UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2014
VOL. 116, NO. 64 • SINCE 1908
Cody Scoggins / THE DAILY GAMECOCK
They chanted,
Clarie Randall / THE DAILY GAMECOCK
Over 100 people watched the USC historic holiday event Tuesday.
Tree as green, hope bright as ever 60 years after first lighting Scores of people light historic Horseshoe with holiday cheer Lois Carlisle
@LOISCARLISLE
The air was warm for December, but the smell of cider and a drifting scent of pine alluded to something undeniably colder. There’s something about holiday lights that puts a chill on the breeze, and a glow in the heart. When the holiday season hits, a sparkle sneaks itself somehow into the sleep-deprived eyes of an examweary college student. Over 100 people gathered at the front of the Horseshoe Tuesday night to take part in the 60th annual tree lighting ceremony. The crowd was made up mostly of students, but there were families with small children scattered about, as well as members of the faculty and Columbia citizens. “I heard about it somehow, through Facebook or Twitter or one of those, and thought I’d come by,” said fi rst year political science student Madeline Bonder. “I stopped by Cool Beans to get something warm, then came on over.” In front of Bonder on the grass was one of the PAALS TREE • 3
‘Hands up Don’t shoot’ Students hold forum on, march in protest of Ferguson shooting Natalie Pita
@NATALIEPITA
About 200 students — black, white, male, female — marched from Greene Street to the State House in a line that stretched a city block on Tuesday night. They started in complete silence, but as they drew closer, they began their simple, four-word chant: “Hands up, don’t shoot.” They were protesting the recent events in Ferguson, Missouri, in which Michael Brown, a black man, was killed by a white police officer. An interest group composed of members of between 30 and 40 student organizations organized the march, which followed a forum on the incident. When the group reached their destination on the Statehouse steps, they listened to poems, read names of black people killed by police since summer 2014 and had a four and
Next Tuesday, Dec. 9th, the USC chapter of Pi Beta Phi will donate 500 new books to South Kilbourne Elementary. The event was not only part of the sorority’s philanthropy, but also a signal of its return to USC’s campus. The books that will be donated were purchased by the Pi Beta Phi foundation. On a national level, events such as this book donation are funded by the Literacy Fund at Pi Beta Phi Foundation. Hoping to create a more literate and productive society, the fund also fuels initiatives such as Champions are Readers, Arrow in the Arctic and Fraternity Day of Service. “They’re new books ... the kids at the elementary school are the first to own them,” first-year student and member of the Pi Beta Phi academic committee Callie McCarty said. “Pi Beta Phi’s philanthropy is ‘Read, Lead, Achieve,’ and it’s all about making sure every child can lead so they become future leaders.” The event will be the first philanthropy for Pi Beta Phi this semester. The national fountain will donate the books in part to honor the recolonization of the sorority this semester. McCarty also mentioned dodgeball and volleyball fundraising tournaments as chapter philanthropy events for the next semester. The chapter inducted 207 chapter members earlier this semester as part of its recolonization. “The members and the sisters in the chapter step up, and everybody wants to be as involved as they can. Everybody’s very involved in the chapter, everything we do,” McCarty said. “Whether it’s a social event, philanthropy event, helping someone out in the chapter — everyone’s really involved. You don’t have to corral anybody to do it. Everybody just volunteers their time right away.”
—Brandon Waltz, Staff Reporter
PROTEST • 3
SceneSC to showcase student musicians Nonprofit to host USC talent at New Brookland Tavern Erika Ryan
Pi Phi donates 500 books for first philantropy
a half minute silence for the four and a half hours Brown laid dead in the street. Every member of the march was given a small rock, which was used as a symbol for black individuals who have been killed by police officers. “Every person here has a rock, and every rock is made up of atoms. The countless number of atoms in each and ever y rock represent the bodies, the black bodies, that are being killed for no other reason than their skin,” said Karli Wells, one of the event organizers. “We represent the genocide that’s taking place in our country.” But among t he crowd, t here was one element that stuck out from its surroundings — the Confederate flag waving on top of the State House behind the protestors. “It’s a symbol of all of these things wrong in our country, in our state, at USC,” Wells said. “We have a responsibility to make a difference and to be that change.”
@RIKA_RYAN
Countless talented artists are enrolled at USC, but professors aren’t the only ones who have noticed. This Friday, SceneSC will host a showcase at New Brookland Tavern featuring several USC based bands. SceneSC is a nonprofit group aiming to support the South Carolina-wide music scene. Aside from blogging, streaming podcasts, posting reviews and keeping readers in the loop about upcoming shows and festivals, the organization puts on plenty of shows of their own, providing support to local artists. Throughout t h is fall, Dav id St ringer, founder and operator of SceneSC, has been working alongside Kalyn Oyer, fourth-year Public Relations student and Public Relations assistant for SceneSC, in a campaig n to develop a stronger connection between the organization and the students on campus. “This is the first show we’ve done with specifically USC student bands,” Oyer said.
“We have some good bands here, and it’s always good to feature them.” While they do plenty of work with bands across the state, SceneSC is based in Columbia and holds a special connection to its home and the university. Columbia has a sizable music scene in itself, but SceneSC aims to get more USC students involved. To finish out the fall semester, SceneSC will host a showcase at the New Brookland Tavern on the last day of classes, exclusively featuring bands made up of USC students. This Friday, electronic project Callosum, the high-energy rock band Casio Mio and five-piece indie group Corbett Alexander will take the stage. Mason Youngblood of Callosum, a fourthyear biology student and the music director at WUSC-FM , is thrilled to perform in the inaugural student showcase — the relationship between SceneSC and musicians is mutually beneficial, to say the least. “[SceneSC] creates a platform for musicians who are students at USC to receive exposure from a regional music blog but also helps expand SceneSC’s viewership,” he said. “It just helps everybody involved.” SCENESC • 5
Courtesy of SceneSC
Student bands Callosum, Casio Mio and Corbett Alexander will perform in concert this Friday.
2
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
Coastal Carolina students handcuffed after writing in chalk about Ferguson incident
Editor-in-Chief HANNAH JEFFREY Managing Editor SAMANTHA LOCKWOOD Online Editor KATIE COLE Design Director BRITTANY WILT Special Sections Director KELLY VILLWOCK Special Editorial Director LOIS CARLISLE Copy Desk Chief DREW MUELLER MARY KATE GARMIRE EMILY READY Photo Editors KAMILA MELKO HANNAH CLEAVELAND News Editor NATALIE PITA The Mix Editor BELVIN OLASOV Viewpoints Editor BEN CRAWFORD Sports Editor DANNY GARRISON Copy Editors DEBBIE CLARK, CHELSEA MORRIS, GRIFFIN HOBSON, KELLY ELLIOTT, KEVIN KEATING, MADELEINE VATH, MARY HINNANT, SETH ISMAIL, RANA SOBEIH Asst. Photo Editor CODY SCOGGINS Asst. Mix Editors ARTIE BRASWELL ERIKA RYAN Mix Design Director GREY KLEIN Asst. Viewpoints Editor KATHLEEN SCHIPANO Viewpoints Design Director RACHAEL MCGAHEE Asst. Sports Editors DAVID ROBERTS TANNER ABEL Sports Design Director BIANCA CORREA Student Media Director
A group of three students at the Coastal Carolina University students were handcuffed Monday night after drawing and writing chalk statements disapproving of the grand jury’s decision in the Michael Brown case, WIS reported. According to university officials, no arrests were made and no charges were filed, but a photo of the handcuffed students has been circulating social media. “Once at the location officers observed comments, several which were vulgar in nature, written in chalk on the sidewalks, call box, concrete benches and tables, lamp post bases and on the bridge connecting the Prince Lawn and Wall Building,” said the CCU Department of Public Safety incident report. Police told the students about other channels to post communications on campus and were released on the scene until, according to the report, “a determination can be made regarding criminal charges.” The report also said until the Office of Student Conduct can speak with the students, the chalk will be held in evidence. — Natalie Pita, News Editor
SARAH SCARBOROUGH Faculty Adviser DOUG FISHER Business Manager KRISTINE CAPPS Creative Director EDGAR SANTANA Production Manager DEGAN CHEEK Creative Services ASHLEY CROMPTON, RANNAH DERRICK, LINA LEGARE, KODY KRATZER Student Advertising Manager JAKE ROSE Advertising Representatives DAVID CHEETHAM, THOMAS DIGENNARO, MICHELE DRESSLER, A MBER GR A NT, DRE W H A RT, I A N PEACOCK, ERIN O’CONNELL, HOLLY HEATON, WRIGHT CLARKSON, JOSHUA DAVISON
The Daily Gamecock is the editorially independent student newspaper
Senators to file legislation requiring body cameras Two state senators, both democrats, plan to file a bill Wednesday that would require officers in the state to wear body cameras while on duty in order to record their activiteis and interactions with others, The State reported. “History has demonstrated that eyewitnesses are not always the most reliable form of evidence,” Senator Gerald Malloy, D-Darlington, said in a news release. “It is time for South Carolina to invest in common sense technology. This investment is critical to preserving the integrity of our system of justice.” The senators cited the disputed facts in the incident between Michael Brown and Darren Wilson in Ferguson, Missouri, saying that body cameras would clarify the facts. They also cited the dashboard camera that led to the arrest and firing of a state highway patrolman after he shot a man at a traffic stop. — Natalie Pita, News Editor
of the University of South Carolina. It is published daily 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 Daily Gamecock are those of editors or author and not those of the University of South Carolina. The Board of Student Publications and Communications is the publisher of The Daily Gamecock. The Department of Student Media
First black Southern senator since Reconstruction sworn in
is the newspaper’s parent organization. The Daily Gamecock is supported in part by student activity fees. One free copy per reader. Additional copies may be purchased for $1 each from the Department of Student Media.
dailygamecock.com CONTACT INFORMATION Offices located on the third floor of Russell House EDITOR editor@dailygamecock.com NEWS news@dailygamecock.com VIEWPOINTS viewpoints@dailygamecock.com Newsroom: 777-7726
THE MIX mix@dailygamecock.com SPORTS sports@dailygamecock.com PHOTO photo@dailygamecock.com Editor’s office: 777-3914
Tim Scott was sworn into the U.S. Senate by Vice President Joe Biden Tuesday at the U.S. Capitol, The Associated Press reported. This makes Scott the first black U.S. senator elected from the South since the Reconstruction era. Scott was appointed to the U.S. Senate in January 2013 by Gov. Nikki Haley after Jim DeMint, the former holder of the post, resigned. Scott was been elected to serve the two remaining years of DeMint’s term. After the November election, he became the first black candidate to win a statewide race in South Carolina since Reconstruction after the Civil War. He will face re-election for his first full term in 2016. — Natalie Pita, News Editor
CORRECTIONS If you find an error in today’s edition of The Daily Gamecock, let us know about it. Email editor@dailygamecock.com and we will print the correction in our next issue.
Free to USC students, faculty, and staff with CarolinaCard. For more information or assistance, visit www.cp.sc.edu or call (803) 777 - 3950. This event is subject to change. Paid for by Student Activity Fees.
JINGLE
JAM
Russell House Ballroom A Capella Show!
Thursday, th December 4
8 p.m.!
FEATURING
Street Corner Symphony
ALSO: The Cocktails, Cockapella, & Carolina Gents
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
TREE • Continued from 1 service dogs, dressed to the nines in a “Let It Snow” motif sweater with a false beard and Santa hat on. He was just as excited for the event as his human counterparts. “I love to see the hope of the future reflected in the hearts, lives and values of the gamecock family,” Victoria Cartier, a self-described “proud gamecock mom,” said as she looked on from the edge of then crowd. Cartier drove in from Cayce to watch the event. At the podium, USC President Harris Pastides, who later lit the tree, took a moment just to look up at the evergreen before the crowd. “How ma ny of you have seen t he t ree at Rockefeller Center in New York?” Pastides asked. A few people raised their hands. “Well, it may be taller, but I don’t think it’s any more beautiful than ours.” The tree lighting ceremony is as old as the university’s president. (“I’m not excited about that,” he told the crowd.) It began in 1954, “the year Elvis cut his fi rst hit. ... When Bing Crosby sang and starred in White Christmas,” Pastides said to give a sense of scale. “This is a time for Christians and Jews and Muslims to all come together to light our tree,” he said. A nd this year, the tree was donated to the university by a regional tree farm. The event not only celebrated brotherhood and the upcoming holiday season, but also the generosity of the Carolinian spirit. This year, as
PROTEST • Continued from 1 Jon McClary simply pointed behind him to the 200 students that had come out, when asked if he thought the forum and protest had been successful, event organizer and third-year public health student. “We have reached and pulled so many areas of campus that it was bound to be successful,” he said. “I think it’s a good stepping point in the right direction and shows that people are really excited about change.” The protest ended with Courtland Thomas, another organizer of the event, encouraging the protestors to use the pain they were experiencing positively. “Tonight we should leave here determined, educated, aware, empowered,” Thomas said. “It’s up to us to turn the pain that we’re feeling from all the lives that have been lost, turn that pain into promise for the future.” McClary echoed the same sentiment, saying he thought that the forum and protest had the potential to create change because it showed that USC students “aren’t just going to sit down for anything.” “We have to keep moving, and we have to keep
3
in years past, the Carolina Service Council, who are partly responsible for the annual lighting event, partnered with the Salvation Army for its regional Christmas toy drive. Piles of stuffed stockings sat nestled up under the tree. Matthew Isales, director of the Carolina Service Council, commended student and faculty donors alike on their “tremendous service effort” this year in the Carolina Cares Donation Drive. Isales also declared t he Families Helping Families meal packaging program a success. For Thanksgiving, students packed meals for local families who couldn’t normally afford a traditional holiday meal. “As we sat down to Thanksgiving dinner, 23 families sat down with us.” Isales said. In addition to the toy drive, students came together to write over 1,300 holiday cards to send to servicemen and women overseas who would not be able to make it home for Christmas. Th is year mark s t he 45t h a n n iversar y of Carolina Cares, and, as Isales put it, “students’ desire to lend a hand” is still strong all these years later. Along with individual donors, many student organizations, academic departments and Greek life chapters came together to stuff stockings, too. Major Roger Coulson, a representative of the Salvat ion A rmy of t he Midlands, also spoke Tuesday night. “Over 3,800 children have been ‘adopted’ by the South Carolina Salvation A rmy,” he said. “And because of you, those children will have
something to wake up to Christmas morning.” Dec. 2 Major Coulson and his wife have been officers of the Salvation A rmy for 30 years and plan on retiring within the next decade, but he said working with Carolina students has always been inspiring to both of them. “There’s no word in your language that says it can’t be done,” Major Coulson said. “Every year, you put your minds together to solve a problem.” He invited students to “expect change” from “the fact that people can renew their hopes for the future,” thanks to donation drives like Carolina Cares. “This event exemplifies the warmth I feel from everyone on this campus,” said Student Body President Lindsay Richardson. She encouraged students to “give your friends hugs after this ceremony,” at which point Cocky, who had been circulating through the crowd, began hugging everyone nearby. Ef for t s s uc h a s Ca rol i n a Ca re s emb o d y t he “high spirits of being a Carolinian,” to Richardson, who encouraged everyone to follow the “self-created light” within themselves. The Hand Middle School Chorus closed the ceremony with a medley of familiar tunes that had the crowd swaying and singing along. “Because of you,” Isales said. “Families, children and soldiers can celebrate with us this holiday season.” “Because of you,” Pastides said. “Our world shines a little brighter.” DG
the fi re lit because it’s so easy for movements to die out after a couple of days, after it’s not popular anymore,” McClary said. “We have to make sure this won’t happen again. I would love it one day when we don’t have to have events or things like this.” The fuel for the protest came from the hourlong forum beforehand. The event was called “State of Emergency: The Decision.” The panel for the forum featured Jay Bender, the Freedom of Information Chair for the USC School of Journalism of Mass Communications; Lamar Fyall, an assistant solicitor in Richland County; and Carl Wells, assistant director of the Office of Equal Opportunity Programs. T hey qu ick ly st a r ted of f by g iv i ng t hei r opinions on the events that had unfolded in Ferguson. “What do I think the cop should have done? I t hink t he cop should have deescalated t he sit uat ion from t he beginning,” Bender said. “Isn’t it interesting that the majority population in Ferguson is African-American and the city council is all white?” When faced with the statistic that 67 percent of citizens in Ferguson are black, but only three
of 53 members of the police force are black, the protestors discussed the racism still present today. “ R a c i s m i s n’t s o m e t h i n g t h a t h a p p e n s exclusively to black people. It isn’t something that happens exclusively to black males. It doesn’t just happen in Ferguson,” Wells said. “It happens here as well. Yes, it’s about race, but there are also other issues interwoven.” Bender decided to give a concrete example of racism he could see in society. He asked the audience how many of their parents had told them to keep their hands on the steering wheel if stopped on the road by a police officer, and almost half the audience raised their hands. “We all know the most enforced traffic crime is DW B — driving while black,” Bender said. “There’s institutionalized racism right there … I think we need to train the police. I think we need to train society as well.”
DG
Now Hiring Life has no redial.
Moe’s Southwest Grill Accepting Applications for Managers (Lexington, Irmo, West Columbia, SC)
Resumes only. Send to: hiringmswg@columbiamsg.com
STAY
OFF THE
PHONE! AAA CAROLINAS FOUNDATION FOR TRAFFIC SAFETY
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
4
Dance affirms life in face of cancer
Jessica Snyder / THE DAILY GAMECOCK
USC dance students are putting on a performance this week that gives touching consideration to the lives of those shocked, torn and changed by cancer.
Dance production partners with USC research center Morgan Smith
@MORETHANMORGAN
The USC Dance Program will present four evenings of original choreography this week inspired by the many struggles of living with an evil condition that causes destruction in more than one aspect of life: cancer. USC dance students have paired with the USC Center for Colon Cancer Research to create Affirmation: A Journey of Life Through Dance. The show uses a series of contemporary dances to express the many heartbreaking phases of cancer. Fourth-year choreographer Mary Sigward per for med t he da nce “Ben ig n,” wh ich featured an emotional poetry performance by fou r t h-yea r E ngl i sh st udent M ic k Johnson. “The term is not only connected to the physical disease,” Sig ward said, “but to thoughts, emotions and relationships, too.” M a ny of t he d a nc e s told s tor ie s of
people being diagnosed and how it affected relationships with significant others and family members. Some dances told stories of awakenings to the real meaning of life and true beauty, while others conveyed the end of life and how to cope with the loss of a loved one. The recurring theme amongst all the performances is how strength, love and support from loved ones and the community is requ i red to get t h rough a v igorou s situation such as dealing with this disease. W hen f irst d isc ussi ng col laborat ion bet ween t he Center for Colon Ca ncer Research and the student choreographers, an immediate “cancer” connection was made. Several of the 13 pieces were inspired by the dancers’ own experiences with the disease. “I was hoping to express the idea that l ife wa s rea l ly shor t ,” sa id t h i rd-yea r choreographer A llison Eguchi about her dance “Enough,” which feat ured t hree dancers carrying glowing balls that gradually lost their radiance throughout the dance. “The idea was inspired by my grandmother who worked her entire life, and then she passed away from cervical cancer last year,”
said Eguchi. “This piece is dedicated toward the idea of being so focused and at the end, you never know what you’re going to get.” The choreographers created touching performances that allowed the audience to encounter the unfortunate emotions and strife they had to face while someone close to them fought a vicious battle with cancer. D r. Fr a n k B e r g e r, D i r e c t or of t he USC Center for Colon Cancer Research, expressed his appreciation for the great partnership with the student choreographers and was blown away by how the dancers tapped into their emotions and experiences to create a magnificent performance. “They brought us an experience we won’t forget,” Dr. Berger said. “And for all of those who have experienced cancer, we honor you.” Showtime is at 6 p.m. each evening of Dec. 2 through Dec. 5 in Drayton Hall Theatre. Tickets for the concert are $12 for students; $16 for USC faculty staff, military and seniors; and $18 for the general public. Tickets are only available at the door. DG
Pitbull releases ‘party playlist’ “Globalization” Release Date: Nov. 21 Artist: Pitbull Label: RCA Records Duration: 39 minutes
C
American artist creates multicultural hip-hop album Lauren Galida @TDG_ARTS
Mr. Worldwide is back at it, creating another internationally inf luenced album attempting to bring club goers and vacationers alike together for one trashy throwdown. If you love repetitive beats, trite titles like “Fun” and “Celebrate” and music that’s equal parts hip-hop and reggae, you might stake an interest in Pitbull’s new album “Globalization.” Armando Christian Pérez, better known as Pitbull, released his eighth st udio album Nov. 24, 2014. The Cuban-American rapper strayed from his original Latin-based hits like “I Know You Want Me” and has fallen into the pop party trap with the last year’s radio hit “Timber.” He has apparently continued to progress in that direction with his new club playlist. The album art consists of Pitbull’s face replaced with the globe, suggesting his strive to create music that brings people from across the world together.
“Music is a universal language — it breaks down barriers, limits, borders, religion, beliefs, cultures and it brings everybody together,” Pitbull said at a GMA Chat. “That’s what globalization is all about.” Pitbull continues to deliver his boastful phrases about picking up women. For example, in “Sexy Beaches” he sings, “And I know what they want, And I know what they need, I just look ‘em in the eyes, And they’re leaving with me.” He brings phony charm to “Day Drinking” with the line “Baby, I got gifts and h--- call me Santa,” which would give any bachelor the confidence to hit on a woman and just “dale” (go for it). His lyrics are all about building up his gaudy, superficial lifestyle. His love of women and partying create songs titled “Fun,” “Time of Our Lives,” “Celebrate,” “Sexy Beaches” and “Day Drinking,” with nothing substantial to offer but his typical catchy party anthems. “Celebrate” is the classic feelgood-and-celebrate-life type of hit that is the face of “Madagascar 2.” Even though it’s his album, artists always seem to overshadow Pitbull in their features. G.R.L. and Jason Derulo clearly outshine and overpower the rapper in “Wild Wild Love” and “Drive You Craz y,” respect ively. Fans are tempted to fast-forward to collaborators’ parts including verses and choruses by Chris Brown, Jennifer Lopez, Sean Paul, Bebe Rexha, Claudia Leitte and Dr. Luke. The standout songs on this album are “Time of Our Lives” and “Fireball.” These catchy tunes will soon enough
Courtesy of RCA Records
Hip-hop artist Pitbull continues to infuse Latin musical influences into his own brand of catchy, beat-heavy pop music in his recent album “Globalization.” be doomed to radio-repeat. “Fireball,” the album’s leading track, is like a traditional Latin dance party blended with hip-hop vibes. Jason Derulo’s silky, soulful voice carries “Time of
Our Lives” in one fluid beat that could make any wallflower dance. If you need a soundtrack for your next wild blowout, Pitbull’s your man. DG
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
5
SCENESC • Continued from 1
Fish aren’t dorm accessories. Take them home!
Please don’t flush me...
Although SceneSC is making an effort to reach out to Gamecocks specifically, the community has been growing all along — shows like this one are all about maintaining the relationship. During his f irst year at USC, Youngblood recalled the scene’s divide between the city and the campus, but in just four years the change is noticeable. “Students from USC have made a much greater effort to incorporate themselves into the scene,” he said. “Now it’s a lot more cohesive, and there’s more of a community between the school and Columbia’s scene.” W hile this is SceneSC’s first time hosting events dedicated to musicians at USC, it doesn’t look like it will be the last. Musicians attending USC have made serious connections with artists and musical outlets in the surrounding area, but shows like this one are aimed more toward students that would attend the shows themselves. “I think most students at USC aren’t really aware of the music that is happening here locally,” Youngblood said. “It’s helpful to spread the word with them within the school’s community and make the music community larger as a whole.”
TDG @thegamecock
5
$
COMBO MEALS
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
HANNAH JEFFREY
DREW MUELLER
HANNAH CLEAVELAND
ARTIE BRASWELL
Editor-in-Chief
Copy Desk Chief
Photo Editor
Asst. Mix Editor
SAMANTHA LOCKWOOD
BRITTANY WILT
KATHLEEN SCHIPANO
DANNY GARRISON
Managing Editor
Design Director
Viewpoints Editor
Sports Editor
Finally, we hear something peaceful about Ferguson ISSUE Riots around the country have turned violent. OUR STANCE Students’ protest was constructive, not violent. It’s everywhere. For months, every TV station a nd ne w spap er h a s h ad t he words “Ferguson” and “Hands up, don’t shoot” crawling across sc reens a nd splashed ac ross front pages. Pictures of riots and looters no longer come as a shock — they’re expected. We’ve seen it time and time again since the initial incident in Ferguson: the irate faces of people who feel so passionately about what they’re fighting for that they turn to violence and destruction. But we’ve also seen people turn against them, regardless of their take on the message. People a re fa r more w il l i ng to listen to a discussion, not people yelling at them. Seeing a constructive platform motivates people to join a cause.
The rioting in the streets in Ferg uson, Missouri have not been const r uct ive. Have t he protesters gotten their message across? Yes, but at what cost? People are suffering and the rest of the country sees it as raucous
“Few headlines contain the words ‘Ferguson’ and ‘peaceful.’ Thank you, USC students, for allowing us to write one.” and unproductive. A l a c k of p l a n n i n g le a d s t o c h ao s . But t he r e w a s n’t chaos i n Colu mbia, Sout h Carolina Tuesday night when USC st udent s protested t he happenings in Ferguson. Tuesday night’s events were planned and organized. The
protest didn’t turn into a riot, and the forum didn’t turn into a verbal — or physical — brawl. Both were constructive. The mass did begin to chant when t hey neared t he end of the protest, but the entire night was incredibly peacef u l, t he chant included. Hundreds of students walked in silence to the Statehouse. They read poems. They spoke with one another about what they were thinking, feeling and anticipating. But here’s what we think is the most amazing part: at the end of the forum held before the march and protest, st udents talked about how they could make a difference. It wasn’t a venting session where people came to air their grievances — it was a conversation about change. It was a chance for people for for mu late a pla n i n stead of flying by the seats of their pants and turning to violence. Fe w he a d l i ne s c o nt a i n t h e w o r d s “ Fe r g u s o n” a n d “peacef ul.” Thank you, USC st udent s, for a l low i ng us to write one.
Foreign aid necessary for humanity’s wellbeing Emily Stone Third-year print journalism student
Focus on domesticity counter-productive in regard to world view Foreign aid has and will always be a two-sided argument. There isn’t a grey area that people can agree on; either Americans are for it or they aren’t. Foreign aid is such a broad topic, and it’s easy to get confused and misled when politicians are discussing the matter. No one mentions the big picture. They only talk about A merica’s part of the puzzle. People all around the world are suffering and need outside help to get through the basic needs of life. There should be guidelines to foreig n a id. Cor r upted
governments shouldn’t receive help because then it becomes a morally hazardous risk. The donor countr y bares t he risk but do e s n’t m a k e t he f i n a l decision. Money t hat doesn’t come in the form of grants can pay for anything, even private goods. W hy be caref u l w it h money that’s just being given to you? W hy f i x a cou nt r y that’s so underdeveloped that will eventually spiral back to pover t y? Foreig n aid shou ld be given in the form of grants with distinct guidelines. The military doesn’t have a problem thriving. It’s the civilians who can’t sur vive without outside help. Ever y l it t le dol la r goe s towa rds helpi ng someone. W it hout t he World He a lt h Organization, there wouldn’t be a cure for small pox. Deaths due to diseases like malaria have drastically decreased because of monetar y contributions to provide mosquito nets. Charities are a form of foreign aid that do not have to deal with government permission to help but are still
foreign aid. If a lot of people help a little, so many lives can benefit. People get blindsided by the term foreign aid because they don’t get to see how much good it serves a person, a village or even a country. Many people believe in fi xing their own backyard before they can help anyone else. Yes, people struggle in developed countries, but t hey have dif ferent daily troubles than an underdeveloped country. There are villages in Africa that don’t have a source of clean water and villagers that have to h ike m iles for a few gallons. When people have the basic necessities, any struggling after that is self-induced. C ou nt r ie s ne e d f i n a nc i a l help. There’s no denying that. Even the wealthiest countries in the world will need help at some point. W hen a countr y is s u f fer i ng, t he people a re suffering. No human deserves to suffer and await help that will never come. That’s why foreign aid is a must-have. Civilians bare the consequences of their leader without having a choice.
6
As Masters-level students in the School of Journalism and Mass Communications, we are avid consumers of the news. We get news from ever y where—from blogs, traditional media, social media and even from the Daily Gamecock. The Daily Gamecock is typically an excellent source of state, local and University news, and we enjoy reading it on a regular basis. That is why the editorial on December 2, (“National Guard’s Attention Misplaced”) was so disappointing. The editorial staff’s lack of understanding about marketing and its role in an organization is astounding. It is surpassed only by t he editorial board’s lack of respect for t heir fellow students. Because let’s be honest, if anyone truly believes that our generation will make a major decision, like joining the S.C. National Guard because of a Ryan Gosling meme, then they don’t respect our generation. Furthermore, if you actually believe that the S.C. National Guard should simply move goal posts to declare victory on their recruiting goa l s , t hen you neit her u nder st a nd nor appreciate the tremendous service the S.C. National Guard does for your communit y. While you were playing in the snow during the winter weather last year, the National Guard helped provide blankets and supplies to people whose houses were destroyed by ice. They helped evacuate the elderly from the cold and motorists stranded in their cars. They worked to clear branches from power lines and restore basic services to citizens of our state. Since some people were without heat, potable water and electricity for more than a week, we shudder to think about how long it would take with less manpower. Particularly in about ten years, when the “older demographic” as you so eloquently put it, has retired. As the editorial pointed out, this was our fi nal project for the class. So let’s see if we can’t share a little knowledge from our experience wit h t he nat ionally recognized market ing department at t he Darla Moore School of Business. The fi rst component of a marketing plan is research. It should also be the fi rst step in a journalist’s article or editorial, but you clearly didn’t do any research before writing this. If you had, you may have realized that Justin Bieber is Canadian and therefore would be a poor endorsement for the U.S. military. You also would have learned that marketing does work. Old Spice’s “Smel l Li ke A M a n, M a n” campaign with Isaiah Mustafa created a 300% increase in website traffic, 800% increase in Facebook fan interaction, a 2,700% increase in Twitter followers and finally 1.2 billion earned media impressions. After this campaign, Old Spice is now the number one brand of men’s body wash and deodorant. Nobody can downplay those results - all thanks to an integrated marketing campaign. Ever heard of Dos Equ is and t he Most Interesting Man in the World? Unless you live under a rock, you most certainly have. Dos Equis was a struggling beer brand selling in only two states. That is, until, the “Most Interesting Man in the World” marketing c a m p a i g n c a m e a l o n g. T h e c a m p a i g n incorporated re-branding, advertisements and an interactive digital platform. Now, Dos Equis is the sixth largest imported beer brand. The campaign is entering its sixth year and just in the last year Dos Equis gained 15% in U.S. shipments, while the other beer brands only averaged a 2.7% increase. Those are undeniable results and they all came from marketing. You are right in pointing out that marketing alone will not change the recruiting numbers for the S.C. National Guard. We put that right in our report, as did every other group in our class. But you didn’t ask to see our final deliverable. We said marketing efforts would encourage more people to speak to the National Guard about joining. From there, the recruiters do what they do best—establish a personal relat ionship, communicate t he benefits and help people of all ages and walks of life decide if they want to commit themselves to service over self, empower themselves to learn critical job skills or receive a (free) education and strengthen their communities by serving in the S.C. National Guard. That’s why over 40 percent of the S.C. National Guard is currently between the ages of 17 to 24—the very ages you think they should simply give up on, or insult through superficial memes and trends. We were honored to help the S.C. National Guard. You had an opportunity to help as well by using your editorial voice to encourage students to service or to point out some of the educational benefits of the National Guard. Instead, you chose to mock marketing - one of the largest professions in the U.S. and an entire discipline of study - and your fellow students. The best way to communicate that to you might be via a trendy form of communication, so we’ll end this with #journalisticfail. Respectfully submitted, Leacy Burke, Rachael Grimes, Katie Hull, Devon Page, Yichao Lin and Meg Williams C a n d i d at e s f o r t h e M a s t e r s i n M a s s Communication Marketing 701 class members
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
HOUSING
EMPLOYMENT
3 BR/ 1 Bath for rent Home for rent starting January 1st. 3BR/ 1 Bath. Living Room, Dining Room, Hardwood Floors throughout. Kitchen comes equipped with stove, dishwasher. Washer/ Dryer Hookup. $975 Contact 803 4133297 or lipscomb711@gmail.com
Personable, friendly hostess needed. Apply in person Tuesday-Friday between 2-5pm at 920 Gervais St. Columbia, SC 29201
TRAVEL
ANNOUNCEMENTS
BAHAMAS SPRING BREAK $189 for 5 Days. All prices include: Round-trip luxury party cruise. Accommodations on the island at your choice of thirteen resorts. Appalachia Travel. www.BahamaSun.com 800-867-5018
Kennel assistant Kennel Assistant Needed. Work some weekdays and some weekends. Must be able to work on holidays. Serious inquires only. Apply in person. Dog Daze 1241 Veterans Road 803.695.0091
7
He knows if
youve
been listening
Email dogdazellc@bellsouth.net
dailygamecock.com/classifieds
HOROSCOPES
COMIC • CALEB FRANKLIN
Aries
Leo
Sagittarius
You can make extra cash over the next two days. Get creative! Then focus on your next gig. Check the path ahead. You’re on top of the world. Plan an exciting trip, and get you r duck s i n a row. Confirm reservations.
There’s fun and positive career mojo ahead. Move quickly to stay in the loop. Listen to the unspoken as well as what gets said. Take on new responsibilit ies today and tomorrow. Avoid arguing over silly stuff. Social events capt ure your attention now.
Postpone expansion for now. Focus on fi nishing old p r oje c t s f or t he next two days. Lay the groundwork and clear space for t he f ut u re. Work could interfere w i t h p l a y t i m e . I t ’s possible to have it all ... juggle the schedule. Help someone else to do the same.
Taurus Take charge ... no more pro c r a st i n at ion. L et someone know what (or whom) you need. You’re gaining authority today and tomorrow. Prove you k now what you’re doing. You r power is increasing. Team up for success. Clarif y your plans before launching. Ensure all the pieces are in place.
Gemini Deadlines are looming, so bet ter get back to it . Work s lowl y a nd methodically. Changes are required. Talk in gener a l it ie s at f i r st . Choose bold ly, af ter considerat ion. Be sensitive to a loved ones’ wishes. Don’t throw your money around. Think over repercussions and outcomes before acting.
Cancer D o n’t g o a n y w he r e . Slow down and take it easy. Stay calm. Talking with friends today and tomorrow clears up a concern. Emotions could overf low. Moderate a clash between normally gentle souls. Your team comes to your rescue. S o me t i me s t he b e s t action is no action.
Virgo You can take new ground over the next two days, but you may not follow t he r out e or ig i n a l l y i ntended. Remember to consu lt w it h you r part ner. Look before leaping. Expenses may be higher than expected. Plan a bold adventure f rom t he comforts of home.
Libra Work out the numbers and sign papers today and tomorrow. Don’t buy toys. Your theory could get challenged. Think of possible backdoors and come at the idea from different angles. Figure out your plan today for act ion tomorrow.
Capricorn Plan some fun for today and tomorrow. Don’t be wasteful ... get only what you need. Clean up communal living spaces. Schedule some time for roma nce. Don’t t a ke action yet. The beauty is in the details. Think of how to delight someone.
Aquarius You’re i n for a bu s y few days at home. C on ser ve re s ou rc e s , even if money is tight. The next two days are good for renovation and reorganization. Distant goa ls a re at t a i nable. Fr iends are happy to help. Do what you said you would. Walk t he walk.
Scorpio
Pisces
You h ave more help over the next two days. Tr y t o u n d e r s t a n d other people’s feelings. L e a r n b y l i s t e n i n g. E njoy a p a r t ner s h ip phase. Put energy into a team effort. Delegate what you can. Talk gets fa r t her t ha n ac t ion t o d a y. Ta k e p a s s io n behind closed doors.
You’re ext ra brilliant for the next two days. Don’t believe everything you’ve learned ... you don’t have the full story y e t . Te m p e r s c o u l d get short. Curb snarky commentary. There’s no such thing as a stupid quest ion, but you r timing could be off.
APP
OUR
for iPhone and Android
Want another set of eyes to read that Lease? Meet with an attorney for a FREE consultation. Current USC students can schedule appointments on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. by calling:
803-777-6611 www.sa.sc.edu/student-legal-services
Student Legal Services University of South Carolina Student Life.
This service is provided in partnership with South Carolina Legal Services and funded through the Campus Activity Fee.
12/03/14
1 2 3 4
For solutions to today’s puzzle, go to dailygamecock.com
or download our app!
@thegamecock 12/03/14
hey, it's food on DEC. 8Th. at 11pm. for free. It's at the grand market place, too. Just bring your carolina card ACROSS 1 “See ya!” 12 Part of an org. 15 Overprotective governments 16 Simpson judge 17 Western Hemisphere group 18 HBO alternative 19 Ruman of Marx Brothers films 20 Wing: Pref. 21 Good sense 23 Place for a Valentine’s Day gift 24 Puts (in) conditionally 25 “Brighton Rock” author 28 Guinevere’s lover 29 “Conjuring” author James 30 Siesta time 31 Trip taker of a kind 32 “__ boy!” 33 Fur sources 34 Not backin’ 35 Short life story? 36 “South Pacific” Tony winner 37 Jaded 38 What Balboa called the Pacific 40 Lures 41 Some entrées 42 Hardly a sign of support 43 Lorin __, who succeeded Szell as the Cleveland Orchestra’s music director 44 Cabinet div. 45 Alt’s opposite 48 Taina of “Les Girls” 49 Longtime separatist Sri Lankan group 52 Omega counterpart 53 Skinny 54 Puff adder’s warning 55 Having another look at DOWN 1 QBs’ stats
2 When doubled, a fish 3 NASA acceleration unit 4 Actress Merkel 5 Kettledrums: Var. 6 Safari threat 7 Up __ 8 2009 Broadway revival 9 Inclusive abbr. 10 Hits after a screech, probably 11 Core 12 Perceived Cold War weapons disparity 13 One studying animals’ behavior in their natural habitats 14 Opalescent gems 22 Poker plus, usually 23 Hindu sacred text 24 Cold wear 25 Snooze 26 Bases 27 Followings 28 “The Great Caruso” star 30 Sticking points 33 Lose 34 Charity
StudyDEC. 15TH DEC. 7TH –
De-stress before the test.
For solutions to today’s puzzle, go to dailygamecock.com
or download our app!
36 Acidity-measuring device 37 Rouses to action 39 Toon whirlwind from Australia, familiarly 40 Sneak 42 Big wheels at sea 44 De Soto’s deity 45 Classic fruitflavored drink 46 Ireland, poetically 47 SOS responder
50 Common commuting letters 51 Help for lost drivers, for short
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
8
Volleyball shows potential for future Olivia Barthel / THE DAILY GAMECOCK
South Carolina’s season was defined by a late collapse in conference play that kept the Gamecocks on the outside of this year’s NCAA tournament field looking in.
Young nucleus set to return in 2015 season Brennan Doherty
@BRENNAN_DOHERTY
O n Su nday e ven i ng t he Sout h Carolina volleyball team gathered to watch the NCAA Selection Show, just like many other programs across the country did. But hav ing f inished t he reg ular season under .500 in conference play, the Gamecocks already knew there wasn’t a chance their name would flash up on the screen, though head coach Scott Swanson’s team made a berth in the NCAA Tournament a goal at the beginning of the season. There was a reason the coach made a point of gathering his team to watch the show. After an up-and-down year, Swanson wanted to give South Carolina a glimpse of what’s possible in the future. While the Gamecocks, (17-14, 7-11
SEC) made strides in some departments, South Carolina’s 2014 campaign will be remembered as one troubled by inconsistency and injuries. Led by promising players such as freshman Taylr McNeil and junior middle blocker Darian Dozier, the talent gap between South Carolina and some of the SEC’s more dominant programs didn’t seem that big at times. On the f lip side, South Carolina would go through stretches of bad play regardless of the opponent. Still, the Gamecocks saw notable improvements compared to the 2013 season. “I thought we were very up-anddown, but we improved,” Swanson said. “Most SEC wins since 2008, which is promising.” South Carolina came close to securing prog r a m-bu i ld i ng v ic tor ie s over conference foes on several occasions, but they came up short in tight games
at home to teams such as Texas A&M and Alabama, both NCAA tournamentbound squads. Heartbreaking and down-to-the-wire losses were a common occurrence for the Gamecocks as South Carolina dropped five five-set matches. After beginning the year 11-2, the Gamecocks went through a bit of a rough patch as the meat of their schedule approached. Nonetheless, South Carolina found itself one game over .500 in conference play at the end of October with a chance to finish the season strong. Instead, Swanson’s team went 2-7 in its final nine contests, and the Gamecocks lost five consecutive games between Oct. 31 and Nov. 16. South Carolina was without McNeil in three of the team’s final five matches, and the freshman’s playing time was limited in the games in which she was available down the stretch.
Being without one of the SEC’s top freshmen at the end of the season was tough for the Gamecocks. “We just didn’t have anybody else who could replace four kills a game,” Swanson said. Like McNeil, Dozier was a crucial piece to the team, and the Sandy Spring, Maryland native finished fourth in the conference with 1.17 blocks per game. While the Gamecocks didn’t quite accomplish what they wanted to do this past season, the team will lose just two seniors, and South Carolina is set to return most of its roster for the 2015 season. Those facts have Swanson optimistic about the future of the program. “We’ll get everybody back, plus some new good kids coming in,” Swanson said. “We’re on the right track. We’re going in the right direction, and you can never complain about improvement.” DG
Playoff still has room for improvement Committee must adjust values regarding undefeated records, head-to-head tiebreakers Welcome to December, the month most commonly k n o w n f o r t h e Fe s t i v u s holiday. A celebration that includes, among other things, the airing of grievances. And in that spirit, I’d like to take this opportunity to air my grievances about the new College Football Playoff. For t he f irst t ime since 1998, this season’s rankings are completely the work of hu ma ns. The select ion committee is comprised of 13 members that gather every w e e k a n d c o m e u p w it h Sports Editor the top 25 teams in college @DannyLGarrison football. The most coveted real estate is in the No. 1- 4 range, because those teams earn the right play in an abbreviated bracket-style “tournament” to decide the national champion. This is what we all wanted. The former system, the Bowl Championship Series, had a laundry list of flaws that was highlighted by its inclusion of just the top-two teams into the national title hunt at the end of the season. Teams were left out, questions remained unanswered and fanbases were left to call Paul Finebaum’s radio show and make idiots out of themselves. That last part has stood the test of time, but the current playoff is a giant overcorrection from the previous system. There’s a very real debate to be had on whether the CFP should be expanded from four teams to eight or even more, but we can all agree that any one of those options is better than two. My issue is with how the teams are chosen. The computerized element of the rankings wasn’t what was wrong with the BCS, and eliminating that from consideration wasn’t the correction that needed to be made. The teams that were hurt the most by the computers were the Boise States of the world that spent the BCS era compiling some of the best records in the nation from over in the Mountain West and WAC without ever finding their way into a national title game.
Danny Garrison
Both of the Broncos’ undefeated seasons be damned. The human polls should’ve been how those schools got a seat at the table from outside of the power-five conferences (SEC, ACC, Pac 12, Big 12 and Big 10), but with only two spots available, there was never any room to toy with that idea. Under the new fourteam system, the computers can take more factors into consideration than humanly possible, while the committee employs the eye test and explores new ideas, such as a team from outside the power-five in the playoff. Man and machine should work together, and the BCS had that right. But since the committee is flying solo, it’s left to make statements and dish out shocking conclusions on its nationally televised unveiling of the rankings each week.
That’s how the two greatest injustices of the new system have come to be, with undefeated Florida State sitting at No. 4 and TCU finding itself ranked ahead of Baylor, despite losing to the Bears earlier in the year. The Seminoles have never been ranked No. 1 in the CFP committee’s rankings, and for the fi rst two weeks, that was fine. Mississippi State was also unbeaten, and more power to the committee for removing FSU’s status as the reigning national champion from the equation. But the committee lost me when it bumped a oneloss Oregon team ahead of the Seminoles in week 12. The sanctity of an undefeated record in a power-
five conference should mean something, and the justification that Florida State is still in the playoff regardless isn’t a valid excuse. I won’t jump to conclusions and say the committee is out to shock the world for the sake of shocking the world, but having more wiggle room shouldn’t mean the eye test all of a sudden outweighs the most obvious criteria. The higher-ranked teams in the top-four earn the right to play closer to home. And as the only undefeated team remaining, the Seminoles shouldn’t be sitting in the back half of the playoff facing further travel to the site of their semifi nal than if they were in the No. 1 spot. The Baylor/TCU conundrum is the other most hotly-debated topic in this first year of the CFP, but this situation is more likely to simply work itself out. The No. 6 Bears and the No. 3 Horned Frogs have the exact same record at 7-1. Both hailing from the Big 12, these two have already played each other this year. Baylor won. Regardless, the committee has still deemed TCU worthy of a higher ranking. I’m less up in arms about this one because the Bears are likely to leap the Horned Frogs if their records remain the same when all is said and done. If that scenario plays out and the committee still gives Texas Christian a ticket to the playoff, then we’ll have a problem. The point is, head-to-head victories should be the end-all be-all when it comes to tiebreakers between two teams with resumes as similar as Baylor and TCU. Cong rats to t he Horned Frogs for beat ing Minnesota. I was all set to launch into an impassioned plea for an unbeaten Marshall team’s inclusion into the playoff out of Conference USA, but the Thundering Herd went and lost to Western Kentuck y this weekend and mooted that point pretty well. When all is said and done, this system is, in fact, better than its predecessor. More teams on the hunt for the national title means more money for schools and networks, more football for fans to watch and more inclusion for teams that would otherwise be left out. But it is by no means perfect. College football is a pretty reactionary business, so expect tweaks to the rules following this inaugural season that could include anything from more committee members to more teams in the playoff. But for now, we’ll just find things to complain about. Because we’re football fans, and that’s what we do. DG