The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, April 21, 2006, Image 1
The University of South Carolina Friday, April 21, 2006 Vol. 99, No. 90 • Since 1908
A ‘vision’ of things to come
■ 1
Sorensen unveils plans for Innovista’s far-reaching effects on USC, city
Gina Uasselli
^ STAFF WRITER
The city of Columbia, USC
and Sasaki Associates released a
plan for a massive overhaul of an
area of the city marked by Gervais
Street, Assembly Street, Catawba
Street and the Congaree River at
the South Carolina State Museum
Thursday.
USC President Andrew Sorensen
warned audience members of the
scale of what they were to see.
“Buckle up your seat belts ladies
and gentlemen, what you are about
to see hits the mark,” Sorensen
said.
^ The plan was described by many
at the public presentation as the
beginning of a renaissance for
Columbia.
“What we’re doing is presenting
a vision; all the details are not
worked out,” said Richard
Galehouse of Sasaki Associates.
“We’re feeling quite privileged to
be a part of this.”
The plan is to take the
underdeveloped areas near the
Congaree River and transform
them into viable real estate and
public areas.
The presentation by Sasaki
Associates discussed six main
elements of the plan.
The first was the innovation
district that USC has already
started work on. The plan also
calls for creating a pedestrian
area, called Foundation Square at
the corner of Lincoln and Greene
streets.
The second element was the
creation of a new street, running
north to south along the edge of
the proposed park.
The third element proposed
extending Senate, Devine and
Wheat streets all the way out
to the Congaree to bring more
attention to the river, which is
what the city what founded upon.
The fourth element was to
relocate the power lines found
uision • >i
Mapped Out
With Innovista
looming large,
USC’s future
affects Columbia’s
look and feel
mm Indicates area
to be developed
Colonial Center
% Carolina Coliseum
% Greek Village
Chas McCarthy / The Gamecock
Board of Trustees
talks development
Discussions include campus renovations, repair
Jackie Alexander ° Aimee Ulurray
^ THE GAMECOCK
USC’s Board of Trustees met
Thursday at 1600 Hampton St.
to discuss matters ranging from
Innovista and Coke to nursing
and renovations.
Chief Financial Officer Richard
Kelly met with the buildings
and grounds committee to talk
about money from the Three
Year Capital Plan that was agreed
upon in 2003 equaling about $30
million.
The money that was
accumulated from a $2.5 million
» annual student fee increase will
now be used to make renovations
to several buildings on campus.
Projects being funded by
the Three Year Capital Plan
include the recreational fields
development, Gambrell Hall
repairs, 1321 Pendleton St.
acquisition and other parts of
campus in need of repair and
renovation.
Kelly said six buildings will
receive the money.
The development committee
brought up concerns about the
usage of 1321 Pendleton St.
without a lease or contract. The
front half of the building is being
used without a lease.
Both committees were concerned
that there would be injuries since
the building is one on the list of
those to be repaired.
The executive committee
discussed contracts valued at more
than $250,000.
The first motion concerned
technology services throughout
the entire USC system as the
board approved a move to Trend
Micro software.
The new anti-virus and spyware
program, which is to replace
MacAfee, will provide access
for up to 450,00 computers and
80,000 e-mail accounts for faculty
staff and students.
A representative from the office
of information technology said
the university decided to change
to Trend Micro because they
weren’t satisfied with the support
from MacAfee and that the new
anti-virus system would be more
compatible with the new campus
e-mail system.
BOARD • 2
Nick Esares / THE GAMECOCK
School of Journalism and Mass Communications director Shirley
Staples Carter, right, and Dean Charles Bierbauer present the
award for Outstanding Student in Advertising to Alexis Bass.
USC honors students
at awards ceremony
DreuiBroohs
THE GAMECOCK
The family, friends and peers
of students and faculty were on
hand Thursday as USC held its
Awards Day on the Horseshoe.
More than 350 awards
were announced in more than
120 categories ranging from
scholarships and fellowships to
outstanding senior awards.
Marissa Vawter, president
of Omicron Delta Kappa and
a fourth-year international
0 '
studies student, welcomed the
recipients and their guests.
The ceremony lasted about an
hour and a half with Elizabeth
Martin, a third-year advertising
student, and Austin Bersinger,
a third-year economics student,
as mistress and master of
ceremonies, announced the
presenters and award-winners.
Martin was a recipient of
two awards: the Student Body
President’s Scholarship and
HUinRDS • 1
SOON-TO-BE
GRADS GET
ONE LAST
TAILGATING
EXPERIENCE
JoshuaRabon
ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR
Members of the class of
2006 had their last tailgating
opportunity as Carolina students
at Williams-Brice Stadium on
Thursday.
Jackie Carson, graduate assistant
for student programs, said the
event, sponsored by the Carolina
Alumni Association, was held at
the stadium to add to the theme.
“Our theme is last tailgate,”
Carson said. “It’s an annual event,
but this is the first year we have
done it at the stadium. We have a
senior board that suggested having
a Gamecock/Carolina theme, and
this seemed like the best place.”
Graduating engineering student
Peng Young said he came to
celebrate his last experience at the
university.
“I think it is good to come out,
because this is my last event at
USC,r he said.
The tailgate also had a Shealy’s
barbecue dinner and music by Men
of Distinction, which graduating
psychology student Alisha Epps
said brought her to the event.
TAILGATE • 2
Nick Esares / THE GAMECOCK
Fourth-year student Mary Ellen
Kustin displays Styrofoam
products Thursday.
SAGE increases Earth Day awareness with festival
flshleigh Orthen
THE GAMECOCK
Students gathered in front of the
Russell House on Greene Street
on Thursday to enjoy a festival of
food, fun and freebies.
Earth Day Festival 2006 kicked
off at 10 a.m. and lasted until 2
p.m.
Students Alfred for a Greener
Earth (SAGE) sponsored the event
and figured it would be a good way
to promote environment education
while celebrating Earth Day.
Barry Blitch, a first-year print
journalism student and member
of SAGE, said the environment
education aspect of the festival
was the most pertinent part of
celebrating Mother Earth.
“I think that just getting people
aware of what is out there is
important, but raising awareness
about the different issues is even
more important,” Blitch said.
SAGE’s booth gave students the
opportunity to learn about organic
foods and even taste organic
deserts.
“Organic foods contain all
of the ingredients that do not
have pesticides in them,” Blitch
said. “Organic food is definitely
healthier than other foods because
of the pesticide issue.”
One of the many organizations
attending the festival was the
Sierra Club, whose mission is to
“explore, enjoy and protect the
planet.” The club offers solutions
for a “new century” and it all
starts with pushing for “clean car”
laws in more states, according to a
Sierra Club pamphlet.
“Eleven U.S. states and
Canada have enacted measures
to require the auto industry to
produce cleaner cars and trucks
that release less smog and global
warming pollution than federal
standards mandate,” according to
the pamphlet. “Adding more states
will force the auto industry to
make all cars sold in the U.S. and
Canada meet these standards.”
Patti Carson, a member of
the Sierra Club’s membership
committee for the South Carolina
chapter, said the club is the
country’s oldest environmental
and non-profitable organization.
Carson said it was a last minute
decision to join the festival, but was
hoping to obtain more members
throughout the afternoon.
“Since I am on the membership
committee, getting new
memberships is my main goal,”
Carson said.
Starshine Southern, a second
year anthropology and art history
student, said he supported the
festival and enjoyed the Sierra
Club booth.
“I really support everything that
is here today, like the Sierra Club,”
Southern said. “I also really liked
GARTH • >4
Viewpoints
Aaron Brazier talks
about the Ryan Holt
video; Tim McManus
laughs hysterically at
Karl Rove and American
politics today.
The Mix
Royal flush
A look at campus
restrooms: the good, the
bad, the ugly, and how
students use them, abuse
them and live in them.
Sports
Odom opines
USC men’s
basketball coach
Dave Odom talks
about the past and
future of the team
Index
Comics & Crossword..8
Classifieds.11
Horoscopes.8
Opinion.5
Police Report..2