. Relays happen across the country and increasingly on many college campuses. For first-year sports and entertainment management student Rachel Welch, Relay for Life is nothing new. Her mom had cancer, and she relayed in high school. Whep she came to USC, she joined the Relay for Life committee. Her favorite part of the night was the luminaria ceremony. “It’s really symbolic of what the whole event is for,” she said. “We’re all working together for a common goal. Cancer’s affected so many people.” Except for a $50 fee to use the track (the athletics department gave a discounted rate), the night was 100 percent profit, Harper said. Businesses donated food, bands played for free and the Athletics Department paid for the lights and electricity. Though the event is over, the committee will continue to raise funds until August to reach their $47,000 goal. The committee will meet Wednesday night to discuss ^ plans for next year. Students ^ interested in joining the committee are encouraged to attend, Schiltz said. Comments on this story? E-mail gamecocknewsQOgwm. sc. edu SHOWCASE • COATinUCD fROI116 types of things parents are most worried about when they send their kids away to college.” Even though it rained all day, visitors participated in bus and walking tours. Emily Alber, a junior at Cathedral Academy in Charleston, was disappointed in the weather but found herself enthralled with USC’s nursing program. “I am interested in the nursing program here at USC, but I absolutely love USC’s campus,” Alber said. “It is beautiful. The Horseshoe is so pretty, and I was really looking forward to spending the afternoon outside. The bus tour was still helpful, considering I would have gotten drenched if I would have been walking around outside all afternoon.” Comments on this story? E-mail gamecocknews@gwm.sc. edu -1 Five days a week. Fall ’06. TH#feiAMECOCK V Three-man crew returns to Earth from space station luan Sekretareu THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ARKALYK, Kazakhstan — American, Russian and Brazilian astronauts endured a bone-jarring, 3 1/2-hour ride from the international space station back to Earth on Sunday, landing on target in the freezing Kazakh steppe. The Russian TMA-7 capsule carried American commander Bill McArthur and Russian flight engineer Valery Tokarev, who each spent six’months on the space station, as well as Brazilian astronaut Marcos Pontes. It touched down about 30 miles northeast of Arkalyk at 3:47 a.m. Moscow time (7:47 p.m. EDT Saturday). Officials at Russia’s Mission Control in Korolyov, outside Moscow, called the flight flawless. They were in contact with the capsule for much of its journey home, and they said three crew members were feeling well. The three travelers were given hot tea and wrapped in blankets before being whisked into a medical tent for examinations. McArthur and Tokarev began their stay at the international space station in October. McArthur, 54, of Wakulla, N.C., looked exhilarated as he rested in a chair after the landing. “I’ve never been through anything like that before,” he said, describing the return journey from space as a “wild ride.” The NASA veteran was the mission commander and science officer, responsible for a series of experiments that included work on microgravity. Pontes, who spent nine days in space, carried a Brazilian flag and national soccer jersey on his trip to the space station, hoping it would bring his national team victory in this summer’s World Cup. Brazil’s first astronaut ebulliently thanked everyone in English. M “I am very happy,” he V said. More than 15 aircraft, including helicopters, and some 150 searchers were deployed in the landing zone. The temperature dipped to minus 12 at the landing site. Ground crews reached the capsule within minutes of the landing and opened the hatch. 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