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Senate adjourns without voting on constitution Referendum will not be on ballot; debate to continue Hannah Jeffrey

NEWS@DAILYGAMECOCK.COM

Student senate opted not to vote Wednesday on a bill that would put a new constitution with significant changes to Student Government’s structure up for a vote by the student body. After nearly two hours of debate, the senate adjourned and elected to carry the bill over to next week for further discussion. “I move to adjourn because we all know what’s going to happen when they call for quorum,” Sen. Kirkland Gray said, implying that not enough senators were present to reach quorum. The bill was originally introduced last Thursday in a special session, where it was met with disagreement and anger from both senators and past Student Government officials. The main sources of disagreement were that the constitution would make the treasurer an appointed position with a stipend and that students would elect a speaker of the senate. Gray wrote an amendment that would keep the treasurer’s office in its current capacity and provided that the speaker of the senate was elected by the senate, not the student body. At Wednesday’s session, Senate P re s ident P ro Temp ore L i nd say Richardson, the bill’s main sponsor, said she felt the bill should be carried over to the next session for further discussion. When Richardson fi rst introduced the bill last week, she hoped to pass the bill in two weeks, ensuring that a referendum on the constitution would appear on the ballot in this month’s St udent Government election. Se ver a l com m it tee s , i nclud i ng Athletics and Safety and Transportation, reported that after deliberating over the course of the last week, they were in favor of the bill but wanted further discussion. However, Student Body Treasurer Haley Guyton was not in favor of the bill. “It’s not Student Government money. It comes from tuition dollars,” Guyton said of the stipend. “Students deserve the right to elect someone to decide what to do with that money.” Former Student Body Treasurer Coy Gibson returned to the senate chamber to express his own qualms with the restructuring. Gibson said it would be fine if the referendum did not appear on this year’s ballot because senate would have an entire year to perfect it and put it to a vote of the student body. “There’s a lot of work to be done,” he said, adding that he found flaws and contradictions in the legislation when he compared the current constitution, the proposed constitutional changes and the Student Government codes. Emily Saleeby, a former student body vice president who graduated last May, returned to represent herself, former SENATE • 2

VOL. 114, NO. 17 • SINCE 1908

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2014

USC asks legislators for funding Hundreds attend Carolina Day, ask for tuition timeout Hannah Jeffrey, Kelley Kennedy, Davis Klabo & Natalie Pita NEWS@DAILYGAMECOCK.COM

Administrators, faculty, students and alumni traveled to the State House Wednesday morning to lobby for USC’s proposed tuition timeout on the 11th annual Carolina Day. University President Harris Pastides encouraged members of the USC community to tell their representatives to mull over the idea of trading more funding from the state for a tuition freeze next year, halt ing in-state undergraduate tuition increases for the first time in at least 25 years. Since the tuition timeout was first

proposed to the House Ways and Means Committee two weeks ago, Pastides said legislators were warming up to the idea, but there is still a long way to go. “A few have signed on to say, ‘You can count on me; I’m with you,’” Pastides said. “Very few have said, ‘I’m not going to be able to be with you,’ but the majority have said they’d think about it.” Pa s t i d e s w a s n’t a l o n e i n h i s efforts. Several Student Government representatives turned out to show their support. Student senate also passed a resolution Wednesday night to support collaboration between the university and state legislature to lower tuition costs. “Si nce leg islat ive f u nd i ng has

dropped from almost 60 percent of the school’s budget to only 9 percent now, the school has had to keep raising tuition for students,” Student Body Vice President Ryan Bailey said. “This is asking to serve students by providing an option for the school to not raise tuition.” Bailey said these tuition raises were forcing many students to leave the state in order to avoid debt, adding that scholarships have not been increasing as quickly as tuition. Several alu m n i joi ned c u r rent students to lobby for the timeout, add i ng t hei r ow n educat iona l experiences to the argument. “If we’re truly going to advance and CAROLINA • 3

Kamila Melko / THE DAILY GAMECOCK

Students walked to the State House Wednesday in honor of what would have been Trayvon Martin’s 19th birthday.

‘We Are’ honors Trayvon Martin Group organizes memorial walk, commemorates modern-day black history Khadijah Dennis

NEWS@DAILYGAMECOCK.COM

The Association of African American Students donned black attire Wednesday and march through Columbia in remembrance of Trayvon Martin on what would have been his 19th birthday. The crowd started on the steps of the Thomas Cooper Library before walking through the streets of Columbia, not in protest, they said, but in remembrance of those who died in the same light as Martin. “I am very passionate about Trayvon’s case because to me, he is the Emmett Till of our generation,” said Francine Tamakloe, a second-year marketing and management student. “More than that, it is a highlight of the hundreds of cases just like his.” While remembering his death, students sang “Happy Birthday” with joy, as they made an effort to show others that the event, dubbed “We Are,” was going to be a happy occasion, not a sad one. “There are some stories that will never be heard,”

Tamakloe said. “The purpose of ‘We Are’ is to give us a moment to reflect, to put ourselves in Trayvon’s shoes, in his family’s shoes, and to find ourselves inspired to take action to prevent these deaths from happening.” Various groups supported the cause, such as the College Democrats, who spoke on the importance of handling such issues in local communities. Other supporters included the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs and various faculty and staff members. “I want my generation, as well as others, to recognize that Trayvon has become a part of black history and American history and to know that the life of young black male in America truly is a valuable asset,” said Brie Nurse, a fourth-year broadcast journalism student. To many, “We Are” was more than a memorial, and students found different ways to represent that through their various actions. “Too often in these racially charged cases, we get caught up in the politics of everything,” Tamakloe said. “Both sides of the argument get so attached to what they feel that we forget to acknowledge that a life was taken.” Though the event is still fairly new, Nurse said she hopes the university will repeat it as an annual gathering, TRAYVON • 3

Signing day brings new talent to Columbia 5 defensive back recruits address team’s needs David Roberts

SPORTS@DAILYGAMECOCK.COM

The signing of four-star linebacker Bryson A llen-Williams on national signing day highlighted a South Carolina recruiting class that is set to address many defensive needs for the Gamecocks next season. With four of the eight South Carolina players who declared for the NFL draft being juniors, some of South Carolina’s top recruits may see playing time as early as next season. “We believe we have addressed a lot of our needs,” coach Steve Spurrier said. “We lost three starting defensive linemen — Jadeveon Clowney, Chaz Sutton, Kelcy Quarles. We’ve signed

Andy Levine / THE DAILY GAMECOCK

Coach Steve Spurrier and his son helped bring in a recruiting class of 21 overall commits. seven defensive linemen. ... Another need is defensive back, especially with Victor (Hampton), Jimmy Legree, one being a

senior, one leaving early. “We needed to replace those players, so we picked up right now, I think, four

defensive back-type players who will compete with the guys we’ve got for that position next year.” O v e r a l l , t he G a m e c o c k s h a v e signed 21 players to their recruiting class, including nine with spots on the ESPN300 rankings. Among the signers is early-enrollee Abu Lamin, a four-star defensive tackle from Kansas. La m i n, who is or ig i na l ly f rom Fayetteville, N.C., found himself playing for Fort Scott Community College after high school. He enrolled at USC on this semester after receiving offers from teams including Alabama and Georgia. With the loss of defensive tackle Kelcy Quarles, Lamin figures to make an immediate impact on South Carolina’s defensive line. To aid Lamin over the next few years, the Gamecocks also signed four-star defensive end Dante Sawyer, who is SIGNING • 2

Thursday, February 6, 2014

Longer sentences for gang members proposed Gang members would be given longer prison sentences if a bill in the state House is passed, The Associated Press reported. Sponsored by Rep. Phyllis Henderson, R-Greer, the bill was prompted by the shooting of USC first-year business student Martha Childress in Five Points. Childress was shot while waiting for a cab and was left paralyzed below the waist. Henderson, who has a daughter at USC, said the incident “really made (her) angry,” so she is seeking to increase prison time for crimes that benefit a gang. For the majority of crimes, one to five years would be added to a gang member’s conviction; however, some felonies would result in life imprisonment. The bill also says a criminal gang can involve as few a three people, equivalent to federal standards. —Hannah Jeffrey, News Editor

SENATE • Continued from 1

CVS Caremark to stop selling tobacco products

Toal wins re-election, keeps chief justice seat

CVS Caremark will phase out its sales of cigarettes, cigars and chewing tobacco by the beginning of October in order to shift the company’s focus more toward health care, according to The Associated Press. After the phase-out, tobacco products will no longer be sold in the company’s 7,600 stores across the country. This will allow the chain to work with doctors and hospitals to improve customer health. The company expects the move will cost it $2 billion in revenue. In 2012, its total revenue was $123 billion. According to Chief Medical Officer Dr. Troyen A. Brennan, the presence of tobacco in the stores has presented the company with some issues. “One of the first questions they ask us is, ‘Well, if you’re going to be part of the health care system, how can you continue to sell tobacco products?’” he said. “There’s really no good answer to that at all.” —Hannah Jeffrey, News Editor

Incumbent Jean Toal was re-elected as the chief justice of the S.C. Supreme Court Wednesday in a 95-74 vote, according to The State. Toal was supported by the majority of the General Assembly’s black caucus and several Republicans, i n c l u d i n g Ho u s e S p e a k e r B o b b y H a r r e l l , R-Charleston. Toal’s opponent, Costa Pleicones, will maintain his current role of associate justice. State senators and representatives voted in a joint session, with the 124 House members voting in a rare voice vote. Toal will serve through 2015, when she will turn 72; she has promised to leave the court then. Had she lost, Toal would have left her post in July at the end of her 10-year term. She became the first woman on the court in 1988. —Hannah Jeffrey, News Editor

SIGNING • Continued from 1

Student Body President Joe Wright and Student Body Treasurer Emily Supil. “Even with a stated three to four months of preparation, without the knowledge of the senate, that time is devalued,” she said. Saleeby said that because she was speaking for three people, she would not take questions. Student Body President Chase Mizzell did not take a direct position on the bill; instead, he said no solution was mature enough to choose and further debate was necessary to make a decision that would benefit the senate’s constituents. But Secretary of Organizational Outreach Brandon White was more direct, saying it would be unwise to weaken the treasurer’s influence. “It’s the treasurer who makes dreams come true,” White said. DG

ranked No. 88 in the ESPN300. T he 235-p ou nd player f rom Suwanee, Ga., is ranked by 247 Sports as the fifth-best weak-side defensive end in the country. South Carolina also signed four-star defensive end Dexter Wideman to solidify its depth on the defensive line. The Gamecock s received a surprise Wednesday afternoon when they caught wind that threestar recruit Blake McClain had committed to the Gamecocks. McClain was initially expected to attend Florida State and visited Nebraska before settling on South Carolina. “He was committed to FSU, and FSU I think attempted to greyshirt him, which a lot of schools are doing,” Steve Spurrier Jr. said, referring to a process in which a player pays his own tuition for a semester to stay eligible to play. “His family wanted him close by. His coach was really helpful. An opportunity to play in the SEC, an opportunity to play at South Carolina and a chance to play for Steve Spurrier really hit home for him.”

In perhaps the biggest upgrade, S o u t h C a r o l i n a’s d e f e n s i v e backfield grew by five players after this class. The Gamecocks scored four-star cornerback D.J. Smith, who is one of five true cornerbacks South Carolina ended up signing. Smith has outstanding tackling abilities and plans to line up against Texas A&M in the Aug. 28 opener. Darin Smalls is anot her recruit who could play at corner, depending on South Carolina’s needs. He has experience in high school playing safety; however, the Gamecocks are all but set at that position as of now. One of the most highly touted defensive back recruits waited until after 5 p.m. to announce h is decision Wed nesday, but it was bet ter late t han never when cornerback Wesley Green announced his commitment to the Gamecocks live on Fox Sports South after waff ling bet ween the Gamecocks and the Georgia Bulldogs. Cornerback Al Harris Jr., son of former all-pro cornerback Al Harris, also announced his intent to play in garnet and black next season. Harris Jr., who earned

a three-star rating playing at perennial powerhouse St. Thomas Aquinas, seemed to fly under the radar during the recruiting season but could be a major contributor by the end of his time in Columbia. The Gamecocks also made it a point to address needs on the offensive side of the game. Fourstar tight end Kevin Crosby is considered the eighth-best tight end in the country, coming off a season where he caught 43 passes for 571 yards and 12 touchdowns. In an attempt to add depth at the quarterback position, South Carolina signed 6-foot-4-inch signal caller Michael Scarnecchia, of Fleming Island, Fla. Scarnecchia earned a spot on The Associated Press’s All-State team, throwing for 28 touchdowns and only two interceptions. Spurrier noted that the young quarterback will likely redshirt as a freshman like Dylan Thompson did. “He came to our camp last summer, and that’s where I first saw him,” Spurrier said. “So we stayed in touch with him. We were able to get him as a Gamecock.” DG

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CAROLINA • Cont. from 1 be the type of state that we want to be, we’re going to have to make sure that our young people have access to high-qualit y but af fordable h igher education,” said Tommy Preston, former student body president. U S C a l u m nu s L e e Bussell said although costs were lower when he was in college, tuition costs now provide much more to students than they did back in the day. “The $237 a semester I paid 41 years ago is a l o t d i f f e r e nt t h a n the financial situation

students face today, but the cost of tuition provides far greater value today,” Bussell said. “I believe the value of the universit y is a combination of the st udent s, fac u lt y a nd alumni.” Each of USC’s system campuses was represented at Ca rol i na Day, a nd Ahmed Samaha, assistant vice chancellor of student life at USC Aiken, said she and her colleagues at campuses throughout the state planned to stand together. “We are all part of the same system. We’re as committed as the others to have a good future for

our state,” Samaha said. “We all have the same interest in the goal.” I n t he end, St udent Body President Chase Mizzell said the tuition timeout proposition had been received well by legislators throughout the day. “There was a positive tone from our senators, represent at ives a nd constitutional officers as we delivered t he message t hat st udents cannot continue to bear t he burden of t u it ion increases,” Mizzell said in an email. DG

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for justice and social equality alive until all are truly seen to be created equal,” Nurse said. “This is how we can show that we care, we remember, we will never forget and most importantly, we are Trayvon Martin.”

TRAYVON • Continued from 1 not just to remember Martin but also as a way to commemorate modern-day black history. “While we cannot change the verdict or bring Trayvon back, we can stand in solidarity every year to keep this cry

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Senate right to extend constitution debate ISSUE Senate chose to put off a vote on a new constitution. OUR STANCE Despite flaws, the proposal deserves more debate. When it comes to constitutions, the more they are thought about and discussed, the better they turn out to be. So, the student senate was on the right track Wednesday when it decided not to vote on a new constitution less than a week after it was officially proposed. Taking a step back and slowing dow n t he process is w it hout a doubt a g o o d t h i n g. T he amendments that were proposed Wednesday alone — some as long as eight pages — would have taken more time to consider than one session could have allowed. To have debated and voted on a constitution, which would have gone up for a vote of the student body later this month, in that t ime f rame wou ld have been irresponsible. The senate should be commended for picking up on this and acting accordingly.

By not voting on the bill, the senate ensured that the proposed constitution will continue to be tweaked and modified into the next year, as it should be. Because the constitution, if passed, would go into effect in the 2015-16 school year, there are no drawbacks to taking a slower route. Plus, the concerns raised by many of the constitution’s critics are valid, and they raise serious questions.

“Taking a step back and slowing down the process is without a doubt a good thing. The amendments that were proposed Wednesday alone — some as long as eight pages — would have taken more time to consider than one session could have allowed.”

First, mak ing the treasurer an appointed position that still receives a stipend is concerning, because students’ money shouldn’t be used to pay someone they did not elect. Right now, the treasurer is paid $4,560 per year, and that sum of money shouldn’t be at the personal discretion of any one SG officer. A d d i t i o n a l l y, t h e n e w legislation’s proposition that the student body elect the speaker of the senate raises concerns, too. We think the student senate should be left to set its own agenda and its own collective platform. By having prospective speakers campaign on their own personal platforms, the body loses some of that say, and that’s concerning. The speaker of the senate — the person who will preside over the senate’s sessions — should b e s ele c t ed b y t he s en ator s themselves. W h i le t he se a re concer n s that need to be addressed, we are confident that these issues, along with many others, will be discussed thoroughly both inside and outside of the senate. T h is, if not h i ng else, is a conversation worth having.

Overuse of ‘literally’ distorts definition Social media promotes narcissism, distraction I ’ve not iced a n obnox iou s blem ish on ou r generat ion’s usually flawless public appearance lately. Joking about the flawless part, of course — we’re not all as self-centered as our predecessors think. In fact, usually we can b e pret t y for wa rd-t h i n k i ng trailblazers. The infraction that really gets me going, however, is our (yes, I admit to this, too) overuse of words to the point of robbing them of any meaning. A prime example: “literally.” Not to ma ke t h is l i ke t he start of every graduation speech by refer r i ng to t he good ol’ Merriam-Webster dictionary, but I think this situation calls for it. The dictonary defines literally as “actually; without exaggeration or i nacc u rac y. Tr ue to fac t ; actual or factual” See also, “not metaphorical or figurative.” So to all the girls talking to their friends earlier this week, t hat wasn’t literally t he best ha mbu rger i n t he world, or literally the drunkest you’ve ever been. You’re abusing the word and making it lose its meaning. Also to those overhearing you, you just sound vapid and uneducated. This may seem like an extreme interpretation of the situation, but hear me out. Madison Montgomery, of the show “American Horror Story: Coven,” is one of Generation Y’s very own. In the show, she has a great monologue on how we’re

literally

adverb

actually; without exaggeration or inaccuracy. True to fact; actual or factual often portrayed and perceived as narcissistic. “Social media allows us to post w he n we f a r t or have a sandwich for all the world to see,” she says. Everything we now do mu st be exc it i ng a nd bet ter t ha n t he thing before. This sandwich literally Emilie Dawson has to be the Third-year public best, or this dress relations student literally has to be the cutest, or else no one will notice and award us with a like or retweet so that we can feel affi rmed in our opinion and accepted by our peers. The next line of her monologue addresses something a bit darker, saying, “But it seems our one defining trait is a numbness to the world.” The numbers for depression and anxiety medication are higher than ever; almost 13 percent of our country is on some form or another, and college st udents often take it into their own hands

and self-medicate. The correlation here is that in our everyday actions, social media posts and conversations, we’re trying to make very average things seem impressive. When things aren’t exaggerated, they’re not impressive any more, and they become a figuratively huge bummer, causing us to become depressed. Things that are truly stunning, like a beautiful Columbia sunset, pass in front of our eyes again and again, quickly losing their luster. Social media’s inundation of exaggeration makes us numb to how nice simple everyday things are, because we’re look ing at constant comparisons to other, seemingly better things. I may have diverged slightly from my original plea of checking our use of the word literally, but I think the abuse of that word holds a key role in our constant competition with each other for attention. This passive digital and social competition can be dangerous to our mental health, so why perpetuate it?

Students should keep dangers of alcohol in mind Excessive drinking extremely hazardous to health I would like to say happy birthday to the st udent whose 21st birt hday recent ly was chronicled in The Daily Gamecock. The 21st birthday is one of many significant milestones, and it’s worthy of a safe, memorable celebration. It concerns me, t hough, t hat she chose to mark her birthday with such dangerous behaviors. She describes drinking a minimum of 15 drinks (a standard liquor drink is 1.5 oz.) in just three hours. That type of binge drinking, which included chugging and having shots poured down her throat, often results in considerable harm. A f ter t wo d r i n k s i n a n hou r, she may feel more relaxed, but her driving ability is impaired. After four drinks, her inhibitions and attention span have diminished, and her body is likely dehydrated. After six drinks, her reaction time is much slower, her judgments are severely impaired, and her liver cannot process a lcohol, resu lt i ng i n h igh blood alcohol content (BAC). A high BAC can lead to unconsciousness, respiratory arrest and even death. If students choose to celebrate their 21st birthday with alcohol, they should follow these tips for celebrating safely: —Set limits ahead of time. —Avoid drinking alcohol while taking any medications. —Designate a sober driver. —Avoid going out with those who engage in high-risk drinking behaviors. —Eat before and during drinking. —A lternate alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Avoid chugging and drinking games. —Get help if someone has had too much to drink. Call 911 immediately! T he dec ision to con s u me a lcohol is a personal choice. For students under 21, the only legal choice is to abstain from purchasing alcohol. For students 21 and older who choose to consume alcohol, drinking in a low-risk, legal manner not only serves to reduce negative consequences, but it increases the likelihood of being safe, having fun and making memories that will last a lifetime. —Rhonda DiNovo, USC director of Substance Abuse Prevention and Education

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Thursday, February 6, 2014

a l o C t i h s The Whig

Courtesy of The Whigs

Indie garage rock group rolls back to South Erika Ryan

MIX@DAILYGAMECOCK.COM

The Whigs are pretty big — big enough to have met Conan O’Brien and The Black Keys. But they’re not too big to visit Columbia, and they’ll be play i ng t he New Brook la nd Tavern tonight. The Whigs, an indie garage rock trio, got their start in Athens, Ga. The band includes lead singer and guitarist Parker Gispert, drummer Julian Dorio and bassist Timothy Deaux. The Whigs got together in 2002 at the University of Georgia, and their first record, “Give ‘Em All a Big Fat Lip,” was released in 2005. They got their start playing small gigs and eventually worked their way up to touring worldwide with big names in the music business. T he W h ig s have tou red w it h

bands like The Black Keys, Kings of Leon, Band of Horses, The Kooks, Tokyo Police Club and many others. I n add it ion, t hey ’ve per for med frequently on late night talk shows, including three appearances on the Late Show with David Letterman, t wo on Jimmy K immel Live! and one each on Late Night with Conan O’Brien and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. The W higs have been together for 12 years but their popularit y has been growing from the start. Back in 2006, Rolling Stone named the Whigs in their top 10 “artists to watch.” Later t hat year, Spin Magazine named them an “artist of the day.” Gispert said that he and Dorio had known each other since middle school, but didn’t really start playing together until they were in college. “ I ac t u a l ly wa s a ph i lo s ophy major at UGA,” Gispert said. “We got philosophy, psychology and art history in the band.”

The Whigs have toured all over the world, including concerts and music festivals in many countries in Europe and Asia, but Columbia represents some measure of coming home. “ We’ve played i n Colu mbia a couple times. ... I grew up outside of Atlanta, so Columbia was just one of those places I was coming in and out of at certain points,” Gispert said. “So we’re psyched to just come and play a show.” T he W h i g s a r e s t a r t i n g out their tour this year in the South and making their way around the country in anticipation of the release of t hei r f i f t h a lbu m , “Mo der n Creation,” on April 22. Having been together for such a long time, the band has created its own unique rock sound with a variety of other musical influences from each member, including classic rock, indie, and western. “We really draw f rom a lot of stuff,” Gispert said. “We all come

f rom a pret t y rich collect ion of influences, so it has kind of melded together into our sound.” A couple of Gisper t’s c u r rent personal listening preferences are the artists Cass McCombs and Kurt Vile. W hen asked about his favorite places to perform shows, Gispert reminisced about the band’s past tours. While Columbia isn’t a huge city, he explained that the local areas give the band some great memories. “It’s all different,” Gispert said. “We’ve played places like Greenville a lot, and they may not be as exotic as somewhere like France, but it’s nostalgic. You sort of form memories w it h t hese places. Pret t y much ever y where we go to is f u n and has its own reason why it’s cool to play there. I don’t have any specific favorites; I just like it all.”

Poet Alysia Harris speaks from the heart Accomplished spoken word artist brings craft to USC Wednesday Belvin Olasov

MIX@DAILYGAMECOCK.COM

Alysia Harris is still in college. T h at seem s ab s u rd. Her p oet r y h a s t he sophistication of a veteran of the craft, jumping from themes of ancestry to love to loss, mixing complex lyricism with direct, forceful diction, leaving the question: How could someone in college write and perform this well? But then again, her youth is part of what makes her poetry tick. She’s one of the human poets, the kind that builds verses on bridges of experience and interaction and life, and her journey is clearly visible in her poems. Each event is still fresh, and her performance reflects it; you can see in her eyes that she’s in a different place as she recites her verses. So, Harris is still in college and is a truly masterful poet. But here, “in college,” means pursuing an master’s degree in poetry at NYU and a doctorate in linguistics at Yale and teaching at both institutions, all while she performs with her spoken word collective Strivers Row. She’s exceptional, and she brought her energy to USC last night at a Carolina Productions-run spoken word show. Her performance was raw and emotional, and dealt with some very near and dear subjects. “There’s nothing that I’ve written that I think is too personal,” she said. That philosophy shone through as she opined on the South and her family’s mixed-race history. Cont inuing on her t heme of ident it y, she performed an impassioned piece on the conflict between Christianity and Islam, drawing from her own spiritual alignment with both religions. The heart of her performance lay in the seven years she spent getting over a relationship. She shared a poem from the first year, a poem from two years — when she thought she was over him — and

Clarie Randall / THE DAILY GAMECOCK

Alysia Harris tapped into deep reservoirs of passion and guilt in her performance, infusing her words with spirit. a poem from this year where she found she was actually over him. Like her verses about spirit ualit y, she saw her struggle to get out of the weight of their relationship universally applicable to anyone that’s struggled. “I think that when you release certain things and you share certain things with people around you, it gives other people the kind of freedom to do the same things,” she said. “There are other people in the audience that are living through the same thing and don’t feel like they can share it with people.” The way she saw it, the release of poetry is

universal. “I don’t do well with feeling shame or guilt, so for me, it’s the act of confession that frees me of that,” she said. “So I’ve confessed my most beautiful moments in poetry, and I’ve also confessed my most ugly moments in poetry. “You deserve to live and so does everyone else around you,” she said forcefully. “I think that’s why for me, performance is a life-taking but also a lifegiving event, when you can bond with someone and be like, ‘I’ve been through that same thing, and we match in that way.’” DG

Thursday, February 6, 2014

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Thursday, February 6, 2014

EMPLOYMENT

Sodexo at THE NATIONAL ADVOCACY CENTER is now accepting applications for a Part-time Front Desk Clerk/ Part-time Cook I. Qualified applicants must be able to work a flexible schedule, including some weekends. Most holidays off! No phone call please!/apply in person Pick up Applications MonThurs 8:30 Am-1:30 Pm Sodexo Campus Services National Advocacy Center 1600 Hampton Street Hampton Street Cafe (USC) Columbia, SC 29201No phone calls please!/apply in person. All applicants must be able to pass a background check and drug test!! EEO AA/M/F/D/V If student please attach class schedule and must be able to work summer as well.

NANNY NEEDED: Extremely responsible, very dependable, kid-friendly female college student sought to fill nanny position for 8yo girl. Before and after school care; Transporting to/from school & activities; 3-4 days/wk. For more details, call/text Joanie: 575-405-8559

TRAVEL 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

Follow @TDGdeals for great offers and happenings on and around campus!

PHD • JORGE CHAM

THE SCENE TODAY THE WHIGS / DEAR BLANCA / KEATH MEAD 8 p.m., $10 New Brookland Tavern 122 State St.

RAE FITZGERALD / POST TIMEY STRING BAND / THE RESTORATION 8 p.m., $5 Red Door Tavern 134 1/2 State St.

HOROSCOPES

Aries

Leo

Sagittarius

For about three weeks, with Mercury retrograde, t a l k a nd pla n w it h associates. Clean up the place. Don’t take risks. Double-check financial t r a n s ac t ion s . Re v ie w recent negotiations and decisions. Increase peace through meditation.

O ver t he next several weeks, secure what you’ve achieved. Continue to increase your authority, although possibilities to advance remain static for a while. Keep practicing, a nd ra ise you r sk il ls. Make plans, and check equipment for repairs.

Virgo

Communicate carefully for the next three weeks. Save you r i nsight s f o r l a t e r, a n d a v o i d misunderstandings. This retrograde period is good for organizing, and filing. Clean you r desk , and complete old projects. Service breakdowns could slow things.

R e v i e w d at a t o f i n d a hidden truth. Misunderstandings are plentiful for the next three week s. A sk quest ions, even if you’re nervous. Repeat what you said to be sure it gets through. Ha ndle out sta ndi ng assignments.

For t h ree week s, conf usion is more common in groups. Travel can get disrupted. Accept r e s p o n s ib i l it y w he r e due, and stay pat ient. Review documents, and sig n again as needed. Av o id o v e r s p e nd i n g. Free up some time for peacefulness.

For about three weeks, revise and refine your procedures. To simplify, rev iew your notes. D i g i nt o a r e s e a r c h a s s ig n ment . Double check bank statements and financial transactions. Today and tomorrow, play and have fun.

For t h ree week s, you gain the most through old contacts and familiar pract ices. The i n it ial phase of a job is over. Fact and fantasy clash. Keep decreasing public obligat ions. Pad you r schedule for unexpected circumstances, and take quiet time.

Rev iew t he dat a, a nd practice over the next three weeks. Sign papers and contracts after that, if you can wait. Increase support st r uct ures. Handle home repairs, especially regarding plumbing. Travel could get tricky. Enjoy home comforts.

For about three weeks, hold onto what you have. Better safe than sorry. Have people over instead of g oi ng out . Tr avel and transportation can get disrupted. Pay extra attention to a partner.

For the next three weeks, renew old bonds. Review financial contracts and statements. Increase your savings with planning. Wait for a better time to take risk or make major decisions. Review the pros and cons thoroughly first.

Taurus

Gemini

Fo r t he ne x t t h r e e weeks, while Mercury’s retrograde, revisit creative ideas from the past. A temporar y disr upt ion cou ld slow t h ings, so have a back up pla n. Revisions are necessary. Take your act on the road (after double-checking reservations and roads).

Cancer

For about three weeks, pay off bills. Don’t confront authority or get into legal disputes; it would just get complicated. Watch for technical difficulties. Tune your equipment. Keep decreasing your obligations. Share food and fun with friends.

S M

Libra

Scorpio

SEE YOU AT MASS 2014

TOMORROW ROBOT PLANT / NEVERFALL / HOMICYDE / RITUAL OBLIVION / WHISKEY MOUNTAIN MACHINE

THE WES COOK BAND 10 p.m., free Tin Roof, 1022 Senate St.

9 p.m., $5 Conundrum Music Hall, 626 Meeting St.

Capricorn

Aquarius

Pisces

SATURDAY — 4:30PM SUNDAY — 9 & 11AM 5 & 7 PM 1610 Greene Street On the USC Campus

2/6/14

1 2 3 4

For solutions to today’s puzzle, go to dailygamecock.com

or download our app!

2/6/14

ACROSS 1 Tic, for one 6 Arcade trademark word 10 Its website has a “Rodents 101” section 14 “__ Go Again”: Whitesnake #1 song 15 Brand at Petco 16 Pats on a buffet 17 ’30s-’40s Kildare portrayer 18 Answered on “Name That Fabric”? 20 Just the binding? 22 Pocatello sch. 23 Texter’s “Oh, before I forget ...” 24 Pah lead-in 25 Car radio selection 28 Hedger’s OK 30 Land measurement 32 “Discreet Music” composer 33 Surrealist Jean 34 On the __ vive: alert 35 City south of Fort Worth 36 Scale model of an ancient rival of Rome 40 Oomph 41 DOD arm 42 Aus. currency 43 Seasonal helper 44 Olds 442 rivals 45 Honolulu’s __ Palace 49 Mouth formations 51 H.S. dropout’s exam 52 Author Yutang 53 High dudgeon 54 Burger queen? 57 Non-contraband cheese? 60 Rock’s Burdon et al. 61 He lowered the New York Times’ price from 3¢ to 1¢ 62 Doofuses 63 Reds, maybe 64 Clothes alterer of a kind

65 Disappearing sound, and a hint to this puzzle’s theme 66 Tex’s “What if ...” DOWN 1 Ramshackle 2 Native American hallucinogen 3 Pointers 4 Tuner option 5 Where Clark met Lewis in 1804 6 “Attack!” 7 Jazz great Malone 8 Oscar winner Jannings 9 Toledo-to-Akron dir. 10 Not spare the rod? 11 Sellers role 12 Antipoverty agcy. 13 Exiled Cambodian Lon __ 19 Like some consequences 21 Revealing ’60s’70s fad 25 Literally, “pray God” 26 SASE, e.g. 27 Overly 29 Slam

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or download our app!

30 Blue hues 31 Heel 35 Medieval fortiﬁcation 36 Sports Authority Field altitude 37 Like some movies 38 Chicken general? 39 It may be a relief 40 Last of 26, in Chelsea 44 Erse speaker, perhaps 46 White rat, e.g. 47 Reunion

attendees 48 Actually existing 50 Contentious talk 51 “Whither thou __ ...”: Ruth 54 Five-time U.S. Open champ 55 Jazz phrase 56 Coffee choice 57 Herbert who played 11Down’s nemesis Inspector Dreyfus 58 Green preﬁx 59 Gillespie’s genre

Thursday, February 6, 2014

Men’s basketball falls to Auburn Gamecocks race off to Big Apple

South Carolina’s 18-2 run in 2nd-half not enough Kyle Heck

SPORTS@DAILYGAMECOCK.COM

Despite 29 points from senior Brenton Williams and recovering from a 16-point deficit, South Carolina let victory slip from its fingers once again against Auburn Wednesday night. That scenario has repeated itself for the Gamecocks this season, and the 79-74 loss to the Tigers was no different. After trailing 60-44 with around 13 minutes left in the game, South Carolina embarked on an 18-2 run to tie the game at 62 with less than eight minutes to go. But Auburn responded with a 7-1 run, using the quickness of guards Chris Denson and K.T. Harrell to drive past Gamecock defenders for easy layups. The two Tiger guards combined for 50 of Auburn’s 79 points. Coach Frank Martin knew coming into the game that Sindarius Thornwell and Duane Notice, both freshmen, would have their hands full with the talented Tiger duo, which came in averaging over 38 points per game. Martin was happy with the freshmen’s effort but was not pleased with the defensive help of the three other players on the floor. “Our help-side defense was atrocious and embarrassing,” Martin said. “That’s all I spoke about after the game. The three guys that were not guarding those two players never helped. We don’t block shots, we don’t take charges and we don’t defensive rebound. It’s hard to win. Our margin for error is paper thin, and those three guards have to play real, real well.” Auburn used six offensive rebounds in the first nine minutes of the game to keep pace with the South Carolina offense. A lt hough t he Gamecocks eventually evened the rebounding battle, they could not stop the Tigers when they needed to most. Williams knocked down one of his six three-pointers on the night with 23 seconds left to pull his team to within three points, but Auburn iced the game from the free throw line, where they made 16 of 20 attempts. Meanwhile, the Gamecocks missed nine free throws of their own. “Tough loss,” Martin said. “Once again: close game, missed free throws. Can’t shoot 59 percent from the line and

Track team heads to New York for Armory Collegiate Invitational Collyn Taylor

SPORTS@DAILYGAMECOCK.COM

Jeﬀrey Davis / THE DAILY GAMECOCK

Senior guard Brenton Williams scored a game-high 29 points against the Tigers. win a SEC game.” Six of South Carolina’s eight league losses have been by eight points or fewer, which has made Williams and his teammates all too familiar with the close-but-no-cigar feeling. “Disappointment does start to set in after a while because it’s like the sixth or seventh close loss we’ve had,” Williams said. “But we always have to get ready for the next game because we can’t be mad at one game and take that into the next.” The big second-half r un by t he Gamecocks was one of the more positive moments for the team and could be a learning experience for the young group. Martin said he just wants his players,

particularly the veteran Williams, to be aggressive when the game is within reach and not when their backs are against the wall. “Like I told Brent, why does he wait until we’re down 15 to decide to drive and take shots?” Martin said. “Why doesn’t he do that when the game is tied? He’s got to embrace that role.” The senior received little help from his teammates. Mindaugas Kacinas scored 14 points off the bench, but the rest of the reserves combined for one rebound, one assist and no points. Notice was the only other Gamecock in double figures, with 12. DG

South Carolina faces ACC foes Goﬃ: ‘We’re going to have a lot to gain for the ﬁrst time in this season’ Dalton Abel

SPORTS@DAILYGAMECOCK.COM

With conference play looming just a few weeks away, the No. 26 South Carolina men’s tennis team will travel to the heart of ACC country this weekend to battle No. 20 Wake Forest on Friday and No. 35 North Carolina State on Sunday. The weekend road trip will be the Gamecocks’ biggest test of the season so far. Although South Carolina has already squared off against three ranked teams through their fi rst seven matches, back-to-back matches against strong ACC teams should challenge the Gamecocks’ toughness. In the latest edition of the Intercollegiate Tennis Association team rankings, only the SEC had more teams (11) in the top 32 than the ACC’s six. Coach Josh Goffi said he is not expecting anything to come easy. “It’ll be a different pressure. We know that Wake’s extremely good, and in fact probably way better than us right now,” Goffi said. “We’re gonna have a lot to gain for the first time in this season. We’re gonna have something to go get, and that’s gonna be exciting for our guys, so I’m interested to see how they respond to that.” As the early portion of the tennis season has shown, any lapse of focus can lead directly to defeat. Due to a rule change, players no longer play deuce at 40-all, where he would need to win consecutive points to win the game. The rule now calls for one decisive point. Set tiebreakers are now played at five-all rather than six-all, effectively transforming tennis from a marathon sport into a sprint. Doubles have also been shortened from a pro-style, eight-game set to one normal six-game set. Senior Tsvetan Mihov acknowledged that while the change takes some getting used to, the Gamecocks aren’t the only ones who have to deal with the differences. “It’s pretty different,” Mihov said. “We played one system our whole life, and now they’re switching to another, and I think this allows weaker teams to match up with better teams. Weaker guys play much better with a lot of the best guys in the country and beat them, but we’re still learning from the experience.” One player who has excelled under the rule change is freshman Andrew Schafer. While he might benefit from not having played under the old rules, what is certain is that Schafer is taking care of business.

Jeﬀrey Davis / THE DAILY GAMECOCK

Senior Tsvetan Mihov said it has been difficult to adjust to the NCAA’s new rules, but added it’s nothing the team can’t handle. In his last six sets — which have resulted in three straightset victories — Schafer has dropped only 11 games. He was named the SEC Freshman of the Week on Wednesday for his performance last weekend. Mihov will have his hands full on Friday, as Wake Forest’s No. 1 Romain Bogaerts is currently ranked 20th in the nation. However, Mihov isn’t changing his approach based on his opponent. “We’re looking always for the win. We’re going there mentally for the win. We have nothing to lose,” Mihov said. “We’re a good team, but we should never think about the rankings.” Because the ACC holds many successful tennis programs, Goffi said he feels the crowds this weekend will likely surpass the ones South Carolina has played in front of so far. “It should be a fun atmosphere,” he said. “I’m expecting a whole lot of energy, so hopefully we can do some good up there.” DG

The bright lights of New York will be fixed on the Gamecocks this weekend as the track and field team competes against more than 100 universities in the A rmor y Collegiate Invitational. As the team prepares to contend w it h tough compet it ion f rom across the country, they are taking t h is week to mentally prepare themselves for the invitational. “Training is the hard part, but when you line up, you have to be ready mentally,” sprinter Chris Royster said. “I’m staying relaxed. I’m thinking about the race and being calm and keeping myself focused on what needs to be done.” After a long indoor track season, this meet is the next to last before the SEC championships , and the team has foc used more on ice baths and stretching, restoring their bodies to get ready for three tough contests. Royster sa id t he restorat ion process is going to help him and the team perform well in the meet. “ La st week I took of f f rom my training to relax and rest my body, so now I’ll be more prepared going into t his meet,” Royster said. “We’re going to do real well, especially on the 4-by-4. That’s a big part of the meet that we are trying to run to set ourselves up for nationals.” The meet hosts more than 100 teams from around the country, including many teams in the SEC and ACC that compete at a high level, according to coach James Daniels. “It prepares us simply because of the number of rounds we get to r u n, and No. 2 because t he compet it ion w i l l be a step up from the last week,” Daniels said. “Each week, we want to get better against the competition, so we’re running against a lot of schools that are part of the SEC, ACC and mid-level schools that are good at their particular events. So this meet is going to give our team the opportunity to step their game up and compete at a higher level.” Royster said he loves this meet because the trip up to New York means the team will get to shop and enjoy the fun atmosphere. If the team does well, they could be returning to campus with more than souvenirs. Becau se t he G a mecock s a re using this meet to springboard into their next two meets — the Ty s o n i n v i t a t i o n a l a n d t h e SEC championships — success t h is weekend cou ld g ive t hem momentum through the next few weeks. “I ex pect us to be qu ite successf ul,” Daniels said. “The at h lete s a re ver y exc ited to compete in New York, and they know that this meet is important.” Daniels said he believes a good showing in New York could vault the team into future meets that could include a trip to New Mexico for the national championships. “I believe we are going to go to nationals. We have a number of people that are going to qualif y for nationals,” Daniels said. “You only get 16 spots, and I believe we are going to be in those spots. They believe it. So we’re keeping them level-headed and focusing on one meet at a time and not letting them get ahead of themselves in their thinking.” DG

The women’s basketball team plays tonight at Mississippi State at 8 p.m.