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dailygamecock.com UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA

VOL. 114, NO. 58 • SINCE 1908

THURSDAY, APRIL 17, 2014

Wilson taking her talents to South Carolina

Courtesy of MCT Campus

Heathwood Hall’s A’ja Wilson, the No. 1 women’s basketball recruit in the country, announced live on ESPNU Wednesday that she would play at South Carolina.

Nation’s No. 1 recruit chooses Gamecocks over 3 other schools Thad Moore & Danny Garrison SPORTS@DAILYGAMECOCK.COM

A’ja Wilson was sitting with her family Tuesday night when she made her decision. The nation’s top women’s basketball recruit was working on her

senior paper about Title IX. Mom was in her recliner; dad was on the couch. The family had been ignoring the elephant in the room, said her mother, Eva Wilson: the next day, A’ja would be announcing her college plans live on ESPNU, the last of the country’s top 100 recruits to do so. In the days before, she grew quiet, thinking through her options and praying.

“I looked at her, she looked at me, she looked at him, and she said, ‘The lord has led me to South Carolina,’” Eva Wilson said. The next day, A’ja would say it again, calling South Carolina coach Dawn Staley to tell her she’d made up her mind. The hushed tones of their conversation turned into screams from Staley and her staff. A’ja said the noise made her ears

Andy Grammer chats before concert Pop-rock singer-songwriter coming to USC this Thursday Erika Ryan

MIX@DAILYGAMECOCK.COM

After months of speculation, it’s fi nally here — Carolina Product ion’s spring concer t w ill be ton ight at t he Koger Center, a nd A ndy Gr a m mer w i l l be headlining with opener Ben Rector. Grammer and Rector’s performance is set to start at 7 p.m. and admission is free for USC students, faculty and staff. Tickets are available at the Russell House information desk and the Koger Center box office with a valid CarolinaCard. Grammer is a singer-songwriter who specializes in pop rock, and his crowdpleasing sounds have been enjoyed by college students for years. Before ma k i ng h is way to ca mpus, G r a m m e r c h a t t e d w it h T h e D a i l y Gamecock about his upcoming album, married life and much more:

See page 5 DG

Equestrian gears up for national championships after taking SEC title SEE PAGE 8

ring. And at 3:30 in the afternoon, she said it one last time, live on national TV in the gym where she’d led Heathwood Ha l l Episcopa l School to a st ate championship. Off air, she ran to the people she’d thanked a few minutes earlier — to her WILSON • 8

Former Gamecock editor wins Pulitzer USC alumnus Michael LaForgia won this year’s Pulitzer Prize for local reporting for his work at the Tampa Bay Times. LaForgia, who was t he editorin-chief of The Gamecock in 2005, and Will Hobson won the award for “their relentless investigation into squalid conditions” in housing for the homeless, the Pulitzer committee announced this week. The series was also edited by Chris Davis, a 1995 USC graduate who is the Tampa Bay Times’ investigations editor, LaForgia said on Twitter. The Tampa Bay Times says that LaForgia and Hobson’s reporting led to the “most significant” reform of social services in Hillsborough County, Fla., in years. It also led to the resignation of the chairman of the Tampa Port Authority. — Compiled by Thad Moore, Editor-in-Chief

Homecoming theme revealed Annual celebration to be ‘The Cockiest Show on Earth’ Hannah Richardson

NEWS@DAILYGAMECOCK.COM

The Homecoming Execut ive Board got a head start on homecoming f e s t i v it ie s t h i s y e a r a nd announced next year’s theme Wednesday. The t heme for t he next

homecoming is “The Cockiest Show on Earth,” w h ic h w i l l b e a v i nt a g e circus. Popcorn and cotton candy were handed out to passersby on Greene Street to promote the theme. This year’s homecoming will be held from Oct. 11 through Oct. 18. “It is kind of like a ‘Water for Elephants’ circus, not the modern-day circus,” firstyear visual communications student Melissa Bugeski said.

The homecoming board has just 12 members, w h i le t h e Ho m e c o m i n g C om m i s s ion h a s s e ver a l s t u d e nt s t h at he lp w it h var ious event s du r i ng Homecoming. “ We have a lot of new events this year,” Bugesk i said, “A ll of us are really excited about homecoming.” T he boa rd spent a few day s t h row i ng out idea s for t he t heme l i ke “ T he Great Gatsby” and various

throwback themes, before they eventually narrowed it down to their pick. “This year, we are going to integrate more decorations, so students really understand the theme and use it in all of t he events,” t hird-year publ ic rel at ion s s t udent Kayla Alexander said.

Thursday, April 17, 2014

Haley’s approval rating rises in Winthrop Poll Gov. Nikki Haley has gained the approval of nearly half of South Carolinians according to a poll released Wednesday, The State reported. Just u nder half of 877 Sout h Carol i n ia ns surveyed approve of Haley’s job performance. Out of the registered voters polled, 49.3 said they approve of Haley’s tenure. A round 35 percent of respondents said they disapprove of her performance, the lowest Haley’s disapproval rat ing has been in t he generalpopulation poll. Out of the registered voters surveyed, Haley’s job disapproval rating was 39.6 percent. This week’s approval rating is Haley’s highest in all of the Winthrop polls of the general population conducted since she took office in 2011. The margin of error for the most recent poll was 3.3 percentage points for the general population and 4.1 for registered voters. —Hannah Jeffrey, News Editor

Peach farms suffer after late March freeze

South Carolina gas prices rise across state South Carolina gas prices have risen once again, but they are slightly cheaper than they were at Easter last year, according to The Associated Press. According to AAA Carolinas, gas prices have increased 36 cents per gallon since Christmas, but prices are around 1 cent less than they were last Easter. The average price for a gallon of gas in South Carolina is now around $3.43. Gas prices increase each spring when there is a limit on supply, as refi neries switch their product to a less-polluting summer blend. The cheapest gas in Sout h Carolina is in Spartanburg, where it runs at around $3.38 per gallon. The highest average in the state comes from Myrtle Beach, where it’s $3.44 per gallon. —Hannah Jeffrey, News Editor

Peach growers are saying a late March freeze caused major damage to peach farms around Aiken, which may make the fruit scarce until July, The Associated Press reported. Peach farms in Aiken, Edgefield and Saluda counties were hit with the freeze when the peach trees were in or just past full bloom, according to The Aiken Standard. J.W. “S on ny ” Yonce , a p eac h g rower i n Johnston, said 40 percent of the crop on his 4,000 acres are early peaches that he expects to bounce back by July. But t he f reeze w ill cost Yonce’s busi ness millions. A c c ord i n g t o S out h C a r ol i n a A s s i s t a nt Commissioner of Agriculture Martin Eubanks, peaches in the northern part of the state will not ripen until June, but peaches may be available in other parts of the state before then. —Hannah Jeffrey, News Editor

Daily Gamecock named state’s best paper Staﬀ wins 30 awards from press association Hannah Jeffrey

NEWS@DAILYGAMECOCK.COM

The Daily Gamecock was named the best collegiate newspaper by the South Carolina Press Association for the sixth year in a row and took home 30 awards for its work in 2013.

“I think the awards are a testament to the quality of the journalism The Daily Gamecock puts out every day,” Editor-in-Chief Thad Moore said. “Our staff has put in a lot of long nights, and they’ve improved the overall quality of the newspaper.” Moore wa s na med t he st ate’s jou r n a l i st of t he yea r, a nd t he st af f was awa rded f irst place i n general excellence, two of the press association’s top honors.

The staff also took home 12 fi rstplace awards: Moore for news story; Moore a nd Col i n Ca mpbel l for feature story; Hannah Jeffrey for arts and entertainment story; Aaron McDuf f ie for ed itor ial w r it i ng; Evelyn Robinson for column writing; Kristmar Muldrow for informational g raph ic; Pau l Cr it z ma n, Renee Cooper and Danielle Barilla for multimedia story; Andrew Askins for photograph; and Danny Garrison for

use of Twitter. The Daily Gamecock was also awarded fi rst-place honors for its Facebook page, website and special sections. “I can’t wait to see where they take it from here,” Moore said.

@thegamecock

SHE SNORES MORE THAN I DO, BUT I STILL LOVE MY HUMAN. — BANDIT adopted 11-26-09

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Thursday, April 17, 2014

THAD MOORE

EMILY READY

KAMILA MELKO

BELVIN OLASOV

Editor-in-Chief

Copy Desk Chief

Photo Editor

The Mix Editor

AMANDA COYNE

ANNIE PARHAM

BEN CRAWFORD

DANNY GARRISON

Print Managing Editor

Design Director

Asst. Viewpoints Editor

Sports Editor

Women’s basketball earns deserved attention ISSUE A’ja Wilson signed with USC, drawing national attention. OUR STANCE She will cement USC as a national contender. I n spite of t he special place football holds in USC’s pr overbi a l he a r t , t h i s ye a r has been a l l about women’s basketball. Win n ing t he f irst SEC regular-season championship in the school’s history, taking a No. 1 seed i n t he NC A A tournament and dropping only f ive ga mes overa l l, t h is has already been a h istoric year for the team. If nothing else happened the rest of the year, it would have already been one for the record books. But somet h i ng happened. Something big. USC has ma naged to pick up the nation’s No. 1 recruit: t he tower i ng f ig u re of A’ja W i lson. At t he t i me of her announcement, everything — including Twitter — blew up. Daw n St a ley, USC’s head coach, t weeted “BOOM!!!!” Pre sident H a r r is Pa st ide s t weeted a photo of h imself,

arms aloft, cheering. Wilson was trending nationally. This burst of news coverage and obvious excitement is a sign of a necessary attitude change when it comes to the program. The team has come a long way since Staley took over the team 6 years ago, but her growing accomplishments haven’t always

“Winning the first SEC regular-season championship in the school’s history, taking a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament and dropping only five games overall, this has already been a historic year for the team. If nothing else happened the rest of the year, it would have already been one for the record books.”

been followed by an uptick in student interest. This past year has made up ground in more ways than one, building up a hype that is set to f renz y as t he new season approaches. Wilson’s announcement isn’t the only exciting recruitment news. Add her decision to the already stellar group of new t a lent com i ng i n (i nclud i ng Jatarie White, Kaydra Duckett and Bianca Cuevas), and USC has a team with the potential to reach the Final Four, if not the NCAA championship. H i s t or ic a l l y, US C h a s n’t b e e n a wo me n’s b a s k e t b a l l powerhouse. And it still isn’t just yet. But these pick-ups could be the anchor that attracts more top recruits to USC for years to come. The program is already the most successful it’s ever been. This year, it’s poised to go even further, and it looks like the fan base is ready to go along with them. We’re glad that the women’s tea m is on it s way to bei ng recognized as the rising power it is.

Books more telepathic than magical Transfer of images, emotions unmatched Books are magic. You’ve heard this phrase before. Repeated, mantra-like, from sixth-grade English enthusiasts at book fairs all t he way up t hrough high school: Books are magic. Books are magic. It’s completely lost whatever meaning it might have had at this point. So, the obvious: Books aren’t m ag ic i n t he lea st . T here’s not h i ng super nat u ra l about them. There’s nothing outwardly sacred. They don’t transcend any natural law. (A lthough, to be fair, some works are so beautiful, that it’s hard to believe a mere human could have created it. James Joyce or Fyodor Dostoevsky are two such examples.) When you’re reading a piece of carefully crafted fiction, you are holding the work of a mind, with a personal conception of the world and the characters that function in it. Don’t believe authors who say that these characters “have a life of their own.” They exist because of the author and do what the author believes to be their most authentic action. To put it simply, dialogue in fiction is the author talking to themselves. That’s not to say that these characters don’t seem real. The best realized characters seem so real that other people believe they actually exist, on some level.

For instance, how many of us are, somewhere in the back of our minds, convinced that Harry Potter or Frodo actually existed in some way? If you were asked the question, “Is Harry Potter real?” you’d (probably) say no. But, because the character has that slight touch of reality, your mind can stretch itself enough to suspend disbelief. T he Hog wa r t s c a st le wa s real enough to most of us, even before that fictional place was fi nally visible through the films. Every reader has his own unique concept ion of the layout of the c a s t le , t h e f e e l of the Quidditch g rou nd s a nd s o on. W hat once only existed in J. K. Rowling’s mind now ex ists, in Ben slightly different Crawford forms, in the First year English minds of millions and Russian student of people. If I’m completely wrong here, and books are magic, then that type of magic has to be filed under “telepathy.” Which brings me to my next point: The author isn’t the sole authority when it comes to their work, however much it pains them. Post-modernism aside, the fact is that when you read a book, you carry your whole history (that is, your experience) on your back. A line that resonates with one reader will fall flat on its face for another.

It’s not only a quest ion of taste, either. The sheer breadth of the much-maligned field of literary criticism betrays another i nterac t ion, based solely on the reader: the application of meaning. W hen you read a book c r it ic a l ly, keepi ng i n m i nd the minute interactions of the characters, you f ind yourself mak ing more t ha n simply judgments on plot. You also draw specific meanings from the text, some of which the author may have intended, some of which the author may not have. In Paradise Lost, for example, you can take the meaning that Milton intended: that God was just to damn Satan to hell to eat ashes forever, punishing him for tempting Eve. Another reader, however, may see in Satan a tragic hero, created only to serve an eternal monarch and doomed in his inevitable revolt. W hat readers may take from the book may not be what t he aut hor i ntended, wh ich g ives t hem some, if not all, control of its meaning. So, what a re book s if not magic? It’s hard to say, on the whole. T here a re a l l k i nd s of books, good and bad, and lumping them into one category isn’t easy to do. The closest definition I can think of is this: They are the record of the author’s ability to create new worlds. Whether you choose to explore them is up to you.

‘Corridor of Shame’ shows inanity of other issues Primary focus should be on investing in public schools There’s been a lot of talk surrounding South Carolina legislation’s refusal to give $70,000 to College of Charleston and USC Upstate over pro-LGBT books in their curriculum. But after watching “Corridor of Shame” this week, I can think of a few more important issues for the state government to be focusing on. For anyone who hasn’t seen it, “Corridor of Shame” is an hourlong documentary focusing on the lack of f unding to rural schools in South Carolina. It was made in 2006 by Bud Ferillo, a public relations and advertising professional who has been heavily involved in South Carolina politics. Being an out-of-state student, I didn’t grow up in the state’s public school system. My dad taught at Lady’s Island Middle School in Beaufort for a year, and I thought I understood a bit about the system, but the state is filled with much more rural schools than Beaufort, and those schools are wallowing in disrepair and underfunding. It’s easy to complain on our campus about the condition of buildings like t he dilapidated Women’s Q u ad r a ngle dor m s Emilie or how Ha m i lton Col lege Dawson recommends not drinking from Third-year public their plumbing. But when these relations student s m a l l p oi nt s a re j u x t ap o s e d against school that have sewage seeping into their hallways or buildings f ull of k ids in winter coats due to a lack of heat, it’s fair to say we’re doing alright. T he d i f ference s b et ween r u r a l S out h Carolina schools and a state-funded college is obvious. But their similarities are that they’re both run with money from the state, allocated by the state. In “Corridor of Shame,” teachers in some of the schools complained about the quality of books, most from the 1950s saying things like, “One day we hope to land on the moon” or that they were paying for books out of pocket. So when the state complains about giving money to colleges that want to use books focusing on LGBT issues or written by LGBT people, they need to do something beneficial with that money. While it seems backwards to refuse certain facets of education to people paying thousands of dollars for an education, there are plenty of children in this state who aren’t receiving one at all, even though they’re going to school day after day. The fight to allow LGBT books in schools isn’t one to be given up, but if the state refuses now, maybe some good can come of it.

WHAT’S YOUR TAKE? Do you want your opinion voiced in The Daily Gamecock? Contact viewpoints@dailygamecock.com for more information.

IT’S YOUR RIGHT The goal of The Daily G a m e c o c k ’s V i e w p o i n t s p a g e is to st imu late d isc ussion i n t he Un iver sit y of Sout h Ca rol i na communit y. A ll published authors a re e x p e c ted to prov ide log ic a l arguments to back their views. The Daily Gamecock encourages readers to voice opinions and offers three methods of expression: letters to t he editor, g uest colum ns and feedback on dailygamecock.com. Letters and guest columns should be submitted via email to editor@ dailygamecock.com. Letters must be 200 to 300 words in length and

CONTACT INFORMATION include the author’s name, year in school and area of study. We also inv ite st udent leaders and USC faculty members to submit guest columns. Columnists should keep submissions to about 500 words in length and include the author’s name and position. The editor reserves the right to edit and condense submissions for length and clarit y, or not publish at all. A l l subm issions become t he propert y of The Daily Gamecock a nd mu s t c o n f or m t o t he le g a l standards of USC Student Media.

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.

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Thursday, April 17, 2014

Andy Grammer goes in-depth on his music Pop-rock musician talks about his influences and inspirations Erika Ryan

MIX@DAILYGAMECOCK.COM

Daily Gamecock: Have you always aspired to be a musician? I noticed that you’ve been playing instruments all your life. Andy Grammer: Yeah, I didn’t know like right away. I was a big jock in high school. But then I really started liking guitar. I think I decided somewhere in college that that was really something I wanted to do. I just love songwriting. It’s my favorite. So it was somewhere in college, I was like, “Alright, this is gonna be super hard, but I’m goin’ for that.” DG: What was the defining moment for you with fame? Was there any specific accomplishment that stood out over others? AG: Yeah, you know, a lot of people say, like, it’s when they fi rst heard themselves on the radio and different things, but for me, it was when I had my first headlining tour and people actually came. That was amazing. Because I played out on the streets and I played a lot of different places, and it’s hard to get people to really care or come out to shows. So developing a fanbase, it was pretty amazing. DG: You’re doing pretty well in the public eye, so what has it been like moving into the spotlight? AG: It was awesome. It was like, it was super incredible to be on the radio, on TV shows, stuff like that. It was just unbelievable. I’ve been doing it for a really long time, so the fact that it happened, and I know it happens to not that many people, so I feel very lucky. DG: I read about your influences, and it said they are a combination of guitar, piano and hip-hop musicians. What do you do in your music to combine all of those? AG: I think I usually start with one of those elements, whether it’s drum loop or a piano line or some sort of guitar thing, and then I get a blend of them until it feels right. Like, “Keep Your Head Up” is kind of a piano song with a dirty beat underneath it, and then it starts falling into place like I like it. DG: What are a few of your favorite musicians? AG: Right now, I’m really into Macklemore, huge into Coldplay, and I love Drake. DG: What is some non-musical media that inspires your work? AG: I love — I think art’s really cool. I post a lot of things on Instagram. I love street art. DG: What can we expect from your second album?

Courtesy of Andy Grammer

Andy Grammer will be coming to perform at the Koger Center today, bringing his catchy musical talent to USC. Before his performance, he took the time to discuss his musical techniques, passions and Macklemore. AG: I kinda stretched myself a little bit. I really enjoyed taking chances. I was very, very delicate about the songs themselves, like, I wanted to make sure I have great songs, but then with the production I had a lot of fun. Like, the first single off the album, it kind of sounds almost folky. But that’s just one song, and another one kind of, to me, sounds almost like a mix between a Kanye and an Imagine Dragons song. And then there’s one that sounds like, a little bit like an Imogen Heap song. So I just took a lot more risks sonically. DG: Have you performed for a lot of college crowds? AG: Yeah, I’ve done tons of colleges. I’m actually on my way to a college right now. DG: What is your favorite part about performing for students? AG: My favorite part about performing for students is that usually what ends up happening is that about half of the people are into my stuff and know what I’m like and know the words and stuff, and then the other half have no idea. They just heard that some dude was playing out on the lawn. I like trying to win them over. DG: What’s your favorite part about performing live? AG: My favorite part about performing live is hopefully being able to give people what they need. I mean, I’ve been to shows where people have blown me away, and it’s the best ever, so I love that moment where you know that you hope that you’ve done that.

with? AG: Sure — I’ve gotten to tour with Train, Gavin Degraw, Natasha Bedingfield, Colbie Caillat, a lot of really, like, incredible artists that are doing great things now. DG: What do you do for fun on tour? AG: On tour, we do play a lot of basketball, we play a lot of racquetball. We rarely get to go see a movie. I just love being with my best friends on the road. It’s great. DG: Where are some of your favorite places that you’ve performed? AG: I got to play at Red Rocks with Train in Colorado, in Denver. That was amazing. I got to play at Central Park in New York City. Those were both pretty incredible. DG: So I saw that you’re married to another singersongwriter, so what is that like? Is it mutually beneficial to be in the same field? AG: Yeah, sure, that’s cool that you have someone who understands it. You can write about the hard times with each other, celebrate the good stuff. It’s a weird lifestyle so having someone who understands it is really actually nice. DG: What are your future plans, for music or otherwise? AG: Well, we just finished the second album, which is mostly done. And then we’re heading out on tour for the summer. It’s gonna be awesome. And then after that, we’re just gonna see where the rest of this takes us.

DG: So are there any artists you’ve enjoyed touring

Indie Grits Festival offers feature films Movie lineup ranges from religious apocalypse to redneck comic Jonathan Winchell

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The Indie Grits Festival ends Sunday with three blocks of the winning screenings at the Nickelodeon from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Earlier screenings are being held at multiple locations, including the Nickelodeon (1607 Main St.) and Tapp’s Arts Center (1644 Main St.). Here are the feature film screenings for the rest of the festival:

“Liahona” —Thursday at 3 p.m. at the Nickelodeon The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and the Mormon faith are examined in this experimental documentary that showcases the history of the religion, including its largely hidden past of folk magic and life during the early stages of the church. The ﬁlm also shows, through documentation, the stronghold the church has on culture in Utah today. Director Talena Sanders uses her personal life experience with the church to explore an often-misunderstood religion.

Courtesy of Indie Grits

“As It Is In Heaven,” directed by Joshua Overbay, tells the story of a man who must lead his sect through a heralded apocalypse after the death of its prophet.

“The Road to Livingston” — Thursday at 5:30 p.m. at Tapp’s For years, Delia Perez Meyer has fought for her brother, who was convicted of a triple murder in 1999 and remains on death row in Texas. This documentary shines a light to show that she has endured for 15 years not just for her brother but to enact change to the current death penalty laws.

“As It Is In Heaven” — Thursday at 8 p.m. at the Nickelodeon Another religion-themed film, this narrative feature follows a man who must lead his religious sect when its “prophet” dies. Members were told the end of the world is near, giving him some serious difficulties to deal with. The drama is beautifully filmed and sounds like a mixture between “Martha Marcy May Marlene” and “Melancholia.”

“Last Stop, Flamingo” — Friday at 3 p.m. at the Nickelodeon The third ﬁlm in Georg Koszulinski’s Florida trilogy examines the early history of the state, going all the way back to Ponce de León’s discovery of the state 500 years ago. It confronts how people and their quests have altered the state’s landscape.

“Surviving Cliffside” — Friday at 5 p.m. at the Nickelodeon Courtesy of Indie Grits

“The Road to Livingston” is a documentary on the trials that Delia Perez Meyer went through for her brother’s own trial for a triple murder that put him on death row.

A family living in a trailer park in a town surrounded by guns and drugs help their daughter, who beat leukemia, to compete for Little Miss West Virginia. FILMS • 6

Thursday, April 17, 2014

FILMS • Continued from 5

“Limo Ride” — Friday at 7 p.m. at Tapp’s A dark docu-comedy tells the truth-is-stranger-than-fiction story of 10 friends who rented a limousine on New Year’s Eve, got kidnapped and wound up stripped and left for dead on a dirt road. The film is told through narration from the people who went through the ordeal and through reenactments.

“Lighter” — Saturday at 5:30 p.m. at the Nickelodeon Redneck comedian Roman Clower (Matt Hagan) wants to become a serious actor in this dark comedy. He decides to come back to his childhood home in rural South Carolina to star in a community theatre production of Hamlet. He is forced to face his family and friends and the reality of his career prospects. Courtesy of Indie Grits

“Lighter” portrays the efforts of a redneck comedian who tries to become a serious actor.

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Did you know? Alcohol use hampers memory and retention of information. When there is alcohol in your system, your brain’s ability to learn and store information is compromised. The hippocampus is a structure in the brain responsible for forming memories. If you can’t form new memories, you can’t learn! Tweet @SAPEatUofSC a study tip that you use for retaining information during ﬁnals. Use #UofSCGoodChoice and you will be entered to win our daily drawing of a free t-shirt and Nalgene!

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PHD • JORGE CHAM

THE SCENE

Aries

Leo

Sagittarius

Travel and advent ure calls to you. Keep the big picture in mind. Does t h is t rip for ward t he dream? Set long-term goals. There’s more work coming in. A mate has excellent advice. Invest in an experience t hat forwards the action for a project you love.

L a y d o w n t h e l a w. Make every attempt to follow the rules. Even if you make mistakes, you’re charming. Work out k ink s in private. Working at something you love brings abu nda nce. I mprove your living conditions. Include delicious treats, cozy at mosphere and friends (or one special friend).

G ener ate enough to cover expenses in a test of your frugality skills. There’s more money c o m i n g y o u r w a y. Fr iends a nd sibl i ng s share t he wisdom of t hei r e x p er ience. Brilliant ideas come at odd moments. Evaluate old p ol ic ie s . You’r e becoming more certain. It all works out.

Taurus

G et i nto t he det a i l s today a nd tomor row. Consider resources and supplies, logistics and team management, and f i na nces. W heel i ng and dealing could be required. Build a strong fou nd at ion. C on s u lt f r iend s a nd e x p er t s. Many hands make lighter work . Someone f rom your past could reappear.

Gemini

Let your partner drive. Collaboration gets you fa r t her t ha n play i ng Lone Ranger. Practice your arts, and beautify your su rrou ndings. Indulge your curiosity, and get the latest expert research. Let yourself g e t c a r r ie d aw a y b y romance. Negotiate and compromise. Two heads are better than one.

Cancer

Practical considerations hold you r concer n. Follow safety rules and h igh st a nda rds. Sor t t h rough feelings as they arise. Trust your e x p er ienc e. It c ou ld get hec t ic today a nd t o m o r r o w. A f r i e n d ma kes a n excel lent suggest ion. Use it to persuade t he team. It pays to have good manners.

Mondays

Virgo

Home and family take pr ior it y today a nd tomorrow. Settle into your nest. Good deeds you’ve done br i ng benefits. Check out an interesting suggestion. Keep your f ut ure vision in mind. There’s more money com i ng in. Divert some of the f low to savings. Share a treat.

Libra

It’s easier to learn for t he nex t t wo days. Study instructions first. Talk to someone who’s been there, done that. C r e at i v e w o r k p a y s well. A generous offer requires more thought. A luck y break blesses your passion project. Your work and opinions garner respect.

Scorpio

Pay attent ion to f i na nces. Fil l orders and rake in the money. Schedu le a sit dow n meeting. Pull strings to get a compromise. You’re very persuasive n o w. Tr u s t y o u r fem i n i ne side. Ma ke time for visiting friends. Take t he roundabout route when necessary.

TODAY “DRINKS FOR DONATIONS” — FUNDRAISER FOR AARON GRAVES 8:30 p.m., all donations accepted New Brookland Tavern, 122 State St.

Capricorn

There’s more work, and t he pressure’s rising. Take a philosophical view. You’re making an excellent impression. Ack nowledge you r team’s efforts. Celebrate a windfall by relaxing in hot water and preparing a fabulous meal to share with dear people. You’re look ing especially good.

Aquarius

TOMORROW CALEB SYNAN — FEATURE STAND UP 8-11 p.m., TBA The Red Door, 134 1/2 State St.

TODAY JACOB JOHNSON 8-11 p.m., $3 The Red Door, 134 1/2 State St.

G et toget her w it h f riends today and t o m o r r o w. S h a r e emotional support and laughter. I nvent new g o a l s , a nd r e a f f i r m p r e v i o u s o n e s . I t ’s ありがとう a good t ime to ask for money. Craf t t he per fect pitch. Social Thank events and gatherings are where it all happens. W hat comes a rou nd ACROSS goes around. 1 Stands

Pisces

Career matters occupy your time now. There’s a rise in status available. Prepare for a test or cha l lenge today a nd tomorrow. Compete for the best score. Provide well for your family. Fi nd out w h at you r partner wants. All this love comes back to you multiplied.

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1 2 3 4

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PADDY KEENAN WITH DAVEY MATHIAS

7 Load in a basket 11 Label 14 Busts 15 Potent introduction? 16 Nabokov novel 17 Source of mints, at times 19 With “on” and 59Across, a hint to the theme hidden in three places in this puzzle 20 7-Across destination, eventually 21 New York City’s __ River 22 Chowderhead 23 They often accompany stretches 25 “I Loves You, Porgy” and others 26 House on TV, e.g. 30 Poker star Hansen 31 River from the Cantabrian Mountains 32 Invasion leaders of the ’60s 39 It prohibits illegal search and seizure 41 The recent past 42 Huit + trois 43 __-Aztecan languages 44 Buyer, in legal usage 46 Love 49 Roundup need 52 Zoom 53 Sub 54 Once and again 59 See 19-Across 60 Subject of a 1922 archaeological discovery 62 Santa __ winds 63 One who often doesn’t pick up? 64 Some chickens 65 Craving 66 Show closers, perhaps 67 Balmoral attraction DOWN 1 Start of a tots’ song

8 p.m., $12 in advance / $15 at the door Conundrum Music Hall, 626 Meeting St.

4/17/14

you to all student employees! National Student Employment Week

2 1922 physics Nobelist 3 “__, old chap!” 4 Taj Mahal topper 5 Developmental stage 6 Prescott-toTempe dir. 7 Smith attendee 8 Round up 9 Hissy fit 10 Went underground 11 Attraction near U.S. 395 12 Go with the flow 13 Jenga and jacks 18 Remote letters 22 Broom alternative 24 Prefix with -pod 25 Pair 26 Challenge 27 Clarinet cousin 28 French vineyards 29 Agony 30 Blues and others 33 It’s cut and dried 34 Morph ending 35 Emmy-winning Arthur 36 Provided temporarily 37 Auto designer Ferrari 38 Prank ending 40 Head of Québec

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45 Lepidopterous opponent of Godzilla 46 Orderly grouping 47 “Tell It to My Heart” singer Taylor 48 Expanse with crests 49 Reveal 50 Most Syrians 51 Cain was the ﬁrst 53 Dance with ﬂowing gestures 55 Distance

56 “__ a man with seven wives” 57 Forearm exercise 58 Start of Massachusetts’s motto 60 Medicine amt. 61 “Original, crispy or grilled?” co

Thursday, April 17, 2014

Gamecocks ride into national championships Equestrian awaits winner of Fresno State,Texas Christian David Roberts

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The South Carolina equestrian team has No. 1 seed at this year’s NC E A n at ion a l c h a mpion s h ip , and it’s fresh off its second SEC championship in as many years, so it would be fair to call the Gamecocks dominant. B e g i n n i n g t he i r s e a s o n i n a seemingly infallible fashion, t he Gamecock s routed opponents in their first four matches, beginning conference play with a 4-0 record. However, once SEC play began, the team was struck by the unthinkable. A loss to then-No. 1 Georgia handed South Carolina its fi rst defeat of the season, and the Gamecocks followed it with an upset loss to Texas A&M. Suddenly, head coach Boo Major and her squad fou nd t hemselves dwelling in the cellar of the SEC standings, owning an 0-2 conference record with a matchup with then-No. 2 Auburn right around the corner. In an attempt to right the ship, the team put its head down, refusing to fall to 0-3 in conference play. “We had our best two weeks of practice,” Major said. “And I thought everybody worked hard to make sure we didn’t give away points like we did against Georgia and Texas A&M.” The Gamecocks’ 12-6 victory over the Tigers proved to be the turning point of the season, as the team would put together a perfect 9-0 run after its loss to Texas A&M. The team eventually secured redeeming wins over Texas A&M and then Georgia in the SEC championship, becoming the first team in South Carolina history to win back-to-back SEC championships. Following a season that ended with a conference title, South Carolina received a f lu rr y of A ll-SEC recognitions. Eight South Carolina

feeling good about this year’s team. “Certainly it’s great to get the recognition,” Major said. “I think it helps legitimize our sport a little bit more. It’s great to see the girls get the exposure; it’s great to see the sport get the exposure. It just feels real good to get a lot of accolades from folks to a very well-deserving group of young ladies.” After earning a first-round bye, the Gamecocks will attempt to showcase t he d o m i n a nc e t he y d i s pl a y e d through the latter part of the season. No. 8-seed Fresno State will battle No. 9-seed Texas Christian in the first round of the NCEA national championship Thursday to see who will earn the right to take on No. 1-seed South Carolina on Friday. “I think that both of those teams have proven that they have successful programs,” Major said. “I think, for us, it’s going to be [an] interesting scenario to see who wins that meet between the two of them and then who we compete against.” For the first time, this year’s scoring format will resemble the format used during the regular season. Previously, the teams were split into hunt seat and western brackets, which would determine how many points each team gets. This year’s scoring system features four events: equitation over fences, equ itat ion on t he f lat s, wester n equ it at ion or horsema nsh ip a nd reining. Major noted that having a firstround bye isn’t entirely beneficial. In fact, it’s just one more bump in the road on the way to a national championship. “I do think that we’ve got some Courtesy of MCT Campus Junior Katherine Schmidt has been instrumental in South Carolina’s success, earning obstacles that we’re going to have to All-SEC recognition this season in both equitation over fences and equitation on the flats. get over in order to be successful at the national championship,” Major players landed on the 2014 all-SEC equitation over fences and equitation said. “But if anyone can do it, this team can.” equestrian team, totaling eight awards on the flat. The recognition from both the SEC in all. Ju nior K at herine Schmidt DG ea r ned A l l-SEC awa rds i n bot h league office and supporters has Major

USC tennis teams set for postseason Men take on Alabama; women face Ole Miss Jackson Filyo

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Sout h Ca rol i na’s men’s a nd women’s tennis teams concluded t heir reg u lar season play t h is past weekend, and both qualified for first-round byes in the SEC tournament, which begins later this week. Both teams fi nished the regular season with winning records and were just under .500 in SEC play. The men’s team (14-12, 5-7 SEC) won two of its fi nal three matches, good enough to earn them the tournament’s No. 7 seed. That pits the team against No. 10-seed A labama, which comes into the tournament having lost t h ree SEC matches i n a row. In the reg ular season matchup against the Crimson Tide, South Carolina won 4-3. “Alabama is dangerous,” men’s head coach Josh Goffi said. “They compete hard, about as hard as any other team out there. They’re a you ng tea m, a nd t hey have nothing to lose.” With a victory, South Carolina would move on to face No. 2-seed Texas A&M on Friday. “The level of tennis is always going to change,” Goffi said. “It can go up and down; it doesn’t really matter. But the way you compete and stick to matches has to be the same.” The Gamecock women’s tennis team’s (15-9, 6-7 SEC) season has been up and down, including a six-game losing streak followed i m me d i at e l y b y a f i v e - g a me winning streak. The team ended its regular season with a 4-2 loss to Vanderbilt. “I don’t have any doubt that we can; it’s whether we do,” women’s head coach Kevin Epley said when asked about h is team’s abilit y to rebound from last weekend’s loss. “If we stay in the process, adjust and commit to some things moving forward and to the next

Jeﬀrey Davis / THE DAILY GAMECOCK

Men’s tennis head coach Josh Goffi says the leadership of seniors Chip Cox (pictured) and Tsvetan Mihov have been huge for his team’s confidence this season. match, we w il l have a cha nce against a top team.” The women’s team will open the tournament against No. 9 seed Ole Miss, who the Gamecocks defeated 4-2 in their only regularseason meeting earlier this year. The winner will advance to face No. 1 seed Alabama on Friday. The reg u lar season g ives coaches a chance to address the strengths and weaknesses of their team, hoping to have the team f ir i ng on a l l c yl i nders by t he time the postseason begins. Both Goffi and Epley believe they have done that and look to translate the regular-season lessons into postseason success. As individuals, every guy has played to their best ability but not on the same day, and that’s our issue,” Goffi said. “We need to be able to compete as a team and bring it all on the same day.” For the women’s team, Epley believes postseason success hinges primarily on the team’s abilit y to maintain mental tough ness throughout an entire match. “Mentally, we still have some work,” Epley said. “We can’t check

out — not for a second. Sometimes checking out for that one minute can be the whole match.” T h e m e n’s t e a m , w h i c h includes t wo sen iors and fou r juniors, k nows the importance of experience in the postseason. Goffi spoke highly of the senior le ader sh ip prov ided b y C h ip C ox a nd Ts vet a n M i hov a nd recognized the impact that it has on the rest of the team. “They have done a great job,” Goffi said. “(Senior leadership) defi nitely instills confidence into our guys. We’ve been here before and we’re excited to see what we can do in this tournament and, more importantly, to see what we can do in NCAAs.” Each team starts its quest for a title in the single-elimination tournament beginning Thursday afternoon. Each team will play one match per day until the field is narrowed to two teams, who will vie for the title Sunday.

WILSON • Cont. from 1 teammates who stood courtside and to a few hundred classmates, who jumped to “Sandstorm” in the bleachers and chanted “U-S-C.” At USC, the announcement inspired an outburst of excitement. Wilson headlines an already-strong recruiting class that will start playing the year after the team earned its firstever No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament and its first regular-season SEC championship. Wilson’s name became a national trending topic on Twitter. USC President Harris Pastides tweeted a photo of himself cheering in his office. Staley tweeted simply, “BOOM!!!!” Later, she’d post the phone number for USC’s ticket office. “I k now ou r of f ice was louder t ha n Heathwood Hall today,” Staley said at a press conference. Before Wilson announced her decision, South Carolina had the No. 4 recruiting class, with three other signees in the ESPNW top 100. The addition of the 6-foot-5-inch forward vaulted the Gamecock class to second in the nation, behind only UCLA and the Bruins’ five top-100 recruits. “These are the players that we set out to sign years ago,” Staley said. “For us to be able to check off almost everybody who we wanted was incredible.” In the end, Wilson eliminated Connecticut, North Carolina and Tennessee before picking South Carolina. She said that getting to know their coaches on visits helped her decide. Her mom took notes on each program and made a spreadsheet to compare them all. “It was very tough for me, because it was just four great programs,” A’ja Wilson said. “Really the great part was just getting to know the coaches, talking with the coaches and really getting to see who they are.” South Carolina’s No. 2 recruiting class will join a team that went 27-4 in the regular season last year and made it to the sweet 16 before falling to North Carolina. All but one of the team’s players will return next year. “This is huge for South Carolina,” said Dan Olson, director of ESPNW’s Hoopgurlz. “It really gives them a chance at a Final Four run.” But Wilson’s set her sights higher than that. She picked an up-and-coming program that she credits Staley with turning around over established women’s basketball powerhouses, but she’s still got her eyes on the sport’s top prize. “My goal is to win a national championship,” Wilson said. “I’m not going to put a date on it or a year on it, but I think that we can accomplish that goal, and that’s our mindset.” DG