dailygamecock.com UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA
VOL. 113, NO. 06 • SINCE 1908
THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 2013
TRADING THE CROWN FOR CLASS
Senate meets for first time this semester Discussion, legislation focus on old initiatives Amanda Coyne
ACOYNE@DAILYGAMECOCK.COM
Courtesy of Megan Pinckney
Miss South Carolina USA Megan Pinckney (left of center) made it into the top five of June’s Miss USA pageant.
After being named a finalist in the Miss USA pageant, Megan Pinckney returns to USC Amanda Coyne
ACOYNE@DAILYGAMECOCK.COM
ess than three months ago, Megan Pinckney was on the national stage, competing for the title of Miss USA in Las Vegas. The fourth-year retailing student, who is also finishing her reign as Miss South Carolina USA , made it into the competition’s top five. After a sixth finalist was selected on Twitter, Pinckney was named fifth runner-up. But after a semester off school filled with glitz, glamour and gym time, Pinckney is back in the classroom, finishing up her degree and getting back to normal college life. Well, almost normal. “I had someone in class yesterday ask me if I was Miss South Carolina (USA), and it caught me off guard,” Pinckney said. “It happens once in a while. After I came back from Miss USA, I’d be in Publix, and people would recognize me.” The transition from being a state titleholder preparing for a national pageant to being primarily a college student is a big one.
L
Over the course of a semester and summer dedicated to representing South Carolina, Pinckney has traveled across the country for modeling jobs and appearances and across the state for events at hospitals and schools. Now, school comes first. “It’s so weird. I’m used to traveling at least three times a week and being on a plane every other week, not sitting in a classroom,” Pinckney said. Until she passes the crown on in November, Pinckney is still balancing classes and the title, though she said the directors of Miss South Carolina USA are keeping her schedule lighter to help keep her focus on school. Once another woman becomes Miss South Carolina USA, Pinckney doesn’t see more competitions in her future. “I’m done with pageantry after this,” Pinckney said. “I am hanging up my pageant heels ... Once you’ve gone that far — you’ve ended up on a national stage — it would be so much to start over. It would be like asking a pro athlete to start over in high school. I never say never, but I’m not planning on it.” Miss South Carolina USA titleholders can’t compete for the state crown again, so Pinckney would have to start over as a local winner before moving onto a competition PINCKNEY • 3
“I’m used to traveling at least three times a week ... not sitting in a classroom”
- Megan Pinckney, Miss South Carolina USA 2013
Wit h more old t han new on t he agenda, student senate met for the fi rst time this semester, continuing work on previously proposed initiatives and talking about the future of Student Government. Presidential Projects Student Government has made on the Gamecock Pantry and Walk Home Cock y, t wo programs that St udent Body President Chase Mizzell and his cabinet worked on over the summer. The Gamecock Pantry will partner with Har vest Hope Food Bank and serve members of the USC community who need food. It will be housed in McBr yde Quadrangle , an all-male residence hall, Mizzell said. The pantry was a marquee initiative in Mizzell’s president ia l a nd v ice president ia l campaigns, Wa l k Home Cock y, a safe wa l k program, has also made “incredible progress,” Mizzell said. T he p r o g r a m w i l l s t at io n o ne male and one female volunteer at the Thomas Cooper Library late at night. They pair will walk students to their cars or residence halls. Both of the programs are poised to kick off in the next few months, Mizzell said. Looking ahead T he Safet y a nd Tra nspor t at ion Committee is look ing into gett ing more Carolina Cab paraphernalia into Five Points bars and restaurants. Committee Chair K irk land Gray sa id t he m ater ia l s wou ld i nclude napkins and pens and would be aimed at getting more people to use the safe ride service, which offers free cab rides to students on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. Legislation Only two pieces of legislation were presented Wednesday night. One was a resolution commending the women’s soccer team on its recent defeat of seventh-ranked Duke , and the other was the second reading of an SENATE • 2
NPHC sorority, fraternity intake begins Process differs from recruitment in Panhellenic, IFC organizations Sydney Patterson
SPATTERSON@DAILYGAMECOCK.COM
INSIDE
You won’t see new members of the traditionally African-American Nat ion a l Pa n-Hel len ic C ou nc i l sororities and fraternities on USC ’s campus screaming and sprinting down the Horseshoe on Bid Day. Instead of a formal recruitment process, NPHC organizations have what’s called an intake process, and according to Briana Quarles, Sorority Council’s vice president of NPHC , “it’s really different.” “It’s not really like a recruitment process,” Quarles said. “It’s more like you show yourself and how you can become a positive attribute to the organization, rather than we actively look for you.” There are eight NPHC organizations at USC: Alpha Kappa A lpha Sororit y Inc. ; Kappa A lpha Psi Fraternity Inc.; Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc.; Delta Sigma Theta S o r o r it y I n c . ; Ph i B e t a S i g m a
Brian Almond / THE DAILY GAMECOCK
Members of USC’s eight National Pan-Hellenic Council sororities and fraternities held intake orientation for potential new members in the law school auditorium Tuesday. Fraternity Inc.; Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc.; Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc.; and Iota Phi Theta Fraternity Inc. The most important thing students i ntere sted i n joi n i ng a n N PHC f r ater n it y or soror it y c a n do is research the organizations and find out
5
more about them, said Jaquan Levine, Fraternity Council’s vice president of NPHC. “Don’t just do research on t he sorority or fraternity of your choice,” Levine said. “Research them all, so you can understand what everyone
MIX
SPORTS
VIEWPOINTS
Fashion blogger Katie Cole gives her tips on what guys and girls should wear on gameday.
South Carolina opens up its highly-anticipated football season today against UNC.
Editorial Board: City police will focus their efforts on violent crime, not students, in Five Points.
Inside
6
has to offer and what everyone has in common, as well as their differences, because at the end of the day, we’re all the same, but we’re all different.” Quarles stressed the importance of being open to all the organizations, not just the handful students may already be interested in. “Get to know the people within the organization,” Quarles said. “I actually came in thinking I wanted to be a part of one, but then meeting the Zetas, I felt like that’s where I belonged. You can always come in thinking that you want to be in so-and-so, but being in a different atmosphere may change your mind. Do your research and meet the people; see if it matches up.” The biggest difference bet ween N PHC’s i nt a ke process a nd t he recruitment processes for National Panhellenic Conference sororities and the Inter-Fraternity Council is the process, Quarles said. All three are formalized processes, but for N PHC organizations, it’s generally up to the chapter to decide the details of intake. There are also t he “t radit ional aspects, like stepping and strolling,” NPHC • 2
WEATHER Thursday
Friday
High 95° Low 74°
High 89° Low72°